Street Level Superstar: A Year with Lawrence Q&A at Foyles with Will Hodgkinson and Lawrence, hosted by Jarvis Cocker

Last night we attended a thoroughly entertaining evening at Foyles bookstore in London in the company of Jarvis Cocker who was questioning author Will Hodgkinson about his superb new book "Street Level Superstar: A Year with Lawrence" (Nine Eight Books) along with the enigmatic subject himself, Lawrence, the frontman of Mozart Estate, previously of Go-Kart Mozart, Denim and Felt. Hodgkinson does not shy away from Lawrence's sometimes frustrating idiosyncrasies and in other less involved hands, the story might have veered into sneering or ridiculing the singer's often quite baffling habits. But, it's an affectionate look at someone who basically wants to live life and create art on his own terms. The story is told through the conversations and experiences with Will and Lawrence during a series of walks around various London neighbourhoods over the course of a year. From Lawrence's early childhood in Birmingham to his time in his bands Felt, Denim, Go-Kart Mozart and Mozart Estate right up to the unveiling of Corin Johnson's quite remarkable marble bust, "Street Level Superstar" redefines the music biography genre. From poverty, drug addiction, homelessness to occasional close calls with the elusive stardom he craves, Lawrence is dogged by terrible bad luck, missed opportunities and a tendency to shoot himself in the foot. But despite all the slings and arrows over the years, Lawrence still exudes a cheerfulness and sense of optimism that's evident at the sold-out event. With so much acclaim being lavished on Hodgkinson's book, it might well elevate Lawrence to the fame and fortune that he feels is long overdue, we can but hope! Here are some photos from the talk along with some of the Martin Green curated marble bust exhibition at the stunning Fitzrovia Chapel. I've also included a rare early photo taken by my Retro Man Blog colleague, the Rock photographer Paul Slattery, who also has a photo included in the book.

Felt - Copyright Paul Slattery

Lalalar - Photos and videos from the Istanbul based trio's show at the Garage Islington London

The superb Istanbul based trio Lalalar were back in London for a triumphant show at the Garage in Islington with a set that cherry picked the best of their essential albums "Bi Cinnete Bakar" and "En Kötü Iyi Olur". Led by the charismatic frontman Ali Güçlü Şimşek and featuring the stunningly unique guitar sound of Barlas Tan Özemek and the pulsing, inventive keyboards and samples of Mehmet Alican İpek - the band delighted an ecstatic crowd at the packed out venue with their their uplifting and hypnotic music that blends exotic Anatolian Psychedelia, snaking Eastern guitar riffs and pumping Electro-Rock 'n' Roll to great effect.

For more information on Lalalar please check out their website here. You can also see videos from their show at the Jazz Cafe in Camden London last year at our Retro Man Blog YouTube channel here.

Indochine - Photos & Videos from "Babel Babel" Album Launch & Signing Session, Rough Trade East London, September 25th

French superstars Indochine were back in London for an intimate semi-acoustic performance and signing session to promote their new album "Babel Babel" at Rough Trade East record store last week. The event sold out in advance quickly and the band treated the lucky fans who were there to a thirty minute semi-acoustic performance, which included tracks from the new album and some crowd favourites, including "Nos Célébrations", "Kao Bang" and "Un été Français". Here are some photos and videos from a very special evening...

 

 

 

 

 

All photos copyright Retro Man Blog 2024. For more videos from the show please check out our Retromanblog65 YouTube channel here and subscribe for free.

Retrosonic Podcast with DJ Scratchy Sounds "Road-Eyes 20-20 Double Vision: Photo Tales with The Clash and Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros"

Photos: top left Bob Gruen, t/r Celeste Urreaga, bottom l/r Retro Man Blog

Retrosonic Podcast is back with very special guest Barry Myers otherwise known as DJ Scratchy Sounds discussing his excellent limited edition photobook "Road-Eyes 20-20 Double Vision: Photo Tales with The Clash and The Mescaleros". In this thoroughly entertaining episode, Scratchy discusses his early days as a tour DJ and his residency at Dingwalls Dancehall as Punk exploded in London. He explains how he got to tour with The Clash and some of the great support acts he saw along the way such as Bo Diddley and The Cramps. There's his part in some legendary gigs such as the 1978 Rock Against Racism Carnival in Victoria Park and the Ramones 1977 New Year's Eve show at the Rainbow which was to result in the blistering "It's Alive" live album. We discover his affinity with Japan and the fact that he has two volumes of his memoirs written and ready for a publisher to snap up. Then later on reconnecting again with Joe Strummer and his band The Mescaleros joining them at gigs including the Fireman's benefit show at Acton Town Hall during what would sadly turn out to be Joe's last tour.

