Up early, head home. Ease into cold sheets, dream of a distant night in a small club in the heart of a foreign city. I was dressed toe up in raven black mohair, save for Stout brogues, white shirt, dark tie, silver watch and wicked smile. Champagne was cascading from the heavens like an argent waterfall with diamond flecks landing on my by now roughened tongue. I let the high priestess of poesy flutter to a halt and then I rose up onto the bar and declaimed.
The gods in their crumbling citadel wept, the angels of the golden pyramids blushed and the traitors of the devil’s empire plucked out their own eyes in anger. I finished. Dismounted. Ordered another bottle. Flung open the doors, invited the chilly hordes in from the street as I passed them on the stairs.
Soho was empty and my heart was full.
Friday, 17 September 2010
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Le Tour de France
What has the Tour de France got to do with England? Lots actually. One of the things I miss about England is Europe! Being able to pop over for a weekend at the drop of a beret.
The Tour shows France in its best light, whether that light is shrouded by striking farmers, clogged up roads, bad driving, good weather, beautiful scenery, amazing wines or not!
The racing itself is astonishing, anyone who has gone down Box Hill without using breaks can testify to the potential danger of cycling - you don't need 250cc of Vespa between your legs to do some serious damage to flesh and bone!
So, all hail the greats: Merckx, Hinault, Indurain, Armstrong and every mad crazy domestique, sprinter, multi-coloured jersey wearing one of them!
The Tour shows France in its best light, whether that light is shrouded by striking farmers, clogged up roads, bad driving, good weather, beautiful scenery, amazing wines or not!
The racing itself is astonishing, anyone who has gone down Box Hill without using breaks can testify to the potential danger of cycling - you don't need 250cc of Vespa between your legs to do some serious damage to flesh and bone!
So, all hail the greats: Merckx, Hinault, Indurain, Armstrong and every mad crazy domestique, sprinter, multi-coloured jersey wearing one of them!
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Blue Bell Hill
Blue Bell Hill is a chalk hill between Maidstone and Rochester in the English county of Kent. It overlooks the River Medway and is part of the North Downs. Settlements on the hill include Walderslade; and Blue Bell Hill and Kit's Coty villages. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries much of the hill was quarried for chalk.
The south west side of Blue Bell Hill is a Site of Special Scientific Interest as it harbours several rare plant species. A picnic area serves as a rest point for walkers on the North Downs Way which runs along the top of the hill whilst the prehistoric trackway of the Pilgrims' Way skirts its foot. A modern crematorium also surmounts the hill as does the Bluebell Hill transmitting station, which comprises five steel lattice towers, each approximately 45–50 metres in height.
The A229 dual carriageway follows the route of a former Roman road and climbs the hill, today linking the M2 and M20 motorways. High Speed 1 also runs beneath the hill, via the North Downs Tunnel, and archaeological work in advance of it uncovered a Neolithic long house on its slopes.
Which is all very nice but I like it most because my Dad loved to go up there and just stare out over the Medway and over to the North Downs.
The south west side of Blue Bell Hill is a Site of Special Scientific Interest as it harbours several rare plant species. A picnic area serves as a rest point for walkers on the North Downs Way which runs along the top of the hill whilst the prehistoric trackway of the Pilgrims' Way skirts its foot. A modern crematorium also surmounts the hill as does the Bluebell Hill transmitting station, which comprises five steel lattice towers, each approximately 45–50 metres in height.
The A229 dual carriageway follows the route of a former Roman road and climbs the hill, today linking the M2 and M20 motorways. High Speed 1 also runs beneath the hill, via the North Downs Tunnel, and archaeological work in advance of it uncovered a Neolithic long house on its slopes.
Which is all very nice but I like it most because my Dad loved to go up there and just stare out over the Medway and over to the North Downs.
Friday, 7 May 2010
Thursday, 25 March 2010
Poll Result - Breakfast
1. Eggs, Mushrooms, Bacon, Sausage, Toast, Fried Bread, The Works...
2. 4 rounds white toast & marmite
3. Who cares
4. Etc...
2. 4 rounds white toast & marmite
3. Who cares
4. Etc...
Crap new hotels
Complete with a Wi-fi hub and continental options. The Great English Hotel just got a whole lot more sophisticated! Didn't it?
