One of the earliest entries on this blog involved Batman 222 wherein the Caped Crusader investigates a 'Paul is Dead' type mystery - September 2007 to carbon date the actual post.. A few weeks later it appeared in Word mag' ish 56, after a very generous offer from Mark Ellen to write 250 words on it...
Fast forward 13 years and a fantasticus chat was had with David and Mark for a birthday treat. In forty five mins, we cover: rock stars in unlikely places - comics. football programmes, Rod Temperton's dodgy toplines. The sky-high value of collectable comics.
My Radio 1 calendar/diary, with odd singles bought during this period, and tales including - Radio Luxembourg Roadshow comes to Southend - with m'self and pals getting drunk on crate of Crocodillo I won doing the pop quiz. Naked neighbors displaying. Dressing up as KISS at the School Arts Festival... and of course records bought
To Westcliff-on-Sea where our celebrating patron offers highly entertaining memories of the "white stiletto crowd" at the Lacey Lady in Ilford, the Fickle Pickle Folk Club in Southend, a 'Paul Is Dead' Batman comic, Toni Basil's effect on a Bowie sleeve, Petula Clark, Sex Pistols ads, a Goofy Greats compilation and the Ladykillers at the Pink Toothbrush ("Altamont meets the Muppet Show") - and we play Southend Stackwaddy and guess the psychedelic album that starts with a foghorn.
What started as a lockdown hobby-project - became, after a few months mixing and muddling with beats, bleeps, instruments - and the addition of Missus Jo vocals - twelve tracks of lo-fi vibes ... yacht-hop and trip-pop, by a duo called Buskr
Debut single Back in this Place with it's music-for-moomins vibe is out now.. Janice Long gave us our first needle-time on BBC Radio Wales - you can listen or DL the single here
For some background chat, you can catch us on BBC Upload
Or hear it announced as Track of the Week on BBC Introducing
The latest Podrophenia is up for download. where Piley, self and Lord Hastings spin in a playlist of lockdown listens: from Peaches to Public Service Broadcasting, newbie tunes from Bob Dylan and The Damned, Southern soul from Elvis and The Everlys. And two quizzes Nut or No Nut and Rotten Film Songs. Dig in and DL below
And behold a play of the new single from m'self and Mrs Mond' (Buskr - Back in this Place out 4th December Hottwerk) as heard on Janice Long last week ...
He's back - and he's brought his new book with him.
Steve Carr makes his third appearance in the pod (second of 2020 in fact), choosing tunes, relating R 'n' R tales and supplying handy tips for the vinyl buyer (wood glue and toothpicks anyone?) taken from the freshly pressed volume - Every Record Tells a Story
Musically we bring you the original version of Superstition (and it's
*not* Stevie) Cher regrooving Dr John, the Isley's refunking Stephen Stills, and a rocking new tune from ex Tubeway Army Sean Burke
Plus a bonus quiz - Blue or False. Is it a real Blue Oyster Cult title or Fake Blues
Dig in and DL here - or where ever you get your podcasts
All aboard as Podrophenia takes a ramble around the musical routes of Essex: from Harlow to Colchester and Romford to Southend. Joining us is Dave Alexander of the mighty Eight Rounds Rapid - delivering info and tracks from 8RR's new album Love Your Work. Then later taking over on the SFOB stereo and picking plays by fave acts and artists...
As we're unable to get to gigs, live nights or festivals in these strange days -
let Podrophenia bring the the music to you - with a festival celebrating the
best live albums, rare sessions and possibly concert recordings of indeterminate
orgin ..
Podrophenia the letter Y - is up for download: Chris Constantinou joins us covering his career from playing Live Aid with Adam Ant and Top of the Pops goss' - to The Mutants, The Wolfmen and his new 1000 Motels project with Rat Scabies, plus new Clash covers with @itsrudegrl
From the Podro playlist Lord Hastings, Piley and m'self spin in tracks including funky reggae, Toussaint's buried treasure and a non-skippable Yoko track also the only Roxy Music track written by their drummer. Dig in and download
During these strange days, I've been busying about making a lo-fi hip-hop album (of all the things) - several tracks are still being tweaked and tinkered with - but a handful are ready to ship out and share...