The episode is soundtracked by songs from The Clash, Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros, The Man, Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers, The Cramps, Dr. Feelgood and Ramones. You can see a video preview of the book and find out the details on how to order it at the Scratchy Sounds web-site here. You'll also find news on upcoming Scratchy Sounds live events and lots of excellent archived radio shows and podcasts. You can subscribe to Retrosonic Podcast for free at Spotify, iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, MixCloud or direct from our SoundCloud site below.

Retrosonic Podcast · DJ Scratchy Sounds: Photo Tales with The Clash & Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros

The Everlasting Yeah "Staying Cool Staying Free" Album Launch & Listening Party by Buddy Ascott

The Everlasting Yeah - photo by Buddy Ascott

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the special launch and listening party for the new album "Staying Cool Staying Free" by The Everlasting Yeah on Saturday, so instead I dispatched Retro Man Blog's roving reporter for the day, Buddy Ascott to do the honours. Buddy was the perfect choice, as the former drummer in The Chords, he supported The Undertones at quite a few gigs in various cities around the country back in the day and became a big fan of That Petrol Emotion and The Everlasting Yeah. So let's hand over to Buddy to see how the launch party went...

Damian & Brendan at the launch party - photo by Buddy Ascott

I had no great expectations, having never before been to an album listening party, either online or in the flesh. But as a huge fan of The Undertones, That Petrol Emotion and yeah, The Everlasting Yeah, it was a tempting prospect. But what really piqued my interest was the video released that very morning, featuring the lead track on the new album, "Staying Cool, Staying Free". Titled "Girl from Miki City", it sounded remarkably similar to a song, "Making Certain" that I'd recorded back in 1997 with a group of ex-pats living in Japan, called Red Away Tops. In fact it was the very same song! OK, full disclosure - we're busted! Damian O'Neill had sent Billy Hassett (ex-Chords singer) a cassette of new songs back in those carefree days. Mightily impressed, Billy asked Damian if he could "borrow" a couple of the songs for our "Satellite TV" album. Being the gracious chap he is, Damian agreed, but forgot to tell us that the songs were in fact bandmate Raymond Gorman's. And so our little recording project in Japan contained two songs that should have been credited to Raymond. Glad I could get that off my chest, and apologies Raymond! 

The launch party crowd photographed by Raymond

The London Irish Centre is set in a quiet, leafy square in London's Camden - not your typical rock'n'roll venue, but then The Everlasting Yeah are not your typical group, and they have a loyal band of followers to prove it. Arriving too early, I was ushered back out into the bar area, and was soon joined by my good friend Tim, who'd travelled all the way from Yorkshire - with a busted leg - just to attend the listening party. With around eighty devotees in attendance, we sat near the front in an impressively wide and beautiful wood-paneled room. The four Yeahsters (as nobody calls them) took to the stage, but instead of strapping on guitars and sitting behind drums, sat down in comfy-looking armchairs, the serene scene completed by a solitary standard lamp. It felt a little surreal, but also exciting. At first the group looked a little self-conscious, up there without instruments, but relaxed as the afternoon progressed. Please note - this review is of the first listen only, and I reserve the right to change my mind upon hearing the album at home! Playback of Side 1 began with the aforementioned "Miki City" track - it made our version sound like a demo! With chunky guitars and soaring vocals, it's a fine album opener and a potential single. The sound system onstage was remarkable: exceptionally clear yet powerful. 

The Everlasting Yeah at The Lexington London in 2016 - photo by Paul Slattery

Next up was a song - "Myself When I Am Real" - that showcased Brendan Kelly's sublime bass skills, rolling along like an approaching freight train. On first listen I was convinced it was an instrumental, but the lyrics finally arrived, fully four minutes into the song. This felt very much in the vein of "Taking That Damn Train Again" from their first album - astonishingly, "Anima Rising" is now 10 years old! The song continued with Raymond chanting "It's just myself!" - and in a thrillingly upbeat coda - "Everything is gonna be alright! ALRIGHT!" All four of the band sat tapping their feet in sync, seemingly lost in thought, grinning away at favourite moments. Drummer - and often lead vocalist - Ciaran McLaughlin was particularly animated, as you'd expect from such a fine percussionist. The drums sounded much more natural - untreated - than on their debut album. The side continued with the acoustically led "You Can't Hold Water In A Closed Fist", reminiscent of one of TPE's quieter songs. Side 1 closed with "Hurricane Nation", growling bass and rimshots giving way to a taut and melodic pop song - the harmonies are a really positive feature on this album. There followed a short interval (a kindness to us men of a certain age), before playback recommenced. 

