Events

The eclectic final night (Sunday) of LBB9 this year proved once again that we can all get on, with a musical journey from northern soul to psych and everything in between. The Crossfire allnighter also welcomed 70-year-old American R&B performer, Bill Bush, who was unable to perform on the night but took a bow when his record, ‘I’m Waiting’ filled the floor in the main hall. Nutsmag editor, Scotch Martin, was Bill’s guide for the night. 

Remarkably, LBB9 was my first visit to Crossfire, with my other half usually getting the ‘pass out’ for this event while I babysit. But I had a very special reason for going this time as American Hammond player, Bill Bush, was over visiting Caroline and me and wanted to drop in to see what all the fuss was about.

Also travelling with us was Cassiobury Soul Club DJ, Martin Harland, and when we arrived the bands had already started in the main hall prior to the allnighter. Two live bands appeared and fellow Glaswegians, The Beatroots, were first to take to the stage. My old friend, and extremely talented, Groovy Graham, was playing sitar, which really added another dimension. Graham and vocalist Neil were previously in Figure 5, the fantastic power pop ensemble who brushed so close to fame they could taste it. But despite appearances across Europe, festivals, gigs at the Albert Hall and Camden’s Electric Ballroom, and an American TV advert major commercial success eluded them.

If you were lucky enough to pick up their free CD, you’ll already know that those years of training has produced a highly competent, psychedelic super group that are already making swirling, shimmering waves everywhere they play.

A big buzz followed for young Dutchman, Jacco Gardner, whose elf like persona fits well with his early Floyd / Sid Barrett-style cosmic sounds. A laid back affair with songs from the new album plus the singles. We were all curious to see if he could create the well-crafted studio sounds live.

I was bowled over with the musicianship, quality and imagination of both sets and although it’s not my ‘thang’, being more of a soul fan, I thought both bands impressive and talented.

The R&B room, at first freezing, later boiling, was hosted by long-running R&B club Mousetrap and DJ’s included Roger Banks, Alberto Valle (Barcelona) and Bill Kealy (Ireland) plus residents Rob Bailey & Chris Dale. The atmosphere is all very mod, with the whole black music spectrum covered from late fifties blues and R&B to late sixties Latin, boogaloo and reggae. That was where Bill and his entourage settled initially, signing autographs and meeting people before his appearance later. It all goes on at LBB!

Bill was particularly fascinated by the energy of the pysch room, where a DJ line-up from all over Europe had belted out the rarest and wildest garage, freakbeat and psych for two nights already and said it reminded him of New Orleans in the 60s. Special guests Sunday were Irish lads Paddy & Sarge, joining Miguel Ygarza (Spain), Carlo Espero (Italy) and NUTS own Dr Robert. The last record rang out at 6.15am with the lights on and a stage full off fun seekers still looking for kicks and shouting for more.

The Crossfire allnighter has a ‘London oldies’ music policy and didn’t disappoint. Most of the tunes from Sean Chapman, Ady Croasdell, Chris Dale, Derek Mead and Roger Stewart were guaranteed floor fillers, and the crowd showed their appreciation with a packed dance floor.

At 1am Chris Dale’s prized copy of ‘I’m Waiting’ shook the floor and Sean Chapman introduced Bill Bush, who thanked the dancers for supporting his music. It turns out that, at 70, it was ‘all a bit loud’ for the guy who played with Bobby Bland, Jerry Lee and Eddy Giles amongst others back in the day – but he left having fulfilled an ambition, to watch his obscure b-side from 1965 pack a dance floor in London, England in 2013. Job done.

Thank you to Ramees Farooqi, Esther Bellepoque & Cloat Culterior for all the great photos. You can see the full LBB9 Photo Albums from Ramees Farooqi & Esther Bellepoque here and from Cloat Culterior on Facebook here. You will need to login to see them!

Scotch Martin

Since the local youth club in the early-eighties Martin’s been Djing with records of one sort or another. Spots at the CCI National Mod Rallies across Britain in the 80s were followed in 1990 by the first in a line of successful northern soul and mod clubs in Glasgow. With four others he started Goodfoot in 91, with Acid Jazz-influenced playlists of Blow Up in London, and Brighton Beach in Leeds. Goodfoot arguably paved the way for a new generation of mod-influenced clubs in Glasgow over the past 20 years. Living in London in the late 90s Martin DJ’d at neuvo-modernist clubs including Where’s Jude and Lordy Lord, as well as regularly spinning at Duffer of St. George parties and other happenings. A career highlight was supporting legendary organist, Jimmy Smith, as well as pulling off 10 consecutive club nights during the 1995 Glasgow Jazz Festival. By 2001, back in Glasgow, Caledoniasoul launched. A definitive milestone in the Scottish soul scene, the club ran for six years and brought Butch, Mick Smith, Mick H, Arthur Fenn, Mike Ritson, Dave Rimmer and Ady Croasdell to Scotland for the first time to experience the sweaty, full-on atmosphere for themselves. As a journalist Martin has always written about music. In 2004 he tracked down singer and organist, Bill Bush, whose soulful, jazzy rarity, I’m Waiting on Ronn, was hitting on the northern soul scene. After visiting Bill in the USA and interviewing him for Manifesto he brought the band over to perform in the UK, complete with Hammond B3, and has helped Bill profit for the first time from the 1968 b-side. Martin is married to Caroline, has two children, lives in the London suburbs. Still collecting after 30 years!

