Memphis

Some Memphis related sounds as the countdown continues
Goin' Back To Memphis - Muddy Waters
Memphis Soul Stew - King Curtis
Memphis In The Meantime - John Hiatt

Kasabian - Last Friday (Black) Night

The gang went to the very salubrious surroundings of Dublin Castle for a gawk at Kasabian last Friday night. They were alright, good for a leap around although there were times when it could have been anyone up there. Anyway, they gave us a rendition of their fine glam single Shoot The Runner, which we were talking about in the pub before hand, actually the discussion went something like this;
Me:" I like that song Shoot The Runner, (singing) - Shoot the Runner, my Queen, Bitch! Da na na nur na na nur na na nur na nur Na! Na!"
The Coff:"That's Black Night by the Purple!"
Me:"Well, that's a good song too"
Is it just us or does it sound like they're about to launch into Deep Purple's Black Night in the middle of it?

Church Of Wilson

Just heard that Brian 'Bananas' Wilson has been added to the Oxegen bill. It'll either be the greatest thing ever or complete arse. Still, if the weather holds, I look forward to singing along to 'Warmth Of The Sun' with a beer in hand.

Official confirmation from Brian Wilson's website.

Tennessee

So the flights are now booked and the crew will be arriving in Memphis International Airport on the 2nd of June. The plan is to spend a few nights in Memphis, take in Graceland, Sun, Stax and an awful lot of booze, then slowly make our way to Nashville for the weekend of the 9th to go to the Grand Ole Opry (and Tootsie's World Famous Orchid Lounge), and eventually back to Memphis for the flight home on the 16th. We're hoping for the holiday of a life time but have yet to make definite plans about Hotels, places of interest, etc. Has anyone got any suggestions?

Musicals are a mistake

According to this report, Bono and the Edge are in negotiations to write the score for a musical about Spiderman. Is there any planet in the universe on which this makes sense? Further proof perhaps that civilisation is slowly but surely coming to an end.

Stung

So it's been officially announced that Sting and co. are to play Croke Park on the 6th of October. Great stuff but then check out the ticket prices - no change out of €90 for a standing ticket. How ironic it is that we are to be robbed by The Police.

The gang will all still be there of course. Did you know that I once pulled a muscle on the pitch of Croke park? A true story. Of course, I was throwing shapes to U2 at the time with a drink in either hand but it's still croker!

I see that Sting is going to bless us further by allowing his son's band as the support act. Good ole rock stars, it's all about value for money for the fans.

Good Day Sunshine

Here I am, stuck in an office which doesn't even have a window. The door's open on the office facing me and through their window I can see that the sun's come out to play. Well, it doesn't need to ask me twice. I've already got the Coff on the horn (is he ever any other way?) and later today it will be sweet Guinness time once more, Hurrah! In the meantime, let's have some songs celebrating the sun;
Sun, Moon & Star - Toots & The Maytals
Sunshine - World Party
Mambo Sun - T.Rex

Files reloaded 9th May

A Random Smattering...

Three from the boy, just for you;

The Devil's Right Hand - The Highwaymen
Like Wolf - Sonny Boy Williamson
Coulibaly - Amadou & Mariam

Files reloaded 9th May

A Snip

Took a pander down to the Clarence Hotel last Thursday for a look at the items up for auction for the Edge's Music Rising charity. Surprisingly enough, I wasn't charged just for the fact that I set foot in the hotel. A few items worth seeing, such as Elvis' signed scarf, Jimi Hendrix's kaks and various '2 related itesm such as Bono's guitar (pictured). The opening bid?, a snip at $40,000.

"I Snorted My Dad!" says Richards...

This interview makes me laugh because either, and this is what I suspect, the man himself had nothing to do with it or he was completely out of it when it took place. There's another even sadder option where he believes all this bollocks but I really don't think that's the case. Playing to the crowd again says I.

Anyway, not to worry, Slane is coming and I'm going. If anyone gets wind of who's playing support, let me know.

Speaking of crazy bastards, why not cheer yourself up and get ready for the summer by downloading one of THE reggae records. Let's hear it for Lee "Scratch" "crackers" Perry and the Upsetters and the masterpiece Super Ape.

