November Pottacast

Side A/B Players

I’m sure you have all been plagued with anxiety, nervously sweating, jiggling your legs and biting your nails waiting for the November ‘’pottacast”. Well, whoop with delight and punch the air, because my friends HERE IT IS.

I’ve managed to miss a lot of gigs I wanted to see this month, The(e) (they should adopt the extra ‘e’)Warlocks, Caribou, Holy Fuck, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals to name but a few. If you saw them any of them, without a hint of bitterness, I hope you enjoyed ‘em.

As far as seeing ‘Holy Fuck’ goes, I've fallen foul of that Fibbers [York’s toilet venue] 'coming soon' poster. The Fuck (as their family, no doubt, know and love them) were listed under the aforementioned ‘Coming Soon’ banner and I foolishly took the 'coming soon' tag as meaning they would be playing at the venue in the near future. How, err, foolish.

A clearer examination of Fibbers 'actually playing' listings shows no sign of The Fuck - just a miserable selection of local, tribute and local tribute acts.

Through no effort of my own I have managed to pick up a ticket for MBV, June 2008 (thanks Mr. C - indebted). Our own attempts to pounce like highly (sensually) aroused Tigers on the first tickets available for these shows failed miserably due to some sensually depredating beers in The(e) Sun in Acomb.

My Bloody Valentine make me recall a number of embarrassing incidents in 1989. A friend and I, in that very year – and for at least one after – regular posed as either journalists or owners of a small independent label. We managed to get into most London gigs this way, interviewing the band and so wasting hours of their time and ours under the pretence that an interview would be published in some tawdry rag. Or, expressing an interest in the support band and promising them a ‘split 7”’ with The(e – I actually think they were Thee) Sperm Wails or some similar doudy London band we had once nodded at in the queue at Subterania. Steve Albini once mistook us for the Legendary Stud Brothers ( late eighties Melody Maker hacks). We were neither, legendary, brothers or for that matter ‘Studs’.

One band who fell foul of this, ho hum – hustle – were My Bloody Valentine at my favourite venue, The Fulham Greyhound. All four of the poor beggars had to be interviewed by my compatriot, a man with a very large hooter whose name escapes me and I. I remember very little, thankfully, of the interview. At one point, intentionally, I did make all four Valentines laugh with a question about Wallpaper, however I’m quite sure there were several other incidents where the laughing was on the other side of their lovely indie faces. I believe my colleague also asked Debbie Goodge out. There is tape of this somewhere (Franc, NOTE: if it’s not destroyed yet – please incinerate in a vat of burning diesel). There is also a story involving Kevin Shields, the ULU and some ‘back-door’ action. It’s not as interesting as it sounds though. And, on second thoughts it should have inspired some sort of 'Londoners' joke about going down the tube at Goodge Street.

Here is the ‘cast. Enjoy.

Listen/Download Side A:

Archangel – Burial - 4:02

New Violence - White Williams - 2:51

Get Mad - Kyle Andrews - 4:35

Lovesong Lake - Candy Bars - 4:26

A WOT – Orgone - 5:33

About You - Clara Hill - 4:13

Right on the Malthus - The Capstan Shafts - 1:39

Dark Soldier - Roland Appel - 7:17

Glitter Pills – HEALTH - 3:38

Matron - The Orb vs Meat Beat Manifesto - 7:13

Listen/Download Side B:

Remembrance (Ulrich Schnauss Remix) – Dragons -4:34

Kaleid – Boxcutter -5:31

Fyrepond – Kiln - 4:17

My Dove, My Lamb – Phosphorescent - 9:28

You Little Superstar - Avenging Force - 3:29

Rockstone – Native - 4:24

Baby Let's Play Wet - Julian Cope - 2:27

Drool - Black Dice - 5:52

Saint (Heinrich Mueller Z Version) - Bochum Welt - 5:27

October Pottacast

Nothing halloween themed here *... Infact the whole thing is fairly 'upbeat' for me. Tracks from an artist that I once bought batteries for (Thurston Moore), my new favourite band (Holy Fuck) and a band I only checked out 'cos they share a name with my favoured boozer (that is The Acorn... not The Octopus Project... and no, I've never checked out somewhere called Sunset Rubdown).