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The Aardvarks/MFC Chicken

Le Beat Bespoke Weekender, 229 Great Portland Street, London - Saturday (afternoon) March 30 2013

Out of all the bands that have graced the LBB stages over the years, legends from five decades and several continents, the one that would deliver the goods head and shoulders above all others for Nutsmag regular, Darius Drew, was West London’s very own, The Aardvarks.

First of all a few words for the barnstorming (if somewhat cartoonish and parodic) R’n’B support, MFC Chicken: equal parts Sonics, Feelgoods, Shondells and Ram Jam Band, with a touch of sweet Gene Vincent crooning, but adept writers of their own material, their earthy delivery provides the ideal aperitif for the upcoming sonic psych banquet, and unlike most of today’s pretenders found lurking around Hoxton fashion boutiques throwing this stuff on for kicks, they’ve been putting a fungus among the denizens of the Holloway Road for a good two decades.

And so on to the Aardvarks. I’m sure Gary – alongside his brother Mark on guitar – Jason Hobart on bass and Ian O’Sullivan on drums – believed that loads of old friends would come out of the woodwork for this special event, their first London show in almost a decade!

The LBB audience witnessed a heroes return, with even lesser-known numbers like the superbly Townshendian ‘Bad Clothes’ received like old friends (lest we forget, they were the band that helped unite the once-divided Mod scene in the 80s after all, bringing psych, garage, soul and pop strands together). The assorted members of the London gangs - The Masonics, Wildebeests, Of Arrowe Hill and even heavy rockers Leaf Hound, who (technically) predate them by a decade and a half, have come to bestow good wishes.

Forget all the legends told to me over the last two decades by various London faces, what I witnessed here was a show from a truly great British rock ‘n’roll band, period. They were even generous enough to share the good vibrations with some fat git from Aylesbury (I wonder who that might have been?) who they dragged up to play tambourine during a clutch of encore covers that included Easybeats’ ‘Sorry’, the Wimple Winch’s ‘Save My Soul’ and the Sorrows’ ‘Take A Heart’. In one hour they kicked the arse of practically everyone I’ve ever seen or reviewed here.

From the familiarity of such standards to the underground thrust of their own ‘You’re My Loving Way’ and ‘Girl On A Bike’ they really do sum up the feelings of a whole generation who were born too late to experience the greatest era of music first hand, yet decided they were going to try their damnedest to live in it anyway. Good on ‘em. But this is not simply a nostalgia trip. In fact, by some twist of bizarre logic, it would appear that after nearly three decades, the Aardvarks have not only finally become as much of a “classic” psych act as the 60s originals that influenced them, but a contemporary one. The future promioses collaboration with Adam Easterbrook and the Arrowe Hill chaps sounds promising. Watch this space, eh la.

So has the definitive retro band of the recent past finally arrived at their designated stop, coming round in a complete circle to meet themselves walking the other way? Possibly; and if that sounds like acid-drenched gibberish, then that in itself only stands as further proof that they’ve achieved their objectives and had precisely the level of influence they wanted.

Thank you to Ramees Farooqi, Esther Bellepoque & Cloat Culterior for all the great photos. You can see the full LBB9 Photo Albums from Ramees Farooqi & Esther Bellepoque here and from Cloat Culterior on Facebook here. You will need to login to see them!

