Vinny Peculiar's Journal

Confessions of a Sperm Donor

2009-10-11T21:04:00.001Z

I’m not used to taking my own PA to gigs, but on this occasion I did and it seemed to work out just fine. It’s not always been the case, indeed there was a time when I wondered if I was possessed of some digital destruction gene that made all connectivity crackle such was the frequency of gear not working and PAs petering out, amps, well, dont get me going ... I arrive at Bar 67 in Shropshire at 745 pm and its raining bats and frogs and I’ve got a PA that packs up and looks like airplane carry on luggage. There are some kids drinking and buzzing in and out of the venue as I order latte and iced water rehab style. It’s a small modern space, the kids are watching me set up – 'know any OASIS' one of them says – they seem nice enough and full of the joys of youth. My daughter and her partner Joe arrive. I start the gig; people turn up in dribs and drabs. I play a couple of sets. The gig gets interactive, the lads have comic timing, and we play the pass the tambourine game and make a right good racket. The gig feels like a workshop at a young offender’s institute! - in a good way. Cousin by proxy Josh arrives and in the break we talk about Masterchef, the inevitability of him winning it and the boys in claret and blue. Leah joins me on stage for a few of the songs and we have fun, just trying out things, improvising. This was a proper up close and personal gig – and whilst the audience were not exactly a listening crowd it didn’t detract from the sense of energy and engagement shared. Woo hoo....

To hell with Fashion

2009-10-03T18:57:00.001Z

To Hell with Fashion -this fly on the wall acoustic session from the Janice Long Show, BBC radio 2, London 6.8.09 - with Andy Lyth [drums] + Martin Clarke [bass]-

state corner

2009-10-03T16:13:00.001Z

from the Manchester show at The Corner on 17.9.09 with State Broadcasters-

state corner

2009-10-03T16:11:00.001Z

from the Manchester show at The Corner on 17.9.09 with State Broadcasters-

Actions Speak Louder

2009-10-03T16:05:00.001Z

another clip from the Corner gig- 17.9.09 - I played this song as one of four live performances you can hear on Dermos Recession Sessions Radio which is aired on Monday night [5th Oct] at 7 pm UK time on www.tincan.tv - it's radio on the internet - performances, favourite tracks and conversation. VP

state corner

2009-10-03T15:51:00.001Z

This video from the Manchester show at the Corner with State Broadcasters- 17.9.09 -

Batman

2008-08-16T02:32:00.001Z

Recorded in semi darkness in Blackburn's media centre in January of this year I've only just today taken delivery...this is one of four songs Tim and I did to promote the 'Goodbye My Angry Friend' album. This one is dedicated to my youngest daughter Pru with love x

New Single

2008-03-19T09:50:00.004Z

This is the week this is…the week the new single Lazy Bohemians is available for download, its b/w Ghost Camp [co written with Craig Gannon] and Get Well Soon [from the Spooner Sessions of 2005] , both previously unavailable, both with little stories to tell. All profits go to Salford Lads Club. It’s most readily available from iTunes and Amazon as well as several other download sites. It costs a couple of quid.

I’m just off to get my picture taken inside The Lads Club by the Manchester Evening News who are getting behind the release; hopefully it will raise a decent amount of cash. There’s more info on the Salford Lads fundraising campaign on their website. ‘Do what you can when you can and the rest will surely follow’…anon.

PMS Radio

2008-03-10T09:37:00.002Z

It’s Sunday night and I’m at Charlie Parkers in Crosby for John the chefs birthday bash, that and a live radio session on PMS, Roger Hills long running Merseyside alternative music show which kicks off at midnight. John the chef played flute on the Growing Up album and has a right and proper collection of oddball instruments, I keep meaning to check them out when all we do is talk about them. I’m sure I will one day. Tim and I have just rehearsed the songs and I’m feeling like a scouser by proxy as I tend to on nights like this. I drive to the restaurant and after eating some the finest burritos this side of Guatemala [I know…that was unnecessary] head off into town and park up outside a new rave bar in Wood Street. The new Radio Merseyside building is deep in the heart of the renovation zone, the automatic doors work and the intercom too which helps. Richard the engineer meets us and soon we’re sound checking; we even manage a test run to assess the mix. At 12.35 am we play the first of three songs back to back; Lazy Bohemians, Kiss me I’m a Social Worker and Batman, we’re especially enamoured by Social Worker which I might well add to the my space site at some future juncture if it sounds any good. The station is forwarding a CD. We then talk on air to Roger about the new album; he compares me to Jegsy Dodd as a social commentary type song writer. I am of course, this being Liverpool, referred to by my real name, something that’s not really happened in interviews for awhile. What comes around goes around Tim says and he’s right. It’s just the bit in the middle that blurs and confuses. I drop Tim off and we end up talking for ages about the nature of success. This is it I tell him, we’ve arrived at last. I listen to the demos for the new album on the way home and they sound amazing….VP x

The Up Escalator

2008-02-28T09:54:00.003Z

Perhaps I'll dig out some Graham Parker and the Rumour! I'm back on the vinyl and feeling much better today. Sometimes this diary thing encourages a sense of doom and gloom that lurks within and leaks out all too readily. The fact that people have noticed and mailed me to this effect is much appreciated so thanks for that.

Sadly I never made it to the Eels show last night despite some assurances regarding guest lists, the show was what promoters call over subscribed, the list was massive apparently. That’ll teach me to take these things for granted; next time I’ll just buy a ticket.
I was in Liverpool the other day, shopping in Bold Street stocking up on various spices in a shop called Mattas [ still the only Indian store in the city] and was recognised by the charming sales man who quipped 'are you still in a band' which took me by surprise as I’ve not been in there since 1994. We had a little chat about music, it was really nice to se them, a proper family store at the heart of the community. I plan to frequent the place more often. Later on today I’m meeting with Bonehead to collect our equipment from the Lads Club. It’s been gathering dust since we were last in rehearsal back in October; we’re on sabbatical for half this year so we need to de clutter.
In case you wondered I’m reading the Tony Visconti auto biography and am much absorbed in it, he’s the Bowie/Bolan producer. He also did the only half decent Mozzer record of recent times, the one with ‘Last of the Gang to Die’ on it. He shared a hippy commune with Bowie and nurtured Bolan going electric, I can’t recommend it enough. He’s the George Martin of the 70’s and of course still doing great work today.

There you go, bright breezy as my girl always says…it’ll rub off on me in the end, VP x

Cheer up Vinny

2008-02-25T15:57:00.001Z

I remember it well, we were playing Glastonbury, the acoustic stage around 4pm, it was the Ironing the Soul band minus Tony the Teacher who was teaching back in Huyton. The year was 1999 and as the song dropped down to a breathy middle eight someone shouted it out, clear as a bell, ‘cheer up Vinny’, at which point I spontaneously stopped the song and a kind of hush descended through the tent that seemed to go on forever when it was probably no more than 20 seconds but those 20 seconds have continued to inspire me to this day. The band all stopped in unison and I felt something akin to a presence [I’m an atheist so I’m not exactly spiritually attuned to such experiences]. It was one of those moments you feel fused to things you know you’ll never quite understand. I was just thinking about it then. The band all kicked back in on cue as if we’d been touring the stop for years when of course we’d not even rehearsed; Tim had flown in from his cabaret sabbatical with only hours to spare. Of course there were no helicopters to wiz him from the airport, that kind of thing only happens when you’re in REM, who were that years headliners. I was last at Glastonbury in 2005, this time with a different band; since then I’ve not been near the place and I miss it in truth, despite the id card corporate remodelling and the occasionally silly choice of artists like Kylie and Pet Shop Boys. A few people email me every year asking me if I’m playing, I always reply it’s a possibility. I just have as it happens. You never know. I’m feeling quite positive today. I need to start believing in myself a bit more, I can sense from the odd diary entry here [and the depressive twaddle I don’t share] that alls not quite as it should be, still, I’m moving forward I think. Thanks for listening, VP

2008-02-22T22:18:00.001Z

Spent the day alone again naturally, it’s becoming a habit. I left the house to fetch packages from the post office and returned soon after and managed to forget to buy milk and bread [as you do]. The rest of the day was spent faffing around with an old sampler. I still can’t seem to get the hang of it. Finally I abandoned the technology in search of a proper acoustic troubadour’s anthem that despite a promising start remains unfound. My muse was not amused. Sometimes it makes you wonder; why oh why Fisher indeed?

On a lighter brighter note, Lazy Bohemians, the new single download is all set to go and will be available from 17th March. There are loads of sites you can get it from [including iTunes and Amazon]. It comes complete with new artwork and bonus tracks as mentioned here in past dispatches. I suppose I should at this point tell you how marvellous it is [as I’m sure I have done before] but in truth I can’t be bothered, sorry about that, it’s been one of those days. Still if you buy your music over the internet you could do a lot worse, of that I’m sure.

I will be sending out a group email update to this effect in the next few days. It will be positive and uplifting like the Fantastic Futures Corporation of Great Britain. I just listened to Eels Daisies of the Galaxy…I love it. What can I say…Oh how great thou art Mr Everett, how great thou art! I must get tickets for the forthcoming Manchester show. I’m also reading his book Things the Grandchildren Should Know and it’s totally brilliant, sad, touching, heartbreaking, life affirming…that kind of thing, VP x

return of the native

2008-02-09T19:30:00.000Z

I’ve been away so to speak, from these here pages for one thing, having spent a good portion of January in solitary confinement, mostly just writing and recording at home. I felt positively exiled. Meanwhile my partner was in India with like minded yogis and transcendental types. Sometimes it’s nice to stop the clock, or the bus or whatever and work out what to do next. This was such a period for me. I’m feeling really happy with the new songs and looking at recording them in March/April time. Rob Ferrier will be producing. Other personnel to be confirmed, it all depends who I can rope in. I’m keen to make an analogue record as am seriously disenchanted with the computers. Analogue Cat is first choice and hopefully we can firm up arrangements over the next few weeks. I should also mention that tomorrow night, that’s Sunday 10th Feb, I’m playing a solo gig at The Ruby Lounge [ 26-28 High St Manchester, M4 1QB]. It’s quite likely that I’ll be compering the proceedings too, doing songs between bands and maybe even a few poems depending on the audience. Poems are not for everyone. This being the case I’ve had to cancel the radio Merseyside PMS session scheduled for tomorrow night but hope to reschedule asap.

Hands on… Only last week I Talked to the Hand in an interview that seemed unusually refreshing, intelligent questions, my thoughts were provoked and you can’t ask for more than that, it was enjoyable. I hope I did the questions the justice they deserved. Do check it out. I witter on about this and that, of course I couldn’t resist mentioning Markus; none of us ever can. The interview also appears on SOUNDSXP. As for gigs I’m still working on a solo tour for April/May time but as yet not a lot has been confirmed [in truth my agent seems to have disappeared of the face of the earth…yep that old chestnut]. So if you’d like me to come play in your town or your home or at your school then do get in touch. I’m very cheap and often, despite what you might expect, oddly cheerful. That’s all for now, regular updates will be resumed forthwith, VP

Independents Day

2008-01-07T21:46:00.000Z

There there my dear…it’s been a mixed up muddled up shook up weekend on the reviews front. Part of me wants to ignore them but of course that’s never possible and they are, after all, for better or worse, some kind of barometer. On Saturday the Independent loved the new album, four stars and some decent name dropping comparisons [Luke Haines and Stephen Merrit are two of my very favourite artists]. The very next day in the Independent on Sunday review is much the polar opposite. I suppose its only peoples opinions…and whilst I might bemoan the cheap jibes, allusions to Morrisseys failing associates and the grim finale at least these both reviews have engendered some kind of reaction. And I’d rather have that than bland indifference any day. Here they are.
Saturday 5th Jan 08 – The Independent

Sunday 6th Jan 08

The Independent on Sunday

Reviewed by Simmy Richman
If Morrissey hates it when friends become successful, might we assume that he rather enjoys it when known associates don't? Two years away from the high point that was 'The Rise and Fall of Vinny Peculiar' (which featured two ex-members of the Smiths), any kind of breakthrough is looking less likely for this psychiatric nurse turned "song-writing maverick". 'Goodbye My Angry Friend' kicks off with a track entitled "Vinny Peculiar Is Dead" and gets steadily less charming from there. Song titles such as"Kiss Me (I'm a Social Worker)" and "Song for the Dead" probably tell you everything you need to know. Grim.

Should you wish to make your mind up you can buy a copy of the new album via this site [for just £7.00 including postage], via download at several sites including iTunes and in shops from 4.2.08 [the release date put back a few weeks for reasons best known to the nice Pronoia people].

radio daze

2008-01-04T17:49:00.000Z

Craig’s just been round and taken away a few songs/ideas we’re thinking of collaborating on. We want to write for musical theatre so if you know of any impending projects do let me know. We’ve done something to this effect with The Salford Lads Club Ghost Camp venture which I’ve mentioned here previously. Ghost Camp [prelude] is available as a bonus track on the forthcoming download single Lazy Bohemians.

Earlier on today I went out and bought a Daily Mirror and located the decent if somewhat misguided review of the new album- clearly Gavin the journalist has misread the press release and it’s a case of whoops wrong Vinny. That said it was a good review. I’ve also had sight of a new Q MAGAZINE review, again decent enough despite a sly dig at my silly stage name. I really don’t have an opinion as to whether in fact the name is rubbish or genius. It just is for now and it’s what I’ve got used to living with. It was the same for Prefab Sprout apparently, silly name certainly, but the genius of Paddy is such that he could have called his band The Shits and still crafted some of the finest songs of his generation. I like to think that my Paddy moment is yet to come. I’m currently listening to the new Radiohead album IN RAINBOWS. There’s some great stuff on their site, brilliant live footage. I love the cerebral fusion of the band. I love them so much I find it impossible to describe as you can tell but they are my favourite band all over again. Not since OK Computer have I felt such a rush of something real.
,
, Back on the selfish promotion front at least there’s more coming back regarding press than I had somewhat pessimistically anticipated – [see previous post]. Last nights 6 Music radio session with Rob Hughes was also a delight. I played Kiss Me I’m a Social Worker in a slightly fidgety acoustic glam rock style. I think it just about worked. If you want to check it out there’s a listen again feature. Later into the show Rob and I talked up 1977 in his parallel universe using a copy of SOUNDS for reference. We talked about PUNK ROCK; it’s impact and it’s endurance. I am not a massive fan of punk rock the music…I loved the energy and anti establishmentarianism, the politics of independent labels, individual freedom, DIY expression... but I think the whole explosive scene changing epoch defining rhetoric is wildly exaggerated. Or perhaps I'm just fed up with everyone banging on about it. Blimey...I'm having a cynical day here at the office. After the show Rob and I have a few beers across the road from the BBC in a great little pub I should know the name of but don’t. VP

Mirror Mirror...

2007-12-30T20:58:00.000Z

Later this week I’m guesting on Mark Rileys BBC6 Music programme Brain Surgery, with Rob Hughes, we’ll be in a Parallel Universe, a regular feature on the show. I did a similar thing last year and it was great, the show goes out on Thursday 3rd Jan. I play a live acoustic song at 8pm and the talk starts some time after that. Not sure what I'll play yet although Batman seems likely. If you do manage to tune in be sure to email the show with any [ideally favourable] comments. This is the first bit of radio I have booked to support the release of the new album which comes out proper release 8th January. There will be more to announce soon I’m assured and will do here as soon as I know anything. And of course should you feel inclined you can buy a copy of the new album from this site via the store. It’s a funny old record and probably the most ambitious thing I’ve done given the at times precarious recording circumstances. I listened to it again the other day. I’m looking forward to completely reinventing the songs for the solo acoustic tour, but more on that to come. Interestingly there’s a review of Goodbye My Angry Friend in the Daily Mirror [of all places] out this Friday 4th Jan. I’ve no idea what they will make of it but let’s hope it’s a decent write up. According to Paddy the pr agent the mainstream music press have been less than enthusiastic about reviewing the new album. They say the brand is old and the demand isn’t what it could be. In truth I’ve had a very decent amount of support in the past from the likes of UNCUT and Q. I don’t really have an answer to all that. Perhaps I should change my name? Perhaps Vinny Peculiar is dead after all? I guess I’ll have to wait and see. Of course the lack of reviews does impact on the potential sales and the ultimate viability of the brand [someone from a record company once said that to me and it stuck] so make of it what you will but in the here and now here’s wishing everyone a happy new year; lets hope it’s good one. VP

Works Night Out

2007-12-22T12:06:00.000Z

I pick up Craig around half seven on the coldest night of the year, he checks his hair, I assure him it’s looks fine, our conversation feels like it’s been had many times before which it has. We both agree this is a good thing. I then go on to describe my flu like symptoms in some detail, Craig patiently listens and agrees, there’s a lot of it about, he says I’ve probably got the two day version [though how he can tell I’ve no idea]. Again that familiar conversation feeling is noted. It’s like we’re off to rehearse and we drive into town, past the Salford Lads Club, reminiscing on the freezing dome space and the terrible sound and the strangest gig we ever did together for the Goths of the Manchester Youth Club Alliance [where I never felt the generation gap so keenly and wrote about here if I recall]. It’s been sometime since Craig played in the band but on a friendship and feel good level he never really left. We arrive in Rusholme and decant to the Albert. Ben arrives and soon after Mike and Bone appear. We have a few beers then we’re off to eat, the curry mile is alive and rocking, pimped up roadsters driven by glittery Asian lads are speeding and tooting and celebrating what I’m not sure, possibly a festival, possibly Hindu but I’m only guessing? A bhangra style rave is taking place in a car park opposite the restaurant. The kids are avin it large …is the correct expression I do believe. We eat and drink and tell stories. That’s pretty much the gist of it. Boneheads got a new iPhone we have a play with, Mikes show is thriving, his listening figures up. I regret not seeing Cherry Ghost at the Ritz; they are quite my favourite band of the moment. Bens Christmas Tree is home grown. I drop Craig off in town around midnight and return home early as the flu like symptoms have the better of me. He’s the only one of us staying out. Happy Christmas VP x

Cabaret Season

2007-12-14T22:42:00.000Z

It’s dirty and it’s not pretty but I find myself swept up in the cash cow collective befitting of a humble jobsworthy muso, tomorrow I begin a series of festive cabaret gigs with friends [oh how could I refuse]. It’s a seasonal demand thing; that and the lure of hard cash. We have a wedding in Southampton, a 60th birthday in Derby…and, well, the itinerary is kind of irrelevant really still I know it can be fun amongst other things. And I don’t really do fun in the FUN sense too well so this kind of frees me up to play anything from Neil Diamond to Van Morrison. Oh how Vinny Peculiar hates that side of me…schizophrenically speaking you understand but any concerns regarding artistic compromise are frankly...wasted on me. get over it. I don’t play a lot of covers gigs. I usually leave that kind of thing to the experts. Tim is quite the expert and he’s written the Rules of Cabaret just to keep us all grounded, so he says, and here they are.

The Five Rules of Cabaret by Timothy Browne
1 If you don’t know it don’t play
2 I you don’t know the words sing OOOhs
3 Smile throughout…no sulking allowed
4 Look like you’re enjoying it and you will enjoy it…honest!
5 Don’t ever leave the stage having faked a brain haemorrhage and spend the next two hours in the bar feeling sorry for yourself [I think he’s getting at me with this one]

And then there’s The King of Cabaret, a song I wrote after a painfully memorable night of cover versioneering some years back. I still do it live every now and then. Why I am telling you all this?? I have no idea….meanwhile there’s more.

