TV Smith "Tales of The Emergency Sandwich" Part 3 of The Punk Rock Tour Diaries

TV Smith has just released Part 3 of his Punk Rock Tour Diaries this time entitled "Tales Of The Emergency Sandwich". It's out now and you can order copies direct from his web-site Store. TV Smith was the founder member and lead singer for The Adverts, who, in 1977, shot briefly to fame with their punk rock hit "Gary Gilmore's Eyes". Then the band broke up, the fame was gone and where to go next? The first book in this excellent series, "Getting There", dealt with this. Not knowing what to expect, TV set out on a series of unpublicised, low budget solo tours through Europe, and in this book he recounts the life-affirming and frequently hilarious experiences of what it's really like to be on the road, destination unknown. Along the way we encounter Attila The Stockbroker, Tom Robinson, Die Toten Hosen, Punk Lurex OK, Santa Claus, Henry Rollins, Garden Gang, The UK Subs, Sid Vicious (the dog)...and a cast of thousands!

The second volume of the Tour Diaries, "How To Feel Human", sees our hero armed only with a guitar, a suitcase and an emergency sandwich, as he continues his journey around the world as a solo troubadour for the punk generation. We travel with him as he discovers America, reveals the mystery of the Frankfurt green sauce, and finds out what happens when squirrels take crack and a duck flies in. Be by his side as he witnesses the construction of the 'Totem To Those Who See Beyond' and the epic battle of B Bang Cider versus the flying ants. Without leaving the comfort of your own home you too can be stranded in a forest in Finland, lose all your belongings in the Czech Republic, learn how to play swamp football, how to survive a fall from a three-storey building, and - most importantly - how to feel human!

You can listen to our Retrosonic Podcast special edition with TV Smith, where he discusses the books and his career from his very first Glam Prog band Sleaze playing church hall gigs on the edge of Dartmoor, to The Adverts and playing the Roxy and Top Of The Tops. We discuss The underated Explorers and his back-to-basics rock band Cheap, right through to his superb solo albums and current postion as a hugely respected solo live performer. The Podcast includes an exclusive four song session recorded in the Retrsosonic HQ, and you can discover our very own emergency sandwich recipe that even TV would have refused to eat!

 

The TV Smith Special Edition Podcast is available as a free download from our Soundcloud site.

Retro Man Blog Night with TV Smith at The Railway Southend-on-Sea June 22nd

TV Smith by Paul Hughes

The second Retro Man Blog night in conjunction with Podrophenia and new joint-promoter Southend Punk web-site, at The Railway in Southend-on-Sea was, I'm pleased to report, another wildly successful, rowdy and fun-packed evening. It only ground to a halt well after 1am when the last orders bell was tolled and unwilling punters were politely asked to get down off the stage, remove pint glasses from tops of heads and stop dancing. Yes, it must have been a good one as joint promoter and Radio Podrophenia DJ, Dave Collins, was up to his usual party trick of balancing various alcoholic beverages on the top of his head! Following the great night with The Len Price 3  back in March, it was a real pleasure to be back at The Railway again and thanks to my local joint-promoters Dave Collins and Ian Pile, both from Radio Podrophenia and Southend Punk web-site's Steve Pegrum, there was a superb turn-out of what has proved to be the coolest and friendliest bunch of locals any pub and venue could wish for. Steve Pegrum had organized a great merchandise stall, not only displaying CD's and T-Shirts of the acts playing on the night, but also various local fanzines and CD's from his own band The Machines and record label Angels In Exile. We also had posters and postcards from Retro Man Blog's favourite designer, Sophie Lo, and subject of the latest Retrosonic Podcast, David Apps, with his excellent "East London Photography" book. Also in attendance was Gaye Black  (Advert), with her amazing jewellry, bottle top brooches and keyrings, which were eagerly snapped up very early into the procedings.

Photo by Paul Hughes

The Railway's owners, Fi Jacobs and Dave Dulake, have created a wonderful place, and they should be applauded for supporting a wide range of eclectic, mainly local, musical talent. They are constantly putting on a wide selection of gigs and events, film screenings and comedy show-cases, often free of charge. The excellent staff at The Railway serve some lovely, well-priced beers with a smile and I was suddenly reminded of those great beer adverts "Carlsberg don't do the perfect pub and music venue"...but if they did, The Railway would be it! Even local Southend legend, Wilko Johnson, has taken to turning up for impromptu jam sessions on the occasional lunch time. Much to the surprise of Dave Collins, who unexpectedly got roped in to accompany Wilko on bass while he was trying to finish up his lunch recently. You can read all about how this came about and see some photos of the jam session on Dave's excellent Planet Mondo Blog.