If hip hop instrumentals, lo-fi beats or night vibes and suchlike are your sorta scene, I'd be infinitely grateful if you'd lend a listening ear below, to the first tune I've upped since ye ancient days of Myspace
The track is inspired by the ghostly opening notes and tones of Stan Tracey's Starless and Bible Black (of all the things) from a jazz tribute to Under Milk Wood. A piece I was introduced to through David Hepworth's Essential classics - during a trip to the Welsh borders in 2017. Tracey's stately chords have been haunting me since first listen - the only way to shake them off was to create something of a similar riff.
Quinn Martin style Epilogue: through the digital rummage sale that is eBay I managed to bag a repress of Stan Tracey's album for a third of the going market rate due to a misspelling - 'Stan Tracy' having blind-eyed if from the usual searches
Salutes due to Wilko Wilkinson for the use of his artwork of amazingness
Podrophenia back in action tonight, with the power trio of Piley, Lord Steven Hastings and m'self - we gather together from our collective cloudbases for a socially distanced run through of tunes, chat, news stories and triv'.
ho are the IAI Association? Why was Danny Kirwin sacked from Fleetwood Mac, do The Monkees retain their Monkee Magic five decades on? Alongside these conundrums we'll be spinning in newbies from Sparks and buried treasure from Jimmy Winston and Brian Auger ...
Acousticus Maximus is the theme of our latest outing as we take a bank holiday trip to the wolds and wild places. where salty rockers switch heavy electrics for mellow tones and tunings, nestled in green nowhere for a campfire session - and a rock 'n' roll ramble around footpaths, falls and fells Dig in for unplugged outings from Led Zep, Free, Humble Pie, Ronnie Lane, Ronnie Wood with rarities, out takes and home demos from John Lennon, John Martyn and more
If you're wondering what the bed is 'neath the natter - behold..
The Soundr Hour - Yacht 2 Trot: wherein we take a second cruise around the smooth lagoons of Yacht Rock - from Rupert Holmes (not *that* track) to Robert Palmer, from Pablo Cruise to Captain and Tennille (not *that* track) - from obscure Dutch B-sides to Stevie Wonder's studio boffin with a scattering of 'surprisingly yacht' finds along the way. Pipe yourself aboard below shipmates
Saddle up for the Soundr Hour: wherein we take a canter around funky country, gumbo grooves and swamp-land soul. From Bobby Gentry to Bonnie Raitt, Elvis outtakes to Glen Campbell getting on the good foot.. s'all here..
The second edition of the digital C-60 is up for download. Night Vibes, wherein we take a drive through the backwaters and byways of Lo Fi, Trip Pop, Lectro and Chill Hop - with Nu Jazz and Broken Beats along the way.
Settle in and stream below - a couple of the sessions and vids mentioned are rendered 'neath the mix...
Behold the maiden voyage of the good ship Soundr, making our our way out with a freshly pressed mashup from Mark Vidler and closing with a timeless treat from Christian Phillips - we navigate our way through classic AOR, surprisingly yacht and Nu Yacht. Minimum chat, maximum tunes. Climb aboard below...
Brace yourselves as the Podrophenia/Harbour Bazaar team up takes a road-trip through the trippy periphery and fractured fringes of Rock 'n' Roll: Ian Pile Ian Pope Steven Hastings and m'self relay tales of shocky horrors ( murder, mystery deaths, drug casualties) from Jerry Lee, Skip Spence and Peter Green, the Beach Boys, The Beatles and Joy Division and rogues gallery of others...
Bringing light to our shade, we're joined by special guests Kev Daintree Ray Morgan , Jo Overfield and Rob Glazebrook with a bulging diary of events and festivals...
International DJ, radio presenter and reviews editor at Vive Le Rock and Louder Than War - DJ Paula Frost, drops in to give us the lowdown on her explosive new single Oxygen Tank out on the 20th March......
Hey Paula - how would you introduce yourself to the PM blog readers?
I’d say I’m a DJ from London who used to play drums in bands. I’m also the reviews editor of Vive Le Rock and Louder Than War Magazines. I’ve been DJing for three years now and I have been on a world tour playing in 14 countries including New Zealand, Croatia, Russia and Japan. Right now I’m about to drop my debut single ‘Oxygen Tank’ on 20th March so pre-order here!
