Retrosonic Podcast Episode 53 "Play It Cool" featuring 20 superb new releases from Jah Wobble, Pascal Comelade & The Limiñanas, Elephant Stone, Jim Jones All Stars and more...

Welcome to Episode 53 of Retrosonic Podcast, featuring 20 superb new songs by some of our favourite international Bands and Artists from as far afield as Canada, Sardinia, France, America, Sweden, Indonesia, the U.K. and Turkey. The episode is out now so please search and subscribe to Retrosonic Podcast at Spotify, iTunes, Apple Podcasts or direct from our SoundCloud site below: 

Retrosonic Podcast · Episode 53 "Play It Cool"

Tracklisting & Links

Big Boss Man "Do The Backstroke"

Jim Jones All Stars "Gimme The Grease"

Melody Fields "In Love"

Jah Wobble (featuring Jon Klein) "Fashion World"

Pascal Comelade & The Limiñanas "Le Riffifi Brille en Jaune"

Pete International Airport (featuring Rachel Goswell) "Tic Tac" (Anton Newcombe Remix)

Elephant Stone "Lost In a Dream"

Les Kitschenette's "Breuvage del Amor"

Crayola Eyes "Blacker Than Coal"

Jetstream Pony "Sixes & Sevens"

Hipbone Slim & The Kneejerks "Hey Catalina"

Gaye Su Akyol "Love Buzz"

def.fo "Play It Cool"

Spiders "Hanging On The Telephone"

Palooka 5 "Chetsworth Motel"

The Sound of Pop Art "Beach Life"

The Hangee 5 "Never Have You Ever"

Tiny Flaws (featuring Florence Joelle) "Hazy Recollection"

The Masonics "It's Time That I Moved On"

The Guy Hamper Trio "Cowboys Are Square"

Please click on the highlighted band names above for links to their official web-sites for further information and details on how to purchase the excellent music featured in this episode. For more details on our featured record label, Spinout Nuggets, please check out their official web-site here and their Bandcamp site here.

Allie Beaudouin's new book "Between It All" is available from Amazon here. You can see the live video of Allie joining dad Mick Head on stage in Tokyo for a superb version of "Broken Beauty" from the Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band album "Dear Scott" at our YouTube channel here. 

Thanks to all featured Bands and Record Companies, Lee from Spinout Nuggets, Shauna from Shameless Promotions, John Johnson and of course all listeners and subscribers. The Retrosonic Podcast archive is available at SoundCloud, Spotify, iTunes and Apple Podcasts. It would be very much appreciated if you could please like, subscribe, follow and share. Many thanks! This episode's cover star: Tom Powell of def.fo Photo Copyright: John Johnson For more details on John Johnson's excellent photography, which includes cover art for Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band, please check out his Facebook page here.

Retrosonic Podcast Episode 52 "It's Clappin' Time" with The Courettes, Sensation Seekers, Jack Cades, Vannas Kasino, Jim Jones All Stars, Ian Person, The Priscillas, The Masonics and much more...

Cover Star: Elsa of The Jack Cades. Photo by Jeff Pitcher

Welcome to Episode 52 of Retrosonic Podcast, a Brexit-busting selection of 22 superb new International releases from as far afield as America, Denmark, Scotland, Sweden, Canada, England, France and Japan - strictly minimum chat and maximum Rock 'n' Roll! Please support the bands, musicians and artists by clicking on the highlighted links in the tracklisting below for further information and details on how to buy the music featured in this show. So pour yourself a drink, crank up the volume, sit back and be prepared to be blown away! Subscribe for free at Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts or listen/download direct from our SoundCloud site below.

Retrosonic Podcast · Episode 52 "It's Clappin' Time!"

