Heavy Petting

It's a beautiful sunny day turned into a nippy night so Debbie and I are wrapped up in furry coat and Harrington as we cycle on our single speeds up to The Windmill to be greeted with a "Hello Sir Wiggo" by one of the locals outside the pub. After some cycle and hair related banter we pay for our wrist stamps (dogs paws I guess in memory of Roof Dog). Simon, Pete, Wendy and Todd are already in and the first band are playing. Junodef are very lo-fi grunge reminding me of Katie Crutchfield but my view may have been influenced by the haircuts too. They are head noddingly good and ease us nicely into the evening. Soon enough Chris appears and that's us all here. After a lot of chat outside at our usual table we come back inside to see John & the People who deliver an excellently laid back dancy atmospheric set which Debbie sums up nicely by St Etienne mashed with Elastica. As an aside the video for Only Love Can Break Your Heart (pre Cracknell) is in my top 10. So things are hotting up and not just cos the place is getting fuller. Next up are the much anticipated Uncle Tesco who I only caught one and a bit songs of last year when they played here, supporting tonight's headliner. Back then my mates raved about them "best band ever" style and yes they were pretty good. Tonight they deliver a competent enough set of rocking psyche but with no gut wrenching nor neck hair raising spaciness we remain firmly on the ground. Last up is the even more anticipated Pet Grotesque with a rare full band set, apparently. Pet was on the bill when we saw Uncle Tesco a year ago and I raved about him (check out the Chubby Checkout post). Back then he was on his own with a small synth and sang euro disco in a high pitched voice. If that don't sound great then read my post as he was brilliant. This time around he's playing guitar, well, with a bit of keys thrown in, and mostly singing in a lower pitched voice sometimes breaking out into the high life. The band seem to be various members of all the previous bands tonight so I'm expecting a disco jamming session but no, they are pumping out a well rehearsed tight set of funk and soul classics. Not classics as in covers of classics but classics as in classic groovy not groovy as in cool but groovy as in getting us deep into a groove and keeping us in it occasionally the needle jumping and hitting the high of lift your hands up and wave mo-town soul before dropping back into that funky shoe shifting groove. Pet himself is the star of the band and must be enjoying himself up there. All too soon they're over and it's goodbye same place different time yeah it's always good here cold night air mostly freewheeling home ah nothing like it I feel a little wobbly hope I  don't end up wrestling with a Christmas tree ah no that'll be in January. Nice cuppa and then to sleep.

Next day clear the head by cycling to Champion Hill meeting Simon and Jules who's feeling better and after some nosh we watch Dulwich Hamlet put the lower division Bognor Regis in their place in the FA Cup with a 6-1 drubbing (though I missed their consolation penalty). Two nil up after 7 minutes set the tone for the game and for the stick that their poor keeper got all through the game. To be fair only 1 of the goals was really his fault - always is if in the near post from a tight angle. Best chant: There's only two Danny Mills, Two Danny Millssss. And the very hopeful Que Sera Sera going to Wembley that everyone sings. But who knows? That's the beauty of the FA Cup in theory hundreds of teams could win it. Back home I snigger at Spurs letting their lead get overturned at Leicester but cold reality hits home with the Man Citeh score against Watford who if a barometer mean The Arsenal are still a long way off the top. Ah well I guess we were away. Ever optimistic. Right that's enough football chat hey Simon?

