2008 November |

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

5 Things - This Week in Staines

Heavy Classic Rock Masters - in Staines

Netherworld at Staines

Netherworld Nov 28 2008 8:00P Staines Riverside Club Staines £3

Fronted by the awesomely talented Jason Stretch on vocals and guitar, backed by the brilliant bass playing and vocals of Paul Smith and the dynamic drumming of Ian Roberts, NETHERWORLD ROCKS. Covering the best classic rock songs known to this planet, this three-piece bring their wealth of professional talents together for this new project.

Previous gigging and recording credits include ; Bad II The Bone, British Lion, Steve Harris (Iron Maiden),Hal Lindes(Dire Straits) Neil Murray(Whitesnake,Black Sabath) Reload, The Dhogie Band and Phil Mogg (UFO).

You will not fail to be impressed by the superbly tight musicianship of these three heavyweight players

Links

www.myspace.com/netherworldrock

Also check them at:

Nov 29 2008     8:00P The Cardinal Wolsey     East Molesey Surrey
Nov 30 2008     6:00P The Dog & Partridge     Middlesex, London and South East
Dec 5 2008     8:00P Ye Old Swan     Burnham, Berkshire,

Big Rock/Punk Sounds - in Staines

Her Enemy

HER: ENEMY Nov 27 2008 8:00P The Hobgoblin *with nixa* Staines £3

Links

http://www.myspace.com/herenemy

Hot Dance - Latin and Jazz - Live at Ascot

palenke at Ascot

Palenke Saturday, 29th November 8:45P Jagz Ascot £8

Columbian band with a passionate Latin repertoire. Back by incredible popular demand, Adrianna and her fellow Salsa partners are back and ready to shake Jagz from its very foundations! Palenke, Londons leading Latin American Dance band, was born in 1990 to the collective talents of Fernando Suarez - Kinacho and Lisandro Zapata from Colombia. Both are highly professional performers and are widely experienced in the Latin and Jazz scene. The Bands eclectic repertoire is passionate, dynamic and eminently danceable: from the characteristically hot blooded tempos of Cuban Salsa and Brazilian Lambada, the traditional folk rhythms of Colombian cumbia and Dominican Merengue, to the latest Caribbean Reggae and universally popular Spanish style Gypsy Kings.

Saturday, 29th November
Show will start at 8.45
Ticket cost: £8.00
Doors open from 7pm. £26 for 2 courses and entrance (£30 for 3 courses). Entrance for the bands is £8 but is strictly limited and on a first come first served basis. Entrance for dining or just the band INCLUDES free entrance to the nightclub

Links:

http://www.palenke.co.uk/

Smooth Jazz Piano at Ascot

John Donaldson Quartet

John Donaldson Quartet Sunday, 30th November Lunchtime Jagz Ascot

The winner of the piano category at the 2006 British Jazz Awards

Jazz gigs began when he was a student in 1978. He was part of the Cambridge Modern Jazz Club’s resident trio, backing visiting guest soloists in the city. In 1980 he won the prize for best soloist at the San Sebastian International Jazz Competition.

In 1982 he moved to California . He worked there and gigged with local notables including Eddie Henderson, Red Holloway, John Handy, Richie Cole, Paul Jackson and David Baker as well as working in groups alongside Larry Grenadier, Jeff Ballard, Donny McCaslin, and Louis Romero.

Since returning to England in 1993 he has worked with many of the leading musicians on the British scene including groups led by Iain Ballamy, Art Themen, Clark Tracy, Alan Barnes, Don Weller, Dick Pearce and Norma Winstone.

Sunday, 30th November
Show will start at 1pm to 3.30pm
Ticket cost: £6.00
Special - entrance and roast lunch £12.

‘With remarkably little publicity or fuss John Donaldson has emerged as one of Britain’s most exciting jazz pianists with his own distinctive style’
Dave Gelly. The Observer.

