May 1981 – Tiffany's Last Stand

 

May 1981 – Tiffany's Last Stand

Bu Pete Clemons

This return visit by the Bunnymen was not in the cavernous sports hall of the Lanch, where they had played previously, but in the more salubrious surroundings of Tiffany's. Apparently Tiffany's was now deciding to close its doors to 'rock' gigs which sees the disappearance of another venue in a city already desperately short of good places to see gigs.

However if this was to be the last gig there then it certainly finished things on a high note. Gone is the camouflaged stage and full combat gear, gone is the smoke and dry ice; instead the Bunnymen take the stage dressed informally and throughout the lights are used only very sparingly.

It's a bold step to take as such a drastic change means that they are now relying entirely on the music to hold attention for the hour long set which they play. It means that the band are less remote than they were and easier to relate to.

Instead of the traditional set-up the band formed a line across the front of the stage, drummer as well. There are now five members as on some songs a person who, I am reliably informed, was formerly a roadie for the band plays guitar or keyboards. Far from swamping the songs, a third guitar makes for a very full sound on those numbers for which it is used.

The set was composed on a fairly equal mixture of old and new songs which will, presumably, surface on the soon to be released second album. McCulloch is a natural front man with his boyish, impudent good looks and his contained emotional renderings of the songs.

On several he left the guitar work to the new boy and performed with as much passion as the late great Ian Curtis. His voice is one of the most distinctive to have emerged from the plethora of new bands about and comparisons are impossible to make.

However, on one or two of the slower numbers a slight Jim Morrison influence can be detected. If any one member deserves special mention then it must be Pete de Freitas the drummer. His sound is a very crisp and clear one and the sparing use of the cymbals made that sound so much more effective.

Apparently he was suffering from an injured hand but I for one didn't notice at all. It seems to be something about Coventry, as last time they were here bassist Les Pattinson was unwell and only just made the encore, and this time all of the band were slightly under the weather.

De Freitas' stuttering rhythms are certainly the best thing this side of PIL's 'Flowers of Romance'. However it is unfair to single out only one number - the clipped guitar on 'All that Jazz' was immediately danceable whereas at other times there were distinct memories of Tom Verlaine's playing on Television's second album 'Adventure'.

The new songs blended very well with the older stuff but since McCulloch's scouse accent prevented me from catching all of the titles, you'll just have to wait for the album to come out and find out for yourself. They played all four songs from their current live EP in addition to several tracks from 'Crocodiles' - 'Rescue' standing out as the classic which it will surely become.

The audience, although not a capacity one, responded warmly to the set and the band played two encores, finishing with the same haunting melody which accompanied them as they took the stage. I wonder what Special's person Terry Hall, seen skulking at the back of the hall thought of it all. 'Is this the blues I'm singing?' asks McCulloch. Whatever it is, it'll do very nicely thank-you, Ian and thank you Tiffany's.

Guy Evans – Warwick University and Van der Graaf Generator

 

Guy Evans – Warwick University and Van der Graaf Generator

by Pete Clemons

Guy Evans https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Evans

Guy Evans was and, still is, drummer for Van Der Graaf Generator. In my words he is certainly one of the most complex and expressive drummers I have ever seen perform. Guy studied at Warwick University from 1965 to 1968. While there he was a member of a couple of university bands.

Guy's first group, 'The New Economic Model', were formed at the university. Although it was actually during December 1966 when Warwick University's 'new beat group' called at 'The Fixed Priced Keynesian Economic Model’ actually made its debut.

They played soul and r 'n' b covers and had the classic line-up of Brian Morris and Mike Kostrzewa (vocals), Guy Evans (drums), Pete Lucas (lead guitar), Mike Petty (bass guitar), Mike Haslan (tenor/alto sax), and Pete Welch (organ). Between them they did many gigs. The university equipped the band although there was some kind of controversy around the purchase of the equipment.

To have a full evening of music the university was spending quite a lot of effort and money on support bands. As such 'The New Economic Model' became a resident support act.

And Guy was 'playing in a band on the same bill as all sorts of great people, learning from them. Then came the great dream moment, during February 1967, when Victor Brox’s Blues Train came to play and the drummer didn’t turn up because he’d broken down somewhere. So I volunteered to play and we had a little dressing room rehearsal and I did the whole set with them which was a real blast for me'.

1967 also saw 'The New Economic Model' support The Move, Alan Bown and John Mayall amongst many others.

Toward the end of 1967 'The Green Marble Mind' were formed. They were comprised of three members: John Hadfield (19) - lead guitar and vocalist, educated at St Edwards School, Oxford. He has been described by an authoritative source as 'really very good'. Alistair Smith (20) - bass guitar, also known to be operating in the Oxford area. Guy Evans (20) - drummer - 'A lovely fella'. Possessor of a 'Catholic taste in music' - especially Miles Davies. Comes from Birmingham - In his third year of Economics. Described by others as 'Neolithic'.