Did your parents records or music you grew up on have influence on you?
Yes definitely. My parents are music lovers but not musicians. My mum got me into reggae and indie like Bob Marley and The Cure. My dad got me into punk like Killing Joke, The Clash and Crass. I asked for a harmonica when I was about 4, a guitar age 6 and a drum set age 7. But I had to show I was serious by practicing every day on pots and pans and taking lessons at school until they got me the drum kit! There’s a musical bone in my family, my uncle is a great guitarist and my Irish grandma was a fantastic piano player. Both self taught.
What inspired you to start Doing and was there a lightbulb moment?
I was working as a radio show producer on Kane FM and all my friends were DJs. When my band split up and I wasn’t drumming anymore, the DJs encouraged me to get my own radio show and start learning the craft. I was interviewing at first and just playing records one after the other. Then I started to pick up the techniques and get serious. Now I’ve played all over the world and had loads of amazing shows so I decided to start writing my own music.
What was your first gig?
My first show was actually a really great ‘I was there’ gig because it was the first ever Art’s Cool in Margate held at a pub on the seafront which is now part of Dreamland. I DJed old school tunes like The Clash and The Jam and people loved it. Then a new band played called SLAVES. They are major label big shots now signed to Virgin Records. Art’s Cool has now become a club called Elsewhere. So I consider that gig as a very good starting point of inspiration because everyone there has gone on to great things.
Is there a country where you especially connected with the audience?
I have played a lot of shows in a lot of different countries over the years so I’ve picked up a lot of new music and I feel that I can connect with audiences wherever I go. Its about doing your research and putting your own stamp on it. People abroad want to hear the kooky British records they’ve never heard before so it’s a bit easier! I definitely connected with audiences in Russia and I find European audiences absolutely brilliant. But shows in England are always wild too. We like to let go at the weekend! I’ve had a guy come up to me after a show and say “Tonight was special. I haven’t connected with my wife like that in years.” Moments like that are amazing to think you’ve got these people on the dance floor who are in their late 30s and have been working really hard to raise their family and you’ve just given them a night to really let go any enjoy each other’s company completely. That’s beautiful!
You’ve gigged globally - do you have many places left on your checklist?
I do have a lot of countries left on my checklist! It’s endless really. I’d love to spend the rest of my life playing shows all over the world. An American tour, Mexico, China, more countries in Europe and all the incredible festivals that pop up each year. You can never say you’ve done it all. There’s always a way to raise the bar!
Do you see crossover between the energy of punk and electro/drum n bass?
The crossover is that its rebel music. It’s party music and its youthful. I love big gatherings of likeminded people, they are so powerful. Peace is the most powerful tool we have and music seamlessly brings us together.
Have you got any tips for aspiring DJs?
I get asked this fairly often and I’d say it helps to build up a collection of the very best music from each decade and genre. Like I have a disco and funk playlist up my sleeve as well as a punk ’77 playlist. You never know. Also just be a decent, humble person and be tolerant of others. I don’t like diva DJs who need this and that and demand creature comforts. As long as I have food in my tummy and bottled water on stage I can’t ask for much more so lets rave :D
We heart rock 'n' roll: buckle up Pod-bods as Matthew Boulter, Mark Lancaster and m'self head out on the highway for a road trip through all territories of R.O.C.K..
From Nu-Metal to Neil Young, from Mogwai to Masters of Reality and from Sabbath with Rick Wakeman to Whitesnake tipping their mighty mullets to Motown. We also bring you Metallic classics rendered to digitized 8 bit and your birthstone/zodiac band names…
The January Podrophenia is up for download with Piley, Popeapedia and Steve Carr of the always excellent Every Record Tells a Story website - and m'self wherein we cover R 'n' R tales, truths, myths and fibs with a playlist ranging from Harry Nilsson to Son House, The Kinks to Cass Elliott - and lesser known originals made famous by The Carpenters, Elvis, Madonna and Manfred Mann
And we've a bonus guest spot from Kelly Ann Buckley gathering together news of the Wild Almanac Collective
