Here Come the Mods

In the Summer of 1980 I was still clinging on to my punk credentials. By that,I mean, I still wore a leather jacket with a Clash button badge on it. 'I want Complete Control' it said and was given out when the band played at Clouds in Edinburgh a few years before their eventual megastardom arrived. 

I was staying in Ayr that early May day and had wandered down to the Low Green and was rummaging about in the amusement arcades to pass the day. When I emerged into the sunlight I saw a sight and a half. Hundreds of Mods, I mean hunners of them, everywhere, as far as the eye could see. Mods in parkas and stripey blazers and sta press slacks and scooters, lots of them. And me, only guy in the whole of Ayrshire wandering about in a rocker jacket declaring my allegiance to a band of punks. 

It could have been a re-enactment of the Battle of Margate, except I feel the Rocker was gonna get a hell of a beating. 

Nought happened. The Mods scooted about, preened themselves and made sure their shoes didn't get dirty. I bought an ice cream and meandered off home. 

What stayed with me though was the power a lot of people all dressed the same has. It was a formidable sight and more than a little vaguely threatening if you didn't fit. 

The answer to the question 'why would you choose to dress and look all the same?' eluded me then as much as it does now.

I suppose some folk join gangs and tribes and some folk don't, simple as that. That summer day showed  me the attraction of being in a big group all walking to the beat of the same drum. 

Musically, I liked a lot of the music the Mods claimed for their clan. As an early punk, I had a disdain for anything done by that man Weller and his chums in The Jam. Bandwagon jumpers, we all asserted. What punk band would be directed by their father? That early dismissal of St Paul continues to burn to this day. 

But I would go on to buy 45's by Secret Affair and The Lambrettas and more. During study at University I had listened almost exclusively to Quadrophenia. I think only because it was the longest cassette I had and so didn't have to get up from my studies too often to change over the tape. The beauty of this masterplan was not ,unfortunately, reflected in my final grades. Although the film was decent, it had Sting in it. Another fellow who clambered on to the one chord heroes band wagon with his band The Police. 

My real jealousy lay in the Mods claim to some of the best music from the Sixties. And as the years drift by this music plays in my little white earbuds more than those punk icons. 

I have Uncut magazine on subscription more through laziness rather than desire. Each month there is a cover mount cd which usually promises much but seldom fails to disappoint. However, yesterday the postie brought me the latest issue which has a cd containing some great Mod tunes. Barrett Strong, Smokey Robinson, The Turners, Sam Cooke, Carla Thomas and more. Not a bad tune in sight. I haven't yet mentioned that it also holds delights by James Brown, Ray Charles and Little Willie John. 15 gems for your car, your bar b q, your very own house party soundtrack. 

If it wasn't raining a deluge, I would jump in the car and just drive around listening to it at full volume. Well that and the fact that my car still only contains a tape player. So Quadrophenia again, it will have to be. 

You have no such excuse. 

Anna Calvi - King Tut's, Glasgow.

Couple of years past and I dragged the good lady off to Glasgow to see The Hold Steady. Normally this wouldn't be worth mentioning as Anne is well used to gracefully coming along to see a band with me but this evening this band was playing at The Cathouse. This venue usually being the haunt of goths and folk who watch the Twilight series not fifty year old, curious gig goers.

We weren't sure what to expect. Once, many further years back, we had braved a night out at Klub Foot in Dundee. This was back in the eighties when a musical entertainment could be named after a physical impediment and nobody thought the better of it. After being, there surrounded by folk in a cloth that made black look almost bright and listening to a Guana Batz B-Side and a 12" version at that we decided that we may be out of our depth. Remember, dear reader, this was back when we were actually young!

So trepidation about a visit to the Cathouse.

The Hold Steady were magnificent.

The crowd, much to my surprise, however, had a high number of folk as old as us and in come cases actually older. This surprised me as the band, although just releasing their third lp, were not that well known. I had expected a bunch of young trendy things all eager to catch the next big thing not a group of balding, stomach expanding oldies.

