Wide Awake 22

Arriving early afternoon for our local festival Debbie and I park our bikes at the Sainsburys opposite the Hootenanny and wander into the festival. First stop bar then mosey on down to the Brixton Windmill stage which is currently showcasing Fatoumata Diawara playing an African folk blues rock mix which is a great start for a sunny festival afternoon. We go for a wander around to check out the rest of the site and stages stopping off at a couple to listen to bands who I don't know the names of. Back at the Windmill stage to see the end of Fatoumata set so she and the band must have played for quite a while. Next up are Yard Act who are hotly anticipated and don't disappoint with a hard edged rocky, indie at times verging on funky set. The lead singer is chatty, charismatic and very funny. A wry sense of humour amongst which he loves to shout out about the fact that we're all in south London and then says he's not sure whether to be embarrassed or proud to come from Yorkshire. He's a bit Mark E Smith in attitude and looks with a beige raincoat on throughout the set which is not needed. Odd as he jokes that it's nice to be able to look cool by wearing sunglasses outside in the sun instead of inside looking like a twat. All the songs are great with a great cover of the Modern Lovers' Road Runner with two women who I think have toured with them coming on for vocal duties. Great. And much like last year they've put on a cracker early in the day. Next up are Fat White Family who we saw at Wide Awake last year, that was in September, and don't disappoint this year with their own special brew of sleazy rocking south London indie punk at times nodding towards other genres including what I'd think of as folk punk if there is such a thing. Debbie is convinced that the singer is stark naked. Not quite but his only clothing is very tight shorts that are coloured exactly the same as his flesh. Another great set and we meet up with Simon and Jules for it. We all have a bit of chill out time both all together and Debbie and I play spot the combat fatigues (should I take to Glastonbury?) and retro T shirts such as Crass and Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols neither of which you see every day. Next up are, again, hotly anticipated Amyl and the Sniffers who deliver a high energy but to be honest failry straight up rock set. I'm slightly disappointed and so is Debbie so we wander off. Let's see if I'm more interested when I see them on Wednesday again with Simon in Brixton. They're also at Glastonbury in a month. More wandering around and getting fed and watered and seeing a few random chunks of bands that shall remain nameless mainly cos I never knew their name in the first place. It's all part of the fun of the festival. We fail to see Billy Nomates which is a real shame partly cos I've written down the wrong time and then cos her set was moved to a different stage and time anyway. I really should get with the modern times and download apps for things like this. Then it's back to the Windmill to catch the always excellent Primal Scream who are presenting Screamadelica. Again. It's a fantastic uplifting set just right for sliding into the evening and easing into whatever state of loadedness has taken your fancy. I nip to the loo and unfortunately can't find the others and end up dancing next to a group who are distributing glow sticks so I wave a couple of those around for the rest of the set. Great end to the day. Like Amyl Debbie and I are seeing Primal in a month or so at Ally Pally and they are also playing Glastonbury. It sort of seems that we didn't see as many bands as last year but still fun. Only disappointment was that the magnificent chips van wasn't here although the Buddha Bowls were very good. I'm halfway through texting Debbie when she spots me and says that Simon and Jules have already left, the latter with my long sleeved Specials T which luckily I don't need. We walk back with the crowds to our bikes and cycle home. At home I see that our street's WhatsApp group have been complaining about the noise then a voice of reason says to get a grip as this is London. I drafted a robust response but luckily Debbie persuades me that sending social media under the influence is not a good idea and I delete.

Fatoumata Diawara

Yard Act

Channelling MES

The modern lovers

Toasting news of a new born

Fat White Family near naked

Fat White beer drinking

And more

Fat White Crowd

Chilling

Amyl and the Sniffers

The Sniffers

Amyl

Bobby and backing singers

Bobby

Bobby again - god am I obsessed with the man?

The back of a guitarist

The band

Sunset mk 2

6 or 7 and counting

Maya has cried off with unfinished essay deadline. Lily-Rose is in the middle of exams. Debbie has a hard week. Everyone else is busy. My 3 Twickets offers didn't conclude so this is a damn expensive night out for 1. And the 2nd time in 2 nights I'm at a gig on my own. This time at Brixton Electric (nee Fridge) where I've managed to cycle between tropical downpours albeit having a wet stripe up my arse as no mudguard. Rookie mistake. Anyways it's dark in here and I doubt many are looking at my middle aged arse. After the usual heavy frisk and asking if I have any chewing gum I get inside to find it comfortably interspersed with folk my age as I was slightly concerned I would be an ageing rocker in a sea of teenie Kate Nash fans and be frowned upon as slightly if not wholly dodgy. The bar refreshingly doesn't even try to sell watered down lager and has Red Stripe in tins. That's a proper bar. And quick service. 