Andy J Gallagher by Paul Hughes

Andy J Gallagher kicked off the evening's entertainment with a three piece line-up featuring bassist Paul Hill and drummer Lee Andrews, who also plays for Bif Bam Pow! who supported The Len Price 3 at our previous Railway gig. Andy played a blistering set of his barbed and bittersweet songs with their catchy choruses and spiky guitar riffs. There's a touch of the Buzzcocks and Wedding Present in the slightly cynical, world weary despite-it-all romantic subject matter of Andy's lyrics and that is channelled perfectly into the music. The songs rattle along at breakneck speed, sometimes threatening to burst out of control. Songs such as "The Heretic" and "Something Else" are crammed full of melodic touches so it's a shame that The Railway's PA is not exactly the best, as some of the vocals were a bit muffled, but there is no doubting that Andy J Gallagher is a live act to watch out for. He plays a cover of Ramones "Judy Is A Punk" and a selection of great tracks from his Roman Jugg produced album "Helicopter Dolphin Submarine", one of the strongest debuts I have heard in a very long time.

The somewhat precarious PA actually fell over at the end of the set, unfortunately right on the back of someones head. Luckily, after a sit down, the guy was OK and, what's more, as if to cement the coolness of The Railway's clientele, he did manage to avoid spilling one drop of his pint, which was quite remarkable, all things considered!

Dick York by Paul Hughes

Next up is Dick York, another local musician now probably much better known on the Continent due to his German-based band Cryssis in which he is joined by another Southender, Vom Ritchie. Vom is probably better known to us in the UK as the drummer from Dr & The Medics, but he is now living in Germany and playing for hugely popular stadium Punks, Die Toten Hosen. Cryssis were formed by Dick and Vom to rekindle some songs they wrote together over twenty years ago and tonight, Dick treats us to an acoustic run through of some excellent tracks from their album "Simple Men". He also plays a couple of songs, "Fair Fight" and their debut single, "School Days", from his original Mod Revival band Sta-Prest which go down very well with the crowd. Dick's an engaging performer and gamely gets the audience to join in some call-and-response singing on his faultless, should be a classic, "Could It Be". It was good to see Dick playing these songs and hopefully he will come over to the UK with Cryssis in the near future. You can listen to Dick chatting to me in our latest special edition Retrosonic Podcast, where he talks about his career from Sta-Prest to the present day, including how he got back together with Vom to form Cryssis.

TV Smith by Eric Waring

Then it's the turn of TV Smith, the legendary voice of The Adverts, The Explorers and Cheap but now performing as a solo acoustic artist with a string of excellent albums to his name. The Adverts were one of the very first bands caught up in that early London Punk Rock explosion, playing the Roxy Club and releasing one of the greatest debut albums of all time, not just of the Punk period, in "Crossing The Red Sea with The Adverts". The band also appeared on Top Of The Pops with the anthemic single "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" but unfortunately split up following the shambolic situation surrounding their second, much maligned, album "Cast Of Thousands". After The Adverts, TV has forged a successful solo career inspired by the advice of his friend, the poet Attila The Stockbroker who suggested - following attempts to work in a band format with The Explorers and Cheap - to just head out on his own, alone with an acoustic guitar. So, that's how we see TV tonight at The Railway, armed with his trusty acoustic he launches into a great set peppered with songs from all areas of his career. He is now not afraid to embrace his Adverts material, despite once refusing to play any of the songs for over 10 years, so we get some hidden gems like "We Who Wait" to the rousing singalong classics such as "No Time To Be 21" which see the wildy appreciative crowd going crazy!

