A Dream That Can Last

Looking back over the live music I've seen this year, there have been several high points.

In March I finally got to see the wonderful Half Man Half Biscuit at Cambridge's Junction. Nigel Blackwell's  unique blend of wry observation and poetic lyricism has amused and delighted for two and a half decades, and I was lucky to be able to catch one of their irregular and infrequent live shows.
The capacity crowd, sporting several Dukla Prague away kits, and even a set of Joy Division ovengloves, were treated to a set full of gems -

Restless Legs
Lock Up Your Mountain Bikes
Fuckin’ ‘Ell It’s Fred Titmus
Bad Losers On Yahoo Chess
A Lilac Harry Quinn
San Antonio Foam Party
Irk The Purists
Uffington Wassail
Bob Wilson Anchorman
Outbreak of Vitas Gerulaitis
Running Order Squabble Fest
Petty Sessions
The Light at the End of the Tunnel
All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit
Bottleneck At Capel Curig
Look Dad No Tunes
The Ballad Of Climie Fisher (start)
Monmore Hare’s Running
Twenty Four Hour Garage People
National Shite Day
Trumpton Riots
For What Is Chatteris?
Apache
Venus In Flares 1966 And All That
Vatican Broadside
Footsteps
We Built This Village On A Trad. Arr. Tune
Evening Of Swing (Has Been Cancelled)
Joy Division Oven Gloves

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June, once again, meant Glastonbury, and my mates and I made our annual pilgrimage to Pilton.
The 2009 festival had produced a dream line-up for us chaps of, errm, a certain age, and in comparison this year looked rather less crammed with 'must-sees'. However, we need not have worried; this was Glasto after all, and it never disappoints. The whole five days saw sunshine and blue skies, with none of the traditional mud, and a seemingly limitless array of possibilities. For me, the two highlights were Muse on the iconic Pyramid Stage on Saturday night, and Toots & The Maytals on West Holts on a balmy late afternoon Sunday slot.
If ever a band was born to play on the Pyramid, it is Muse: the sound, the songs, the light show. They were totally at home as they powered through their impressive and varied catalogue of pyrotechnic-laden space-rock-funk-operatics. Joined by none other than The Edge, they threw in a punchy rendition of 'Where The Streets Have No Name' as a nod to the previous night's intended headliners.
Reggae original and living legend Frederick 'Toots' Hibbert and his band provided a perfect set of soul-infused reggae and ska for a summer afternoon party like no other. I've never seen so many people in one place grinning simultaneously. Loved it. Every second.

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August's weather was not so kind, and we had mud a-plenty at The Green Man Festival in the beautiful Brecon Beacons. A varied feast of music and comedy, with a strong folk and eco flavour, Green Man nestles among the hills in what could well be the most beautiful festival setting anywhere.
My two favourites here could hardly have been more different in presentation: one a solo acoustic performance in a tent, the other a riotous explosion of psychedelic thunder, lights, video, balloons and confetti under a smoke-laden night sky.
Kristian Matsson aka The Tallest Man On Earth is a Swedish singer-songwriter with a distinctive abrasive voice you'll either love or hate. Me, I love it. Combined with his driven, almost percussive, folk guitar style and poetic lyrics, it makes a compelling cocktail. A lively and entertaining performer, and refreshingly guileless, he filled the tent with happy faces, which was all the more impressive as his slot clashed Mumford and Sons on the main stage.
The sensory overload that is a Flaming Lips live show is difficult to describe using mere words. Having missed seeing them at Glastonbury, this was a definite for me, and they did not disappoint.

Just Singing A Song...

Ray Davies, the singer, writer and former leader of The Kinks is not a man to rest on his well-deserved laurels. His new album 'See My Friends' features collaborations with a diversity of guests, on a dozen or so of his best known songs. The project was kicked off when Davies recorded a version of 'Til The End Of The Day with the late Alex Chilton (formerly of Big Star) in 2009. I suspect that everyone else who was invited to join in leapt at the chance to record with the legendary ex-Kink.

Reviews of the album in the press have been mixed, and in places harsh and scathing. I think some of these reviewers are rather missing the point. Davies is one of the greats. One of the finest songwriters of his, or anyones, generation. As such, he has earned the right to do what he likes with his songs, and with whom. If he is pleased with this set of recordings, then so should we be.
Having said that, adding Bon Jovi to any song is unlikely to improve it. However, I love Mumford & Sons on 'Days', Metallica ripping through 'You Really Got Me' , and the splicing of  'All Day And All Of The Night' with 'Destroyer' assisted by Billy Corgan.
A worthwhile fresh look at the work of a true master.

Full tracklisting:

1 Better Things

Ray Davies & Bruce Springsteen

2 Celluloid Heroes

Ray Davies, Jon Bon Jovi & Richie Sambora

3 Days/This Time Tomorrow

Ray Davies & Mumford & Sons

4 A Long Way From Home

Ray Davies, Lucinda Williams & The 88

5 You Really Got Me

Ray Davies & Metallica

6 Lola

Ray Davies & Paloma Faith

7 Waterloo Sunset

Ray Davies & Jackson Browne

8 'Til The End Of The Day

Ray Davies, Alex Chilton & The 88

9 Dead End Street

Ray Davies & Amy Macdonald

10 See My Friends

Ray Davies & Spoon

11 This Is Where I Belong

Ray Davies & Black Francis

12 David Watts

Ray Davies & The 88

13 Tired Of Waiting

Ray Davies & Gary Lightbody

14 All Day And All Of The Night/Destroyer

Ray Davies & Billy Corgan

 http://www.seemyfriends.co.uk/

Days That Used To Be

Married twenty-five years today, but together for thirty...

Turn back the clock on the CD player (I know I should be playing them on vinyl, really... I have still got the big black things)...

1980, eh...

...thinking 'bout you and me...

On our 25th anniversary, I was given a silver guitar pick, with a Neil Young lyric engraved upon it.
And decided to try writing a blog.
So here we are...