Radio Podrophenia - Golden Years. Live from 9pm tonight

Tonight Piley and the other one will be reeling in the years picking one year a'piece and pitching in plays for Britpoppers and punks, disco dancers and glow stick ravers, indie kids and the Bowie brigade.

We're also hoping to be joined be a special guest Christian Philips, who's been part of almost every Radio Podrophenia by way of our intro jingle, played on the opening track of our very first radio run-out and had hit makers Alessi helping out on Make Do from his most recent album.

So which years Piley and I popping for, find out on Podrophenia live from 9pm at Radio Novalujon

The Sonic Executive Sessions

 

The Sonic Executive Sessions and Alessi



The Alessi Brothers

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


 

Sunday Sessions: music and movement

Snow stopped play for the last edition of the Sunday Sessions - but this weekend, we shall have.... a mix of blues, soul, boogaloo, funk, fatback and disco. A three course Sunday roast that includes...

Blues 'n' Boogie - Martin McNeill and the Bottletop Blues Band.

Decks 'n' discs - that's me.

A'drinking 'n' a'dancing - that's you.

So let's gather together at The Railway Hotel from four. Salut!

Lowell Fulson - Man of Motion

Radio Podrophenia - The Letter O

The latest Podrophenia podcast with Piley, David Jazzy Dawson working the desk, you-know-who -  comes fitted around the letter O. The 15th instalment in our Podrophonic Alphabet. Expect to hear: vintage punk , new tunes from local talent and pop classices re-covered.. 

As well natter and banter about the Queen Mother's book of condolence, Piley's creepy Dracula chum and some nut-popping monkey news.

You'll also discover what 'Spider-Man' and 'Umlauts'are (in a bedroom sense) get an earful of a salty new jingle from Phil Hubbard - and there's even a pop quiz. In two meanings of the phrase

Edition O is possibly our jazziest (in the mag sense) Podrophenia - so not recommended for the young of hearing

Radio Podrophenia - The Letter O

Or via iTunes

It's us! We've made the paper 'n' everything

I'm dedicating this post to the memory of Reg Presely - ashes to ashes, fairydust to fairydust...

 

Radio Podrophenia: Live and gigging

Boys, girls, bloggers and browsers - would you please, set your Podrophonic clocks for 9 PM tonight as piley and I return to the radio waves - for two hours of live chat, tunes and #hashtag natterabouts

You'll find us parked up in our all-new lodgings at Dave Dawson's Radio Novalujon - rolling out the letter O from the Podrophenia Alphabet

Friday night - you'll find us regrouping at Southend's Railway Hotel for a three way wingding built around two of the most exciting, pulse-pumping bands currently inhabiting known universe....

Eight Rounds Rapid race out of the traps first. Locally sourced and as salty and energising as a seafront breeze.

 

Thee Faction are heading up the event - blazing away with the finest Socialist R and B in the history of Socialist R and B. Think Dr Feelgood with a northern soul horn section (Brass Kapital) ..




And finally, Piley and I, dabbing about on and around the decks for an aftershow hoedown in the bar...nipping in tracks and tunes that could include..
   

Should you happen to be a Southender - try and grab last night's Evening Echo for a Podrophenia feature, or better yet - come and join us for a jive and some live entertainment Thursday, Friday or both...

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

Funk Friday - Live: covers, floor shakers and samples

Crate expectations

Remember backawhiles, before the music nattering masses migrated to Twitter. Facebook and whatnot - we used to get on some sort of a goodly foot by cueing up a few funky tunes of a Friday...

Well, if you're any stripe of drinker or dancer - wander your way to Southend's Railway Hotel tonight - where I'll be winging in a few fleet-footed frisky discs from 7 30 (ish). No bands - just you know who and a crateful of soul, funk, hammond, motown, northern, glam, garage and godknowswhatelse.

Playlist-free, (that's too prescriptive) - I'll be winging in sizzlers and scorchers to fit the mood of the room. Funky nuggets such as ...

Mo Horizons - Hit The Road Jack





If you're around or about tonight - why not pop in for bop

Invest your record tokens wisely - with these 5 from 12

Available at all rocking shops and in the know newsagents now - Vive Le Rock issue 10. It's a VLR standard that every edition is a bulging and bumper volume, #10 is filled with features: The Clash, UK Reggae, Duff McKagan interviewing Brian James

Reviews: TV Smith, D C Fontana and Paul Fox tribute albums from me

And, the top 5 albums of 2012 from the magazines writers and contributors. You'll find mine on page 67 or, have a squint below..

If you got a handful of record vouchers for Christmas (do they still make record vouchers) - I'd recommend trading them in for any/all of this selection....

Should you fancy an earful from each album - just press play