So what was that all about? No point asking me, I clearly don't know.
The relevance to Anna Calvi? Well it was the same type of audience. Yes, there were a large number of those trend setting bohemian Glasgow giggers but there was also that older demographic.
It is heartening to know that these folk are out there and prepared to forgo the Horlicks on a Monday evening to attend a music function at the 300 capacity King Tut's.

For me it is the best response to the oft happen dj situation when someone in their forties or older ventures towards the booth and you just know, just know that this person is going to ask you for something from the '70s. This is going to happen because you are in the middle of playing a tune that was released in the last ten years. And by 'The Seventies' they don't mean the Guana Batz.

Looking for a gig review? Then skip all the above guff and start here. 

Anna Calvi at King Tuts.

Part of the Emerge NME Radar Tour. Sponsored by the new energy drink 'Emerge'. When we left some PR folk tried to give us a can, we refused and took a badge instead. Didn't want it to interfere with the Horlicks and at our tender age we no longer wish to be kept up all  night, thank you very much.

Doomed to fail. What on earth was the focus group on about? Question: How likely are you to purchase an energy drink called 'Emerge'? eh! Can you imagine any sane person going into a bar and asking for a vodka and emerge? This is going to knock Red Bull of it's perch?

Anyway, Anna Calvi.

Kinda like this review, jumping about all over the place with no coherent style or focus. When she was good on the mellower numbers like, 'No more Words' and 'Love won't be Leaving' she was excellent. The room was respectfully silent on these haunting and still songs. When she rocked it up with 'Jezebel' and a version of Presley's 'Surrender' she lost some magic and became an ordinary bar band. 'Blackout', probably the most catchy song, was played early rather than as a crowd pleaser later.

I found the lp sounded slightly unclear with a muddy sound. It reminded me of a 1970's lp production. I felt a different producer could have brought more out of the material. I had a similar thought listening to the band at King Tut's. There was a distinct retro type sound. I didn't think this improved the songs any. I wondered how deliberate this could be. The sound at this small venue is usually excellent. It is far superior to the noisy mush you can get at some of the city's larger and more expensive venues.

The styles on show includes a bit of Piaf, some surf guitar, some burlesque, a nod to Twin Peaks, a little Johnny Cash, a little Billie Holiday, P.J. of course, a twang of Rockabilly, and a wink at Nico.
Her influences are too near the surface, too often at the moment. I am sure with a bit more experience she will make her mark. Also with some more material the set won't need to include a couple of cover versions.

I enjoyed the gig. It was quite intense at times and Anna puts a lot into her performance. It is easy to over look that this is a young band playing a small show with only one lp and few live performances under their belt and so be too critical.

Lets get a sense of perspective, dear child, it wasn't like an evening at Club Foot with the Gauna Batz back catalogue for company.

Track List from 16th April

Quiet Night in the Bar. Dominated initially by the oldies who remember their best years in the mid 70s. Then  some generally inoffensive stuff whilst I waited to see who was coming in nad who was staying around. Answer being, nobody really. So the evening never really got going or any particular sense of direction.

Request for something by the Welsh but my suggestion that we rush outside and burn down a cottage was not warmly received. Request for the new single by Roxette, I ask you. As if I have followed their releases assiduously since the mid 80s. Radio Two has a lot to aanswer for.

Very quiet for the last hour so I amused myself with Tensnake through to The Bomb. Pleased with getting to play 'Cry me a River' - the Richard Earnshaw version and mixed a bit of Maya Jane out of it. To these ears, coz there was no one else there to disagree, it sounded like a good start to a Sunday morning.

Surprised myself with my liking of Earnshaw's version of 'Cry me a River' because it is one of my favourite songs but, and I repeat, but only the version sung by Julie London. Lots of people have butchered this. Michael Buble went beyond butchering, he dahmered it before flushing it's remains into the sewer. With Bin Laden vacating the No 1 most wanted list I would argue that Buble should immediately take his place. There have been others. Second Hand Songs names 138 different artists attempting the song. Julie Londin sang the definative version first in 1955. This means 137 other folk have just been wasting their time. So I confounded even my deep rooted but clearly correct prejudice by liking this version by Earnshaw enough to play out in the bar.

