Podrophenia - Vinyl Finds and Lucky Dips

July's Podrophenia is a broadcast of two halves. In act 1 Mondo plays all new (to him) vinyl finds, while special guest Luke Mersey is laying down some digital goodies.

Then it's half time change ends while Luke gets to double decking, and Mond' presses playon the laptop.

And there's a niche don't judge a song by it's sleeve. Mayfair Train of Love in this case... ..

Style-wise it's a giddy mix of yacht rock, funky covers, nu-disco, nu-blues, urban grooves, NY Punk revisited and protest funk.. 

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Podrophenia double whammy download - Best of 2018 and....

The latest Podrophenia is up for download wherein we run through our our fave finds of 2018.. Leo C is live in session AND closes out the show with a Hip Hop primer for newbies - picking, playing and splaining which tracks and acts to check out..

There's two pop quizzes: Top Forty/Faulty how many of the best selling singles or artists from last year do you know?

And Bird or Band? - can you tell which is which...

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Additionally there's our advent edition from December (free of Christmas songs) with Jay Laker live,  which includes my vinyl finds of the year, while Piley does lucky dip on from his record crates..


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Podrophenia International

Our most recent  Podrophenia is up for download. While Piley is trapped in Telford - Daryl Gibson sits in with a sizzling international buffet of all vinyl tunery..~

We open with disco refit of a Steely Dan classic, then crate-dig through Jamaican Electro Funk, No Wave, Reggae, Yacht, Deep House. Plus a spectacular live Afro-jazz session from the amazing Dan Parker - taste test below and grab the full session here

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Podrophenia - Eclectic Ladyland with Doug Kaye

In the later sixties. Doug Kaye worked at his brother's Brook Street restaurant Mr Love - where Jimi Hendrix rented a small apartment above the shop, Doug was also the resident DJ at Mr Love and is featured in the recreation of Jimi's flat, and in the book Hendrix at Home.

Most of the albums played in this Podrophenia have been touched by the hand of Hendrix as Doug regularly lent albums to Jimi. So buckle up for crackling, popping top quality tracks from Doug's vinyl collection with tales of his time at Mr Love including meets with Jimi Hendrix, Nina Simone, Keith Moon, Dave Mason, Dusty, Richie Havens, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and a ton of others...

You can download here , stream below - or grab via iTunes

Podrophenia presents: Andy Lewis (Weller) , Adam Devlin (Bluetones), Steve 'Smiley' Barnard (Strummer) Billy Brentford ( Thee Faction) and Chris T-T - live tomorrow

If you're a fan of Joe Strummer/Paul Weller/From The Jam/ The Alarm/The Bluetones/Hoodrats Thee Faction - behold as Thee Cee Cees, a collective polling players from all of the previous, parks up at The Railway tomorrow  to officially launch their strictly limited 7" 'Have An Analysis' on Podrophenia Records.

Support comes from The Ends and Stern John, with Andy Lewis DJing til chucking out time, A bumper bundle all for free Southenders and out of towners

But, book early as for the last Podrophenia event the The Railway doors  had to be locked as we'd reached max capacity by ten pm.

So, could you click here if you're coming on Friday - so we know how many to expect .. salut..

Radio Podrophenia - veggie special, with special guest Billy Brentford...

Behold the first reveal of the third single on Podrophenia Records. The Cee Cees - Have An Analysis/Solution Songs..A limited edition of just 200..

Tune in to the latest Podrophenia for a spin of both sides of the single - book-ending a full tilt interview with Cee Cee singer Billy Brentford - who furnishes us with the album and single info, details on The Cee Cees Southend gig (book here) - and splains How Andrew Ridgeley invented Post Modernism

Fitted around Billy's blitzkreig spot - we dig up twelve of the tastiest vegetable based tunes. A medley of potatoes, peppers, peas, truffles, onions, beans,

Load up here with your listening ears.... or via iTunes..

Thee Cee Cees: The Revolution starts here – at 45 rpm

Behold rockers, rollers and revolutionaries as we bring you the next single released on the Podrophenia record label.. a sizzling seven inch slab of socialist stomping pop that'a had  meeja movers 'n' shakers describing it thus...

