Thursday night on the Cowley Road, Oxford. It’s drizzly outside but warm in the O2 Academy, and as we enter we’re greeted by a steward who informs us of the forthcoming entertainment and hopes we enjoy the evening. So for some ale and to find a good spot to stand to see Little Comets.

It’s good to see a band self-roadieing – setting up – as well as hanging percussion instruments from a string strung above them, from one side of the stage to the other. After a short while they return to the stage, introducing themselves as coming from Newcastle and belt into their first song “Adultery” which is their new single and a damn good one to put out there.

The singer/guitarist Robert Coles is an interesting frontman cavorting around the stage strumming his guitar. They create a positive on-stage vibe which reverberates into the audience and I’m sure that tonight they would have scored themselves yet more fans as they continue their tour with the Noisettes.

They’re a good live band to see, in the same shop as Razorlight, The Twang and Franz Ferdinand. Lots of energy and an enthusiasm for playing live is always a good thing.

After their set and the obligatory queue at the bar for more refreshments, we mug some students off a leather sofa and rest our legs for half an hour until it’s time to get to the front, or as near as possible, to get a good look at the Noisettes. We manage to get close enough to see what is going on.

For some reason the drums are set up on the left side of the stage, which makes it difficult to see drummer Jamie Morrison and the backing vocalist is on a platform in the centre at the back… Anyway, they open up with “Wild Young Hearts” and Shingai straps on her bass and whips the audience up. This is the busiest I’ve seen the Oxford O2 for quite awhile so hats off to the Noisettes for playing their publicity cards all the right way.

They have the whole place in a party mood, you would think it was still the summer outside. They work the stage brilliantly, you wouldn’t believe that they had only been around for just six years.

I would say that the Noisettes are well worth the money for a fun night out, probably one of the best live bands on the scene for that good time vibe. I think they will be around for many years and could be one of those acts that get better with every album they produce.

Buy Music:

Noisettes on amazon.co.uk

Noisettes MySpace

Little Comets Official Website

By: Dave Tommo

Henry was one of the founder members of this band and was playing rebel music in Northern Ireland in the late 70’s.

With songs such as “Alternative Ulster” and “Suspect Device”, they were definitely sending out a strong message from the heart at that time. Johnny Rotten thought he was punk, but can you imagine playing punk music while bombs were going off down the road from you?

Anyway, Henry survived and is now playing solo and is writing his first album without Stiff Little Fingers.

So before Henry sets out on the road again, I persuaded him to answer a few questions that have been bugging me for a number of years.

Henry Cluney interview with Dave Tommo

Dave Tommo: How did you and the rest of the band meet?

Henry Cluney: Three of us went to the same school – Ali was a friend of a friend.

How much more subversive do you think it was playing punk music in Ireland as opposed England at the time?

Northern Ireland was a bit different – singing about what we did was seen as a bit ummmm…out there.

Who would you say is your biggest influence on the guitar?

Marc Bolan / Mick Ronson / Johnny Ramone.

I remember you wearing a really smart leopard skin jacket years ago. Have you still got it (and do you want it!!)?

Aaaaaagh–no!!!! Dunno where that thing is.

How did you feel about relocating to London when the band signed to Chrysalis?

I never did. Always lived in Belfast. Not really a problem as it was only an hour flight.

What was the best thing about being in SLF?

Playing and going places. Hate hearing people in bands complain about travelling – just think how lucky you are.

Can you tell us the story behind you leaving the band?

Didn’t leave. Was told to leave by the manager…

It is really great seeing you up there playing your songs solo Henry. What was it that made you decide to go for it again (excuse the cheese)?

Thanks. Agent put the idea in my head and after a bigggg lot of thinking I thought – go for it!

Are you planning to record any new material for your forthcoming tour?

Just finishing an album now – hope it works.

Have you seen the new SLF book and what are your views on it?

Not seen it yet–sounds good tho. Covers the REAL SLF.

Finally, are you able to tell us where you are playing on your next tour?

No dates yet. I’ll put them on my website.

Buy Music:

Stiff Little Fingers on amazon.co.uk

Stiff Little Fingers on amazon.com

Henry Cluney Official Website

I’ve hobnobbed with Joe and Paul and Topper on a number of occasions throughout the late seventies and early eighties. I will one day write a book entitled “I Lost My Education To The Clash”. I have every record that they did, and have seen them all over the country all free because they were all about their fans. Joe or Cosmo or Johnny Green would always find a way of getting the traveling fans into the venue.

I was so blown away by this interview with The Clash in Canada. I had never seen it and it is one of the most random I have seen. I instantly wanted to share it with you. This is sort of what it was like to be at an after show with The Clash.

