Podrophenia presents PODSTOCK

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 ..

Including the Faces doing Flanagan and Allan 

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Podrophenia Goes Plus Size

Podpals: we're not boasting when we say this is the biggest Podrophenia ever.. Piley and Mondo bring you Jordan and Kyiah from Big Jacket live in the studio, who also pick some cherished tunes. A live Jingle from Phil Hubbs, an extended run of big songs, long songs and tall tunes as well school and size puns... All here for your listening ears...

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Five, live years of Podrophenia nights

Tomorrow we celebrate five years of Podro live nights here

Our first being a team-up with Retro Man - featured Bif Bam Pow and the Len Price Three

Our last was Thee Cee Cees featuring Joe Strummer's drummer, Paul Weller's bass player and Billy Brentford of Thee Faction

Between both we've been visited by travelers to Southend from Yorkshire and Holland.

Had sleb punters, Mike Herbage, Paul Slattery, Wilko Johnson and Gaye Advert
And Stage invasions, three single releases and me depping on bass for one gig

If you've ever done anything Podrophonical: downloaded, appeared in, played on, contributed to, bought a single on our label, been to a live night We'd love to see you there - if you're a long time listener/first time caller - we'd love to see you there.

If you can make it come on down and dig in for a twin-fisted evening of post-punk and power-pop from Invaders and Treatment - at Peggy Sue's  Leigh on Sea

 If you can't - spread the word and whispers with this link Salut...

Radio Podrophenia - Motorphenia

For the March edition of Podrophenia Piley and I bring you a line up of rumblers and runners including funk, soul and rock 'n' roll.

We're looking to build a car from band names or songs.. Turin Brakes Graham Bonnet The Doors Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels These Boots are Made for Walking Drivers Seat Pull up to the Bumper Mirror Man

And live in session expect maximum whack from Southend's swaggiest band Rollin' Machine. We get the green light, open the choke and press the accelerator live tonight at 8pm on Ship Full of Bombs

I'm with the band: catch us live tomorrow and this Saturday

Eight years on from kicking off my cyberspace allotment, we've ended up doing the loop.

How so? Originally - the PM blog was setup off the back of a band I'd just finished with as way to fill out (some may say flannel) about my own solo music I'd be working on, with those tunes being hosted on Myspace (remember Myspace?).. But after an offer back in June to join Howling Black Soul (who we've been given repeat plays on Podrophenia, and were on the bill for our fifth anniversary bash last year) Huzzah - I'm the new bass cadet for the band...

Gigs have been regular to date, including head;lining The Railway's Eight Birthday Bash and a support slot for the ever-blazing Barrance Whitfield and the Savages. This Saturday we make our debut at Peggy Sue's Music Bar.. with a mix of tunes we've never played before and tunes you won't have played before and me DJing after...



Should you fancy an earful of HBS ahead of Saturday's set - tune into Podrophenia tomorrow 8pm Ship Full of Bombs where, we'll be live in session..

Hope to see you on the wireless stats tomorrow, or live on the night this Saturday.. Salut

Podrophenia - our 100th edition. Live tonight with The Long Run in session..

Is this thing on? Our first Podrophenia 2009 

One bumbly summer evening in July 2009, Piley and I parked up at his place with a few scraps of adhoc tech, borrowing Tiny Piley’s toys and trimmings as mic stands – to record our first Podrophenia podcast...

who'da thought 6 years on and 100 episodes later, Piley and would still be trundling along with our ol' Podro-biz. Or, Adam 'n' Eve some of the capers, characters and carry ons we've been involved with during the duration..

If you've ever listened, downloaded,chipped in, phoned in, been a guest, bought a single, made a jingle, played, danced or drunk at a live night, whether your an early joiner or late adopter - salut! And it would be a roaring treat if you could tune in (tell a pal) and join us for our 100th edition tonight 

We’ll be live from 8 at Ship full of Bombs. With our first ever musical session guest Darren Jones joining us for an indoor/outdoor broadcast upstairs at The Railway, Southend. And bringing his full band - the appropriately named The Long Run (and an audience of pals) with him..

Darren Jones - in our first ever Podro-session 2011...

Theme-wise, we’ll be winging in some unplayed favourites fitted around some of the 100 themes Podrophenia has rolled out over the ages. You can tune in here from 8 at SFOB – or chip in via the chat room here..