The group's style was described as, among other things, 'Blues based with Cream-Hendrix influence'. They played a good deal of university discos and dances. They were also booked to play the 1968 Canley rag week. Apparently they were 'Not one of your clockwork groups'.

'The Green Marble Mind' were great' described Guy. 'I really enjoyed that band. It just went along with swapping the mod gear for the paisley shirts and the long hair and all that. It was a power trio, we wanted to be The Jimi Hendrix Experience really and there was a very good guitar player who was not actually from Warwick University, he was from Oxford. I think he sort of knew someone who was there and he turned up one day and could play all this Hendrix stuff, it sounded brilliant; and there was a very good bass player, so we just started playing'.

Additionally Guy was also on the committee that helped organise the June 1968 Arts Festival. The festival included bands such as Family and Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath. This was just prior to Guy first joining VdGG. The rest, as they say, is history.

Welcome to Peter Clemon's Coventry Music Articles

This Post Remains on top as an introduction to the site. Scroll below for the latest posts.

This Blogspot is part of the Hobo (Coventry Music and Arts Magazine) archive run by Trev Teasdel.

Hobo was a Coventry music magazine c 1973 - 75 and the archives of the magazine and Hobo workshop and the general music scene of the 70's was originally on Vox blogs c 2007 until recently. Vox closed and the site is being redeveloped and rearranged here - it's still in progress so bear with us.

Photos of the Coventry Music Museum run by Pete Chambers

Do visit the museum if you are in Coventry - website

here http://www.covmm.co.uk/2016/

This Blog

This Hobo blogspot (one of a few) was created by Trev Teasdel (former co-editor of Hobo magazine) who admins the site. This particular was created for Peter Clemons (aka Fred Bison) for his Coventry music Scene articles originally written for the Coventry Telegraph. Pete Clemons has a huge database of hundreds of gigs in Coventry from the 60's to the present. Both professional acts and local bands. He has had over 100 articles published in the Coventry Telegraph which, on his request, we've collated here and  have linked them with further material from the Hobo magazine archives.


NEW - Coventry Book Launch Documenting the Music and Entertainment Scene of 1970's by Ruth Cherrington. The Dirty Stop Outs Guide 1970's Coventry.
Available in Coventry from Waterstones and HMV or from Amazon UK here 

Hobo magazine and Workshop are well featured in the book as are many of the photos from the Hobo Archive pages here.Both Pete Chambers and Pete Clemons make a good contribution to the book as well.

• Early posts on here - if you scroll right down - are Pete's Rock of Ages Posts - gigs in Cov through the ages since the early 60's to present.
• Later posts are about important music venues in the city and their history.
• Other posts are about Coventry bands from the 60's onwards.

Pete Clemons and Trev Teasdel at  BBC Radio Coventry and Warwickshire January 2016

Links to the other Hobo Coventry Music Archive sites 

Coventry Music Scene from Hobo - This is the Hub to all the sites below

Hobo - Coventry Music Archives This is the main Blogspot for the Coventry Music Archives from Hobo Magazine with archive material from Hobo Magazine and other Coventry music magazines, feature articles and other documentation. This site is still in development.

Coventry Arts Umbrella Club
The archives of the Coventry Arts Umbrella Club which was opened in 1955 by the Goons and where some of the Two Tone musicians started out and literary figures like Phillip Larkin and much more. many Coventry bands played the Umbrella in the late 60's and early 70's. It also housed Coventry's first Folk Club.

Coventry Folk Club Scene 1970's  
This is the Hobo site for Coventry's longstanding and thriving Folk and Acoustic scene. It covers both folk archives from the 70's and features on some of the contemporary singer songwriters out there now along with Pete Willow's history of Coventry Folk Scene and pdf versions of  his 70's Folks Magazine 1979 / 80. Top names like Rod Felton, Dave Bennett, Kristy Gallacher, Pauline (Vickers) Black, Roger Williamson, Sean Cannon and many more.

Coventry Gigs 1960 to Present (This blogspot in fact!).

Coventry Discos, Venues, Music shops and Agencies / Studios etc.
A steadily progressing blog for a variety of other aspects of Coventry's music scene - the DJ's, Discos, Venues, Arts fests, record shops, studios, music agencies etc etc..

Coventry Musicians Who's Who 
This blog has an A to Z of Coventry musicians. It's not yet complete (if ever!) but there are many names and their bands on already. I will come back to it when the A to Z of bands is complete and add in names not on. Meanwhile if you are not on it - and you should be - or your friends and their bands or if your info is incorrect - do let us know at hobozine@googlemail.com.

Hobo A to Z of Coventry Bands and Artists
Meanwhile a huge A to Z of Coventry bands and artists can be found (again in development) here https://sites.google.com/site/bandsfromcoventry/

Kristy Gallagher – Benn Hall

 

Kristy Gallagher – Benn Hall

by Pete Clemons

It was pleasantly surprising when I discovered that singer songwriter Kristy Gallagher was returning to the live arena. It was, possibly a brief comeback, but well worth a quick trip down the M6 to Rugby's Benn Hall.

