Podrophenia live DJ set for your streaming ears

 Download/stream - The Podrophonic Sunday Session. Four solid hours of funk, freakbeat, reggae, forgotten Brit-pop, curious covers and Northern Soul all DJd live - and behold - a World Premiere of Billy Reeves ear-hooking new tune 'Trying to Ride a Donkey' - salutes to Pal Billy for chugging from the west end of the Thames to Westcliff on Sea for a Sunday arvo social ..

Photo intel by Piley and Lord Hastings DL HERE

Think Tank: DJ Paula Frost's new single Oxygen Tank

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

Check in with Paula at www.djpaulafrost.com

Soundr: Bankr Holiday special.. 25th May

For just over a year now. I've been running a bi-monthly night of disco doings - Soundr.

Wherein we spin in tracks and tunes from Daft Punk to Dolly Parton, Tom Jones to Grace Jones and Cher to Chic.. The next run-out is 25th May - at Soundr HQ or Peggy Sue's to give it it's official title..

Should you fancy sampling the vibe of the night - dig in to Snaps 'n' claps a freshly pressed mix swishy disco and deep cut remixes..


Event deets and dates are hereabouts..

Podrophenia's Fifth Anniversary birthday bash - one month today

Photo by Paul Slattery

Boys, Girls, rockers, rollers and residents within the Podrophenia postcode. On November the 14th. We celebrate FIVE years of one of Britain’s longest running podcasts - Podrophenia, (yes, we really have been doing our podcast, radio , DJing and live-night shenanigans for a FIVE years now!).

Naturally, the event takes places at Southend’s most rock ‘n’ roll local, and Podro HQ – The Railway. Upstairs, there’ll be live music from Canvey’s newest new wavers The Ends - with support band (TBA). Followed by Piley and self DJing for the aftershow in the downstairs bar…..


If you’ve ever listened in, downloaded, contributed to anything Podrophonic - come along, raise a glass, shake a leg and bring a pal. Kick off is at 8pm and we run ‘ til last orders. Salut!

Dates and details are all hereabouts

Art and about

It's that time of year when Southend's answer to St Ives - Leigh on Sea, puts on a parade of the finest artistic talent from in and outside of the area with its Art Trail. Taking a polite ramble around the upper regions of SS9, The Broadway, Leigh Road, or down to to the Old Town, you can tick off a list of thirty six artists displaying at twenty three venues - shops, cafes and bars. From dynamic ceramics to local musician themed coasters on sale at Micky Denny's improv Record Shop.. which, will be host to a few in-store performances on Saturday 14th June...

Grab your guide to the LAT hereabouts...

For earthier entertainment of a Saturday night, at Southend's most musical boozer - The Railway, there's a double fisted ding-dong of Thames Delta dynamite and London garage a go-go..

In the Essex corner: Bif Bam Pow return the The Railway for their first gig since, booming the roof off in their pre-season friendly with the Len Price 3 (match report here at The Retroman Blog).

In the Capital Corner: Londiniums Sonic Jewels head the up the bill. Described as 'Hendrix, MC5 and The Stooges whilst giving a nod of approval to 70's Glam Rock'

In between and after these two sets of tear-aways -I'll be pitching simpatico sounds into a strictly non playlisted run of whatever-fits-the-mood-tunes....

A couple roaring hits of late have included..






It all starts 8:30pm Southend Central Time. Come on down and shake whatever wobbles....

Radio Podrophenia - Bif Bam Kapow

BIF! Boys, girls, what-nots and rockers.. tonight, Piley and I return to Shipful of Bombs for the January instalment of our 12 part Podrophenia partwork, where, we're joined by Kate Johnston of the Girl's Guide II blog for a round-up of fave new tunes...

BAM! It's all a'popping from 8 Southend Central time. Tune in at Shipful of Bombs, or chip in at Chatwing

I can't tell you what's on the Piley playlist. But from my six pack expect: The Strypes, Primal Scream, a Norman Watt-Roy/Wilko team up and the Vitamin Beard powered Kadavar..