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Dashing Drewe Shimon

Dashing Darius Drewe Shimon, aka just 'Drewe' 'Druid' or 'The Shim' to his mates, was born in East London in 1974. As a small child, both parents inflicted their musical tastes, from The Beatles and The Moody Blues to Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davis, on him, and he was never the same again. Despite being born and bred a 'Cockney tosser', Drewe actually spent his teenage years in and around Birmingham, attending his first 60s/50s-themed nights there at The Ship Ashore, before "coming home" in 1993 to the South, where, with the exception of three years spent in Glasgow between 2007-2010, he has remianed ever since. In the almost two decades that have passed he has trod a strange meandering path from a shy 60s/70s-obsessed teen with no 'scene' to speak of to a Metalhead, sleaze-glammie, Goth, indie kid, glam-punker, garage-rocker, eventual Mod and psych freak (first attending Mousetrap in 2000) In that time he's also written for Shindig! Britmovie, DarkSide, Black Velvet and Get Ready To Rock, promoted various vintage and veteran acts at Camden Underworld, Glasgow Ivory Blacks and several other venues, DJed everything from psych, garage and soul to Metal at practically every well-known club in central London. Drewe is trying to build a time machine that will enable him to visit any period between 1960 and 1980 but still be able to use a mobile and Facebook. His ambition, aside from directing films and building said machine, is to morph into a cross between Jason King, Timmy Lea, Jerry Cornelius and Richard Hannay, and drift about the ether having adventures in a kipper tie, pinstriped flares and camel hair coat.

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Le Beat Bespoke 9 split the atom once again with a great weekend featuring the full spectrum of mod / 60s music and Nutsmag’s Graham Lentz was there for (almost) the whole event. He joined Cerys Matthews, Chris Difford and Jeff Beck, to name just a few of the celebrities who realised something special was going on down Great Portland Street over Easter.

After the disappointment of Cornershop pulling out due to illness a hastily re-jigged line up saw the opening night (Thursday) get underway with indie/psych outfit the See See. I hadn’t seen them before.

Stand out tracks were the title track from their latest LP, Fountayne Mountain, including ‘Painted Blue’ and the haunting new single ‘The Rain and The Snow’. The vacated headline slot was taken up by Alpha 9. I championed their latest LP ‘Gone To Ground’ in the most recent edition of Nutsmag but what I was interested in was whether they could get close to recreating the sophisticated sound and harmonies evident on the album – they did and LBB9 was off to a great start.

The Friday, arguably the most hotly anticipated night of the entire weekend, saw up-and-coming headliners, the Strypes, almost literally raise the roof with the cheer at the end of their frenetic performance.

My guess is that the packed venue (it really was rammed) was quite surprised by the in-your-face full-on Australian garage onslaught from the Frowning Clouds. As it turned out, most of the their set was made up of new material from their forthcoming LP, sounding like an equally impressive follow up to last years ‘Listen Closlier’.

The last time I saw the Strypes, they supported the Sorrows at 229 for the New Untouchables Crossfire back in late October 2012. Much has happened for the lads since then. A record deal with Mercury, a management deal with Elton John’s agency and a new single out, it’s all been going on. The Strypes are possibly the hottest ‘organic’ (as in NOT Simon Cowell created) band anywhere on the planet. These boys have genuine talent, they can play, they do it because they love music, not for 15 minutes of fame, and they have a massive future ahead of them.

I was elated, as were the crowd. It was clear to me that a lot of work has gone into sharpening the live show and what a show it was. Along with the now familiar R&B tracks we got the new single ‘Blue Collar Jane’, which I might add is fantastic. In all my visits to 229 The Venue, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a roar like it at the end.

Two of the three bands on Saturday had been reviewed in a previous edition of Nutsmag, so I had a very good idea what to expect, but even I was not prepared for the high-octane output of three of Wild Records extraordinary stable of rocking R&B artists.

First up was Omar and the Stringpoppers, they warmed up with numbers from their back catalogue and a few choice rockin’ covers. I found myself glancing around at an amusing sight of rockin’ ladies and gents, all of whom were very nicely turned out, at the front with curious mod-types, equally dapper, gathered at the back.

If anyone (like me) had relaxed a little too much after Omar’s session we certainly got a jolt from the Rhythm Shakers. With a set comprising many tracks from their current LP ‘Flipsville’, Marlene and the guys really did rock the joint. ‘But Still You Left Me’, ‘Rockin’ Daddy’ and ‘My Sweet Revenge’ really were outstanding. Marlene’s presence on stage is a sight to behold.

The audience barely had time to gather itself before the headliner. Gizzelle is also something special. She is the ‘Etta James’ of this generation. Power, subtlety, emotion and finesse – she has it all.

I handed over the batton for Sunday, but, there you have it, three nights, seven top quality bands and a lot of very happy customers. Le Beat Bespoke 9 could possibly be the best one yet.

Thank you to Ramees Farooqi, Esther Bellepoque & Cloat Culterior for all the great photos. You can see the full LBB9 Photo Albums from Ramees Farooqi & Esther Bellepoque here and from Cloat Culterior on Facebook here. You will need to login to see them!