I spent the day sifting through odds and ends looking for additional tracks to include on the forthcoming Lazy Bohemians single release [available to download Jan 15th 07 details to follow] and after some debate [with Andy woods mostly] settled upon Ghost Camp [prelude] which was written for the Salford Lads Clubs production of The Ghost Camp. Recorded in Craig Gannon’s home studio it’s written from an eight year olds viewpoint about the excitement and anticipation of going off to camp in wartime. It features some splendid spindly guitar playing from Craig and our very own DIY string ensemble. It’s a theatrical little piece in need of the old school choir but somehow we never got round to using one. Shame…still it sounds pretty good, we’re pleased with it. The second track is called Get Well Soon which the band [featuring Markus the Mighty Lemon Dropper]on bass] recorded in Rochdale in August 2005. We did it live a couple of years back, it was listed for the Fall and Rise but never really fitted in so to speak. I’ve only just rediscovered it. I’d almost forgotten it ever existed to be honest. The surprise was so much nicer than the memory, which is often the case. And lastly… I went out for a few beers with some of my oldest friends this past week, that’s them in the pictures. They’re great. I’m great. We’re all great and I’m grateful too them all. So thanking you ladies and gentleman, you’ve been wonderful, go on, give yourselves a round of applause… this next ones for the bridesmaids…a little old classic by Van the Man name of Brown Eyed Girl…ARRRRGH. VP

2007-12-06T16:53:00.000Z

We finished mixing the Jon Byrne EP last weekend. I’d almost forgotten how hands-on a proper studio was what with no automation and no computer. The three of us, Rob, Jools and I manually punching in and out, switching compressors mid mix and generally leaping from task to task. A right old fashioned mixing experience, and most enjoyable it was too. I only hope the tracks manage to secure something of a bigger profile for Jon, he certainly deserves it. The EP will be out in February and I’ll be sure give it a plug here and there as soon as I have more information. There’s some footage of Jon and I playing Parasite, well in may case working out the piano parts on his my space site where you can also find more information on his muse, his songs and his take on life. The recorded results were pleasing to say the least. I was speaking to Mike [Joyce] who plays on two of the four tracks we recorded about his drum sound, which, without wishing to sound like a freak geek was particularly inspiring. Mike will be playing tacks from the EP on his show [96.2 The Revolution] in the coming months. Incidentally the Vinny Peculiar works night out is currently in the planning stages, we'll probably end up at the Knott Fringe again so if you fancy it email us for details. We are great company if nothing else...well we like to think so. The Bewley Sisters directed video of ‘Vinny Peculiar is Dead’ the alt ego demolition number from Goodbye My Angry friend is now available to view in all it’s shadowy glory. This time I’m wearing a suit rather than a dress and whilst it’s altogether less comfortable I thought it only right and proper. I spent today writing stuff for the next Vinny record, I’m using a combination of a Boss eight track machine and the trusty old CUBASE. I’m taking a few months off from gigging to prepare everything for the next album. It’s been a ponderous kind of day as I am quite possibly the slowest drum programmer in the world still I’m suitably inspired as the songs sound like they mean something. I’m writing about success and failure and how sometimes they feel like one and the same, questions of commerce and contentment are cluttering up my thinking. And on that rather pretentious sounding note I best get back to it, VP

Jon Byrne

2007-11-26T22:02:00.000Z

I’m in Analogue Cat, my favourite studio, recording Jon Byrne, who, in my humble opinion is Britain’s most exciting young folk singer. I’m here co producing his debut EP with Rob Ferrier, we haven’t worked together for a couple of years but it doesn’t take us long to get in the swing boys…as Clinic once so aptly said. You may well already know that Rob produced the first Clinic album which set them on the dizzy road to an appearance on The Letterman Show and most recently supports with Radiohead and The Arcade Fire. I’m still miffed that I missed their recent show at the local Arena, and to think we could have blagged a guest list place if we’d been more organised. The studio is situated in Mossley, top Mossley to be precise and we have the luxury of overnight accommodation in this wonderful old Victorian manor house. It’s a traditional old school basement recording set up, two inch tape and there’s no computer. We chose it accordingly with Jon in mind. Mike [Joyce] plays drums on day one on a couple of the songs and we nail everything by early evening, still always a bit messy on the first day with Rob and Jools [studio owner and session engineer] spending forever sorting out the mics. I get into a conversation with Julie on the merits of the 414 but pretty soon I’m lost in my technical ignorance and leave the setting up bit to Rob who’s more microphone savvy than I’ll ever be. German mics, Australian mics, Russian mics, American mics…hmm, now where were we. Mike, John and I run through some beat options. The term Folk-Glam emerges which sort of sums up the mood we’re after, stomping floor toms and long cymbal splashes that sustain seemingly forever…it’s a great sounding live room. Jon and Mike play to click; later we record more guides for the other songs and Jon performs a truly haunting version of his song ‘Child Killer’ which leaves us all kind of breathless. It’s very powerful song, intended as a guide but Rob and I discuss it later and we’re both thinking it was so much more than that; listening back the next day and realise we have the take. Then we add bass, more acoustic guitars and get a few more vocals out of Jon which we comp later that night. In the morning we wonder into town and are delighted to discover the E-Mouse brik a brack emporium. Rob bought some tools for his Blacksmith forge, the one he’s recently built in his garage. I bought a little yellow ashtray with a sailor on it. Not sure quite what that says about our respective personas but should you feel the need you can draw your own conclusions. We leave the studio around midnight on day three having added some final guitars and organ. If the mixing runs as smoothly as the tracking we’ll be laughing. More on this to follow, VP x

Barrow

2007-11-11T20:59:00.001Z

Boneheads driving and he has a chest infection, I’m surviving despite a mouth ulcer and a sore throat. It’s a grey day and we all meet up at mine for tea and toast, Bens travelling with Mike, there’s a functional air to the gathering, like a last supper of sorts as this is the last gig for a while….and it feels a bit like an add on or a friends request, we set off and arrive without stopping, Mike and Ben beat us to it but only just. The Nines is a revamped and incredibly plush modern night club, a gaudy mirror balled disco palace kind of place. It feels incredibly clean and I’m not complaining, just thinking how Craig would have loved it. The stage has a gold lamer drape and a couple of pole dancing risers. This is a club with pedigree appeal, it says so on the flyers, whatever that means. We sound check and go back to the hotel, Mike and Ben are staying over, and Bonehead and I are getting off afterwards. My throat is feeling a bit better and so far I’ve managed to avoid the fags. It’s a quaint little family hotel, the foyer walls are covered in photos of politicians, we play spot the Tory, there’s Heath, Knott, Widdecombe, Balmy Boris, Tarzan, it’s a right old mug fest; enough to put you off the place. People are arriving at the venue as we do, by taxi, and we catch something of the support, a solo American called Peter I think his name was, he wasn’t my cup of tea or any of the bands for that matter but some people found him entertaining. He didn’t get booed off or anything. He was kind of engaging, but somehow in all the wrong places. Jon Byrne plays next and it’s refreshing to see someone with a genuine passion, I’ve seen Jon before and his set is typically intense. Jon was born to be on a stage and as Mike quite accurately observes, he looks uncomfortable everywhere else. I couldn’t agree more. Our show is good; surprisingly people seem somewhat reserved. Bonehead has his own little fan club here as it’s something of an Oasis town people inform me. Afterwards we say hello to people we sort of know but don’t really and sign tickets for girls with impossibly attractive accents, then we leave, Bonehead and I, not quite at the speed of sound but getting there. This has the last band show for awhile and I’d just like to thank everyone who came along to support us…it’s very much appreciated as ever. VP

Brixton

2007-11-06T21:50:00.000Z

We have a day off and drive east out of Cardiff along the M4 heading for Windsor which seems close enough to London but not too close if you know what I mean. We’ve already visited the music shops and Ben’s bought a blue ukulele for his son. Of course we all have to have a go. Bonehead is the by far the fastest learner and entertains us on route with a startling rendition of his now famous [as far as we’re concerned] major minor song. His head is healing nicely. It passes the time. We stop off at a country pub and put our feet up on the tables before getting politely asked to remove them. We locate the Travel Lodge but there’s nowhere to park so we end up with inches to spare in an underground car park. Its touch and go and but the roof of the van remains intact. Then we load all the gear into the hotel. Later on we partake of dodgy Indian food and some decent sleep. Next day we set off for London refreshed. We played The Jamm earlier this year and booked this gig last minute to offset travelling to Bournemouth directly from Manchester in a day but alas the Bournemouth gig has been cancelled. This proves to be something of a headache in terms of financial planning as the hotel cancellation deadline has lapsed and they have no flexibility whatsoever. I make a number of futile attempts at getting some kind of refund all to no avail. I feel well pissed off. We stop off on route and watch the Man U v Arsenal game in an Irish pub in Richmond. It’s full of Man U fans which is a relief. Arriving in Brixton later that afternoon we are offered a flop house, turn it down and end up in hotels after some justified protestations to the promoter. After sound check we discover the stage times have changed and we wont be on till 12.45. This trobles our guest list no end. We’re only a few minutes drive away from The Jamm so return to the hotel to get our shit together and watch some TV. The Jamm Crowd is decent enough and we play well, its one of those shows that increases in momentum with each song. People are positive and we sell CDs. Later that night Ben and I return to the hotel at 5am for a much needed rest after Bone and Mikes DJ sets. The others stay in the club all night pasting posters onto ceilings and generally tripping the light fantastic. Ben drives home on Sunday and we’re all eternally grateful as ever. He’s like a human sat nav system still you probably know that already. Every band should have a Ben in it says Club manager Monique; I couldn’t have put it better myself. VP

Cardiff

2007-11-06T18:48:00.000Z

Ben and I manage to make the breakfast curfew and enjoy a very decent full English veggie blow out. Mike and Jeff are late and get egg on toast after considerable grovelling. We return to The Robin to collect the gear and are on the M5 southwards in no time. Jeff is driving. Bonehead calls Owen Morris [the OASIS Producer] on the off chance he’s up for it, or mad for it, or whatever for definitely maybe and that's it, and lo and behold he is. We meet up with him in a Monmouth pub an hour later where the band catch up and I listen in; it’s hard not to at that volume. Owen is possibly the most gifted storyteller this side of Abergavenny. He's also very loud. Later that evening Miles reprimands him for making mobile calls during his set and I banish him to the naughty seat during ours. I expect his mother once described him as a handful and she’d be right. We arrive in Cardiff mid afternoon, Owen is staying at The Hilton and we’re some leagues under the accommodating sea. The Barfly smells like a nursing home, looks well and truly trashed and in time honoured tradition there is no rider, no food and no dressing room. On the positive side there is a sound engineer who knows the room all too well. We sound check effortlessly and leave for Pizza Express who serve the most amazing olives, huge black and green salt encrusted mini plums that Bonehead likens to dog food. Olives egh, don't you just love em or loathe em. Back at the finally found after endless searching M Lodge Hotel Ben and I watch TV and make recovery plans. At the venue we catch Miles and Erica's last two songs, both delivered with characteristic gusto. Ericas playing is truly something else. I get talking to her later about classical training, her love of roast dinners and Doncaster as a place to grow up in. She also has perfect pitch and demonstrtes a spontaneous A at the drop of a packet of Bombay mix. The gig is good, really enjoyable despite the tell tale shadows of a half empty venue. Reactions are great, Owen comperes us to The Attractions and we briefly discuss working together, though I feel this was more heated moment that actual possibility, we’ll see. I get the feeling that working with Owen might well tax my limited capacity for all things rock n roll. Like I said…I doubt it but we’ll see. After show we congregate just down the road in the Hilton Bar where Owen runs up a tab [with a little help from assembled liggers and loafers] of truly astronomic proportions. Ben and I retire early and sleep like babies, the others return at some point but as luck would have it I’ve locked the door. And that was that, VP

Bilston ...in the West Midlands

2007-11-05T22:31:00.000Z

Seconds leg out…it’s Bilston, and we’re early. There are seats and tables and such and from initial perusal it would appear that many a tribute band passeth this way on the glory trail. Well you know what I mean. We are welcomed by accents that remind me of home, Miles arrives and we do the stage door catch up meeting. In the passing time since we were last sharing a stage he’s had his guitar nicked and returned in Accrington of all places. Erica is in Frankfurt demonstrating electric fiddles so is sadly absent for tonight’s gig much to the disappointment of my daughter Leah who turns up mid sound check. She loves the violin and was dying to see Erica play. We also have some strange family type connections to Miles involving his cousin and an ex boyfriend but really it would take me half the night to explain. We pop off to our hotel, it’s a rather well worn affair, a house in the grounds of The Haven some five minutes from the venue. We are advised to view before we proceed. We are swayed but mostly cause its dirt cheap and the breakfast chef has a reputation; a good one we’re assured. The accommodation is quite basic. Some of beds don’t meet in the middle. We have two triple rooms; Ben and I are downstairs and the lunatic fringe- I mean that with the utmost affection boys you know that- are directly above. We amble over to the gig for an Indian banquet as Mike is starving, always continuously starving. We catch the last half of Miles solo set, there’s a decent crowd, this is practically hometown territory for him and it shows. He plays a few Wonderstuff songs in amongst the newer tunes and goes down a storm. I’ve already told him of my fondness of the Stuffies and my preferences for the Modern Idiot album, which is the one most people seem to like least he informs me. This doesn’t surprise me, it’s happened with other artists I admire, Luke Haines for one, How I Came to Love the Boot Boys is possibly his most ignored classic, and of course it’s my favourite. So there you go. My tastes are not in keeping with popular consent. My records likewise it must be said but I’ll end this thread now before the self deprecates into something sinister. Our gig passes. I play Sperm Donor for the encore and we finish with the remodelled Social Worker. It’s improvisationally satisfying, and [note to self here] at this point in its live evolution seems to encompass more vocal spontaneity that is absolutely necessary. Selling CDs at knockdown prices and talking to people about the Villa [they’re all good natured Wolves fans] seems a decent way to end a very decent show. Later on we stop over at the club and drink more than anticipated. I also help to lock up as Karen is afraid of the ghosts. I’m not because there’s no such thing. Three hours later Ben and I listen to the Fight Club antics upstairs with bemusement and occasional dismay. Surely they’re not…blimey, you know I think they are. Now that’s gonna hurt, and I mean really hurt in the morning. VP

The Ritz

2007-10-29T22:34:00.000Z

It’s impossible to park in Manchester even on a Sunday but I manage it somehow. I’m playing an acoustic gig for Oxjam here and expecting the customary chaos that so often comes of such events. I needn’t have worried. I am meeted and greeted by Lindsey the hairdresser who is wonderful and shows me around and prevents me getting lost. I'd like to dedicate my opening poem to her retrospectively. I meet up with Damian who’s also playing, we're in a third floor dressing room with a trouser press and a walk in wardrobe. We discuss failing health, broken hearts and The Italian Job. I go on at exactly the time I am given and play a short acoustic set to a decent crowd and all seems as it should be. The Ritz is a pedigree venue with a sleazy rock n roll history. I saw The Fall here years ago when they seemed somehow vital. It hasn’t changed in 20 years and hopefully it never will. There are loads of bands on. Bonehead is DJing and we catch up outside the venue with a beer. He gets a parking ticket and moves the car just in time to head off the clampers. I play just the four songs; A Man Afraid, Batman, Confessions of a Sperm Donor and Calm me Down…I had planned on others [as you do] but the stage manager is running like clockwork. I deposit albums on the CD stall and sneak off after catching the tail end of Damian and Mikes set. I quite enjoyed myself, was home for Corry and chips and that was that. Meantime I just picked up a review for the new album from soundsexp as follows…

“Smiths associate” Vinny Peculiar’s 7th album is a curious one: backed by Bonehead (ex-Oasis), Mike Joyce (ex-Smiths) and Ben Knott (ex-Jeep, World of Twist), he kills off his alter ego in the first song ‘Vinny Peculiar is Dead’, sounds like the epitome of melancholy on the caustic ‘Happiest Man in the World’ and concludes with the instrumental, introspective title track, performed on a piano with a terminal illness. A sense of romantic misery is more than palpable! There’s melodic relief in the 70s glam beat of ‘Kiss Me (I’m A Social Worker)’ and the summer Sunday pop of ‘Lazy Bohemians’ but even then his lyrics are tart and cutting. There are times you can hear Nick Cave and Johnny Cash in these powerpop meets kitchen sink drama songs but a better comparison might be Stephen Duffy for the romance-against-the-odds, me-against-the-world, railing-against-the-dying-of-the-light feeling of this record. Most peculiar…

It’s not a bad review and whilst Goodbye is probably the most introspective thing I’ve done lyrically when Tim and I recorded it we were laughing all the way to the bank of guilty pleasures that included Supertramp, Thin Lizzy and [harder to admit to this one] Yes. So for me it was possibly the most light-hearted recording experience I think I’ve had to date. Obviously this didn’t quite transfer what with the songs being what they are. Nice also that the reviewer picked up on Stephen Duffy. I was a big fan of The Lilac Time in times gone by and I guess I still am and not just because he’s Villa fan although naturally that helps. I think he ended up writing for Robbie Williams though I could be wrong. This week the band are out and about again on the second leg of the tour. I’m looking forward to catching the whole of Miles and Erica at some point. Like I said to him the other week; Mission Drive practically saved my life. I must tell you about it sometime. VP

METRO GIG GUIDE

2007-10-22T21:24:00.000Z

Alan Wilkes, aka Vinny Peculiar, wraps decades of pop culture and decades of personal history in immaculately crafted pop gems. If this sounds daunting, rest assured then a VP album is first and foremost glorious fun. His most recent album, last year’s The Fall And Rise Of VinnyPeculiar, is his most accomplished work yet, as he has the happy knack of getting better and better. Spotting the references in his songs is a pleasant activity. He mentions Billy Fisher – Billy Liar, as portrayed by Tom Courtney in the John Schlesinger film and a character called Travis, as in ‘like Travis lost beneath the desert sky’. The penny drops. This isn’t the band or the Bickle of Taxi Driver but Harry Dean Stanton’s character in Wim Wenders’ Paris, Texas. All this name-dropping makes a direct connection to the listener; we can all remember where we were when we first saw Paris, Texas. But Peculiar’s achievement is to bring universality to his more personal songs too. Peculiar has a great deal in common with Morrissey, but is more ready to admit to the gentle bewilderment of middle age. Imagine if Mozza had stayed at home and hadn’t moved away (living first in LA and then Rome). Imagine if The Smiths hadn’t disbanded. The presence of Smiths drummer Mike Joyce in Peculiar’s band drives home the comparison. Bass duties are handled by Bonehead from Oasis. Manchester’s waifs and strays could do a lot worse than be under his peculiar wing. Mike Butler

Manchester

2007-10-20T09:55:00.000Z

It’s the day after the day of the gig that was …and what a gig it was too. There’s nothing like playing at home, in the basement of TV 21 [easily the best club in the city] surrounded by all manner of futuristic paraphernalia and in the company of friends and loved ones we…well...I think the term is ROCKED. The sound was rickety pooh [as someone so eloquently stated] but the vibe was a hyper-max treasure trove good feeling. We played a blinder. I saw loads people I hadn’t seen in awhile who were most forthcoming in their praises and for a few hours everything that ever was made perfect sense. People enjoyed the gig and you can’t ask for more than a full house paying attention and engaging, especially in this town where pretty much everyone has been on Top of the Pops [I exaggerate-you know that- but you get the picture]. This sets us up nicely for the next leg of the tour which recommences on Halloween in Bilston at The Robin [which is in the West Midlands in case you were wondering as several people were when I mentioned it the other night]. This seems a suitable time to thank those without whom none of this would be possible so to Jeff we salute you for the driving and humping [never the right term but it’s the one to use apparently] and to Steve Petrico for putting us on and to Annie for feeding us. To Andy Woods for the label support and to Ben Cooke for being on the ball. To Craig Gannon for keeping it clean. Thank you. Thanks also to Damian Morgan and Mike Doyle for the captivating acoustic support. Alas finally, on a note of sadness, this was the day of all days that Bens dog DINGO died. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a closer more touching relationship between man and beast than was theirs. DINGO featured on the Fall and Rise album cover artwork and was quite the star of shoot. Our thoughts go out to all concerned, VP

