Rick Wakeman's Charity Bowie Tribute

Rick Wakeman has released versions of Life on Mars and Space Oddity in tribute to David Bowie. Rick played on the original versions of both tracks.

The proceeds are going the charity Macmillan Cancer Support.

You can buy a download from Amazon or iTunes - and there's a physical version too, which includes a free download.

January Listening

From my last.fm profile 

As you can see, still very much stuck in the 80s this month. 

First Song of the Year

There's a thing going around on one social media platform asking what the first song is that you have listened to in 2016.

This is mine -


My last.fm account claims it was something else but it wasn't. The track it says it is didn't play at all, so I played this one instead.

Anyway - here's to a music filled year. (Fingers crossed - three gigs booked in already!)

Forthcoming EP from Danny Fury's Tango Pirates

Danny Fury's musical pedigree includes Kill City Dragons and Lords Of The New Church among others. (I first met him when he came to International Pop Overthrow Liverpool as the drummer for the Plastic Heroes a couple of years ago.)

The new EP from his band Tango Pirates will be available from their webpage soon.  Click here.
Keep up to date with news about the release on their official facebook page, here, or their twitter feed here.
And have a listen to some of their tunes on their ReverbNation page, here.
Or their Soundcloud page here.
Perhaps you like the direct approach - here's the email address.

B-Leaguers debut coming in 2016

I am really looking forward to the debut release from the B-Leaguers.  Here's a little trailer from the band to whet the appetite! And you can find their facebook page here for more info.

Hurry up 2016! 

Just For Fun

1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. Press forward for each question.
3. Use the song title as the answer to the question even if it doesn't make sense. NO CHEATING!



1. How are you feeling today

Big Girls Don't Cry - The Four Seasons

2. Will you get far in life?

Try (Just A Little Bit Harder) - Janis Joplin

3. How do your friends see you?

Dead Ringer For Love - Meat Loaf

4.Will you get married?

The Riddle (Extended Mix) - Nik Kershaw

5. What is your best friend's theme song?

(Walkin' Thru The) Sleepy City - The Mighty Avengers

6.What is the story of your life? 

Deep Dark Truthful Mirror - Elvis Costello

7. What was high school like? 

The Banner Man - Blue Mink

8.How can you get ahead in life?

Go Back Home - Stephen Stills

9. What is the best thing about your friends?

She Likes Rock 'n' Roll - Dave Rave and the Governors

10. What is in store for this weekend?

Wounded - Nik Kershaw

11.To describe your grandparents?

One of a Kind - Dave Rave

12. How is your life going?

Dancing Girls - Nik Kershaw

13. What song will they play at your funeral?

Whatever You Want - Status Quo

14. How does the world see you?

The Whole Of The Moon - The Waterboys

15. Will you have a happy life?

Guilty - The Pearls

16. What do your friends really think of you?

As We Go Along - The Monkees

17. Do people secretly lust after you?

Watching The Detectives - Elvis Costello

18. How can I make myself happy?

I'm Bored - The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band

19. What should you do with your life?

The Quest - Donovan

20. Will you ever have children?

High and Lonesome - Jimmy Reed

21.If a man in a van offered you candy, what would you do?

That's The Way It Goes - Billy Fury

22. What does your mom think of you?

Wombling In The Rain - The Wombles

23.What is your deep dark secret?

Gonna Knock On Your Door - The Pete Best Four

24. What is your mortal enemy's theme song?

Feed My Frankenstein - Alice Cooper

25.What's your personality like?

The Needle and the Damage Done - Neil Young

26. Which song will be played at your wedding?

Circle Sky - The Monkees

27. If you were to become the Dictator of a small Eastern-European nation, would you be?

I'm So Worried - Monty Python

28. What are your aspirations?

Carry Me - Crosby Stills and Nash

29.What goes through your head when you wake up?

Footloose - Kenny Loggins

2015 Gigs In Review

Just a year end post to put all the links to my gigs stuff together.