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Graham Lentz

Like many of his generation, The Jam started Graham's love affair with all things mod back in 1977. He is the author of 'The Influential Factor - A History Of Mod' which was originally published in 2002. An extract from the book was re-printed in Paolo Hewitt's 'The Sharper Word - revised edition' in 2011. Being a self-confessed 'broad-church' mod, Graham's interests range from Modern Jazz to today's up-coming new bands and everything in between. Although he has a passion for mod history, he also has a passion for the new. Whether it's music, clubs, media of every kind, clothing, scooters or art and photography, Graham supports, promotes and encourages as much as he can, because that's how we keep going. 'Give it a chance' is his motto. If it's not for you, that's cool, at least you tried it.

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Promoter/Resident at ‘For Dancers Only’ club in Wexford and semi-regular resident at ‘Sleepless nights Soulclub’ Dublin.

1. How and when did you get into music and what were you listening to then?

Got into music big time in the early eighties through the Mod Revival and then bands like The Prisoners came along with a much more sixties sound. Northern Soul was quite big in Dublin at the time but to be honest that whole scene passed me by.

2. Where was your first DJ slot?

When I was in College in Carlow in 85/86 I used to play a local pub playing mainly mod revival / sixties.

3. What was your most memorable DJ spot?

It’s hard to pick one; stand outs have been The Boiler in Barcelona, Klubb Magnus in Oslo. Always the Hideaway, plus and Basics and Friday Street in Scotland, and of course the Mousetrap and R’n’B 123 earlier this year were a bit special.

4. What has been your worst DJ experience?

I remember one night at a ‘Northern Soul’ club in Ireland they only had CD decks and couldn’t understand why I had only brought records.

5. Your favourite scene DJ’s and why?

Alan Handscombe, Chris Dale, Steve Hiscock, Soulful Jules, Niamh Lynch, Neil Henderson, Davie Hudson, Jimmy and Luis Soulful, Andy Pollard; they’ve all introduced me to new tunes and have such a great passion. Jamie Parr and Alfredo Maddaloni came to Dublin recently and they rocked the place.

6. What has shaped your DJ sound and why?

I love the sound of records from the mid to late fifties/ early sixties, before the sound was sanitised for white America. The records were produced for the dancefloor and that’s why they still sound so good.

7. What was your best ever find/discovery?

I can’t lay claim to discovering any record but my best find was Harry Starr at a record fair in Wexford for a tenner.

8. Who was your biggest influence musically and your favourite artist(s)?

My favourite singer ever is Little Willie John, his voice is unique. I also love Ike & Tina, Howlin’ Wolf, Lavern Baker, Ray Charles.

9. Do you collect specific labels/artists/genres?

I don’t collect any specific labels, I’d never be able to afford it for a start. I don’t ever buy a record unless I really like it no matter how popular it is.

10. Where can folks currently catch your DJ set?

Currently working on a new night in Dublin, I’ll be at Sleepless Nights in Dublin and of course For Dancers Only, check the club page for details.

Next Club Spots for 2013:
Mojo Workin’ R&B Weekend. Donostia, San Sebastian, Spain, 1 & 2 March
Prestatyn Soul Weekender, Wales, 8 – 10 March
Le Beat Bespoke, Crossfire, London, 31 March
No Way Out, Manchester, Sat 13 April

11. Please give us a top 10 all time favourite’s and a current top 5 spins?

Top 10 Tracks of All Time:

1. Harry Starr – Another Time, Another Place
2. Danny Owens – You’re a Little Too Late
3. Four Tops – Baby I Need Your Loving
4. Gay Poppers – I Want to Know
5. Ernie Washington – Lonesome Shack
6. Little Willie John – I’m Shakin’
7. Sity & James – You Needn’t Tell Me
8. Mary Ann Fisher – Put on your Shoes
9. Sammy Ambrose – Monkey See, Monkey Do
10. The Ascots – She Did

Current Top 5 Tracks:

1. Ercel Jones – That’s My Man
2. Roy Brown – Mr Hound Dog’s In Town
3. Otis Blackwell – Let the Daddy Hold You
4. Katherine Hughes – How Can I Go
5. Ruby & the Wonders – Don’t Cha Do It

DJ Promo Links
www.facebook.com/groups

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drrobert

I run The New Untouchables organization and events like the Brighton Mod Weekender, Le Beat Bespoké Festival (and compilation series of the same name) and I co-organize Euro Ye Ye with the Trouble & Tea crew. I have run many clubs over the last 20 years in London, where I live and current nights include Timebox, Zoo Zoo, Crossfire, 100 Club and Mousetrap allnighter which has just celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2011. I have been lucky to DJ all over the globe including Japan, Canada, USA and Europe and met some great people on my journey. I run RnB Records to offset my vinyl addiction: newuntouchables.com/rnbrecords for rare vintage vinyl.