*just noticed I've included a track (unitentionally) by Scandanavian metal-ers 'Witchcraft'
...

Listen/Download Side A

My Gold The Pimps Of Joytime 3:56

Get UR Freak On Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra 2:21

Bees Bein' Strugglin' The Octopus Project 3:48

The Taming of the Hands That Came Back to Life Sunset Rubdown 6:07

Flood The Acorn 4:24

Kiss Scout Niblett 6:11

Leva Witchcraft 4:36

Don' t Stop AIFF 3:59

Royal Gregory Holy Fuck 3:52

Silver>Blue Thurston Moore 5:53

Listen/Download Side B.

Don And Sherri (Hot Chip Version) Matthew Dear 4:16

Primitive Róisín Murphy 4:50

In the City Chromatics 7:09

Only One Farah 5:56

Lisa Lân Cerys Matthews 4:06

Remembrance (Ulrich Schnauss Remix) Dragons 4:34

Marrakech (Soul) The Quantic Soul Orchestra 3:24

Saddle Up My Pony Charalambides 7:15

Repatriation Dennis Brown 6:09

September Pottacast

Apologies this is posted twice and neither will delete! Nearly the end of the month, however here is the September Pottacast, once again a side A and B.

Getting straight to business with Canon Blue [itunes and emusic]and 'Odds and Ends'. Ignore the rather sixth form ramblings on last.fm about him. See what I mean? I'm sure I've read he is from Nashville, but the more I think about it, the more I think that can't be true. He sounds as far removed as an artist from Nashville, in my mind at least should sound.

'Is there a ghost' has been heavily blogged. I'm not a big Band of Horses fan. Having said that I think this a fine single and there is always one stunning track on each of their records ('Weed Party' on the last). Find them here at itunes.

The Galactic record is incredibly good leftfield Hip-Hop. Tragically, I'm a big fan of 'outros' and the Bonobo version of Alice Rusell's 'Mirror-Mirror...' has one that produced a satisfying nod from me at least.

Caribou [emusic], Banhart [itunes], Damien Jurado [itunes] and Iron and Wine [itunes] don't need much of an intro. The latters track has a astrange dub feel to it, hence the lead into Ticklah. He has some great honky dub on his side that is well worth hunting out. The Maria Hansen record is beautiful and Akron, odd as usual. The track here is probably the most straightforward. Nothing as good on this album though as their last.

Listen/Download Side A:

Odds And Ends - Canon Blue 3:30

Is There a Ghost - Band Of Horses 3:02

Second and Dryades w/ Big Chief Monk Bourdreaux – Galactic 2:46

Mirror Mirror On the Wolf Tell The Story Right (Bonobo mix) - Alice Russell 5:15

Stones - Caribou 1:54

Saved – Devandra Banhart - 5:33

I Am The Greatest Of All Liars - Damien Jurado 1:38

Wolves (Song of the Shepherd's Dog) - Iron & Wine 4:59

Queen Dub – Ticklah 3:31

All Clear - Maria Hansen 4:28

Ed Is a Portal - Akron/Family 7:31

Listen/download Side B:

As Sparks Fly Upward – Devastations 4:03

The Devil - PJ Harvey 2:57

Clear Path To The Future - Davis Redford Triad - 4:13

All the Way Down - Oakley Hall - 5:16

Viva Forever – Jim O'Rourke 6:14

Hymn - Asaf Sirkis The Inner Noise 7:40

The Trees so High - Symphonic Ballad in A minor:: Andante tr - Guildford Philharmonic Choir 4:38

Start To Play - Christian Prommer Remix pt.2 (Piano Mix) - Wagon Cookin' 5:59

Hold Your Secrets To Your Heart - Miracle Fortress 3:35

Theme From The Dead Letter Lounge – The Dead Letter Lounge 1:36

September Pottacast

Nearly the end of the month, however here is the September Pottacast, once again a side A and B.

Getting straight to business with Canon Blue [itunes and emusic]and 'Odds and Ends'. Ignore the rather sixth form ramblings on last.fm about him. See what I mean? I'm sure I've read he is from Nashville, but the more I think about it, the more I think that can't be true. He sounds as far removed as an artist from Nashville, in my mind at least should sound.