DANNY BAKER “enough invention and energy to power three-quarters of Europe”

 ZOE HOWE  “swaggering, sexy, hard-boiled rock ‘n’ roll with a conscience and a point to make”

 Vive Le Rock magazine  "9/10"


But who are Thee Cee Cees: a heavy-hitting line-up of punk ‘n’ Britpop rockers, fuelled by the spirit of industrial strength Thames Delta rockers and Oil City Rollers..

Steve ‘Smiley’ Barnard on drums (Strummer/Foxton/Archive/The Alarm)

Adam Devlin (The Bluetones’s) - guitar

Billy Brentford (Thee Faction) on rhythm & polemic

Andy Lewis (Paul Weller/Spearmint/Drugstore) bass & memotron

Chris T-T (Xtra Mile recording artiste & D.I.Y. music expert ) vocals

Kerry Schultz & Darren Hayman on other vocals

Buckle up and behold side A below

Dates and details, of wheres and whens will be with you shortly. And the first Podrophnonic airing of side 2 is due soon/  Salut

Broadway Blitz - The Ends live at Fives....

In its second week of release, The Ends You Write the Hits has sold out at both Norman Records and Rough Trade with top-ups being required at both boutiques..

Saturday (7th March) brought about the band's first in-store at Five's in Leigh Broadway - and what a stormer  with the assembled Leighsiders, seasiders and Southenders dancing in the streets, selling out the first batch of singles, and the home-town crowd, queuing for autographs...

With only one grumpy punter, being the auld boy, shuffling past the performance with his fingers knuckle-deep in his ear'oles...

Should you fancy catching some live Ends, head yourself to Soho tonight for three of our favourite Podrophonic things: Dave Woodcock, The Ends live at Blow Up....

7 inches in 4 weeks

Southenders and out of towners - the irreversible countdown has begun. For in four weeks time Podophenia brings you a triple whammy wing-ding of Southend's most combustible bands.

Canvey's Double Headed Jester -  Eight Rounds Rapid making a long awaited return the their home ground and the ever-fizzing Ends heading up the event.

The freshly pressed vinyl of You Write the Hits (I Write the B Sides) will be available on the night along with some other collectibles and fancies.

Our last get together with The Ends ended up (scuse pun) with our first Podrophonic mosh-pit, so who knows what could happen with this triple fisted bill

Should you fancy placing a pre-order - give Norman Records a knock here

Look-in: New video and sleeve art revealed for The Ends - You Write The Hits (I Write The B-Sides). On Podrophenia Records

Buckle up and behold pals: as we bring you, blasting their way out of Canvey's sea-walls- The Ends. As featured in session here on Podrophenia last year.

A live session in fact, that sowed the seed for the idea of our second release on the Podrophenia record label.

When can we get our sticky mitts on a copy they chorused. Febuary 28th...with a live night in Southend, Natch!

Tune in and and tell a pal...

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

60 Minute Man: Jukebox Jimmy's Guide to Rock and Roll

Boys, girls, rockers and rollers, for the next sixty minutes - let the Pellicci legend and pal of mine, Jukebox Jimmy take you by the hand and guide you through the streets of Rock and Roll..

 Jerry Lewis, Chuck Berry, Ricky Nelson, Jackie Wilson, LaVern Baker and roll call of other rockers are  pitched into play with narration, tales and context about the tracks and acts from Jim



All ripped and rendered from the vinyl library that makes up the JBJ collection. Fill your boots and brothel creepers below...

Jukebox Jimmy's Guide to Rock n Roll



For further foody doings - tuck into the ten minute treat that is Breakfast at Pellicci's with a couple of cameos from Jukebox Jim

Readabout, Writeabout - and listenabout, live tonight in London

Following on from last week's record shop round-up, behold as Eight Rounds Rapid Writeabout spends a third week on Norman Records best seller chart - and goes on to Rough Trade's recommended listening list.

But don't just take the rubber stamped Rough Trade/Podrophenia seal of approval as indicator of what a slam-handed wall of sound of the single is. The collected web whispers and reviews are glowing,  and gathered together below - a recommended reading list of the Eight Rounders reviews.....

Eyeplug Magazine 'Not for years has complaint rock sounded this mean, this exciting, brimming over with anger. An absolutely perfect storm'

Sputnik Music 'The infectious energy is absorbing on every level' 

Gigslutz - 'Fantastically unique – an exciting cacophony of sound that should not pass you by'.