TV Smith by Paul Hughes

The depth of his solo material is apparent as he treats us to some delights such as my personal favourite "You Saved My Life Then Ruined It", a version of which can be heard on our very special edition Retrosonic Podcast interview and live session. Considering TV himself was already questioning the validity of the Punk Rock "movement" he saw around him as early as his debut album with songs like "Safety In Numbers", he has certainly taken Punk's more positive attributes to heart. The creative D.I.Y ideals and desire to communicate is apparent, as is his burning mistrust of the corporate and capitalist ways of the world of today. Songs such as "Clone Town" and "It's Expensive Being Poor" rail against the lack of social progress and injustices around him. However, the thing is with TV Smith is, it's not a po-faced diatribe - the songs are often joyous with witty and biting lyrics such as "Complaints Department" from latest album "Coming Into Land". He sings the songs with real power and emotion, eyes shut and sinews straining - but after each songs he breaks into a huge grin as the chords fade and the audience respond warmly to his positive and life-affirming message.  We get "Tomahawk Cruise" from The Explorers thanks to a hopeful request shouted out from the audience, and "Lord's Prayer" from his days in Cheap, but actually written for Lords Of The New Church. Then it's "One Chord Wonders" and of course "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" and it's over, leaving a very happy and enthusiastic audience. He even had someone stage-diving, apparently a first for him at a UK acoustic show! Hopefully, the recent Punk Britannia programmes on BBC4 along with Jamie Palmer's excellent documentary "We Who Wait" will inspire people to check out all of TV Smith's albums further, including a re-evaluation of that "difficult" second album "Cast of Thousands" maybe...

Radio Podrophenia's Piley & Mondo by Paul Hughes

Things don't stop there however, as Radio Podrophenia DJ's Mondo and Piley, crank up the gramophone and spin some wonderful tunes to get everyone dancing. They have a knack of incorporating some classic Soul stompers with Punk and Psychedelia to brilliant effect. An eclectic and totally original mix, especially with their little trademark of dropping in some long lost TV theme tune for good measure. It works, people dance, people laugh and The Railway rocks to their fine selection of  feel-good sounds.

I would sincerely like to thank Fi and Dave and staff at The Railway and my joint promoter pals Dave & Ian and Steve Pegrum. TV Smith, Dick York, Andy J Gallagher with Lee Andrews and Paul Hill for the superb music. Gaye, Sophie Lo, David Apps for helping to stock the merchandise stall with your quality works of Art. All the people who helped me out with promotions and support and all The Railway clientele and those that travelled to be there. Thanks to photographers Sophie Lo, Paul Hughes and Eric Waring and to Uli and Klaus from the TV Smith web-site.
 

Gaye Advert, "Iggy" and Steve Pegrum of Southend Punk web-site by Steve Worrall

A happy crowd by Paul Hughes

TV Smith tuning up by Sophie Lo

TV Smith meeting his public at the Merch Stall by Paul Hughes

Check out our special TV Smith Edition Retrosonic Podcast below. An hour long Episode where TV takes us through his career, from his pre-Adverts days in Sleaze to The Roxy and bang up to date with his new album "Coming Into Land". This also includes a four song exclusive live session.

 

You can see more of Paul Hughes' excellent photographs of the night at his Flickr site. Eric Waring's great photography can be found at his elspics web-site and check Sophie Lo's web-site for her superb designs, including a wonderful Adverts poster.

Retrosonic Podcast Episode 3: TV Smith special

TV Smith live at the Retrosonic HQ - Photo Steve Worrall

TV Smith, the legendary voice of The Adverts and hugely respected solo performer, joins us (Steve from Retro Man Blog, Rock photographer Paul Slattery and Adam from The Jetsonics) in this brand new special edition of the Retrosonic Podcast,  to discuss his influential career and play an exclusive four song acoustic session.

TV takes us on a journey from his early gigs on the edge of Dartmoor with Sleaze to moving up to London with Gaye Advert and playing the Roxy with The Adverts at the very beginning of the Punk Rock explosion. He then brings us right up to date with the release of his latest album "Coming Into Land" and the publication of his excellent "Punk Rock Tour Diaries", "Volume 1: Getting There" and "Volume 2: How To Feel Human", which cover his adventures as a travelling solo performer armed only with a guitar, a suitcase and an emergency sandwich. This special Edition of the Podcast  is soundtracked by a choice of prime Adverts, Explorers, Cheap and solo material and we were also very honoured to be treated to an exclusive and intimate acoustic session of four songs, live in the Retrosonic HQ. 