Nottingham

2007-10-19T11:21:00.000Z

I remember playing The Rescue Rooms like it was yesterday. It was in fact 2003 and I was doing a solo tour with Helene the band. I headlined that night [we took it in turns on the tour], the band had gone home early and I recall playing the gig to about 10 people but alas by the time the gig ended [and I really went for it as you do when there’s nothing to lose] the Rescue Rooms were deserted. And I mean deserted. The sound engineer was in the bar and the people who were there when the set started had all gone [to get the train I like to think!]. Of course I had no idea of this exodus as I really couldn’t see a thing what with the lights on stage and my ever failing eyesight. I think this is what they mean by paying your dues. So….these thoughts are with me as we arrive late afternoon at a venue that is notoriously hard to find; still I can remember exactly where it is much to the amusement of the band who don’t expect such confident directional directives form me…we usually reserve the final word on such matters to Ben. We decant and we load in. It hasn’t changed a jot. I remind the sound engineer we are not an EMO band and would he mix us vocal heavy, it’s a very loud stage and the acoustic keeps feeding back. The hotels just down the road and walk-able, which is a bonus. We hang around for food which is Mexican and excellent, check in, walk back and catch the last couple of songs from Miles and Erica who is dressed like a nineteen thirties silent film diva, snow white cotton dress porcelain skin ruby lips. She looks kind of other worldly…you can’t help but be drawn in. They go down a storm. By this time I’m starting to feel a bit out of sorts, I’ve come over a bit, well, faint. I put it down to sleep deprivation…that and old age! The gig happens. I make reference to my impending heart attack and miss the first bars of OPERATION like I wasn’t even there. I’m having a mini concentration crisis. I never quite get it back and I still feel bad about not doing an encore but I really did feel wobbly as hell. I forget all about the CD sales malarkey and disappear into the night in search of bed rest. I hearby apologise for the lack of sparkle and the absence of engagement. Remarkably several people have since commented on the gig positively so all is not lost. It just felt like it was at the time. Later that night at 3am I’m joined in bed by Bonehead who tells me a joke about a psycho path, it takes him a few goes, you have to laugh really. And then we’re out for the count without any help from hotel security. We’re home tomorrow. It’s been a busy week. VP

Bristol

2007-10-19T10:11:00.000Z

It’s been awhile since I was in Bristol, city of the arts and home to Cousin Martin. On the way down we stop off for food and luxuriate in a lovely little place on the outskirts of town, located by Boneheads uncanny knack of pub spotting…should you ever need a pub just ask the man. We arrive in Bristol and we’re early which is nice so we load in and loaf around. I spend some considerable time looking for a parking machine that actually works but there isn’t one and leave a sign in the van to this effect. Miles and Erica arrive and we say hello and swan around on the riverbank. It’s a great location. The Thelka is a boat and the gig is in the hold. We are a short drive from the hotel which is nice change from last night where we had a 10 mile trip across town. Sound checks out without a hitch,we check in and get a taxi back to the venue just in time to catch the end of Miles and Ericas set. They’re playing a Wonderstuff song the title of which eludes me. I love the Wonderstuff so having Miles on board for these dates was always going to be a good idea and at some point soon I’ll catch all of Miles and Erica’s set. We make plans with them for a beer at some forthcoming shows but for now they are driving home immediately post gig. Before the gig I stretch guitar strings that I changed earlier. The acoustic guitar looks like it’s been on the road for years and it’s all mucky with sweat and from last nights gig that was so hot [as previously mentioned] that the feedback buster [which is like a rubber stopper that plugs the sound hole to prevent feedback] has in part melted so there are drips of rubber residue all over the sound board/scratch-place. I have to scrape them off with a pen knife; the value of my Taylor diminishes accordingly! I just about get the whole string stretching guitar tech thing together before we go on. Whilst we’re on the subject of GEAR it must be said that despite the Fender Twin meltdown in BURY the Fender Bassman is proving to be a most welcome replacement, borrowed from Bonehead. I’m now running the Bassman through the speakers of my old Fender Twin. So there you go…a rare moment of geekdom. Our gig is a decent affair, the crowd is quieter than some [a southern thing I quip into the void] although they seem to wake up with a start once I start talking football [this always happens to the quieter respectful type audiences]; there’s always someone willing to engage about football. That said one needs to proceed with caution. Did I ever tell you about the Newcastle gaff at the Sunderland gig, well, seriously it was touch and go for minute. After the show I meet up with Mike Hagan who I’ve not seen for 20 years, we were former nursing colleagues in the 1980s so there’s plenty to catch up on and plenty we didn’t have time for. I only hope it’s not another 20 years before we do it all again. It was lovely to see him. The rest of the night was spent drinking strong draft lager on deck with various permeations of Jeff, the band and Cousin Martin. Around midnight Pete Doherty plays an impromptu gig and we sneak in for a peak, The Thelka is now suitably rammed and the kids love it. I found it all strangely amusing but that might just be my olden world approach to credibility as people seemed to be more interested in his sobriety/notoriety than any kind of performance [which wasn’t bad still I’ll leave it there as I fear I’m knotting my ties at this celebrity juncture]. We get taxis back to the hotel and decline the kebab stop off that didn’t seem such a good idea once we actually saw it as to quote Jeff it was all kicking off good-style so we get Chinese food at 3am in a restaurant some fifty yards from the hotel and it’s perfect. VP

Coventry

2007-10-18T13:15:00.000Z

We only confirmed the Coventry gig a week ago and I’ve no idea really what kind of set up to expect. Ben picks me up after lunch and we collect Jeff before heading out to Bowden for Mike and Bonehead. We arrive early evening, the directions hold up, the venue is on the side of a canal, like the opposite lock in Brum. On arrival we catch the tail end of a recording session, there’s a Harp on a stage, a woman harpist [we think although it's hard to tell in the dark] is checking a lap top and a couple of hippy minstrels are moving gear around. They’ve just finished. We say hello and Rich makes the tea. This venue feels like a proper modern art space. My eyes start to adjust and we load in. It transpires that Rich the venue owner/ manager is producing an album during daytime hours and running a club at night. This would explain the snow white tan and the mellow manners. We immediately warm to the set up. Sound check is over and done with in no time, more ineteresting is tonights support, the incredible Thomas Traux. I say incredible and I mean incredible. This guy builds his own instruments and performs the most attractive alternative song/pieces accompanied by modified drum machines and bellow esque horn adaptions [I’m stuggling to describe them here], but do check out his site. We watch most of his set back at the gig before we’re on. He’s an interactive magician and an engineering wonder. We were all captivated. It’s not often you get to see something quite so original done so well. We grab a photo with him the next day as we’re leaving and do the album swop thing. Our gig is a decent affair, we have no complaints, the sound is great and the energy factor is high, the air conditioning is broken hence this turns into one of the hottest gigs ever know to man. Afterwards we mingle and drink and smoke accordingly. All of us now back on cigarettes after only three days on the road [except jeff who has more sense]. It’s pathetic really. I go without a fag for months at a time and then we’re away for a few days and another culture seems to become me or something like that, a poor excuse I know. Since I’ve been home I’ve not bothered. We say goodbye to Taylor Johns the next day, it’s been an inspiring stay in an inspiring place. There was some talk of it being under threat of closure, lets hope to god it never does. VP

Liverpool

2007-10-17T19:14:00.000Z

We are playing the Cavern and I don’t want to get too hung up on it but the legendary venues all round reputation for promotion is to be frank piss poor. I know this both from personal experience and from talking to any number of Liverpool musicians over the years. We could just as easily have booked the Barfly which is a proper venue in comparison all be it minus the legendary connotations. The Cavern is basically an underground fun pub and the theme of the pub is the Beatles. I have good friends who make a decent living on the back of it all. We arrive around 5pm and I’ve already called the promoter and left messages but now they tell me he's on holiday. Nobody knows whats going on, nobody meets us, greets us, no one advises on parking and there’s no drinks, no food and no hospitality. There’s also been no promotion. No wonder it’s reputation is so dire. Here is a venue dining out on it’s name alone and it’s not even the original building. I try not to let it get to me. Steve Roberts, who’s an old friend of mine and playing with us here tonight takes a more balanced pragmatic view [he’s played here even more times than I have]; but we both agree it could be so much better. At least Jay the sound engineer is here, apologising for the lack of organisation and after the three flight load we sound check and drift off for food. Still there’s no sign of anyone who might know anything about the gig, the guest list, the stage times takes and I can feel my anxiety levels rising. We get Pizza Expressed. On return to the venue we are met by the manager who finally sorts the guest list, which is something I suppose. Then I’m off to the Grapes with some health service friends. Back at the gig things kick off with Maudlin Rich who play to an almost empty room which is a great shame as they are a great band. It doesn’t get that much better for the rest of us. Steve Roberts set is sharp and sweet, ‘Photie Man’ captivates and conjures up the freak shows of New Brighton in the 1970’s. I had asked Steve if he’d play Unsteady from the olden days ; he didn’t but I forget the reasoning why. We are onstage at 10 and we have a small crowd…I mean really small [54 people someone counted!]but a crowd none the less and despite some dressing room consternation as to what the feck we are doing here we manage to hit the full on collective show time button and deliver. I mean sound wise and performance I felt we really raised our game. Everyone enjoyed it, reaction was overwhelmingly positive and you cant ask for more than that. Several old mates attended from bands I played in way back. Jenny the Confessor also put in an rare and welcome appearance so it had to be good and despite the venues inadequacies it was BLOODY TOP, as Jeff would say, VP

York

2007-10-16T21:32:00.000Z

We’re playing Fibbers; last time I was there in 1998 I was playing guitar in a Liverpool trip hop band called Goldwire who recorded copiously in some of longest sessions I can ever recall at Pearl Studios in a vain attempt to woo the likes of Sony and V2 who attended showcases in rehearsal rooms where plots were hatched but alas it all come to nothing. We didn’t do many gigs and when we did the gear kept breaking down, samplers would spontaneously trigger themselves and the DAT machines time code was never its own; I suppose we were at war with the technical limitations of the times. Nowadays we’d have just got a decent lap top. Here in the present we are playing the first of five band shows is succession. James, who’s filming the show arrives early, it’s the first time we’ve actually met although it doesn’t feel like it as he has helped me out of many a technical web design scrape. It’s nice to meet at last. He sets us a couple of cameras and we sound check with relative ease. There’s a book I remember reading about a David Bowie impersonator set in York a few years ago called ‘Slow Down Arthur, Stick to 30’ [I think...]. I just can’t remember the name of the author but it was truly inspiring. He was working as a ghost at one point as there are a lot of them here. I’ll have to Google it later. We check into the hotel, mess around a bit, get ready and are back on the streets eating chips and beans from one of those city centre kebab vans an hour later. It’s a lovely mild evening and somehow we’ve missed the support bands as we’ve loitered too long in the hotel. Whenever this happens I feel like I’ve missed out somehow but I realise this is not exactly a rational thought, still, for all I know they could be the next Wishbone Ash! That was a joke only I got sorry. The gig is good, reactions are positive, and the improvisational sales man in me manages to off load CDs in exchange for hard cash which is a cut above the I owe you’s I have been known to accept in past moments of weakness. Later on we are drinking hard liquor shots in a late night town centre bar and I’m catching up on life and death with an old friend and Bonehead is threatening to play the legendary major minor song back at the hotel. I can't wait. Now where did I pack those paracetamol? VP

The Met

2007-10-08T21:21:00.000Z

The Met is quite posh really and it’s the first date on the UK tour. We’re sat outside the Lads club listening to the football; Bens a little off colour, United have won and the Villa are winning. A gang of youths are loitering opposite us and tormenting their dog. It’s one of those rot viler types. They deserve to be bitten and no it’s not clever and it’s not funny. We are on the cusp of saying something but somehow we don’t. Filing past us they ask for money. I decline and they call me a Gay German which amuses me no end although I try not to show it. They swagger off out of view as the tension eases and we’re back to the football, talking about de escalation technique and the non confrontational approach to street hoodlumery; then the others arrive. We load the gear and set off. I’m driving, Boneheads driving, Bens driving, Mike and Jeff are spared. Like I said it’s only just down the road. Tony the promoter meets us out front and it’s nice to catch up with him again. It was Tony who put me on earlier this year in Norwich, I’d also played The Met Bar a while back at a kind wine and dine cabaret event which was brilliant as it happens. The crew help us load in [always a bonus], the sound check is a pleasure and the food is just wonderful. We’re all eating in the restaurant downstairs and like I said it’s kind of posh really. Sean Redmund is supporting us and he’s really good, a truly talented left beat singer songwriter; check out his site www.myspace.com/seanredmund . He has a load of classy songs, one in particular is about taking acid. I discuss with him the chord progressions and just about understand the technical explanation, harmonically all wrong but somehow right at the same time. I talk to him after the gig about taking acid and the myths of madness and the creatively possessed and as I do I feel like a dad lecturing a son on the perils of hedonism. It’s not that I’m a radical anti drugs campaigner, just that having worked in the mental health care system I’ve seen a lot of drug induced schizophrenia and you wouldn’t wish that on anyone believe me. Our gig passes away like a gentle old man in his sleep. It’s a smallish crowd and a deafening silence rings out between songs, people are stood and sat in the back of the hall. An air of respectful appreciation prevails and despite my anecdotes which, lets face it, manage to, on a good night, get what you might call a reaction there is little real engagement. Partly this is down to the fact that the venue holds 300 and we are playing to no more than 40. In short it’s an odd but pleasurable show despite the disappointing turn out. On the bright side Mark from Bitterapple is here taking photos and it’s good to meet him properly at last…it must be at least two years since we were last in his viewfinder. I look forward to seeing the results. Wednesdays gig at Fibbers in York is being filmed by a crew of web designers from Harrogate and thanks to Dave Hardman for the pictures. Forward the buff. VP

Sore Throat

2007-10-03T15:23:00.000Z

I have a cold. I’ve been sat here all morning, moping and feeling sorry for myself. I’ve answered a few emails and wrote a rubbish poem called recycle bin which is where it has ended up; a mere click away from oblivion. Mike is still in the US, Bonehead, like me, smitten by cold and in bed with the night nurse. Ben, who hasn’t been ill since 1993, is cutting long grass in Oldham and wearing the hat he’s been threatening to wear onstage. It’ll happen one day when we least expect it. I’m sure we’ll all pick up health wise in time for the weekend when we play Bury Met [on Sat 6th Oct] which incidentally is a really nice gig and only just down the road. Sean Redmund is doing the support; it wont be so long before he's a household name [ridiculous term that really], but Sean is a great writer and you should really come see him [even if you just stay for him it'll be worth it...I promise]. The food is also wonderful at The Met and Bury boasts the largest TK Max in the country so why not make a day of it. Ignore that bit about TK Max…I hate the place. It's like the Tesco of clothing retail and since we got TKMaximied the retro specialist shops seem to have all withered and died and I miss them. I know…this is going nowhere and I know..I've been to The Max on many an occasion..I just dont like them. I was also in PRIMARK in Liverpool the other day buying black jeans and penguin shoes. I don't know why I'm telling you this. Lets blame it on an attack of grumpy old man thinking. It happens. On the VP PR front, [OK, so we're back to that old chest nut] -I just sent off some pictures off to the METRO, the free paper people, who are running a feature on all the shows on the tour. The METRO is now distributed all over the place…and most often found in my experience on the train, comforting the commuters. OK... like I said I’m not really 100%. That Salford Lads Club Bike Ride passed off into history. You might have caught a three second clip of it on the local TV. The usual suspects were present and correct and they played Every Day is Like Sunday to send them on their way. I think Craig played on that he was telling me awhile ago. Craig and I are due a big night out at some point, we just seem incapable of actually planning it. When all the bikes were off I did a little chin wigging with Hazel Blears our local MP bigging up the club as you do, she was very nice and of course she too thought I was in the Smiths, I thought to myself...not another one please...before gently reminding her of the facts. I was also lucky enough to meet some inspiring representatives of the future generation in the shape of three young women DJs pictured here from www.myspace.com/sameteensmanchester who I’d last seen when I gigged at the Koffee pot. They were very sweet. They also love Morrisey and asked me for my oppinion on him. I said something nice I think, yes I have heard of him, sure I have. He's the guy who's always miserable now isn't he?? Or perhaps I just imagined it. Check out their myspace if you a minute. More last minute gig news…we are playing in COVENTRY next Friday night, a very late addition to the tour, confirmed today, details on tour dates page. If you’re from those parts do come along. I used to be in the Smiths you now...here we go again, I'm starting to wonder, like I say, I'm not 100%...VP x

Salford Lads Bike Ride

2007-09-29T12:19:00.000Z

I’m going to be at The Salford Lads http://www.salfordladsclub.org.uk/index.php/Section17.html club tomorrow where they’re organising a bike ride around Morrisey’s old haunts, to quote the site.... We’re going to be passing by Morrissey’s old house on Kings Road in Stretford, then we’re going to the cemetery gates on the cemetery in Chorlton, down to Holy Name Church on Oxford Road, up to Manchester Ritz, but we start and finish at the Lads Club. There’s going to be events on at the Club afterwards to welcome us home. No doubt there will be a lot of Smithishness going on; something I try and embrace in support of the club and avoid at the same time as I was never in the Smiths if [as I'm sure you do] you follow. Of course I’m a big Smiths fan, but I won’t be going on the bike ride; someone has to set up the PA and serve the tea. There is also bicycle orchestra playing as well as Smiths tribute act the Smyths. It should be a good day and all proceeds go to the restoration fund. http://www.mancubist.co.uk/2007/09/28/bigmouth-bikes-again-a-smiths-bike-ride VPx

video friendly

2007-09-14T12:31:00.000Z

I’m in Rob’s garage talking drum loops with Stevie O and swirling oil around in a baking tray in the name of art and heaven forbid…fun, wearing a black suit of sorts and a Katherine Hamnett white cotton shirt. It’s the only one I’ve got so I’d prefer not to get it covered in tomato ketchup. Next! We’ve got an overhead projector and a slides machine circa 1963 that Steve is re-fusing. He’s also bought along his original collection of Star Trek slides. And no I never have never been to a convention though I’m not at all shocked to discover Steve and Rob have on probably more than one occasion…they are geeks after all, slightly recovered and less anal than they were but geeks none the less. It goes with the territory so they tell me. The slide projector makes shadows on the garage wall and we start filming voice to camera as Steve and Rob swirl patterns and modify light filters. The idea for the video comes from a torture scene in The Ipcress File. I’ve not seen it. I just do as I’m told and try to get the lip synching right in what is turning into a perfectly decent way to spend a Sunday afternoon. The video is for the song ‘Vinny Peculiar is Dead’, the first track on the new album. It sounds like our old school orchestra playing Johnny Cash. We end up faking a suicide that involves rope and a chair and a body double and I manage to dislocate something in my lower back whilst swinging from the rafters. The song is about the death of the alter ego known as [or just as possibly unknown as] Vinny Peculiar…which hasn’t happened yet still you never know what’s around the corner do you? Incidentally there are a couple of death themed songs on the new record but don’t let it put you off…most of the tunes are more upbeat than you’d think; like Supertramp meets XTC was a recent comment. Goodbye My Angry Friend is available now from this site but wont be in stores or via the download sites until the new year which gives the pronoia records press team a decent amount of time to pitch it to the world. When we look back at the footage at the end of the day we like what we see. VP

Barrow in Fairness

2007-09-04T20:36:00.000Z

I thought I’d get the train for a change and set off on foot to the local station. It’s Friday afternoon and it’s raining but not in my heart. I’ve never been one for hats though on days like today I wish I had. Perhaps the urge will strike in later years as it does for some so I’m told. Both my granddads wore a trilby. The trains are not running so I catch the shuttle bus and get away without paying. I’m at Piccadilly Station and I’m early so I settle into reading Richard Dawkins’ ‘the God Delusion’ which I prominently display like a weapon as Christians loiter with intent, fishes on lapels, hymn books in handbags. The book is a bit of a discovery for me, such a wonderfully life affirming liberating energising poke at organised releigion, the games people play on behalf of their god; mostly the Christian one but in truth they’re all as daft as one another. I must get my dad a copy. The station, incidentally, is full of beautiful girls. The train is on time and twenty five stops later I’m in Barrow where I’m met by Mark and Phil [tonight’s promoters]. We get Chinese food at Marks where Ethan, Marks son, treats us to a seriously competent bass rendition of a popular Kings of Leon track the name of which escapes me…it’s either be there or on call or something like. Marks elder son Tom is also a talented footballer, he can juggle a ball across his shoulders and the evidence is up there on you tube…anyway, I digress as ever. The gig is in an old ship yard Canteen that hasn’t changed much since the seventies [ and probably needs to]. Still there’s a decent sized audience spread out and about and some are seated behind tables. An angular gothic teen asks me if I played with Morrissey; I tell him no and explain that I am the new Morrissey… just like it says in the local paper. It could have been worse. Being the new anyone at my age is kind of cute really. Jon Byrne [who is about half my age] is ‘Barrows answer to Billy Bragg only better’ and opens the evening with a tremulous set of spiky agit- folk complete with stage invasion and sing along air punching audience engagement. He’s known around here for bringing the house down and not eating his greens. He’s on a brief UK tour soon so do try and catch him if you can, tonight he was exhilarating… and that coming from a man typically of great reticence and suspicion. I kid you not. Later on my gig goes off OK, I get rid of a load of CDs even if half the people pay half of what I expected them too its been a good night, so lets leave it at that. Then we’re back at Marks drinking red wine and admiring Phils formative Eraserhead hair on the artwork of his 7inch single of classic 80’s Depeche Modem Styled synth pop. I didn’t actually listen to it, but I did enjoy enjoy jumping to these conclusions. Next morning after lazy lunchtime pasta Mark drives us to a little town called Kirkby Stephen. I meet up with the band in a field where there’s a decent sized marquee and some other bands too including good friends of mine The Fischers who only just made it after a breakdown. The sound check is postponed [they have decided against them for some reason] so we head off to our accommodation which is a youth hostel run by a voluble Lord Longford look alike in a dear stalker. There’s an air of military precision about this man who is a renowned exhibitor of antique clocks, they’re everywhere. The hostel is a former church and the five of us are in the vestry. The keys are on a big piece of wood Longford says so you don’t lose it…well really and welcome to the geography field trip. It’s like the League of Gentlemen. On the bright side there’s a wonderful chip shop next door and it’s only a ten minute walk to the festival site. We’re on at 10pm. We’re off at 11. It’s almost enjoyable really…once I got over the shitty little amp they had for us…not that I pulled a face…but really, these things can make all the difference. I guess we should have bought the Fender Twin after all. And while we’re on the subject of gear this was, for the record, the debut gig of my new Fender Telecaster Custom 1978 acquired only a few weeks ago from Will Deegan, a man who, according to Mike, has a party in pants to which everyone’s welcome. Now think on lad…VPx