For further Podrophonic shenanigans - you can also catch us doing our tune-spining thing at Southend's biggest music festival Village Green Festival this Saturday...

Piley and I will be parked up in the games tent between 12 and 6 (ish). Then appearing on the idea13 stage between 7 - 7 30 along with some of fave band Howling Black Soul and The Ends

The VG programme, map and guide is grabbable hereabouts  

Moshrophenia

Photos by Paul Hughes

What a wingding. What a Shakedown. What a tear-up. An evening of  triple win amazingness was had by Howling Black Soul Dr X , The Ends - and the Railway's assembled drinkers and dancers.As Piley says it was like having three headliners.

Huge salutes due to everyone who played, danced and drank and Duncan on the desk for the wall of sound..

Howling Black Soul were majestic. Their album is already one of Podrophenia's highlights of the year, but live they somehow even outdid that! Incredible sound, proper R.O.C.K vocals!

Leicester's Dr. X were playing their first ever show in Southend (possibly Essex, maybe the South in general!), and what a treat it was. Mesmerising seeing them create such a amazing sound from home made, hand-crafted instruments, ingenious! Loads of great feedback on them during the rest of the evening and the CDs seemed to be selling well too!

And The Ends? They are like an incendiary bomb going off! A sonic boom of unrelenting energy . Power-pop punk tunes, super-chargedstage presence, and an electric bunch of musicians.

And behold our first moshpit - so lively that even lead Mike dived in! .Southend rocks..


And watch out for the large format poster of the Ends new single sleeve (and vinyl debut) out on Podrophenia Records in 2015

Hurrah, hats aloft and here's to the next five years

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

Podrophenia: a Five Year Mission to to explore strange new sounds

This evening Piley and I celebrate and mark our fifth Podrophonic Anniversary! Five years that started with us parked up at Piley HQ playing records and a ball-pit, to tonight where we'll be broadcasting live music from The Railway's ballroom

During however many shows it is! (I haven't kept count) we've migrated from as-'n'-when podcasts to regular live radio run-outs. Had sessions from a scrolling rollcall of southend talent:. David Woodcock, Darren Jones, Roman jugg, Andy Gallagher, Syd Moore, Hannah Marsh, Tom Burgess, Philious Williams Steve Hooker and the Glass Brides

Been lucky enough to bring in a gallery of guests for chats and natters. And were on to our 8th live night at the last count, Podrophenia (and sometimes Retroman team-ups) always superbly shot by Paul Hughes, that have included storming performances from the Len Price 3, Bif Bam Pow, TV Smith, Dick Yorke, Swindle, Andy Gallagher, Thee Faction and - Eight Rounds Rapid, the rising rockers who became our first release on the Podrophenia label

Random Podro moments: a flashmob review from the listeners on this single. A stage invasion at our TV Smith night, being bootlegged by Russian sites. Although of all the hot-spots and highlights - getting the offical endorsment and approval of David Bowie will be hard to beat..

A magical, and musical mystery tour that has taken Piley and I to places and people, we couldn't have in anyway expected when we chuckled and bumbled our way through that first sixty minutes of tunes and chatter in July 2009

If you've ever listened live,downloaded a podcast, chipped in, appeared in, commented, suggested a tune, bought a single, shaken a leg at live night - we'd love it if you could swing by for a listen in tonight

Or if you're local pop down to the Railway for our indoor/outdoor broadcast of a live session from Southend's chippies nippiest band The Ends




A huge thank you is due to everyone who's ever done any of the above

You can listen live from 8pm Southend Sentral Time here at Ship Full of Bombs and chip in at Chatwing...

Salut and here's to another 5

x

The wunderbar experience of playing bass for Ed Tudor Pole (Friday) - followed by cockle-rocking beats (Saturday)

A four-way whammy of winners were on Friday night's bill for The Railway shakedown. I'd managed to grab a loose-blues jam with opening act BONE down In the bar earlier that evening, but due to a few backstage scoops missed his and J.D Smith's main stage sets.

Instead, I crept in late to catch the incredible and insane world of Thomas Truax. Who, travels minstrel style around and about the hemisphere pitching up for gigs with an orchestra of self-built percussive and musical mechanicals. The Mother Superior,The Hornicator: think Wilf Lunn goes steam punk for a David Lynch soundtrack, with each song and instrument introduced and contextualised in a Rich Hall style Texan drawl.