I've missed the first band but Revenge Wife takes the stage. It's one woman who seems proud to be from LA and who dances and sings to euro disco backing tracks including some fairly strong language songs including one from her other band which the record company didn't like as a single presumably as it's all about how she likes, and how she has, sex with her bloke including it seems other people and I'm sure she mentions dogging too. A weird set and one that you wouldn't be surprised to be surprised by at the Windmill just up the road. There are also about 4 women each stage left and right who are swaying in time like you see on old clips of bands on TV shows in the 60s. Very odd. Especially when they are introduced as "my dancers". They do come on stage to dance for the final number although it's hardly choreographed and really just jigging around. I could have done as much although I would possibly have looked out of place in amongst the beautifulness of youth. Anyway Revenge is entertaining, loves Kate Nash, love performing for the 1st time in London and generally loves everything in a west coast sort of way which you never know is genuine or bull. 

After quite a while of me phone fiddling to avoid just staring at the punters the stage darkens and the band of Kate Nash and then Kate herself take the stage. She starts with Foundations which gets everyone on their phones which is slightly annoying but I quash the desire to take Simon's recent action. There's too many of them anyway. It's a brilliant set, as usual, with a mix of south London indie, near-ballads and then some of her straight up punk rock and roll with a good topping of out and out guitar soloing which our guitarist don't hold back on going the full guitar hero posturing including playing behind her head. Fantastic. Solid bassist and drummer hold the whole lot together. It's a great sound and mix of tunes and Kate delivers with great sincerity and pleased to be "back home" and gigging after lockdown which took it's toll on her mental wellbeing. Her cabaret kitsch adds that aura of uniqueness which no one else matches and the crowd are loving it. I decline the mosh due to not wanting to be the only over 30 in it and me knees are still recovering from last night. I've shed tears whilst watching Kate (see the ghost of glasto past) and whilst none tonight she does move you. The encore is climatic in a classic rock and roll finale kind of way including Kate bashing away at the piano with hands, feet, arse and in fact her whole body. It's great. There are quite a few leaving and I think it shows how far many have come needing to get trains home. At the end we are all thanked sincerely and then I think it's Ms Wife and her dancers come on stage to jig about to the "that's yer lot" song being played with Kate and the band. Lovely to see them all enjoying themselves. They need to get out more. Which I don't have 2 gigs in 2 days, or 3 gigs in 5 days. I need a rest before the Saturday all dayer at Brockwell Park. As the crowd kept shouting. We love you Kate!

Revenge Wife - definitely not to be confused with Dream Wife

Kate and her fabulous band

My phone had the worst camera in the audience (it's an iPhone 4)

Hard at it

An interesting dress choice with flourescent edging showing up in the UV lights

80 and counting

An evening with the leader GC. No not the Giro's General Classification lead but George Clinton who is probably leading his last tour given he's 80 and spends a good time of the gig sitting in a chair just in front of the drum set. Having said that he does have a lot of energy all things considered. I meet Debbie at the pub and after a swift large one we hit the Town and Country aka Forum. We catch the finale of the support act who sound pretty good and funky. Then after a while as the array of mics are set up Parliament Funkadelic take the stage and GC is on straight away and right into the high octane set. It's a great mix of stuff I know and stuff I don't which could mean that it's old or new. Or in the middle. He's put out so much stuff you could spend your listening life just with GC and his offshoots plus all the songs he's been sampled on. The crowd are up for it and dancing around to the magnificent mix of soul funk jazz rock audience participation call and respond scat by the maestro sax / guitarist and, well, everything inbetween. If anything can wedge itself inbetween the Parliament Funkadelic's collective outpourings. There are loads on stage including a whole array of singers and each take a start turn whilst we are all continually vigorously encouraged to clap, wave our hands, wave our arms or repeat back lyrics and of course to shake our asses. Given his output and the fact that he's the most sampled musician who ever lived it's nice that George introduces a song by saying that this is a classic then they go into a high energy version of House of Pain's Jump Around. Which must be one of the few hip hop full on sampling hits that don't sample George Clinton. Debbie's 36 hours awake kicks in and she leaves with me feeling very guilty that I don't go home with her but she insists I stay and catch what may be the last of George live and direct. It's worth it. The finale goes on a while as everyone on stage is introduced which takes a while.  The woman begging outside the tube in the rain who I stop to give money to says I'm the first of all the people streaming past to stop and chat and give her money. One Nation Under a Groove?