Shanghai TV

2007-08-21T20:47:00.000Z

I’m sat in the car outside the lads club on a Tuesday afternoon talking on the phone to Damian Morgan assuring him it’s free admission to our gig at TV 21. Damian is doing the gig with us and being a long in the tooth promoterly type is asking for more clarification than would seem to be necessary. Honestly…I’m not kidding, it’s free. Steve [Petrico…who owns TV 21] says we’ll just ram it full and make on the bar which is fine by me. So there you go…no excuses. OK so it’s not until 18th October but do come along if you can. It's the local leg of the tour. Damian is having a busy week in preparation of the release of his forthcoming single ‘Dimming of the Light’, a charity release on the Pronoia label to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society. It’s also a very fine and poignant record that deserves to be heard. The plan is to get it into the charts; it’s available from from http://www.tunetribe.com/Album?album_id=1069590 . Probably best to download it in the week of 28th August. So please do. Once I’ve convinced Damian I head into the club and meet up with Bruce Cherry [the cross cultural organiser/promoter behind todays visit] who in turn introduces me to the Chinese film crew from the Shanghai Media Group, here to capture something of the essence of the city’s musicality. We do an interview and where Travis the interpreter leads and I dutifully follow. Everyone is really friendly. I also do a live to camera version of ‘Batman’ from the new album and do my level best to explain what it’s about. They tell me they have 10 million viewers back home….so we’ll see. After a quick tour of the building I’m away in time to get the washing in like a proper man about the house. VP x

Curfew Tower

2007-08-03T16:32:00.000Z

I’m back on the mainland after a week in the Curfew Tower Cushendall, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland where we’ve been making little films to accompany the new album release. It’s a beautiful place and we stayed and made art just like it says on the poster Check it out, artists can apply to stay but please…a personal request… no more painting. We were, in no particular order Suzanne Sheldon [Filmmaker and travelologist], Tim Browne [producer of records and nice cups] John Hirst [the Tower’s artistic curator and resident chef] and Jane Twig [Artist and Teacher]…when you put it like that it sounds almost impressive. I was there too making a show of myself. I spent Wednesday afternoon half naked and covered in face paint. I also did the rarely seen trippy hippy dance to camera like a regular lazy bohemian. Oh how the cutting room floor beckons ...We still have a few more bits to film and then we send the footage on to Tom Robinson for editing; hopefully he’ll make sense of it.We last worked together on audio visuals on the Suicide Dad video of 2001 [shot by Stevie Owen and Tim Browne] which is back on you tube again if you want a butchers. In-between the angles poised the pan zoomology we took long and winding coastal walks through cemeteries and deserted houses. At night we played and sang ourselves hoarse in the local pub. I’d like to say my version of ‘Rocket Man’ was a glittering success…there you go, I just did. Other highlights included a karaoke version of Sperm Donor and something by Steely Dan that Tim had up his sleeve. I expect we’ll be back at some point. VP

Lee Griffiths

2007-07-13T18:20:00.000Z

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

2007-07-11T06:45:00.000Z

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

2007-07-08T18:54:00.000Z

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

Miles Hunt & Erica Nockalls

2007-06-14T15:34:00.000Z

Most of the 2007 UK tour dates are now in and like I’ve said already details are on the pages. I know I’ve mentioned it before so apologies for the repeats. I’m seriously chuffed to announce that Miles Hunt and cellist Erica Nockalls will be doing five of the shows with us. I’m a great admirer of Miles, loved the Wonderstuff, own most of the records and saw them live on a couple occasions. I’ve not seen the new line up nor the new Miles show with Erika on cello, although it does sound a right grand combination…dark drones, you can’t beat a good cello drone. I’m also looking forward to the whole playing live in a band thing again as we don’t have any band shows scheduled until the Nine Standards Festival in September. We’re doing the tour as a four piece with Bonehead stepping in on bass following his european debut which was great. Until then it’s recording and the occasional solo show, incidentally a second show in Norwich at The Art School has just been confirmed on 3rd July although I’m still waiting on the precise details. I’m also involved in recording the debut Fischers album [Sept possibly] and a new project I’ve been working on with Rob that involves guitars that sound nothing like guitars; it doesn’t have a name or a direction to speak yet of but should it ever get one I’ll be sure to let you know. The new album is finished…a nice feeling. Plans to shoot videos for each of the songs exist...which reminds me I must ring Stevie O, VPx

Some Changes

2007-05-27T21:27:00.000Z

It’s been an untypical week. No Vinny band rehearsals; Bonehead unavailable for a little longer. The lost Cubase files remain in hiding so the song arrangement modifications need redoing. I still haven’t done them. On Monday I met Peter the paper Doyley in ye old brown jumper café and he told me I was stagnating; I think I know what he means. I need something to change. I need to change something. I’m just not quite sure exactly what but I’m getting there. Deviating from the Peculiar domain [which reminds me part of the site is down and needs fixing] I spent the remainder of the week rehearsing and playing two gigs with Blackburn alt poppers The Fishers, both were in Liverpool as part of the International Pop Overthrow Festival. The first one was on Thursday night at the Cavern-which incidentally has never been my favourite venue- and was a decent gig. The promoters were very nice and the whole event seemed well organised. My effects pedals died just as we were starting [there’s always something], a power supply thing as it happens but alas diagnosed too late so I spent the gig manually switching the channel changer on a rubbish in house Marshall Transistor Amp and somehow wanging it. The band played well. Later on a Swedish label bloke with a record bag and a promising manner was extremely complimentary as Jamie was seen to be huddling and nodding in all the right places. The second gig, the day after, was a lunchtime affair in the basement of Lennon’s Bar in Matthew Street but it wasn’t especially memorable. Later that same day sharing a latté with Rob Ferrier we discussed recording the forthcoming Vinny band EP in a field and how Grinderman are the greatest band in the world right now. They certainly make me want to Rip it Up and Start Again. Last thing I paid a visit to Manly Studios and made tentative plans to buy a Winnebago, travel the world and make a film on route [but not 66] whilst drinking tea and eating bananas. Then Tim and I listened to the new mixes of the solo album which sounded great. This cheered me up no end. VP x

Sunday Best

2007-04-29T20:59:00.000Z

I just wrote a song about a bloke who dresses up in women’s clothes…it’s not that I do, although I quite like the idea and I did dabble in such in a recent video which has found its way onto youtube [just put vinny peculiar into the search and hey presto…]. The idea for the video came from a song entitled ‘Song for the Dead’ [yeah ..I know…another happy go lucky little number] which is, in part, a tribute to Kurt Cobain…Kurt liked to wear dresses, that’s my reasoning. I also had an idea we should use a wheelchair like he did at the Reading Festival which was one of or possibly the very last Nirvana UK show; but no one could get hold of one. It was shot in the catacombs of The Cavern by Rob Ferrier and Steve Owen. Song for the Dead is an older [2003] song I wrote after reading Heaven and Hell the much lauded [well I really liked it] biography; alas the writers name escapes me and I’m too lazy check. We [The Congregation] are recording a series of videos to accompany the release of the new album entitled 'Goodbye my Angry Friend' which is nearly finished but not quite as we keep adding and subtracting various bits here and there and finding versions of songs and parts and sounds that we didn’t know existed. Tim still has some final editing and such. I feel like a spare part in the process sometimes. I expect it will eventually see the light after the summer and the release will be tied in with the UK tour. Meanwhile I have a few solo shows coming up [see the tour dates page] and we are recording new band EP over the summer. I’ll also be helping out playing guitar with The Fischers on a few live shows. The Fischers are from Blackburn and are fronted by Jamie from tompaulin. They have a myspace of course .... www.myspace.com/micktravis Oh yeah...I almost forgot, I’ve broken my toe and bloody painful it is too. Best sit back and Enjoy the Melodic Sunshine…I still love that Cosmic Rough Riders album, VP

Koffee Potting

2007-04-07T13:55:00.000Z

The Koffee Pot is a new one on me gig wise, I’ve not been since the revamp and I can’t quite recall the exact proximity still getting lost in my adopted home town has become something of an occupational hazard for me. Luckily I’m joined for a pre gig discussion come promoterly type meet up with Damian from Brave Music who knows exactly where he’s going. I pick him up at the Cornerhouse. We arrive, order coffee and meet Nick at last who runs le pot. I say at last we’ve been speaking for a while about exploiting the cafes potential. Anyway, here I am ready and willing to be so. After an hour with Damian spent mostly dissecting the naff from the even naffer and the sad from the plain old moribund and aimless Damian disappears out the back with a stroller and a pretty girl. Nick sends out for beer, sound people sort the gear out, I help myself to more coffee. Then a goggle of Goths appear, sit down, mumble, then disappear and then appear again and I think about that Divine Comedy song ‘The Happy Goth’ and feel for them, in a good way. It’s a great little song from ‘Absent Friends’, I love Neil Hannon’s song writing. We [the band] were up for some Devine Comedy supports awhile ago but it wasn’t to be…the label couldn’t afford the buy on. Anyway, sorry to moan about muso-bis nonsense, it really has no place here and it has to stop now. Finally the Goths go for good, shame really, I was looking forward to some teenage feedback. Then the eternal teenager in me steals a beer and hangs out on the street smoking roll ups bank holiday style. I haven’t started smoking again, well not properly anyway, I tell myself that and amazingly it seems to work. OK I’m talking the brown stuff again here, The Koffee Pot is filling up nicely. I meet some of Ben’s [Knott] old mates and they talk exclusively about the olden days, living in Hulme on bread and kit-kats…or kitty cat or something like that. Michael the clown prince of Victoriana also shows up; its been awhile since we partied like it was 1899 so we have one of those moments of must do agains and wills when whenever. Then its back into the venue to catch opening act Anna Haigh who’s driven over from Sheffield to be here tonight, she broke down on the Snake Pass, still she made the gig. She’s s determined performer too, for positive comparisons I’d say Janis Ian and Alanis Moressette. I was impressed as were the crowd. My gig is an intimate and pleasing affair even if I say so myself; smaller gigs like this bring people together in a more immediate close up way. Listening audiences make all the difference. For that I’d like to thank those there present most sincerely. I sell CDs and its all over by 7.45pm. Later that night I’m watching Wings of Desire again, something about that film has got me all interested in angelic forms and phenomena…it’s also one of the most romantic films you could ever wish to see. The romance and pain of the human condition objectified and sort after by the after lifers…the angels...there’s one at every table in the Koffe Pot…that much I know is true. VPx

The hills are alive with the sound of...

2007-03-26T12:30:00.000Z

Picture this...

Lost weekenders...

Pretty...

Bass debut...

The other Bonehead + the other Vinny

Beatles... no really?

Jeff and the Alpine Boys...

Stella the celestial waitress...

Dracula...

Pouting for godot

The Italian job...

Hmmm... and so it came to pass...Craig falls down at the final hurdle with a viral infection and Karen is otherwise engaged making a record with Gabrielles Wishes so it's just the four of us plus Jeff our intrepid roadstar par excellence.. but Oh how we laughed...how we laughed. Our two shows in Munich and Innsbruck were a pleasure to behold. Many thanks to Justin at Weekender for making things happen, we really appreciate it. And for sure we'll be back...VPx

Tap Housing

2007-03-20T22:48:00.000Z

Arriving in the US is never straightforward, changing planes in Philadelphia an hour late I dordle in the urinals when I should have gone on the plane; my patient and purposeful partner reminds me of the annoyingly casual approach I have to situations such as these. She’s right of course; I do. I don’t want to be dictated to. It’s a defence mechanism I say but not convincingly. So we have an hour to get through customs [and of course we are at the back of the queue because of my bladder stop…really I’m sorry I really am] with just an hour to collect and recheck the bags before the next flight to Norfolk which takes off from the other side of the airport. Like I said I am truly sorry. We aliens stand in line. Naturally the customs officer wants to know if I have smuggled any drugs into India, Morocco, Denmark and so on working his way through all the stamps on my passport. Naturally I get the overwhelming temptation is to say yes but…well….it’s probably not a good idea. My interview takes about 15 minutes; my partner is done in as many seconds and checking her watch. It’s touch and go. ‘They always stop me’ I protest meekly. It’s a dodgy musician thing. We just manage to make the plane with 2 minutes to spare. I’m here in the US seeing friends and playing a gig, just the one show tonight in the Taphouse Bar in Ghent. The last time I was here in '97 I played a festival at the NARO THEATRE, a benefit for the truly inspirational HOPE HOUSE organisation who’s enigmatic director Lynne Seagle is our great friend and host for the week. We are collected at the airport by Dennis the taxi driver known for his reliability and his charm. He laments the passing Reagan years with a passion only ex military persons can begin to understand. I didn’t say anything. It was a pleasure. We arrive around at 5.30 US time and the three of us take a bath together. Pay attention now… At 10.30 pm I play a simple acoustic set on a borrowed Yamaha guitar in a bar that hasn’t changed much since I last drew finger blood in the hand basin after an accident with a rusty plectrum [improvised]. It’s a battle with the yakking crowd but things improve as the set progresses. People are listening. I’d like to think I won the war. Some way into the set I feel like I’m hallucinating; I can see little pink clouds exploding in the footlights….so that’ll be the Guinness and the time delay then. Not bad. Tonight’s headliners are Lonesome George a three piece led by the hyperactive force of nature that is Jim Hazel; esteemed musician and local rock n roll enigma. They may have a lousy name but have a raw showmanship and competence that is a true pleasure to witness. Like an American Dr Feelgood . The following week me meet up with friends for a dinner party in celebration of the last one we had ten years ago. The next one can’t come soon enough. We love you Lynne, VP

Barnsley

2007-03-19T18:22:00.001Z

From the outside the venue looks like a tired old working mans club, ragged Union Jacks at the windows with pebble dash concrete walls like you get in posh council housing. Truth is it's nothing but a classy indie pop club in disguise. It certainly had Craig and I fooled. How wrong can you be. As soon as we walk in the vibe is anything but hostile, bright and breezy even, Chris would be happy here. These people know what's what and are friendly and helpful. The gig doubles as a retro clothing emporium which is seriously impressive stuff; I kid you not there are racks of kitsch hand me downs stylishly placed upon several well appointed clothes rails in the corner and the stall owner wears a customised leather bomber jacket that started out life as a German trench coat. He's a dab hand with the old needle and perfectly charming. This is what you might call a good start to the evening. Soon after the sound check I’m dressing up [in mens clothes this time] and on the verge of a commitment to purchase much encouraged by the band, so should I or should I not…of course I procrastinate pathetically and pull out of the deal at the last minute, get fussy and go back to square. Jacketless in Yorkshire. Yes I know it looks OK but really it’s a fraction too small and there’s a hole the size of a fist I just spotted under the left arm. Thinking about it now I’m still a bit disappointed with myself for not just buying it, jacket, leather, tan, 70’s. I've had similar regrets with works of art and guitars. Then the rest of our travelling circus engages in more sartorial poesy; again no one commits, which is a right shame really. I really wanted to support the principle as I'm so very taken with the idea of venues as shops and then it’s time to change the subject. Manchester night it is then, billed as such, here in south Yorks, that bit I do remember from the posters. There are three bands on, all from round our way, we headline and then it’s DJ Head Bone Time. That’s when Bonehead does his DJ thing although tonight I will miss most of it. The Bone trick is to know exactly when to play Rock n Roll Star; that one always seems to get the masses a-massing. I am, it must be siad, in several minds about it and most of them have questions attached. And then finally our gig runs away with itself and we’re pleasantly surprised to see the sell out crowd paying attention; unlike the Sunderland debacle which was all people and no persona. We pull it off like a sexual pun that practically nobody gets. After the show I do grade A list conversation with a few people who seem taken with the idea of listening to the songs, although they seem to be in the minority. If am reminded of the old adage ‘the consolation prize is sometimes better than the jackpot’, which is of course complete and utter rubbish. If I were my own teacher I’d give myself six out of ten and see myself afterwards in the library or heaven forbid - the gym. VP x

Sunderland

2007-02-27T11:11:00.000Z

We set off from the lad club in three vehicles and none of them are mine. Karen, Mike and Bonehead are doing the honours. I am grateful not to be driving. I seem to spend way too much time behind the wheel of my small automobile letting the days go by. Ben takes charge and we agree to meet at the services on top of the hill; on top of the big hill when you get to Yorkshire he reiterates. So now we know and meet up there later to bemoan the rubbish food and drink like right and proper grumpy old men. ‘It’s worse than the old days then again most things are’ I hear myself say, like I’m in The Likely Lads or something, only I can’t do the accent. I’m so rubbish at accents. The journey to Sunderland is trouble free and spent cranking up the iPod in Boneheads new Mazarati, I’m not really a car person but from what little knowledge I have I’d say this one was kind of special. Satellite navigation which is still a novelty for me brings us into Sunderland town centre and after a short phone call we arrive at the venue where the miss spelt posters all read Vinny Perculiar. It’s happened before and I’m sure it will happen again, it’s Pec not Perc but I don’t say anything. There’s no point. We’re met at the venue by Ben the promoter and shown around the dressing room. This club looks feels and smells like it works very hard for a living. Mike and Bonehead both disappear to do interviews with a lanky Louie Theroux look alike who’s apparently writing a book on Brit-pop. The sound check lasts for ever. The engineer is a bloke called Gerry modelled on Garcia and originally from Hereford. It all sounds a bit odd but he puts that down to the cavernous empty space adjustments to compensate for the presence people who will change the sonic ambience. Unfortunately this wasn’t the case and when we finally go on at midnight the first four songs sound like we are playing underwater. When Gerry sorts this out as he does in due course the gig improve a little; people dance and banter is exchanged. The level of intoxication though is way off the alcohol-meter and very few people seem capable of listening with any sense of concentration or purpose. I mean, I don’t expect reverence or silence…but this was stupid. We had the option of playing earlier to a smaller crowd; in retrospect this might have been a better idea. The terrible sound also killed things off response wise. The best reaction was when we played Replica Shirt where I made some speech about Sunderland, passion and their return to the premiership. In truth I went on a bit and no they’re not really my second team, I made that bit up as any football fan will tell you there is no such thing as a second team. The great thing I’ll always remember about Sunderland is the hospitality at the gig which was as good as ever I have known; we have been seriously well looked after. Walking back through the town centre to the Travel Lodge at 3am against the advice of the club owners Ben and I keep our heads down meandering through the part volatile part comatose crowds who appear to be part of a huge experiment into the impact of binge drinking. Bodies litter pavements. People are getting hit and people are bleeding. It’s frightening really…In the morning we watch match of the Day and return to the club to collect our gear at midday where one of last nights punters has been locked in overnight…he greets us, wasted, elated, apologetic and makes the call to his wife. Imagine…it’s not my fault, I got locked in the club, what else could I do but drink….what else indeed, then we’re back home in time for the brawl in the cup final…Mummy [or was it money] I’ve been fighting again…The Great Dominions revisited in my head. VP