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
Top 3 Caffs
I know that it is all the rage and everyone seems to be blogging about the best café’s, it’s a bit like stand up comics in the 90’s going on about ‘Spangles’ and ‘Ice Breaker chocolate bars’. But I do miss them, café’s (and Spangles too actually).
Sydney has got one or two fine café’s, not least the magnificent and wonderful Maisy’s on Military Road, Neutral Bay (a stumble down the street from The Oaks!). But that is for another day/another blog. So here are three to be getting on with…
ALFREDO’S
My favourite café was Alfredo’s on Islington Green, where I went for breakfast on my wedding day. Despite the obvious last meal of a condemned man scenario, I always loved the whole brilliant approach to how you got served. “Me Mum’s clocked ya”, were the words you longed to hear.
In all the times I went to Alfredo’s, I never once got short-changed, forgotten, the wrong order, offered an egg-plant on crusty ciabatta, was kept waiting for a seat longer than 10 minutes, could see out of the steamed up windows. It was the ideal place to hide away for mornings on end in a fog of toast and the sports pages.
MACARI’S
At the top of Terminus Road. Macari’s was the place to go before the beach and Macari’s was the place to go after the beach. Two fried egg, two slices, mushrooms, beans, fried bread and a cup of tea. Sit down on the orange seats either with friends or a copy of ‘Moonraker’ and prepare for the joys of sunbathing ahead. When the day was done we’d repair back to Macari’s for a cappuccino and maybe an ice cream or some more toast, the juke box would play ‘Theme from Mantrap’ by ABC and we’d plot and play the evening ahead.
Check out Macari’s at the excellent http://www.classiccafes.co.uk/eastbournespecial.htm
THE SPARTAN
Run by Tony & George. We lived in the Spartan Bar & Grill in the early 80's. Hunched over a coffee for hours on end or demolishing a plate of toast in double time (Giro day!). We spent so much time in their, sitting in the window seats, smoking for England, spilling sugar/coffee and tea all over the table, folding and refolding the serviette’s, bouncing on the brown vinyl seats or just watching the comings and goings at Chaterlands.
We became part of the family almost. A mate moved into the flat over the café, we had poker nights, strange trips, early mornings and lazy afternoons there. We even recorded an album of background music under the name ‘The Blue Curacao’ that they actually played over the tinny sound system. (Track names I can vaguely remember were; ‘Two Coffees please Tony’, ‘Can I pay you next time I’m in’, ‘Hey, get your feet off the seats’ and the epic cocktail jazz psych freak out ‘Spartan Special Grill’!
Sydney has got one or two fine café’s, not least the magnificent and wonderful Maisy’s on Military Road, Neutral Bay (a stumble down the street from The Oaks!). But that is for another day/another blog. So here are three to be getting on with…
ALFREDO’S
My favourite café was Alfredo’s on Islington Green, where I went for breakfast on my wedding day. Despite the obvious last meal of a condemned man scenario, I always loved the whole brilliant approach to how you got served. “Me Mum’s clocked ya”, were the words you longed to hear.
In all the times I went to Alfredo’s, I never once got short-changed, forgotten, the wrong order, offered an egg-plant on crusty ciabatta, was kept waiting for a seat longer than 10 minutes, could see out of the steamed up windows. It was the ideal place to hide away for mornings on end in a fog of toast and the sports pages.
MACARI’S
At the top of Terminus Road. Macari’s was the place to go before the beach and Macari’s was the place to go after the beach. Two fried egg, two slices, mushrooms, beans, fried bread and a cup of tea. Sit down on the orange seats either with friends or a copy of ‘Moonraker’ and prepare for the joys of sunbathing ahead. When the day was done we’d repair back to Macari’s for a cappuccino and maybe an ice cream or some more toast, the juke box would play ‘Theme from Mantrap’ by ABC and we’d plot and play the evening ahead.
Check out Macari’s at the excellent http://www.classiccafes.co.uk/eastbournespecial.htm
THE SPARTAN
Run by Tony & George. We lived in the Spartan Bar & Grill in the early 80's. Hunched over a coffee for hours on end or demolishing a plate of toast in double time (Giro day!). We spent so much time in their, sitting in the window seats, smoking for England, spilling sugar/coffee and tea all over the table, folding and refolding the serviette’s, bouncing on the brown vinyl seats or just watching the comings and goings at Chaterlands.