'Is there a ghost' has been heavily blogged. I'm not a big Band of Horses fan. Having said that I think this a fine single and there is always one stunning track on each of their records ('Weed Party' on the last). Find them here at itunes.

The Galactic record is incredibly good leftfield Hip-Hop. Tragically, I'm a big fan of 'outros' and the Bonobo version of Alice Rusell's 'Mirror-Mirror...' has one that produced a satisfying nod from me at least.

Caribou [emusic], Banhart [itunes], Damien Jurado [itunes] and Iron and Wine [itunes] don't need much of an intro. The latters track has a astrange dub feel to it, hence the lead into Ticklah. He has some great honky dub on his side that is well worth hunting out. The Maria Hansen record is beautiful and Akron, odd as usual. The track here is probably the most straightforward. Nothing as good on this album though as their last.

Back soon with a more psychedelic Side B.

Odds And Ends - Canon Blue 3:30

Is There a Ghost - Band Of Horses 3:02

Second and Dryades w/ Big Chief Monk Bourdreaux – Galactic 2:46

Mirror Mirror On the Wolf Tell The Story Right (Bonobo mix) - Alice Russell 5:15

Stones - Caribou 1:54

Saved – Devandra Banhart - 5:33

I Am The Greatest Of All Liars - Damien Jurado 1:38

Wolves (Song of the Shepherd's Dog) - Iron & Wine 4:59

Queen Dub – Ticklah 3:31

All Clear - Maria Hansen 4:28

Ed Is a Portal - Akron/Family 7:31

Jingle- Rangles

There seems to be some call on the Guardian Football Weekly forum for the safe return of the jingle.

According to podhost James Richardson they have been removed, not because they became 'a little tedious' , but as men in suits realised they may infringe certain copyright laws.

You can still find some here in the Old Jingles Home.

Funky16Corners

Excellent post here on the always brilliant funky16corners blog. The guy is 45, which next to 33 and for those who make it, 78 are pretty important ages for him as the fella is a DJ with a somewhat exhaustive knowledge of his genres. He was probably born between 12:00 and 12:10. Happy birthday.

The whole blog is always full of inspirational soul and funk. Every week there is a new album length mix of tracks - available mixed or as zipped up mp3's - with posts highlighting artists and styles slotted in amongst them.

Gay Mountaineers, Terry Scott and other 'Snuff'.

I still sometimes wake in the night in a cold sweat, mildly traumatized by a night with the two bastions of late eighties/early nineties British hardcore that were Snuff and Leatherface. As a loose collective of music, (but not necessarily street) wise eighteen year olds, two brothers (lets call them the "Pycrafts", for that - put simply - was their surname) and I decided to promote a gig with these chirpy south Londoners (Snuff) and dour Mackems (Leatherface) in Godalming, Surrey. Later, I will try and explain the logic that preceded this hideous miscalculation of judgements.

The gig took place in a prefabricated hut that rested itself uncomfortably upon the shoulder of a municipal car-park. The hut was more familiar to hosting playgroups, alcoholic anonoymous meetings and (I must add) as an eight year old, I once saw TV's Matthew Kelly open a Jumble sale there on a Saturday morning. I missed Swap-Shop for that - it was worth it though as I saw Terry Scott haggling with an old lady over the price of a worn pair of brown brogues. I still think he had failed to see the "AA meet cancelled" sign. The "Wilfred Noyce Centre", as the prefabricated tin rathole, that definitely did not have any asbestos in the roof, was monikered was christened after a gay British mountaineer. It was no gesture of a 1980's local authority promotion of alternate lifestyles that the centre was christened after a gay mountaineer. This was Godalming, borough of Waverley, County of Surrey. Liberalism was not permitted. There were no copies of "Jenny lives with Eric and Martin" in Waverley's school libraries. There wasn't even a 'Nelson Mandela Walk' in the Godalmings A-Z . It was pegged the "Wilfed Noyce" as the town could not bear anything else named after it's most famous son, the disgraced ("forget the women and children stuff..."), then rechampioned ("Phillips worked tirelessly to send messages to other ships on the wireless to enlist their assistance with the rescue...") chief radio operator of the Titanic, Jack Philips. There were simply no other deceased yet celebrated figures the town could offer up to lend their name to a prefabricated lean-to on the edge of a municipal car park, so a gay mountaineer it had to be. If Terry Scott had already passed away, this would of course been an entirely different matter, and the "Noyce" would have undoubtedly been known as the "Scott".