Like TV Smith's solo sets - Ed Tudor Pole, sand-blasts punk's energy and attitude back to raw, acoustic roots, deploying his set as almost protest-folk in the tradition of Wat Tyler meets Woody Guthrie. Still as animated and erratic as when first stepped onto a stage to audition for the Pistols, Pal Ed is Wide-eyed, excitable and engages with audience, fidgeting 'n' twitching around the stage like a battery hen liberated and let loose into a widescreen horizon

At the close of Ed's set an in-house scratch band - Dave Deville, (guitar) Dave Dulake (drums) me (bass) were summoned onstage for a few Chuck Berry numbers, a gospel cover and of course Swords of a Thousand Men. And what an absolute first class blast was had by all. A blinder, a belter and teenage dream to share a stage with a former Sex Pistol (albeit by his own admission for just two weeks) .

 

Saturday and it's along to Old Leigh way for the Woodcock Festival. A shuffle of pre-booked bands and open mic types. After Dave Woodcock kindly pitching up for Podrophenia so regularly - it was a treat to be able to join him for an outdoor jam, with a pint on the table, the estuary behind us and the Crooked Billet ahead, blasting out the Chuck Berry and Little Richard covers.

There are even whispers we may be reuniting for a repeat performance on the 28th of April at the Sarah Moore - should you be buzzing about the Broadway that evening.

Podrophenia - The Years-cast: tunes, chat and live music sessions

Paraphrasing the old football cliche - the latest Podrophenia is a show of two halves - what starts out as the regulation songs and natter, become, midway through, a run of improv guest appearances and live music with a drop in track from Phillious Williams (below) and a double-header session from from Blow Up record's latest signing - Dave Woodcock (above)

There's exclusive news on Dave's debut single, breaking news on the formation of a punk super-group and an Elvis rarity

And behold as a new Podrophenia jingle is birthed in front of your very ears. All contained herein....

Radio Podrophenia - Years

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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


 

Podrophenia Parish Newsletter....

Dear Parishioners and Podrophenians - exciting times are ahead of us as the new year unfolds - so behold and become involved with our January and February programme of events and offerings .....

Radio: Next Thursday (31st Jan) sees the start of a new run of monthly live Podrophenia shows, with us parked up at Radio Nova Lujon. We can't wait!

Roadshows: One week today (1st Feb) sees the first live Podrophenia event of the year... and what a way to start! Back by public demand, the ultimate team up of Thee Faction and Eight Rounds Rapid. Piley and the other one will be spinning tunes in between and after through until 1 am. The venue is The Railway Hotel in Southend, free entry! And There's even talk of a guest DJ before the bands take to the stage - TBC.

But don't take our word for what a blazing night this will be - behold Thee Faction's take on the team-up

For a visual swatch of what both bands are about dig in below...






So, should you have a free evening next Thursday or Friday we'd be delighted if you are able to attend any of our gatherings - either , groups gigs or get-togethers via the wireless...

Rock and Roller Disco

It's the first Sunday session of the year at Southend's Railway Hotel - with an afternoon jam from Martin McNeill and the Bottletop Blues Band. I haven't heard the news of who's on board for the hullabaloo yet. But Jazz ledge Digby Fairweather turned up for a toot or two at the last bash...

As has become a Sunday standard I'll be nipping in the tunes around and between the bands. Surprisingly, tunes with a disco twist (AWB, KC and the Sunshine Band, Chic) have become the surprise hit floor shakers since the end of December.

Although this week, having picked up a spectacularly generous Chuck Berry Chess box (seventy five tracks for six english) I may be going heavy on the Berry to begin with....

Should you be round or about from four - come and stake a space on the The Railway dance floor - you could hear anything from Chuck Berry to disco boogie.

Chuck Berry - Rockin At The Philharmonic

The Sunday Sessions - Mix 'n' Match

I've had something of a run of DJ sets at The Railway over the last few weekends, with every session having a different fitting, variation or twist

Mo Fingers - I leant heavily on the Hammond, soul and funk Last Friday - three and a half hours straight (with only 3 drinks and 1 comfort break) - was mostly a medley of Motown, New Orleans and northern until 11pm - followed by indie, 90s and assorted nuttery til 1 (including the Joe Loss Orchestra's Steptoe Twist)



While last sunday, for the Marc Cecil Soul Session, groovers and shakers with everything from AWB to Louis Jordan and Prince Buster were pitched into the ad-hoc playlist.

