Saturday Snapshots #471

This one goes out to the ones I love...

Who are these people and how are their songs connected?

15. He used to carry bags, now he's a lorry driver.

14. I’ll call you back – I’ve arrived at the wooden reservoir, but I won’t be here long.

13. Belinda drinks a lot of Cognac in Cumbria.

12. They just go on and on and on and on.

11. Heroin’s a help in these crazy, mixed up times.

10. Afternoon at daybreak.

9. A pseudonym used by Robertson, Helm, Danko et al. 

8. Judge in the Cliff vs. Nail trial.

7. Company formed by Smith & Lawrence.

6. What the sun is to the earth.

5. There was a young lass from North Scotland
Who decided to form a Snap-Shots band
She got C on guitar
CC on sitar
But Ernie on drums, George could not stand.

4. That’s an easy role to slip into.

3. They just churn out stories on a conveyor belt.

2. It’s Phair to go to Australia backwards.

1. Berry + Edmunds + Stewart + Gable + Kent.

Answers tomorrow morning.

Annoying People At Gigs #2: Ronnie Scott's

I knew I could rely on George to furnish me with a tale or two for this feature...

That’s a picture of the interior of Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Birmingham. Wherein lies a sorry tale…….

There have only been a very small number of concerts/gigs I have been genuinely excited about. One was the Dwight Yoakam concert at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1992. It was reported after that some Rolling Stones were in attendance, but no mention, for some bizarre reason, that I and my friend Joe were there as well. Another one was Calexico in Birmingham, 2004. 

Third: June 2001,  Laura Cantrell was putting on a show in Birmingham. And the venue was about three miles from where I lived at the time, so I was definitely going. Her first album had been released a few months earlier, and I was a huge fan. So a bus to the city centre and a stroll along to Broad Street, and what was at the time Ronnie Scott’s club. I was a bit taken aback at the layout inside, lots of tables near the front, it looked like a restaurant with a stage, but further back you could stand.  Ms Cantrell came on, and I would really like to say how much I enjoyed the show, but I can only remember one thing: a group of loudmouths seated at the front, drinking and talking loudly. As the show went on this group of ABs got louder and louder, spoiling the concert. And after probably 3 or 4 songs, someone behind me didn’t shout but BELLOWED that this group of blokes should shut the hell up, we came to hear Laura Cantrell, not them. The bellow was so loud that a startled Laura Cantrell stopped playing. 

I, and the rest of the audience, could only wish for a pile of woe for that group of ABs……..

Anyway, the ABs did indeed shut up and Ms Cantrell then carried on playing, but unfortunately an unforgettable show for the wrong reason. Totally ruined, no pleasant memories of the gig, no fond recollections of any of the songs. Sometimes, that’s just the way it is……

Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club shut down a few months later and became a lapdancing place.

Thanks to Rol for posting this.

And thank you, George, for telling it the way it is.

If you have a story about an annoying git at a gig, please send it to me via the electronc mail.

Listening Post #59: Your Driver's Licence, Please

I do like a good 50s novelty tune.

Roy Tann's real name was Willis Threats, Jr. - which if you ask me, is a far better rock star name than Roy Tann. But what do I know?

Embarrassing Dad Songs #3: Stop The Wedding!

I started this series last year, did a couple of posts, then forgot about it.

It was supposed to be a series where I pointed out cool songs I'd discovered that were popular with da young people. This is in the UK Top Ten at the moment. It's the best pop song I've heard all year...

I even like the video, which looks like it was filmed in the 80s - old-fashioned rotary telephone and all.

Namesakes #211: Texas

Here are some bands named after a place where all my Exes moved to...

TEXAS #1

We start with a band from Texas! Southern rockers led by lead singer / guitarist Michael Maben who released one album in 1973 and then went their separate ways.

Texas - LA Lights

TEXAS #2

And we continue with a band not from Texas! Aussie pub rockers from the late 70s…

 ...unfortunately, I can't find any of their songs. But as I'm pushed for time, close your eyes and imagine what they might sound like, OK?

TEXAS #3

Finally, another band not from Texas, but from Glasgow… Sharleen Spiteri and her chums made a splash with their debut single I Don’t Want A Lover in 1989, then rather fell of the radar for a few years before returning to chart-conquering glory in the late 90s. Since then they’ve done the inevitable split-up / reunion waltz and appear to be still going strong.

Texas - Black Eyed Boy

Despite discogs promising a multitude of Texases... that's your lot, I'm afraid, this week. I will try harder next time.