The 17

2007-02-22T14:38:00.000Z

I’m in Mossley -which is back around the ring road the wrong way according to Ben who lives there-on a sticky Tuesday night at the home of Rob and Julie [who are good friends of mine from the Analogue Cat days]. They have a new baby girl Frances who is pivotal to tonight’s proceedings [see score 9, The 17] and shares a birthday with my own daughter Pru, who was 17 this year. We talk about coincidence and calamity. We’re all here, all 17 of us, to make up the numbers of The 17 and to secure our lifetime memberships. Andy Woods has come along for the ride, he excels in the navigational zone and we only get lost the once. He’s also bought a copy of Bills book 45 though I’ve no idea if he got Bill to sign it. I must ask him. I did the very same thing myself a couple of years ago. As for The Manual-the book he wrote on having a hit record-I'm still looking for a copy and still looking for a hit record of sorts. Here in the oaken beam lounge Bill Drummond is perched at the end of the sofa telling the story of The 17, of happenings to date, the practice and the origin of the thinking. It’s a pleasant place to be; mulling over ideas and not missing Corry even though I am if you follow. I’ve not seen Bill or John for sometime so we have a bit of catching up and reconnection time before the start of the event. We are here, all 17 of us, to perform SCORE 9 from the book of 17 scores and Julie has set up a mic in the corner to record us. Bill rounds up his spoken word intro time down to 17 minutes from the typical 45 slot and there’s group pontificating on new music and musical meaningless and the quest to start afresh. Bill is questioning his capacity to be thrilled by music or to be entranced by new sounds. We revisited the Irish discussions of a world without fiddles or mandolins or those drum beater things..[it was a self deluding prophecy but a good one],imagine a world without instruments, without rhythm or signature or tempo or harmony or tone…Bills passion is as infectious as ever. Below is the notice that explains things far better than I can. Score 9 involves the 17 collectively humming [tonight’s note is C] and recording the work for five minutes. This will be stored and the process repeated one 5th note above or below the previous with succeeding generations; 17 generations to be exact at which point the amassed dis-harmonious recordings will be deleted- and the process will start again. The process always starts again. I like that. It will take 400 years or more to complete depending on each generations reproductive trends. At approximately 17 minutes past 7 the lights are turned off as Bill hits a middle C and we all begin to hum in unison. It’s quite pleasant really you can see why the Buddhists love it. Afterwards we debate the worn out excitement receptors in our respective brains and I accidentally have a roll up on the step with John just to keep him company; still it’s not clever and it’s not funny. Then I have a look around the new studio which is just wonderful as Julie says NO- she won’t sell me her Rickenbacker; which is what she always says when I always ask her. It’s nice to know it’s here though, in case we ever get to work here again. We have a band show in Sunderland [never been there before] on Saturday at an alternative indie music night club- details are on the dates pages. Then on Sunday night it’s Luke Haines at The Roadhouse here in Manchester; cant’ wait for that, be there if you can. VP x

Met bar

2007-02-15T14:02:00.000Z

This is what you might call a last minute job Tom Hingley said ringing early on Tuesday morning; so I said yes, naturally. Tom was off to do an interview with a Manchester magazine in London so was unavailable having expected the interview to be here… he was also planning on impregnating several of the capital’s young and glamorously endowed music industry receptionists with some choice rock n roll semen of the north…well that’s what he said though I think he might have been joking. It was really nice to hear from him as we haven’t spoken in ages. So that night I set off for the Met Bar in a seasonally dismal Bury as Toms replacement where I was warmly greeted and provided for by Tony the affable promoter. I can honestly say I was pleasantly surprised with the venue, a bistro setting tables and dining and all very civil really. The gig went well and I was home for midnight. I hope to return again some day. I quite enjoyed playing solo as it’s been awhile since and I managed to part with a few albums afterwards for hard cash no less. Today Bonehead and I are sorting out festival dates in the summer...if anyone’s got any suggestions or knows any useful contacts do drop us a line, best VP x

DRY BAR

2007-02-09T13:00:00.000Z

We’re in the basement at DRY on a freezing Thursday night sound checking and I’m thinking this place could smell a lot better, we’re all thinking exactly that. Joss sticks are cheap enough and we have thousands of them at home, make a mental note, pack some in case of future odorous emergencies. Phil the promoter, who has a Jupitus look about him, handles the sound with aplomb and we’re done for in no time. Then we’re away across the street to the Wheatsheaf where they sell pies and bitter and pork scratchings [probably]. I always prefer the old mans pubs, especially before gigs for obvious reasons, volumes are down, conversation is up, novelty tramps and darts players are invariably more interesting and entertaining that prada willys. DRY has always been rather pricey and Ben should know as he used to work here in the old days, I had no idea. Geoff and Bonehead arrive with the girls from GMR bringing high heeled good time atmospherics as the pub starts to buzz a little. I get two veggie samosas from a little Oldham Street Deli where chef in a white thunderbirds hat is playing online poker on a computer that sits right next to the Salad selection. He’s up some $400 and surrounded by a gathering of kitchen staff. The atmosphere is entertainingly tense. I feel like I’m missing out something but only briefly. The food is kind of average which is a little better than I’d expected, but not much. Back at the venue we catch the main support, a band named after a nasty character from Millers Crossing, which as I’m sure you know is a film by the Cohen Brothers. Of course I can’t remember their name; I just know they took it from the film. My retention of after show information could do with a makeover. I am working on it. They had an attractive Zappa thing going on with cool brass and sass and frenzy. In the new tradition of musical modernism we made the obligatory my space friends request commitments. I will investigate further and remind you of their name in due course. Our show was what you might call well received…I give away loads of singles and even manage a few sales despite the usual tales of student poverty and woe, which i'm bit of a sucker for in truth. It was really nice to meet so many people who enjoyed it. Ben and I load the gear back to the Lads Club and then the lights go out. VP x

The Mark Radcliffe Show

2007-02-07T14:43:00.000Z

I’m the only one here in Studio 5 at the BBC who doesn’t know Mark and he reminds me of this at the start of the interview and asks me where I’ve been? I think I say something about my early life resembling a Dolly Parton song and how nowadays I feel more akin to a power ballad state of mind, like a Bon Jovi b side. We also talk SOUP LINES and I do a poem off the cuff so to speak. In case you don’t believe me you can listen again on line via the bbc website. We all enjoyed the session enormously; if a single theme were to emerge it would have to be the bin collections of Bromsgrove and the wonders of the local council’s website. The CD competition was also based on a name that collection day puzzler, no wonder we all got the giggles. Mark puts everyone at ease, the sound was great [thanks Chris] and the feedback was good. My inside leg measurement remains a secret but if you work for Paul Smith and want to sponsor me with suits and haberdashery stuff drop us a line and I’ll spill the beans. Remarkably someone from Paul Smith contacted me years ago about such a deal but he was somewhat deluded having read an album review in the OBSEVER that predicted great things for a fledgling Peculiar…great things that never happened. I have a big list of such but I never read it; a good thing. Tonight we are moodily up and toasting the airwaves of the nation, I feel like we’re reaching out a little further into the unknown and touching a few more hearts and minds. Sorry if this sounds like deluded hippy shite but sometimes it’s as simple as that. So thanks for listening again or at the time even. We appreciated the feedback, thanks. We play a local gig at DRY BAR in Oldham Street tomorrow night Thursday, be nice to see you to see there….VP x

Vinny Gannon and Craig Peculiar

2007-02-01T09:36:00.000Z

Craig and I are loitering in the foyer of Manchesters URBIS museum where we are due to play a mid afternoon gig. I am feeling slightly adrift of the flow as last nights London show with The Fischers [who I’m helping out on guitar] meant I didn’t get in till 2am and when I did I stayed up to finish my book, The Forth Hand by John Irving. I can totally recommend it, not just the book, it’s been awhile since I read a book on a London train, simple pleasures indeed, but I’m knackered now all the same. The URBIS stage is temporary and feels a little bit physically and emotionally unsafe although I cant quite put my finger on why exactly. Perhaps it's an improper age thing. The reason we are here is by invitation of the Manchester Council of Youth Clubs who have organised this open day of youthful celebration. The Salford Lads Club are also represented here which is our connection with being asked, we chat to Les and witness The Good Times who are also playing. They sound a bit like the Bunnymen crossed with the Undertones. Dead good and nice lads. A couple of actors in victorian workhouse costumes dance like frigid robots during their set. Craig and I are briefly hyterical at this point. We’re on after the the teenage girls fitness event, like I said, it all feels a bit bizzare so we retire to the café to wonder 'how did we get here'? The gig is fine in the end, the audience are what you might call a transitory crowd, people mingle by and some remain apparently intrigued by my musings on semen donation and music teachers near murdering…well I think to think so, but who knows, we were the wrong choice of artist if I’m absolutely blunt, but it’s great to support the Lads Club who managed to shift a few Vinny CDs and make a few bob. We’re home in time for the FA Cup results. Later that same night we get lost on the way to our gig at The Station in Ashton which seems to have it’s own two-way system; everyone we ask has a different version of where we need to go, then we discover there are two Station pubs in Ashton, which partly explains everything. Mostly it's just annoying. We set up in the corner of the pub, get hassled by people who want to use our gear for an improv show of their own, agree in principle they can but they dissappear soon afterwards anyway. Several people claim to know me and they probably do, I go along with everything in the spirit of ye olde entertainer. Craigs picks of destiny are donated to fans who barely paid us any attention during the set. We are amazed to be asked to do an encore but somehow we don’t and now I’m thinking perhaps we should have. People are so far out of it at this point, the words bender and diddly come to mind, it's not exactly a sexual thing. After the gig Pauline the promoter puts everything into perspective and we have a lovely chat with her. We leave soon after, and bizzarely have to agree, it was great gig, and we'd do it again and again...of course we would, VP x

Glasgow

2007-02-01T08:56:00.000Z

We last here a couple of years ago at Sleazies,as in Nice and, but this time we’re at the legendary King Tuts; it's venue of the year apparently although I forget which one exactly. The rider is divided into sections, all very civilised, we get the Stella, the other bands seemingly jealous...still they can have mine if they want, I'm no no great fan of a drink that calls itself the wife-beater [Mike explains that Stella is known for it's incitment toward domestic violence]. To an alcohol softie like me it's way too strong, chemically enhanced, makes me ill, not that I've drunk it for years. The hospitality factor at the venue is really wonderful, we are well fed and watered by the management. Craig and Ben order some kind of Scottish spiced sausage thing and I’m briefly reminded of my first wifes penchant for the Glasgow sausage casserole, which we sort of lived on at the time, and here I am years later, a meat free modernist in a fantasy food memory zone. I forgot about it until now. Back at the gig there’s even a lock on the dressing room door. The sound engineer knows the room, we're happy and checked and our hotel is a few minutes walk, I’m sharing with the bands very own Mr Sheen. There are huge parties of Irish revellers in the hotel bar who promise to come to the show, of course they won’t still they enjoy the banter notably with Bonehead who attracts that sort of thing. You know what I mean…lets have it large and explode like a diamonds in the night, with copious talk a lot of Columbian army marching powder shite, if you’ve no idea what I mean it hardly matters. The crowd is swollen, and has swelled even, significantly when we return. Supports are done for. We manage to catch the last of The Felt Tips who seem perfectly charming and nice people; their bass player is a trainee psychiatrist as it happens, I was talking to him earlier about the madness and the sadness and the one sided door...which is a line from some song or other apparently. Then we’re on and off and encored and it’s all over. The reaction seems good, I sell a few albums, half an hour later everyone’s disappeared. We go back to Mike and Bens room for a sing song where Bonehead plays the major minor happy sad song as we all come over a bit hysterical. You had to be there, as indeed Karen was on behalf of you tube…I think she was joking wasn’t she?? Our Mark Radcliffe BBC radio 2 session is confirmed for Tuesday 6th Feb, do tune in, drop him a txt or mail, keep the name alive and all the usual promotional blagging begging a bellowings…cheerio for now, VPx

Just Hit Play

2007-01-19T10:20:00.000Z

Back to the mill stone and the neck of lambs to the slaughter I feel like I’ve spent all my life in butcher’s shops without any knives. There are blood stains on my shirt and on my character. There you go…a Nick Cave moment …I never knew I had it in me. I love Nick Cave’s wounded biblical ballads, especially the love songs, the torment and the wailing book of revelation. I don’t believe in an interventionist god either… which wont make any sense unless you’ve heard the song, anyway, enough of the there and then as the here and now wants a look in. I just bought a new sub mixer for the home studio on eBay, very reasonable; all I need now is some leads to connect the damn thing and a rapid skills development course in Cubase VST. I’m getting there, really and truly I am it’s just taking so much longer than I thought it would. I start recording stuff and then I slip away almost guiltily to the old eight track machine where everything is simplified with my dodgy drum machine and two tone guitar simulator. I’ve just got so used to doing things this way and at my age…well, you know what I’m saying. Then there’s my gammy leg which is bugging me somewhat. It started innocently enough with a hobble and a shuffle that I thought would fade and die but alas I find myself having to take it all quite seriously and make an appointment to see the GP next week. This morning I spent an hour or so massaging what I imagine to be a clot, a great big brain bursting vein rupturing life threatening clot. Of course I’m probably wrong; let’s hope so as I haven’t quite finished the vocals on the new solo album yet[Tim we really do need to get a move on]. The band are off to Glasgow for a one off gig at King Tuts tomorrow weather permitting, we’ve not played out since before Christmas. I am looking forward to it even if I have to perform sitting down. I could use a wheelchair and wear dress like Kurt Cobain…possibly. I think the night also features some after show DJing from the sonic iPodium of Mr Arthurs. On Monday Craig and I are recording something for Manchester TV at Salford Lads Club [ I assume a song and a bit of a chat], this to preview our gig at URBIS on 27th Jan and plug the all day Event hosted by the Manchester Council of Youth Clubs. I think you can get Mancs TV on Sky and cable. Frank Sidebottom has a show on there too, Franks a genius, everybody knows that. If you can catch it do. Finally…like all the bands in all the world we are currently devising a strategy for world domination in 2007 so if we come up with anything worthwhile I’ll be sure to let you know.
One more thing, does anyone ever watch Globetrekker, it's available on the Travel Channel. I've never really enjoyed travelling for pleasure that much myself, in fact I think it's the most over rated leisure activity of the age and yet I'm simply thrilled to experience the sights and sounds of other cultures all via the wit and wisdom of Megan McCormack [thats her picture above], who I think I'm developing something of a crush on. So until the next time, VP

OK Go On Then If You Must…

2007-01-04T14:58:00.000Z

My Top 5 Albums of 2006

NUMBER 1 is by Luke Haines-‘Off My Rocker at the Art School Bop’
I’ve always liked… loved even … Haines work; it kind of soothes, invigorates, intrigues, inspires and always leaves you with something to think about. This new album is right up there with ‘How I Learned to Love the Boot Boys’ which is one of my favourite albums of all time. It’s always seemed criminal to me that he’s so apparently undervalued…whatever that means.’ Off My Rocker’ is smothered in 70’s references; it sounds like burnt umber, sullen and brutal. Gary Glitters guilt trip-up gets a pasting in ‘Bad Reputation’, there’s a killer on the terraces at ‘Leeds United’ and the hilarious retro idiocy of ‘Heritage Rock’ is just perfect… cause it’s a middle age rampage now and don’t you forget it. I know exactly what he means. Get hold of a copy. It’s brilliant and it’s enthralling.

NUMBER 2 is by Helene-‘Routines’
The Helene brand is close to my heart and I once had the honour of touring with her [she fronts a band of the same name] and is a sweet and gifted singer songwriter. She reminds me of Nico. I seem to listen to this record when I’m lost for words and looking out of the window. It’s a very moving graceful and understated record…oh and The Sun love it too, but don’t let that put you off. Like astral planeing with butterflies.

NUMBER 3 is by Ray Davies-‘Other Peoples Lives’
Ray is the godfather of singer song writing and fronted the finest group that ever was ever, everyone knows that and this is his first solo album. I didn’t plan on getting it but I’m glad I did. It sounds a bit over produced compared to Kinks records…like someone’s actually bothered mixing it. Luckily it’s not over polished…that would have been awful. The songs are little battles of will from a bruised and battered soul…the usual predicaments are evident, nosey neighbours, suburban window twitchers, questions of mortality and godless ness. I must try and see him before one of us dies. He has such wisdom and poise and stature and he’s not afraid to fail and he’s not afraid to live. You could say he’s a hero of mine and so could I....

NUMBER 4 is Baby Bird-‘Between My Ears There’s Nothing but Music’
I have most of the Baby Bird back catalogue, not that I’ve searched high and low for it you understand. I just stumbled on a load in Amoeba Records in San Francisco a few years ago, dead cheap, and it’s gone from there. That and I wish I’d written ‘You’re Gorgeous’…who doesn’t? .Suppose I’m a bit of a sucker for low fidelity diy hibernatory types. ‘Between My Ears’ is not his best work. There’s only one really great song on the record, but oh what a wonderful song it is. It’s called ‘Too Much’ and it’s enough….it’s too much. It really is. I met him once at Glastonbury years ago…the year the stage manager nearly twatted him.

NUMBER 5 is Shack-At The Corner of Miles and Gill
Shack was the recreational soundtrack to our recording earlier in the year, when we downed tools we listened to them. Joe Floss- Hard our producer had been working with them and was mixing a session of theirs in-between recording whatever we were recording. ‘Cup of Tea’ was the stand out track and I still love it to bits with it’s More Than a Feeling chorus and a psychedelic guitar riff lifted from the first LOVE album….probably. It sort of floats and rises and surges and jangles and contains more scouse magic that the entire Beatles back catalogue. [No it doesn’t matter if it’s out of tune Craig really you’re just a bloody perfectionist]. Know what I mean Jen? If you’re reading this I hope you’re feeling better, VPx

End of Year Review

2007-01-01T22:15:00.000Z

No I don’t really have one. Not a list or anything. Not a good vibrations statement or a must do before I die confessional. I’ve given up on confessing, it only gets you into trouble. I do have some ideas though of what we had and what we lost, how thunder only happens when it’s raining and players only love you when they’re playing, women they will come and they will go…blimey…I’ve hit the lyrical retrospection zone; sorry about that, now where was I?

ROUND UP
Between February and April we made a new band album ‘the fall and rise of Vinny Peculiar’ in Blackburn’s dark satanic mill, recording was in dribs and drabs which kind of suited us. It was going to be called ‘Revolt into Style’ but I changed my mind at the last minute as there are several ‘Revolt into Styles’ out there most notably the 1966 George Melly book which spawned the song title. The book is ace by the way, a proper dissection of counter cultural tipping points and sell outs. I can also recommend his auto biography, the splendid ‘Rum, Bum and Concertina’. Bill Nelson also did a track of the same name but I’ve never heard it…think it was one of his Red Noise experiments? The fall and rise has rightfully attracted Perrin/ Bowie comparisons. I like the positive and potentially prophetic possibility of the rise after the fall; we’ll just have to see how high in the fullness of time. Studio wise Craig ended up doing most of his guitars at home; I did most of mine at the studio off the cuff so to speak apart from the Robert Frippish guitar on Playing on the Pier which I did at home. If I have any regrets about the record it would be the lack of finishing time, I would dearly have liked to layer a few more vocal over dubs but you now how it is, you can go on forever with these things. Craig also played bass on the record which was a stroke of genius on his part and a great relief to the rest of us. I had no idea he was such a fluid and feely player. I tried playing bass on a few tracks but nothing came of it, they didn’t really sit right. It rained a lot in Blackburn. ‘A Man Afraid’ one of the solo acoustic takes was recorded in a thunderstorm where I expected the roof to fly off or cave in at any minute. Looking back now the thunder makes the track, sets it all up atmospherically and such and like I said earlier it only happens when it’s raining; ask Stevie Nicks if you don’t believe me but enough of Fleetwood Mac for now. I never did get them although they evidently got me. It would be fair to say that making ‘the fall and rise’ took up most of the early part of the year. After that we auditioned several bass players and one or two came back for more but none were really right for the band. Jools from Marion joined at one point before unexpectedly un-joining again a week later. We only met him the once. Then out of the blue our radio plugger Andy Woods introduced us to Karen Leatham and things moved on from there. Karen has her own band but manages to squeeze us in, we are grateful; she’s a very fine player. The album came out in October and is still out in January so please buy one if you haven’t done so yet. The Amazon links from this site will take you right there. We have continued to gig and play various radio sessions throughout the final part of the year but we expect to be much busier on the live front in 2007 thanks to Boneheads enterprising management. We continue to rehearse at the Salford Lads Club and are indebted to them for making us feel so at home. Craig and I wrote music for a Salford Lads Club youth theatre production earlier in the year called Ghost Camp, we’ll be playing songs from this and others at a gig outside the URBIS Museum in Manchester on 27th Jan. Proceeds from CD sales on this day go to the Club. Links to this and other details re gigs and radio are on the tour dates pages. Next year we really want to get out and play more. We go to the US for shows in April and hope to tour there later in the year. The same can be said for rest of Europe where the album seems to be getting a lot more attention than the UK although I could be wrong though as I so often am. There’s a new Vinny Peculiar solo album coming out in May 07 entitled ‘Goodbye My Angry Friend’ and produced by Tim Browne [who produced Growing Up], it’s almost finished and there should be a small tour to promote it. Lastly I just want to wish everyone who reads this a Happy New Year, seriously, appreciations all round; I really value your comments and your support [all except Terry the Turnip who’s just plain stupid], so thank you for this and good night from me, best….VP x

Tonight on 6 Music...