Watch The Clash 1979 Canadian TV backstage interview – video

YouTube Notes: Complete interview segment of the Clash backstage at the O’Keefe Centre in Toronto, Canada with the Undertones which was originally broadcast on CITY TV’s New Music Program in 1979. The New Music was hosted by J.D. Roberts (aka CNN’s John Roberts) and Jeanne Bekker (later host of Fashion Television). This clip includes the infamous concert aftermath with Cosmo Vinyl counting the ripped out seats at the venue. This rare interview was shown/re-broadcast during the Joe Strummer death coverage.

Buy Music:

The Clash on amazon.com

The Clash on amazon.co.uk

By: Dave Tommo

If I say David Bowie, you might think “Life On Mars”, “Ziggy Played Guitar”, “Heroes” or even “Space Oddity”. Yes, there are many faces to Mr. Bowie, his music stretches back to the mid sixties and still continues to surprise us today.

I’ve been a David Bowie fan since way back in the big collar and platform shoe days of the 1970’s. I was probably 10 years old when I bought “The Laughing Gnome” single. Novelty record yes, but it did get me interested in what else this bloke could do.

Fast forward to go backwards. It wasn’t until 1979 that I became familiar with my favorite David Bowie songs. I was at a party ’round a friend’s house when I heard “Love You Till Tuesday”. “Who’s this?” I asked naively. “David Bowie” came the reply, as if I was a bit stupid to ask such a question. This song was one of his earliest from an album containing many other gems such as “She’s Got medals”, “The London Boys”, “Uncle Arthur” and many more, every one a classic.

So if you are only familiar with Mr Bowie’s famous songs, then give some of these old tunes a go and see what you think.

Here’s one for an example of what a great talent this man is.

Listen to “She’s Got Medals” on YouTube:

Buy Music:

David Bowie on amazon.co.uk

David Bowie on amazon.com

David Bowie Official Website
MySpace

By: Dave Tommo

No, The Temper Trap are good. Their debut album ‘Conditions’ is a good get up and shine collection of songs. “Love Lost” opens the procedures and goes very well with my first cup of coffee of the day, and I really like the second song “Rest”. Vocalist Dougy Mandagi’s voice reminds me of someone but I can’t quite put my finger on it, so that must be a good thing – you know, familiar but not.

They hail from Melbourne, Australia and caught the ears of the world when they played live at Musexposo in London in October 2008. I Reckon they would make a brilliant support act for U2 or visa versa because I like this band more.

I think one of the best things to do this summer would be to get hold of the ‘Conditions’ album, crank it up loud and impress your friends and family with your good taste in music.

The Temper Trap are one of those bands that you want to follow and collect all their tunes. So hurry up boys, we’re now waiting for your second album!

‘Conditions’ is set for UK release August 10, 2009.

Buy Music:

The Temper Trap on amazon.com

The Temper Trap on amazon.co.uk

MySpace
The Temper Trap on Twitter
The Temper Trap Official Website

By: Dave Tommo

“It Was Meant To Be A Love Song” is an interesting piece of music and if this chap was from England or the USA he would have no problem forging a career in the West. He has a soothing voice and sings about relevant themes, not just love songs. Yes, he is a very creative young man and it would be good to see more of him here in good old Blighty.

If I was his management, I would put him on supporting La Roux, because there is that 80’s influence in the music. Not ashamed to use drum machines and synths in his music, Aviv is an interesting cookie worth investigating.

Buy Music:

Aviv Geffen on amazon.co.uk

Aviv Geffen on amazon.com

The single “It Was Meant To Be A Love Song” is set for release on August 31st 2009; ‘Aviv Geffen’ album on September 7, 2009. Both released on Mars Records.

Aviv Geffen Official Website
Aviv Geffen MySpace

By: Dave Tommo

People are often trying to put together their idea of the best rock group ever, you know like the musical version of a sporting dream team. Well what about Jimi Hendrix and Brian Jones from The Rolling Stones then?

I think if you’re talking rock giants there can be no bigger collaboration than these two acts can there? I stumbled across this rare footage while surfing YouTube. It’s Jimi hanging out back stage with The Stones on his last birthday at Madison Square Gardens.

The music in the background is Jimi Hendrix, Brian Jones, Dave Mason and Mitch Mitchell recorded at the Olympic Studios in London on October 5th 1967, and the tune is called “My Little One”.

Watch Jimi Hendrix with the Rolling Stones video:

This footage and music gives me goose bumps. There is no rock bullshit here, just a few musicians hanging out. You know, no big deal. Jimi and The Stones partying and doing what they do.