Tracklisting & Links

The Sensation Seekers "It's Clappin' Time"

Ian Kay "Love Wasn't Built In A Year"

The Jack Cades "Chasing You"

Jim Jones All Stars "I Want You (Anyway I Can)"

The Jukeez "Too Late"

Vännäs Kasino "Savage" 

Gatuplan "Kidsen Från Provinsen"

Per Svensson Psychedelic Sounds "Born To Go"

Ian Person "Waltz of Love & War"

Stupidity "Fortune Teller"

Råttanson "My Head Is A Troubled Region"

The Priscillas "Angela"

The Routes "No Good"

French Boutik "Devant Moi"

Popincourt "Love On The Barricades"

Chris Casey "A Bit Better"

The Courettes "Night Time (The Boy of Mine)"

The Jackal IV "Live It"

The Voo-Dooms "Don't Drag Me Down"

The Sleazoids "VHS Death"

The Masonics "Somebody Stole The Heat From My Fire"

The Guy Hamper Trio "All The Poisons In The Mud"

Featured Record Labels

Spinout Nuggets

Damaged Goods

Beluga

Static Wax

Clouds Hill

Milano

Discos Antifaz

Sound Pollution

 Sounds of The Suburbs Record Store, Ruislip

Thanks to all featured bands and record labels. This episode's cover star is Elsa from The Jack Cades, photo by Jeff Pitcher, please check out more of Jeff's excellent photos here. Please subscribe to Retrosonic Podcast at SoundCloud, iTunes/Apple Podcasts or Spotify - all for free - so you don't miss an episode.

 

Don Craine Tribute at The Half Moon Putney with Downliners Sect, The Masonics and The Fallen Leaves, August 21st 2022

What a fantastic turnout on Sunday afternoon for the special matinee tribute show to Don Craine, the Deerstalker wearing R'n'B guitar legend of Downliners Sect who sadly passed away earlier this year. The occasion was also used to pay tribute to former Downliners guitarist Del Dwyer and large posters of the two hung on the backdrop, which was a nice touch. The fundraiser and celebration was really well organised by Rob Green and Ron Symmons of The Fallen Leaves to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and included not only, three top bands but also a charity auction which included some tasty signed records, books and white label test pressings from Spinout Nuggets, Billy Childish, Damaged Goods and Ace Records. There were also signed books by artist Jamie Reid and a superb package from the Eel Pie Island Museum, which is a must visit if you are in Twickenham. Rob Green acted as Auctioneer with a nice line in quips, a drumstick as a gavel and a snare drum to bash once the items had been sold. The good news was that all the items presented were sold and I'm sure that well over £1,000 must have been raised from the auction itself. 

It was great to be back at The Half Moon again, scene of most of my Retro Man Blog Nights over the years and I had to remember that it wasn't my gig so I couldn't go backstage and help myself to the rider! The Fallen Leaves opened proceedings with "Begin Again" and slammed through a short and sharp set peppered with some promising sounding new songs such as "Rosalina" and "Worried Well" from their forthcoming new LP. I haven't seen The Leaves since before lockdown and they were even better than ever - former Subway Sect guitarist Rob Symmons unique blistering style leaves people standing there in awe and frontman Rob Green's idiosyncratic performance and impressive croon is always a joy. Drummer Buddy Ascott, who you can often hear as my co-host at Retrosonic Podcast  crams all his years of experience from his time in The Chords, The Moment, Speakeasy and many other bands to sublime effect in The Fallen Leaves. His John Maher-style fills and sharp, tight rolls add a dynamism to the Leaves sound. His rhythm section partner Gaz on bass leaps around the stage like Dee Dee Ramone, adding an air of unpredictability and a nice contrast to the two Rob's more studied approach. The band will be playing at the Dublin Castle in Camden on September 10th so if you're free, please go along and you'll see one of the best live acts around. 

Next up were The Masonics who never fail to entertain with their raw Medway Delta R'n'B and Beat and they didn't disappoint today with their catchy, danceable numbers. Like The Fallen Leaves, the band were good friends with Don and Downliners Sect and they regularly shared stages together. Of course, drummer Bruce Brand was also once in Thee Headcoats Sect with his Milkshakes and Pop Rivets colleague, Billy Childish along with Don and Keith from Downliners Sect so there's a lot of shared history between them all. The Masonics were joined by Ludella Black for a superb run through of "Why Don't You Smile Now" and they left everyone smiling and thoroughly satisfied. 

