Band Homepage www.clan-rock.com
Hello everyone and I trust I find you in good health.
So how were your Valentine’s days? No doubt most of us know someone who went to see fifty shades of grey which from what I hear is nothing other than a cleverly marketed Mills & Boon.
Ok this week we are back on the road and Saturday’s chosen venue to receive our Good time Feel good rock is The Springfield in Coppull. Not specifically a music venue but we have played there several times and always had a good night so we are happy to do it again.
Saturday 21st February
The Springfield
Coppull
Lancs
Approx 9:30
I am writing this quite soon after the last one so not that much has happened really, a quiet family weekend really.
I finally summoned the courage to mount the scales on Friday night, not as bad as I thought but not far off. Still, at least I know where I am at and the scale of the weight loss required. The confirmation has increased my resolve to be honest. So weekly weigh in before eating on Friday evenings.
Not helped really by eating far too much meat in Hickory’s smokehouse on Sunday but I won’t be indulging again until next weekend.
As you all know I am a big fan of over the top rock shows: pyro, lasers, dry ice, smoke, etc. however I have to say that this week I went to see a guy who needs none of it. I have mentioned him before actually and this was my second time of seeing him. Never before have I been so entertained by one man simply standing there with his acoustic guitar. Call it charisma, talent whatever but I really have to say that Kent Duchaine is one of the best performers I have ever seen. I am not a huge fan (or I didn’t think I was) of Delta blues but the way this guy does it the only word I can use is spellbinding. He is such an unassuming approachable guy as well but his stories and presentation have to be seen. If you get the chance go and see him. He simply comes to the UK a couple of times a year from his home in Georgia and travels around guitar in hand playing anywhere that will have him as much as he can. Best thing I have seen for a long time.
I must give a mention to “support” act Dr X as well. An extremely unlikely Guitar – drum/percussion duo, the guitarist playing a variety of cheap guitars including one with three strings and on the final track of their set a guitar (?) with one string. The percussionist only really used a bass drum and his seat. A little bit inspired by Seasick Steve I suppose but thoroughly entertaining and watchable if not exactly making me want to buy their CD. They were definitely different.
Interestingly (for me anyway) I got in touch with original “Sinner” bass player John Bruce this week via my good friend Keith Thompson who I didn’t know was a mutual friend. John only played one gig with the band (1979) but it was the first one and he stepped in at very short notice when Don Major quit six weeks before it? I was away for three weeks prior to the gig so John learnt the entire set from a cassette and we never actually had a rehearsal as far as I recall. Considering this background it all went very well although it wasn’t the most virtuoso performance in history. Anyway he is still involved in music full time and teaches at a Rock school in Cornwall I think. It is nice to say hello.
That made me look back, it’s been a long time since 1979 and it got me thinking about some things that have changed and some that haven’t. I have seen many music venues come and go and also many music shops at which point I think I should mention Hammersound in Birkenhead. Not as famous as Hessey’s in Liverpool which itself is long gone of course but to people like myself and many other Wirral musicians it has been a constant fixture for nearly 40 years. I was at school when it opened and I remember hearing whispers and rumours that there was new music shop where they would actually let you hold a Fender Stratocaster or a Gibson Les Paul. Previously the only place selling such expensive items in Birkenhead was the rather old fashioned Rushworths music shop which although Liverpool based had a concession in Robbs Dept. Store. They had a Fender Stratocaster on the wall for a long time but it was never to be touched by mere schoolboys. Hammersound realised that schoolboys grow up to be the customers of the future.
It moved from its original Grange Mount shop (opposite what was then the popular motor cycle shop – Mike Weston’s – Now gone as well) to its current location in Grange Road West a long time ago but Dennis (and I think Brian still works there) is still there. Over the years it has served me well, I often hired PA systems from them, had amplifiers repaired and bought a few guitars and amps in addition to lights, strings and all the other paraphernalia required by us musicians. I actually acquired my main Strat from there in 1978.
These days it can’t really compete with the big chains like Dawsons who are able to stump up the thousands of pounds required by Fender and Marshall for stock thus allowing them to be authorised dealers, I suspect the internet doesn’t help their business either but although other shops may be the flavour of the month Hammersound is still my favourite music store and whenever I can I will always support them by putting my requirements their way first.
Rants
I am still not very happy with banks although this probably applies to anywhere with a call centre. I spent considerable time (= money) attempting to get through in relation to a query this week. Over 25 minutes before actually speaking to someone only to then be told “you have come through to the wrong dept.” and being passed on to a further three people before having my query resolved. I have to wonder if they and other call centres see this chargeable waiting time as an additional revenue stream.
Doctors being closed on a Saturday – somewhat inconvenient for people that work away from home all week and surely an outdated concept in this day and age.
Music
Well as I indicated last week the new Thunder album – Wonder Days is now out. I downloaded it on Sunday and although I have only listened to it a couple of times so far I have to say it’s not bad at all. Sounds very much like their debut album “Backstreet Symphony” but then isn’t that what we want from a Thunder album. Personally what I don’t really want are bonus tracks that are acoustic versions of tracks on the album but I guess I will be in the minority. I will just leave them unchecked so they don’t load to the IPod. Actually one of them sounds to my ears like Oasis which can never be a good thing J
What I do like about Thunder is the fact that they actually write songs and melodies rather than just shout indecipherably over a riff. So yes – more in the Bad Company, Bryan Adams field of rock but rock nonetheless and good rock at that.
I would recommend checking it out.
Speaking of checking things out I had a listen to the latest Robin Trower album the other day. Now I am a big fan of Robin’s guitar playing, it is very tasteful and melodic but personally I am not too keen on his singing. Nothing wrong with it really but I prefer it when he uses a vocalist such as Dave Patterson however on this album he does all the singing himself. It also seems to be a very blues influenced album so this time around it’s not for me.
Next week there are three releases on Monday – Black Star Riders, UFO and Scorpions.
I will be like a kid in a sweet shop.
Until next time
Keep rockin’
Craig