Links to Live Reviews -
The Bonzos
Elvis Costello
King Crimson
Crosby Stills And Nash
Rick Wakeman and Gordon Giltrap
Donovan
Nik Kershaw, Go West and Carol Decker


Click here for all of my Live photographs in one neat collection. (Including from events not fully reviewed here)

Here's some of my favourite gig pics that I have taken this year.
 

Photos of Magenta and Touchstone from Leamington last night.

Great night. If you prefer to view these as a flickr set click here.

A Visit From The Buzzcocks

In work today we were visited by members of The Buzzcocks so I grabbed a quick picture with Steve Diggle.

Nik Kershaw and Go West with Carol Decker - Liverpool Philharmonic Hall 15th November 2015

I realise that quite a lot of my gigs tend to be proggy or rock, but I do like my pop music too. If you took a trip back in time and asked 13/14-year-old me what would be the best gig line up I may have replied with this one. Honestly, I poured over articles in Smash Hits, avidly watched them all on Saturday morning TV shows and Top of the Pops etc...

Anyway...I went to this gig with Emma who was rather excited at the prospect of seeing Nik Kershaw, more than I expected to be honest. I do love going to gigs with Emma, she really gets into them and dances away.

The show opened with Carol Decker who was a bit of a hero of mine when I was younger. I kind of wanted to be her when I grew up, she just seemed so rock and roll to my teenage self. She still sounds amazing and belted out the hits, filling the hall with sound. There were two new songs too which will lead me to investigate the new album as soon as I find a few minutes to do so. I barely had time to recover from hearing some of my favourite T'Pau tracks (Sex Talk! Yay!) before Go West and Nik Kershaw appeared on stage to round off the first part of the evening, returning after a short interval to entertain us a whole lot more! 

The set was a whole load of hits, with a smattering of covers. As Emma commented afterwards, you really do forget how many hits they clocked up between them. There was a lot of dancing going on too. It was a brilliant night! Thirty years seems sounds like a long time ago but it feels a lot less than that since I was singing into my hairbrush to these tunes and cutting pictures out of magazines to stick in my scrapbook. 

Highlights - 

 - Carol Decker and her magnificent coat

 - Finally getting to see Go West

 - Don Quixote.

 - Richard Drummie! 

 - Emma's face when Go West sang her favourite Nik Kershaw song.

 - Emma realising that Nik was the perfect sized pop star for her

 - The One And Only!
 - Okay....let's face it, the whole show was one big highlight. I couldn't even be annoyed by audience chatter and people checking facebook because I was having such a brilliant time!

Full collection of photos HERE.

Donovan - RNCM 17th October 2015

It had been a while since I'd been to see Donovan, and somehow the 50th Anniversary tour seemed to be the right time to go and see him again.

Sat cross-legged on a small stage with Kelly, his guitar, Donovan took us all on a trip back through his career. The first half included some more obscure early stuff, but he assured everyone that they were never more than a song or two away from something that they would know.

Purely acoustic until the final number, the set list was full of delights interspersed with tales from the past, all told with fondness and amusement at his own antics.

The show ended with Mellow Yellow, but instead of playing the song on the guitar the single was piped through the sound system while he sang along. There was a meet and greet afterwards, which gig buddy Alix stayed for, but I chose to skip out and head home.

Edit this setlist | More Donovan setlists

Rick Wakeman - Lancaster Priory 16th October 2015

I have fallen a little behind with things, the next couple of posts are a bit of a catch-up.

In October, I went off to see Rick Wakeman with my gig buddy Phil. The concert was in Lancaster Priory and was the first of what they hope will be several Prog at the Priory gigs.

Gordon Giltrap was the warm-up for the main show. I'd never seen him before, I loved his set and sense of humour.

The Wakeman section of the evening was  a bit different to usual. Most of the regular favourites were there, including the Nursery Rhyme Concerto (I think this was only the second time I have heard it live), but due to the Priory Choir being part of the show we got a bit more 1984 stuff. The soloist also featured on Amazing Grace and The Meeting.

Lovely setting, fine show and Rick got his hands on the church organ for Jane Seymour, excellent stuff.

