Works night out

The Vinny Peculiar Christmas works night out finds us in the dear old Knot Fringe Pub in Deansgate where we’ve booked a table, our favourite table in the corner no less, the one with the carved medieval chairs and views of the street. Mike’s here by taxi and Ben Knott is on a lift promise. Andy and Ben Cooke are accustomed to floating across cities without wheels meanwhile I’m the only sucker daft enough to have come by car. I regret this almost immediately but don’t have the wherewithal to do anything about it which makes me the honorary shandy man, an accolade usually reserved for Mike. Anyway, all’s pretty much as it should be; we drink up and get merry, talk about the highs and lows, plan a bit and dream a bit. I manage a couple of roll ups and wonder how on earth it came to pass. On the way back to the car I discard what’s left of the tobacco in my attempt to return to planet clean lung. We had a pleasant night. I’d like to report some bizarre occurrence, some strange and wonderful happening that made it such a memorable occasion but I’d only be making it up. Andy Mike and Ben went back to Bens and I went home, drank some herbal tea, went to bed and read an article by Bill Drummund from the FURTHER MANUEL, the one written in the Liverpool tower block Mimosa Place. Very good it was too. On a different tack we’re off to record in Gothenburg in early January with Spooner producing; he’s currently working with Swedish Psychedelic Rockers The Soundtrack of Our Lives who are somehow implicated in the opportunity. Then to Ireland at the end of January [see the tour dates]. We also have shows in Brixton and Aldershot. After that give or take the odd gig we’re focussing on recording, hopefully in Sweden assuming we’re happy there. I love the idea of recording in cold and foreboding Sweden. I should be perfectly at home there, of course none of this is in tablets of stone but I thought I’d tell you sooner than later as anticipation is so much better…well it is according to The Delta Five, a Leeds band circa 1982, who are fondly remembered by a few of us, me included. A small UK tour is being planned for April to push the single which we are still undecided on, a toss up between Man about the House and Two Fat Lovers. One last thing, thanks to all who have made contact via email, at gigs, in supermarkets and on street corners, via spiritual voids or pathways of righteousness, whatever…thanks for that and I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Until then if not before, best wishes, VPx

Blue

It’s late in the afternoon and I’m driving to Rhyl to play my second solo gig this year at the Blu Bar. It’s pissing down still visibility on the A55 is dramatically improved when I purchase and infuse some screen wash. I eat sandwiches on the way and get crumbs everywhere and think about the holidays we used to have here as kids spent mostly in amusement arcades on those 2p penny shove machines. Caravans were also a big part of it. I arrive in good time. The gig is on the second floor of the bar and the PA guy is ready and waiting. The Casio dies after some dodgy wiring problem leaving just me and the guitar. Soundcheck wise everything is sound and checked, then a local ska punk outfit come seriously close to dancing on my guitar [we’re still in the soundcheck] and I’m forced to have a word in their ear [I feel like their dad] about the sensible distance between my expensive pedal board and their doc martin boots. They respond appropriately but it could have gone either way. After this I go to the car, make some calls and finish off my sandwiches. I feel irrationally uneasy. Returning to the venue everything is as it should be, gear intact and support band in full swing when for no good reason I smoke a cigarette rolled from the remains of a dusty pack of Golden Virginia donated by Gav at last weeks Glasgow Gig. I promise myself that it’s just a one off. I meet up with Carl from local band Gintis and we talk about the NHS and The Music. Carl is playing at the Night n Day here in Manchester tonight; I realise I should be there but I’ve not long got in after a return trip to Habitat to change a picture for a thousand words. Sorry Carl. The gig is enjoyable, I get a request to play Flatter and Deceive for an encore which is nice and just about get through it as I’ve not done it for ages [many thanks for the request should you be reading this folly], most appreciated. Steve who runs the gig pays me off and I’m out of there but not before a few sales most notably to a guy who last saw me on the Jools Holland tour in 1997 when he was just 16. Now he has a mortgage and a baby which gives me that where did the time go feeling but in a nice way, best, VPx

Alone again or

Back in the world of solo gigs and Stamps looks and feels as welcoming as ever despite the absence of people for whatever reason seasonal or otherwise. Nick and Tim are playing at Blundell Street; everyone else has babies or dragons or both to contend with. I prefer demons myself which is why I’m here I guess, looking to exorcise a few of them. Tonight I’m playing alongside local enigma/bassist Ravi Plumcloth who’s a long time friend and occasional collaborator; we’ve just spent the last hour in frantic rehearsal mode though you could never tell as the man’s a genius. Katie Blundell is hosting and plays a few songs before we’re on. She has a voice like Joni Mitchell and a sense of humour too. Despite the acoustic ambience I have bought an embarrassing amount of gear including the guitar effects pedal board and the retro Casio beat box. We use the droning Casio loop for a kind of John Shuttleworth meets Talking Heads rendition of War All The Time from the NON-COMPLIANCE album. I think it works. There is of course the temptation to string it out with delay, tremolo and distortion; being easily tempted I do just that and then we’re practically jamming. After a sluggish start to the set we warm into things. It’s an opportunity to play a few newer songs, Kiss me I’m a Social Worker, Louise and The Happiest Man in the World all creep out of the writer’s box and into the void or the ether or the atmosphere or whatever. I always enjoy playing Stamps and no doubt I’ll be back some time next year for more of the same, it’s a home from home thing and Crosby has that effect on me. Special thanks to the Doyle family [relatives of the enigmatic Plumcloth] for their hospitality and to Ruby for keeping such good time on the bongos, VPx Plumcloth and friends at the winter fete, Crosby, 2004.

