On the Book Shelf

February Dates : 6th and 20th.

Track List for Saturday, 23rd

An ok evening.

Had some trouble with the amp cutting out and killing the sound. I think it may have just been up too high from the previous evening of under-14 techno tunes. You know the sort that bangs out of beat up Corsas , driven by baseball hatted young males filled with a combination of testesterone and the musical appreciation of a whelk. So I ditched the pub's sound system and just played it all through my speakers.

A nice bit of a disco feel from Mantronix through to Earth Wind and Fire followed by some old skool from Angie Stone and one of my favs from way back in the day, when, my children, R&B was called two step or garage,'It's a London thing. ' More mature techno from Wippenberg and Funkagenda, then some pop sing-a-long till the pub closed. All in all not a bit mixture to hear in a fairly busy pub during a cold January.

1  Why Dont You - Gramophonedzie
2  3  Words (Angello Remix) - Cheryl Cole

3  Million Dollar Bill (Vin Sol Dub Love Edit) - Whitney Houston

4  For Your Love ( Nassau Re-Loved Mix ) - Stevie Wonder     

5  Josephine (G Armada Edit) - Chris Rea
6  Get On The Floor - M. Jackson
7  Street Life (Soul Delicious Mix) - BOP
8  Hard To Handle - Otis Redding
9  Satisfaction - Aretha Franklin
10  Twistin' The Night Away - Sam Cooke
11 You Can't Do That - The Supremes
12 French Navy - Camera Obscura
13 Asleep On A Sunbeam - Belle & Sebastian
14 Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap
15 Celebration - Madonna

16 Starstrukk (Feat. Katy Perry) - 3OH!3

17 Hard (Jump Smokers Remix) - Rihanna

18 Everybody In Love ( Cahilll Club) - JLS

19 Break My Heart (Casette Club Mix) - Taio Cruz

20 If We Ever Meet Again (Digital Club0 - Timbaland

21 Replay - I.Y.A.Z.

22 Hotel Room Service - Pitbull

23 Got To Have Your Love - Mantronix

24 I Want Your Love (Todd Terje Mix) - Chic

25 Let's Boogie - Boris Werner

26 Enjoy Music (Riva Star Mix) - Reboot

27 Who's The Man - High Maintenance

28 Paolo's Pencil Full Of Party - Paolo Nutini

29 Move Your Feet Junior Senior

30 I Like It (Riva Starr Mix) - Malente

31 Let's Get It On ( Alavi Phunky Remix) - Sharam Jey

32 Boogie Wonderland - Earth Wind And Fire

33 Life Story( Booker T Mix) - Angie Stone

34 A London Thing - Scott Garcia

35 Bad Romance - Lady Gaga

36 Revolver - Madonna Vs Guetta

37 Riverside - Sidney Samson

38 Pong ( DBN Mix) - Wippenberg -

39 Nobody Listens To Techno Funkagenda

40 You Used To Hold Me - Calvin Harris

41 Fireflies (Jason Nevins Mixshow Edit) - Owl City

42 Be Bop Baby - Westlife *

43 Rio Duran Duran

44 Dont Stop Believing - Journey

45 Listen To the Music The Doobie Brothers *

46 A-Punk - Vampire Weekend

47 You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon

48 Teardrops - Diamond Cut

49 Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap *

50 Mysterious Times '08 (Club Mix) - Sash *

51 Poker Face - Lady Gaga *

52 Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye

53 I Want You Back - Jackson 5

54 Big Love - Pete Heller

55 One More Time - Daft Punk 

56 Human (Ferry Corsten Club Mix) - The Killers

57 Children Robert Miles

*Request!

Back on 6th February.

A Way to Blue - Glasgow

Always nice to have somewhere special to go in bleakest mid-winter. Even better when a trip to the ever so grown up Concert Hall means an opportunity to be warmed by the always summer songs of Nick Drake.