Eyeplug Magazine (so good they reviewed it twice) 'venomous slice of back to basics rock n roll, coupled with socially observant lyrics'

Ralph's Life 'coming at you full on with post-punk ferocity, just plain nasty!'

RW/FF review and Track of the Day: 'A tune that I genuinely can't get enough of, and a must-listen for indie and punk people'

Fruitbat Walton - Top Ten Track

Should you fancy a blast of Writeabout. tune into this weeks Punky! Radio - or download here


Friday night is music night: live tonight in Londinium - Eight Rounds Rapid at the Spice of Life, Soho

Eight Rounds Rapid 'Writeabout' - outselling singles by the Arctic Monkeys, The Strypes, Beady Eye and Biffy Clyro.

It's been just over a month since Eight Rounds Rapid Writeabout was launched, and the reviews and radio play for our first Podrophenia release keep on a'coming

Last week saw the single go Top Five on the 7" Bestsellers list at Norman Records, moving more copies than singles from  Beady Eye and Biffy Clyro that week.

And we're back on the list (Top Five again) this week, with 8RR outpacing The Strypes and the Arctic Monkeys (see above)

Repeat plays on local, national and international stations have had a radio cherry on the top with Steve Lamacq calling the single 'the angry, edgy sound of Essex...'

Should you fancy grabbing a copy before they're gone (remember it is a limited edition - and becoming more limited week by week).  Writeabout is available to order online, or via a visit at these notable emporiums...

Rough Trade - London

Norman Records - Leeds

Sister Ray - London

Borderline - Brighton

Adrian's - Wickford

Slipped Disc - Billericay

Fives Leigh Broadway

Pouch of Douglas - Westcliff (below)

Should you fancy a taste test of the Eight Rounds Sound try out new tune My Mate
 

A temporary (shoulder) break in service...

 

Apologies for the sudden silence blog-pals, but I took a recent tumble while biking. Slam! Straight down, left shoulder-side.. which turned out be a broken humerus - and in several places.

The couple of weeks since have seen amazing technicolour shoulder to elbow bruising, a swollen arm - and hand inflamed like a cricket glove

.  

Hopefully back to all the usual soon, but until then - lend an ear to the flip of Eight Rounds Rapid new single...

 

 And if you like what you hear - bag a copy from Norman Records

Launched today: Eight Rounds Rapid new single Writeabout - the first release on Podrophenia Records

Break out the hats and hooters! The night has finally arrived for the wrappers to be removed from Eight Rounds Rapids vinyl debut and Podrophenia Record's first release 'Writeabout/Steve' - where live, tonight at Southend's Railway Hotel  (a venue fanfared in a recent Sunday Time supplement) - we have a three way wing-ding arranged for you….

From 9 (ish) Swindle - Southend's premier ballroom-blitzkreig-bopping punk tribute band covering the sounds of the suburbs heard during the Punk Wars. And in the tradition of Podrophenia switcheroos - I'll be joing the band on bass for tonight!

From 10 (ish) Eight Rounds Rapid - estuary bred rock 'n' rollers returning their first home-town gig since….(see reason 1)

From 11 (ish) The Podrophenia Roadshow -a muti-coloured pop-swap of double-decking from Piley and the other one

Still unsure? Have a listen to 8RR's Writeabout as featured on Steve Lamacq's show last Tuesday at 47 mins in - ' I recognise that venom' says Lammo

And Eight Reasons Rapid why you should haul your boogie Railway-wards tonight

1) It's the Eight Rounders *first* hometown show since supporting Wilko on his Farewell Tour. A homecoming gig you could say...

2) Writeabout/Steve is the band's vinyl debut.

3) This limited edition single is the only place you will be able to get Writeabout. Hand-numbered copies will be on sale tonight

4) They sounded fab on Gideon Coe last week (5 mins in). They sounded fab on Steve Lamacq (see above)

5) Eight Rounds Rapid sound even more devastating live - come and check them out

6) The glowing single review by Kelly Buckley in The Echo

7) There's a hot-rocking support band (Swindle) before. There'll be a podrophonic shindig afterwards with tunes such as....



8) It's all free

So get there early and you may grab a low number edition. We'll be seeing you from 8 tonight then....?

