My girls' late childminder was a grandmother at 31... ...In Croydon, anything over 30 is pretty respectable.
BBC 2 tonight have a couple of programmes about the brilliant Kirsty Macoll , gone way too soon and nobody ever charged
A strange week in deciding what tickets to invest in. It was unfortunately a given that The Damned in Brazil was even more off limits than The Damned in Mexico. So, Billy Joel on 21 June 2025....my 63rd birthday. I've been a fan of his since the early 70's, but never seen him live. I had pre-sale ticket access and standing (directly in front of the stage) was priced at £250. So....would you? Another, far less difficult choice was Hard-Fi at Dingwalls on 15b November. A rare chance to see a top band at a really intimate venue.
I forgot to ask if Nick Lowe did " lately I've let things slide " IMHO a triumph of lyrics and melody that and Indian Queens ,a song I thought was about a town in the USA or Canada but at a show Nick said it was a town in Cornwall just off the A 30 a place I had to visit last time I was down there ,got to say it was underwhelming
'Lately I've Let Things Slide'...a resounding "Yes". 'Indian Queens' an unfortunate 'No'. I'd have put this one high up on my list... ...maybe next time? Have this on me...
Wasn't going to post this but Saturday night I took a short trip to the 2 Palms in Hackney for what I was expecting to be a low key gig featuring Kathryn Williams and Withered Hand (aka Dan Willson). Much to my surprise it was a truly wonderful event, and even if there were only 60 or so people there to witness it, it didn't dampen the fun the both of them seemed to exhibit during the set. Spoke to them both after their set at the merch stall and they're every bit as much fun off stage so just wanted to put these couple of songs out there in the hope that someone on here hears them and takes a chance on their LP which is an absolute stomper. Btw how they managed to get audience participation for the chorus of Arrow was staggering and testament to how much what few people there thought of them!
Thanks for this BBMC, I remember her from her time with the Pond ,she was with a guy from Fairground attraction but that must have been about 12/13 years ago and she then fell off my radar so I will check her and the band out some more
Tbh I hadn't heard of her before but my girlfriend has an old CD of hers from 2002 and came across the Wilson Williams album via Spotify. We just went along on a whim almost, as I had the weekend off and it's literally round the corner for us. Incidentally, prior to playing together that night they both played mini solo sets each and she played a new song and spoke about how she'd turned 50 as her youngest had just turned 18 and how it had inspired her to write the song, unfortunately I can't remember the title, which was superb, and apparently is on her new album due out next year. They finished their set with this Cat Stevens song as an encore although it is on the album.
RIP Liam Payne. I didn't know his music, his name, nor recognise his face, but I understand mental illness enough to feel huge sympathy for him and his loved ones.
I like you don't know the music, but any loss of a young life is a tragedy. He is not the first and unfortunately he won't be the last RIP
A busy weekend ahead for Mrs B and me. Fri - Circa '79 (a mate's band) in a local boozer Sat - 999 & The Witchdoktors @ The Water Rats; Sun - Alice Cooper & The Meffs @ The Hammersmith Odeon Excellent stuff!
Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets @ The Garage, 13th February - tickets on sale now...but not for long. Mrs B and yours truly are already holding tickets for that night. Otherwise...
Thanks for the heads up Brian. Tickets ordered and looking forward to seeing the great man at one of my favourite venues (and not just because it's a 10 minute walk from my front door!). Caught him a couple of years ago at Nells and he was superb although it was one man show. I'm looking forward to seeing him with a full band.
