Fast Food

Relief at last as we have the promos ready for promo and have the freebies ready for those who requested them; so here's to their safe arrival, let me know when they get there. It seems to have taken forever to get to this point still we're happy with the results, well as happy as you can be give or take the odd panic attack. Recording is such a picky business, guess we'll have to wait and see how people respond to it. We have a bit of a rest as a band during October as Andy is away though we will be recording a band session plus interview for the Mark Riley Show on BBC 6Music on 9th October. I'm not sure yet when it will be broadcast. Good news is that recording takes place here in Manchesters Oxford Road studios just a stones throw from this old house. The November UK tour is shaping up nicely so please do check out the gigs bit of the site as new dates are being added regularly, we might just turn up on your doorstep. And then...last week I went to see Supersize Me, the truth about McDonald's movie [my partner loves anything to do with fat or diets]. There's not a lot to it. The director lives on nothing but McDonald's for a month and gets sick, liver problems, weight gain. A well made but ultimately dull TV documentary that somehow made it to the big screen. I knew it was a mistake from the off. My girl fell asleep half way through and I very nearly joined her. Meanwhile I just bought Donnie Darko on DVD which I need to see again and again to rethink the unthinkable. I was the same about Blue Velvet. Every home should have a copy, VPx

Art Showcase Time

I played the Carling Academy in Liverpool when it was the plain old Lomax back in 2001 before it got the neon lights sign outside and before that when the Lomax was in Cumberland Street on numerous occasions. Oh how the time flies when you're having whatever it is you are having. LOVECRAFT opened the night, the first time I'd seen their new line up, mainstay Craig Whitfield was appealingly unhinged throughout. I especially enjoyed some of the newer songs; great taught stabby guitar arrangements [they now have 3 guitar players] plus some classy Wilsonesque [Brian not Marie] backing vocals from the guy who looks like Gerry Garcia. Trademark toys were also in evidence. LOVECRAFT are my favourite band of the here and now bar none, I believe they are the future sound of something different, something risky, something nobody's quite worked out yet. That's my opinion and I'm stuck to it. They're dead young. Give them time.We enjoyed the Academy gig despite a few technical hitches at the start. I was already in a mood cause they [the wicked sound crew] made me take off all my pedals after the sound check and re set them up minutes before we went on, they'd also messed around with Andys' leads, so it all got a bit rushed and then someone locked us out the dressing room so we couldn't get the guitar tuners...then we were on. Still I'm not bitter...not at all. Some old friends turned up and heckled me with gusto asking for songs from the early 90's that I can barely remember writing which was kind of touching. Shame they all got chucked out before I could say hello, all except Terry the Turnip, Harry Potter Senior and Rapunzle who all helped carry the gear. In total contrast to the cavernous Academy I played another Liverpool gig of acoustic intimacy on 23rd Sept in Kensington Community Centre where I was auctioned off, song by song, by Bill Drummond. The Southport Soup gig scheduled for the same night was cancelled. I'd never played an Art Auction before. There was a web cam and some community debate. It's purpose to sell remaining art and other stuff, furniture and suchlike from the Linosa Close tower block in celebration of the last of it's residents moving into new accommodation on the purpose built Sheil Road estate that surrounds it. The block was used as temporary accommodation for many artists staying in Liverpool over the years, much of their work was included in the sale. Lots included the security guards samurai sword and a key cupboard containing all the keys to all the flats that are soon to be no more, each with brightly coloured plastic fobs, an impressive luminous memento. A short story written in Linosa Close on an old typewriter by Will Self was also up for grabs. The block will be demolished soon. Bill was also there in part to progress his twinnings project [Kensington in Liverpool with Kensington in London]. This involves a kettle exchange [1000 kettles], a meal at Hilton Park and an exhibition at the Tate. There's more info on the site at http://www.penkiln-burn.com More gigs along the SOUP LINE are planned later this year and a live album will follow, if you live on the line you know what to do, VPx

Throat Coat

No throat coat at Boots so I've made do with some lockets and anti septic spray, my voice is in shock, I've spent the day tucked up in bed on the proverbial sicky. I blame the out of the blue 5 roll up ciggy relapse at last Fridays Hull gig, which went well enough, still that's addiction for you, catching me unawares [OK so poor excuses are part of the denial]. I've forewarned Julie in The Analogue Cat that my singing tomorrow [where we're due to finish the recording] might well have to be rescheduled, still I'll turn up anyway and hope for the best. Hull was great, very welcoming, good food and drink and all round atmosphere, a lot of this down to Paul, owner of The Adelphi, and the gig too was a lot of fun. I never did get to play that return game of pool with John, so he's still gloating like a champion. Next week I meet up with him and Bill Drummund to plan more SOUP SHOWS, they're staying in Liverpool where I'll be joining them for a shin dig of sorts. And now I'm wondering about the origin of the shin dig expression. I hope I'm fit for the Liverpool show on Saturday as we're trying out a new splitter van for the occasion which means I wont have to drive. I also wont have to smoke ever again on last weeks reaction, still I knew that already. On the plus side I've done nil by lung for the last 3 years or so, which is something I guess. I heard from Jamie in the week, tompaulin singer and a good friend [and totally forgiven for breaking my guitar]. Their new album is all finished and ready to go on the track and field label. From the little I've heard I just know it's going to be something really special. You get a feel for these things. There's a track on it called Useless which has haunted me since I heard the demo some 3 months ago. It's beautiful and slow and awash with sadness, like all the best tunes. So good luck to them with the forthcoming release. Some day I'll have to sort out a gig with them, it's been ages since.VPx

Twinned with your darkest thoughts…

We’re off to Hull today to do a gig at the legendary Adelphi, my first time there after nearly playing there so many times over the years, looking forward to seeing John Hirst who is the Artist in Residence to both the City of Hull and the Adelphi. We share an enthusiasm for the shipping forecast. Mike and Andy played there with Aziz awhile back and we’re travelling to the gig in Aziz’s new Toyota 7 seater dream machine, which is nice of him and should be a lot more comfy than the usual. We’re a three piece again as Tim’s got a Cavern Beatles Bingo gig and Craig is not quite match fit [we couldn’t ask him to do it after only 1 hours rehearsal] though he should be guesting on some of the songs in L’Pool next Saturday. Craig’s band Lovecraft are also playing and are quite frankly amazing so if you’re going to the L’Pool show be sure to catch them, they’re first on. We recorded the new single Man about the House b/w All the Love in the World part2 [at last] at The Analogue Cat in Sale last week and finish off mixing a week today and it sounds great [I would say that wouldn’t I]. Rob Ferrier producing and the delightful Julie Analogue a perfect hostess with the mostest retro gear/instrument collection this side of Abbey Road. We’re still looking at November release to tie in with the tour. If you have requested free copies of the promo please give us a few weeks to press them up, they should arrive by the end of October. VPx