We became part of the family almost. A mate moved into the flat over the café, we had poker nights, strange trips, early mornings and lazy afternoons there. We even recorded an album of background music under the name ‘The Blue Curacao’ that they actually played over the tinny sound system. (Track names I can vaguely remember were; ‘Two Coffees please Tony’, ‘Can I pay you next time I’m in’, ‘Hey, get your feet off the seats’ and the epic cocktail jazz psych freak out ‘Spartan Special Grill’!
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Footballers as bands
The Battle of the Pun-dits (AKA Deco & the Bunnymen)!
1. Deco & the Bunnymen
2. Jo Division
3. Brian Roy Division!
4. A Certain Raich Carter
5. Rip Giggs & Panic
6. franz RIO ferdinand,
7. the STEVE stone roses,
8. Hawkwind 70's dirge DA SILVA machine
9. Staring at the Ruud van Nistelrooys
10. Torres Amos
11. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Eric Young
12. Nat King Scholes.
13. The Keownly Ones
14. Mark Hughesie and the Banshees.
15. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Ji-Sung Park
16. Beckenbauerhaus.
17. Everything But Robbie Earle
18. Eminemerson
19. Jean Tiganarama?
20. Van Den Hauwe That's What I Call Music
21. Ian Rush
22. Gillan
23. Scharnhorst Hrubesch...
24. Cafu Fighters
25. Im-Hagi-nation
26. Maradona Summer
27. Zubizaretta James
28. Roberto Carlos Santana...
29. Gilberto Sullivan.
30. Pele-dtron
31. Dugarry Glitter.
32. Youri Bjorkaeff.
33. Louis S-Aha
34. Romario Hara
35. Kanu West.
36. Eto'o-ny Bennett.
37. The Stiles Council
38. Luis Elbow-amorte
39. Rage Against The Maniche
40. Hamilton BoChannon
41. Ocean Colour Gilzean
42. Klinsmannic Street Preachers
43. Rumenniggers With Attitude
44. The Frinks.
45. Robert Fleck of Seagulls
46. Ashley Cole &The Commotions
47. The Jo-Boxers
48. Gerry Francis & The Pacemakers
49. Martin Peters & Franny Lee
50. A guy called Steven Gerrard
51. Tony Adamski
52. Gunther Netzer Ebb
53. Cabaret John Hare
54. Eric B and Jock Stein
55. Ian Wrighteous Brothers
56. Colin Bell & Sebastien
57. Barry Whitesnake
58. Frankie Lampard goes to Hollywood
59. Joe Cole &The Commotions
60. Lee Perry Groves
61. U-Roy Keane
62. I-Roy Hodgson
63. PreFabregas Sprout
64. Ledley King Tubby
65. David Lee Scratch Chris Perry
66. Bananarama and the tierry-hen-ree.
67. Robin Van Persie Sledge
68. Chuck Ribery
69. The Cisse Sisters?
70. The Alan Brezillos?
71. Eric CantoNas
72. Plunky and The Hoeness of Juju
73. The Pretty Frings
74. Dr Feelgudjohnson
75. Trevor Brooking Curtis
76. david Ngohbetweens
77. Gianfranco ZoLa's
78. El Hadj a googoo?
79. Madnessta.
80. Droy Orbison
81. Babyaro-smith
82. Galvin Stardust...
83. Yakubu Radleys.
84. Flamini Lips.
85. Everything Nicky Butt The Girl.
86. Viljoen armatrading.
87. Sprake That.
88. (Arnold) Muhren5
89. Kings of Lionel Messi.
90. Raul About Eve.
91. Tubeway Barmby.
92. Hurst, Quinn and Myhre....
93. Limparliament
94. Kewell & The gang
95. Aztec Kamara
96. john terry - secret affair
97. Niemi Winehouse
98. Giuly London
99. Funkaderic Young
100. Gordon Two Banks of Four
101. Jimmy Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine
102. The Housemartinchivers
103. Brighton & Hove Damon Albarn
104. Ray Wilson Pickett
105. Otis Reading FC
106. Einsturzende warrenbarton
107. A tribe called Gordon West
108. florence and the mel machin(e)
109. curoiusity killed the chris cat(lin)