Photographer Paul Slattery first saw The Adverts at The Nashville in 1977 and here he meets up with TV Smith for the first time in over 30 years. Paul discusses the impact of seeing the band in those early days of the Punk Rock explosion, and chats about his experiences of being caught up right at the front of a rather scary crowd. On the right is one of Paul's great photos of Gaye Advert taken backstage at The Nashville. Paul also talks about the scene in more depth in Part 2 of his story which can be found on the Retrosonic Podcast Soundcloud site HERE. 

For more information on our TV Smith gig at the Railway Hotel in Southend-on-Sea on June 22nd please click the gig poster on the right or visit the Railway Hotel's web-site. For other tour dates, merchandise and news please check out the excellent TV Smith.com web-site which is a really great resource for fans, including a Forum  and lots of interesting archive material to browse such as interviews and set lists from many gigs.

Many thanks to TV Smith for a thoroughly entertaining and inspiring evening, we really appreciate it. And thanks also to Paul Slattery for contributing the great Gaye Advert at The Nashville Photo.

Retrosonic Podcast Episode 3 Bonus Track: Dick York of Cryssis with Photographer and Artist David Apps

I met up with Dick York, from Cryssis and Photographer and Artist David Apps, recently for a special edition of the Retrosonic Podcast. Dick will be appearing at the Retro Man Blog Gig with TV Smith at The Railway in Southend-on-Sea on June 22nd, along with Andy J Gallagher and Radio Podrophenia DJ's Piley & Mondo. We talk about his early days in the Mod Revival band Sta-Prest and then how he resurrected his next band as Cryssis with Vom Ritchie (Dr. & The Medics, Die Toten Hosen), after over 20 years. Cryssis have a superb album out on Drumming Monkey Records called ”Simple Men”, which is packed full of tight and powerfully melodic rockers. Dick will be kicking things off at 8pm on Friday 22nd so make sure you arrive early so not to miss anything. Dick will be appearing solo and will treat us to acoustic renditions of some of his extremely tuneful and catchy songs from the album such as "Words", "London" and hopefully, my favourite "Could It Be". Cryssis are currently recording a new album.

Check out more information on Dick York and his band at the Cryssis web-site and you can also order merchandise including the latest album ”Simple Men” from Drumming Monkey Records.

Dick York (top) and Vom Ritchie in Cryssis - Photos by David Apps

Then next up on the Podcast, David Apps chats about his excellent "East London Photography" book, which charts the huge changes to the surrounding neighbourhoods around the development area of the new Olympics site. His images capture an East End and Cockney culture that is slowly being overshadowed, first by the Docklands developments and now the Olympic village. David also talks about his artwork and photography and how he ended up playing in a band with a founder member of the Sex Pistols..! Hopefully David will be bringing some copies of the book along on Friday for sale, so please be sure to check out the merchandise stand.

David Apps' East London Photography Book (top) and "Cowgirls" artwork

David Apps' Artwork and Photography can be found at his Artificial Designs site, where you can also order copies of the superb "East London Photography" book, which is well worth getting hold of.

Here's the Podcast, I hope you enjoy it. Sorry about the background noise, but trying to find a quiet place on a Saturday afternoon in Camden proved quite a tough task, I hope it doesn't spoil the enjoyment too much!

 

Many thanks to David Apps and Dick York for taking the time to chat to me, it was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon and I really appreciate their patience and good humour.

Andy J. Gallagher - Countdown to June 22nd at The Railway Southend-on-Sea with TV Smith

If you're a regular face at some of the Capital's livelier, more intimate, (ok, smaller and more down 'n'  dirty), music venues, chances are you've already come across Andy J. Gallagher and enjoyed his unique talent. If not, it really is time you did. Since first hitting the scene with punky avant Britpopsters 'The Shopkeeper Appeared', Andy has carved his own niche in the London circuit, while broadening his musical horizons with sorties into Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia – plus a spell on New York's alternative rock scene. With a new world of riffs, experiences and ideas in his head, he returned to England armed with his most inspired, creative and personal writing to date. Writing that spurred Roman Jugg, legendary guitarist with punk big noises The Damned, to call Andy a 'lyrical genius' and insist on producing his first solo album, 'Helicopter, Dolphin, Submarine'. 