All the info you need to know about writeabout, tonight-about is hereabouts

Eight Rounds Rapid new single 'Writeabout' - out August the 9th, The first release on Podrophenia Records

Behold, boys, girls and inbetweeners: as in three week's time. Friday August the 9th. Eight Rounds Rapid release their first seven inch single. A limited edition run - and our debut recording on the Podrophenia label. So what do you need to know ahead of the ninth.....

Who are Eight Rounds Rapid
Southend's rising stars and estuary bred rock ‘n’ rollers, filtering Dr Feelgood Thames-Delta grooves through post-punk punch and new wave clout.

Where might I have seen 8RR 
Supporting Wilko Johnson on his Farewell Tour,
Supporting Thee Faction.
At Podrophenia live nights

Where might I have heard 8RR 
Previous single (Channel Swimmer) was played by…….
Mark Radcliffe (6Music and Radio 2)
Gary Crowley (BBC Radio London)
Radio Podrophenia


What do I need to know about the single. 
It's a limited edition 7" vinyl release - and the only format that Writeabout will ever be available on. The flip side Steve is long-haul live crowd pleaser and fan favourite.


When can I get hold of a copy
August the 9th. The Writeabout/Steve launch night is a free 8RR gig at Southend's most Rock 'n' roll local - The Railway Hotel. With support from The Tuppenny Bunters


What label is it on
Podrophenia Records- after five years as a radio show/podcast - with exclusive appearances from The Dandy Warols, Cornershop, Marco Pirroni - and endorsement from David Bowie - Podrophenia branches out into a new format. A record Label

You can get an advance earful of Steve in this vid. Now you know where, when and how to get yourself a copy - come on down on the Ninth of August.. IN FACT SIGN UP BELOW IF YOU'RE THINKING OF BOUNCING DOWN

Eight Rounds Rapid/Tupenny Bunters/Podrophenia - at The Railway

 

Tonight! Podrophenia - a Bowie Special and Eight Rounds Rapid secret single revealed

We are the goon squad and we're coming to town – for a Podrophenia Bowie special or Bowiephenia you could say.Beep-beep

What’s in our Velvet Goldmine of glittering goodies? Exclusive covers from The Wolfmen, the Southend Allstars (featuring Andy J Warhol, Ronno Jugg, Leee Black Andrews, Dave Woody Woodmansey and Mark Bolan) also Silvery and The Millipede Engine

Dave Woodock joins us for live music. And behold – a preview of the due-soon Eight Rounds Rapid secret single. Our first release on the Podrophenia label

8RR white label test pressing 

So come on all you young (and not so young dudes), Moonage Daydreamers and Lady stardusts – lean back on your Radio Nova Lujon for some cat’s layin’ down some rock ‘n’ roll. Lotta Soul

Join us at Novalujon – live from 9. Or swing by the Facebook page and say hello…

Daryl Easlea (previously of the Money edition Podrophenia) vamping like a champ last Sunday



One sidelined for tonight - can you spot the DB sample in this DB tune

 

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

Dear Diary:1980 - May

Phew! May is a month of high jumps and runarounds. Literally

Spooky doings on the 14th when a cracked and phantom voice started summoning me (by name) from the record player 'are you there' - 'come in'. Dark arts that had me bolting from the bedroom a'Scooby Doo style. Worra relief then. when, mystery solved! It turned out be a ham radio fan that had somehow beamed and broadcast himself from my speakers, trying to tap up a fellow enthusiast - one of the 'Spud' family across the street.

Sleeping in the park - not in anyway likely to be the soundest of nights snooze is it. Factor in being charged and chased by a local gang of older skinheads known as the Ant Hill Mob ( named after the Wacky Races mobsters - not for crime connections, more the bonehead-count they could cram into a single Cortina). Bolting off again to grab a few shattered hours in the back of garage forecourt 'Self Drive' transit van. No wonder Sunday was spent sleeping. And behold! Budgie spin-off series Charlie Endell Esq..

All that and,  a first shave, switching from DM's to Monkey boots (J J Burnell influence there) and local busybody 'Boing' poking his beak in.

Chart-wise it's just the Subs Teenage, but items bagged being: The Damned's debut album, and,  for the first time, dipping an indie toe outside Top 75 with two Crass albums and one single..

UK Subs - Teenage



Crass - Bloody Revolutions

Would you believe it -  the exact chart I flunked on my 'which year' Pop Master Q..

Top 75 singles

Top 75 albums

The full Persons Unknown foldout - incredible. And all hand drawn