After finally making it over to Euro Yeye for the first time in 2011, I was delighted to get an email from Rob inviting Sarah and me to play some records this year. After last year discovering there’s no need to fear the heat (thank you Spanish air conditioning) I was raring to go. And then I saw the line up and this was looking like being even better than last year.
Things kicked off with Don Fardon backed by DC Fontana on the open air stage at the Plaza Mayor, playing his 60s back catalogue and mod classic ‘I’m Alive’, sans dancing Dodo. A nice opener before we made a dash back to our hotel to collect our records for our first night of djing. Everyone was in the main room together, a great mix of psych and R&B and everything in between.
Friday was spent showing Sarah around, the city itself is definitely an important part of what makes Euro Yeye such an enduring weekender that people return to. Although we were without our Basque friend this year, and had little or no grasp of Spanish we muddled through and found people to be very friendly and helpful.
There was time for a quick drink at the afternoon venue where we were pleased to find more friends from around Spain and beyond had arrived, before going to sample some incredible seafood paella. Everything you hear about the seafood in Gijon is true… superb!
Before that, the moment I was most excited about ever since hearing glowing reports from The See See’s Richard Olson… 60s psych stalwarts, Kaleidoscope. The buzz in the open air bar suggested that everyone was feeling the same, and with word of members of Brian Jones Town Massacre and Quarter After and other impressive acts helping to make up the band backing Peter Daltrey there was no doubt in my mind that this would be special. I was far from disappointed, dipping into his incredible back catalogue Daltrey’s voice sounded faultless, as did his band. He’d initially turned down offers to return on stage to play Kaleidoscope tracks until this band was presented to him, it’s abundantly clear why.
They were by far my favourite live act of the weekend, but the much talked about Strypes proved their worth on Saturday, playing a solid set of R&B stompers ridiculously well considering how young they are.
We were soon ready for another night sponsored by Vodka Burn, our last in Spain and time to spin more records. I started to feel a little apprehensive as our first set approached, as the Spanish master-in-garage, Borja, played an incredible set to a full dance floor, and one of the largest crowds we’ve ever played to. The Spanish crowd’s reputation of being up for a party steadied my nerves once we started, thank you to everyone for one of the most enjoyable DJ experiences I’ve had.
Unfortunately we had to head back to Scotland before catching Sunday night’s acts, but if Le Beat Bespoke was anything to go by The Sorrows would have been a real highlight. All in all, another incredible weekend, and one you have to try if you’ve never been. Big thanks to Rob and Felix for their organising, and the invitation, to the bands and the other DJs in both rooms, and to all of our friends from around Europe who helped to make the weekend so enjoyable.
We will definitely be back. Here’s to Euro Yeye 2013.
Editor’s Notes from ‘Scotch’ Martin Gavin
Gijon is a port in the northern province of Astuarias (Spain), not to be confused with mustard-mad Dijon (which is in France), has a population of just over 280,000 and dates back to The Romans.
I’m one half of Eyes Wide Open in Glasgow, where we run a club, a label and now the Double Sight Psych & Garage Weekend, which takes place at the start of October. I love psych, garage, freakbeat, popsike, and have even been known to enjoy a wee bit of R&B! Always enjoy travelling to 60s clubs and weekenders around Europe, whether I’m there to DJ or just to mingle and dance!
This entry is part 5 of 12 in the series Hey! Mr DJ
1. How and when did you get into music and what was you listening to then?
I’ve been into music for as long as I can remember, I was well moulded by my Dad who has always been a music nut. My earliest musical memories are of tapes he made me, one ‘Hits For Holly’ had a variety of stuff from The Clash to Syd Barrett. I also had an Elvis tape I listened to till it wore out.
2. Where was your first DJ slot?
The first time I ever did a DJ slot was probably in a place called The Vale, where a band I used to manage did a night, and we used to put on bands.
3. What was your most memorable DJ spot?
The most memorable spot was probably the first time we played at the evening events at All Saints in Lavarone, Italy in 2009. All Saints was the first proper 60s Weekender I went to, back in 2005. I never had a clue this world existed till then, I was instantly hooked, so it was special to be invited to DJ there a few years later.
4. What so far, has been your worst DJ experience?
There’s been plenty! Usually involving a broken deck or something, the worst I can recall was a month after moving Eyes Wide Open to a new venue, and the sound completely going out. I think someone had accidentally unplugged something. Disaster, the night was over before it had really begun.
