Jacques (Still Shakin') Ball kindly sent this report from last weekend's Chris Wilson show in Paris...

"Chris did a great performance at La Mecanique Ondulatoire, a nice and cosy venue near Bastille. I met him before the show and he looks young, slim and relaxed. He told me he would be playing his semi-acoustic twelve string that had just been refurbished by his favourite luthier in London. Familiar faces filled up the foyer, the die hard core of the French Flamin’ Groovies fans. Musicians, rock critics, photographers are there too.

Chris introduced the Stones “I’m free” as a slow song. What strikes me at once is that his voice is in great shape providing a feeling that it would be a good show. Little did I know to what extent. We were treated to a great and unpredictable setlist, “Tell me again”, “Hide your love away” (Beatles), “You tore me down” (a pristine rendition) and an unreleased but very promising new song “Cold cold night”. “He who waits” and “all the action” from Second Life too.

Chris said there would be a surprise as he is inviting his buddy Jimmy Ferrell to join him on stage (“he’s going to hate me for that”). James is on vacation in France and had showed up just before the show. Asked if he was going to play, James denied. saying he was a bit rusty. But here he was, smiling when Chris hands him a Telecaster. “Shake some action” is the obvious song they share with the audience that knows the lyrics off by heart and sings along. This perfect pop song is always at its peak when sung by Chris, James is knitting his licks smoothly (“rusty eh?” he must have been kidding). Everyone around me is getting hypeexcited, and this is going “at full speed” indeed.

James smiles and when Chris suggests “Slow death” he jumps on the unmistakeable riff and the audience goes wild. The two pals are finding out unconsciously about the old Groovies stage acts that leads James, as if caught in a trance, to step on the cable of his guitar and unplug the jack. After that’s fixed , both catch up and the song is ended with the perfect crescendo it deserves. Waooow !! James leaves the stage to an overwhelming ovation.

Chris resumes his solo act and breaks a string that sticks into his finger. He rips it quickly with a wince and starts an instrumental improvisation teasing all the sounds his guitar is capable of. How did they say in San Francisco in the old days? “Far out “. The set ends with an emotional “If wishes were horses” that was just magic.. Of course there is an encore, nobody wants Chris to leave the stage. And, what an encore, a cover of The Records masterpiece, “Starry eyes”. That’s how I left the cave, starry eyed.

An awesome evening with Chris Wilson definitely back in action as the recent CD, “Second Life” suggested. Before leaving, I discussed a bit with James about the Phantom Movers, the Fondellas and of the Groovies in 72, old timers never resign."

There are pictures of the show shot by Baldo at the following url :

http://baldo.art.free.fr/chris-wilson-gallery-baldo/index.html

and I put some videos on mytube :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXcdUyHA-uc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E00WEW4PXa8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xlPS-MSXkI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjEWK_89_sE

monks: the transatlantic feedback

by Dietmar Post & Lucia Palacios

finally plays LONDON (UK)

May 19th at SW1 Gallery

May 20th at Lexi Cinema

FREE TO GET IN...

I never made the connection between Two White Horses and where the name comes from before. Lovisa and Jakob Nyström weren’t even born when Tir na nOg originally roamed the earth. Were they on Chrysalis or was it Island? I don’t recall but it’s a pretty cool connection this far down the line.

And it doesn’t quit there, because this brother/sister combo are dealing some very cool folk pop here that wouldn’t have been out of place on either of those imprints several lifetimes ago. You may recognise the names as being members of Säkert! So you know that you’re not dealing with some musical chopped liver here. Their debut contains originals rubbing shoulders with smart cover versions. Best of these on first impressions is the treatment of The Equals “Good Times Are Gone Forever”. Reduced to an assured Velvet Underground flavoured rumble.

You might not think you ever need to hear another cover of “Super Trouper” but I think you’ll appreciate the Kraftwerkised twist on the backdrop to this one. Love what they’ve done to El Perro Del Mar’s “Candy” too. Their own, reflective “Eyes of the Noble” and “Statues and Ponds” have an understated grace as does “Face Me Now”. The simple orchestration is the key to what makes this introduction to the duo all the more captivating.

Let TWH get a cool kind of mediaeval on you, you won’t regret a second of it.

Out now on the Stand By Your Band label.

The way it goes right now, I have to manipulate images in my lunch (half) hour in order to forward these back to the bunker to post here. A long road for a short cut you'll agree, but a necessary evil. I don't feel entirely in control of my own destiny right at the minute. This has all conspired to create a backlog that will be dealt with in due course. Theres no statute of limitations except for events and if I haven't been able to post something on your show or whatever then apologies for that.

In addition to trying to post info that I think our visitors will be interested in, I'm also receiving increasing amounts of guff and mp3's that have little or nothing to do with this universe. Many of these are simply deleted, I don't have the time to listen to everything, it's just not possible under the current regime.

If you DO want to submit something then drop me a line with brief info and I'll tell you whether or not you should proceed. Don't just clog up my incoming with upward of 6MB files without warning. Of course, there are exceptions and they know who they are but prospective NBT candidates need to understand that this is not a job or a vocation. It's merely a hard habit to break. Like fannying about with heroin or smoking or some other "disease".

I just got back from the dentist... and as expected, it’s gonna cost. So that put's the kibosh on attending Where The Action Is!