POW! Should you fancy catching one one half of the Podrophenia duo double-decking, swing by The Railway tomorrow night where the Oil City powered outfit Bif Bam Pow will be booming around the room with a two-set stint of Estuary fed blues and R 'n' B belters...

I'll be pinging in soul, funk, Motown, Norther, hammond classics, boogaloo, Ye Ye and anything else grabbable from my beaten and battered old record box until bunging out time..




All the deets and details are here - and I'll hope to see you there

Christmas Sunday Sessions: Some blues-blasting, a Beatles convention and a sack-load of new tunes

Boys, girls, grinches and humbuggers, roll up, roll up to Southends Railway Hotel for the last Sunday Session of 2013. A three walloper that includes.....

Martin McNeill * Bottletop Blues Band in the bar, with guests Tim Huskisson on and Steve West Weston on harmonica

A grab bag of fruity newly discovered treats and tunes, with some seasonal Beatles and funky nuggets nipped in from me before during and after the band....



A Beatles convention upstairs, with a parade of Southend's finest playing their way through the Fabs songbook...

This is my last post for the year, back in 2013 - with the usual whatnot and waffling - so see you then and have yourself a jumping, jiving Christmas and new year yardbirds...

One Chord Wonders, Eight Rounds Rapid, Podrophonic double-decking and a visit from Wilko.

TV times, Smith and Johnson - photo by Paul Hughes

We really do get the best guests, bands, boozers, dancers, photographers and audiences at our Podrophenia bashes. Saturday the 7th, was another hat-popper of an evening with assorted Southenders coming together and mixing with London callers all collecting together for the Retroman, Southend Punk, Podrophenia team up of ...

Eight Rounds Rapid - photo by Simon Siggs

Eight Rounds Rapid: who powered through an atom-splitting set of fan faves and new tunes (Bully Boy, I Want a Drink) like an Estuary-fed rhythm 'n' new wave groove machine.



After run of dates playing to 3000 gig-goers at Koko and similar size venues around the UK, 8RR's presence and power has bulked up Bruce Banner/Hulk style to the point where there's almost not enough stage for the band's skittering, riffs and rapid fire attack. And what a way to encore - with limited edition single (Podrophenia Records) Writeabout...

It's also the first time we've seen a press pit of photographers at any Railway gig

Punk'd TV - photo by Paul Hughes

TV Smith's: third innings at The Railway was a crowd rousing reunion at one of his favourite UK venues. A pure and practised pro, TV kept the crowd onside while working through a string break, managed to wing in a Christmas song, finished his set backed by a Southenders stage invasion and pulled in soundman Duncan Leslie for a duet on his One Chord Wonders encore.



Downstairs, post TV, Piley and self span in a selection of Podophenic mixtures. disco, funk, garage, mash ups, covers and ska eventually wrapping up at 1am with an improve sing-along to Prince Buster's Enjoy Yourself by the Rail(way)-voice choir...

Song of a preacher man - Podro a go-go

A huge thank you is due to anyone who raised a glass, shook a leg, took a pic, played a note and generally joined in with the most spectacular of Saturday Night shakedowns....

Saturday Night TV Guide: TV Smith and Eight Rounds Rapid at Southend's Railway Hotel

What a team-up, what a tear-up, what a two way split of Saturday night flavours are due at Southend's Railway Hotel tomorrow night. Why?

Put together and promoted by Retro Man, Southend Punk and Podrophenia - the evening's bill of events opens with Eight Rounds Rapid's returning to Southend after a snatch of London gigs and a slot supporting Wilko Johnson at Koko.. 

8RR have had a glowing year, gathering nods and noises from reviewers, record shops, radio presenters, and - have been voted as one of the best bands of 2013 by David Quantick.

Any remaining copies of limited seven inch Writeabout/Steve (Podrophenia Records) will be baggable on the night

Returning for a third visit to one of his favourite UK venues - TV Smith. If  you’ve ever seen TV at one of his solo shows you’ll know you’re never left feeling short-changed by his performance. Every syllable is deployed at full trajectory, as is each wrenched sweat-bead and shred-throated vocal.

