LUKE HAINES

I got an email from Luke Haines the other day, inviting us to support him way on down in London Town…at first I thought it was a wind up but no…so very happy to oblige, sincerely, Luke is right up there with the all time greats as far as I’m concerned. I’ve been a huge fan for a long time; funny how these things set your heart racing in all the wrong directions. I spent the weekend jubilating accordingly. The gig is at the LUMINAIRE in Kilburn on 18th October. The recovery position is working and the north will rise again. VPx

Trivial Persuits

Saturdays 6Music radio interview with Rob Hughes was over all too quickly, perhaps you even heard it…no doubt there’s a 6music listen again feature if you fancy. We were talking 1973 music press and I was ill prepared for the New York Dolls questions who I’ve never quite GOT if truth be told still an enjoyable afternoon spent in the Oxford Road studios. Rob played Playing on the Pier from the new record and a few people emailed in, it’s always nice to get feedback and being acknowledged as Yorkshire Bloke was kind of sweet if a little off kilter. I spent the remainder of the afternoon lounging around with the well to do slackers in the Cornerhouse Bar before heading into Rusholme for samosas. In between events I bought a guitar lead and a bag of nylon plecs by Jim Dunlop. I also got stupidly excited at the thought of Aston Villa beating Arsenal as they were 1-0 up until the 83rd minute. It wasn’t to be but at least we remain unbeaten after one game which is a good start. On Sunday I got deliriously lost on route to the Revolution 96.2 FM where I was sitting in for Mike Joyce so the first hour of the show was conducted on the phone from the back roads of Oldham whilst negotiating directions via a dodgy signal and a couple of key road closures. I’m directionally challenged at the best of times so it took ages to arrive. I started the show later than planned but with the fabulous technical support from Paul it went off pretty well. It took me just 25 minutes to get home and 2 hours to get there. I’ve just had a Blackburn gig confirmed for 31st August supporting Frank Sidebottom; the tour date page has the details or will have soon. I am stupidly excited at the prospect…as you would be. We [the band] are still in something of a limbo in terms of tour dates for November but I expect all this to fall into place soon, meanwhile rehearsals continue in the lads club. I’ve stopped worrying about gigs and started partying…well that’s not strictly true but I am going to an eighties fancy dress birthday bash next weekend. Happy Birthday Johnny Storm, VP x

Sizer Barkers

On the back burner we are I think…kind of contemplating the demons of promotion and possibility; that and the fine art of self destruction…like it was all one big waste of time. Such are the nightmares one can have. I met up with thin Tim from Sizer Barker on the clean streets of Liverpool only days ago and it’s been ages since I’ve seen him. Sizer Barker really should be a household name by now. They toured Europe with Peter Gabriel last year but there was some kind of mix up with their press plans so they got no mainstream music press reviews and little airplay, consequently it’s quite possible you won’t have heard of them which is great shame as they are an amazing band with a decidedly individual sound. Still you have at least heard of them now. They have a myspace so do check out please. Their second album comes out later this year. I’ve been writing more songs and poems in this kind of down time period, a song called The Broken Hearted Existentialist seems to be worth it’s weight in sentimental sadness and simplicity but then I would say something like that. It’s sort of autobiographical. I once told my father I was an existentialist but alas he was not impressed. Today, in a fit of machismo, I moved a huge pile of bricks from an offending spot between garages to a less noticeable place. I hope I got away with it. It was either that or put one through the neighbour’s window. Now there’s an idea for a song…Brick Incident in Salford, could be onto something there. Next weeks parallel universe is 1973 so Rob Hughes has just informed me but I know nest to nothing about those New York Dolls, Roy Harper on the other hand is a very different matter. Here comes the herbal tea..VPx