All of you who are more tech savy than me, and you know by my use of tech savy that I do not know much about it, thus making you all better than I will find it on You Tube. Worth a listen I say.

Tracks Played are here.


1 New Sensation - Inxs
2 Controversy - Prince

3 Communication - Spandau Ballet

4 Easy Lover - Philip Bailey With Phil Collins
5 All Night Long (All Night) - Lionel Richie
6 Rock With You - Michael Jackson
7 How Deep - Lazy Grace
8 Sweet About Me - Gabriella Cilmi
9 Pack Up - Eliza Doolittle
10 Changes - David Bowie*

11 Let's Stick Together - Bryan Ferry*

12 Love Is The Drug - Roxy Music

13 Hot Love - T Rex

14 Let's Spend The Night Together - The Rolling Stones

15 Daniel - Elton John

16 Someone Like You - Adele*

17 Bad Romance - Lady Gaga*

18 Can't Get You Out Of My Head - Kylie

19 What's My Name (Saul Ruiz PM Club Mix) - Rihanna

20 Cherish - Madonna

21 Everywhere - Fleetwood Mac

22 I Can't Go For That No Can Do - Hall + Oates

23 Ain't That A Lot Of Love (Phats Disco Mix) - Simply Red

24 Street Life - The Crusaders

25 Dancing In The Street - Martha Reeves & Vandellas

26 Never Give Up On A Good Thing - Benson, George

27 On The Floor (CCW Radio Mix) - Jennifer Lopez

28 Sweet Dreams Tonight - Enrique Vs. Eurythmics

29 It's Like That - Run Dmc Vs Jason Nevins*

30 Higher (Wideboys Club ) - Taio Cruz

31 Feel The Need - Detroit Emeralds

32 Working My Way Back To You - Detroit Spinners

33 S&M (Stargate & Sandy Ve Mix) - Rihanna*

34 Yeah 3X - Chris Brown

35 It's Not Unusual - Tom Jones

36 Haven’T Met You Yet - Michael Buble

37 Come Dance With Me - Frank Sinatra

38 Reelin' In The Years - Steely Dan

39 Dakota (Decade In The Sun Mix) - Stereophonics*

40 Whole Lotta Rosie - Ac Dc*

41 Intro (XX Booty Mix) - Sander Van Doorn

42 Rolling In The Deep - Adele

43 Pon De Replay - Rihanna

44 Lights On - Katy B Feat Ms Dynamite

45 Dont U Worry Bout Thing - Incognito

46 She`S Got Nothing On (But The Radio) - Roxette*

47 Rocket (Tiesto Club Mix) - Goldfrapp

48 Call Me - Blondie

49 Waterfall (Oakenfold & Osbourne Remix) - Stone Roses

50 There She Goes - The Las

51 Coma Cat (Round Table Knights Remix) - Tensnake

52 Vive_Le_Swing_(Brassy_Mix) - In-Grid

53 Move On Up - Curtis Mayfield

54 Starchild - Jamiroquai

55 High - Mark Ronson

56 Chaka Demus - Jamie T

57 Who Keeps Changing Your Mind (Rox Mix) - South Street Player

58 Cry Me A River (Black Coffee Eemix) - Richard Earnshaw

59 What They Say - Maya Jane Coles

60 Gypsy Woman - Crystal Waters

61 Madd Luck - Dimitri From Paris

62 The Bomb - The Bucketheads

63 I Got You (I Feel Good) - James Brown

* Request.

Requests Galore

Don't normally get a lot of requests. I mean would you approach a dangerously menapausal, bald, old git with  the suggestion that he might like to consider playing Tai Cruz. I used to attempt to get the punters to see the error of their ways by entering into a two way dialogue about what it is that constitutes good music and why Take That consist of none of it.  For some reason this never turned out well.
Now I just put my head in my hands and sob uncontrollably.