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Dr Crippen’s Far Out Underground All Star Acid Rock DJ Team in Belfast.

1. How and when did you get into music and what were you listening to then?

I was just getting hairs on it when Maggie Thatcher was elected in ’79 and in the throws of the troubles in Belfast so music became of the utmost importance quite early on. Like most with an older brother I got his records in my ears whether I liked them or not. The likes of Blondie, some glammy nonsense and then, Baaaam! punk happened. Soon after that the Blondie single hadn’t come into the record shop yet and so my brother bought ‘Time for Action’ by Secret Affair instead and next thing I knew there was a white SX200 taking up half the back yard.

2. Where was your first DJ slot?

Goodness, I really can’t recall but I think I was wearing my black shirt with the snails on it, I loved that shirt, maybe late 80s.

3. What was your most memorable DJ spot?

Hard one…torn between the acid jazz boat trip and Lou’s 30th birthday party.

4. What so far, has been your worst DJ experience?

Torn between an office party where this geezer comes up and says ‘this music is crap do you have any ‘middle of the road’ and I says: “What the band?” And he says: “No the genre.” Also Lou’s 30th birthday party.

5. Your favourite scene DJ’s and why?

The standard wonder that is Jack White and his selections used to send me, but he’s cleared off to the land of funk and honeys now so it’s hard to say as I like a lot of DJs outside of the scene as well so far too many to mention but gotta dig on the Glasgow battalion, the German lot, my wee mate Paddy the Face and of course the craftsmanship of Rob.

6. What has shaped your DJ sound and why?

Dancing. I’m lucky in that I have DJd in lots of different places with different crowds, from heads who listen to spangled muntfruggers who just gotta move, but when it comes to the 60s scene stuff its gotta get ya up.

7. What was your best ever find/discovery?

£30 in a car park… sweet.

8. Who was your biggest influence musically and your favourite artist(s)?

My mates; but all three Pointer Sisters were cool, but if I had to choose, I’d say Ruth was definitely my favourite. We’d tell jokes, play cards on the tour bus, and just generally have a real good time. I was with her in this hotel lobby in St. Petersburg when she came up with the basic chord structure for “Automatic,” and after that, she’d always say I was her good-luck charm. But like I said, all three were real cool. Touring with them was one of the best times I’ve had in this crazy business. In ’86, I left to tour with Richard Marx, and we had a lot of success, especially with the “Repeat Offender” tour a few years later, but it just wasn’t the same. I tell you, I really miss those gals.

9. Where can folks currently catch your DJ set?

Various Belfast events.

10. What is the record you would most like to own?

All of them.

11. Please give us a top 10 all time favourite’s and a current top 5 spins?

Top 10 Tracks of All Time:

1. Deep Purple – Hush
2. Four Blazers – Hush
3. Kris Ife – Hush
4. Funky Junction – Hush
5. Woody Herman – Hush
6. Love Affair – Hush
7. Somebody’s Image – Hush
8. Los Rockin’ Devils – Hush
9. Sylnana Velasco – Hush
10. Kula Shaker – Govinda

Current Top 5 Tracks: 

1. The Churchills – Sunshine Man
2. Orange Machine – Dr Crippen’s Waiting Room
3. Fallen Angels – Everything Would be Fine
4. Arcadium – Poor Lady
5. Mr Love – Ease the Pain

DJ Promo Links
facebook.com/groups
facebook.com/sarge.mcsargey
twitter.com/SARGENSTEIN
mixcloud.com/sarge/
spring-heeled-sarge.podomatic.com/

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drrobert

I run The New Untouchables organization and events like the Brighton Mod Weekender, Le Beat Bespoké Festival (and compilation series of the same name) and I co-organize Euro Ye Ye with the Trouble & Tea crew. I have run many clubs over the last 20 years in London, where I live and current nights include Timebox, Zoo Zoo, Crossfire, 100 Club and Mousetrap allnighter which has just celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2011. I have been lucky to DJ all over the globe including Japan, Canada, USA and Europe and met some great people on my journey. I run RnB Records to offset my vinyl addiction: newuntouchables.com/rnbrecords for rare vintage vinyl.

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6TS Rhythm & Soul Club at the 100 Club Northern Soul All Nighters.

1. How and when did you get into music and what were you listening to then?

The Animals. While living in Derby 1964.

2. Where was your first DJ slot?

The Last Chance 6TS allnighter, 21 Oxford St in 1982.

3. What was your most memorable DJ spot?

Every closing Sunday night at the Cleethorpes weekender.

4. Your favourite scene DJ’s and why?

Butch for new sounds, Mick Smith for the old ones.

5. What has shaped your DJ sound and why?

Randy Cozens showing me there was more than Northern to soul dancing.