This coming Sunday, Martin McNeill is back for his regular residency with West Weston and his harp - (last seen on hooting and honking on Jools' Later).

So expect some bluesier tunes from me starting at 4 and high-firing live music from Martin and the Bottletop Blues boys from 4 30.

Lowell Fulson - Everything That I Took Away 

Takeover TV

Photo by Lynne Blackburn

Phew - we've had some properly rocking nights at Southend's Railway Hotel - but last Friday's three rounds rapid raised the roof to an all new altitude.

Photo by Graham Burnett

Round 1: The Tuppenny Bunters - swapping instruments, but sharing the same hairdo (and continuing the Brian/Anita, Mick/Bianca, David/Angie matched pair tradition) - ram-raided through covers: Wuthering Heights, Pop Goes the Weasel -  and originals, with crashing drums and gnarly  growling keys, at a pace not unlike a 33 played at 45 (or 78 for some gallops).

Photo by Paul Hughes

Round 2: Dick York and his infectious, ear-worming, catchy originals - Could it Be has been rocking my noggin all week long - and what's this! Behold: an improv appearance from Mrs Dick for some punk poetry,

Photo by Paul Hughes

Round 3: TV Smith took to the stage just nudging near midnight - to a heightened, heated, gathering - powering through a sweaty, solo set of self-penned material.

Watching him working his guitar as weapon of trash destruction is almost Woody Guthrie-ish with the unrelenting acoustic attack and clench-fisted strumming. So wired, fired and inspired were the gathered masses - we even managed a stage a invasion of Southenders United for TV's final song... The Good Times Are Back.



This was our third Retro-Podro team up (and second with the Southend Southend Punk). And a  huge salute is due to TV Smith, Dick York, Fi and Dave Dulake, Steve Worral, Steve Pegrum, Piley, Hannah at the Evening Echo and all our Southend and out-of-towner pals who made the evening such a runaway rumpus

Sunday Sessions: a funking about by the river special(s)

Sock it to 'em JB

Following a Sunday off - the boy Marmite and I are back and installed behind bar at Southend"s Railway Hotel ,  dabbing about with the newly patched in Radiogram.

Taking the floor from four thirty are Marc Cecil's three piece: The Band With No Name - a free-form funk outfit riding live and unaided by the safety net of setlist or rehearsal. What you hear on the day, happens, as it happens - without any prep or pre-production. Of course it can only help if the collective are a power trio of pro-players: Marc (drums), Julian Burdock (guitar, harp, vox) and Dan (bass)

Working around a sound that's perhaps more good footed than the usual Sunday shenanigans - Marmite and I may tweak this Sunday's setlist with a funkier flow than yer typical Sunday sesh...with these Specials themed groovers getting a run out


 

Podrophenia Roadshow the third: Backing the USSR 'n' B

Calling all residents of the Podrophenia postocde: Saturday the 8th September, sees the third Podrophenia live leg-shaker, with Piley and I bringing you a tricolour of musical treats live at The Railway Hotel. A three way shakedown pooling together talent from all along the watchtower Thames Delta.

In the Canvey Corner: The Long Run. A fully formed band fronted by Darren Jones as seen on Podrophenia TV...




In the Southend Corner: Eight Rounds Rapid. As heard on Tom Robinson's 6music
   


In the London Corner: Thee Faction, a left dressing socialist, soul-stomping collective, hoofing all the way to opposite end of the estuary to showcase their new album - Singing Down the Government

 

Piley and I will be firing up the Railway radiogram between the bands spinning in funk, soul, covers, and curiosities.It all kicks off from 7pm - so come down and join in the jamboree

The Podrophonic Alphabet. N is for...

Worra pair of Nankers

Back after a summer break, Piley and I roll out the 14th instalment of the Podrophonic Alphabet: N: for new tunes, new bands, New York, Piley's Newsround as well hoots 'n' toots for the third Podrophenia Live Night on September the 8th at Southend's Railway Hotel.  You'll find tracks from all three bands (Thee Faction, Eight Rounds Rapid and The Long Run) on the bill popped into this edition, as well what is a Nanker Phelge - see above.

We've also got a mystery theme tune, some natter about a night out with Hugh Cornwell and and a drop in appearance from Blow Up Records boss Paul Tunkin - so dig in and tell a pal!

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Podrophenia - The Letter N