Confessions, observations, opinions and solutions are are delivered with sharp eyed acoustic analysis. As TV said in an interview this week with our local paper The Echo 'The industry rejected me, now I'm rejecting it, and I can tell a better story at the age of 57, than I could at 17'

Post bands Piley and I will be slinging in a mix of Podrophenia favourites and floor-fillers until 1. Come on down, it will be a belter... If your winging your way down sign up here

The Sunday Sessions: Go West at Southend Central

Steve West Weston, recently voted one of the UK's top harmonic players by Bluesmatter mag, and the handpicked harpist of Muddy Waters son (see below on Jools) brings his Bluesonics to Southend for rare hometown gig this Sunday. 

It will be a red-ringed wing-ding of a Sunday with a whole lotta shaking going on at The Railway Hotel. I'll be taking care of DJ duties, spinning in swingers and stompers from before the first note (about 4:30) - to the last bell...



Come on down for anything from northern soul to west coast R 'n' R from Jackie Wilson to Jackie Mittoo and bouncers by Steve




And from my crates....

Shoreline Sounds and Sunday Sessions

A triple whammy weekender of words and music is scheduled around Leigh and Southend over the next few days.  The Shorelines Festival - curated by Rachel Lichtenstein, sees authors Cathi Unsworth, Robert Macfarlane, Travis Elborough and glittering list of others winging into town for events, readings and talks on their text and publications at a cross-campus of Leigh on Sea locations.

Outside of the various venues, Syd Moore and Ray Morgan will be giving literary themed walks and tours around the area. The full index of events and artists appearing at Shorelines is here

Musically SFOB will be DJing throughout the festival with Piley and myself doing two Podrophenia sessions from 6 - 7 and 8:30 - 9 Saturday evening.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, I'll be back at Southend's most rock 'n' roll local The Railway Hotel for my first Sunday Session since the summer.

The always excellent Martin McNeill and Bottletop Blues band will be onboard for live music and I'll be pitching in a potful of new tunes before and after the band - running on 'til chucking out time.

It all starts from 4:30 ish - come on down and shake a Sunday leg  Couple of tunes that could make an appearance at either event are

Freddie King - Low Tide

Art Rocks

Doodle a red ring around next Monday! As, in the tradition of Mighty Marvel Team-Ups we unite the Pouch of Douglas and Podrophenia to bring you ..... Pouchophenia.

A mixed medium of drinking, dancing and doodling and one of many events gathering together to form the Leigh Art Trail -

Come on down for sketching, shaking. sipping and special guests at The Ship - it's all free...details and
doings are hereabouts

Queen Beaches and Bewlay Bathers - it's Bowie by The Sea this Sunday

A drive-in Sunday in fact, celebrating the mod who fell to earth and widescreen Jean Genius of the artist formerly known as David Jones - where our Cygnet Committee will be spinning in hits, highlights, obscurities, rarities and related artists from the Bowie back catalogue

It will be an evening of glam, glitter soul and electrickery - played by an ever circling (not-so) Skeletal family of local DJs (they are what they play) each tuning in into a specific slice of the great Dame's timeline that breaks down thus…

Curly Dan (65-70)
Prof Andrew Branch (71-72)
Me (73-74)
Daryl Easlea (75-76)
Tom Seabrook (77-78)
Nikki Nicholas (79-80)

There's even talk of an in-house band firing up for some Bowie-oke

All the details you need to know are here so come along all you pretty things 'n' peoploids and fill your hearts with Bowie

Commencing countdown, engines on for 8pm - at Southend's rockingest venue - The Railway Hotel

A little known nugget from my assigned timeline which threads together and Alladin and Diamond Dogs is this cyberspace oddity

Mikabombing this Saturday and The Railway coming to Channel 4?

The explosive Mikabomb hit Southend's Railway Hotel this Saturday. Are they J-pop,  is it J-punk?. Either way, come on down and have a J-pogo.

Parked midway between The 5.6.7.8's and The Ramones, - Mikabomb's setlist is loaded with sweet-toothed treats that explode like space dust, and power along like the Tokyo bullet train.

But don't just take my word for it - Steve Lamacq calls them the best band to come from Japan.