110. kajayakuba
111. wayne bridge over troubled waters
112. Groove Almunia
113. Jan Venegoor of Hesselinkin Park.
114. Emerson, Paul Lake & Carlton Palmer
115. Musical Djouf
116. Pink Floyd Hasselbank
117. Scott Parker & the Rumour
118. Robert Green Gartside
119. Klaas Jan Miles Huntelaar
120. Taribo Westlife
121. Theatre of Hately
122. Fine Young Alan Balls
123. Alan Smith & Mighty
124. Jan Molby Gees
125. That Petrov Emotion
126. Bert Trautmantronix
127. JJ Okocha Wobble
128. DanZiege
129. ashley young marble giants
130. kid creole and the nigel reo - cokernuts
131. eboue yaa tribe
132. Department Essien
133. The Beautiful Southall
134. Fountains of Wayne
135. Sleepy La Boeuf
136. Maradonna sings Mervynday
137. Bobby Lennox sings Huth that Girl
138. Toni Basil Boli
139. Deutsch-Amerikanische Stefan-Freundschaft
140. Zubizuretta James
141. Kolo Toure BC
142. A Flock of Steve Bulls
143. Nani-na &Frederick
144. Brian Horne-y Horns
145. Bosnich Cave & The Bad Speeds
146. The Lofthouse Family
147. Passarella Fitzgerald
148. Bootsy Collins John
149. Fred Wesley Sneijder
150. Wally Baderooney
151. Lindsey de Paul Ince
152. Ten Cisse
153. Giresse Club Seven
154. Guti Lemper
155. Pak-Do Ik and Tina Turner
156. The Overath of Noise
157. Fashanu kids on the block
158. Peter Marinelly furtado
159. duane edinho
160. Bobby Stokoe Jays
161. Luluther Blisset
162. ShowaddyTotti
163. Jeffers-on Airplane
164. Showaddywaddle
165. Mutu Live Crew
166. Wim Jonkooper Clarke
167. Jimi Hendrixon Etuhu
168. Provan Morrison
169. Vierchowod-ywaddy
170. Magath Brooks
171. Cascarino and Renata
172. Mastadon Givens
173. The Staples Masingas
174. Gerson House
175. Brotherhood Hamman
176. Danny Blind Lemon Jefferson
177. Lauren Blancmange
178. Uwe Sailor
179. Jason Macateer Drop Explodes
180. Bernard Lamahl
181. Chrisperry Ambulance
182. Bob Stokoeholm Monsters
183. Extreme noise.Terry
184. Duranieri Duranieri
185. John Bond Jovi
186. Alec Stock, Roy Aitken & Waterman
187. Brynn Gunns & Roses
188. Felix Magathzine
189. Steve Macmanamanfred Mann
190. T'Pau lo Sousa
191. Sly & Robinho
192. Beyon Seedorf
193. Kiki Dean Saunders
194. Richard Rufus Thomas
195. Michael Ballacker Bilk
196. John Chiedoze, Beaky, Mick & Titch
197. Charlie George Jones
198. Dalglisha Dixon
199. The Undisputed Huth
200. George Graham Central Station
201. Hughes Corporation
202. Bob De Bilde...
203. The Kuqi Crew
204. The Ndlovu Unlimited Orchestra
205. Spackman Turner Overdrive
206. The Three John Scales
207. Tower of Paul Power
208. John Fashanu Model Army
209. Vinnie Jones Girls
210. Bruce GrobbeLast Poets
211. Tommy Steeleye Span
212. Bonzo Dog ADU Dah Band
213. Hermann Hreiðarsson's Hermits
214. Henry Falcao
215. Peters Ball and Narey
216. Heinze Below Zero
217. Muscat Stevens
218. Emmerson Boyce II Men
219. Half Man Half Biscan
220. Olarticoechea-rsay
221. Aldair Supply
222. Ocean Kohler Scene
223. Athletico Spizz Hately
224. This Mortal Owen Coyle
225. Jay Zico
226. Beggar & Kolo Toure
227. Brian Labone Yard
228. Wishbone Ashley Cole
229. Cheb Khal Eder
230. Romario Speedwagon
231. Alex Step Nico
232. Albert ini Kamoze
233. Sukergrass
234. Gloria Deyna
235. Ziege Ziege Sputnik
236. Alienkov Sex Fiend
237. Joe Jordanaires
238. big brother and holding vincent kompany
239. seasick steve perryman
240. The Kevin Beattie Boys
241. Shakin' Gary Stevens
242. John Harley and the Wailers
243. Iggy Papa bouba Diope
244. Stiff Brian Little Fingers
245. Ian Ure & The Blockheads
246. Niall Quinn Lizzy