6. What was your best ever find/discovery?

Sharon Scott – Putting My Heart under Lock and Key, most famous ones are Melba Moore – The Magic Touch and Frankie & Johnny – I’ll Hold You.

7. Biggest influence musically and your favourite artist(s)?

Impressions, Lou Johnson & Maxine Brown.

8. Where can folks currently catch your DJ set?

100 Club – The next night is on Saturday Feb 16th 2013.

9. What is the record you would most like to own?

That one that hasn’t been discovered yet.

10. Please give us a top 10 all time favourite’s and a current top 5 spins?

Top 10 Tracks of All Time:

1. Kim Weston – Helpless
2. Carla Thomas – I’ll Never Stop Loving You
3. Four Tops – Baby I Need Your Loving
4. The Parliaments – This Is My Rainy Day
5. The Sensations – Demanding Man
6. Spellbinders – Help Me
7. Ben E King – Getting’ To Me (Atco acetate)
8. Sharon Scott – I’m Not Afraid (acetate)
9. Barbara Lynn – This Is the Thanks I Get
10. Luther Ingram – Oh Baby Don’t You Weep

Current Top 5 Tracks: 

1. Nancy Wilcox – He’ll Be Leaving You – Pied Piper
2. September Jones – Voo Doo Mademoiselle – Pied Piper
3. Magic Night – If You and I Had Never Met – Roulette
4. Melvin Parker – If I Had My Way (acetate)
5. O C Tolbert – Marriage Is Just a State Of Mind (Dave Hamilton acetate)

DJ Promo Links
www.6ts.info
facebook.com/pages/6Ts-Rhythm-and-Soul-Society/6320844642

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drrobert

I run The New Untouchables organization and events like the Brighton Mod Weekender, Le Beat Bespoké Festival (and compilation series of the same name) and I co-organize Euro Ye Ye with the Trouble & Tea crew. I have run many clubs over the last 20 years in London, where I live and current nights include Timebox, Zoo Zoo, Crossfire, 100 Club and Mousetrap allnighter which has just celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2011. I have been lucky to DJ all over the globe including Japan, Canada, USA and Europe and met some great people on my journey. I run RnB Records to offset my vinyl addiction: newuntouchables.com/rnbrecords for rare vintage vinyl.

More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook

Resident DJ at Mushroom Machine Club, Mod Generation Club & Teenage Kicks Club, all in Madrid, Spain. Organiser of many other events and parties related to those ones mentioned.

1. How and when did you get into music and what were you listening to then?

I was really young when I started to listen to music, 7 to 8 years old, mostly new wave and power pop stuff in the very early 80s.

2. Where was your first DJ slot?

Don’t remember exactly but it should have been 1994 at the Pussycat Bar in Madrid maybe, a mod club at that time.

3. What was your most memorable DJ spot?

Well, very difficult to choose one. I remember great nights at Euroyeye, La Beat Bespoke. Most of the nights here in Madrid, where we have the best people around in the parties.

4. What so far, has been your worst DJ experience?

I am very easy going, I enjoy nearly everything everywhere, so hard to think about a bad experience. I need very little to make my day or night.

5. Your favourite scene DJ’s and why?

Well, there are many great DJs around, but Sebas Aviles from Mallorca is great, a very good friend of mine indeed, he can make everybody dance for hours, and never fails. Also Stephan Golowka from Frankfurt, Lolo from La Coruña and Rob Bailey from London, all play my favourite music.

6. What has shaped your DJ sound and why?

Don’t know really what, but step by step I went to play mainly psych, freakbeat & garage when I DJ. That’s what I really like most.

7. What was your best ever find/discovery?

There were so many great finds in my life, I’m always looking for records, every time I travel I look for record shops and flea markets, I was very happy the day I got the Spanish pressing of Scots of St James – Tic Toc for a couple of Euros in a well known shop in Madrid, together with many other great singles at a fantastic bargain price.

8. Who was your biggest influence musically and your favourite artist(s)?

I must be honest, Los Flechazos were a very big influence in my life, as in most of the people in my age into mod/60s from Spain. Also the Small Faces, Fab4 and The Who. That brought me to all the rest.

9. Do you collect specific labels/artists/genres?

Mainly 60’s freakbeat, psych and garage, but also soul and R&B, punk and power pop, folk. Original pressings always, and better in picture sleeves if singles.

10. Where can folks currently catch your DJ set?

Well, I have uploaded many records from my collection to my youtube channel: youtube.com/user/MushroomMachineClub
Not all from my DJ set, but many things in my set are there.

11. What is the record you would most like to own?

All the records I like and I still don’t have, all of them!