Downliners Sect closed the afternoon with a rollicking set of good time R'n'B featuring founder member Keith Grant on bass and vocals and you can only wonder why the band never quite achieved the fame of their early contemporaries, after all Rod Stewart and Steve Marriott once wanted to join them! So, a poignant but nevertheless thoroughly entertaining afternoon that will live long in the memory, in fact I wonder if it might become a regular occurrence? Anyway, well done to Rob Symmons and Rob Green and all involved in making it such a special event. You can hear Rob Green and Buddy Ascott of The Fallen Leaves talking to me about the background and preparations for the show in Episode 48 of Retrosonic Podcast which also includes an exclusive Headcoats Sect track and is available for free on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts or from Soundcloud below: 

Retrosonic Podcast · Episode 48 "Why Don't You Smile Now?" with special guests Buddy Ascott & Rob Green

Please click the highlighted Links throughout the feature for more information. There are more videos of the show available at the Retro Man Blog YouTube channel here.

Retrosonic Podcast Episode 48 "Why Don't You Smile Now?" with Special Guests Buddy Ascott & Rob Green of The Fallen Leaves. Features Exclusive New Unreleased Song by Thee Headcoats Sect

Steve from Retro Man Blog welcomes special guests Buddy Ascott and Rob Green from The Fallen Leaves into the studio to discuss their upcoming tribute and fundraising show in the memory of Deerstalker hat wearing guitar legend, Don Craine of Downliners Sect at The Half Moon Putney on Sunday August 21st. To help raise awareness of this very special event, Damaged Goods Records have very kindly granted us an exclusive unreleased new song by Thee Headcoats Sect featuring Billy Childish, Bruce Brand and original Downliners Sect band member Keith Grant. This episode also features news of Buddy's recent recording sessions with Speakeasy, The 79'ers and The Fallen Leaves and another charity show with Vox Pop. Steve chats about some of the gigs he's attended since the last episode including Baby Shakes at the Pump It Up Power Pop Weekender and The Undertones at the Camden Electric Ballroom where we also praise the merits of vocalist Paul McLoone. Then there's the stunning performance by Love Revisited with Johnny Echols at the Garage and The Gruesomes first ever U.K. show at Weirdsville. Steve also talks about his visit to Spinroad Vinyl Factory studio and pressing plant in Sweden and the problems for small bands and labels getting their vinyl pressed. There's music from The Masonics, The Undertones, Downliners Sect, Baby Shakes, Vox Pop, The 79'ers, Love, The Gruesomes, The Fallen Leaves and of course, that very special Thee Headcoats Sect exclusive! You can subscribe to Retrosonic Podcast for free at Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts or direct from our SoundCloud site below:

Retrosonic Podcast · Episode 48 "Why Don't You Smile Now?" with special guests Buddy Ascott & Rob Green

For tickets to the Don Craine Tribute Show at The Half Moon Putney on Sunday August 21st, please contact the venue at this link. Tickets and info for the Sound of Woking event can be found here. Here's the full track-listing to this episode, please click on the highlighted links for further information on the featured bands and how you can purchase their music.

The 79'ers "Maybe Tomorrow" (Live)

Vox Pop "Cor Blimey"

The Undertones "Dig Yourself Deep"

Baby Shakes "Really, Really"

The Gruesomes "Stop It, Girl"

Downliners Sect "Why Don't You Smile Now"

Thee Headcoats Sect "The Baker Street Irregulars" EXCLUSIVE NEW SONG

The Masonics "When You Cry At Night"

The Fallen Leaves "Green Eyes F.C."

Love "She Comes In Colours"

With sincere thanks to Buddy, Rob Green, Rob Symmonds and Ian at Damaged Goods Records. 

Podcover star: Amy K-B.

Downliners Sect, The Masonics & The Fallen Leaves - Tribute Show for Don Craine at The Half Moon Putney, August 21st

