Retrosonic Podcast Lockdown Lowdown Episode 9 with Ian Greensmith (A.K.A. Vic Templar) from The Dentists & Armitage Shanks (and much more...!)

Photo: Jokin Misterklin

For Episode 9 of our special Lockdown Lowdown series we welcome Ian Greensmith into the virtual Retrosonic Podcast studio. Ian, a.k.a. Vic Templar, Herbie Greensmith, Vic Flange or just Ian Smith is not only a man of many names he's also a man of many talents as drummer with Medway Indie legends The Dentists, Armitage Shanks, Ye Ascoyne D'Ascoynes, The Dirty Contacts, Sine Waves, Rubberman 12 and The Nuevo Ramon 5. He's also a DJ, one of the promoters of The Fratcave club night and Beatwave Weekenders, author of the hilarious semi-autobiographical "Taking Candy From a Dog", keen gardener, badger watcher and retired cricketer. So yes, you can guess that this episode is packed full of many fascinating musical memories, inspirations, tales and adventures and, of course, some bloody great music! Ian takes us on a musical journey from his very first memory of hearing Aretha Franklin in the canteen at Butlins in Bognor Regis (he was wearing a red cardigan with white piping at the time fact fans) to the first record he bought with his own pocket money, his first gig and first time behind the drumkit. We learn about the early shows with The Milkshakes and The Prisoners, discovering the MIC Club and some legendary Medway Delta names such as Billy Childish, Graham Day, Russ Wilkins, Sexton Ming and more. There's the stories behind his own bands including The Dentists, Ye Ascoyne D'Ascoynes, Armitage Shanks and Nuevo Ramon 5 along with a pick of the best of their music. Then there's a stash of great tunes from his DJ bag, the gig he would travel back in time for, his perfect LP and 45rpm single and some of his favourite bands that he has put on at his own Club nights and Weekenders. There are brushes (excuse the pun) with Buddy Rich, Mark E Smith, The Monochrome Set and Johnny Echols and the story behind his superb semi-autobiographical book "Taking Candy From A Dog". Includes music from The Dentists, Armitage Shanks, Ye Ascoyne D'Ascoynes, The Milkshakes, The Prisoners, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Sammy Davis Jr & Buddy Rich, The Fall, The Byrds, Love, Buzzcocks, The Kingsmen, Gary McFarland, The Monochrome Set, The Wildebeests, The Fallen Leaves, Ye Nuns, Ramon 5, Little Richard and The Allisons. So sit back, turn up the volume and enjoy!

Retrosonic Podcast · Lockdown Lowdown Episode 9 with Ian Greensmith (A.K.A. Vic Templar) of The Dentist

Tracklisting (please click on highlighted links below to investigate further)

Aretha Franklin "I Say a Little Prayer"

Elvis Costello & The Attractions "(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea"

The Milkshakes "Shimmy Shimmy" & "After Midnight"

The Prisoners "Better In Black"

The Kingsmen "Haunted Castle" 

The Dentists "I Had An Excellent Dream" & "She Dazzled Me With Basil"

Ye Ascoyne D'Ascoynes "Favourite Stuff"

Ramon 5 "Amor Perdido"

The Fallen Leaves "Did You See Her"

Ye Nuns "Cuckoo"

The Wildebeests "Lucinda"

The Allisons "Surfer Street"

Love "The Daily Planet"

Little Richard "The Girl Can't Help It"

Gary McFarland "Fried Bananas"

Armitage Shanks "Look Out Here Comes Uncle John"

Sammy Davis Jr & Buddy Rich "Come Back To Me"

The Monochrome Set "Apocalypso"

The Fall "I'm a Mummy"

The Byrds "Eight Miles High"

Buzzcocks "Time's Up"

Louis Jordan "Bullitt"

You can buy "Taking Candy From A Dog" by Vic Templar from Blackheath Books here. Please check out the Facebook page for The Fratcave to keep updated on this and Beatwave as soon as things return to normal. Please do visit the excellent Spinout Nuggets Records for releases by Ye Ascoyne D'Ascoyne, Armitage Shanks, Treasures of Mexico and lots more Medway related bands.