Everyone must know the tragic story of Nick's ever so short life and the sleeping musical legacy he left.

It is a paradox that his tunes always conjure up visions of pastoral Constable Albion whilst his lyrics deal with the effects of depression.

An audience of the mature carrying every copy of The Guardian sold in the city that day, a stage full of instruments that I couldn't name, a reverential expectancy and some of the best musicians were all a-quietly waiting. 

To honour Nick's muse a range of vocalists had been invited along to front the modern interpretations of the songs from Drake's three albums.

Robyn Hitchcock opened the show.He was the only performer who attempted to push his own ego over the songs. In truth this was welcome as he slightly elbowed in the ribs the cathedral awe that the audience were wrapped too snuggly in.   Nice shirt too. Go yourself big man, as they say in these parts.

Perfromances then came from Gart Greenside, being a big Scritti Politti fan from days of yore I was happy to finally hear him sing, Scott Mathews, and Teddy Thompson. The occasion proved too big for Vashti Bunyan whilst Stuart Murdoch was his usual self-depreciative self although this time he had reason to be.

 The big performances came from Lisa Hannigan who breathed Tom Waits like life into a  stomping 'Black-eye Dog' and from Krystle Warren who truimphed over 'Time has told me'.

The musicians, the venue and the sense of occasion were all magnificent and the audience were appreciative .

The perfomances and arrangements all brought Nick's songs up to date and demonstrated why 36 years after his death his muse is still held in such high regard.

I now think I should have bought Krystal Warren's lp but three days later I finally purchased a cd copy of Pink Moon to sit alongside Way to Blue and 5 Leaves left. Except it won't as I'm not some anal person who alphabeticalizes his cds but prefers the trusted 'search fruitlessly for twenty minutes for the lp you want before giving up and slamming something else on' method.

I have a feeling Nick would approve.

Coldest Night of theYear.

Traditionally the first week-end in January is seen as the graveyard slot. Folk are broke, face a long wait till pay day and are still recovering from the New Year over indulgence. Fling in to the equation streets filled with ice and snow and the coldest week for years and you would bet generously on the pub being quiet on Saturday January 9th. I did. I threw together a potential play list of quieter, more reflective tunes and some happy sing-alongs to entertain the brave and hardy souls who ventured out in a Captain Cook stylee.
But no. The pub was once more really busy. This situation certainly helped by Sainsbury's staff night out who filled the section in front of me but the rest of the pub was little quieter. 
So out went the tracklist and I settled for playing stuff that girls like. 

Tracks played looks like this.

1. Walk Out To Winter - Aztec Camera

2. Honey In The Sun - Camera Obscura

3. The First Time You Saw Snow - Shirley Lee

4. Bad Weather - The Supremes

5. Sweet Talking Guy - The Chiffons

6. Higher And Higher - Jackie Wilson

7. Broken Heels - Alexandra Burke

8. About A Girl (Serotonin Thieves Remix) - Sugababes

9. Cherish - Madonna

10. All I Wanna Do - Sheryl Crow

11. Kiss - Prince

12. Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing - Stevie Wonder

13. I Can't Wait - Original Mix - Another Chance

14. Bad Romance (Starsmith Remix) - Lady Gaga

15. Break My Heart (Cassette Club Mix) - Taio Cruz

16. Empire State Of Mind (Part II) - Alicia Keys
17. Young Forever (Featuring Mr Hudson) - Jay-Z
18. Hotel Room Service - Pitbull *
19. Step It Up - Stereo Mc's
20. Dirtee Cash - Dizzee Rascal
21. Hideaway - De'Lacy
22. Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye

23. Fight For This Love (Cahill Club Mix) - Cheryl Cole

24. Morning After ( Moto Blanco Mix - Timbaland & Nelly Furtado

25. Put Em High - Stonebridge

26. Anyway ( Dlg Bigroom Remix) - Ducksauce

27. Good Times - Chic

28. Paolo's Pencil Full Of Party - Paolo Nutini Vs Lou Bega

29. Who's The Man - High Maintenance

30. I Like It (Riva Starr Mix) - Malente

31. Riverside - Sidney Samson *

32. Nobody Listens To Techno - Funkagenda

33. Bad Boys - Alexandra Burke *

34. Ready For The Weekend - Calvin Harris

35. Dance Dreams - Lady Gaga Vs Eurythmics

36. Meet Me Halfway ('Less Is More' Remix) - Black Eyed Peas

37. Knock You Down - Keri Hilson *

38. Closer (Freddz Close Up Vocal Mix) - Ne-Yo

39. Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) - Beyonce

40. Battlefield (Jason Nevins Mixshow Edit) - Jordin Sparks

41. Find Yourself - John O'Callaghan *

42. Papillon (Tiesto Remix) - Editors

43. Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll - Ian Dury & The Blockheads

44. Whisky In Jar - Thin Lizzy *

45. Killing In The Name - Rage Against The Machine *

46. Juicebox - The Strokes

47. Crazy Horses - Osmonds

48. Haven’t Met You Yet - Michael Buble *

49. Come Fly With Me - Sinatra

50. Mess Around - Ray Charles

51. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear - Elvis Vs Spankox

52. Ain't Got No Home - Clarence "Frogman" Henry

53. Minha Menina - The Bees

54. Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen

55. Come Up And See Me - Cockney Rebel

56. Do Your Thing - Basement Jaxx

57. Zoot Suit Riot - Cherry Poppin Daddies

58. Hotel Yorba - White Stripes

59. Subterranean Homesick Blues - Dylan

60. Bad Moon Rising - C C R

61. Parklife - Blur

62. Dont Stop Believing - Journey

*Request

I have never been a fan of Tiesto but I have a soft spot for his mix of The Editors track. It's loud and pounds along in a predictable but still effective way. It follows on well from O'Callaghan's 'Find Yourself' which remains a firm local fave. 'Riverside' has now been picked up by the mainstream, so time to move on to Fungagenda's 'Nobody Listens to Techno'.

I enjoyed slamming on 'Juicebox', a much neglected Strokes tune and just because I can I like dropping in 'Crazy Horses' by the world's first Mormon supergroup ( as long as you don't include The Tabernacle Choir in your definition of supergroup).

Ian Dury was played because of the film of the same name being on at the flics.  Camera Obscura for Andy, who clearly didn't get any new cds for his Christmas. 

Back in a fortnight. The grind - it just goes on and on.

Snow - What's it good for??

In another lifetime.

In a parallel universe, this is what I would occasionally be playing in my dj set.

Claude Von Stroke - Aundy; Dusty Raver - America ;Click Box  - Wake up Call.

And back again on Boxing Day

1 Hard To Handle Otis Redding

2 Soul Man Sam And Dave
3 Higher And Higher Jackie Wilson

4 Good Times Sam Cooke     

5 Satisfaction Aretha Franklin

6 Get Ready Ella Fitzgerald

7 Under My Thumb The Rolling Stones
8 Mercy The Third Degree
9 Don't Get Me Wrong Lily Allen
10 Oh La The Kooks
11 New Shoes Paolo Nutini
12 Feeling Groovy Simon And Garfunkle
13 Just Can't Get Enough Wallis Bird
14 A Man Is In Love The Waterboys
15 The Galway Girl Steve Earle
16 Suddenly I See KT Tunstall
17 Long Train Running The Doobie Brothers
18 A Hard Day's Night The Beatles
19 Meet Me Halfway ( Is More' Remix) Black Eyed Peas