It's all free, and I'll be DJing in the bar before and after the band from eight. Sicknotes will be exppected for non-attandence. All the info you need to know is here....




And what's this The Railway coming to Channel 4!!!

 

Sunday Sessions: Bank Holiday Hoedown and a free CD

It's that time of the month, when Martin McNeill and The Bottletop Blues Band return for their Sunday residency at Southend's Railway Hotel. Having said that, Martin, JJ (bass), Steve Weston (keys/harmonica) , Roy Webber (drums) - were in for an improv gig last Tuesday - where I even managed to jump on (bass) for a jam 'n' run around on this Gatemouth groover



So ready your dancing legs as it's bound to be a bank holiday blast with a similar swish to this recent session



I'm in from four spinning the tunes - with Big Bo (below) possibly popping up on the playlist. And early birds behold: I'll be bringing in a few copies of an all new comp' Rocking at The Railway packed with floor-shakers and faves from our Sunday Sessions...

Big Bo Thomas and The Arrows - How About it Part 1

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blues...

Can you find all four Fabs hidden in the pic

From today through to Sunday it's a three way whammy of music, gigging and disc-spinning.....

Friday: the long-awaited wedding of Southend pals Su and Jack, with a reception at The Railway. Stomping, shaking and shindigging will be taking place from 2pm through to who-knows-when? musically there'll be a selection of live music from local talent and (larger than local) legends. I'll be on the decks (and possibly on bass for a bit) pinging in an improv playlist of soul, funk and old nuggets and new treasures...
 

Saturday: National Record Store Day and a medley of local DJs Daryl Easlea, Curly Dan (pictured above), Beardy Al, Prof Andrew Branch of the Middle Age Spreaders and Podrophonic representation from myself are all parking up at Fives in Leigh Broadway, rotating actual vinyl records instore from 8 - 3. With live music from Hannah Marsh and Tom Burgess. A Dansette Disco we're calling it with double decking of these portable players. One on loan from home.  



Sunday: Britain's premium harmonica player - West Weston returns to The Railway for a rare home town gig with his band The Bluesonics. West's last blast brought out the full roll call of Southend's Rock Aristocracy. Assorted Feelgoods, Hot Rods, Tonight and Lew Lewis... I'll behind the bar doing tunes between the bands...

Outside of the Bluesonics. West records with Scandanavian combo Trickbag, the new album *title* is out now has been on a repeat loop play since first play. Dig in and sample West's fruity-tooting blues above

The Sunday Sessions - Wilko approved and with added Digby

 

Martin McNeill and the Bottletop Blues Band will be blazing away from 4 today at Southend's most rock 'n' roll local and epicentre of the swelling scene..  The Railway Hotel

Expect a jazz spin on this Sunday's swing-ding as legendary trumpeteer Digby Fairweather is aboard as the special guest

But don't just take my word for what hot-rocking heat Martin McNeill and pal's generate - they're rubber stamped 'approved' by Wilko Johnson - who, in our just published  interview (more on that later) had this to say...

They're a bloody good band. The whole of the band is really good - they're playing proper blues, which is quite a rare thing. The whole band is good - rhythm section, guitar - and the man himself.

And I couldn't let the death of the blackest of mambas go unmarked - so expect to hear..


 

Solomon Burke - Maggie's Farm

Get aboard with the double deckers

There's a dual action double-decking session over the next couple of days rocking away at the Railway Hotel, the epicentre of Southend's simmering music and social 'scene' (©Daryl Easlea)

Saturday from 7, it's likely to be an unscripted playlist of big 'n' beaty bouncers winging in everything from garage to glam, big beat to beatleg remixes to glam stompers and stampers



Sunday from 4, the award winning Martin McNeill is back for is every third Sunday, I'll be parked up at the bar rooting through blues, funks and soul - but trying to work in some never-before-played tunes...like..