Top Unsigned Act of the Year- at Staines

Nixa at Staines

Nov 27 2008 8:00P The Hobgoblin *with HER:ENEMY* Staines £3

“One of the top 10 unsigned acts in the UK”
Metro National Newspaper

Rock / Tropical

Nixa are rock. They’re here to remind you that despite reality TV, plastic indie tat, the cult of celebrity, and production-line pop, ultimately it’s still all about the music. They write great songs, and have a lot of fun while they’re doing it – and that’s their manifesto. Fundamentally, they just love music and want music to love them back, and as a result they have so many riffs that they’re currently being investigated by The Monopolies Commission. Multi-layered and yet accessible to anyone who’s ever felt adrenaline surge through their veins, Nixa songs combine addictive melodies, intertwining vocals, riotous screaming, ferocious guitars, pulsing drums, and dirty bass to create an energetic morass that climbs the walls and rips the roof off. Nixa was born in the summer of 2006 after a massive gangbang involving Foo Fighters, Biffy Clyro, Soulwax and Death Cab for Cutie: the custody battle still rages…

Links:

http://www.myspace.com/nixaspace

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-Visit AdPontes-Staines Regularly for Staines Arts-

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Tuesday, November 18, 2008

5 Things - This Week in Staines

Heavy Rock Mob from around here!

Purge at Staines

Purge Nov 21 2008 9:00P The Hobgoblin Staines £3

A furious mix of distortion-fueled guitar accompanied by seat-tearing bass and knockout percussion is shot at with a colt 45 of gravelly chants and rhyme delivering glory. Crushing heavy rock. Never a better solution. Purge consists of:

James Burgon
(Vocals)

Max Kinghorn Mills
(Guitar)

Mark Stanley
(Bass, Vocals)

Greg Rogers
(Drums)

http://www.purgenoise.com/

Big Big Band Sounds - Staines

Big Band at Staines Riverside Club

Nov 20 2008 8:30P KU Big band Staines Riverside Club

Kingston University Big band

The KU Big Band, fresh from their tour of Germany, play a special one-off concert at Staines Riverside jazz club. Led by trumpeter Andy Gibson, with guest vocalist Ceri Wood.

Venue: Staines Riverside Club, 6 Laleham Road (opp.Gresham Rd), Staines, Middlesex, TW18 2DX
Contact: Louise Voss
Tel: 020 8417 5430 ext. 65430
E-Mail: l.voss@kingston.ac.uk

Links:

http://www.kingston.ac.uk/

Screamo Band Staines

Break Berlin The Phoenix Staines

Nov 23 2008 8:00P Break Berlin at The Phoenix Staines

Break Berlin are a five piece Screamo / Alternative experience from Surrey that have all been involved in music from a very young age. Their aim is to make music that is original and distinguishable in the local music scene that has managed
to fall victim to a lack of inspiration. We are currently working very hard writing and new material that should be complete in the next few months. We hope to see you very soon. Break Berlin.

Luke ‘Rabbit’ Perrin-Vocals
Jarrod ‘Rod’ Messeter-Guitar/Vocals
Ollie ‘Mumble’ Jaye-Guitar/Vocals
Ryan ‘Gizmo’ Holcombe-Bass
James ‘Bean’ Lloyd-Drums

If you miss ‘em in Staines try catch them at:

Nov 25 2008 7:30P Boileroom Guildford

Links:

http://www.myspace.com/breakberlin

Sensational Indie / Alternative / Jungle at Staines

The Hollers at Staines

Nov 20 2008 8:00P Hobgoblin W/ Purge (18+) Staines £3

THE HOLLERS

Jazz Smith - Vocals
Tom Sturt - Guitar
Glenn Wild - Guitar
Jamie Allen - Bass
Sean Mangan - Drums

Sounds Like A girl singing, 3 Guitars and a Drum Kit, all playing at the same time

If you miss ‘em in Staines try catch ‘em at:

Nov 22 2008 8:00P Brewery Tap Reading

Dec 11 2008 8:00P Heroes Bar Maidenhead

Links:

http://www.myspace.com/thehollersband

Best Pop Act of the Year- at Staines

Miss Pink Shoes at Staines

Nov 21 2008 8:00P Miss Pink Shoes at Sticky Fungus Staines

“Indy Awards Best Pop Act 2008!!”