Buy Music:

Jimi Hendrix on amazon.com

Jimi Hendrix on amazon.co.uk

Rocks Off – The Rolling Stones fan page, message board, Jimi Hendrix, more

Jimi Hendrix on Wikipedia

By: Dave Tommo

Did you hear the one about the band who was actually two bands? Yeah, now I’ve been a Damned fan ever since I could spell my own name. Yes, I can remember the arguments about “New Rose” being the first ever punk single – or not – and when they split up and reformed. All this and it still wasn’t even the 80’s yet. I can recall seeing The Damned in many different places with various different members.

Then it was 1984 and I was sifting through the albums in Subway Records in Portsmouth underneath The Tricorn and I found this album. It was like a 1960’s soundtrack to some B movie, on the sleeve it said Naz Nomad And The Nightmares – ‘Give Daddy The Knife Cindy’. Well at that time in my life I was buying albums just out of interest, I mean if the cover looked good I would buy it and if I didn’t like it I could always take it back and change it.

But this album grabbed my imagination, so I bought it and took it home. After one play of the first track (”Nobody But Me” a Human Beinz cover) I knew straight away that this was The Damned being a bit cheeky again.

Yes, this album sparked a lot of conversation over late night beers around the country. You see on the actual record sleeve there was no mention of the band, Mr. Vanian or Mr. Scabbies or indeed Roman Jugg. They all had aliases. Like Dave was Naz Nomad and Roman Jugg was Sphinx Svenson etc. You could tell that this was The Damned by Dave Vanian’s trademark voice straight away, but it didn’t stop the arguments as to if it was just some session musicians who could sound like The Damned and where was Captain Sensible in all of this?

I Can’t Stand This Love Goodbye clip:

They even took this out on to the road and toured Naz Nomad & The Nightmares around the country starting on Saturday 30th April at The Greyhound in Fulham. I am gutted that I missed their live shows but here is a clip of them playing “Action Woman” back in 1989:

Action Woman video:

Buy Music:

The Damned on amazon.co.uk

The Damned Official Website

By: Dave Tommo

There are a lot of rock/folk stories out there and one that I’m a fan of is how B.B. King got to call his Gibson ES-335 Lucille.

It was the winter of 1949 in Twist, Arkansas. B.B. King had just rolled into town to play a gig at this old music hall. Now it was cold outside, and so the best and cheapest way to keep a building warm in those days was to use kerosene. Yeah a barrel and a half would do it. So people were partying, having a laugh and dancing when a fight broke out between two men. This scuffle knocked over the barrel of kerosene and the whole building went up. People were running for their lives as the building rapidly burnt to the ground. The only thing on B.B’s mind was his guitar. This was the tool of his trade, the only way he had of making a living. So he braved the flames and ran back into the burning building to rescue his guitar.

The next day Mr. King was to hear that two people had died in the fire that night and that a woman named Lucille was the reason for the fight that started the fire which ended their lives. B.B. King then named his Gibson and every other guitar after that “Lucille” just to remind himself not to ever do stupid things like running into burning buildings or fighting over women.

Listen to: B.B. King – Lucille on Youtube

Buy Music:

B.B. King on amazon.com

B.B. King on amazon.co.uk

B.B. King Official Website

Hooray!! It’s the festival for sofa louches again this weekend. Yes, this time all over the world via the internet, TV and radio, ladies and gentlemen, Glastonbury is here again.

So there’s no need to go trudging through the swamps and bogs of Pilton to see some obscure musical act in the middle of nowhere. Now we can view the whole thing on our TVs at home or in the car or anywhere I suppose.

Once I’ve digested the usual morsels of the day, I gather up a clutch of lagers from the fridge and then tune the box to the good old BBC for what I hope to be an evening of quality alternative entertainment. The first band I saw on Friday was White Lies. They were nice. Pretty tunes for a pretty evening. The highlight of their set had to be the Bruce Springsteen cover of “Dancing In The Dark”.

Then I pressed the red button as they so often tell you to do, and was confronted by Lady Ga Ga in her glittery world of confuser gender. Playing through all of her current favorites. I think “Poker Face” is mine.

Lilly Allen, God bless her, she is turning into quite the young festival princess and being as she has been coming to this place since she was a child, I suppose she has some sort of right to the title. Her set is fun, with Lilly wearing a purple cat suite and purple wig, flirting with the audience as she entertains everybody by playing all of her hits.

For my money, and to be honest, there isn’t a lot of it, Neil Young is the saviour of the night. This man is one of the last living legends left on this planet and he really brings it to the table tonight.