247. Killing Jokanovic
248. Tony Adams and the Ants
249. Tears for Brian Mears
250. The Ron Futcher sound of London
251. X-Mal Donaghy Deutschland
252. GeorgeBerry Switchblade
253. Paul Robinson Band
254. The Daniel Passarella Roof Orchestra
255. Gilberto y Los trios paranoias
256. Kevin Gallen Drunk
257. PriMalouda Scream
258. PJ David Harvey
259. Red Lorimer Yellow Lorimer
260. Mercury Rivelino
261. Dinosaur Junior
262. The Futcherheads
263. Malcom McLAaron Young
264. Hue & Cruyff
265. Freddie Rinconway Twitty
266. Eartha Kitt Symons
267. Curtiis Schweinstigers
268. Luis Enrique LF
269. The Thomas Berthold Steady
270. Joel Bats For Lashes
271. Lady Burrachagaga
272. The Shangri Lalas
273. The boomtown vasily rats
274. Elvis 'steve' Pressley
275. John 'Neil' Lennon
276. Alexander Martin O'Neal
277. John 'Nigel' Martyn
278. ChumbaMuamba
279. Boy George Best
280. Will.I.an
281. The Alan Clarke 5
282. Claudio Duran DuRannieri
283. Robbie Savages
284. The Whu
285. Stanley Matthews Southern Comfort
286. The Wenger Boys
287. The Ting Ings
288. Kid Creole and Zicoconuts
289. Kevin Gallen Drunk
290. PlasMatic(s)
291. Muzzy Izzet Star
292. Platini Tempah
293. Ross Barkley James Harvest
The original game as nicked by Danny Baker (with our blessing)
Einsturzende Warren Barton in full effect!
Friday, 5 February 2010
Harveys Best Bitter
Don't get me wrong I'm not one of those CAMRA types (nothing wrong with them, just not me). However, on recent trips back to the UK it seems that the trip isn't complete without a drop of Lewes's finest best bitter.
A sign of old age, maturity, a broader palate, creeping nostalgia or rampant Alcoholism? Who cares?
A sign of old age, maturity, a broader palate, creeping nostalgia or rampant Alcoholism? Who cares?
Monday, 4 January 2010
Decent gig venues
Top ten venues in no particular order.
Ronnie Scotts London
Despite or because of Ronnie’s gags and the very clear instruction to keep quiet during the performances, Ronnie Scotts is/was the very best place to see Jazz played. Intimate and cool at the same time. And when all is played and done you can stumble over the road into the magnificent ‘Bar Italia’.
Best moment – Roy Ayers
Winter Gardens Eastbourne
I went back a couple of years ago to see one of the last ‘Ordinary Boys’ gigs and it seemed smaller than it was when I saw The Jam play there in 1977! That being said, it is still a classic venue with plenty of room to pogo (oh yes!)
Best moment – Weller and Foxton leaping into outer space during ‘Batman’
Town & Country Club London (as was)
Deep in the heart of sunny Kentish Town. The Town & Country was/is a great mid sized venue. Seen plenty of cracking bands and the sound was always good.
Best moment – During an early Weller solo set, he launched into ‘Town Called Malice’ for the first time in years and the whole place erupted, even John Weller punched the air in delight by the mixing desk.
Top Rank Brighton
Hot sweaty and sticky, the perfect place for two-tone tours and other assorted madness
Best moment – Being knocked backwards by the force of the Dexy’s horn section.
The Leadmill Sheffield
Another ideal gig venue with excellent DJ’s and a chips and gravy stand outside.
Best moment – Trouble Funk dropping the bomb on the South-East Krew
The Central Library Eastbourne
Home to Hip Troop, hippies, hipsters and poets.
Best moment – Pete Hands/Stormcrow playing the first chord of the night on his Wurlitzer and the clock falling from the wall and smashing to pieces.