Here's the Guardian review. I wrote mine first and think it's better. And they only gave the gig 4 stars. Criminal.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/may/24/george-clinton-parliament-funkadelic-review-fabulous-fusions-on-farewell-tour

How many singers does a band need?

N+1 if you're Parliament Funkadelic (note GC sat down)

The most sampled man in history seems slightly surprised that he's playing someone else's song

I didn't mention the dancers. OMG.

17 and counting

Was it really 17 years ago that Debbie and me fell into each other's arms on the banks of the Thames. Seems like only yesterday. That was the end of an evening spent in Gordon's wine bar on Embankment now sadly become a tourist hot spot but back then was a busy and friendly damp cellar serving sherry, wine and port straight from the barrel. It was the port that lowered our social inhibitions and yes I admit led to us kissing in public, well, outside but not many members of the public were around, before parting for the first time. It was love at first port. Definitely not any port in a storm. It was also the port that led to our terrible hangovers the next day with Debbie having to drive to an unknown destination "near Brighton" for her uncle's wedding (she made it) and me watching the FA Cup clash between The Arsenal and Man Utd with a Man U fan. Arsenal won on penalties after a tense but goalless 90+30 minutes. The Arsenal have not won the league since I met Debbie but have won a few more FA Cups. Anyways to celebrate our anniversary at first we consider a sophisticated meal but then opt for the Windmill which has a War Child benefit gig and no, not just supporting kids in Ukraine but also in other war torn places around the globe. Despite asking others it's just the two of us for a romantic date and after cycling up there and throwing Roof Dog's (the current, not the original) tennis ball up to him (her?) for 10 minutes with one of the locals and the door man we get drinks and sit outside in the warm garden chatting about our first date and playing spot the band member surrounded by Spanish speakers . After a while some bloke comes out to inform us that the first band are on which sometimes oddly happens at the Windmill. A good idea as it does get noisy out there.

First up is the excellently named Astrolabio who is a guy dressed in odd coloured tights, mini skirt and crop top. As Debbie says he has a Marc Almond look about him and as he sings he has the same sort of aloof or awkward attitude. He sings in Spanish and the gaggle of Spanish speakers from outside make up the core of his audience but he draws others in too. An odd musical mix that I really enjoyed but Debbie not so keen. Our artiste just had backing tracks which he sang to. On the face of it the music was a bit euro disco but without the hype but intermingled in was some great organ-like riffing and runs that reminded me of The Stranglers. Also a sort of pared back electronic vibe to it. Like JJB and Greenfield's Fire and Water LP or the odd Vlad and Olga songs on Stranglers B sides. Anyway very interesting and the crowd liked him. Odd that he had to have a music stand for his lyric sheets. Maybe they were poems in Spanish. We mosey out as he goes into his last track which is a cover of Kylie's can't get you out of my head which was a particularly brilliant slice of pop disco. After I bump into him and he told me that it was all his own original music and I told him to check out Fire and Water. As an aside, given I'm already waffling, I checked out when I saw Kylie with the Scissor Sisters at Glastonbury and it was in 2010. As I perused my blog of that year I see that weirdly I saw The Stranglers there and the Scissor Sisters and Kylie sandwiched between Kate Nash and George Clinton both of whom I'm going to see next week. Strange hey.

After taking in a breath of fresh air we are again informed that the next band is on and we obediently troop back inside This is a more traditional drums, bass, two guitars and keyboards all male (well, they look like they identify as male but I guess you shouldn't assume) band called Pleasure Complex. At first they feel a bit like a solid but nothing out of the ordinary indie rock band but as they progress they hit a very hard edged funky vibe where heavy funk and rocking out clash together. A typically lazy comparison that I love to give is the Red Hot Chilli Peppers (my view) meets Franz Ferdinand (Debs). Of course the Chilli's would have been heavily influenced by Funkadelic. The crowd loved them and the energy ignited a mosh pit which was pretty raucous by Windmill standards seeing as it's so small on the dance floor. And there's the danger of either knocking over the speakers or trampling on the band's stuff which has to be piled up at the side of the dance floor. Anyway a great set which I probably agree with Debbie is the best of the night. Who said a rock band can't play funk?