The Everlasting Yeah at our Retro Man Blog Night, May 2016 - photo by Paul Slattery

First track on Side 2 was "Rise Up", perhaps an over familiar title, but it's an impassioned plea to "rise up in love" and continues the album's general good vibes - Raymond would later tell us that it was recorded in the face of adversity, and they seemed genuinely happy just to be making music again. "Dylan '65" was up next, as cool as its title - Buzzcocks meets Graham Coxon, guitars to the fore. It's also probably the most Petrols-based track on the album. I would have liked the drum fills a little louder in the mix, but I would say that, wouldn't I? The closing song, "Heartbeat Still", is another epic, clocking in at over 8 minutes. A frantic start gives way to a shaker and a Pink Floyd feel (No wait! Come back!! I mean that in a good way!) that again showcases Brendan's prowess as a bass player. The rhythm changes, the intensity is ramped up and the guitars take over again...only for an electric piano and that Floyd groove to bring this amazing song to a peaceful conclusion. Probably the best vocal performance on the album too, courtesy of Ciaran. There was unanimous, spontaneous applause in the room, much to the apparent relief of the band members. 

Buddy Ascott with Brendan

Jon Hunter from The June Brides then joined them onstage to quiz them about the making of the album, and what inspired the songs. There was some good natured joshing between the band, as Raymond and Brendan did the lion's share of the talking. The travails that have delayed the album - mainly health issues - were mentioned only briefly, and the vibe remained positive and optimistic, at least until they were asked how they were going to promote this album. They all shrugged, justifiably feeling their work is now done, and it's up to "the industry" to do with it what they will. They make music primarily for themselves, and they are patently artists, not businessmen. One other revelation was how close they came to being named The Hoodlum Angels at the outset, but happily that only remained as a song title on the debut album. The merch table did brisk business and fans and followers slowly drifted away into the sunshine. A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon, with a cracking album that builds on the promise of "Anima Rising", and then some. Live shows soon, please.

- Buddy Ascott, August 2024 

The Everlasting Yeah with Jon Hunter - photo by Buddy Ascott

With thanks to Buddy for the great report, for more information on how to order the new album, please check out The Everlasting Yeah facebook page here. Don't forget our Retrosonic Podcast with Damian, Raymond and Ciaran discussing the history of That Petrol Emotion and The Everlasting Yeah is still available, along with other interview specials with Damian, Raymond and Buddy, by subscribing for free at Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts/iTunes or our SoundCloud main page.

Retrosonic Podcast · The Everlasting Yeah/That Petrol Emotion

The Woggles at The 100 Club London with The Len Price 3 & The Galileo 7, Friday August 16th 2024

The Woggles made a very rare trip to the U.K. for two shows, first of all in Bristol on the Thursday and then Friday night at the legendary 100 Club in London, where I finally got to witness what many people claim are one of the best live acts around. I've been a fan for a long time now and watching videos of them over the years and seeing comments from those lucky enough to have seen them play I was wondering if they could live up to my expectations. Well, I wasn't to be disappointed, in fact they exceeded all of those expectations and then some. Another big fan of The Woggles is Graham Day, frontman of one of our favourite bands, The Prisoners. In fact, he is such a fan that he invited The Woggles to play at his wedding and he also borrowed their rhythm section of drummer Dan Eletxro & bassist Buzz Hagstrom for his Graham Day & The Gaolers line-up on their excellent debut album "Soundtrack To The Daily Grind". I've spoken to Graham about The Woggles on a few occasions in previous interviews and chats and he has now been in the band for over five years, the opportunity arising after the sad and untimely passing of guitarist Jeff "Flesh Hammer" Walls in 2019. Graham has expressed how difficult he sometimes finds the pressures of being a frontman and his struggles with singing and lyric writing - although if you take the Gaolers for example, this seems somewhat hard to believe. He told me once in our Retrosonic Podcast interview that he always fancied being the guitarist in a band seen playing at a dance or 'happening' in one of those American sixties teen movies. Either that or in an instrumental band, an ambition he was to make happen when he formed The Senior Service, his side project that was heavily influenced by those classic Spy, Sci-Fi and Spaghetti Western movie and TV theme tunes by composers such as Barry Gray, John Barry and Ennio Morricone. 