5. Your favourite scene DJ’s and why?
Paddy & Sarge, Andrew Divine, Rob, German crowd.
6. What has shaped your DJ sound and why?
Childhood, friends, other DJs, weekenders/clubs.
7. What was your best ever find/discovery?
Not sure this is the answer you’re looking for, but probably getting my hands on the Nuggets compilations, they really changed everything for me.
8. Who was your biggest influence musically and your favourite artist(s)?
I guess, again, my Dad probably has been. He raised me on Syd Barrett and early Pink Floyd, and they/he is probably still my favourite 60s artist today. I’ve taken his early teachings and run with it, now I play him mixes and tapes and he says things sound familiar to him, and it turns out he was pals with the bands I’m listening to now. If only he still had his record collection from back then!
9. Do you collect specific labels/artists/genres?
I collect whatever I love, and what I think people will dance to. I only really collect records to DJ with, so I almost exclusively buy psychedelic records, or garage records. I also buy stuff from new bands, favourites at the moment are The See See, Sulk and By The Sea.
10. Where can folks currently catch your DJ set?
At Double Sight, the Psych weekender we’re hosting in Glasgow in October. It’s running across 5 venues over 4 days, from October 4th to 7th. I’m not running a monthly club at the moment, but DJ in a few bars in and around Glasgow every couple of weeks.
11. What is the record you would most like to own?
There’s a never ending list. At the moment it’s probably Double Sight/Fredereek Hernando by One In A Million, which we named our weekender after.
12. Please give us a top 10 all time favourite’s and a current top 5 spins?
And even harder to decide, and something I’ve actually never thought about before. Here are some which spring to mind as long time dance floor favourites.
All time top Ten
1.Wade In The Shade – Daddy Lindberg
2. It Won’t Be The Same – Gavin Hamilton
3. Little Girl – Dick Wagner & The Frosts
4. Fire – Pegasus
5. La Revolution Francaise – Y Mouille a Sciaux
6. I Wanna Be Your Dog – The Stooges
7. House Of Glass – The Glass Family
8. Kicks & Chicks – The Zipps
9. Flash & Crash – Rocky & The Riddlers
I always find this question difficult… so hard to narrow it down, and its always changing, but at the moment my top 5 is probably this, in no particular order.
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.
The Poets are rightfully hailed as legends for their originality and ground breaking song writing in the mid-60s, as any (freak)beat aficionado will be well aware. This didn’t go unnoticed by the youth of Scotland at the time, and they were treated as such with hysteria wherever they played. Needless to say it wasn’t long before the Rolling Stones’ manager and producer, Andrew Loog Oldham, came a-calling, signing them to Decca (and subsequently Immediate).
Despite penning such pioneering classics as ‘Now We’re Thru’ and ‘That’s the Way It’s Got to Be’ the Poets infamously underwent many line-up changes and, in terms of commercial success, never fully met their true potential.
It took a very long time in coming, but after many long discussions with beat-garage sensations – and most importantly faithful fans – the Thanes, original singer George Gallacher, and 1965-67 guitarist Fraser Watson agreed to go into the studio to see if they could recreate the Poets’ sound. And after being lucky enough to help promote their first come back show at EWO in December last year, I’m delighted to say they have done an impeccable job!
Here we talk to George, and Lenny Helsing of the Thanes, about the Poets in the 60s, what we can expect from them this year and at Le Beat Bespoke 8.
NUTs – Despite only having released a few singles, you’re known as the best Scottish beat group of the mid 60′s. What was the scene like in Scotland? And were you based in London or in Scotland when the band was most active?
George Gallacher – The Scottish scene was vibrant with loads of great bands and great musicians, but completely lacking in originality; we were the only ones writing and playing our own material.
Lenny Helsing – During their heyday the Poets did actually stay mostly in London, mainly flitting between two hotels, the Aaland, and the Adrian. The former also housing at that time Them, Little Walter and one of the group’s earliest industry champions, Jimmy Saville.
NUTs – How does the success you achieved in Scotland differ from what you felt from the rest of the UK?
GG - It was easy in Scotland because we had little competition ’the big fish in a small pool’ syndrome but in England we had to prove ourselves to be something other than a provincial success; I loved playing in England and loved the buzz in London.
NUTs – Were there ever plans for a full album release, or will there still be any?
GG - No the concentration was on singles. It may have been different if we had had more significant success. However, the fan club had concocted an optimistic story from summer 1965 onwards saying that the group were busy planning and arranging the recording of an LP, and that the group and management hoped it would be released in time for the fans to have it in their Christmas stocking. However, the reality is that only the singles, and a few extra tracks here and there, were ever recorded.