20 Celebration Madonna

21 Break My Heart ( Club Mix) Taio Cruz

22 "Love Sex Magic Rise" Ciara vs Samanta James
23 Everybody In Love ( Cahilll Club) JLS
24 Deeper In Love Bobby & Steve
25 Dusk Til Dawn ( Hanaghan Remix) Danny Howells
26 3 Words (Angello Remix) Cheryl Cole
27 Find Yourself John O'Callaghan *
28 Dont Stop Believing - Journey
29 Crazy Crazy Nights Kiss
30 Spaceman The Killers
31 Ready For The Weekend Calvin Harris
32 Bad Romance (Starsmith Remix) Lady Gaga
33 Walking On A Dream ( Tech Remix) Empire Of The Sun
34 Love's Miracle David Guetta Vs. Fragma 2009
35 Riverside Sidney Samson
36 I Feel Good (Piano Mix) Jason Herd
37 Morning After ( Moto Blanco Mix Timbaland & Nelly Furtado
38 Fight For This Love (Cahill Club Mix) Cheryl Cole
39 Bad Boys Alexandra Burke

40 Show Me Love Robin S

41 Good Times Chic

42 I Like It (Riva Starr Mix) Malente    

43 Paolo's Pencil Full Of Party Paolo Nutini

44 Who's The Man High Maintenance

45 Mess Around Ray Charles
46 Haven’t Met You Yet Michael Buble
47 The Climb Joe Mcelderry
48 Lovely Day Bill Whithers
49 Bad Romance (Starsmith Remix) Lady Gaga *
50 Canned Heat (Calvin Harris Remix) Jamiroquai
51 Flashback Calvin Harris
52 Bulletproof La Roux

53 Satisfaction (Discotech Remix) Rolling Stones

54 Downpipe - Original Club Mix Mark Knight

55 Pong (Tocadisco Remix) Wippenberg

56 Sweep The Floor (Original Mix) Joris Voorn  

57 Billie Jean (Biancale Remix) Michael Jackson
58 Weapon Of Choice Fatboy Slim

59 Laid James

60 She's Electric Oasis

61 Rocks Primal Scream

62 Rock The Casbah (Rhythm Remix) The Clash 

63 Move On Up Curtis Mayfield

64 Beyond The Sea Bobby Darin

Right, that's all folks - on to 2010.

Christmas Eve - Tracklist

Absolutely mobbed, as always.

Late Licence till 2am meant another hour of tunes.

1 Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Andy Williams

2 Winter Wonderland Tony Bennett
3 It's Begininng To Look Like Ch Perry Como
4 You're The One For Me D Train
5 All Around The World (Bob Sinclair Radio Remix) Lionel Richie
6 Put Em High Stonebridge
7 Rise Samantha James
8 Rock With You Michael Jackson
9 Let's Get It On (Patrick Alavi Phunky Remix) Sharam Jey
10 You've Got Love C P Mix Crazy Penis Mix
11 3 Words (Angello Remix) Cheryl Cole
12 Break My Heart (Casette Club Mix) Taio Cruz
13 Meet Me Halfway ('Less Is More' Remix) Black Eyed Peas
14 Celebration Madonna
15 Mr Brightside Paul Anka
16 Haven’T Met You Yet Michael Buble
17 Rockin Around Xmas Tree Brenda Lee
18 New Shoes Paolo Nutini
19 Not Fair Lily Allen
20 Take Me Back To Your House Basement Jaxx
21 She Moves In Her Own Way The Kooks
22 Black Horse & The Cherry Tree KT Tunstall