Mighty is the word you would have to use to describe Neil Young’s presence on stage. The last song of his set was “A Day In The Life”, a Beatles cover. Well you have to see the performance. He ends up tearing the strings from his guitar whilst still playing it. My words will not do this great man justice, so you will just have to check out his live performance to understand what I am saying!

Watch “A Day In The Life” video on YouTube

Neil Young on amazon.com

Neil Young on amazon.co.uk

Neil Young Official Website

By: Dave Tommo

Jake Thackray. Now there’s a name that many will not have heard of. If you are familiar with this chap you will chortle and remember with fondness his wry take on the world and his very clever use of lyrics.

He was born on 27th February, 1938 in Yorkshire and unfortunately died 24th December, 2002. If there was any type of comparison I would have to say he was like a folky Noel Coward, but from Leeds, and with a little bit more “Bull”.

Jake Thackray was first brought to my attention back in 1978 when I was visiting a friend of a friend, who was to be a potential guitarist in one of my first punk bands. The thing that swung the job for him was his record collection. For a young man with bleached blonde long hair and glasses, I immediately dismissed him as not punk, but when I noticed Stiff Little Fingers and The Clash in his collection I had to quickly reavaluate my thoughts of him as a musical companion. But I digress.

On further sifting of his record collection I noticed artists that I had never heard of before, like Jethro Tull and Weather Report then there was Jake Thackray. I was immediately impressed with this man’s take on life. As a budding lyric writer, I fell in love with the way this man told his stories.

Jake would play a folky jazz style guitar and spoke/sang the lyrics in baritone over the music.

Here is the first Jake Thackray song I ever heard which turned me into an instant fan:

Jake Thackray – “The Bull” video:

For me, this is Jake’s take on the George Orwell book “Animal Farm”.

With lyrics like “if you’re gonna put people on pedestals, wear a big hat” you have to love this man. One of the finest entertainers to have gone under the radar, being missed by the general public, I feel it is my job to point these people out.

“The Last Will And Testament Of Jake Thackray” is a brilliant take on how he wanted people to to behave after his death. I only hope that his friends and family took heed and acted in accordance.

Watch “The Last Will And Testament Of Jake Thackray” video:

Buy Music:

Jake Thackray on amazon.co.uk

There is a website dedicated to the memory of this great man who has influenced many other great artists. You can easily go visit it by hitting this link:

Jake Thackray website

By: Dave Tommo

John Otway is a name most people might not be familiar with. In his own words, he is one of music’s most successful losers. He’s been playing since 1976, starting his career with Mr. Wild Willy Barrett on guitar. They first appeared on TV’s “Old Grey Whistle Test” back in 1977-78 ish.

This video clip shows how random John’s gigs were.

I was at that gig. It was at the Portsmouth Guildhall for a music film being made called “Urgh A Music War”. I thought John looked like my girlfriend’s dad at the time. This must have been 1979, and I was bitten by the Otway bug. I found his single “The Green Green Grass Of Home” in a local record shop. A Tom Jones cover. ‘Much greener than Tom Jones’ it said on the sleeve.

John had a love hate relationship with Wild Willy. You never knew whether you were gonna get John or John and Willy at gigs.

John is still playing live and has a very loyal and dedicated fan base. It’s like I said – once you get it, you are addicted to this man’s madness. He plays Oxford every May Day at six in the morning.

Back in 2002 he asked all his fans to choose a song for him to perform on Top Of The Pops, and then got everyone to buy it so that it would chart. The song was “Bunsen Burner”. This was probably the best 50th birthday present anyone could have given John.

Watch “Bunsen Burner” video:

If you fancy a new addiction – you know, something different, go check out his website and you may find yourself starting a lifelong obsession with this chap!

John Otway on amazon.co.uk

John Otway Official Website

By: Dave Tommo

What is there to do on a Wednesday evening in Oxford? Watch TV? Go down to the pub? See the cricket?

None of the above.

Oh well, it’s raining in June again, constant pitter patter. But hey look! The Damned are in town and they’ve brought some friends with them.

We arrive at the Oxford Academy and aim for the box office, but as we are fumbling around for money I spot this grey haired Irish chap offering us two tickets he had bought from the internet. So we buy them off him for much cheaper than the venue’s price, and proceed into the building.

It turns out that he’s friends with the first act on tonight. A Mr. Henry Cluney no less. He of Stiff Little Fingers fame. To be honest I am only here because Henry is playing. His band influenced me about as much as The Clash did when I was younger. I still have every record this lot ever made, preserved in see-through plastic bags at home.

Henry takes to the stage alone with an acoustic guitar and opens his set with “Alternative Ulster”. Brilliant. It’s so good to hear these song played solo. It makes you realise what great sing along songs they are without a whole band behind them.

