RIP - Harry Morgan

RIP - Dobie Gray

Serious Drugs?

RIP - Keef Hartley

RIP - Howard Tate

RIP - Hubert Sumlin

Thanks to Rob for this link via fb... see you at the show tonight.

Positive proof that this generation could indeed be our salvation.

Thanks to KP and Duglas T for the timeline antics.

I imagine that a load of you will be heading to see Jack Oblivian in London tonight? There are a lot of shows here, there and everyplace. I'm somewhat out of the loop. Winter has really hit with a bang today although thus far not like last year at this time. I'm sure there are things that I need to bang on about but time is very tight. And the flesh and the spirit are week as one contemplates the seasonal madness.

Wreckless Eric and Amy Rigby in Malmö, Sweden!

Sankt Gertrud, Östergatan 7 on December 7th at
8.00 pm. Tickets at the door.

No time to document my comings and goings at present but Mr Percival ventured out to see King Mob @ 229 The Venue in Great Portland Street, London W1 – 17 November 2011.



Glen Matlock’s career to date has included playing with many of his own personal favourite bands and artistes – ranging from the Faces through to Iggy Pop. His latest venture is King Mob, featuring the Pretenders Martin Chambers on drums, Steve Parsons aka Snips (ex Sharks) on vocals plus guitarists Sixteen and Chris Spedding, with Matlock himself of course on bass duties.

I’d had the band’s debut album for about 10 days before this first London gig and was really looking forward to seeing them. The album has a 1950s classic rock’n’roll sound – packed full of energy, excellent riffs, a raw edge, atmospheric vocals from Snips and some great catchy songs.

As I walked to the venue I realised that it was literally a stone’s throw across the Euston Road from where the Thames Television studios used to be where the Pistols achieved national notoriety on 1st December 1976 when they appeared on the “Today” show hosted by Bill Grundy. Spedding and Matlock go back a very long way, with Spedding having produced the first Pistols studio demos back in May 1976. 35 years on, when many bands are struggling to pull a crowd, it was great to see a good turnout with fans travelling from as far as the Netherlands. The 229 is an excellent venue with a high stage and good sound. The support band, The Bermondsey Joyriders accompanied by the legendary MC5 manager John Sinclair on spoken word, warmed the crowd up nicely.

King Mob took to the stage around 9.45pm for their third ever gig, after shows in Carlisle and Bristol earlier in the week. They went straight into ‘Lover of High Renown’, also the albums opening track. I was amazed at Snips as a front man. Very eye catching with his hair pushed up almost into a bouffant hair do – strolling around the stage and grabbing everyone’s attention. After the third song, ‘Vah Vah Voom’, Martin Chambers left his drum kit to introduce the band with a white towel draped around his neck like a boxer in the ring. This is a band that clearly enjoys each other’s company and playing live as could be seen from the smiles from the whole group.

‘American Slaves’ was up next, written by Snips and one of the stand out tracks on the album with its driving beat, ‘I said hip – hip – hip hooray for the USA’. I can see the band being a big hit in the US, especially if they’re able to dip into an audience with a love of bands like the Stray Cats and attendees of events like the Rockabilly Rave and the annual Coney Island festival.

The set closed with ‘China Waters’, ‘Selene Selene’ and ‘King Mob’ with ‘Who’s Chasing Who’ saved for the encore. All in all a highly enjoyable night – great bands playing in a great venue in front of an enthusiastic audience. What more could anyone want?

My lasting memory of King Mob is of a group of talented musicians playing music that they all enjoy for the fun of it. Exactly how it should be – but so rarely is. Have a listen to the album and go to see them if they play near you; you’ll not be disappointed.

Martin Percival

The Cramps box set of 45's is delayed because a fire destroyed part of the manufacturing plant on Sunday evening. So be patient. Everything comes to those who wait. Eventually. I imagine that old Santa is a bit perplexed right about now as a result.

Cool photo exhibit in Glasgow that includes shots of the band from Glasgow Tech. thanks to Stephen Pastel for the heads up.

The Poets will be on at 10.30pm on Friday night at Stereo according to Holly at EWO. It's gonna be rammed so make sure you have a ticket because it's unlikely that there'll be any within sniffing distance of the door.

Bit of intermittent activity at the moment, somewhat out of my hands but there you go.

Couple of things coming up that you might like to try and connect with…

Eric and Amy continue to campaign across this sceptic isle, finishing in Glasgow this coming Sunday at Woodend Bowling Club.

The upcoming Rezillos shows in December see the advent of a new single – a 7” available at shows and from the website only – entitled “Out Of This World”. Download too for those that dabble with that particular type of malaise. Hear it (and order it) here.

The Babba-RaRa-CuCu-DaDas are playing in Spain this weekend. Info here.

and last but not least (perhaps) - RIP - Ken Russell

I don’t ask for much from you but The Dahlmanns "Candypants" and "I Love You Baby (But I Hate Your Friends)" have both been nominated for "Coolest Song of the Year" on Little Steven’s Underground Garage.

It would be grand if you could chip in and join the campaign to have Dahlmannia sweep the planet. Voting begins on November 25th (Black Friday) and will end on December 23rd. You can put down your cyber X once every 24 hours during that time.

It’s Thanksgiving out in the US. Perfectly conceivable that countrywide thanks should be given to the Norton Records kids that begat such a feast of good times. With some great music thrown in for good measure. Oh, that’s not what it’s about?
Well it should be.

Anyway, been back a week and still all discombobulated is my mode but it an OK way. The silly season and all the daftness that brings is gearing up too. This weekend is the first bookend of the Eric and Amy shows at Union Chapel in the company of some Norwegian dignitaries. This time tomorrow I’ll be Kings Cross bound if not actually there by now.

So can’t or shouldn’t grumble on the gallivanting front. Plenty else to kvetch about though.

For instance, that the E + A show in Manchester tonight is cancelled because the organiser seemingly couldn't arrange a concert in a venue. or words to that effect. But they are on Marc Riley's show tonight so hopefully this is just a temporary setback.

There's always one, isn't there.

If you missed The Poets on Vic's show the other night, there's still time to listen...