Ian at The Marquee with The Dentists

You can also check out our other Medway related special Podcasts with Billy Childish, Graham Day, Allan Crockford and Wolf Howard at the Retrosonic Podcast archive here. Retrosonic Podcast is also available to subscribe for free at Spotify, iTunes, Apple Podcast & Mixcloud. With thanks to Ian.

 

Ye Nuns: Brand New 7" Single "I Don't Want To Do This Again" and "Nun More Black" Vinyl LP Reissue

Ye Nuns 7" cover photo by Jeff Pitcher

It has been a busy time in the convent as Ye Nuns, the premier all-girl tribute to The Monks, have two new releases out and available for sale right now. First of all, State Records have released a brand new 7" single on heavyweight vinyl “I Don’t Want To Do This Again”/”Don’t Worry” which is limited to 500 copies and it has a very special unique selling point…so let’s get the low down from the label itself…"State Records are very pleased to announce a new 45 from legendary Monks tribute act, Ye Nuns. These seven ladies have been blowing minds for a good few years now, with their spot-on renditions of classic tracks by Garage legends, The Monks, whose story is pretty well known now. Five American GI’s stationed in Germany formed a fairly typical beat band in the mid-60s before hooking up with some avant-garde existentialists who persuaded them to change their image, drop their repertoire and embark on a twisted journey into an originality that set them apart from every other band at the time. Stinging fuzz guitar, bass from hell, electric banjo, barked nonsensical lyrics - these guys were NOT messing around! Fast forward 40+ years and Ye Nuns picked up the baton with a mission to keep the fine work of The Monks alive and out there. Now, they've upped the ante again, recording two previously unreleased songs written by original Monks bass-player, Eddie Shaw. Both sides are deadly, sounding for all the world like “Black Monk Time” outtakes! The single comes packaged in a super cool double-sided fold-over card sleeve and is limited to 500 copies". You can order yours now from State Records at their Ebay store here.

Next up, the Manchester based label Crocodile Records has just reissued Ye Nuns “Nun More Black” album on vinyl in a limited pressing of just 300 copies, so don’t hang around if you haven’t yet got a copy of this work of twisted Garage Psych genius. This reissue follows the original and now out-of-print 2014 release on Tuff Enough Records, which saw Ye Nuns faithfully reprise and update The Monks’ one and only official long-player (1966’s mind-blowing “Black Monk Time”) to a swathe of critical acclaim. It also received the seal of approval from fellow Monks fan, the much-missed Mark E Smith from The Fall, someone not known for dishing out praise lightly. Even The Monks’ original Bassist Eddie Shaw was suitably impressed and went on record to express his admiration for Ye Nuns album: “These songs have a personal significance to me and to see how someone else treats the material and expresses it, was a distinct pleasure and joy. I thoroughly enjoyed the album, it was fun – I laughed and pranced. It is such an honour to be able to have a part in this opera inside the cloister. Thank you, Ye Nuns!” You really can’t get a much higher recommendation than that so please head on over to the Crocodile Records store to order your copy here.  

Ye Nuns photo by Jeff Pitcher

You can check out more of Jeff Pitcher's excellent photography at his Facebook page here.

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.

Johnny Moped, Ye Nuns & The Fire Dept. Cancer Research Fundraiser at The Shacklewell Arms Dec. 05th + Swell Maps/TV Personalities/Ruts DC DJ sets.

 

Idle Fret Records have assembled a top line-up for the cancer research and support fundraiser on December 05th at The Shacklewell Arms in Dalston. It features early Punk legends Johnny Moped, the all-female Monks tribute band Ye Nuns (featuring members of Curve, Mambo Taxi, Thee Headcoatees, Gay Dad, The A-Lines, Echobelly, The Phantom Pregnancies & The Priscillas) and The Fire Dept. who Billy Childish declared were the best British group of the 1990’s. There will also be DJ sets by Jowe Head from Swell Maps/Television Personalities and Leigh Heggarty from Ruts DC.

Tickets are just £8.00 in advance or £11.00 on the door, and all proceeds from the show will be donated to Cancer Research UK, Pancreatic Cancer UK and Macmillan.

Retro Man Blog readers can get a FREE download featuring Ye Nuns and The Fire Dept. via the following link: https://idlefret.bandcamp.com/album/idle-fret-free-download-december-2014

For more information on running times and to keep a check on any further announcements please visit the Event link at: https://www.facebook.com/events/731375506951730