The album's already creating waves in the music press, with 'Vive Le Rock' describing it as 'sophisticated and rewarding, drawing on the finest in pop punk and mod rock from across the decades'. In fact, they loved Andy so much, they put stand out track 'Something Else' on one of their showcase CDs. 'Vive Le Rock' were pretty accurate in their assessment as it goes, with influences as diverse as The Velvet Underground, The Ramones, The Kinks, David Bowie, Elvis (both Presley and Costello) and Buzzcocks all playing a part in Andy's musical mix but never overwhelming his own personal sound. 

You may have heard Andy on Radio One, you may have even seen him gigging with global megastar bands like Radiohead - but if you haven't been to one of his own gigs or given 'Helicopter, Dolphin, Submarine' a listen, you really are missing out. So go on, treat yourself, meet Andy J. Gallagher soon.

I'm extremely pleased to announce that Andy will be appearing as support to TV Smith at The Railway Hotel, Southend-on-Sea on June 22nd. This is Retro Man Blog promotions' return to The Railway, promoted in conjunction with Radio Podrophenia and Southend Punk Web-site. As an added bonus, Roman Jugg (The Damned, Phantom Chords & Naz Nomad) who produced Andy's debut album, will be joining him on stage to run through a few numbers. You can listen to Mondo & Piley's interview with Roman on Radio Podrophenia, check the Planet Mondo Blog for more details.

Here's a superb video from Andy entitled "Something Else", it's one of the best videos I've seen for ages so I hope you enjoy it! Be sure to come along early on June 22nd so you don't miss anything!

TV Smith & The Adverts "We Who Wait" Documentary BBC4 June 01st

BBC4 will be showing a one hour documentary about the life and career of singer-songwriter and Adverts frontman, TV Smith on June 1st at 11pm.

"We Who Wait" tells the story of punk band The Adverts and the continuing music career of their former frontman TV Smith; one of the most talented, literate and passionate - yet curiously overlooked - songwriters to emerge from London's vibrant '77 new wave scene. TV Smith formed The Adverts in late '76 with his girlfriend Gaye and press criticism of the band's alleged musical ineptitude was answered by a defiant and iconic debut single "One Chord Wonders". A couple of months later, they secured their first chart hit with the macabre punk classic, "Gary Gilmores Eyes". Gaye's status as reluctant punk icon ensured the band received a lot of press attention, and a promising future beckoned. However, after a well-received but underperforming debut LP and a critically-reviled follow-up, The Adverts suffered an acrimonious collapse.

Pushed to the margins of the music industry by shifting musical trends and a stubborn refusal to compromise, Smith nonetheless continued a dogged struggle to make a living as a singer and songwriter in the face of critical hostility and industry indifference. After years of bad luck, personal loss and failed bands, Smith's persistence is finally paying dividends. He has carved out a career as a solo artist and troubadour and painstakingly built a new audience through constant touring. To this day, he remains a fiercely inventive songwriter and an electrifying live performer - an enduring embodiment of punk's DIY ethos, passion and power. A thrilling testament to one of UK music's great outsiders, "We Who Wait" features a wealth of stills and archive footage and contributions from former band members, collaborators, critics and friends including Smith and Gaye Advert, Brian James, Richard Strange, John Robb, Greil Marcus, Miles, Henry Rollins, Ian MacKaye and many others.

Gaye Advert & TV Smith November 2011 - Photo by Steve Worrall

Also, this ties in nicely with my TV Smith gig, in conjunction with Southend Punk web-site and Radio Podrophenia, at The Railway Hotel in Southend-on-Sea on Friday June 22nd, which promises to be a very special night indeed. Also on the bill will be Dick York performing a solo acoustic set. Dick used to be in locally based Mod Revival band, Sta-Prest, but is now playing in Cryssis alongside Vom Ritchie, drummer in German super-star Punk band Die Toten Hosen. Joining the party will be Andy J Gallagher playing his barbed, bitter-sweet yet tuneful songs, with a guest appearance by Roman Jugg of The Damned and Naz Nomad. If that is not enough, then the evening will be rounded off with a stomping selection of weird and wonderful covers, rare soul and psychedelic grooves from DJ's Mondo & Piley of Radio Podrophenia. Be there early as there is a lot to cram in and I wouldn't want you to miss any of the fun!

You can hear Rock Photographer, Paul Slattery, talking about his adventures in Punk Rock, which include The Adverts, in the Bonus Track of Episode 2 of the Retrosonic Podcast.