Sunday August 21^st at our favourite venue The Half Moon in Putney sees a very special afternoon tribute show for the head Headcoat, the late, great Don Craine of The Downliners Sect. Contemporaries of the Rolling Stones, Pretty Things and The Yardbirds, Downliners Sect came into being in Spring 1963 when deerstalker-hatted rhythm guitarist Don Craine found Keith Grant and the Sect was born. They played their own brash and exciting brand of R'n'B and still do, Don and Keith played together for 60 years. They agreed that, whatever happened to either of them, the group would carry on. With the sad loss of Don in February, Keith, as promised, carries the name Downliners Sect on. This concert is a tribute to the Deerstalker wearing Head man himself, Don Craine. Downliners Sect fans and friends, The Masonics and The Fallen Leaves will be fitting special guests on the day. In fact, Don and Keith teamed up with Billy Childish and Bruce Brand, the current Masonics drummer, to form Thee Headcoat Sect in the 90’s. The Fallen Leaves are rooted in the classic vein of their locality of Eel Pie Island/Richmond/Twickenham British Beat and R'n'B and feature members of Subway Sect and The Chords. This is sure to be a very special afternoon so book your tickets directly from the Half Moon Putney now from this link. All proceeds to Macmillan Cancer Support. For more details please check out the Facebook Event page here and please note this is an afternoon session starting at 1pm. Here are some great photos of The Downliners Sect by my Retro Man Blog colleague, the photographer Paul Slattery.

Top photo The Downliners Sect at the BBC radio studios control room Maida Vale with Rob Symmons of The Fallen Leaves. Second photo, the band in the studio. Third photo Don with Bruce Brand of The Masonics backstage at the 100 Club. Bottom photo Don onstage at the 100 Club. All photos copyright of Paul Slattery.

Retrosonic Podcast Lockdown Lowdown Episode 4 with Mike & Elsa from The Jack Cades

Mike & Elsa from The Jack Cades

In this episode of our Retrosonic Podcast Lockdown Lowdown series we welcome Mike and Elsa from one of our favourite new groups, The Jack Cades, following the release of their superb second album "Perfect View". Mike and Elsa take us on a musical trip through some of their favourite albums, singles, gigs, happenings and people that had an influence on their own impressive work with Thee Vicars, The Baron Four, The Missing Souls and of course with The Jack Cades. Generously soundtracked by some of their favourite songs including Nirvana, The Milkshakes, The Masonics, Rodriguez, The Stone Roses, Buzzcocks, The Beatles, The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Spacemen 3, The Squires and The Brian Jonestown Massacre. There's also a pick of their very own music from Thee Vicars, The Missing Souls, The Baron Four and of course The Jack Cades.

Track-listing

James Brown "I Got The Feelin'"

Nirvana "All Apologies"

The Missing Souls "The Alligator"

Thee Vicars "Introduction To Thee Vicars"

Thee Vicars "The Beat"

The Baron Four "Shut Your Mind"

The Milkshakes "Out of Control"

The Masonics "When You Cry At Night"

The Brian Jonestown Massacre "Vacuum Boots"

The Stone Roses "What The World Is Waiting For"

The (International) Noise Conspiracy "Smash It Up"

Buzzcocks "Time's Up"

The Zombies "Friends of Mine"

The Beatles "You Won't See Me"

The Squires "Going All The Way"

Rodriguez "I'll Slip Away"

Spacemen 3 "Losing Touch With My Mind"

The Jack Cades "Child"

Please click on the highlighted links above for more information on the featured bands and how to buy their music. The Jack Cades Facebook page is here for news about on-line performances and releases. Please kindly do what you can to support Bands, Artists, Record Companies and Venues in these difficult times. Subscribe to Retrosonic Podcast for FREE at iTunes or at our Soundcloud site/archive here. This episode can also be downloaded or streamed directly below.

Retrosonic Podcast · Lockdown Lowdown Episode 4: Mike & Elsa from The Jack Cades

Amy Catches up with Dave Diamond from The Voo-Dooms & The Primitive Club

The Voo-Dooms - Photo by Grant Unstead

Amy caught up with Dave Prince (aka Dave Diamond), drummer with The Voo-Dooms to find out more on the band and the growing success of their Primitive Club nights.

Q: Tell me about The Trash-O-Men and The Primitive Club! How did you get started?

A: Since 2016 I had been discussing with my wife Susie about opening my own 1950's/1960's club night to showcase bands that have either not played London for some time, or for an exclusive show with two DJs playing records to keep everyone dancing to the early hours! We had already been looking at Clapham Junction as a possible location in those early days and around West London too, then the following year we started to consider The Dublin Castle or The Fidler's Elbow in Camden. At the tail end of 2017 I really started looking at putting on a club once again and started to realise that this project was not something that I could do on my own; it was around this time that myself and my best mate Mike were starting to form The Voo-Dooms and after going over the idea with him, we decided to join forces and run a 1960's beat, garage and twist night.