Kristy was taking time off due to Motherhood and performed two sets. The first included a mix of new songs and covers. The second she jokingly called her 'greatest hits' and added 'this part wont take long'.

If anything, and particularly with some new songs that Kristy was effectively premiering – and which came as a complete surprise, she sounded better than I ever imagined she would. I was genuinely shocked. Kristy had certainly lost none of her charm. No sign of ring rustiness at all.

I have been following the musical career of Kristy Gallagher for getting on for 20 years now. Mainly at pubs and open mics. But I have to say that its not been often I have seen her perform on a stage as big as at the Benn Hall.

And it had me wondering if this could be the start of a whole new renaissance for Kristy. Looking around me, it was a healthy audience, certainly younger than that I would expected to see at her gigs in days gone by. Admittedly, a few of them were here to see some of the other artists whose talents were on show this evening.

Kristy was 'representing' Coventry a show called Girls and Guitars. If there were any signs of nerves then they were not obvious. Kristy was expressive and had lost none of the sincerity she gives while delivering her songs. If anything the years of experience gained was now being deployed. And this was, I thought, particularly relevant in her new songs.

In the form of 'Sleep' and 'Time' Kristy has songs about her new life as a mother. And these come, in my opinion, with a slightly different style. Difficult to pinpoint but more singer songwriter with integrity and slightly less folky. That said there was still room for songs like 'Blood' and 'Fending the Frost'.

The event was originally initially intended to showcase four talented ladies. Sadly however Becky Morgan was unavailable due to family circumstances. As such the spotlight shon on three. The other artists involved, who each had equal billing, included:

Jessie May. Jessie is young, incredibly bright, and who's songs are inspired by relationships amongst other things. Destined for Belfast university Jessie had more than a touch of Joni Mitchell in her voice but used in a more modern context. She has already gained Godiva Festival experience.

Josie Field, a new name to me. Born in Johannesburg, I picked up on a free spirit with a distinctive voice and style. Her treatment of her songs was confident, controlled and clear throughout. Great guitar style too.

During this, most enjoyable of events, the artists were asked about where they gained inspiration for their songwriting. Asked if this could possibly be a new start Kristy answered with a teasing.... 'maybe'.

Kristy Gallacher Fending off the Frost

Jessie May Go on Dancing.

Josie Field All Day

 Becki Morgan Save Me (Nicki Minaj Cover)

The Skabilly Rebels & The Neville Staple Band at the Rialto

 

The Skabilly Rebels & The Neville Staple Band at the Rialto.

by Pete Clemons

Audiences are not stupid. It's a great feeling when, those on a stage, appear to be enjoying their evening's work. Its a kind of telepathy. Gig goers sense when things are going well and when they are not.

And that was exactly the situation at the Rialto recently. The Skabilly Rebels, fronted by Roddy Radiation, alongside The Neville Staple band both put on a memorable evenings work. And the audience loved it.

The Skabilly Rebels, particularly, I felt put in a tremendous shift. The only real downside was a muffled vocal sound from the PA which was nothing to do with the band.

Roddy uses the stage well. He paces up and down as if stalking his prey. He twists, contorts, snarls and grimaces. Additionally he owns an impressive body of work with which to delve into. Bonediggin, Sea Cruise, Judgement Day, Blues Attack. Rat Race, Do Nothing, Doesn't Make it Alright, Hey Little Rich Girl, Your Wondering Now all made it into the set list.

Almost as soon as he joined them Roddy more than played his part in creating what made The Specials so unique. His cutting edge style and inventiveness has, indelibly, left it's mark on the bands legacy. With the impressive back catalogue Roddy has in his arsenal there is only one likely outcome in a sonic attack. Be prepared to be outgunned.

Still a forerunner of the Ska movement Neville has, in recent years, formed the Neville Staple Band. The group tour regularly and thrill audiences. Neville has surrounded himself with talent. The backing band is packed with excellence and, together with wife Christine, the vocal is shared.

Along with the crowd pleaser's Neville creates a style that mixes dance music with punk. Also included are re-workings of classic Trojan records tunes. The added brass is sympathetic and vibrant. The resulting sound instinctively makes you want to dance.

It was a great evening of contrasts. Both Roddy and Neville are amongst the founders of the 2 tone movement. One a driving force and musical architect the other adding the dynamism, charisma and energy, that made the whole scene so distinctive. Additionally Neville put the fun into The Funboy 3.

The Rialto Ballroom has had an impressive face lift since I last visited. A non descript staircase leads to an impressively wide landing. This includes a magnificent chandelier hanging from it. The concert room had doubled its size and, presumably, its capacity. So it was a real shame about the vocal.

Hey Little Rich Girl Skabilly Rebels.

Message to you Rudi - Neville Staple Band