12.  Please give us a top 5 all time favourite’s and a current top 5 spins?

Top 5 Tracks of All Time:

1. Tickets – El rigor de las Desdichas (Columbia, 1969)
2. Shocking Blue – I Saw Your Face (Pink Elephant, 1971)
3. Los Chicos – Quiero un Poco de tu Amor (RCA, 1971)
4. The Moon – Walking Around (Imperial, 1968)
5. Nazz – Forget All About It (SGC 1968)

Current Top 5 Tracks:

1. Caleb – Woman of Distinction (Philips, 1967)
2. Tintern Abbey - Vacuum Cleaner (Deram, 1967)
3. Open Mind - Magic Potion (Philips, 1969)
4. Complex - Witch’s Spell (Private label, 1970)
5. Small Faces - Son of a Baker (Immediate, 1968)

DJ Promo Links
facebook.com/miguel.ygarzagutierrez

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drrobert

I run The New Untouchables organization and events like the Brighton Mod Weekender, Le Beat Bespoké Festival (and compilation series of the same name) and I co-organize Euro Ye Ye with the Trouble & Tea crew. I have run many clubs over the last 20 years in London, where I live and current nights include Timebox, Zoo Zoo, Crossfire, 100 Club and Mousetrap allnighter which has just celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2011. I have been lucky to DJ all over the globe including Japan, Canada, USA and Europe and met some great people on my journey. I run RnB Records to offset my vinyl addiction: newuntouchables.com/rnbrecords for rare vintage vinyl.

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A decade before stardom, T-Rex front man Marc Bolan was a wide-eyed 15-year-old ‘Mark Feld’ of Stamford Hill, who hung out with his friends at the local amusement arcade. Fifty years ago international war photographer Don McCullin took pictures of Feld and friends in Stamford Hill for Town Magazine and these form the core of a ‘must see’ exhibition at Hackney Museum from now until 26 January 2013.

Many readers will remember the passage in Richard Barnes’s, Mods, that details the photo-shoot in question. The exhibition, titled ‘Stamford Hill Mods–The Genesis of Marc Bolan’, tells the story of embryonic modernist culture, fashion and music in the early 1960s and has to be‘the’ highlight of this winter of anyone who knows the score.

Special additions on the display include an original 1962 Bilgorri suit and a 1962 two tone Vespa GS160 scooter personalised by the revered East London scooter dealer, Eddie Grimstead.

Miki Simmonds grew up in Stamford Hill and was one of the mods pictured with Mark said: “I’d just turned 18. We were full of energy, youth was eternal and life was yet to be, we thought we were going to live forever. We were mods–ace faces. We were the Stamford Hill boys and this was our meeting place, our turf.”

On display in the exhibition are photographs, records, magazines and a copy of the original Town Magazine. Memories of hand made suits and bum freezer jackets as well as the old Mod hang-outs, such as the ten pin bowling alley and the amusement arcade.

The free exhibition opens 7 November and will run until 26 January 2013 for further details visit: www.hackney.gov.uk/museum

Photo: (from left to right) Miki Simmonds, Peter Sugar, Mark Feld. Town Magazine 1962 ©Don McCullin.

drrobert

I run The New Untouchables organization and events like the Brighton Mod Weekender, Le Beat Bespoké Festival (and compilation series of the same name) and I co-organize Euro Ye Ye with the Trouble & Tea crew. I have run many clubs over the last 20 years in London, where I live and current nights include Timebox, Zoo Zoo, Crossfire, 100 Club and Mousetrap allnighter which has just celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2011. I have been lucky to DJ all over the globe including Japan, Canada, USA and Europe and met some great people on my journey. I run RnB Records to offset my vinyl addiction: newuntouchables.com/rnbrecords for rare vintage vinyl.

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Richard Searling is one of the most famous and successful men in northern soul. He is a multi talented soul music promoter, disc jockey, radio broadcaster, record company owner and expert in northern soul music.

He is likeable, charming and down to earth and his influence on the northern soul scene is indisputable, a soul fan will buy a record based purely upon Richards review of it.

I really wanted to meet him and was delighted when he agreed to an interview during the northern soul weekender at the impressive Blackpool Tower earlier this year.

Richard has been interviewed several times, so what do you ask a man who has been asked everything-no rude replies, please! I was curious about his opinion of the state of the northern soul scene. I asked Richard what did he think of the “vinyl only policy” and how it is a mainly, unhealthy, controlling influence on scene, Richards reply surprised me and you can hear it during my interview now!