Hooray for JR Heatwarp




"Carty, I Was Only Messing" says Keith

More here.

Ike & Tina

Now this is what you call a SHOW! Amazing performance from Ike & Tina and stay tuned till the end for a surprise appearence from no other than Illya Kuryakin, of course. Jaysus but who wouldn't want to be back in the sixties?

My thanks to the great people at The Word magazine for turning me on to this one.

Ill Advised "Cock Duster"

Here's a snap of Keith Richards inducting the Ronettes into the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame at the recent ceremony. We sincerely hope that our man was called back for re-shoots on the new Pirates of The Caribbean movie. Otherwise that moustache is a rare lapse in fashion judgement for the world's coolest man. For other Stones news, check out the electronic press kit for the upcoming European tour. Fingers will be on buzzers early Friday morning in the hope of securing Slane tickets.
Other summer gig news has Hot Press magazine circulating rumours that The Good, The Bad & The Queen (album of the year so far) will be gracing the Electric Picnic. We can only hope. In the meantime, here they are Live in Washington.
Hot Press also list a possible appearance of those ultimate faker bakers, Primal Scream. I shall be at the bar for that one.
In other news, The Coff and I went to see "300" this evening. Fantastic entertainment, can't recommend it highly enough. Swords, Magic, semi-naked women, monsters, honour, plummy accents, fights to the death- this stuff writes itself. Here's the trailer;

Get It While You Can

Razorlight's new single has a version of Prince's 'When Doves Cry' which should be of interest, an early nomination for cover of the year is what I'm saying. A fine band and a great live act if you get a chance. I've seen them a few times and the only bad memory is The Coff and I dancing 'the robot' at the end of their gig in the Olympia. We had been drinking you see.

It Was Twenty Years Ago Today (approximately)

Twenty Years since U2 released 'The Joshua Tree". Jesus. I can still remember walking back to school after my lunch break, I'd just bought the cassette from my local record shop and was listening to the first bars of 'Where The Streets Have No Name' on my crappy walkman wondering what the hell this was. How is that 20 years ago? Where did all that time go? I'm not crazy about this getting old shit. Anyway, BBC 6 Music celebrates this happy/sad anniversary.

Stones for Slane

News has just reached us here that the Stones are an almost sure thing for Slane this year, no dates as yet but I'll have them up as soon as I get them. With Aerosmith, Razorlight, Kings of Leon and The Who tickets already in the bag, this may be the summer where your host finally explodes with the sheer rockingoutness of it all. Won't see much of the family this summer I'm afraid, oh well.

More: looks like the 18th of August for the Stones and the NME report a strong possibility of The Police stopping there as well. The Missus will not be pleased.

The '2

Some people just really do not like the mighty 2, go to the end for my opinion.

Gimme A Break

I've just been sent this file, Patti Smith covering 'Gimme Shelter'. One has to admire the balls on the woman for even having a go at covering one of the great, may be the greatest, rock n' roll recordings of them all but , for me, it's a mistake. I like every other teenager who got interested in the music, bought 'Horses' on the recommendation of everyone and, while it's certainly not bad, it remains hugely overrated as does the woman herself. You be the judge.


Patti Smith photographed at Jim Morrison's grave, the location where all true rock n' roll posers end up eventually.

Bitter Sweet

I thought I was on to a good thing when I got a chance to hear an advance copy of Bryan Ferry's new album of Dylan covers called, with great imagination, 'Dylanesque', but it's sad to report that it's a bit of a let down. Dylan covers are a tricky business at the best of times, for every moment of Hendrix like genius, the likes of U2 and Paul Weller have been tripped up. I've been a fan of Ferry, and especially Roxy Music, for as long as I've been listening to music so I'd normally be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt but this time it's just too smooth. We'd all be beter off waiting for the new Roxy album which is due later this year with Brian Eno back on board. If last year's show in Vicar Street was anything to go by, it'll be a cracker. In the meantime, check out one of Roxy's greatest, 'Country Life', their fourth album from 1974. "All I Want Is You' and 'Out Of The Blue' were highlights of the aforementioned show. And yes, it's the one with that sleeve, apparently two relatively innocent German peasent girls. They don't look it.

The hat is off to Chico over at Floodlit Footprint.