The Undertones

Not only the greatest band to come out of Belfast ever but pretty much the cream of the era, as witnessed by yours truly alongside the legendary Pere Ubu at Birmingham Odeon I think sometime around 1981 when they were starting to get serious and lose that virgin punk charm they'll always be remembered for, which leads me on to Belfast, where I'm heading off to in the morning. The specific details remain a blur but a beautiful one none the less. It will be a great pleasure I'm sure; for one thing I am really looking forward to being in one place for a while, meeting folk and [this sounds kind of selfish]not driving as per the traditional touring mode. On Friday 30th April I'm playing a song [We didn't paint our nails] on Arts Extra, BBC Radio Ulster, a nightly arts magazine programme and having a chat to celebrate the opening of the festival, the show goes out from 6.30pm. by then I might know a little more about where I'll be and what I'll be up to. Meanwhile I will no doubt be checking the local library servers to post the odd feedback to this little old blogger. The Belfast gig with Andy and Mike is next Wed, details in the gigs bit on the site...still you probably knew that already, VPx

Patient records

I've just had some bad news from the Belfast Cathedral Arts Festival where my Artist in Residence post kicks off on 29th April in that their offices were burned out in a fire last Saturday night, they've lost all the usual office accoutrements, computers, records, much of it is irreplaceable. I only found out today, how incredibly unfortunate is that. Still, and to the organisers absolute credit, all is going ahead and promises to be a classic of type with some seriously A star guests including Bill Drummund, soup maker extrordinaire and former KLF muso journeyman of considered aplomb. I recall with some affection stealing the titleOne Great Artist [track 4/Ironing the Soul] from Bills book 45 [which if you haven't read I can pretty much swear by and recommend highly]. There's only enough room in Bills kitchen for one great artist...it says so in the final chapter. He also wrote that how to have a hit single book which I've never read but always meant to...perhaps if I did...best not go there. The good looking bloke from Black books is also on the festibill, as well as Arthur Scargil and Alistair Campball [or is it Cambell], it's either Camp balls or bells which sort of brings us back to Soup if you follow. I'm there for the whole nine days and expect to be dashing between venues and improvising a lot. Leaving much of what is to be done in life to the last minute should suit me pretty well...well, we'll see. I expect to be dipping in and out of various venues, playing supports and hosting the odd shindig, looking forward to it, it'll be my first extended stay there. Thanks be to Debbie Johnson, music writer at The Liverpool Echo for the recent Vinny Peculiar feature [16.4.04] which is winging it's way to the main site...or here, depending on the web space...best VPx

Somebody's Sins

Thanks to Katie Blundell for a superbly promoted good feel gig at Stamps Wine Bar in Crosby last week. Pete Doyle aka Ravi Plumcloth , longstanding friend and musical enigma, was responsible for the ever so scintillating bass guitar, in truth his bottom end is simply irresistible, thanks Ravi and to all at Stamps, regulars or otherwise, don't think I've seen it so busy in a long while. I just bought a freezer, how cool is that? Not very, and the days run away like wild horses. The boys are back in town if you will although it looks like Andy may be waylaid in terms of rehearsals having been drafted in to do some relief bass on the Proud Mary tour which kicks off soonish. Weren't they Noel Gallaghers favourite band of years past somebody said in the pub last night ? Anyway, that might leave us gasping a little in terms of match fitness for the immediate gig plans, I fear the next Star and Garter on 23rd April could well be either a solo gig or one of reckless unrehearsed spontaneity. I prefer the later option but we'll see how it pans out. We've been looking at studio possibles for the new album and like the idea of The Analogue Cat down the road in sunny Sale, we just need to see it for real not just on a PC screen so Julie bare with us we will be there shortly. Easter eggs, not really, all that cross carrying blood dripping nail puncturing flesh shredding nonsense leaves me stoney cold, what is it with christians and suffering, he died for somebody's sins but not mine [so sayeth the great Patti Smith -- and I agree--absolutely]. I remember people from the church in the village I grew up in, carrying this huge wooden cross through the streets every easter, a kind of unhappy doom and gloom fancy dress parade in ye olde biblical attire, gives me the creeps just thinking about it. OK, I just watched DOGMA , which might explain my rantishness... On a brighter note I bought the new Divine Comedy record, Absent Friends, which is wonderful and life enhancing and fabulously orchestrated; though in my humble opinion nowhere near as accomplished as Regeneration, the previous Nigel Godrich produced classic. People keep telling me Peter Gabriel is growing up also...I've no idea what they mean? Still I wonder what's become of the Sizer Barker release scheduled on Real World sometime this year?? Carl?? Your public awaits, let me know so...VPx

ALMOST FAMOUS

Heres the UNCUT ALMOST FAMOUSfeature [March04] several people have emailed about, and yeah they do seem to like this parental wedding day photo. It's taken awhile to get here due to a broken scanner which has only just been fixed. Thanks to Sara Jane once again for saying all the nice things. Growing Up with... also got a great 4/5 UNCUT review from Simon Goddard [see the reviews section]. It's all happening, just like Danny Boone said it would.