Click HERE to listen/download.

U.K. Subs "Time & Matter" Archive Web-site + Paul Slack Tour Blog

Great news...the U.K. Subs immense historical archive web-site "Time & Matter", run with admirable dedication by Mark Chadderton & Rob Cook, is now back up on line following it's re-launch today! It has beaten the unbelievable act of mindless hacking from some extremely sad Internet nerd, and is now back and running at full steam! Any fan of any band would crave a site like this, it really is a huge and impressive labour of love, so it's more reason to be thankful that Mark & Paul could recover their work. "Time & Matter" features a wealth of excellent archive material and memorabilia, ranging from photos, press releases and old fanzine features to a full discography and up to date news on the band and it's various ex-members and off-shoots. Anyway, best of luck to Mark and Rob. 

U.K. Subs - Photo by Steve Worrall

Whilst the site was down, original Subs' bassist Paul Slack, now with Monica & The Explosion, moved his fantastic Tour Blog/Travelogue to a different site. You can catch up with Paul and Monica's adventures on the new "Access All Areas" Blog. Paul said when he was on tour back in the day, he went to some amazing places but it was just venue/backstage/tour bus/venue...but now he really wants to savour and experience the various places he plays (and eats...!) at. He writes and photographs very well, and I recommend his Blog whether you like Food, Travel, or Music...or all three for that matter...it is a thoroughly entertaining read!  

Monica & The Explosion - Photo by Steve Worrall

You can see Paul Slack in action with Monica & The Explosion at The Half Moon, Putney on June 30th as Part 2 of Retro Man Blog's "Punk Legends" nights. Also on the bill will be the original "Sound of The Suburbs" - The Members - with Rat Scabies from The Damned on drums. Part 1 will be at The Railway in Southend-on-Sea on June 22nd with TV Smith from The Adverts, Andy J Gallagher with Roman Jugg (The Damned, Naz Nomad) and Dick York (Cryssis).

TV Smith live at The Railway, Southend on June 22nd

Following the success of our recent Len Price 3 gig, I'm pleased to announce Retro Man Blog will again link up with Radio Podrophenia at Southend's superb music Pub and Venue, The Railway Hotel. This time we are being helped out with promotions by Steve Pegrum's amazing archive web-site, Southend Punk. The gig will take place on Friday June 22nd and we are extremely proud to announce that the headliner will be TV Smith, the legendary voice of The Adverts. Expect to hear a selection of songs from his impressive back catalogue including the excellent new album "Coming In To Land" and hopefully a few Adverts goodies thrown in too. 

Special guests include Andy J Gallagher who will be playing tracks from his latest release "Helicopter Dolphin Submarine". The album was produced by Roman Jugg of The Damned and Naz Nomad fame, and we are very pleased to say that Roman will be joining Andy on a couple of numbers. Kicking off the night will be Dick York from Cryssis and Sta Prest performing a solo acoustic set. Then to round things off we will be treated to another storming DJ set from Radio Podrophenia's Mondo & Piley.

If that wasn't enough, The Railway have generously declared this a FREE gig! The only thing we ask of you is that you arrive early to support all the acts - and more importantly to ensure you do get in - oh yeah, and buy lots of beers, it's the least you can do...!!

For Part 2 of our "Punk Rock Legends" gigs we move to The Half Moon in Putney, London, the following week on Saturday June 30th. Headliners will be The Members, the original "Sound of The Suburbs", now including Rat Scabies from The Damned, on drums. Support comes from the excellent Monica and The Explosion, featuring original U.K. Subs bassist, Paul Slack and they are joined by The Jetsonics. For tickets and info check the Half Moon web-site HERE.

In the run up to the gig I'll be doing separate features on all the Artists appearing and hopefully a special edition of the Retrosonic Podcast too, so keep a look out here on the Blog or Facebook page for news.