2006-12-28T16:38:00.000Z

After all the naval gazing and the relatively pointless self obsessing self I feel strangely content and alive. It’s not nearly sooooo bad. Winding myself up and such. Still a few points I made probably need clarification, namely, the brand Vinny Peculiar will continue at least for the time being and not because I received a million emails begging me not to abandon the guise, no, I didn’t receive anything like. The ones I did were from mates who politely enquired ‘have you flipped’? To which I have responded yes and no. I’m still not sure. Only time will tell. What I do know is that I’m speaking with the right honourable Rob Hughes on BBC 6 Music at 8.30 tonight in his parallel universe. The subject matter is the rise and rise of new lad culture, brit pop and the like. Should be a nice change from all of this. See you there or there abouts, VPx

Hoax

2006-12-27T18:33:00.000Z

I had a hoax phone call last night from some bloke who wanted his ladders back, as wind ups go twas a sorry little stab. Sometimes friends surprise in the dumbest of ways in their attempts to achieve exactly what I’m not sure. I am still trying to figure it out. In truth I am a songwriter losing belief in himself hence the recent destructive rambling and the sense of impending excape from a character who has lost his sense of character to some alternative notion or thing…like starting afresh maybe? Am I heading in the wrong direction… probably. I could always blame Christmas for relaxing the rules as feelings flutter and flip, stutter and die laughing. Why not put it all to bed and start again? I need a new gay bag, a new guitar, a new amp, some new face wash and a new identity. I need a reason to continue or a reason to stop-whatever- but…I am vain and I am blind and hate people when they're not for life, still,there are shows to play and songs to finish so best get on with it before it’s too late…..that kind of thing will have to do for now, rebuild, repair remodel, reinvent...the subject is now officially under discussion, VP x

Misery is not an option

2006-12-26T16:49:00.000Z

From the previous posting I almost forgot…misery is not an option; who needs it. Agony is more my cup of tea but it’s conformity that has me in its seasonal grip, stupid telly, too much to drink, metaphysical turkeys everywhere. Of course I’ve been lolling around aimlessly. No PC and no guitars, no piano practice and no exploding treacle tarts; just another book by Howard Marks and one about time travel, an Aston Villa mug [not unlike myself], reliable biscuits off Auntie Nora and a holiday we still haven’t sorted because we’re both sooooo busy, now aren’t we? Everything temporarily aborted. I feel away in a manger when what I should be doing is updating this site with news of impending un-missible must see do and hear activities on behalf of the artist known as Vinny Peculiar- but to be honest with you I can’t be arsed. Respectfully…If you’re bothered you can check the tour dates. There are a few shows in the pipeline and the odd radio thing, if you’re not bothered then neither am I. I think I’ve already mentioned the US album release so yeah…it’s not a problem. I don’t want to keep reminding you of gigs and releases and all that promo-jazz. Still if you fancy it you could always kick start the message board again now it’s back in business, I got rid of the spam the other day…there I go again, looking for favours. What I think I’m trying to say is that I’m sick of self promotion. Numb to my digital numbskull. Perhaps it’s post release inertia? But there’s something really unhealthy about it. It can make you feel like a right phoney and I don’t want to feel like that. Not today anyway. I don’t want you to feel like I’m living in some exaggerated show off zone, so this is a little plea for something more tangible, though naturally I’ve no idea exactly what. Letting go of the old ego has a nice ring to it. It’s something that I’m working on. I think I’d like to make better connections somehow with people who stumble into this and into that and still want something more. I’m a writer, well I think I am and I understand that bit, if you’re interested in hearing what I do then great, buy a record, listen to something, read a poem, criticize it. In the meantime I won’t try and sway or persuade you either way. It’s your decision. Am I any good…and if so tell me why I’m not? Help me give up. Help me start again. Help me change direction. Help me keep my feet on the ground [that’s kind of what’s happening here I think]. Let me into your home and I’ll play a gig, all you need to do is feed me. Oh yeah and lets capture the whole thing and shove it up on you-tube. That goes without saying. Better still lets make the gig a secret and never tell a soul about it. It is fascinating though, you must admit, reading other peoples sites, the lengths people go to sell themselves, relentlessly bullshitting, lying and distorting their truths and all in the name of fame, or whatever that thing is that changes your life for ever, lets you be the real you, the sensitive talented persona that you always believed in, the overnight sensation, the very wonder of you. Well… BOLLOX to all that. My new year’s resolution will be to undersell everything I do, ignore all positive media possibilities and sabotage any hint of success, no matter how small. Accept myself and who I am and hopefully get to know you too. Therapy session ends, 16.36, Boxing Day 06. Now I think it best I just sod off and leave myself alone…until the next time, VP x

Another Year

2006-12-22T11:34:00.000Z

We end up in a church that’s now a bar, there are only a few of us and it’s the end of year work’s bash. I remain sober and observe; a couple of lesbian princesses catch my eye, strikingly beautiful they appear to possess a rare and graceful elegance. I get a bit carried away. The women I’m with chat up the barman who’s a McFly wannabe all hair sculpt angles and baby faced charm, he’s making a right old racket shaking his cocktails and Rachel asks him if he’s that noisy in bed. He blushes, the women giggle and whoop as the lesbians kiss and blow smoke rings. I don’t know why I’m telling you this. Perhaps I am feeling some way adrift of the seasonal mood, no drink, no fun and no real truth. That would be even worse. John and I debate the nature of happiness and agree that it’s an emotion best defined by memory. The here and now seems way too fraught and complex to rationalise. Am I happy??…well kind of but ???... is the inevitable response. McFly brings us more drinks. Man at the urinal tells me the Liverpool game is postponed due to fog. A girl falls over and I ponder on meaning of the phrase ‘spread eagled’. Time passes slowly, anther bottle of wine, shorts for the girls, I attempt to leave early but it’s impossible. We’ve been here since the early afternoon, we’ve done the true confessions, numbered and in some cases described our sexual partners in great detail, suggested a colleague we would sleep with if we weren’t attached, bitched about the people we detest …all the usual nonsense and then finally we’re gone, kerb crawling our way along Seel Street back to the PCT car park. I’m freezing. The M62 is blanketed in the white stuff, I sense a migraine in waiting and drink half a bottle of mineral water, feel even colder. I was never any good at having fun and it would appear from tonight’s attempt that nothings changed, another year another year another year. Happy Christmas and thanks for the support, VPx

Wigan

2006-12-17T14:04:00.000Z

I’m getting increasingly perplexed by the RAC’s online directions as Craig and I lost in Wigan searching for the Tavern; as it transpires we’re not the only ones. When we arrive, Ben, the bands very own human sat nav is, much to our amazement, still skirting the ring roads. He arrives soon after. This has happened before and I’m sure it’ll happen again. We load in and drink Guinness with Neil the affable Landlord of this busy thriving establishment. He keeps a great pint. The stage is way up in the rafters and acts as a heat trap so we’re knackered just doing the sound check which passes off OK despite the onstage collisions; it’s just a lack of space thing. We eat at a busy Chinese restaurant half a mile down the main street in the midst various work’s nights out and play name that workforce before ambling back in time to catch a few of the bands. The first one we see are doing their first ever gig and are notable for their singer who doesn’t make eye contact with audience throughout the set. We like this gimmick and advise them of such later. I can’t for the life of me remember their name. Karen has rewritten our set order and it works; 45minutes later we’re selling CDs with decent feedback from new and known faces. We’re not gigging much over Christmas and I’m looking forward to the break. I might even go on holiday. We record a new live DVD mid Jan and more gigs are being added through early 2007. The new album gets it’s a US release in Feb so we’re looking at tour possibilities over there in April/May time. The financial logistics are a bit of a nightmare still nothing new there then. We’ll see what happens, VP

Bad Signal

2006-12-14T18:27:00.000Z

Sometimes I don’t recognise myself and I take all the wrong turns, end up craving Sat Nav or a decent map. Right now I can’t think and I can’t speak, I just sort of float on like the song as any old song will have to do. I fear I have acquired writers block, or writer’s loss or something like that. Although this is hardly a matter of life and death…I grant you that. I spent ages today writing and re writing stuff that just wont sit still. Lie down. Work out. Come clean. Nothing goes to plan. Satisfaction…I can’t get no. I re read stuff and I listen back and I want to die, well not quite, but it rhymed so there you go. Some days are just torment and disgust. I think Bukowski said that but I’m not really sure. Here I am, likening myself to some great notion of artistry or other and hitting none of the buttons, making all the wrong noises, blowing an obvious trumpet when I needed a delicate cello. Sometimes it all feels so meaningless. Like a relationship I have with my imagination, one that says I should but I can’t when I need to. It’s been awhile since the riddles got the better of me. These things will pass and when they do we will kiss and make up. Until then it’s just me myself and I. Hard Candy here I come. VP x

Fish that Smoke

2006-12-10T21:46:00.000Z

We’re off to Brixton and we’re running late, Craig and Ben bag the front seat for queasy reasons. Geoff has already taken the gear in Spooner’s van and is probably on his first pint by the time we set off. Spooner is working for The Feeling and yes I still have his mics which I’ll be returning soon. It’s Friday afternoon and the usual traffic nonsense is very much in evidence. Bonehead’s at the wheel of a new mini bus, a spacious little number and comfy too. I occupy the back seat and think how I used to covert the old back seat position on school trips when the back seat was the place to be. I also start to fantasise about Jackie Whitehurst’s mini skirt but you don’t really want to know that. Best move on in every sense. The journey is arduous. We make our way slowly across town, everywhere looks the same, there’s no proper ring road and the streets are too narrow. The houses are massive and there are always too many people about. In short London makes me paranoid. I’ve never liked it much. Too big for it’s own bearings. I got lost as a kid when on a Natural History Museum trip and ended up keeping the coach party waiting, the teacher, a regular tyrant known as Old Stone Face gave me the slipper in front of the class. I was ashamed embarrassed and humiliated; perhaps this has shaped my perspective. We arrive at 7.30pm and loaf around JAMM where we have an all night liquid rider, bar vouches and a few nibbles. There are cream crackers under the dressing room settee but nobody notices; it’s just me still pondering on the Alan Bennet Talking heads DVD I watched again after not seeing it in years and regularly talking about it with my daughter [who did it for A Level]. I was once again moved and charmed and sweetened by the masterful monologues, as was Lynne our American houseguest. At the venue Geoff has loaded in and the supports are sound checking. The apparent confusion from the sound engineer’s perspective is just front…he really knows what he’s doing despite the stage being overcrowded with amps and pedals and all kinds of rock n roll debris. We miss all the supports as we’re late checking into the hotel which is a 45 minute cab trip away. When we finally get on around 11.30 everything sounds great. Feedback is good [from the audience as opposed to the amps] and everyone settles into Mike and Boneheads DJ extravaganza. Top Night is I think the technical term for what follows. Back at the hotel Karen, Craig and I discuss the merits of hygiene and make lists of bands with animal names before retiring at 5am like proper rock n roll people. Bonehead calls me from the hotel bar at 10 am the next day; Mike is somewhere in Brixton with the fee, we need the fee to pay the hotel. Five hours later we eventually get out of London. What happens in-between you may well wonder but if I told you you’d never believe me. I get home for match of day positively knackered in a good way. VP

Monsoon M6

2006-12-07T12:35:00.000Z

The weather is at best a depressing subject especially when it’s a nice day and everyone mentions it, but really tonight was a bit special. We left The Mailbox around 1.30am after a pleasing session for Janis Longs bbc radio 2 show where we had the benefits of a great sound engineer as well as the luxury of individual mixes and enjoyed a light of heart deep of soul chin wag with Janis who must rank as one of the worlds warmest human beings to be working in one of the world’s coldest of industries. Apologies for my lapse into media cynicism …it’s a bad habit of mine that sort of comes with the territory. Janis was very sweet and reminded us that Vinny Peculiar is not heard on the radio as often as should be. Naturally I agreed and mumbled some kind of whys and wherefores that seemed to make perfect sense at the time. Now I am curious to hear it again so will be accessing the listen again feature once I’ve woken up. Go ahead and have a listen if you get the chance. The journey home was truly awful, I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a wild rain storm, at one point there was simply no visibility. It was as if we were underwater. The M6 can be a scary drive at the best of times but this was fearsome. We are humbly grateful to Bonehead for driving. We play Brixton tomorrow, VPx

Radio radio

2006-11-28T12:05:00.000Z

I remember the 1979 Elvis classic with great affection, I was working as a hospital porter at the time, living on soggy toast and brummie tea, delivering laundry bags to isolation wards and getting screamed at by the fat cook who made a pass at me without me noticing till years later. He was pretty scary and I was pretty young but enough of that…I don’t want to scare you off. Last nights BBC radio Manchester session passed off without so much as a hitch. I played ‘A Man Afraid’ from the new album for the first time on radio; in fact it was the first time anywhere since recording it at Joe Fossards Bleak House in the thunderstorms of Blackburn early this year. It’s a funny old song and then it’s not. I think it worked. This was followed by what is best described as chit chat which was nice and warm and respectable. Then I played Confessions of a Sperm Donor. The hosts Phil and Gail were perfectly charming throughout and I was pleasantly surprised by the informality of the occasion and prattled away about psychiatry and infertility and other things I know next to nothing about. This was a last minute event organised by the ever diligent Mr P. Arthurs so thanks Bone for fixing it. Naturally I got lost in the BBC corridors on the way out, it’s becoming something of a habit of mine. Today I’m waiting on car damage estimates and contemplating a new song, they melody I like although I think I’ve ripped it off from SONGDOG but the words seem viable. We need to start thinking about the next band album. I’ve just covered a song by Michael Weston King, recorded and mastered in a day with Tim Browne in his Manley studios for a covers album which is due out next year. More on this and Michaels activities at www.michaelwestonking.com VP.

Copenhagen

2006-11-26T19:06:00.000Z

We arrive in Denmark equipment intact and taxi on down to the venue, where we are welcomed with beer and cheese as is the custom. Asbyon, who’s name I can never spell, greets us with the news that ‘Playing on the Pier’ from the new record is at number 9 in the Danish indie charts or something that which is nice. The album seems to be doing well here. We sound-check without any notable hitches and get acquainted with Swim tv ish tv who are supporting tonight and loaning us their backline. Their guitar player bares an uncanny resemblance to Mike Mills from REM and I tell him such. He takes it like a man. We leave the venue and set up camp in a well to do flat a short walk away where we freshen up and watch the Danish X factor which is pretty bad in a pretty good way. Ben is exhausted after a sleepless night with his young son, Craig miffed at the airline security for confiscating his hair gel, Karen wants to see some of the city and Mike, just for a change, is on for a party. We are billeted next door to a cemetery that is the final resting place of Hans Christian Anderson. I’m kind of in tour manager mode and trying to organise stuff. We catch the support for a couple of songs and enjoy, the crowd is not quite as large as last time but still decent enough. Swim tv ish tv make Stereolab type waves. Our gig passes off without any technical hitches, a first in recent times. No broken pedals or exploding amplification. In a crowded dressing room we malinger and consume and play travel scrabble with the Danes [well I do…the others are on the dance floor cutting the funk]. Back at the flat I retire hurt and listen through walls to the party at the top of the stairs. More beer and cheese please Louise and then it’s all over. Next morning Karen and I go walkabout in the rain looking for the grave of the king of fairy tales but never manage to find it. Robbie Savage is on the plane home and Mike gets his autograph for his young son. He looks uncannily like General Custer. VP

Saint Helen

2006-11-16T15:23:00.000Z

I think I saw her as we were leaving the Citadel wearing a little bo peep outfit with micro skirt, suspenders and garter belt; she threw several chips in our direction before vomiting into a shop doorway. In a tried and rather tested tradition we [ Ben Mike and I] spent some time after the saints gig loitering outside the venue watching the nightlife on route from pub to club. Craig meanwhile was engaged in another tired and tested tradition known as avoiding loading the gear. There was a lot of ‘avin it large’ going on, hoards of young people marching through the cobbled streets at the very heart of booze culture [they have opened a lot of new bars here in last year so I’m told]. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many people so wasted. The drink business is blooming in St Helens for sure but be warned high spirited youthful ones…with oblivion comes political impotence... bare that in mind dear children of the bottle when you’re complaining about recession and unemployment and the ozone beneath your fridge magnets. The gig was enjoyable, nice to see a few familiar faces from the outreaches of the region; talking about past shows in Widnes and Runcorn I got quite nostalgic for the acoustic days of olde peculiar. It was noticeable during the set that my song story introductions were interrupted by people who’d heard it all before which was as nice a way of ruining a tired story as you could wish for…hence the shorter stories as the hecklers got a few good words in edgeways…something that would have pleased our old bass player no end. Am I having a bitter and twisted day as I wonder to myself ? On Monday night we played four songs live in Deansgate at The Revolution Bar for revolution radio 96.2 FM, Mike was DJing from the venue, there was a decent crowd and we gave it our best punk rock shot playing ‘Pete Shelley’ a song we recorded during the fall and rise sessions but it never made the record as its sonically referenced in 1977 as opposed to the album which is…well…more contemporarily considered in comparison. It’s a bit of a tribute to the joys of Boredom and Nostalgia. Keith…the imaginatively names youngsters who played after us blew us off the stage apparently but I wasn’t there to witness it. I’d gone home to finish my Alan Bennet memoirs. Shame really as they are a wonderful little band with nice haircuts, there will be other times I’m sure, that’ll do for now, VP x

The Melon Bongs

2006-11-10T12:37:00.000Z

Here's a nice picture of Karen and Geoff [who drives/roadies for us] taken backstage at the recent Luminaire Show...Geoff blames himself for forgetting the spare guitar but really it's nobody's fault and the guitar is on it's way home as we speak...so there, no worries Geoff and thanks for all the help and support you give us, really appreciated. Last nights radio session for Subculture in Stoke was a pleasure give or take the odd parking ticket…always a drag, Bonehead was driving; somehow we managed to park in a disabled space though the signs were barely legible and the lighting in the car park non existent. The session was acoustic, Craig and I played three songs ‘Man about the House’, Jesus Stole my Girlfriend’ and ‘Revolt into Style’and talked a little about the new album, the band and men in dresses. Everyone loves dressing up so we’re no different in that respect although it’s Ben who has actually done the deed, on stage in sarong type number when he worked with World of Twist. I think I’ve mentioned this before so moving on after the session we spent a pleasurable hour in so in the local pub with Stoke band The Town Poets who apparently run an online business in customised smoking paraphernalia and were keen to impress on us the joys of the melon bong as well as the sonic impact a doll baby effects pedal. I like the name Melonbongs better than the Town Poets but I digress...They may well have been having us on still I feel compelled to send a friends request once myspace will let me log in. We spent the late evening at Boneheads drinking tea and drooling over his vintage guitar collection. One last thing...anyone who has bought the new record and feels inspired to review it please go to Amazon and do have your say. Tomorrow we play St Helens, do come along if you can, VP