So, after failing to land pop-punk troubadours the Senseless Things and negotiations had hit a hiatus over the Charlatans (Ian Brown had said they were his favourite band so suddenly they wanted £375 AND 75% of the door - outrageous) the Pycraft brothers and I settled on an opening night at the Noyce with Snuff and Leatherface supported by my own band Sleeper. At this point, I must add just in case you didn't know, that I wasn't in the Sleeper that had a modicum of success during the glory days of Brit-Pop. However, after promoting this very gig in the Neals Yard Rough Trade shop ("which is the nearest tube to Godalming?... "you could try Collier's Wood, mate") I would still swear that Louise Wener nipped in to check out the new releases, saw our poster and decided to nick the band name Sleeper. She has never denied this.

Financially the night was an outrageous success. Although, in almost every other way, it can only be catergorised as an unmitigated disaster. Trouble began after booking, what the singer of Snuff described as a "Polish" PA. After leafing through the 'Public Address Systems" section of the Yellow Pages I had settled on the aforementioned 'eastern european' system from a company called "Show Sound". I had negotiated a good price for what was described by Mr. Show Sound as a '5K rig'. Unfortunately semantics had tainted my choice of PA. It became apparent that the "show" in his organisations handle referred to the agricultural variety rather than the musical type to which I equated it. The system had arrived in the back of a flatbed land rover, and once the two tin cans had been connected by pieces of string to the amplifier, one could barely hear oneself think. The bands refused to play. I pleaded with them to play. They cancelled the gig. They cancelled it again, then said they would play. Snuff and the less than pleased Frankie Stubbs of Leatherface asked me for the fifteenth time how long it took to ship "that heap of shite here from Gdansk" and "can you ask Lech Walesa to give us a bit more in these monitors?". They refused to play again. Then they saw the amount of people waiting in the car park to see them, hundreds, and I think pity got the better of them and they said they'd go ahead with the gig.

The doors opened about two hours late. This thankfully, gave us the chance to cancel Sleepers set. The guitarist had done to much acid and put simply, just wasn't really up for it. I remember nothing about the gig itself, aside from the look of pure evil that Frankie Stubbs reserved for me from the stage. What I do remember is having what amounted to a grand in cash stuffed inside my leather jacket all through the gig.

When it ended and, the time came to pay the bands, the crowd disappeared and so did my co-promoters, the Pycraft brothers. I was left with two pissed off bands their assorted co-horts and a shedload of cash hidden inside a coat. They wanted more money than we had promised them. I sat in a corner of the Noyce, surrounded by them. They said they had seen how much we had taken - I gave them some more money. Where were the fucking Pycrafts? They said we had taken more money than that, they wanted more. I gave them more. I said I was cleaned out. I'd paid them as much as the Charlatans had wanted. They still wanted more as the night had been such an ordeal. I didn't really have any choice but to give them more cash - apart from gettting kicked around the centres dressing room (I bet Matthew Kelly never acted like this, he left happy with a pair of green trousers and a copy of the board game 'Operation'(some pieces missing)'). I gave them more money. Eventually they left. I breathed a sigh of relief and found a pretty decent whack of cash inside the lining of my jacket.

I've never been able to think of Snuff or particularly Frankie Stubbs Leatherface in quite the same way since. I was slightly suprised to see that the latters 'Mush' has just been re-released. And also that it sounded quite good. Not that I would go as far as to say that it was a British Zen Arcade, like some have. Snuff were always a pretty good laugh, bran flakes, kwik fit fitter and assorted pop hits (Tiffany's "I think we're alone now" played at hypeer fast speeds) although there was really only one joke there. However, musically, they had a couple of inspired punk moments - I still like the track below. And if you ever see either band, that extra whack of cash went a long time ago.

Snuff - Ecstacy

Buy: fatwreck records
Buy: itunes
Buy: emusic
Buy: amazon

Listen: Leatherface - I Don't Want to be the One to Say

Buy: itunes
Buy: emusic
Buy: amazon