The Basement Brighton
Dank and dingy, long coats definitely essential.
Best moment – ACR bringing the funk
Brixton Academy London
Whether packed to the brim for The Pogues and Nick Cave or sparsely populated for the Paul Weller Movement. A great venue with good acoustics and vantage points.
Best moment – Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds testifying!
Hammersmith Palais London
Apart from lending its name to one of the best songs ever written. Just about the perfect venue, if only it wasn’t in bloody Hammersmith. A million times better than the Apollo.
Best moment – ‘If Adolf Hitler flew in today, they’d send a limousine anyway’ oh er sorry. The Jam on my birthday playing ‘Precious’ for the first time.
Queens Wood Muswell Hill London
From a musicians point of view. Being able to sit on a fallen tree and strum away to my heart’s content deep in the heart of the woods, with central London less than 5 miles away. Nothing better!
Best moment – Playing ‘The Last Wave’ to two kids, two dogs and a couple of joggers. It’s a HIT!
Ronnie Scotts London
Despite or because of Ronnie’s gags and the very clear instruction to keep quiet during the performances, Ronnie Scotts is/was the very best place to see Jazz played. Intimate and cool at the same time. And when all is played and done you can stumble over the road into the magnificent ‘Bar Italia’.
Best moment – Roy Ayers
Winter Gardens Eastbourne
I went back a couple of years ago to see one of the last ‘Ordinary Boys’ gigs and it seemed smaller than it was when I saw The Jam play there in 1977! That being said, it is still a classic venue with plenty of room to pogo (oh yes!)
Best moment – Weller and Foxton leaping into outer space during ‘Batman’
Town & Country Club London (as was)
Deep in the heart of sunny Kentish Town. The Town & Country was/is a great mid sized venue. Seen plenty of cracking bands and the sound was always good.
Best moment – During an early Weller solo set, he launched into ‘Town Called Malice’ for the first time in years and the whole place erupted, even John Weller punched the air in delight by the mixing desk.
Top Rank Brighton
Hot sweaty and sticky, the perfect place for two-tone tours and other assorted madness
Best moment – Being knocked backwards by the force of the Dexy’s horn section.
The Leadmill Sheffield
Another ideal gig venue with excellent DJ’s and a chips and gravy stand outside.
Best moment – Trouble Funk dropping the bomb on the South-East Krew
The Central Library Eastbourne
Home to Hip Troop, hippies, hipsters and poets.
Best moment – Pete Hands/Stormcrow playing the first chord of the night on his Wurlitzer and the clock falling from the wall and smashing to pieces.
The Basement Brighton
Dank and dingy, long coats definitely essential.
Best moment – ACR bringing the funk
Brixton Academy London
Whether packed to the brim for The Pogues and Nick Cave or sparsely populated for the Paul Weller Movement. A great venue with good acoustics and vantage points.
Best moment – Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds testifying!
Hammersmith Palais London
Apart from lending its name to one of the best songs ever written. Just about the perfect venue, if only it wasn’t in bloody Hammersmith. A million times better than the Apollo.
Best moment – ‘If Adolf Hitler flew in today, they’d send a limousine anyway’ oh er sorry. The Jam on my birthday playing ‘Precious’ for the first time.
Queens Wood Muswell Hill London
From a musicians point of view. Being able to sit on a fallen tree and strum away to my heart’s content deep in the heart of the woods, with central London less than 5 miles away. Nothing better!
Best moment – Playing ‘The Last Wave’ to two kids, two dogs and a couple of joggers. It’s a HIT!
Friday, 1 January 2010
Blogging
The company I work for have put a firewall/block on anybody blogging from the office hence the reason it has been so quiet. However, I have resolved to right wrongs and write long! So, I now commit to blog a minimum of once a week (holidays and writers block permitting)!
Thursday, 22 October 2009
The things that happen when you forget...
You don't blog, you miss dinner and you forget the deep humbling joy of England:
On the beach at Birling Gap, in the beer garden at Jevington, walking out of Sloane Square tube, (getting a cab & travelling on buses), peering out of low slung south coast bedsits, scrabbling for cigarettes, roaring on the Blues and missing your mates...
On the beach at Birling Gap, in the beer garden at Jevington, walking out of Sloane Square tube, (getting a cab & travelling on buses), peering out of low slung south coast bedsits, scrabbling for cigarettes, roaring on the Blues and missing your mates...