T.V. Smith at the Signal Gallery Punk and Beyond Exhibition December 01st

I must admit that I did not know much about T.V. Smith's post-Adverts career, in fact come to think about it, I don't really know much about The Adverts either...Rather like the U.K. Subs, who were also right there at the birth of British Punk Rock - both bands appearing at The legendary Roxy Club - they seem to have been somewhat air-brushed out of a lot of Punk Rock history books and documentaries. Whether this is by accident or design I'm not really sure. They do have a voice in John Robb's excellent "Punk Rock; An Oral History", but are not often lauded in the same way that their contempraries The Clash, Pistols, Wire and Buzzcocks are for example. To me they are up there as the authors of one of THE classic Punk albums in "Crossing The Red Sea With The Adverts". Along with The Rezillos and X-Ray Spex they seemed to have a short-lived spell in the spotlight but managed to leave a legacy of some classic singles and a masterpiece album, and what a materpiece "...Red Sea..." is! However, I wasn't so keen on their follow-up "Cast of Thousands", in fact it got sold pretty quickly I'm sad to say...I also didn't follow T.V. Smith's music after that except for the excellent "Tomohawk Cruise" and only got to see him at The Ruts' Paul Fox benefit show at Islington Academy a couple of years ago. But music is like that, you branch off on different tangents, lose touch with certain bands but follow the careers closely of others but in the end you always come back to quality, and The Adverts first album was certainly quality. It was always pushing against the musical boundaries of Punk Rock. Lyrically too they were straining at the leash from the off, with "Safety In Numbers" they were already questioning the point and validity of the Punk and New Wave "movement". Certainly one thing that resonates is the superb lyrics and how the themes are still pretty relevant today. In fact from the solo songs T.V. Smith plays tonight there are real parallels between "Bored Teenagers" and his later "Generation Y". His world weary take on the state of Britain is also still very much apparent. Tonight he plays a selection of solo material and a choice of classics from The Adverts including "No Time To Be 21", "New Church", "The Great British Mistake".

He is funny and self-effacing yet still retains an edge and a dissatisfaction with the ills of modern life. Whether it is the slacker generation or the obsession with minor gripes and grumbles whilst ignoring the bigger issues. One of his takes on consumerism is wittily summed up in "Xmas Bloody Xmas" which tickles the funny bone instead of just bashing you around the head. "Every musician has to have a Xmas song, and that was mine!". The sentiments are not exactly of mistletoe and wine. He claims that the worst thing you can do performing in such an intimate setting is to perform a ballad, but then duly goes ahead and expertly does just that with the sublime "Generation Y". "I might have to get a bit closer in the quiet bits" he says, "don't get nervous..." He's an impassioned performer, eyes shut tightly as he sings, sinews straining as he stomps the beat with his boots on the gallery's wooden floor. It was a marvellous performance in such stripped down circumstances and close proximity of the audience. He ends with "Gary Gilmore's Eyes", which he "leaves for last as that's what real musicians do, leave the hit for last...". It was such a thoroughly enjoyable evening so I had to say hello afterwards, although I felt a bit of fraud with just my love of "Crossing The Red Sea" as common ground. However, he was very charming and patient, despite my obvious lack of knowledge of his solo work. Still, that's one of the great things about music, it's a constant voyage of discovery, and re-discovery too, so I left the show armed with his new album and book "Getting There: Punk Rock Tour Diaries Volume 1" and I look forward to my own little voyage with the works of T.V. Smith!

T.V. Smith at Signal Gallery - Photos by Steve Worrall

T.V. Smith with Gaye Advert in front of Gaye's artwork - Photo by Steve Worrall

I bought a copy of T.V. Smith's new album, "Coming In To Land" at the show to kick-start my voyage into his solo work, and I must say it has been on constant rotation ever since. It is a great album, extremely strong from start to finish, each song is memorable even after the first couple of listens, especially the banjo and mouth-harp driven "True Believers". The witty "Complaints Dept." has neurotic half spoken verses but bursts into a beautiful, delicate chorus and whistling refrain. There are muscular guitar riff driven songs such as "Man Down" where Smith's voice is superb, reminiscent of Richard Butler from The Psychedelic Furs. But my favourites are probably the epic title track and album closer "No Message Please" which is an acoustic led singalong, a perfect way to end an excellent album. I will now have the pleasure of delving into T.V. Smith's back catalogue and look forward to discovering some more great music along the way!

T.V. Smith is playing at the New Cross Inn on December 11th where'll perform the Best of The Adverts with The Valentines. Check the web-site here for the store and news of other live shows.

With sincere thanks to T.V. Smith, Gaye Advert and the Signal Gallery