Canal graffiti just cos I liked it

The disturbing flyer

Junodef keeping it lo

John & The People keeping it indie dance

Uncle Tesco keeping it blurry

Pet Grotesque keeping it groovy

Dulwich Hamlet keeping it in possession

Burnt Cookie

Friday evening train to Leicester and picked up at the usual place by Bruce. After eating Bruce practices for tomorrow's gig with me trying my best to provide a bass line that is at least on the beat. Soon it's dusk and we go for a wander along the steam railway track behind Bruce's place. Didn't think there'd be any trains but we hear a whistle which sounds like it's behind us but then we hear and then see a train coming towards us from the station. We dive into the brambly bushes to hide and although the drivers aren't looking at us, or in front of them, I think a few in the Pullman dining cars who are having romantic meals are probably a little surprised to see the faces of two middle aged men peering out from the undergrowth. Fearing that the station will be swarming with volunteers we retrace our steps and spend the rest of the evening watching blues documentaries and one featuring my granddad who was Station Master at Shepton Mallet who in the film is Station Master A showing us how to set up single line working. A lot of forms to sign. Saturday is the big day as the reason I'm here this weekend is that The Burnout have their album launch tonight. After breakfast we go for a walk through the wetlands for a canal side beer and coffee at the Hope and Anchor where one of Debbie's friend was brought up. It starts raining whilst we're browsing the Birstall charity shops and torrential whilst in the supermarket but eases off once we're out. Back home I cook pasta whilst Bruce hones his solos then it's time to drive into town and lug the gear to The Cookie. Sound checks and hanging around mean that I down a few beers and manage to tip the wobbly table so I get a pint of lager right down my jeans. I guess at least it wasn't Bruce as he'd then look like Mark E Smith on stage. The support band are Not My Good Arm playing a great range of songs from quite punky shouty through to funky dance. They have drums bass guitar and a trombone. Good chat as well. An excellent way to kick off the evening. There's a lot here and it gets even more crowded by the time Bruce, Wayne and Mike, also known as The Burnout, take the stage. They crash headlong into a high energy set of what a lazy hack would call post punk rock. And as I don't get paid for this, they play an excellent set of post punk rock. Mike on the drums are spot on driving the songs very ably supported by Wayne on a throaty raspy bass. Bruce's vocals are a sort of hard hitting Cramps like style whilst pile driving out the rhythm guitar with lovely bluesy solos thrown in for free. The songs skip across punk, rock and hard blues. It's all from the Dark Matters album, this is a launch gig, so for a run down of most of the songs played see here: https://psicle.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-burnout-dark-matters.html. I love the sound maybe because it's my mate Bruce up there but I think more likely because we both love the same bands so of course he'll be playing stuff I love. There is a strong Stranglers influence across all instruments but not necessarily at the same time. The bass goes off on Stranglers types neck runs at times and the guitaring at times is very Hugh Cornwall with those off kilter choppy near psychedelic licks. The crowd gets nearer the stage and there is some dancing going on and the crowd love them. A slight lull in proceedings as there is a problem with one of the drums so Bruce has to entertain the crowd with a very dodgy looking raffle and a joke. I've never seen that before. Set stopped for drum repair, not Bruce cracking a joke. Once back up and running they finish the set without further technical problems. After a certain amount of persuading, well, not a lot, the band agree to play an encore and we're treated to The Stooges and finishing with the MC5. And then they leave the stage. Or rather tell us that's our lot and start packing up the stage. To wild applause and whoops of "one more". The Burnout have set The Cookie on fire! I dip upstairs for some fresh air, whilst the band take their plaudits from their mates and also quite a few they don't know them, where I meet a youngish kid who's come all the way from Loughborough and asks me if I like GBH. The answer is of course yes. That's something The Burnout didn't play. Probably for the best. Eventually the chat stops and I'm back to my job of roadie lugging drums and leaking smoke machine up the pedestrian street by now crowded with those starting their nights at the clubs having seemingly made good use of the 2-4-1 happy hours, which seems to have been all evening in most places. Back home Bruce is still halfway between relieved and buzzing and we wind down watching more 50's music videos before nodding off. Sunday morning it's sunny again and Bruce drives me to the station for 11am as otherwise I think I may have to get the horror of a bus replacement service to London. Thanks Bruce. Great weekend. Great gig.

Bruce and me hiding from the train on Friday night

Bruce looking over the bridge we'd gone under

A train passes (this was on Saturday)

Watermead Country Park

Heron trying to fish if all these damn humans stopped gawping at me

The Hope and Anchor tho not sure canal barges have anchors?

Their name in lights. Nearly. Wobbly table on RHS.

One two one two.

Not my good arm

The Burnout rocking the joint

Where's that bloody snare drum gone? Winner of raffle and erratic dancer in full view