After the previous week's jumbo music outings ending in Field Day where we escaped just before the onset of heavy rock, sorry, just before the onset of heavy rain the last week has been fairly quiet avoiding the jubilee celebrations and staying indoors for much of it to avoid the wind and rain. As half term spent time entertaining the kids with a bit of venturing out between storms to cycle around Clapham Common and a visit to Balham swimming pool for a bit of larking about. After the trauma of a month break from football on the box it's back with Euro 2012 although I'm sure the professionals don't have to put up with what I have to - 5 a side on Wednesday involved cycling through heavy rain to get there (heavens opened when I reached the end of my road and soaked through) then having to scale a 12 foot metal fence as they've changed the padlock for the pitch. Also attacked by stinging nettles whilst retrieving the ball. Then scaling the fence again after an hour running about. At least I scored for once. In other related news start of the 3rd test against Windies at my old stomping ground Edgbaston delayed for 2 days due to rain. But weather in Poland and Ukraine seems hot to scorching for Euro 2012 which means a glut of sitting in front of the telly with beer and salty snacks. So come Saturday to conteract the effects of armchair football and to avoid turning into Homer S I go for a quick jaunt up and around Crystal Palace (Crystal Palace Loop). Going past the athletics track and swimming pool I really can't understand why we couldn't've spruced up those places and created a bit more seating (there's loads of space there) and spent the rest of the Olympic dosh on improving local sports facilities instead of channelling all the money into Stratford roadworks and closing down local facilities and concreting over half of Hackney Marshes football pitches for car parking. Let's hope that the promised post Olympics regeneration of east London does improve that area as it badly needed it. Anyways at least I can get around Crystal Palace which you can't the Olympic Park due to security. Now back home about to watch Holland Denmark - hoping for a bit of magic from the main man of last season (and Gooners saviour) RvP. Mixed feelings as if he has a blindingly great tournament he'll be even less likely to stay at Arsenal. But hope he has a better match than our goalie did yesterday as Sir Chesney had to take a red card for the team.
 |
| Crystal Palace TV mast |
 |
| Sphinx overlooking foundations of the old Crystal Palace |
Hollywood Killers
Debs has tickets for Jim Penfold and the Hollywood Killers at the 100 Club. She used to see them years ago when her squeeze of the time drove from Canvey Island to Fulham via Brentwood a round trip of a 100 miles so they must be good.
We arrive in time to catch most of Theya and The Ghosts which is basically a 16 year old (Theya I guess) with Jim Penfold & his band as backing band. She has great strong vocals for one so young and impresses us both. Rather spoilt by the fact that she spends the rest of the night during the other bands sat at a table with chin resting on hands looking very very bored.
Next up are Trebuchets who I assume are well educated young folk with a penchant for medieval history. The audience are old enough to be their parents, or grandparents in many cases, so fair dues to the band for keeping the energy levels high. Animated singer with a great voice, guitarist piling out fast rock and bassist not animated in any way but proficient and looked a bit like JJB of The Stranglers. Stand out for me was the girl drummer; I don't often notice the way they play but her drumming stood out alongside the others and I'm not sure if that meant she was good but certainly impressed me. Great band.
Jim Penfold and the Hollywood Killers. The main man steps up to front a great rock 'n' roll band with punk leanings showing their roots. Overall impression is of a company events committee booking a too raunchy band for the office party with the audience shaking hands and talking about expanding their houses and swimming pool installations. Couldn't've been more different in age to Field Day but probably similar demography. Back to Jim and the band... got the audience dancing although seen the 100 Club more rammed with more raucous dancing. Last time here (I think) was to see hard core Gallows and left with an imprint of a DM on my forehead. More likely to have an umbrella point poked in my foot tonight. Jim himself has a great rapport with the audience many of whom he obviously recognised. Competent backing band of 5 creating that big R&R sound. Special mentions to the keyboard player who was good and lead guitar who was awful, not in skill but not sure why he was needed. Every space when Jim not singing or playing lead himself or keyboards not soaring the lead guitarist would fill with needless guitar solo type noodlings. Just what late 70s pub / punk bands blew away so why bring back now Jim? The guy himself stood alone at the side of the stage smirking every so often. Apparently a school chum so maybe that's why Jim let him on stage. The guy could play guitar but sometimes less is more. An ageing (ain't we all) casual-suit-jacketed type comes up to Jim after a song insists on shaking his hand as he obviously has to rush back to the home counties - the guys headlining at the 100 Club for gods sake it's not a merchant bankers golf day! Obviously embarrassed Jim but he has a great put down saying the guy wants to sleep with him but he won't oblige. After a few more sweaty songs they finish then stay on stage for a couple of encore songs and then claiming he's too knackered to carry on Jim and band exit stage front (no escape round the back to changing rooms). After a bit of ligging by Debs we spill out into a surprisingly quiet Oxford Street clutching our free CD. All in all a very enjoyable night and wishing I'd seen him 30 years ago. Will file the CD next to late 70s punk / new wave.