23 M79 Vampire Weekend

24 Mercy The Third Degree

25 Step Into Christmas Elton John

26 Ain't No Mountain High Enough Marvin Gaye 

27 I Like It (Riva Starr Mix) Malente
28 Human (Ferry Corsten Club Mix) The Killers
29 Viva La Vida Coldplay
30 I Gotta Feeling Black Eyed Peas
31 Dirtee Cash (Produced By Cage) Dizzee Rascal
32 Make_The_World_Go_Round_(Deep_DishMix) Sandy_B
33 Dance Dreams Lady Gaga Vs Eurythmics
34 Flashback Calvin Harris
35 Sexy Bitch (Robson Michel Ext Version) David Guetta & Akon
36 Superstition Stevie Wonder
37 Jump Around (Deadmau5 Remix) -  House Of Pain
38 Riverside  - Sidney Samson
39 Back In Black (Dirty Mix) -  AC/DC
40 Standing In The Way Of Control The Gossip
41 Mamma Mia Abba
42 All I Want For Xmas Maria Carey
43 I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Hot Tracks Mix) Whitney Houston
44 Do Your Thing Basement Jaxx
45 Give Peace a Chance (dj dan remix) Yoko Ono 
46 Poppiholla - Chicanne
47 Children  - Robert Miles
48 Have yourself a merry Xmas David McAlmont  

49 Fairy Tale of New York City The Pogues
50 Merry Christmas Everybody Slade
51 Celebration K.C.Sunshine Band.
52 Billie Jean (Biancale Remix) Michael Jackson
53 Big Love Pete Heller
54 The Climb Joe Mcelderry
55 All You Need Is Love The Beatles
56 Paolo's Pencil Full Of Party Paolo Nutini
57 Who's The Man High Maintenance
58 The Boy Does Nothing Alesha Dixon
59 That's The Joint The Black Eyed Peas
60 I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) Pitbull
61 Killing In The Name -  Rage Against The Machine
62 Last Nite  - The Strokes
63 Satisfaction (Discotech Remix)  - The Rolling Stones
64 Downpipe - Mark Knight, Underworld
65 Sweep The Floor (Original Mix) Joris Voorn
66 E Talking (Nite Version) Soulwax

67 Dream On ( Gettin' Over Mix) David Guetta Vs. Aerosmith
68 Find Yourself John O'Callaghan
69 Dont Stop Believing Journey
70 Mr Brightside The Killers
71 Sex On Fire Kings Of Leon
72 Boom Boom Outhere Bros
73 Bonkers Dizzee Rascal
74 Disco Ballistic Lazy Rich
75 Fan Dab I Dozi- The  Krankies
76 I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday Wizzard
77 Parklife Blur
78 One More Time Daft Punk
79 Dignity Deacon Blue
80 Wonderful World Louis Armstrong

Great Night.  Glad to have dropped The Krankies in again!

Christmas Poster

Tracklisting from Saturday, 19th December.

Busy evening as the festive season got under way. This was all a bit of a rehearsal for Christmas Eve.First outing for the traditional Christmas songs as well. 

1 Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Andy Williams
2 Winter Wonderland - Tony Bennett
3 It's Begining To Look Like Xmas - Perry Como

4 Panther Party (Todd Edwards Edit) - Mad Moses

5 Happiness - Shawn Lee

6 Put Em High - Stonebridge

7 Rise - Samantha James

8 3 Words (Angello Remix) - Cheryl Cole  

9 Listen To The Music - Incognito
10 High - Mark Ronson
11 Deeper In Love - Bobby & Steve
12 ABC (Verde Mix) - Michael Jackson
13 Boogie - Brand New Heavies
14 Just Can't Get Enough - Wallis Bird
15 Mr Rock & Roll - Amy Macdonald
16 New Shoes - Paolo Nutini
17 Havent Met You Yet - Michael Buble
18 Come Fly With Me - Sinatra
19 (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear - Elvis Vs Spankox
20 Shake Rattle Roll - Bill Hayley
21 Meet Me Halfway ('Less Is More' Remix) - Black Eyed Peas
22 Celebration - Madonna
23 Flashback - Calvin Harris
24 Find Yourself - John O'Callaghan*
25 Human - The Killers
26 Spaceman On Fire - Bootleg