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Kath Newman

What is northern soul? Predominately, rare, black, American, soul music of the 60’s and 70’s. First called northern soul in 1968 by Dave Godin editor to Blues and Soul magazine, when many young people in the North of England in the late 60’s and early 70’s were listening to this music. “ Some of it you will hate, most you will love”. I am a northern soul deejay, radio/TV broadcaster and music journalist living in the sunny southcoast of England. The genres I love are the blues, rhythm and blues, soul and in particular northern soul. I started deejaying due to a lack of northern soul events in Brighton. I like the good quality rare, northern soul, but to hear it I had to find good deejays or play it myself. For several years I have been privileged to interview great artists and deejays from the unique, music scene that is northern soul, such as Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and the successful deejay Richard Searling. Each month I will be bringing you an interview of a northern soul artist or deejay and keeping you informed of forthcoming events. I am interested in your thoughts, experiences and suggestions about northern soul and would like to quote you here each month, drop me a line at either: Email: souldeepevents@yahoo.co.uk or Facebook.com/ kath newman

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There’s no Euro-crisis in sight when the Euroyeye comes around. Thousands of mod culture and 60’s lovers gather in Gijon every summer, and some of them have already booked flights long before knowing the line-up. It means a great deal to us that after 18 years the fans of this event return year-after-year and have great faith in us to deliver an exciting program.

Thursday was the first live gig, after the presentation of 60’s cult film screenings and the Action Exhibition CCAI and Max Galli’s Midnight to Six at Cleo shop. Onstage DC Fontana performed new songs alongside old favorites. After 30 minutes Don Fardon joined them and performed a dozen of his 60’s anthems including ‘I’m Alive’. This was an amazing start to the weekend in the main square of the city with over 4000 people in attendance, followed by the allnighter at our base for the weekend Discoteca Oasis.

The first official ride out took place on Friday afternoon with a  gathering of old scoots at the really cool sports port with a ride-out in the direction of Villaviciosa on a fantastic sunny day. After less than one hour all the scoots were parked at Sidra El Gaitero factory and an expert explained to us all how their special cider is made. Back to Gijón for a light meal at Casa Pepito using a secondary road that everyone loved for its twist and turns, ups and downs, forests and mountains.

For the second allnighter doors opened at 10pm with Los Granadioans a unique Reggae style band presenting their forth LP/CD, Reggalactico. Next up was the turn for quintessential UK Psychedelic band, Kaleidoscope, with Peter Daltrey backed by an American band–an unforgettable experience. The allnighter was wild, with the best mod and 60’s music played by over a dozen DJ’s from Europe.

Saturday afternoon saw the second planned scooter run, using secondary roads again ending with a quick snack (we call ‘vermutin’) and a grand meal in the Royal Golf Club of Gijón, a truly posh and amazing place that we won’t be able to get again (I wonder why?).

No time for coffee, I’m late for the Battle Of The Bands contest by the beach in Gijón’s Monkey club. After watching four bands the winners were Los Wallas. They will record a single at vintage recording specialists, Circo Perrotti Studios, with a release on Saturno Records and a video clip (Producciones Cucas) and it is all for free.

The other three bands were nominated and were given one recording each as well having two of them, Los Chavalas and The Dark Colors, open for The Strypes that night in the allnighter. And what a concert from the Strypes. These kids shut all the bigmouths that dismissed them as ‘Just kids’. What skill and excitement the kids demonstrated, playing covers just like the Stones, Beatles, Yardbirds and The Who when their musical journey began. Everybody was shocked with the performance and they have a big future in front of them .

The allnighter afterwards was frantic and really crazy, ending up at gone 8am with lots of people asking for more… not me.

I raised the white flag on the Sunday but I was told that over 50 brave scoots were still riding towards Luanco and back during the day, and appeared for last night concerts. Any fragile souls will have rocked to the core when garage band Las Aspiradores hit the stage, leading to a visit from the Police–too loud, boys. Last act of the weekend was 60’s cult band, The Sorrows, performing all the hits.

A fantastic restaurant was booked for everyone on Monday to enjoy the local dishes and Sideria before their journey home. The most important people in this festival are not the band members or the DJs but the audience who come and enjoy the allnighters, live concerts, scooter runs and 60’s culture every summer.

Many thanks to all sponsors, Gijón City Council, Merc, Cleo Modern & Vintage Clothing, Upbeat Discos, Delicious Junction, Marychic, UK Look, Upthight65, Carnaby Pontevedra, Monkey Britsyle, all artists, bands, DJs and everybody involved in the organisation or simply everybody that made it to the Yeye in these difficult times, each helping to create the unique atmosphere.

Next stop: The Beat Goes On in Madrid, 6 to 8 December. Don’t miss it!

More pictures and news at:

euroyeye.es

cleogijon.es

circoperrotti.com

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Felix EuroYeYe

Organizador de weekends mods y 60's como el Euroyeyé y el Beat Goes On. In Gijon, Spain.

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