Let it go

2006-11-03T11:31:00.000Z

We’re in the middle of album release fever; it’s like an illness, like hyper mania, a bit of an internal wrangler as those Clinic people would say, panicking about all kinds of things that are out of my control like radio reports and reviews that don’t quite appear on time. It’s really not the end of the world, really it’s not, it just feels a bit tense after all the slogging and sending and pestering and grovelling and…well you know what I mean. In theory we are signed to a label…in practice we end up doing much of the leg work ourselves. So… the album should be in the shops by now but there’s been a distribution problem what with Christmas and the reviews being late so sorry if you’ve been unable to get your hands on one. It is however available on several sites, Amazon, iTunes and the like and there are links to such from this site. It should be in the shops eventually; reviews have been positive although I must confess I did have something of an ‘Oh no not the bloody Smiths comparisons again’ moment when I read Simon Goddards Q review but having lived with it for a day or so I feel like I over reacted . It’s a decent enough review. The lyrical swipe that compares me less than favourably to the chisel jawed dame of glum is in truth probably justified but I won’t beat myself up too much about it…I’ll leave that for you to judge so feel free to let me know what you think once you’ve got hold of a copy. I just added the Q review to the main page on the site. This afternoon I was also trying to pimp myspace into action, as you do, but everything sort of crashed and went purple. To my relief I managed to hit refresh and get the old pimp free number back in business. I’ll try again tomorrow. Our gig at The Club Academy this Saturday 4th November has been cancelled…a long story…so apologies to those people who bought tickets which are refundable from the Academy box office. We have scheduled more shows over the next few weeks and the dates pages have the details with more to come. At last nights rehearsal the gear brakedown situation reached new heights as Craigs effects unit died;in recent weeks we've had two amps go down, one came buck but has gone again. Pedal level problems and dodgy valves seem to have us all flumuxxed...oh how the gear gremlins seem to love us. I think it's time to time to get some new equiptment, best VP

Luminaire

2006-10-20T11:53:00.000Z

We set off in three vehicles for the gig at the Luminaire in a bit of a mix up over driving and skiving, needless to say I found myself behind the wheel of a small automobile, like in ‘Once in a Lifetime’ but without the beautiful house and the beautiful wife. We were in London by 4.30, incurred the usual parking problems, leaving the venue every now and again to move the car or the van around the block, pay the small fortune. The venue made up for any practical annoyances by being one of the nicest you could wish for, friendly staff, good sound crew and a fantastic Thi restaurant to die for. I met Luke Haines at the sound check; I only hope I didn’t embarrass myself too much. I have a feeling I might have got a bit carried away with the ‘I’m a big fan’ thing, banging on about my favourite Auteurs moments [and there have been so many] as he listened patiently. He seemed a very nice man and was more than happy to sign a few CD inlays I’d bought along [I bought three…I could have bought more as I have all his records but I was paranoid he’d think I really was a proper stalker psycho type]. Once I’d done the pleased to meet you I think you’re great routine we got to talking about guitars…[American Guitars, there I go again]… and things normalised nicely. The Vinny set was short but quite sweet, no major technical hitches. Craig’s hair looked great despite his anxieties; it was Karen’s first proper gig with us and she played wonderfully. I don’t think I’ve ever played with anyone whose timing is so intuitive. We stayed to watch Luke and marvelled at John Moore’s Saw playing which was truly sublime , especially on ‘The Rubettes’ which I think was the second encore. I saw most of Luke’s set, ‘Freddy Mills is Dead’ and ‘Leeds United’ seemed particularly immediate. I just pre ordered the new album on Amazon. I caught up with locals and good friends of mine Helene and Tim in the side stage snug section. Tim has new glasses, he’s moved from Jarvis to David Byrne style as lighter frames are the future. I am inspired to do likewise. New gigs and radio sessions are being confirmed and added to the tour dates shortly, do check them out if you can. VP x

Radio Land

2006-10-14T12:13:00.000Z

There’s always some kind of sound issue when you do radio. Last night we were live on Brain Surgery, Mark Rileys new BBC6 Show from Oxford Road. The worse it sounds in the studio the better across the airwaves is my humble adage so we wont get bogged down on that front. I had a few complementary emails this morning from listeners which was nice. Mark was his usual speedy self and we played three songs from the new album ‘Man about the House’, ‘Revolt into Style’ and ‘Living in the Past’ [which I managed to mess up the words for…doh]. The banter between songs led to Mark questioning Ben about his wearing of sarong on stage with ‘World of Twist’…it must be stressed that Ben was never actually in ‘World of Twist’, he worked with them sound and gear wise. This photographic evidence has given me renewed impetus to get him to dress up for future Vinny gigs in a fluffy cat suit; watch this space. I’ve always enjoyed and admired bands that dress up, take those New York Dollies, still at the slap and lippy after god knows how long. Although I’ve never really been that taken with their post Stooges brand of glamma punk you have to admire them...well there are only two of them left but you know what I mean. I used to feel the same way about Zal Clemonson from the Alex Harvey Band. Bowie is of course light years ahead of anyone else in the field still we knew that already. We play the LUMINAIRE on Wednesday, do come along if you can, VPx

Skipping for England

2006-09-22T14:29:00.000Z

It’s been sometime since I bothered to update this diary in a while for all sorts of reasons…mostly technological so if you’ve checked in and found nothing then I can only say sorry. I have been dead busy which is better than dead lazy… well it is most of the time. The Frank Sidebottom gig is some weeks behind me and to be frank I too might as well have been wearing a papier mache head for all the interest that was afforded my set by the assembled misfits of the North Bar. It was a testimonial to indifference, that and quite the most poorly organised little piss hole I have ever played in. They even shafted me on the fee. I missed seeing Frank as I couldn’t wait to get out of there. I don’t mean to be bitter but really…it was awful. The people who wanted to listen didn’t stand a chance. In the here and now I just got the computer back from the PC hospital and have set about updating the gigs pages and suchlike as there have been more shows booked and more tbc including a small tour of Scandinavia in November. Former OASIS guitarist Paul Arthurs aka Bonehead has recently taken over the management of the band and we’re thrilled to be in his capable hands. Last Monday night we [Mike, Bonehead and I] did a radio interview in REVOLUTION bar and played a few tracks from the album…nice idea, Revolution 96.2 FM broadcasting from the streets, it was a right old knees up. I had no idea Mondays could be so reckless… and yes perhaps I should get out more. It was nice hearing tracks from the new album at club volume level and to be listening to the songs for what they are and not getting all paranoid about the bass end or the level of the backing vocal. We have also been getting some decent feedback from various reputable magazine publications regarding reviews for the new album…more on this to follow. I just added a couple of links on the homepage to recent online reviews in Whisperin and Hollerin and Americana UK, both pleasingly positive so do check them out. VPx

LUKE HAINES

2006-08-28T16:38:00.000Z

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

2006-08-22T19:49:00.000Z

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

2006-08-12T21:35:00.000Z

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

The Bottom End

2006-07-29T14:19:00.000Z

Typing into the machine and thinking of Bukowski and how I listened to Fire Station again the other day and how it made me feel humble and sort of tragic…like watching The Ice Storm again which I did this week and thinking about mortality and worth. Still I won’t bore with my ideological procrastinations. We have a new bass player, her name is Karen Leatham and her arrival has sprung our collective steps and added to the possibilities and the potentials of what is to come. She’s really rather good. We started rehearsals proper last week and all went swimmingly well which was nice. We are booking UK shows in Oct/Nov. We were also pleased to discover upon returning to our Salford Lads Club attic that Archie, who’s been at the lads Club since the year dot has been awarded an MBE for youth work; we just need to remember to salute him next time we see him and offer our most sincere congratulations. On the personal front there are a few bits of media type things coming off, I guest once more on BBC6 music’s Rocket Science with Rob Hughes in a parallel universe on 19th August around 4pm on the first day of the football season but don’t let that put you off. We’ll be discussing the past and how it compares to future from the template of the music press though from which year I’m not sure as yet. A week later on Sun 27th August I’m standing in for the seminal Mike Joyce on his Revolution show 4-7pm and you can listen online if you like. It’s the perfect excuse to play favourite records and talk about anything that steals the fancy. I haven’t done a radio show for some time so it will be a bit of a challenge but one I’m looking forward to. I’ll be playing tracks from the new HELENE record ROUTINES which is currently monopolising my in car iPod. Try and have a listen. I have become captivated by the record which happens so infrequently I feel I just have to sing it’s praises whenever the opportunity presents. Today we’re off to see a friends play, it’s one of those walk about from scene to scene type happenings, you know the type, where you arrive late head for the bar and realise the bar is part of the the set and actors are improvising upon your innocence. That kind of thing happened to me once though I like to think I rose to the occasion; still I like to think a lot of things. Time for bed, VPx

Normality Bites

2006-07-10T17:34:00.000Z

As the days float on I seem to be suspended in Slow Motion which is my favourite Man album though you need to well over the popular hill to remember...it's Jim’s funeral is on Friday, many thanks to those who sent in condolences, much appreciated. All I have to do now is help carry the coffin, never done that before am slightly trepidated if I’m honest which I have been accused of being occasionally and mostly to to my detriment. Craig also has the slow motion thing going on, our symptoms have syncopated into a kind of post recording fatigue as we load our gear back into the musty loft of our Salford Lads Club rehearsal space where they’ve changed the locks for all the usual reasons. Luckily Leon is on hand to let us in and it feels like we are returning home after operations overseas…Blackburn can have that effect but on another tack altogether…Some people might have seen a rather dubious posting on the internet last week concerning the new record and how it featured Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce playing together and how it was recorded in a college etc… complete tosh generated I think by the over enthusiastic juniors at BBC Radio Lancashire who have apologised, anyway, we issued a statement thus as all manner of sites were covering the extremely tall story…NME, 6Music, Morrissey solo etc. In short Andy hasn’t rejoined the band, Mike and Andy still DJ together and are on speaking terms no less. Sorted. On the subject of bass players we are still looking after a brief flirtation with Jules from Marion who unfortunately returned to Brighton for personal reasons before we really got going. So if you play the bass, live in Manchester and have all your own hair then please do get in touch. You never know. Seriously I’m joking about the hair…but I’m not sure Craig is. For the retrospective record our connection with Blackburn College involves their facilities, namely the filming of the DVD which comes with the new album, it’s one of those fly on the wall things where we all talk about the how’s and whys and wherefores of making the record. I look about 58 but don’t let that put you off. It’s a lighting thing I keep telling myself. The college were also involved in the albums artwork, again we were able to use their facilities, thanks to John and Emma for seeing the photography project through, despite the vanity of the older generation we got there in the end. The record looks great and Dingo [Ben’s dog] not only gate-crashed the photo shoot but made it onto the front sleeve. The release date will be in October sometime, we’re just waiting on the distributor to confirm. He’s in a band himself but if I told you which one you’d never believe me. More and less of this and that to follow…the summers nearly over thank god, VP x

Jim

2006-07-05T21:39:00.001Z

Jim Wilkes 1935-2006

Playing on the Pier once again

2006-07-02T15:29:00.000Z

Track 7 on the new record 'the fall and rise of Vinny Peculiar', as previously noted here in this occasional diary, is the lyrical creation of my great uncle Jim who gave me the poem a few years ago because I loved it. He wrote loads of poems but didn’t always share them. I last saw him a week ago following his discharge from hospital [I saw him there too] where he was being treated for cancer and other complications I didn’t quite get to the bottom of. He is now very poorly and we are some way beyond the miracles stage. All through my life he has been an inspiration to me so I am feeling incredibly sad and humble and hopeless just now, sat here thinking and waiting and trying to make sense of what seems inevitable. He provided adventure in my childhood, from climbing mountains to scouring junk shops and offered wisdom and advice in adulthood, divorce, kids, all the hard to deal with stuff. A man so totally possessed of life seeing him reduced to this is just criminal. He is a truly great uncle. I saw him last week, probably for the last time, and played him the track ‘Playing on the Pier’. We were sat in his music room, surrounded by old jazz posters of bands he’s had over the years, framed photos from places like Dudley Town Hall in 1957 any number of festivals, maps and memories just hanging there. It was the first time he’d heard it. We listened and he approved and we talked about the sense of family history the poem evokes and how I’d used guitars and not a trumpet and part of me wishes we had used trumpet but he wasn’t able to play it what with his health and really it was him or no one. Something poetic happened that day and one day I will try and put it into words. Now he is unconscious and waiting to go under. He will of course live on in the hearts of those who have been lucky enough to know him and indeed to love him. This goes out to all; especially to Dot his wife and to his children with all my love, Alan x

ralax

2006-06-11T18:30:00.000Z

I am a recovered man….kind of, with the day to myself and the night likewise. There’s not a lot pressing here, all I have to do is to avoid the sun, the stupid sun that shines on everyone. I have never been a hot weather person, not in slightest. In fact I could rant on about the ludicrousity of the soaraway one but I guess that would be kind of dull and predictable. I was driving in Rochdale today and passed several Asian occupied cars sporting England flags, a good thing, and I told the taxi driver likewise who was very sweet and decent. My take on the flag has mellowed over the years from loathing the George Cross to kind of liking it…despite what my socialist mate’s bang on about…symbol of the crusades, badge of the colonialists etc. The bonding of culture and country regardless of your creedance is a good thing I think. So the flag is fine by me. OK so the odd right winger might want to seize the conflictual moment and don the red cross but in the main it seems a positive time to be patriotic. Sunblock on the other hand is not worn often enough…that Peter Crouch has a very red neck no wonder he was thirsty. Still you have to chuckle at and applaud the success of the gangly one…at Villa Park he was so rubbish…although of course he wasn’t the only one. Like I said…I’m relaxing after the recording. VPx

Slowdive

2006-06-08T09:00:00.000Z

It’s taken awhile to get here but we have finally finished the record just in time for the world cup, it’s just a case of reviewing the master. Feel knackered and strangely deflated but I think that’s just the tiredness. Either that or I’m having cellar bar withdrawals. We're at the too close for rational objectivity stage. Here are few images from the the last three months, VPx

Sick bed

2006-05-22T16:35:00.000Z

Apologies to the few people who were expecting me in Nottingham on Thursday night for the Durutti show, truth is I lost my voice in a perpetual coughing fit that refused to stop, I really was in a bad way, took to my bed after what seemed like an everlasting drive back from London. I hope the Nottingham gig went alright and that CMP forgive my dropping out at such short notice though in truth I could do little else. Luckily for me the hospitality factor in Archway courtesy of Helene and Tim was wonderful; I only hope I’ve not infected them with the virus. Overall the Durutti supports have been going well, Birmingham was great though nothing like the comedy fest of my last visit when I got all wrapped up in the infrastructure, as in curtains, which was apparently recorded on a security camera and viewed as home made entertainment by the Glee Club staff, who were, as ever, most welcoming. The Glee is right up there on the one of the nicest places you could ever get to play list. The dressing rooms are cosy and somehow have a great de stressing effect upon incumbents…so much so that you can drift into the ether and forget what you’re there for as I nearly did, chatting merrily away to the Durutti team. The London show at Dingwalls was more reserved on the audience part, but then again so probably was I as I was struggling with the voice, the cough and the snot…you don’t want to know. I’m kind of back in one piece again but it’s taken the best part of the weekend to shake it off. VPx

Durutti

2006-05-16T12:30:00.000Z

Meeting Vinne Reilly was a real treat: I am happy to report that as warm and decent human beings go he is very much the business. In fact, we were getting on so well, like a couple of school mates window shopping for guitars and effects; but then, just as I was starting to feel at home I went and stole his capo by mistake which very nearly delayed the start of the show! The entire dressing room was turned over in an attempt to find the thing. That’s right…it was in my pocket all along, doh! Naturally, retribution will follow…he has promised me thus! But seriously Vinnie and the band have made me most welcome and display none of the serial egotism that can affect those for whom the words legendary and genius have been applied on occasion. I’ve caught about half their sets so far but expect to see the whole show in London which I’m really looking forward to. I’m also looking forward to seeing Tim and Helene and their cat Charlie, it’s just the driving that is less than appealing as I invariably get lost in the capital and end up in the exclusion zone. Only two shows into this mini tour and I have ashtray throat, a little flu and am not all together well. I spent yesterday getting pampered by my parents which was nice, and on Monday night my daughter took me to see Billy Liar in a teeny tiny Malvern Theatre which was just perfect. I have the day off but tonight we are back in the studio finishing the brass. Both the Manchester and Birmingham shows seemed well received so if you were there thanks very much for that. Did anyone catch the 6Music feature I did with Rob Hughes on Saturday…but alas, I was recording, three words my parter will be glad to see the back of come the end of the month, a normality of sorts will return in the summer, VPx

Brassed On

2006-05-12T18:21:00.000Z

Bob and Steve are the brass guys and it’s simply brilliant to have them on board. I kid you not. The parts all scored up and ready to go, notated and punctuated with pauses and tempo shifts and descending sharpened 7ths by our very own Craig Gannon who directs the session with ease. Craig has done all the arrangements for brass and strings on the new record and immediately establishes a rapport with Tony Christie’s right hand men. I sit back and enjoy, make the right noises, and the right noises get made. At the end of the night we have the brass parts for Greedy Scorpios, and yes it does sound a little Kinksy which we take as a huge complement. Mid evening Mike and I do an interview in the courtyard talking nonsense and eventually some kind of sense, I think, about the making of the record. The filming will be incorporated into a DVD which we are putting out with the record god willing…we still need to record the live session which will form the bulk of it. Mike does his drunken uncle routine which is priceless. We spent the early part of the day getting our pictures taken at a Blackburn studio a few minutes walk from the Sinister Place. Thanks Amy for the direction and the bleaching, we look forward to seeing the proofs. We now have a deadline to finish the record by the end of this month so I really must crack on with the vocals…still only half done. On Wednesday I recorded the BBC 6 Music chin wag with Rob Hughes which goes out on Saturday afternoon around 3pm I think…though no doubt you can listen again from the site if you’re glued to the cup final or fishing for carp.Meanwhile maybe see you at a Durutti Column gig, tour dates pages have the details, VPx

Revolution

2006-04-30T16:37:00.000Z

There is a festival some fifty yards from the studio so we have a few off this weekend to collect our thoughts and our mixes and our story so far, which has been a good one, I kid you not. The brass parts have been scored [by the irrepressible Craig Gannon] and the musicians arrive shortly, next Thursday if my memory is correct, and in truth it’s all pretty exciting to work with people who have backed Lionel Richie and Tony Christie and are veritable veterans of cool…well they seem decent enough. So aside from the much needed quality time with the significant other I’ve spent the weekend recording a few acoustic songs here on my new pc for possible inclusion on the album. And no they are nothing like Egg Incident….but thanks for asking anyway. Last weekend we were listening to a new Shack radio session recorded in Blackburn by our esteemed producer and much enjoyed their psychedelic ramblings and janglings so much so that I was inspired to write a most complimentary accolade on their myspace profile…as you do in the heat of the moment. They are unafraid of being themselves…something that has eluded me for years and I like them for that. In case you hadn’t heard Mike Joyce played the aforesaid session on his radio show last week. Mike has a Sunday evening slot on Revolution and is well worth a listen Mike is by nature larger than life and his eloquent ramblings are the perfect tonic… not only on the radio but to the band likewise. I simply love his enthusiasm and his belief…oh yeah and his drumming likewise is never 10p short. Anyway…that’s enough of that, I don’t want to go all syncophantic or whatever. Forward the buff, VP x

Toblerone Snow

2006-04-24T21:51:00.000Z

In Blackburn the snow is triangular, like Toblerone; the local people take it for granted but Craig and I are captivated, catching handfuls of the stuff, making snowballs and admiring the flakes as the wind blows the empty bottles across the cobbled courtyard. We remain in Sinister Studios building parts and breaking down ideas. It’s all going well and the vibe is a happening dude, but Julian Cope is the only person I know who can get away with using the Dude word…so that’s my first and last attempt. Our basic supplies of samosas, water, sweets and tobacco come from a garage some 500 yards down the road which we frequent with some regularity passing the same girls on route plying the oldest trade known to man. Somehow this always makes me sad, and if I’m honest, a little edgy. I remember driving home from a gig at Sheffield City Hall a few years ago where I’d been supporting Vonda Shepard and asking a group of girls in mini skirts the way to back the M62…they offered me a lot more than directions and I was sooo embarrassed.