Staines hometown heroes Miss Pink Shoes formed in 2006 to create the music that was floating around in and crowding up their heads, MISSPINKSHOES have come to spread some love & weirdness around the world. With a sound that spans every genre you can imagine, 50’s doo-wop to electronica, heavy metal to power ballads, disco to punk and anything and everything in between, nothing is sacred. 2008 has seen the band release the ‘SEXUAL’ EP, the winning of Best Pop Act at The Indy Awards in May, a request to play a hometown gig with fellow Staines band Hard-Fi and a string of gigs at prestigious London venues such as The Clapham Grand
and The London Astoria 2.

Lloyd - Vocals & Keys

Ant - Bass

Phil - Guitar

Tim - Drums

——————–

-Visit AdPontes-Staines Regularly for Staines Arts-

Posted by Adpontes in 10:08:28 | Permalink | No Comments »

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

London with Karova at Staines Hobgoblin

STAINES HOBGOBLIN
Thurs 26th October 2008

LONDON gigs flier- Hob Neil_Mach Sept 2008

It is a truth, self evident, that Men love music. But straight men don’t like to dance. For men, music is for listening whereas, for ladies, music is to dance to and romance to. Even those big macho hip hop and RnB geezers don’t really like all the dancing that is involved in their genre of music. They would rather just watch their honeys and sway a bit to the beat. And real men don’t fancy their music idols like the girlies do. Yes, they may adulate and adore their idols as if they were venerating high priets of music -placing them upon high altars in high towers. (Anyone can witness that phenomena by visiting an Iron Maiden gig) but they don’t actually fancy the musicians…have you ever heard a bloke say “I really fancy that Bruce Dickinson- woo he makes me hot!” But girlies do. They fancy the pants off of their musical heroes and then they like to dance. They dance in the aisles. They dance on their seats. They dance in the queue. And in the lav. And in the bar. They dance when they get home too. Because they feel the music. In a way that men don’t.

And what is lacking at the moment, for us manly men, is some geezer music. Just think about it for a moment. When was the last time you heard or downloaded a track that was meant for real men? For geezers. You know, the men who sweat. And toil. And grunt. And miss the basin. “Music …my arse” as Jim Royle would say. Music in 2008 is for cissies and girlies. It is wuss music for the masses. Where are songs like “How Soon Is Now?” (The Smiths ) or “Parklife” (Blur) with its beermug cover and masculine imagery? What we need is a bit of ‘thinking stuff’ not all this ‘dancing stuff’. I believe that punk and, later, Britpop, was created for this purpose. To fill a man’s sandwich. To fill the vacuum.

Punk, if you recall, can be played by anyman. It can be picked up in a bar or in a garage. It isn’t particularly tricky to learn, but like a good sport, it is difficult to master. It involves lots of sneering and shouting. A bit of attitude. A bit of posturing. A man can release his inner anger and resentment to a good punk song. And feel refreshed afterwards. But although there is a ‘dancing game’ there is no actual dancing involved. The dancing game involves any of the following items: 1) you can pogo or sway or strut as long as you are looking like it doesn’t mean anything. 2) You must hold your beer in your hand to prove that this dancing thing ‘doesn’t mean anything’ and that your procreative energy will not be expended or wasted on such trifles. Neither sweat nor beer will be spilt. 3) If you walk to the bog -you may- as you stroll through- pretend to dance to the music in an amusing and flamboyant style, whilst smiling inanely to the ‘audience’ as you go past. 4) You may, if you prefer, march up and down shouting “Oi” . All these things are OK for a man to do because they are not dancing.

You cannot ‘dance-dance’ to punk. You know- ‘dance’ dance. With the emphasis on the first dance. (I am saying this in the same way that ladies say love-love as in ‘you don’t actually ‘love’ love me do you?’) Later, Britpop came along and brought anthems and congregational singing with them to the new men’s world. This was music you could huddle to. There was comradeship in those big working class, street-level choruses and football-match-slogans. Once again, you could sway or nod to the music but dancing was almost always impracticable. There were a few ladies at the shows. But mostly men. This music spoke to men. It was their own. And there was no dancing.