27 I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - Wizzard

28 Come Up And See Me - Cockney Rebel

29 The Climb - Joe Mcelderry

30 Have Yourself A Merry Xmas - David McCalmont

31 A Fairytale Of New York - The Pogues

32 Everybody In Love ( Cahilll Club) - JLS
33 Morning After ( Moto Blanco Mix) - Timbaland
34 Strings Of Life - Soul Central
35 Canned Heat (Calvin Harris Remix) - Jamiroquai
36 Dirtee Cash (Produced By Cage) - Dizzee Rascal
37 Make_The_World_Go_Round_(Deep_Dish) - Sandy_B
38 I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas
39 Reggae Got Soul 04 - Toots Maytals
40 It Must Be Love - Madness
41 Brown Eyed Girl - Reel Big Fish
42 Paolo's Pencil Full Of Party - Paolo Nutini Vs Lou Bega
43 Fight For This Love (Cahill Club Mix) - Cheryl Cole

44 Bad Boys - Alexandra Burke

45 Knock You Down - Keri Hilson

46 All I Want For Xmas - Maria Carey

47 Winter Wonderland - Tony Bennett

48 Ready For The Weekend - Calvin Harris

49 Bad Romance (Starsmith Remix) - Lady Gaga
50 Last Christmas - Wham!
51 Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea
52 Lovely Day - Bill Withers
53 Where Is The Love - Black Eyed Peas
54 Let's Face The Music And Dance - Nat King Cole
55 The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Andy Williams
56 Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong


I firmly believe that some one screamed when Joe McElderry's song went on!!



 

Pet Shop Boys - Setlist

Edit this setlist
More Pet Shop Boys setlists

Source: setlist.fm

It's been a month.

Not written anything in a month. It has been a busy festive period all round. 

For a start there was work, the djing, the social whirl, the family arriving home and visits to the parents.

And it is all supposed to be a relaxing time.  And the weather. Snow then snow and then some more snow.

On the social front I was off to see The Raveonettes play at ABC2 on the Tuesday, on Wednesday I had my work night out, next evening I was at the SECC to see The Pet Shop Boys, following evening I was dancing at the Little League festive bash and then on the Saturday I was back djing.  Too much at my advanced stage in life!

The Raveonettes were ok. That's about as in depth as you are going to get I'm afraid. Other bloggers had written about how dynamic they were on stage and I'd thought highly of the latest lp, even though it was more a refinement of their sound rather than an advance. Unfortunately, I found the duo rather static onstage with little banter beyond the 'hello Cleveland' variety. This might pass elsewhere but in the small ABC2 there is no excuse for not trying to acknowledge the punters. The sound wasn't the best, the song selection meant it sagged in the middle, and all told it never really got going.

Shame, perhaps it was just a bad night for them .

By contrast The Pet Shop Boys. To be honest I'd bought the tickets on a whim in the summer. If spending £70 on two tickets could ever be described as a whim. Then I saw them on the tv performing at T in the Park and Glastonbury and thought, big mistake, Tennents voice is shot. I'd then half -heartedly talked of selling the tickets on but in the  half-hearted way I do most things found myself on the 18th December still the proud owner of 2 tickets for the Pet Shop Boys.

So off we went with no haversack but plenty of trepidation.

They were great. Partyish atmosphere , plenty of visuals, dancers on the stage, building blocks on the stage and a selection of songs that made you realise just how many huge hits this band has had.  The sound was ok, as ever at this cavern of soullessness it could have been a lot louder. The plethora of goings on on the stage at the selective use of the backing singers to assist Neil to get close to the notes meant it was all very toe-tappingly enjoyable.  Toss in some explosions and a confetti cannon and it was almost enough to convince me to give up my life in the half dark of indie clubs and embrace the main stream.

Knowing every song ever written, there remain few that always make me swallow hard and insit that the tear in my eye comes from a sliver of confetti but 'Being Boring' is one of them.  Played as one of the encores it was, for me, the highlight. The last time that happened was when, in the same hall, Kanye West emotionally laid it bare during 'Hey Mama'. Perhaps there is something in this mainstream stuff after all. 

Now when do those Lady Gaga tickets go on sale?