Free music, free gigs, free whatever... it doesn't work. If you can create the illusion that the swag can be "stolen" then maybe that will create a temporary frisson. But it will only be fleeting. The education process to correct the situation will be long and slow if indeed any lost ground can be made up.

With that in mind, I've decided to compile a list of five songs per week that you might care to hear and the links to where you can find them. And maybe even investigate further. These could be new, old or otherwise and will be based on nothing except my own gumption (or lack thereof).The assumed "lifespan" of a release date will be waived because I don't believe that a sell-by date applies to good music

The five items will be presented in alphabetical order so as not to indicate favouring one over another and there will be no commentary. Just the link. First five coming Friday 15th...

And here's what's going on at this year's Joeython!... (click on image to enlarge)

RIP - John Furia Jr

I've no idea if this'll save but let's have a go. Been out all day, decided I would start putting my Cameo card to work and saw the "Gran Torino"/"Million Dollar Baby" double bill. Not only was this long but they both kinda bummed me out for different reasons.

On the journey home, the Scotrail curse befell me and I had to wait a half hout in Linlithgow for a connection to go not very far. I'm not in even the second best mood and this fucker is telling me there's "no connection to the server".

And tomorrow I have a dentist appointment so that should start the week off just (J) dandy.

Did anyone catch the Jonna Lee London show on (I think) Thursday? Never got a chance to plug it. Hopefully a full UK jaunt night be on the cards?

The Ramones vs Linda Ronstadt (from So Many Records)

Yes, the film festival programme is better than last year (in my opinion) but there are logistical problems. In addition to the economic considerations, it crossed my mind to maybe take a week off to "do" the event properly. Idealistically that would be grand but I'm not sure that in the current climate, it would be such a smart move. If I factor out the "time off" concept then the timings of some key activities are loaded against those who may be travelling to get to Edinburgh after a working day.

It's a quandary. Would the money I can't afford to spend be better spent on upgrading my technology? So therein hangs the tale. I have until tomorrow to decide.

Thank Christ for BBc i-Player. It meant that I didn’t have to sit though “… Later” to see Booker T. I could take a scythe to the rest of the acts on there but there would be no point. The man himself was great and I hope that he’ll play over here and more specifically up north sometime soon. Even the now commonplace stage invasion by the show’s irritating mc couldn’t hamper the romp through “Hey Ya”. To have a guy of this stature on and for him to get close to the least airtime was a travesty. Next week, The Dolls and Mozzer are on the same show. So I’ll be firing up that new gizmo again then to check what goes or went down depending when I tune in.

It's the GFT/Cosmo

birthday celebrations

on Sunday, May 10th...

Details here!

So here we are again. Not at full pelt but getting there... still need to sort out the photoshop gremlins. Anyway, while I listen to Two White Horses debut that arrived today (Thanks Louvisa!) here's some infotainment...

The Monks in the Guardian including a quote from PJ. Note: "Out Of Our Tree" was not on the original Nuggets although it does appear on the CD box. I don't know, was it on the initial Rhino vinyl extension? Also, why does Gary Burger's name appear as Berger several times? A spellcheck folly?? Pretty trivial I know but let's get it right!!

The Jordan/Loney/A-Bones tag team will reprise their recent Nola triumph in the boroughs of New Jersey (Maxwells) and Brooklyn (Southpaw). 23rd and 24th July respectively.

Are you in Nashville? "Wir ain" Ms Laura Cantrell salutes the great Kitty Wells tomorrow evening...

Might be off the air today depending on what happens with trying to rectify the mailaise that's been dogging this thing of late. The formatting will hopefully bounce back of it's own accord but who the feck knows. Wish we luck.

Glasgow's BEEPFEST on Saturday is cancelled...

Just had a wee peek at the EIFF programme and it looks like there's a
hearty feast on the horizon. Roger Corman in person and retrospective
as well as Joe Dante. More as I digest the digest.

RIP - The Dirty Water Club


Update @ 08/05/09

"The last ever Dirty Water Club will be Friday 19th June with legendary American sixties garage band, GONN, with support from The Masonics and Speak & the Spells.

A small handful of future dates are being taken on by Dirty Water Records but as from 19 June the club as such will no longer exist.

The record label is going from strength to strength, however, with new releases more or less on a monthly basis. It is likely that the label will put on gigs from time to time, but not with any regularity."

It's always a struggle to get back into routine. Even after just one day off, it takes
some doing to get back to where you left things. Me anyway. This inability to do
anything in Photoshop or whatev is impeding my progress here as well. I did mean
to forward some stuff to work to try and manipulate during lunchtime but forgot
to do that before shutting down. What a divot. It was before 6am right enough but
that's still not a legitimate reason.

And then tomorrow, the Edinburgh International Film Festival programme
is unveiled. Let's hope the postal system doesn't bugger it up like they've managed
the last couple of times. Of course, it can be browsed online but that will never take
the place of going backwards and forwards through the printed blighter, trying to
figure out a schedule of sorts.

So I have some other stuff to attend to now, DD Banter dropped by with news of
Meg White and Jackson (son of Patti and Fred "Sonic") Smith.
This is as close to Hello magazine as this portal is likely to get.

Two days until the formatting bounces back (hopefully)...

Nothing better than some RJaP for a Tuesday teatime (GMT)
Clips shot by bgrrrlie