So tonight, the London crowd gets their first chance to see Graham playing guitar with The Woggles and he seems to be having as much fun as we are. Busting out all the moves and shapes with his cool looking Nineteen67 Jones guitar and despite the proliferation of Prisoners T-shirts in the crowd, he is relishing the spotlight being on the livewire frontman The Professor Mighty Manfred Jones. Manfred has to be one of the best rabble-rousing all action vocalists I have ever seen - he does not stop moving for a minute, he demands your attention with his cheerful cheerleading antics. One minute he's lifting the mic stand high above his head, then he's on his knees blasting out on his harmonica, before leaping up and pirouetting around with some nifty dance steps. He also likes to get down among the crowd, encouraging us to participate. I'm exhausted just watching him and I wonder how he gets his energy as he never lets up. His energy levels are matched by Go Go dancer Moana Santana who also doesn't stop for the duration of the show and she adds even more glamour to the visual extravaganza. We saw Moana dancing at the 100 Club for the fantastic Lenny Kaye plays Nuggets gig (which you can read about here) and she really adds to the whole swinging sixties vibe. 

Bassist Buzz Hagstrom and guitarist/saxophonist Shane Pringle also seem to be in their element, they have to compete with some strong personalities to their right and yet they acquit themselves perfectly, they are superb on the night. Only super-cool drummer Dan Eletxro in his trademark cap, remains seated throughout and that's because he has to keep the relentless groove going, I'm sure he was dancing inside. The perfectly plotted set unsurprisingly draws heavily on the excellent new album "Time Has Come", which is out now on green vinyl via Little Steven van Zandt's Wicked Cool Records, and is surely going to feature very high in our best albums of 2024 come the end of the year. I would go so far as to say it's up there as one of the best, if not the best Woggles albums and it positively bursts out of the speakers, coming very close to capturing the live energy we witnessed tonight. It's going to be lauded as a future classic in the Garage Soul genre, I'm sure of it. Graham contributes a couple of songs to the record along with guitar and backing vocals and what with The Prisoners stunning reunion album, "Morning Star", he's on a great creative streak at the moment. My personal highlights included "Telling Me Lies", "Paisley In Paradise", "Mr Last Chance", "Her Majesty's Pleasure" and the blistering "Flesh Hammer" which was written by Pat Beers by another of our favourite bands, The Schizophonics. "Karate Monkey" is also superb, with everyone joining in on the "ooh aah" karate kata moves. I sincerely hope that The Woggles don't leave it so long before returning to our shores - in these sometimes dark and depressing times we all need a regular shot of their peerless good-time Garage Rock 'n' Soul. 

The night was made even more special with the added bonus of The Galileo 7 and The Len Price 3, two more of our long-time favourites. In fact what with Graham Day on stage with The Woggles and so many familiar friendly faces in the crowd, it took me back to the good old days of our Retro Man Blog nights at the Half Moon Putney. The LP3 powered through a raucous set including a couple of promising sounding new songs which seemed inspired by their Medway and North Kent roots. You realise just what a great back catalogue the band have built up and they treated us to a pick from most of their albums, culminating in the classic "London Institute". The Galileo 7, who are of course fronted by Graham's colleague in The Prisoners, Allan Crockford, opened up proceedings quite early but thankfully there was a healthy crowd already in the venue to witness another great performance from the band. Their dynamic and memorable Psych Pop songs, with all four members having a go on vocals, went down really well with the crowd. They also debuted two new songs which are due out early next year and they sounded excellent, I'm really looking forward to hearing them recorded. So, all in all it was a perfect night out, proving the importance of the communal spirit and positive vibes of a room full of fans enjoying no-nonsense, uplifting live music. 

The Galileo 7

The Len Price 3

For more information on The Woggles and details on how to order the new album, please check out their official web-site here. Please click on the highlighted links throughout the feature for more information. I'll put more photos of the night at the Retro Man Blog Facebook page so please head on over here, like and subscribe for access. All photos and videos copyright Retro Man Blog.