Then I think he played “Here We Are Nowhere”. Again, what a great song. These are songs that Jake Burns and Stiff Little Fingers don’t play live anymore and it’s a shame because I still maintaine that ‘The Inflammable Material’ album was one of the best punk records ever produced, and Henry belts his way through most of the tracks from said album.

To be fair, Mr. Cluney does mess up on a lot of the tunes, but it doesn’t matter, as most of the audience is singing along with him providing the backing vocals to such songs as “Barbed Wire Love” and “Gotta Get Away”.

Henry parted company with Stiff Little Fingers way back in 1993 and to be honest I never thought we would be lucky enough to see him play live again. As co-founding member of SLF, Henry Cluney deserves to be up there playing these songs live with the tongue in cheek humor that he provides on stage. Apparently living in America, he has been known to do a bit of stand up comedy.

Carry on Henry, you know we love you!

Watch Henry Cluney – “Wasted Life” video (opening for The Damned at the Square in Harlow on 22nd May 2009):

The Alarm take the stage and we are all of a sudden propelled back to the early 1980’s with Mike Peters the singer reminding us that 1976-77 was what it was all about. More Bruce Springsteen influence than The Clash or The Sex Pistols, The Alarm belt their way through an average set of songs and then they are gone.

The highlight of the evening is The Damned. With the audience chanting “Sensible’s a w****r” they slam into their first song, “Ladies & Gentlemen… how do”, and straight into “Love Song”.

They blast their way through a set of songs which span three decades and yet sound fresher than any of the new paper thin bands who are clogging up the summer festivals these days.

Dave Vanian, the vocalist, is looking more dapper as the years roll by. It’s hard to believe these boys are over 50 years old, but then how long do vampires live for?

Captain Sensible looks more and more like a comic strip character the older he gets, and people forget what a great rock guitarist he really is.

The Damned should be easily one of the most famous bands on the planet, what with being the only surviving original punk band from this country and giving influence to so many artists around today. They deserve their place in the Rock and Roll hall of fame, but is that really punk rock?

The Damned on amazon.co.uk

Henry Cluney Official Website

The Alarm Official Website

The Damned Official Website

By: Dave Tommo

Back to the 80’s again. Oh yes. You can’t stop me now. People say that this decade was one of the best times for music. Sometimes I disagree. But, if you wanted something original back then you had to dig for it. So yes there were some really interesting things going on musically but not on Top Of The Pops.

There is Foetus for example. I know you might hear a slight bit of a Tom Waits influence in there, but that isn’t a bad thing is it? Clint Ruin has masqueraded under many aliases in his time, but I will always remember him as Scraping Foetus Off The Wheel.

Anyway, I’m not going to write too much here about “Mr.” Foetus aka Jim Thirwell because Muriel Young does a good interview with him and he then plays Live on the Tube back in good old 1985.

Enjoy learned people of this sphere.

Watch Scraping Foetus Off The Wheel video 1985 – interview + “Descent Into The Inferno”:

Scraping Foetus Off The Wheel on amazon.com

Scraping Foetus Off The Wheel on amazon.co.uk

Foetus Official Website

By: Dave Tommo

Time to bring back an old band that is unknown by many of the great unwashed general public. This week is Bill Nelson’s Red Noise. After dissolving Be Bop Deluxe, Bill turned his attention to this strange and interesting project.

This was one of the forerunners of the new romantic era. I have to say I am not one of the biggest new romantic fans, but credit where credit is due. There have been some pretty good tunes to come out under this umbrella, and Bill Nelson is one of those fellows who didn’t do too badly with the association.

Red Noise emerged in 1978, way before Depeche Mode had decided that one-fingered keyboard playing was the way to go. The Sex Pistols had just split. Stiff Little Fingers were in the middle of their first UK tour and the question of the time was, “are The Undertones punk or new wave?” All this to consider and The Clash hadn’t even written “London Calling” yet.

The first and only album to be produced under the Red Noise banner was the LP called ‘Sound On Sound’. This was released in 1979. A year before all the frilly pop boys started wearing frilly pop pirate costumes.

I often think that Bill Nelson is somewhat underrated. He has a lot in common with Mr. Bowie in the ‘ahead of his time’ sort of thing, but you could go out today and invest in Bill Nelson’s Red Noise music and think how a lot of musicians now are still leaning on this style for influence.

Yes. File under unsung heroes. Drink some wine and listen to this album.

Ignore the images to this link. Just enjoy the music:

Listen to “Sound On Sound”

Also:

Listen to “Furniture Music”:

Bill Nelson on amazon.co.uk

Bill Nelson website

By: Dave Tommo