Often I give due notice. When asked 'Do you have any Lady GaGa', I reply 'Do you wish to see a grown man cry?'. Inevitably the answer is that my tears will only add to their enjoyment of Poker Face.
To prevent this situation happening too often I attempt to seize the high ground by ensuring  my default appearance is surly, aloof and close to extreme random violence. Often I pat my back pocket in a manner clearly designed to indicate that I am so glad my razor, 45 Colt or essential medication is still there.
This resulted in lots of folk enquiring if I had lost my keys. Still came the requests.

Anyway this night, even setting fire to a small pyre of my musical hopes and dreams was not enough to keep the determined requesters at a safe distance. Have these people no respect for Health and Safety?

Busy to start as some folk were heading up town to an engagement bash. Then settled into a mix of uptempo foot tappy tunes as I worked in the twenty requests that came my way. This included such diverse stuff as Belle and Sebastian, Aloe Blocc, Bob Marley, Tina Turner, The Kinks, The Saturdays, Deadmau5 and some Britpop. Thank the Lord no one asked for Lady GaGa!

Perhaps, surprisingly the young ones were asking for Marvin Gaye and Hall and Oates.

Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Buddy Rich to wind down.

Not a bad night and most of the requests, despite my protesting were pretty reasonable. I still can't excuse Kenny Loggins though.

1 Deeper In Love - Bobby & Steve
2 Big Love - Pete Heller
3 Groovejet - Spiller
4 So Much Love To Give - Freeloaders, The Real Thing
5 Canned Heat - Jamiroquai
6 It Just Wont Do - Tim Deluxe
7 On The Floor (CCW Radio Mix) - Jennifer Lopez
8 Heartbeat (Cutmore Club) - Enrique Iglesias

9 It Only Takes A Minute - Take That

10 French Navy - Camera Obscura

11 I'm Not Living In The Real World - Belle & Sebastian

12 Hey, Soul Sister - Train

13 Oh La - The Kooks

14 Be Bop Baby - Westlife

15 Skinny Genes - Eliza Doolittle

16 Don't Hold Your Breath - Nicole Scherzinger*

17 Raise Your Glass - Pink

18 Hard To Handle - Otis Redding
19 It Takes Two - M Gaye + K Weston*
20 Nutbush City Limits - Tina Turner*
21 Super Freak - Rick James
22 We Are Family (Remix) - Sister Sledge
23 If I Can't Have You (Count Da Money Remix) - Bee Gees
24 I Can't Go For That - Hall & Oates
25 I_Need_A_Dollar - Aloe_Blacc*
26 Black And Yellow - Wiz Khalifa
27 Champion - Chipmunk *
28 Get Ready - Ella Fitzgerald
29 Proud Mary - Tina Turner*
30 Keep On Jumpin' - Lisa Marie Experience
31 I Remember - Deadmau5 And Kaskade*
32 Could You Be Loved - Bob Marley & The Wailers
33 Roxanne - Aswad
34 Working My Way Back To You - Detroit Spinners
35 You Make My Dreams - Hall & Oates*
36 Mr Blue Sky - Lily Allen
37 Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins*
38 Fascination - Alphabeat
39 Rolling In The Deep - Adele
40 Only Girl - Rihanna*
41 I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye*
42 Baby Love (Halfby More Shambles Remix) - The Supremes
43 Shake Your Tailfeather - Ray Charles*
44 Dedicated Follower Of Fashion - The Kinks*
45 Beat Surrender - The Jam
46 Memories (Featuring Kid Cudi) - David Guetta
47 C'Mon Vs. Stupid Disco (Dare Me) - Tiesto & Diplo Vs. Junior Jack
48 Higher (7th Heaven Club Mix) - The Saturdays*
49 Connection - Elastica*