Les McCann ltd Bucket o' Grease



Mini Vip - Block



So if you happen to round and about Clifftown Road, swing in for a scoop and a legshake

Two months in, two weeks apart - and we've already had two Gigs of the Year

Photo by Paul Hughes

Podrophenia Roadshow the Fifth was our most rammed do to date with representation from a sparkling selection of Southend scenesters: Zoë and Dylan Howe , the Middle Age Spreaders, Level 4 editorial team, a Polyvinyl Craftsmen. Musicians Darren Jones, Dave Woodcock, Wendy Solomon Tom Burgess and pals and Podophonic regulars E F Rice, Pouchy Paul, Simon Monk, Martin Read - were all aboard for a leg-shake and a post-gig shindig to the disco doings of Piley and myself.

Opening the evening to a (possibly over) capacity crowd, and kicking in after a Zoë Howe intro - Eight Rounds Rapid blazed through an unrelenting set, with all the clout and power of a raging electrical storm Dostoevsky, Steve, Britain's Got Talent (But Most of Us Haven't) - every track in fact connected with impact of a prizefighter's punch. As Billy Reeves of Thee Faction later said it was 'a defining performance'  an 'I swear I was there' gig.  similar to the Pistols at the 100 club or Manchester Free Trade Hall.

Breaking News: Eight Rounds Rapid are supporting Wilko Johnson on his Farewell Tour of the UK throughout February and March
 

Photo by Paul Hughes

For their triumphant Railway return, Thee Faction were bulked and buffed by the addition of a real live horn section Brass Kapital. As always - the songs are sharp, the between-song banter is both boisterous and inspiring - and the performances are powerhouse Revolutionary R 'n' B. Thee Faction are simply one of the most engaging, inclusive and welcoming bands to set foot onto a soundstage. Think Speakers Corner passion with Soul Revue swish....




Next, to Shoreditch and the groovy bar/boutique that is Paper Dress for a night of all out glam 'n' rocking. New-to-me The Blow were classic Les Paul based riffery - patrolling the borders between the Pistols, Led Zep and Jeff Beck.

After a selection of glam-stampers from my bag of discs and tricks, The Feathers delivered a set pitched at the pace of The Ramones with the sort of hooky choruses and ear-snagging anthems echoing The Revillos, The Runaways and Ronno-era Bowie. And behold two guests were on board a for loose-fitting re-tweak of the Dame's Cracked Actor Spizz Energi and errmm me!

But, let's leave the last word to Barry Cain who, said of our Feathered friends 'Great melodies, tight harmonies, glam and eggs. With the right direction they have huge potential.'

Electric Ballroom Glitz and Paper Dresses

Where the Wild Things Are

So, Sunday - was funk, hammond, Motown, disco - but, mostly reggae that sparked off the dance, leading into a live segue of me spinning this and The Basey Brothers picking up the Latin baton, then vamping a live version as the intro to their Sunday evening set.

Although tonight's earfuls will be spun from a much tougher cut of musical cloth. I'll be winging in a mish-mash bash of proto-punk, freakbeat, garage a go-go and all things good 'n' glamorous as part of my Mondophonic ad-hoc setlist. Tunes that will be set-dressing an evening of live music from two of London's rockingest bands at the capital's grooviest vintage boutique and bar - Paper Dress

Live-wise we've a double barrel bill of ....

The Blow

The Feathers


With me whacking in the sonic attack before, between and after the bands. If you fancy a preview - these two mixes should set the scene for the sequins 'n' spikes shindig.....

Harmonic Generation



33 and a 3rd Eye



The romper-stompin starts at 7:30 and runs until midnight. Paper dress also boasts one the most internationally panoramic bars in London with a bevvy of imported beer and fruity booze.

As Alvin said 'tomcat, you know where it's at' - so,  coo ca choos - haul your boogie, your bovver boots and platform heels to 114-116 Curtain Road and Paper Dress for an evening of stompers, spanglers and sparklers.

If there's any album that renders the essence punk, glam and garage into a nippy fist of pacey riffing it's the Heartbreakers L.A..M.F .  The notoriously muddy original mix, has been remixed, remastered and reissued several times But for an alt.take - lend an ear to the rare UK cassette mix. Distributed at the same time, but a sharper spikier sound than any other available version. And if you likes what you hears - grab a (free) copy hereabouts