Mary Had a Little Jam

Back at The Railway tonight - with guitar in hand (and possibly bass too), for the Tuesday night fixture that is Bluesday Tuesday - an open mic jam, based around a catalogue of blues classics..

The pub's drums, Hammond, piano are all prepared and ready to go for anyone who fancies jumping on and joining in. Although I'll be trying to wing in my new Epiphone 339 for a test drive



On the subject of blues offs - behold Buddy Guy tearing it up with Jack Bruce on bass, Buddy Miles tub-thumping, Dick Heckstall-Smith and Chris Mercer of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers on horns. Fantastico...

 

 Buddy Guy - Mary Had A Little Lamb (studio version)

 

Sunday Sessions: Decks and drums and rock and soul

Regularly of a Sunday, well during Martin McNeill's set, Marmite and I will shoo away any downtime and dead air during the band's breaks by winging in a few tunes to keep the room warmed up and buoyant.

This weekend, Mark Cecil (drummer in Martin McNeill's outfit) brings his own band to The Railway - I've yet to see them in action, but they come recommended with the Marmite Seal of Approval - which is a kitemark of quality in anyone's book.

I believe they're jazzier than the jump blues, New Orleans grooves and western swingers that make up Martin's McNeill's signature sound. So I may add a few new groovers to the crates - tunes like..

Chairmen of the Board - Finders Keepers





We're in from 4pm should you fancy shaking a funky leg.

Second Lap

Whoops - we've had some technical grumbles with last week's Podrophenia Poolcast (based around this poster) and featuring a live session from Dave Woodcock. So refreshed, retweaked and re-upped, fill your flippers with...

 Podrophenia - No Ducking. No Diving

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One that was sidelined - but never made the final plunge pool.....

 

Blue Notes

I'm on something of a right roaring ol' blues-buzz at the moment. A couple of sweet inspirations have got me knocking on the pentatonic rock (with a few flattened fifths and sliding ninths thrown in). Taking delivery of series two of The Beat!!! 98 minutes of possibly the greatest music show ever committed to tape, weighing heavy with nuggets such as ....




I'm also going very heavy on the back catalogue of Lowell Fulson and his funky boogaloo blues



And as featured last Friday Magic Sam. Fret-frying tonight with Sam's Boogie, grabbable below as Lookin' Good.



Magic Sam - Lookin' Good

Podrophenia: Will Patrons Kindly Refrain From...

Really, who was ever such a hardcore smoker that they couldn't take a trip to the local lido or swimming baths without having to spark up a sneaky gasper or two? It must have happened.

Out today - and keeping with the tradition of our annual Summer edition, the latest Podrophenia from Piley and myself is fitted around this old pool poster that was - with tracks based on bombs, petting, running, ducks etc.. As well as a natter-about on Speedos, 21st Century song titles and song titles for elderly folk

In for live tunes and chat we've Dave Woodcock, with a song freshly created and baked just the day before...

Dive in at the deep end hereabouts. Track lists and photos can be found over at the Podrophenia FB page

Podrophenia - Will Patrons Kindly

Sunday Sessions: Crate Rock 'n' Roll Swingers

Behold the sunday afternoon shindigs at the Railway Hotel: a hooting, tooting blues 'n' booze blast. Should you find yourself loose ended or with a few spare hours to fill this coming sabbath - point and steer yourself in the direction of Southend's most rock 'n' roll local. Why? Martin McNeill's Bottletop Blues Band are installed for their every-third-week-residency and calling on a rolling repertory of premium league players

West End legend Mark Casey could be on drummer duties, Martin Johnson may be onboard for some heavy-handed hammond action, or Wes Weston might be huffing, puffing and blowing the house down.



22nd April this year - zip to 1 minute in for a proper old honk-off

Retro vintage finery is the gear to go for - with jive, swings and spins being the dances of the day - 'it's all about the back-step' I'm advised by those in the know (Mrs M).

Between the sets I'll be spinning a mix of jump blues, west coast blues, early R 'n' B, northern, soul, ska and Latin along the way. Every sesh I try and wing in a few newbie-tunes. This week - stand by for the sounds of Magic Sam and Lowell Fulson.

Lowell Fulson - Can She Do It






So from 4 pm, come and rock-along at The Railway. And who knows pal Wilko may even be in - he was last time!

Never Mind The Broadcasts - Here's the Podcasts

         

*To the tune of Another Brick in the Wall* - 'We don't need no radio station'........

While Chance Radio is on it's summer sabbatical - Piley and I take Podrophenia on a rolling package tour, with the first stop being Southend's Railway Hotel.

Recorded upstairs last Tuesday while an open mic blues jam was a'buzz in the bar below - we pulled in a couple of those taking part in the blues-off - Tom Burgess and Jess Noah - for some improv tunes (Tom) and chat (Jess)..

We're back at The Railway tonight (upstairs) to record this week's edition with live music and  newly-minted tunes from Dave Woodcock. But to hear what last Tuesday in the 13th installment of the Podrophonic Alphabet - dig in and fill your boots and ears below

Podrophenia the Letter M 



 One that had to be put back on the record racks for a spin at some later date was...

 

One Chord Wonderful and Norman Watt-Roy's masterclass in bass soloing

Wilko at Village Green - photo by Paul Hughes

Behold! a three way video review of some recent weekend action ...

From Friday the 22nd June, TV Smith at The Railway..watch out for the stage dive at 50 seconds in







Wilko with a fluid fingered solo from Norman Watt-Roy at 8 minutes in..


 It really is all on the upswing in Southend at the mo'..

Radio Times/TV Times..

 

Following on from the Radio Podrophenia roadshow with a storming performance from TV Smith (full report here - we bring you, the lost TV themed Pouchcast. That's....

TV as in television, not Smith 

Pouchcast as in Paul from Pouch of Douglas, off the subs bench and in for me when I was off sick.

 And lost - as this show aired live in April, but so far has never been uploaded for download

If you're wondering where any new Podrophenias are Chance Radio is undergoing maintenance, so normal service should be resumed shortly

Radio Podrophenia - Television