Dave Diamond, Eric Baconstrip & Bruce Brand - Photo by Susie Prince

Dave & Mick, The Trash-0-Men - Photo by Susie Prince

The Primitive Club name is from my style of drumming and the old drums that I collect and Mike came up with the pseudonym The Trash~O~Men to use when we are putting on the event nights. I then decided to bite the bullet and contacted The Fiddlers Elbow in Camden in 2018 and booked three dates for 2019. For our opening night on 17th August 2019 we wanted to go for an explosive headliner; King Salami & The Cumberland Three. Then we chose The Hurricanes, an exclusive band to play London for the first time, and as our band The Voo-Dooms were now up and running, it was a natural choice to have us as openers for our debut night. We used a We-Got-Tickets advanced ticket booking link and sold 80 tickets and then on the day over 70 more which made the night a sell out with some coming as far as Germany and France just for the night! The first 25 through the door got a free limited edition Primitive club badge and the place was buzzing for the whole night. All three bands were amazing and the finale was King Salami & Cumberland Three ending with their version of "Tainted Love" which sent the audience into raptures. It was so fab to see Bruce 'Bash' Brand and Eric Baconstrip DJing together for the first time in over 15 years and CK Smith spinning some fab tunes til 2am! The night was captured by our official photographer Jeff Pitcher and at the end of the night the 100 leaflets we had printed to advertise our next event in November had all gone!

The Masonics - Photo by Sara Louise Bowrey

The King & The Prince - Photo by Susie Prince

For The Primitive Club #2 on November 2nd we booked The Masonics as our headliners with Ludella Black, and for our support we chose Thee Girl Fridays for their debut London Show. I had been speaking to the band at Beatwave in 2018 and said how fabulous they were and that they had to play London soon, so it was ironic when I messaged them the following year to book the band for The Primitive Club! Then we had our resident band The Voo-Dooms to kick off the night and DJs Lee 'Grimmers' Grimshaw from the Spinout Show and CK Smith to end the night playing back to back top tunes. Due to the huge success of the opening night we booked Steven Tagg Randall from The Archivist of London to capture everything on video and Sara Louise Bowrey as our official photographer. It was so amazing to see people coming through the door right when we opened at 7:30pm, and by the time The Voo-Dooms kicked off the night there were already nearly 100 in attendance. Once again all three bands stormed it with Thee Girl Fridays throwing big knickers into the audience and The Masonics with Ludella Black crowning yet another very successful high octane night! The Primitive Club #3 we billed as The Leap Year Twist Night; we had 80's garage legends The X-Men headlining, The Go-Go Cult and The Voo-Dooms and our DJs were Lee Grimshaw and Bruce 'Bash' Brand. There was a real buzz in the audience once again and this time many 80's legends had turned up on the night, including Nick Garrard (The Meteors manager), Mike Spencer (The Cannibals), Bal Croce (The Sting-Rays), and Miles, the original X-Men guitarist. Yet another electrifying night with all the bands receiving an encore and playing their socks off! At the end of the night Bal joined The X-Men on stage for an impromtu version of the Kenny and the Kasuals track "Come On"; the crowd went wild jumping and twisting! It was an amazing experience and such a phenomenal end to yet another fab night at The Primitive Club.

The Primitive Club - Photo by Jeff Pitcher

Q: You've played host to a diverse range of bands and DJ's - what kind of audience are coming to your gigs?

A: So far we've had a very diverse audience, with Beatsters, Twisters, Rock 'n' Rollers, Surf lovers, 60's Groovers, Hipsters, music lovers, Garage, Trash and European music lovers from France, Spain and Germany. Even some original musicians from the 80's have turned up to all three gigs so far which has been amazing to see. Also, it has been great to see all the bands after their show staying and watching the other bands, chatting to everyone who has attended the night and then dancing the night away once the DJs start spinning their tunes! Obviously, current events are making things very tough for promoters.

Q: What do you hope to return with when the lockdown restrictions are lifted? 

A: All being well our future nights will be:

1st August: our debut Primitive Bop #1 with headliners Carlos & The Bandidos, The Danny McVey Trio with Lil Di and Demon Barber DJs.

