Lee Griffiths

On Tuesday night in Sackville Street’s Reto Bar I played a mini acoustic set to break up the night…not that there was fighting or anything, it was Lee’s new album [Armchair Anachy] launch do. Our shared connection is tonight’s promoter by proxy Tom Robinson who mailed me the last minute gig request. I am most happy to oblige. Lee [and Tom] gigged with us a few years ago in Liverpool on the night George Harrison died. At the gig I catch most of Lee’s opening set which is acoustic and spontaneous, he’s all heart, he goes down a storm and rightly so. The place is rammed to rafters with people who care about music; the crowd have a reality factor that transcends artiness or posturing. There is no air of pretension, no snobbery. It’s refreshing. My set is received well give or take the odd talking bar fly. I dedicate Revolt into Style to George Melley and pay my respects to his recent sad passing. I must read the book again at some point. I so admire George Melly and his life lived to the topper most in every sense. I feel pale in his significance. Rum Bum and Concertina is his auto biography. Get hold of a copy if you can. VP x

The Far Eastern

Next day at breakfast we’re on the marmalade on toast and I’m complementing Tony on the comfort factor of his rock n roll sofa. We head off into town where I play a short busk along set in Borders Bookshop as people are coming and going, some of them stop for a listen. It’s a bit hit and miss and I get paid in gift vouchers. Then we head off to the BBC where I’m playing a couple songs on Roy Waller's afternoon show http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/content/articles/2005/07/05/radio_norfolk_biog_roy_waller_feature.shtmlf . I do Confessions of a Sperm Donor and Batman from the new album. Roy is the longest serving DJ on the station and seemed positive enough. We talk about genetics and fathers for justice and the pros and cons of living with two names.... Later that afternoon Tony gets a call from tonights Winelight venue where the power has been cut off so the gig has to be moved. This involves a considerable amount rejigging on Tonys part but finally a restaurant cum bar is located and ticket holders notified of the changes. In the interim I buy plecs and write lists of things I'll never do in my little book of not so calm. I do a soundcheck eat some food and catch the first support, Sean Redmund, a genuinely inpiring talent, great player and wonderful songwriter. I don’t typically rave about these things but this performance was an exception. Lyrically tenacious, dry michevios delivery, after the show I tell him he’s destined for glory; he doesn't believe me. After the gig I sell CDs and make pleasant small talk with several people who want to most notably Paul Monkhouse…man of tilting sky and comedy sir name. Paul knows whats what and whats not and I tend to agree with him. Then it’s a cab back back to Tonys, the rock n roll sofa, gassing half the night, drinking on the patio and talking to the snails. The drive home is remarkably stress free.

On the new album release front it's looks like it'll be coming out on pronoia records I'll update everyone soon on the details. I just sent them the audio master so with any luck it'll see the light of day in time for the UK tour. More on this to follow, VP

Norwich

Is a long way away…it’s the far east for Christ’s sake...still I sort of knew that but it is. I put coolant in the radiator…well I think it was the radiator but I did have to double check with Rob just in case. I set off mid day and managed to avoid the flood plains. Luckily there aren’t too many hold ups and the heater survives. I arrive early evening and meet up with John Hirst, local resident, Bill Drummond associate, friend and conceptual arts guru [so he tells me]. John guides me into town and I park up with confidence, pay the tab till six o'clock and think no more of it. Later that night I get a parking ticket; not a good start. I arrive in the Playhouse Theatre bar and by 5 pm I’m drinking mineral water and smoking a shaggy weed called Samson. John also uses the strangest transparent cigarette papers that fall apart in construction. We give up smoking in turns and it was his to supply…if you follow. The omnipresent rains don’t bother us; there’s a regular gang of puffers out there, in fact I’m starting to wonder if anyone in Norwich doesn’t smoke such is the prevelance. In the corner of the bar neath the tented zone stands Terry Reid [more of whom later], chewing the fat and rattling the rap complete with leather trousers and a luminous yellow shirt, really…and looking like a regular old school rocker. I didn’t know a lot about him [although I think my friend Steve Roberts might and make a mental note to ask him at the next opportunity] but I do know he’s playing here at The Playhouse tonight. I catch the eye of Tony the promoter who’s promoting both my show at the Winelight [tomorrow] and Terry Reid’s at the Playhouse [tonight] and agree to meet up with him back at the Playhouse after my gig at the Arts Centre. Then we all [me and the Arts School group] go for a curry. I can’t help thinking about our Jim as it’s a year to the day since he died. I make a mental note to call Dot. After a half decent biriani we trundle our way back through the puddles to Norwich Art School and I play a short set that manages to cut out at the mid point due to the sensitive nature of the in house PA limiter. It’s a bizarre little gig. The bloke with dreads hasn’t a clue and frankly neither do I still it all goes off OK , I try out new songs, people seem very decent and warming types. I say my goodbyes and meander cross the street to the Playhouse catching the last half an hour of Terry Reid’s solo acoustic set. His voice is the most immediate thing that hits you, passionate and soulful and he is quiet the most natural raconteur I think I’ve ever encountered; you cant help but warm to him despite the leather trousers which he’s now changed for a linen suit of fluorescent orange. I catch the last few songs and the encores, all three of them. After the show I lig along with Tony like a regular wine taster and get to speak to the man himself. It must be said that I’m not a natural after show type but after a few glasses I start getting the hang of it. Terry does the meet and greet thing with such style and grace he wins over all comers and I’m a pushover in no time. He tells me his ‘the day I nearly shot Bob Dylan story’ which is perfectly hysterical but far too long to go into now. He radiates old school pedigree and I truly fall for it. Later that night back at Tony’s house I’m watching Terry's Glastonbury performance from 1971 [the first Glastonbury] and it’s truly staggering, amazing energy, raw and soulful, duet ting with Linda Lewis, king of the counter culture. Check it out…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NSY2tfjmgs VPx