Early bike road racing
Sunday early afternoon sees me cycling to the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith to see a couple of 1950s cycling films. As well as my general interest in cycling Debs dad used to ride with the Redmon CC (anagram of Morden) back in the day. Inauspicious start to the day. Get seriously cut up by mini cab driver who I let know my feelings in a robust way. Obviously too robust for Kharma as two turns later I hit a pothole and come off badly grazing knee, elbow and shin. Manage to get bike off the road before the mini cab driver turns the corner so my dignity hopes that he thinks I merely stopped rather than knows I came off. Clean up the blood in the Riverside toilets and then to the screen. The audience is nearly all men who would've been cycling in the '50s. Guess there were about 60 there. Turns out it is the 70th anniversary of the first UK road race which was banned in 1897 and proscribed by the UK cycling authorities. Unlike on the continent where road racing was much encouraged by sponsors and supported by the police. Our MC Gino Goddard firstly treats us to memories by various members of the audience who turn out to be major players in the films we're about to see. They often had to cycle to and from races. Also name checked and applauded was Sir Jimmy Saville who rode the Tour of Britain in 51 (as well as being a professional wrestler and pioneering dual decks at discos). After an hour of chat we watch A Wheel in Britain all about the 1953 Tour of Britain then a compilation made by one of the audience about various British and continental classic races. One of these was the Warsaw - Berlin - Prague classic aka Peace Race which Ian Steel won. Ian was here today and shared his memories with us. Very moving to hear from someone who achieved so much - Brits were not known for being road cyclists at that time. After a break we reconvene for more memories and then Up The League a film about Percy Stallard's memories of him organising that rebel road race from Llangollen to Wolverhampton on 7th June 1942. Sadly he's no longer with us. We end with a rousing shout of Up The League!! which was the rebel road racers call back when the cycling authorities had banned them from other cycling events such as time trials and track racing. I chat with a couple of the British League of Racing Cyclists boys and buy a couple of DVDs from the stall to give to Debs' dad. Feeling slightly overawed outside I unlock my trusty steed and although obviously a run about town hybrid rather than road warrior a few guys leaving the cinema ask me where I'm going and how many accidents I've had. They have a misty eyed look as their cycling days seem to be behind them - at least in busy London. As the rain comes down I don't in as my waterproof keeping me dry for a few miles is far better than they had over their 200 mile road races half a century ago.
Hold the back page...
Sport update. RvP didn't have a great game. Ireland currently losing 3-1 to Croatia. England let Windies off the hook with their number 11 getting an all time historic high score for last man. And the fruits of those pioneering men I've spent the afternoon with have paid more dividends - Bradley Wiggins today won the Criterium du Dauphine for the second year running.
Debs has tickets for Jim Penfold and the Hollywood Killers at the 100 Club. She used to see them years ago when her squeeze of the time drove from Canvey Island to Fulham via Brentwood a round trip of a 100 miles so they must be good.
We arrive in time to catch most of Theya and The Ghosts which is basically a 16 year old (Theya I guess) with Jim Penfold & his band as backing band. She has great strong vocals for one so young and impresses us both. Rather spoilt by the fact that she spends the rest of the night during the other bands sat at a table with chin resting on hands looking very very bored.
Next up are Trebuchets who I assume are well educated young folk with a penchant for medieval history. The audience are old enough to be their parents, or grandparents in many cases, so fair dues to the band for keeping the energy levels high. Animated singer with a great voice, guitarist piling out fast rock and bassist not animated in any way but proficient and looked a bit like JJB of The Stranglers. Stand out for me was the girl drummer; I don't often notice the way they play but her drumming stood out alongside the others and I'm not sure if that meant she was good but certainly impressed me. Great band.