Gordon Giltrap

Rick Wakeman

Crosby Stills and Nash - Manchester 21st September 2015

Venue - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
Gig Buddies - Stephen and Phil
Gig Booty - None, I'm still skint from my last gig!


I don't think I've been let down by a CSN live show since the first time I saw them in 1992. Last night was no exception (once the sound settled down after the first song sounding like we were in an empty warehouse). First thought as they walked on stage was how great Croz is currently looking. This makes me happy as he makes such lovely music and I want him to carry on for a good while yet.

I went to this gig, tired and achy and wondering if I'd make it the end but I needn't have worried, these guys have the power to lift me right up and by the end of the gig I was buzzing from the show.

So many great moments, but I've picked out a few highlights -

 - I love Southern Cross so getting to hear it live is always a bonus.

 - Graham dedicated Our House to the youngest member of the audience, who was seven.

 - There was a good helping of newer stuff from everyone. I particularly enjoyed the Stephen Stills offering Virtual World.

 - Almost Cut My Hair was epic, as usual.

 - The nod to George Harrison in Suite: Judy Blue Eyes at the end. (Stills plays a bit of With In You With Out You)

Some of the audience took a while to warm up, but others were very enthusiastic. I think the two girls dancing on the front row were sat near me last time I saw them at the Manchester Arena.

I'll leave you with some pictures.

Edit this setlist | More Crosby, Stills & Nash setlists

King Crimson - Salford 11th September

Venue - The Lowry, Salford
Gig Buddies - None.
Gig Booty - Two shirts, a tour book (with two CDs) and a badge set.


I still feel like I'm struggling to find the right words to describe the experience but here goes -


I'll be honest, it had never crossed my mind that I'd have a chance to seen Crimson - I'm reconciled with the fact that a lot of the people I like are either retired or no longer with us - so when it was announced that a new incarnation of the band was to play my home city how could I not leap at the chance? (And my actual home city, not Manchester for a change!)

The Lowry is very plush and purple inside and, at least from the perspective of being seated downstairs, it feels very intimate. I was at the side of the auditorium, a handful of rows from the back and it was still a good view. At this point I am compelled to point out how fab the audience was around me. The gentleman who ended up sat in front of me was pretty tall and he actually took the time to ask if he was obscuring my view too much and tried to sit as low as he comfortably could. I can't recall that ever happening at a gig before, at least not with someone I didn't know. (Tall friends at standing gigs usually let me stand in front of them)

Back to the gig - the stage set up was a tad different to most gigs. The three drummers were lined up on the front of the stage and rest of the ensemble was on a riser along the back, including Robert Fripp who spent the whole gig perched on a little chair appearing almost oblivious to the fact there was an audience most of the time.

At a lot of gigs, three drummers would have been overwhelming, especially in a small venue like this, but the sound was stunning in both the emotional and technical sense. The interplay of the percussion was fascinating to watch.

The audience around me took it all in with not much more than an intake of breath at the recognition of a favourite track or an excited hiss of quick whispers during the applause. Mesmerising is the word I keep coming back to about the experience. The was no idle chatter from the stage, no faux banter, just the music.

A friendly announcement at the beginning politely requested that technology be put away for the duration, and largely it was. There was a small flurry of attempts to grab a quick snap on mobiles while the band took their applause at the end of the night but other than that the wishes of the band were mostly respected.

A more than satisfactory setlist, a truly astonishing performance and a very appreciative audience made the whole thing my favourite gig of the year so far.

Edit this setlist | More King Crimson setlists

RIP Chris Squire

Elvis Costello - Liverpool 15th June 2015

Venue - Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Gig Buddies - Stephen and Ellie
Gig Booty - none, though I was tempted by guitar picks.








The ticket said no support, but there was indeed a support band in the form of Larkin Poe. I didn't see their support slot as I was waiting with Ellie's ticket to get in. However, they did come back on stage later to join Elvis for a few songs.

I love seeing Costello. I've never been disappointed by a gig. A quick count up reckons that I've seen him around eight times now, possibly nine.