Glasgow

We’re in Mikes 4x4 watching Spinal Tap with no back line as swarms of migrating starlings hover above us. Stopping off just over the border to feed our faces we sit at the same table in the same corner of the Little Thief as last time when we played Edinburgh. It’s like home from home ordering eggs, chips n beans all round while Andy drops the kids off at the pool. Half an hour later he’s back and we’re still waiting. Tonight’s gig was almost a no-no but now it’s back on courtesy of Mike’s new motor. Our previous van options died in mysterious circumstances and we still have no word from the elusive Mr Daley as to when normal service will be resumed. My guess is never will be but don’t tell anyone. Tonight we’re at Glasgow’s Nice n Sleazy which we manage to locate with surprising accuracy courtesy of the satellite navigation system. After sound check we head off to Gav’s house where we’re staying and get a cab back into town. Gav is one seventh of Camera Obscura, who I know a bit about cause they’re tompaulin’s favourite band, anyway, we talk labels, the perils of touring in the US and Partick Thistle F.C., who are not doing well, apparently. Gav is not only lending us bed-space; he’s also providing a drum kit and a bass amp and transporting them to the venue. We are truly grateful for his assistance and his hospitality. Similarly much gratitude goes out to Chris the guitar player from the Ali Kerr Band for lending me his Marshall Valvestate 60. It did the trick just fine. Then we see Hugh again from Edinburgh and others who have travelled some distance. This is inspiring and we’re grateful as ever for the support. I complement Hugh on his photography. Ben Cooke is here with us, his band, The Language of Flowers are playing the Winchester Club on the Saturday. Ben videos the gig which goes off well enough despite it not selling out. We also enjoy The Ali Kerr Band who play some of the most melodic strummy jangle phase songs I’ve heard in ages. After the gig we walk the interminable lost clubbers walk into nowhere. Freezing cold and nearly two hours later Andy Ben and Mike settle on a party. I come home with Gav and Linda for tea and toast. The others return to the flat around 4am. I’m crashed out in the corner still I can't help noticing that Andy Rourke has turned into Jimmy Saville. Next day we get the full on veggie fry up at Gavs before we depart and make plans to play his club next time we’re back in Glasgow which should be in March once the single is out, best,VPx

Witchwood

I’ve been in Manchester 10years and never played the Witchwood in Ashton. In the old days we’d be constantly negotiating a gig there that never was to be, no matter which band I was playing in, I was beginning to think they’d cast a spell on me still here we are courtesy of Andy’s spot on directions. On the way we pass numerous inflatable snowmen all dressed up and ready to rock on the roofs of Droylsden , our very own capital of Christmas Culture. The venue is a pleasant surprise and nowhere near as scummy as expected, it’s nestled behind a pub complete with an onstage stake burning logo that looks like a dodgy metal album sleeve in some unpronounceable third riche font. Perhaps we should get a backdrop after all? The pub is friendly and there’s some kind of cocktails promotion which go down a treat with the non drivers in our group. Ben and I merely get to sniff the flaming alcohol fumes and roll a couple of consolation cigarettes. So now it’s official; I have become a social smoker again. We bump into Hugh whose down for the gig from Scotland. Later on he ambushes us in a local Italian Restaurant that is so attractively cheap I thought we’d got the wrong bill. We stayed with Hugh in Edinburgh when we played the fringe awhile ago and it’s good to catch up with him. He also agrees to take some pictures of the night. He’s wearing a Celtic shirt but of course no one takes any notice. The gig is good but the reaction is Manchester. If you live round here you’ll understand. Our loved ones are there which is nice. We drop the gear off at the lads club at 1am and meet up with more of the team from Salford Community Radio who are broadcasting all week 24/7. The Evening News did a feature on our Radio session last week, you might have seen it, they took about 400 pictures and picked the worst one; a similar sad and pitiful story befits the text. Still it’s no more than we have come to expect. Today we’re off to Glasgow where we’re meeting Gav from Camera Obscura and borrowing his gear. He’s also sorting our some bed space. This will be our first Glasgow gig as a band, best wishes, VPx

Salford Community Radio 106.4 FM

Early Saturday afternoon and we're stocking up on pies and cider from our favourite shop, the one besides the Salford Lads Club where the service is always superb. Andy and I are here to do a live radio session so we sneak in a bit early to run through a few things. Then I have this grim realisation that I've started smoking again but later on decide it must be someone else. Is that possible or this that just addiction? Thought so. After meeting with Les from the club and Paul from the station we head up to the band room which has been miraculously transformed into a radio studio complete with new carpet tiles and a good hovering. We are somewhat ashamed of how we last left it a week or so ago covered in band debris, cans, ashtrays and crisp packets and make our apologies known, it wont happen again we promise. We are guests on Kevin Lloyds show where we do an interview in between playing five songs; Operation, Everlasting Teenage Bedroom, Jesus Stole my Girlfriend, Two Fat Lovers and a Smiths cover Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want, just for old times sake, what with the connections to this place. It seems to go well, I get time enough to explain a bit about the ideas behind the songs, the atmosphere is relaxed; then we are off to get photographed and interviewed which takes us by surprise as we've dressed exclusively for radio [well that's our excuse, there's a picture below]. The journalist from the Manchester Evening News is from Walsall so we get talking about the Midlands, Junction 10 and Paul Merson. We also talk about the new single, the next gig and the tour and so on. Then we are off to Knott Fringe for wedges and beer to catch up with Mr Cooke and his beautiful wife the Polish Princess. When I get home I take one of those random research telephone calls from a company researching local radio and shamelessly plug S.C.R. in every category. On a more pressing note the Liverpool acoustic show at Hells Ditch on 18th December has been cancelled due to recording commitments in the Midlands, needs must so apologies to all, hopefully we can reschedule for next year sometime. Next day I turn into man about the house, it's what Sundays are for, there is no escape, VPx