Jim Penfold and the Hollywood Killers. The main man steps up to front a great rock 'n' roll band with punk leanings showing their roots. Overall impression is of a company events committee booking a too raunchy band for the office party with the audience shaking hands and talking about expanding their houses and swimming pool installations. Couldn't've been more different in age to Field Day but probably similar demography. Back to Jim and the band... got the audience dancing although seen the 100 Club more rammed with more raucous dancing. Last time here (I think) was to see hard core Gallows and left with an imprint of a DM on my forehead. More likely to have an umbrella point poked in my foot tonight. Jim himself has a great rapport with the audience many of whom he obviously recognised. Competent backing band of 5 creating that big R&R sound. Special mentions to the keyboard player who was good and lead guitar who was awful, not in skill but not sure why he was needed. Every space when Jim not singing or playing lead himself or keyboards not soaring the lead guitarist would fill with needless guitar solo type noodlings. Just what late 70s pub / punk bands blew away so why bring back now Jim? The guy himself stood alone at the side of the stage smirking every so often. Apparently a school chum so maybe that's why Jim let him on stage. The guy could play guitar but sometimes less is more. An ageing (ain't we all) casual-suit-jacketed type comes up to Jim after a song insists on shaking his hand as he obviously has to rush back to the home counties - the guys headlining at the 100 Club for gods sake it's not a merchant bankers golf day! Obviously embarrassed Jim but he has a great put down saying the guy wants to sleep with him but he won't oblige. After a few more sweaty songs they finish then stay on stage for a couple of encore songs and then claiming he's too knackered to carry on Jim and band exit stage front (no escape round the back to changing rooms). After a bit of ligging by Debs we spill out into a surprisingly quiet Oxford Street clutching our free CD. All in all a very enjoyable night and wishing I'd seen him 30 years ago. Will file the CD next to late 70s punk / new wave.
 |
| Young turks... |
 |
| ... old hands |
Early bike road racing
Sunday early afternoon sees me cycling to the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith to see a couple of 1950s cycling films. As well as my general interest in cycling Debs dad used to ride with the Redmon CC (anagram of Morden) back in the day. Inauspicious start to the day. Get seriously cut up by mini cab driver who I let know my feelings in a robust way. Obviously too robust for Kharma as two turns later I hit a pothole and come off badly grazing knee, elbow and shin. Manage to get bike off the road before the mini cab driver turns the corner so my dignity hopes that he thinks I merely stopped rather than knows I came off. Clean up the blood in the Riverside toilets and then to the screen. The audience is nearly all men who would've been cycling in the '50s. Guess there were about 60 there. Turns out it is the 70th anniversary of the first UK road race which was banned in 1897 and proscribed by the UK cycling authorities. Unlike on the continent where road racing was much encouraged by sponsors and supported by the police. Our MC Gino Goddard firstly treats us to memories by various members of the audience who turn out to be major players in the films we're about to see. They often had to cycle to and from races. Also name checked and applauded was Sir Jimmy Saville who rode the Tour of Britain in 51 (as well as being a professional wrestler and pioneering dual decks at discos). After an hour of chat we watch A Wheel in Britain all about the 1953 Tour of Britain then a compilation made by one of the audience about various British and continental classic races. One of these was the Warsaw - Berlin - Prague classic aka Peace Race which Ian Steel won. Ian was here today and shared his memories with us. Very moving to hear from someone who achieved so much - Brits were not known for being road cyclists at that time. After a break we reconvene for more memories and then Up The League a film about Percy Stallard's memories of him organising that rebel road race from Llangollen to Wolverhampton on 7th June 1942. Sadly he's no longer with us. We end with a rousing shout of Up The League!! which was the rebel road racers call back when the cycling authorities had banned them from other cycling events such as time trials and track racing. I chat with a couple of the British League of Racing Cyclists boys and buy a couple of DVDs from the stall to give to Debs' dad. Feeling slightly overawed outside I unlock my trusty steed and although obviously a run about town hybrid rather than road warrior a few guys leaving the cinema ask me where I'm going and how many accidents I've had. They have a misty eyed look as their cycling days seem to be behind them - at least in busy London. As the rain comes down I don't in as my waterproof keeping me dry for a few miles is far better than they had over their 200 mile road races half a century ago.
Hold the back page...
Sport update. RvP didn't have a great game. Ireland currently losing 3-1 to Croatia. England let Windies off the hook with their number 11 getting an all time historic high score for last man. And the fruits of those pioneering men I've spent the afternoon with have paid more dividends - Bradley Wiggins today won the Criterium du Dauphine for the second year running.
No comments:
Post a Comment