Armed with a series of guitars, a piano, a fantastically dressed stage set, and an occasionally used loop pedal we were treated to a career-spanning set list. I'm sure I've expounded on the subject before so here's some photos and the set lists (both the one from the tech desk showing the song choices available and one from setlist.fm showing which ones were performed.)

Now I come to think about it She features in the set list somewhere, I just can't remember where (possibly after Meanest Gal) 

Full set of unedited photos on flickr here.

International Pop Overthrow Liverpool - some links and stuff.

Here's a bunch of links and stuff for the artists I have covered in my IPO Liverpool blogs this year.

Fun of The Pier on Facebook
One Two DIE Four on Facebook also  on Soundcloud and on YouTube
Honeybug on Facebook also on Soundcloud
The Dreamboats website also on Facebook  and on Soundcloud 
Kontiki Suite website also on Facebook
Blake Jones and The Trike Shop website
Las Annettes on Facebook 
The Suns on Facebook
Dave Rave on Facebook also on Bandcamp 

Other links -
International Pop Overthrow website also on Facebook
Minty and The Beeb Go Gigging
My IPO Liverpool photos

Videos: Dave Rave and Hailee Rose at International Pop Overthrow

From Tuesday 19th May at the Cavern Pub.


Beach House


Let's Shake and Come Together

Tuesday at International Pop Overthrow Liverpool 2015

In case you are wondering where Monday is, I didn't go to anything that day. 

Tuesday is the last hurrah of IPO Liverpool and the end of the festival as usual heralds the arrival of Mr Dave Rave. There's no time to miss those who have left at the weekend when the Raver train pulls into town. Anyway, more about him later.



First stop of the evening was the Cavern Back to see Dave Lloyd (of The Suns) and Lauren Daly. The set was mostly 70s easy listening covers with a couple of Suns tracks thrown in too. Crisp, clean guitar sounds and a laid back atmosphere, what more could you want from a Tuesday evening?






At the end of the Lloyd and Daly set it was a short dash across to the Cavern Pub where Dave Rave and co had gone on early. This year Dave was joined by a young singer named Hailee Rose, who has a fabulous voice, showcased in the final song which was a cover of Come Together by The Beatles. (There's video to come, stay tuned)


And then, alas, it was the end of my IPO shenanigans for this year.

Still to come

- a list of proper links and stuff for my favourite artists at the 2015 event. 

- the couple of videos (once I get them all uploaded) 

- and maybe something else. 

Sunday at International Pop Overthrow Liverpool 2015

Sunday has probably been my favourite day so far. What can I say, it involved a theremin!

Blake Jones and the Trike Shop returned to IPO Liverpool resplendent with said instrument. Their line up also involved a flautist.
 A set full of fab tunes was rounded off with a Theremin version of Goldfinger and the song Ross Used To Play Us His Frank Zappa Records which is kind of epic.

I edged forward down one side of the Cavern to grab footage of the theremin on my phone.






It was then time to pop across to the Cavern Pub where I planned to catch the band before Honeybug as I had seen a video of them from the night before.




Las Annettes are from Spain and specialise in catchy, 60s style pop ditties delivered with adorable dance routines. Most of their songs are in Spanish, I videoed one of two that were in English, and all of them sound like they should be well known classics. They were so much fun to watch, and Andy the sound man loved them.







I rounded off my Sunday with the second Honeybug set of the event.

I think by now everyone knows how bias I am about any incarnation of this band. I have known Ni since the first or second year the band played at IPO, back in the days when I worked on the merch stall. Another cracking set, possibly the slightly better of the two this year. I overheard some nice things from people stood around me, and  when they were done one chap even asked me if they would be playing anywhere that day. Sadly however once done it was time for them to head home.

Sunday at IPO is full of goodbyes. Minty and the Beeb left after the Honeybug set too. And several others. Of course some folks are still about like Helen and Mark from Fun Of The Pier, and Dave Rave has arrived and a few others are still to come for the final day tomorrow. I think one of my favourite things about the IPO event is that over the years I have met so many fabulous people because of it and forged good friendships along the way.