So we get to ‘London’ supported by ‘Karova’ at The Hobgoblin, Staines. These two bands are purveyors of fine geezer music. You cannot dance to their sounds. But you can enjoy it like a man without it becoming too political or too “Oi! Oi! Oi!”.

London are an authentic 1976 era punk band supporting The Stranglers back in 1977. John Moss became the bands drummer (formerly The Clash and later Culture Club) and the bands frontman and composer was and still is Riff Regan [Miles Tredinnick]. Steve Voice was the bass & vocals and Dave Wight was the guitar. Riff penned some reliable and resilient staples back in the seventies like Everyone’s A Winner, Summer Of Love, Friday on My Mind. He also wrote the likeable Siouxie Sioux (no relation to Susan Janet Ballion- honestly!) The year 2008 line-up is Riff Regan (vocals), Steve Voice (bass/vocals), Hugh O’Donnell (guitar/vocals) and Colin Watterston (drums). This is music to strut to. Riff struts about like a giant cock on heat but the other musicians remain unanimated. A couple of girls make a half-hearted attempt to dance at the Hob. But how can you dance to this? And that is no bad thing. This is drinking music and more. The drinkers stand and watch the band with their mugs grasped in sweaty hands and their other mugs agape in wonder. The band are singing about things that these drinking men understand. It gets under their skin. The rhythms are tribal. The beats pulse. The cockstruts invigorate. Man stuff.

Karova see themselves as somewhere between ‘Black Grape’ and early ‘Oasis’ and I know what they mean. They cheesefully exude britpopishness with vim and elan and they are also (like London) not to be danced to. There is a bit of 1970’s ‘Who’ in there and fat slices of ‘Stone Roses’ crunched up with ‘Happy Mondays’, a bit like a musical version of a cheese and onion crisp sandwich topped with gherkin. The music is finished off with thin slices of ‘Small Faces’ style sounds to add piquancy. This music has charm, it has a boyish grin, it is laddish. If Karova was a dog it would be loveable scamp- a wet terrier. Sharp riffs and lots of singsong choruses -a wink and a smile for the lay-dees. Karova are cheeky and leering. But they are men’s men and mean business. Paul the Tool pouts and sneers. He heads straight to the bar afterwards for more beer and jokes with his mates. This is the real stuff. Then he stands still for London. Dead still. Because men don’t dance.

I wish there was more geezer music in the world right now. Stuff like ‘London’ and Karova. ‘Cos like Morrissey (The Smiths) said, “I am human and I need to be loved / Just like everybody else does”.

© Neil_Mach
Oct 2008

Keep checking AdPontes-Staines for news, reviews, articles and gig-guide

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Whispers about Cheekees/The Exchange Staines

Long time readers of this blog may no doubt remember that I reported that that ‘Cheekees’, formerly The Exchange and, more recently ‘Diamonds and Denims’ had shut for good…

http://staines.wordpress.com/2007/09/16/cheekees-staines-closes-for-good/

I first got a very vague interest in “The Exchange” (back in the day) , when I heard that Quentin Tarantino had gone there one night in the 1990’s ( probably about 1994). Tarantino… in my town? In a club in my town? Wow!

Well, a little bird has told me (this week) that Cheekees / Exchange is gonna re-open in the not too distant future as a live-music venue… wow! Apparently, the venue may be called something like ‘Sticky Fungus’ and has the general support and approval of the local authority, police and businesses.

The venue may well be opening soon- watch this space for more details HOT OFF THE PRESS!!

This is just what the town needs- it was such a pity that we lost the Town Hall Arts Centre. We wish the new ‘owners’ of the Exchange good luck in this worthwhile enterprise…

Posted by Adpontes in 08:17:54 | Permalink | No Comments »

5 Things- This Week in Staines

Duncan Mckenzie & Alec McCabe at Staines

Duncan McKenzie at Staines

Nov 13 2008 9:00P The Staines Riverside Club £3

Those that regularly read this column and support live music in Staines will be familiar with Duncan McKenzie the smooth acoustic and blues operator who has recently been gracing our Thameside venue with his superlative fretwork and polished repertoire of soft, yet invigorating, blues. He has worked, recently, with Mike Piggott and, ofcourse, Big Jim Sullivan. He is now back in town with Alec McCabe.

