Ale, music and enjoying life.
Dave Greenfield – The Stranglers Keyboard Player Dave Greenfield – 29th March 1949 – 3rd May 2020
The Stranglers keyboard player Dave Greenfield sadly passed on the 3rd May 1990. This is my tribute to Dave Greenfield.
Wire @ Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, 31st January 2020
Brudenell fairly recently turned up the Northern social club vibe by selling pie and mash. Not just any old pie of course but a Pieminister pie. It’s not that unbelievable then when I enter the venue, walk into the lounge to grab a pint I spot the whole band sat around one of the tables getting stuck into a round of pies. There’s a few looks amongst the crowd of “is that Wire eating pie?” and yeah it is. So what. Anyway, I look across a little later and noticed the band apart from Graham have left and the support is on. I decide to check out the support…
Buzzcocks, “Back To Front” Manchester Apollo, 25th May 2012
A bright sunny May day (for a change) in Manchester as we made our way beyond the centre of the city and through a housing estate into the Apollo. As is standard for a Manchester gig John Robb is holding court in the foyer, a quick hello and we’re into the main hall.
Big Country – Louth Town Hall 26th October 2018
Same, but different
Although I’ve not seen Big Country obsessively (I’m probably just into double figures) I have managed to see them in quite a few guises over the years. 3 or 4 times with Stuart Adamson (the last being the Final Fling tour at Leeds in 2000), once as a 3 piece with Tony Butler singing (Leeds Rios), a couple of times with Mike Peters and now with Simon Hough. Obviously, no lineup is going to meet the power of Stuart Adamson but I’ve enjoyed them all.
The Gig
Shortly before 9pm in a reasonably busy Louth Town hall the band appear and launch straight into 1000 Stars from the Crossing album. I’m surprised just how similar Simon’s vocals are to Stuart Adamson. What follows is a lovable romp through the band’s greatest hits and a generous serving of The Crossing. It can’t fail with those ingredients. It all seems to be over far too quickly and before I know it we’re exiting via the foyer into the cold night air.
Hugh Cornwell Book Reading – Saltaire Methodist Church 19th March 2015
So this was very inviting.
Walked into the Methodist Church to be greeted by Hugh tucking into fish and chips. Had a natter with him for a few minutes whilst a few other punters walked in.
He eventually sits at the front of the church and invites us all to sit in the first 3 pews at the front (which we did). We’re then treated to him reading a section out from his book and the floor is open for a Q&A session. Which starts out with some interesting questions from the crowd – apart from one chap who seemed a little “refreshed” and keeps telling us all about his red Indian blood.
Eventually, the questions predictably switch to music. Some points below (some of them already covered off on the forums in earlier posts)…..
– Big tour of America being planned for June/July – “What you doing Hugh? East or West coast?” “All of it”.
– UK Tour of churches in Oct/Nov (I’m guessing acoustic here?)
– Working on new book (Doctor in Miami in 2050 – he’s about half way through writing this one)
– Working on new music
– Some festival dates in Summer (one on East coast – is this the Skegness one?)
– No contact with Stranglers although he didn’t mention any negativity and wishes them well.
– He doesn’t run any more and hasn’t done for over 25 years – points out the dangers of running.
Quite an enjoyable evening all round.