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Friday, 4 September 2009
The Old Coffee House Book Club
Met on a daily basis
welcomed new and old faces
always plenty of spaces
a Beak St cultural oasis
welcomed new and old faces
always plenty of spaces
a Beak St cultural oasis
Poll Results - Jazz Funk Combos
1: Incognito
2: Southern Freeze
3: Light of the World
4: Beggar & Co.
Everybody screeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaammmmmm! Whoop Whoop
2: Southern Freeze
3: Light of the World
4: Beggar & Co.
Everybody screeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaammmmmm! Whoop Whoop
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
The Wag Club - Jazz Rooms
Opposite The Blue Posts at the foot of Wardour Street. The Jazz Rooms at The Wag (Whiskey a Go-Go) every monday night, with Paul Murphy DJ'ing. We used to get the train up from the coast. Aided and abetted by Jack and Billy. We used to head into the heart of Soho, with one thing and one thing alone on our minds. Dancing!
Whether it was to Be Bop, Samba, Mambo, Swing, Lonnie Liston Smith, Art Blakey, John Coltrane or Milton Nascimento. The dancing was the thing! Suited and booted or hanging in Bretton, Hawaiian or Viyella shirts with big E Levi's and brogues. It was all about the dancing!
And when Murphy played the final tune we'd spin out of the door and stumble through the trash strewn streets back to Victoria, the milk train, Eastbourne and finally bed! Totally exhausted but totally free...
Whether it was to Be Bop, Samba, Mambo, Swing, Lonnie Liston Smith, Art Blakey, John Coltrane or Milton Nascimento. The dancing was the thing! Suited and booted or hanging in Bretton, Hawaiian or Viyella shirts with big E Levi's and brogues. It was all about the dancing!
And when Murphy played the final tune we'd spin out of the door and stumble through the trash strewn streets back to Victoria, the milk train, Eastbourne and finally bed! Totally exhausted but totally free...
Friday, 28 August 2009
Jazz Funk & Soul Boys
Growing up on the South Coast in the early eighties the various youth tribes that fought for recognition were innumerable. Mods, Punks, Teds, Rockers, Soul Boys, Rockabilly's, Hep Catz, Jazzers, Betaniks, Skinheads, Suedeheads, Funketeers & even Heavy Metal. Most of the various groups would crossover at some stage.
The Soul Boys were always pretty cool with their fantastic wedge haircuts, kung fu shoes, slim belts and big baggy pegs. They also danced really well with some cool steps later borrowed by Be-Bop Boy, Mods and Katz alike.
The music (although sometimes inclined to border on ambling and tedious virtuosity) took the listener to new places; hard bop, samba, latin and of course Tha' Funk! Great days at Caister, London Zoo and even Eastbourne Pier.
Yowsa! Yowsa! Yowsa!
The Soul Boys were always pretty cool with their fantastic wedge haircuts, kung fu shoes, slim belts and big baggy pegs. They also danced really well with some cool steps later borrowed by Be-Bop Boy, Mods and Katz alike.
The music (although sometimes inclined to border on ambling and tedious virtuosity) took the listener to new places; hard bop, samba, latin and of course Tha' Funk! Great days at Caister, London Zoo and even Eastbourne Pier.
Yowsa! Yowsa! Yowsa!
Monday, 24 August 2009
Ashes Victory Celebrations
Yesssss!!!!!!!!!!!
In the pubs and streets of South London, fuelled by joy, exhileration and a couple of rather pleasing bottles of crispy white wine. The celebrations went on, long into the night. E-mailing long lost Aussie buddies, texting 'til the network collapses.
And that was just in 2005! Sweet, wonderful and thoroughly deserved victory!
In the pubs and streets of South London, fuelled by joy, exhileration and a couple of rather pleasing bottles of crispy white wine. The celebrations went on, long into the night. E-mailing long lost Aussie buddies, texting 'til the network collapses.
Ricky Ponting, Dame Edna Everage, Kylie Minogue, Kevin Rudd, Nicole Kidman, Rolf Harris, Nick Cave, John Eales, Jono Coleman, Ned Kelly your boys took one helluva beating!!
And that was just in 2005! Sweet, wonderful and thoroughly deserved victory!
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