NUTs – In your BBC radio interview you mention Donovan sending some unreleased tapes of the Poets in their heyday to you, have you listened to them and what did you think?
GG - Yes we’ve now listened to the tapes that Donovan found in his archive. We think the material is excellent, and the quality of some of it is really quite exceptional.
There were three reel-to-reel tapes containing the original two-track mono masters for the following tracks: ‘There Are Some’ (B side of ‘Now We’re Thru’), ‘I’ll Cry With The Moon’ (B side of ‘That’s The Way It’s Got To Be’), and also ‘Loving This One’ (unissued at the time, but subsequently issued, in a much rougher-sounding acetate version, on the ‘Scotland’s No 1 Group’ CD and the more recent ‘Try Me Again’ CD/DVD set, both released on the Distortions label from Philadelphia, USA). One reel also contained the original tracking session for ‘Some Things I Can’t Forget’ (B side of ‘Call Again’), and ‘It’s So Different Now’ (unissued at the time, but also heard in a much rougher-sounding acetate version on the Distortions cd’s).
NUTs – Will any of this material see the light of day on a new Poets release?
GG – Currently, plans are afoot for Andrew Oldham to issue some, or all of these tracks, both on vinyl and CD. It is hoped that this idea will come to fruition sometime during 2012.
NUTs – Do you feel your association with Andrew Loog Oldham worked against you because of his focus on The Rolling Stones?
GG – No! Never! The time Andrew spent in the studio with us was incredible and it allowed him to indulge his imagination in something very different from the blues based, rock stuff of the Stones.
NUTs – Did you have any sort of relationship with the Rolling Stones? Were there tours you did together or plans for such? How about the Small Faces?
GG – There was really only a minor relationship going on between the Poets and the Rolling Stones. The groups didn’t ever really get together on a social basis, as both groups would always have such busy schedules, leaving no time to meet up. No tours were ever considered, or done together with either the ‘Stones, or with the Small Faces.
NUTs – Why were there so many changes to the original line-up of the band? Who made these decisions for change?
GG – Well Andrew made the first change getting rid of our drummer Alan Weir simply because he didn’t fit the image, this led on to his best friend Tony Myles (our rhythm guitarist) then leaving. I was next to leave simply because I was disillusioned with our relative failure and with what happened after, with which I had no interest.
NUTs – What are your plans for the current reunion of The Poets. Are any recordings planned?
GG – We have discussed the possibility of recording something now that the group has new life. We don’t really think there’s much point in re-recording any of the group’s already legendary-sounding singles, although it’s thought that it may be worth giving some of the old demo material another shot.
NUTs – What are some of your dearest memories of the 1960′s? People you worked with? Parties and the Music Industry scene?
GG – I have no particular memories of great importance just the wonderful zeitgeist itself. I mean we met loads of those who are now recognised as ‘giants’ of rock but at the time they were nothing special to us, only others pursuing the same dreams as ourselves. If there is one thing that did impress me it was the live performance of the Pretty Things. I saw them live in the 100 Club in 1964 before we signed to Andrew — They were sensational!
NUTs – Are there any un-released songs that you feel could be released in the near future?
GG – There are certainly unreleased songs but their release would depend on the interest of others.
NUTs – What can we expect from your current live performance? How does it differ from the way it was in the 60′s?
GG – You can expect to hear a lot of what the Poets would have actually played live in the 60s, ranging from most of the original material that was released on disc, but also including some of the more eclectic R’n'B styled covers that the original band did at the time. The approach to playing the old material is as authentic as you would want it. But certainly one of the things the Thanes have brought is a much edgier sound to the overall proceedings, and they have also toughened up the feel of some of the more ‘ballady’ sounding, whimsical songs, for example the likes of ‘There Are Some’, but also ‘Call Again’ and ‘I’ll Come Home’. The group has also now developed a looseness which we like, and some songs are played at a slightly faster pace than they were originally played, but this also seems to work really well.
I’m one half of Eyes Wide Open in Glasgow, where we run a club, a label and now the Double Sight Psych & Garage Weekend, which takes place at the start of October. I love psych, garage, freakbeat, popsike, and have even been known to enjoy a wee bit of R&B! Always enjoy travelling to 60s clubs and weekenders around Europe, whether I’m there to DJ or just to mingle and dance!