We don't get a stage call for the last act Ghost Car. But we're in there anyway. Four sassy women (see previous assumptions comment) who carry on the energetic vibe with dancing near moshing and a few crowd surfers by bombarding us with a set of hard edged punk in a riot grrl style veering off into steady rock and roll in a B52s twangyness. It's great and at times messy with the guitarist rolling on the floor in a proper rock n roll style. The drumming is tight and the bassist gets a fantastically hard sound out of her Paul McCartney-esque bass (the one that looks like a violin - and no I don't intend to go see him at Glastonbury this year). The keyboard player fills in the gaps and also makes use of theremin which is always a good instrument to have on stage. They leave to rapturous applause and we unlock our bikes whilst watching yet another person entertaining roof dog. This time with a deflated football. A great way to celebrate 17 years and back home we wonder if we'll be celebrating the next 17th at the Windmill. God the age calculation is not worth thinking about!

It's serious stuff playing electronic disco in a Stranglers style

Rocking out

A glimpse of keyboard and bass players and possibly the drummer

Yay we can see the drummer - and theremin stick thing

At least the keyboard player is enjoying herself - so were we

Rock and roll

Euro vision

I wondered why this was billed as a Eurovision night and today I see that it is "the release party for Junodef's new single 'Eurovision 2004' on Friday May 13."  Although anything Eurovision was lacking bar a few eurodisco tracks by the DJ. I've had an up and down week having had a great Wednesday evening, traumatic Thursday evening and hoping for a good Friday. As Debbie and me arrive our friends Pete, Wendy, Simon and Jules are already installed at a table with wine in an ice bucket which is very upmarket for the Windmill. It's the first time all six of us have been together since the start of the global lock down. First up is Estrid Nyman who's name suggests a euro connection. Estrid plays guitar and sings with a great moody voice. They have backing tracks which Pete reckons is Garage Band but unfortunately the guitar is impossible to hear at least for me. Next is more euro connection as we have a self proclaimed French singer with band called Mathilde Bataille. Guitar, bass and drums. A neat 3-piece. Nice size for the Windmill stage. They play a fantastic set of atmospheric songs that remind me a lot of very early Tracey Thorn. Not exactly the same but that lovely mix of melancholy strumming and vocals interspersed with a bit of soaring tunefulness before bringing us back down to earth. My and Debbie's favourite of the evening. Now the evening takes a strange turn. I would blame it on the beer but Roadie isn't that strong and I've not had that much. I blame it on today being Friday 13th with a waxing moon nearly full. Strange things going on. Anyway the result is that I swear a bit too vehemently at Wendy when she, as I now admit, innocently asks how Arsenal were getting on. I thought she was winding me up about Thursday night's trauma. Truly sorry Wendy. And during the headliner single launchers Junodef Simon has an altercation on the dance floor with someone innocently trying to take a photo with their phone. Mind you he does seem to have consumed most of the contents of the ice bucket bottle plus the refill. The band themselves sound OK but to be honest I wasn't in the mood for a bit of up tempo music having been seduced by the previous downbeat artists. And I didn't get a photo of them. Probably just as well as Simon would have swiped the phone off me. By this stage Pete and Wendy have left. Following the band we spurn the promised euro disco and say goodbyes. Whilst Debbie and I unlock our bikes we watch a woman excitedly playing with Son of Roof Dog with his ball whilst her friends are concerned that the dog will leap off and savage her. A great night so the week has ended on a good note.

Estrid Nyman - not sure if guitar is plugged in

Mathilde Bataille and friends

Viagra Boys

No I'm not saying that Olly and me are in need of using viagra or indeed that we met up to take it but it's the name of the Swedish psychedelic punk band that we are seeing at the Forum nee Town and Country club tonight. We meet at the Assembly in Kentish Town and after a natter and couple of drinks we go to the venue deciding to pop into the Bulls Head for another. Well it's a long walk from the Assembly to the Forum. Soon after we have queued up for our drinks the Viagra Boys take the stage and we are subjected and treated to a barrage of high energy punk rock interspersed with beatnik type rants and sax solos. I say solos but more Ted Milton than Charlie Parker. Not that I'm familiar with Bird's catalogue. But it's mostly dance in the mosh pit hard edged rock which from the midst of the mosh Olly points out that they are very much like The Stranglers complete with psychedelic edges reminiscent of Hawkwind and with a bass that is as dirty as a boy on viagra. They encore and are obviously very happy to see the sea of bobbing faces. A great gig and we're both glad we made it. We stop off at the Bedford on the way home to drink a toast to Cameron who couldn't make tonight possibly cos last time he was in the Bedford with us I managed to knock a pint down his jeans. A great night.