22nd August Primitive #5 with The No-Things (exclusive London show), Paul Groovy & The Pop Art Experience (Exclusive first London show since 1986!) & The Voo- Dooms.

21st November Primitive #6 with The Wildebeests (exclusive London show) and Kings of Hong Kong (Exclusive London show) and The Voo-Dooms...and then we will be looking at dates for 2021!

Unfortunately, due to the current Corona Virus situation, we have had to CANCEL the 30th May: Primitive #4 with The Courettes.

King Salami & The Cumberland 3 - Photo by Jeff Pitcher

Q: And while we're here, what's the latest from the wonderful world of The Voo- Dooms?

Dan Whaley (Dustaphonics, Charles Napiers, Shockwaves etc.) has joined the band on lead guitar this year and we have just finished recording six original tracks at Jim Riley's Ranscombe Studios that are due for release on Lee Grimshaw's Spinout Nuggets label in June, and then we are really looking forward to our next gig and playing live once again. Stay safe everyone, thank you to all the bands, DJs, Primitive Club team and to everyone for all the support during the past year and remember Trashin' n' Twistin' in London town at The Primitive Club - stay tuned folks! 

- Amy K-B, May 2020

Primitive Club signed poster

Photographers: Grant Unstead, Jeff Pitcher, Sara Louise Bowrey & Susie Prince. For further information on The Voo-Dooms you can check out their official Facebook site here, and to keep up to date on the Primitive Club please check out the site here. Please also do take the time to click on the highlighted links above to support the featured bands, photographers and labels etc.

The Masonics, The Baron Four & Ye Nuns at The Lexington December 21st War Child Benefit

Ye Nuns - Photo Copyright Zigpix

Following on from our November Retro Man Blog Night, The Masonics and The Baron Four were once more sharing the same stage, this time at a benefit for the War Child charity organized by Ye Nuns who were on the bill too. A packed out Lexington also had the opportunity to participate in what must be the coolest raffle ever with prizes donated by State Records, Damaged Goods Records, Weirdsville, Dirty Water Records, Faber and Bloomsbury Publishing, photographer Jeff Pitcher and artwork by The Masonics and Miss Ludella Black. Probably the most unconventional prize was a customized triangular road sign showing a Nun digging up the road and the lucky winners had the pleasure of having to carry it all the way back to the Medway on the train! 

The Baron Four - Photo Copyright Retro Man Blog

All three bands played great sets with The Baron Four in particular proving they are one of the most exciting live acts around and their new songs, in particular "Don't Need You Anymore" (which must surely be their next single!) promise that 2017 should be a very special year for them. Ye Nuns were frankly superb, on paper a tribute band to The Monks - always one of the most idiosyncratic and well, downright weird bands of the '60's Garage Rock scene - seems a strange idea. 

The Baron Four - Photo Copyright Retro Man Blog

The fact that Ye Nuns are a seven piece all-girl band taking the stage in Nun's habits just makes it all the more bizarre yet for some reason it all falls into place perfectly! The Monks clanging, abrasive songs in a way pre-dated Krautrock and I can understand why The Fall's Mark E Smith is such a huge fan as they can sometimes be as irritating as they are addictive. Tonight Ye Nuns crank up the volume and blast us with ear-busting fuzz guitar and scathing electric banjo but sweeten it all with some impressive vocal harmonizing. It's probably the band's most accessible songs "We Do Wie Du" and "Oh How To Do Now" that go down the best with the crowd and on the last song a vitriolic "I Hate You" they are joined by a second bassist to really ramp up the action even more!

Ye Nuns - Photo Copyright Zigpix

Ye Nuns - Photo Copyright Zigpix

The Masonics with special guest Miss Ludella Black treat us to their usual entertaining set of good time Garage Rock 'n' Roll including some songs from their mighty fine new album "Obermann Rides Again". All in all a great night out in the build up to Xmas and all for a great cause too so please check out more details on the War Child charity if you have chance, their web-site is here.