If you like your blues to be soft, luxurious and professional- this show is not to be missed. We are very luicky to have these guys in town!

Alec McCabe is a guitar teacher (originally from Australia) who also works as a duo (with Lizzy Templer) sometimes adding musicians to the mix to create Freepeace a standalone rock band.

http://www.myspace.com/duncanmckenzieuk

Audio.Video.Disco - EP Launch Party- Staines

Audio Video Disco at Staines

Nov 15 2008 8:00P Audio. Video. Disco. EP Launch Party Hob Staines

So it all started when Matt and Rich played lots of acoustic guitar for a long time and eventually they got a bit bored of the acoustic circuit and decided it was time for a change.

So in came the help of Adam Linton (bass) and Tom Smith (drums) into the band. Everything seemed to fall into place very quickly and new songs were written in a flash and we hit the ground running. All we needed was the band name….so after months of rubbish ideas and even worse ideas we settled on Audio.Video.Disco. meaning “I hear, I see, I learn” in latin and as rich described it, it was the coolest thing matt has ever come up with in his life!

They have played alongside established pop act Alphabeat, played headline shows at The Fighting Cocks, sold out in their hometown and had a storming set at The Clapham Grand, things are majorly looking up. The band are set to record with engineer / producer Phil English in September and are currently preparing for their biggest gig yet……a headline slot at the London Astoria 2. It’s gonna be mad, get a ticket, don’t be the only person to miss out……

Links:

http://www.myspace.com/audiovideodiscouk

Blues and R&B at Shepperton

Debbie Giles Band at Shepperton

Nov 15 2008 9:00P Barley Mow Shepperton

A new entry into the UK blues and R&B circuit

Powerful and passionate vocals with rockin’ rhythm ‘n blues” is based in Guildford, Surrey playing venues in London and mainly the southern counties.
Featuring Debbie Giles (vocals) Phil Headsmith (lead guitar/vocals) Baz Payne (Bass/vocals) and Neil Turfitt (Drums). They have all individually logged years of experience as professional musicians and have developed their own blend of Rocking Rhythm & Blues with Phil Headsmith’s orginal songs.
Most recently in June 2008 they have launched their new album “Shake it Just a Little”, whilst in their live set feature numbers by Thin Lizzy, BB King, Al Green and Jimmie Vaughan, Georgia Satellites to name a few.. Debbie & Phil’s duets have become a focal point of this ‘live band and recently have been featured in “guest radio sessions” with Delta, County Sound 104fm and BBC Radio Swindon.
Formed in October 2006 the band caused a storm when they opened for Mike Pender’s Searchers in July ‘07 at Basingstoke Live Festival.

Links:

http://www.myspace.com/debbiegilesband

Tight Pop/Rock at Staines

A Girl Called Kate at Staines

Nov 15 2008 8:00P at the Audio. Video. Disco. EP Launch Party Staines

A Girl Called Kate

Mikool: Vocals/Guitars

Benzie: Vocals/Bass

Jake: Guitars

Megan: Synth/Vocals

Alex: Drums

If you like The Subway, The Automatic, The Killers etc, You are gonna love this!

Links:

http://www.myspace.com/agckband

The Folk Group of the Year- at Windsor

Lau at Windsor

Nov 12 2008 7:00P Lau Windsor Fire station Arts Centre

“BBC RADIO 2 FOLK GROUP OF THE YEAR 2008″

Lau is a formidable union of three of the finest and most innovative exponents of modern traditional music in Scotland today; Kris Drever (guitar and vocal), Martin Green (piano accordion) and Aidan O’Rourke (fiddle). Winners of “Best Group” at the BBC Folk Awards 2008 and with a year of dates around the globe ahead, look set to cause serious musical trouble worldwide.

Links:

http://www.myspace.com/laumusic

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