The courtyard is a mess. I guess there’s a lot of cleaning up to do. It’s like this every week, but getting all spruced up in time for the smoking ban apparently…now that’s what you call a business plan. Anyway…none of this matters much. We’re still here and will be for a few more weekends no doubt. Those Durutti gigs are fast approaching so do email me if you want sneaking in and I'll do what I can, Vinny x

Gay Bags

2006-04-17T17:35:00.000Z

Happiness is a new computer, so they say, well Steve Cowell does for one and I’m most grateful for his support. I just watched a beginners guide to recording video which was, to my amazement, most illuminating. I now have the technology to orchestrate my home recordings and enough guitar sounds to woo a entire music shop. Despite the wine and the quiet fan and the Easter Egg nog and the fading light it’s been a decent weekend in blank burn moving into the final third of recording. The Irish dates that I spoke about have been suspended for now so I can get on with the vocals and be around for the mixing. I expect we will reschedule at some point. Today I went to TK Max looking for the definitive gay bag…I have several in my collection but am convinced I need more. I like the idea of handbags for men. I feel sort of underdressed without a bag strapped about my person. I’m just looking around the room here at sketch Nick Robinson did [Nick is a former VP bass player currently consumed by the world of fashion], now framed and adorning some wall space. It’s a cartoon of me in a tent at Glastonbury in 1999 and the gay bag is a prominent feature…I am also clutching a copy of the Auteurs Greatest Hit…which is Nicks way of saying you’re the only person we know who likes them, I think…he was the same about my Wonderstuff affection. I’ve also made great proclamations in the past [as you do] as to the merit and credibility of various bands I’ve perchanced upon over the years. Oh so many moons ago I saw U2 at Kidderminster Town Hall and was convinced they were heading for obscurity…they were so incredibly average and the singer had crappy hair. Over the years I have come to accept that I am usually wrong about any given bands commercial potential. That’s just the way it is. I was right about the hair though. Talking of which I have recently been snipped and dyed and reminded by my dearest that I am no longer 26, which is of course absolutely true. I’m just trying to make the best of myself in the name of light entertainment was my rather dubious reply, Vinny x

Plan B

2006-04-14T20:57:00.000Z

Sometimes it doesn’t go plan. Not only in terms of the facilities [we are sooooo grateful to Joe and his secret fresh water tap...pictured!]. Friday night we struggled to secure a bass part on the newest of the new album tracks, it’s nobody’s fault, but between Craig and me we just couldn’t get into the groove. Craig has played a bass guitar blinder on all the other tracks bar one [the punk one…which I did cause I’m dodgy at bass]. This one seemed to be more problematic. We were both a bit shocked and finally conceded we do, for certain things, need a proper bass player, at least on this track which is called ‘The Greedy Scorpio’s in case you wondered. It’s about temptation and trust and the things we get away with…it’s not exactly autobiographical, and even if it was I would never admit to it anyway. Next week…as luck would have it, our new bass player Jules is back here in Manchester to rehearse for the BBC session on 27th May…so we might just get him to make his recording debut on the Scorpios, we’ll see how it all pans out. Here in sub reality towers we have just invested in a new TV as we’d got to the stamping on the floor every minute stage to sustain any semblance of picture with the old one. I just half watched one of those that was the decade that was type programmes, this time the geeky gizmo centric 70’s. It was pathetic really. The people they interview seem so so indifferent and the features are bland and the editing sucks and the whole notion behind the vox pop retro decadist nonsense is...well.... Twenty minutes of sheer dross was as much as I could take. Who on earth commissions these things? Earlier on I watched Three Colours White starring the polish Dustin Hoffman who’s name is beyond my recall which is just great…and strangely erotic, especially the scene when he visits his own funeral. I’ve had that dream too many times and am convinced it means something sinister. I am also far to easily convinced that I have the collective symptoms of any given psychiatric assessment I happen to get my hands on. Or perhaps my empathy gene is just a tad off kilter. Yeah…something like that, happy Easter, Vinny x

Days

2006-04-07T08:57:00.000Z

Funny how it feels like a day off, which it is I suppose. I’m at home as we don’t start recording till tonight and then it’s mostly drum revision which is frankly best done by drummers. We’re also rehearsing via MP3 tutorial interface our new bass player Jules who is currently adrift in the sorry south, Brighton to be exact, and gagging for a return to the hallowed north. And we do like to be beside the cliches...so who can blame him? Brighton was the worst gig we played on the last tour, I was knackered; eating from a pan of week old pasta gave me food poisoning which didn’t exactly help. Jules used to be in a couple of semi popular beat groups you might have come across before, namely, Marion and Electrafiction. He’s also a bit of a Johnny Handsome according to Jamie and quite possibly younger than Craig though why this should be of interest to anyone I really have no idea. It just seems to be what gets mentioned. None of us have met him yet and the first BBC session to support the album release is on 27th of this month which is earlier than we'd have liked but there are organisational complications [aren't there always] so I figure we just about have time to bed him in before the deep end, which probably reads wrongly so I’ll move swiftly on. A few people have enquired as to which dates we are doing on the Durutti Column tour as there seemed to be some confusion. I can now say for sure that it’s just the first four gigs in Manchester, Birmingham, London and Nottingham. In all likelihood these will be solo shows with the possible exception of Manchester. Hope this clears up any misinformation. At the beginning of next month I’m off to Ireland for 3 solo gigs, details will be posted as soon as confirmation is received, Vinny x

As I Played

2006-04-03T21:28:00.000Z

I realise I’ve not eaten properly for four days straight…no wonder I have the symptoms of dehydration and fatigue. My girl is reminding me to take care of myself, eat properly and drink plenty of water, which is always my intention; it just never seems to happen that way. No soon as I enter the alternative universe of the recording studio good sense flits away into another dimension; I am also first in the queue for the hallowed studio cigarette. No idea how they got here but someone’s got to smoke them. Blackburn is in the frenzy of demonstration, Jack Staw’s American guest is none too welcome and we just miss the main demonstration as we head off for morning coffee to our new favourite local café some fifty yards from the studio. It has a name…I can’t recall and is run as a co operative by the local deaf society; we were made to feel most welcome. Joe the knob twiddler even did an interview with the local new business association as we dined and we all got photographed for some pamphlet initiative thing. Blackburn is growing on me. As for the recording we are pretty much on track which is nice. Parts are paired down. Songs start to speak up for themselves, especially the quiet ones….always the quiet ones. What I mean is that I think we are capturing something worth keeping. Something we can eventually be proud of. There’s a song on the new record which we will be reworking this week called Playing on the Pier. I took the lyrics [with kind permission] from a poem written by my very dear uncle Jim Wilkes, who I have admired both as a writer musician and all round inspirational human being since I was stood on a box in the Trinity Road Stand [and he was stood just behind me]. He’s my dad’s brother. The poem is written from the perspective of playing [in Jims case trumpet] on Blackpool Pier [as he has done on many occasions] and looking down upon the sands imagining family holidays. The recurring line as I played refers to both playing as a child and as a man and my grandparents, my dad and my auntie Mary are all in there, I must say I find it quite moving, so thanks Jim for this. Here’s the poem, I hope you like it, best wishes, Vinny x

As I Played [Playing Trumpet on the North Pier, Blackpool]

From here you can see the donkeys
Braided the same as fifty years ago
When I was a lad and my family sat
Amongst the thousands on the sands
As I played
And I remember my dad with his trousers rolled up
And the knotted handkerchief for the sun was hot
As he made his way through the crowds
To buy a tray of tea and sticky buns
As I played
And I remember my mother sitting stiffly in the deckchair
So unused to such enforced relaxation
Knitting frantically throughout the day
The completed vests in a bundle at her feet
As I played
And I remember my sister dreamily looking out to see
Transfixed by growing dreams of being someone
And finding herself unable to join in the social chat
Setting herself apart and sulking in a pretty way
As I played
I remember my brother too old for buckets and spades
But wanting to be a part of it all
And willing to scrabble in the sand and build bridges
And wait for the sea to erode and destroy
As I played
But most I remember being with my family
On the beach below me by the donkeys
And for a second I swore I could see all of us
In careless unity, immortal and transient
As I played
Jim Wilkes 1999

Holes

2006-03-26T14:02:00.000Z

It’s just a little way back from the main road, where silence sleeps and men dig holes…4000 of them, or so we’re led to believe. Television were a big influence on me, I remember buying Marquee Moon from the long gone Johnson Records in Bromsgrove and returning home in frenzied youthful anticipation of a great new discovery. They were never a let down from any angle. The sleeve was really good too and I immediately wanted to affect a wasted New York CBGB state of clothing and voice of mind. Mostly though I just loved the songs and Guiding Light is on my funeral list, which is in my iPod should the worst come to the worst. So here I am millions of light and dark years later thinking guitar sounds and reminding myself to bring to the studio a copy of the album...alway great for referencing. Distractions from the job in hand include a coffee bar called Beees with more eeee’s that seems reasonable which does a roaring trade in novelty chocolate phones, animals and of course bees.This past weekend we have been most grateful to The Burn for lending us their Fender Precision Bass which sounds just so great and to Jamie who, in full on label impresario mode, supplied hot food and an all round feel good factor through out the weekend. We are now feeling very much at home. We’ve even had the odd pint at the Cellar bar despite the local council health warnings. On Friday afternoon we roped in a couple of Danish exchange students to sing backing vocals on one of the tracks...how we met up with them is long story, please do remind me to tell you sometime, anyway, the girls did good. Unfortunately they didn't leave their names. We’re only recording for two or three days each week so there’s a way to go yet but then hey...isn't there always. I play a one off solo gig at The Mint Lounge in Manchester this Tuesday night…reminds me I must look up exactly where it is, the address and contact details are on the tour dates page, look forward to seeing any of you who might fancy it. Best of, VPx

Planet Sound

2006-03-19T20:58:00.000Z

We are in Blackburn making a record that will change the history of popular music; I can’t recall us ever feeling so positive. There is snow on the courtyard and gales rip through the outbuildings; a death metal band murmur away in the distance in a haze of feedback. Craig straddles a heater that looks warmer than it feels. We always seem to record in the cold. Sweden was no exception. Joe Fossard, our esteemed producer and fellow recovering in principle nicotine addict is politely reminding me that the studio is called Planet Sound, not Sinister Studios, to which I have referred in previous dispatches. I apologise profusely but to me it will always be sinister. It just is. To Ben it will always be the place he nearly broke his ankle as he fell over a step in the square not long after we got the Villa result [another woeful loss I digress]. We knew it was serious as soon as he fell over. Ben doesn’t play the soft girl card when it comes to pain unlike the likes of Craig and I who often marvel not only at his keyboard tim wizzerry but also his capacity to lift seemingly immovable objects from stages to vans, namely, our Fender Twin Guitar amps…which are quite possibly the heaviest combos on the planet. He spent Saturday afternoon in the Infirmary in much pain and discomfort; he was like our very own Billy Fisher doing battle with some local Stamp no less. That’s a poorly thought through Billy liar reference and one we could probably do without. It’s just that I somehow, despite the passing of time and its associated diversions, remain fervently obsessed by the story, the film …but do stop me please if you’ve heard this one before. In truth we are making progress. The recording is over a series of long weekends and if this first one is anything to go by we’ll be done and dusted by May…of course now I’ve said that it’s all bound to go haywire but seven drum tracks to the good in just two days is a decent enough start. So today I sat back and pontificated in the company of my dearest and nearest as we scared ourselves stupid watching Syriana at the Trafford centre of all places which is just scary and troubling and then there was the film of course…you know…those greedy American tycoons giving everyone the creeps. The bloke from American beauty, the fascist dad of the drug dealing teen, he plays an oil mogul tyrant so frighteningly well and dearest George C is framed by the CIA and the torture scenes involve finger nails and gaffer tape...not pretty. No wonder it’s got him into Bush’s bad books. Pretty much everything is crossed and double crossed in the name of corporate corruption. Of course the US has a vested interest in the chaos of the region...a few lightbulbs went off in here but I won’t go on about it but if you get the chance do. It’s well worth seeing. If you have a few moments to spare try www.the17.org if this link doesn’t work put the17 into Google. It’s a new Bill Drummond art project thing that simply thrilled me when I chanced upon it via John Hirst in conversation on his new phone a few days ago. I will be signing up for 17 duties shortly. John and Bill were on route to Stockholm to perform the said piece as we spoke. I’d love to be able to report that Bill will be guesting on the new Vinny album but that would be sheer fabrication and hearsay. Wouldn’t it? VPx

Stamps

2006-02-28T22:52:00.000Z

It’s a year since I played here and it must be said very little has changed which has to be a good thing. The decor is splendidly down at heel despite the recent paint job, the atmosphere is getting there. There are less people here than expected but give it time, it’s not exactly going out weather but that’s never stopped us before. I’m talking with Steve Roberts here, as the torrents flood past the front door and the mobile signal dies. Steve is something of a cultural attaché for song writing in these parts and has done more for the city of culture than any number of woebegone city council laminated types. He’s also a great singer songwriter in his own right. Tonight sharing the bill with yours truly is poet James Davidson who delivers some fierce and tender poems with great passion and eloquence and for a minute Stamps feels like The Gaslight in New York City circa 1965, James is Allen Ginsberg and I’m Bob Dylan waiting in the wings, robbing everyone’s records and turning my back on the audience. This feeling, unsurprisingly, doesn’t last. James finishes his set and I’m thinking I wished I did more gigs with poets because I like them and James is an exceptional talent. He reads it like he lives it. His poem ‘Vocation’ about being on the dole and managing the not altogether subtle pressures of family seemed especially poignant to me. I remember it like it was yesterday. After the gig we swop merch. His book is called Littering, he can be reached at jdavidson4@hotmail.com So don’t hesitate now just do it. As the venue fills up I’m touched to see so many familiar faces which is great but also something of a challenge as anyone who does this kind of thing will tell you it’s harder playing to people you know…especially when they know you as well as some of these people know me. I think I wing in the end. I certainly enjoy the gig, I end up not trying out as much of the new stuff as I’d planned to. Last minute apprehension gets the better of me. Of the new ones I do S.A.D. and Revolt into Style go down pretty well. I’m still ending the set with Calm Me Down after all this time which is also causing me concern…in a neurotic self self self kind of way, that frankly doesn’t really matter as much as I think it might. On that note and on any other come to think of it I bid you goodnight, VPx

my space

2006-02-26T12:20:00.000Z

I spent the last couple of days sorting out a myspace account after several recommendations from friends Tim,Dom and Mark I thank you. It’s been kind of illuminating, thrilling even in small doses. You can see what I mean at www.myspace.com/vinnypeculiar It’s a great little fun way to connect with other artists, meet n greet and listen to MP3s; in my case I’ve made all four available for download, so if that’s the way you get your music feel free. Hippies did…shame it never lasted [a mate of mine always said that…stupid really]. You can also leave messages and post stuff. Today’s reality check has been reading the Tipton Three story in the Observer, the absurdity of their detention, torture, mind games, really the Americans do themselves no favours, no wonder people love to hate them. I don’t hate Americans, just their current administration. In fact all the Americans I know hate the current administration. I hate the term current administration; it’s so American, and so on. Michael Winterbottom’s The Road to Guantanamo is screened on Channel 4 on 9th March. A must see for sure. Tomorrow I’m at Stamps in Liverpool, local strokes, local folks, I really like Crosby and I’ve still not managed to see the Anthony Gormley statues on the beach, VPx

Endless Art

2006-02-12T15:27:00.000Z

A House were a very fine band indeed and Andy Woods knows their singer. Endless Art is one of their finest songs. Here too it all seems endless, the delays in recording put back yet again till March so I’m not going to mention it again. Not ever. Meanwhile, as I’m consistently reminded there’s so much more to life. In the meantime I can’t find my MOT certificate which has got me all of a blather so much so that I want to hit something. Not that I will, I’ve not hit anyone since Alan Plodwin in the third year. He was armed with a compass and left me no alternative. Perhaps I should do a friends reunited and apologise but the thought of all that nostalgia gives me the creeps. I prefer to glamorise and reinvent my personal history in the form of the popular song; god knows what an alternative perspective would do to my ego. OK so I’m off on one here and feeling ever so slightly sorry for myself, it’s an inner confusion thing. I just read an Ashram pamphlet on consciousness which vilified the nature of the ego and sanctified the joyous state of the empty conscious mind. Try as I might...or not...I really don’t get it…this quest to de-clutter and devolve any kind of reference to self. Me…I’m egocentric and proud of it. You can keep your nirvana and your higher state of being. I’ll take the here and now and the warts and all. There you go, another one of life’s complexities simplified. There’s really nothing to it is there? VPx

Halfax

2006-02-05T20:22:00.000Z

The pub venue is rammed to capacity and its only 9 o’clock on a Friday night, enough to make any promoter get the hots so everyone smiles like it Christmas or something and I grin along too. I’ve just been walkabouts and eaten half decent chips [no bits] on a wall watching a gang of young skater kids toiling there thing beneath the misty moonlight.I don’t hang around too long cause it’s freezing. We didn't really haver skate boards when I were a lad...I wish we had though. Back at the venue [outside the pub] there’s a punch up between a taxi driver and a fraught punter but no one’s really too bothered; the car skids and squeals off into god knows where and the kid disappears just as the police arrive. It’s a busy old night at The Red Lion I meander through the 80’s karaoke session kareoke downstairs which looks a bit dodgy to be honest but who am I to say. The Japanese like it. Tonights venue is the notorious DOGHOUSE Club which is directly above. I’m due onstage at 11pm so there’s more time to kill yet which I do in the makeshift dressing room that is a pub kitchen where I mind peoples coats and talk about the whys and wherefores of the new record to those who’ve come here for my benefit though most are here it must be said to see local band Prime Mover who sound not unlike The Chameleons. They carry everything off pretty well and there are Mums and Dads here keeping an eye out. I liked their directness and their apparent embarrassment at being shadowed parent style. I watch them from the hall as there’s no actual physical space available in the actual room. Next on are Bradford’s Random Hand, a ska thrash fusion explosion with trombone and energy and frenzy in abundance. They are really good at what they do and I enjoy a few words with them to that effect when they come offstage. My gig goes really well even if I do say so myself, after a dodgy start due to the favoured but totally unreliable Casio B460 I settle into it, people even listen to the words. I finish with a couple of encores including Big Grey Hospital which brings a lump to my throat as it’s the first time I’ve played it since my brother died in 2001. It figures on Whatever happened to VP and someone requested it and remarkably I remembered the words. I also finish with King of Cabaret [I've still not recorded it] which goes down a storm. I can never make my mind up about that song…sometimes it seems to work so well...other times well... All in all and all is well, back home in the middle of the night I think I see the house mouse on the worktops disappearing behind the bread maker. VPx

Nostalgia

2006-01-29T15:00:00.000Z

'So I continue to continue to pretend that life will never end and flowers never bend with the rainfall'..,which is an old Simon and Garfunkel tune Feelin Groovy never did get around to covering, and now they’ve split up. It also happens to be a personal favourite. While we’re talking covers bands just yesterday I spoke with former Vinny Peculiar drummer Neil Carter; we spoke of the old days, recording Ironing the Soul, Glastonbury antics, families and fate. Neil is playing again after a four year lay off in a Genesis tribute band called The Carpet Crawlers and having a ball. Then I spent the best part of Friday afternoon listening to The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway for the first time in a very long time and was reminded of a kid at our school called Chris Long who shaved his head in triangle at the front like Peter Gabriel, all very impressive at the time, he got expelled pending the re-growth. Years later I think he became a Swinging Cat but that’s so long ago I might as well be making it up. Earlier in the week I met Neil Brighouse [CMP lynchpin] and Rob Ferrier [independent record producer] in Liverpool’s Everyman Bistro and it felt like 1996 all over again when we were in a band together called GOLDWIRE; the fate of which none of us have properly recovered from which leads me on nicely to the future… which is happening sooner than you think. This Friday 3rd Feb I play the Dog House in Halifax and have a couple of other solo gigs in Feb slotted in between the recording. In May I’m supporting Durutti Column over three nights as well as playing a few shows in Ireland and the band tour starts end of May; the future’s brighter than you think...you best check the tour dates for details. Big thanks to all as ever for bothering to, VPx