The Masonics - Photo Copyright Zigpix

The Masonics & Miss Ludella Black - Photo Copyright Retro Man Blog

The Masonics & The Baron Four photos copyright Retro Man Blog. Ye Nuns photos courtesy (and copyright) Zigpix, please check out the Zigpix web-site here for more excellent live photography. For more photos of the gig please check out the Retro Man Blog Facebook page here. For videos please visit the Retro Man Blog YouTube channel. For full sets of all three bands then have a look at the Archivist of London YouTube channel. With thanks to Delia.

The Masonics, The Baron Four & The Beatpack - Exclusive Paul Slattery photos from the Retro Man Blog Night November 18th

The Masonics by Paul Slattery

I'd like to take the opportunity to say a huge "thank you" to all of you who came along to the last Retro Man Blog Night of 2016 at the Half Moon Putney on November 18th. Judging from all the comments it seems like you agreed with me that all three bands were on top form and I appreciate all the great feedback, it really does make it all worthwhile. Thanks of course to The Masonics, Miss Ludella Black, The Baron Four and The Beatpack, it was a pleasure and honour to be able to host such excellent bands. I also really appreciate the many recent requests from bands wishing to play at a future show but unfortunately that was my last Retro Man Blog Night for the foreseeable future. Of course things may change in 2017 but at present I am having a bit of a break from promotions to concentrate on Retrosonic Podcast. However, I have already been in discussions about a couple of very special events next year so please watch this space...!! 

Bruce of The Masonics photographed by Paul Slattery

John of The Masonics photographed by Paul Slattery

Mickey of The Masonics photographed by Paul Slattery

My Retro Man Blog colleague the Rock Photographer Paul Slattery was there to capture the action as usual and I hope you enjoy this selection of some of his great shots from the night. There are more photographs at the Retro Man Blog Facebook page which you can access by 'Liking' the page here.

Miss Ludella Black photographed by Paul Slattery

The Masonics photographed by Paul Slattery

There are also a selection of videos at the Retro Man Blog YouTube channel here and full sets from all three bands can be found at the excellent Archivist of London web-site here.

The good news is that The Masonics and The Baron Four will be playing together again very soon on December 21st at The Lexington in Islington along with Ye Nuns. This is a charity fundraiser for War Child and you can get tickets and further details from here. A nice warm up for Xmas!

The Baron Four photographed by Paul Slattery

The Baron Four photographed by Paul Slattery

The Baron Four photographed by Paul Slattery

The Baron Four photographed by Paul Slattery

The Beatpack photographed by Paul Slattery

The Beatpack photographed by Paul Slattery

The Beatpack photographed by Paul Slattery

Finally don't forget the night was the launch party for The Masonics excellent brand new album "Obermann Rides Again" and if you weren't at the gig to pick up a copy then you can order on-line from here. The Beatpack also have a cracking new E.P. out on State Records too and you can get hold of that over here. Thanks again to everyone for the support over the past year! Cheers!

The Downliners Sect & The Masonics at The 100 Club February 12th - Exclusive Paul Slattery Photographs

Don Craine of The Downliners Sect photographed by Paul Slattery

The legendary Sixties R'n'B group The Downliners Sect made a rare live appearance with a recent gig at The 100 Club on February 12th along with very special guests The Masonics, and it was great to see two superb purveyors of prime stripped back R'n'B on the same stage. The links between the two bands go back via The Masonics drummer Bruce Brand from when he was in Thee Headcoats Sect, the collaboration with Billy Childish and Thee Headcoats (named after Don Craine's famous deerstalker hat), Don Craine and Keith Grant. Rock Photographer Paul Slattery, who worked with Thee Headcoats, was there to capture the action and here is a selection of his excellent photographs of the night, which included guest appearances from Ludella Black and Johnny Sutton.

The Masonics photographed by Paul Slattery

The Masonics photographed by Paul Slattery

Special Guest Ludella Black photographed by Paul Slattery

Mickey Hampshire photographed by Paul Slattery

The Downliners Sect photographed by Paul Slattery

The Downliners Sect photographed by Paul Slattery

Bruce Brand and Don Craine photographed by Paul Slattery

Here's a video of The Masonics with "Don't Talk To Me" from the night:

Photographer Paul Slattery picks his favourite Downliners Sect track in Episode 21 of Retrosonic Podcast. You can listen/download for free at our Soundcloud site or subscribe for free at iTunes.

All photos courtesy of and copyright Paul Slattery 2016.