50 Girls & Boys - Blur*
51 Rocks - Primal Scream*
52 You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby - The Smiths
53 The State I Am In - Belle And Sebastian
54 London Calling - The Clash
55 Exodus - Bob Marley & The Wailers*
56 Reggae Got Soul - Toots& Maytals
57 Chaka Demus - Jamie T
58 Oxford Comma - Vampire Weekend
59 Saddest Summer - The Drums
60 Buffallo Soldier - Bob Marley & The Wailers*
61 King - Ub40
62 Guaglione - Pérez Prado
63 The Holiday Song - Pixies
64 Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Richard Cheese
65 It Happened In Monteray - Frank Sinatra
66 Love - Nat King Cole
67 L O V E - Al Green
68 Lovely Day - Bill Withers
69 The Beat Goes On - Buddy Rich
70 Power Of Love - Huey Lewis*

* Request.

Back this Saturday. This is almost turning into a residency.

Normal Service (ish) is Resumed

This was a quiet night in the bar. Where everyone had gone I knew not. But they weren't in front of me, that's for sure. 

A fortnight ago it was mobbed with a party shouting for 80's classics. Tonight was completely different. 

To exacerbate the situation I had headed off to Troon for a couple of drinks at 5pm, a meal and an eye on the Arsenal game. I then felt it wasn't worth going home and sobering up before starting behind the decks. In reality the Gunner's performance had the same effect as two cups of strong coffee. 

So I sauntered in to the pub at the back of eight and was all set up ready to go by just after the half hour. I had also decided that I'd just keep drinking. Faced with the dozen folk in the bar it seemed churlish not to join them. 

I seldom drink when I'm djing. Partly because it's not professional but then again who actually believes that spinning tunes is a profession and because I need the car to get the gear home after it. And I  know that when I drink behind the decks I am almost certainly going to wander off towards the hills of 'up your own arsedom' with a lengthening stride and the decision making skills of a General Haig. Inversely, the better I think I am getting the worse the punters think I am doing. This is because I decide it is a good idea to play them lots of the songs that are staple items on my i-pod and not anything by anybody who has ever had a song in the Top 40. 

End result is I have a great time but the pub is invariably empty. This night I looked around and saw my drunken finishing point was already in place, so I thought my work here is done. Let's kick off with Robben Ford. Let's follow that with Stevie Ray Vaughn. Happy, no too obvious how's about a more obscure Stones lp track. 

Although no-one came up to request the songs, it was clear to me that the punters were all aware that their Saturday night experience would be immeasurably improved by some less well known Britpop. With the whole Stone Roses catalogue to play,  it is clear I am going to go for the jangly one I stubbornly like the best and not the tune that sold 1 million copies. I will favour The Bluetones before Pulp too. 

I barely prevented my thrawn self from playing out 'Octopus' Garden' but took consolation by going with 'Dr Robert' rather than any Beatles song that had the temerity to be on any cd that could be mistaken for a Greatest Hit. 

Every week I get asked for Buffalo Soldier and this one was no different. It kinda put me back on track and I settled into some tap a long soul and tunes folk would know, with the obvious exception of Eli 'Paperboy' Reed, clearly. Let's not throw away the cumulative effect of several pints of lager and the tears of disappointment too cheaply. 

Kept it up tempo and cheery with a bit more guitar stuff than I would usually get away with until the end. One chap came over and asked for some Northern Soul and Mod music. He was rewarded with F Nero, Flirtations, Tony Clarke and some magnificent Booker T.

A young crowd came in later but seemed content with Mumford and White Stripes whilst I was happy with Pixies and The Clash. 

And that's the story Morning Glory. Back this Sat, so it couldn't have gone too pear shaped. 

Tracks Played here. 

