Gigs and Beats

It's been awhile.... People have advised me upon the nature of my summer laziness and the fact that this diary is spasmodic to say the least, so apologies all [lets just blame my Nirvana state of mind]. Being in between web sites is no excuse. And the only way is could be a LOVE title. We're recording next week in Studio 33 in the heart of downtown Kirkby, 2 songs for the new single, 'Man about the House' celebrates disaster DIY male chic stylee', 'All the Love in the World' argues  for more, like Oliver with a twist. The third track is 'Uno Disco' revitalised and remixed from the Ironing sessions by Rob Ferrier who's also producing the single. Robs been down to rehearsals making noises, changing tempos and messing with the ideas. I trust his judgment implicitly. Up and coming Vinny Peculiar band shows @ the Edinburgh Festival on Tues August 10th @ The Underbelly, Cowgate, Edinburgh  www.theunderbelly.co.uk Friday 10th September @ The Adelphi, 89,De Gray Street, Hull  www.theadelphi.com Saturday 18th September @ Carling Academy2,Hotham Street,Liverpool  www.liverpool-academy.co.uk The above should also get a post on the gigs site section but there appears to be a problem at present with that so bare with me... Meanwhile this months Beat Scene magazine has just arrived, always a treat, live and direct from Kevin Ring in the heart of brit-lit Americana [7 miles south of Coventry] and this edition is dedicated to Graham Melia, a great friend of mine who passed on in Jan this year and who continues to be missed by so many. Graham worked in Calderstones Hospital for many years and I met him there when I was working on resettlement. He introduced me to some great books n stuff and remained an influencial musical-literary sounding board to so many of us. Kevin makes reference to the uniquely Graham qualities of the funeral and how Graham stage managed the event complete with beat readings and copious classic music. Inspired tragic heart breaking stuff. I've not spoken to Jamie or Slajana for ages, something I must rectify soon. For  beat generation info, books and records too try www.beatscene.net  best, VPx

slow motion

Apart from the odd acoustic gig most of whats what has been to do with rehearsals and the band buddy bonding thing. All is going well, studio is booked for the end of July,I remain childishly excited about the new songs details of which will be revealed in due course. Did I tell you I'm not too keen on the summer? I did? I played a gig with Jad Fair a couple of weeks ago [for the pop-art people] but he was on way too late and I'd already left the building. Dave Simpson from The Guardian came along and it was great to see him again after our time in Belfast. He too left early which curtailed the review...oh well..better luck next time. During my set there were technical problems with the DI box, I wasn't feeling at my best as the engineer switched off the pa to fix it.. then my attempts at acoustic poetry got interupted by the in house sound system...doh....it was an odd little gig, still these nights are sent to test us. Oddly enough I sold several CDs after the show which was a nice surprise...especially given the interuptions. The other band on were called Auswindel, or something of an approximate to that, they were a bit like Amon Dual, all progged out in moogsville, dramatic girl wigged blonde singer with a great natural audience rapport delivered with German aplomb, and really good. Last Sunday I played The Temple of Convenience, the former gents toilet in Deansgate, Manchester together with Bryan Clancy who I'd not seen since the Uglyman days so we talked a little about that and about what Guy [former head boy at Uglyman Records]is up to nowerdays [another label apparently]. Once again the story of Guy dressed in a nappy performing in a giant cot on stage in Chorlton with the wonderful Edward Barton got a mention. Everyone seems to tell that one. Jay Kay from Bonebox is no exception. He was there also...he left Goldblade two years ago which was news to me. The gig was so so...the PA was down so I did it acoustically, which worked, but only just I fear. Still it was good to be out and about with Ben and Kasia of the soon to be launched Kitchen Sink Enterprises, more on that to follow. The new Vinny Peculiar website is nearing completion which is my poor excuse for not updating the existing one as often as I should. The technology is just around the corner and coming into view as I speak, sort of, once more, with feeling... VPx