1	Up The Line	-	Robben Ford
2	Pride And Joy	-	Stevie Ray Vaughn
3	All Down The Line	-	The Rolling Stones
4	Have A Nice Day	-	Stereophonics
5	What Do You Got?	-	Bon Jovi
6	Up On Down Side	-	Ocean Col Scene
7	She's Electric	-	Oasis
8	Slight Return	-	The Bluetones
9	There She Goes	-	Las
10	World Waiting For	-	Stone Roses
11	Doctor Robert	-	The Beatles
12	Buffalo Soldier	-	Bob Marley & The Wailers*
13	Masterblaster	-	Stevie Wonder
14	Come And Get It	-	Eli Paperboy Reed
15	This Old Heart Of Mine	-	The Isley Brothers
16	Let's Dance	-	David Bowie
17	Beat Surrender	-	The Jam
18	Alright	-	Supergrass
19	The Size Of A Cow	-	Wonder Stuff
20	Beautiful Day	-	U2
21	She Moves In Her Own Way	-	The Kooks
22	In The Morning	-	The Coral
23	Listen To The Music	-	The Doobie Brothers
24	You Make My Dreams	-	Hall & Oates
25	Bright Lights Bigger City	-	Cee Lo Green
26	Falling	-	Hercules & Love Affair
27	Peg	-	Steely Dan
28	Always There - Incognito	-	Incognito
29	Starchild	-	Jamiroquai
30	Kiss	-	Prince
31	S&M (Come On)	-	Rihanna
32	Got To Get You Into My Life	-	Earth Wind & Fire
33	You Can't Hide From Yourself	-	Teddy Pendergrass
34	C'mon Vs. Stupid Disco	-	Tiesto & Diplo Vs. Junior Jack
35	Rock With You	-	Michael Jackson
36	Footsteps Following Me	-	Frances Nero
37	Landslide	-	Tony Clarke
38	Nothing But A Heartache	-	The Flirtations
39	Son Of A Preacher Man	-	Aretha Franklin
40	Green Onions	-	Booker T. & The Mg's
41	Big Love	-	Pete Heller
42	Higher And Higher	-	Jackie Wilson
43	Do Your Thing	-	Basement Jaxx
44	Reggae Got Soul	-	Toots Maytals
45	On The Floor (Ccw Radio Mix)	-	Jennifer Lopez
46	Vive_Le_Swing_	-	In-Grid
47	Rolling In The Deep	-	Adele
48	Poker Face	-	Lady Gaga
49	Sweet Dreams Tonight	-	Enrique Iglesias Vs. Eurythmics
50	All Of The Lights	-	Kanye West
51	Black And Yellow	-	Wiz Khalifa
52	Little Green Bag	-	George Baker Trio
53	Are U Gonna Be My Girl	-	Jet
54	Supersonic	-	Oasis
55	Here Comes Your Man	-	Pixies
56	Brimful Of Asha	-	Cornershop
57	Weapon Of Choice	-	Fatboy Slim
58	Do You Belive In Magic	-	Loving Spoonful
59	Love Is In The Air	-	John Paul Young
60	The Honeythief	-	Hipsway*
61	Fields Of Fire	-	Big Country
62	Laid	-	James
63	Rock This Town	-	Stray Cats
64	I Fought The Law	-	The Clash
65	Hotel Yorba	-	White Stripes
66	Little Lion Man	-	Mumford & Sons
67	Friends Stuck In Chemicals	-	Stealers Vs Chemicals
68	Duelling Banjos	-	Eric Weissberg *
69	Rhinestone Cowboy	-	Glenn Campbell
70	Forever In Blue Jeans	-	Neil Diamond*
71	Dead End Street	-	The Kinks*
72	Proud Mary	-	Tina Turner*
73	I Got You (I Feel Good)	-	James Brown
74	Last Nite	-	The Strokes
75	A-Punk	-	Vampire Weekend
76	Walking On Sunshine	-	Katrina And The Waves
77	Don't Rain On My Parade	-	Bobby Darin
78	New York New York	-	Sinatra

* Request - Didn't think I'd choose to play Poker Face do ya??

Also usual dj story - was in the middle of Dead End Street when somebody came up and suggested that I might like to play The Kinks.