IDEAS

Those of you, who have been with me from the start when I was writing songs on park benches in Salford in my carefree times before private jets and pink champagne brunches left me so empty on the inside, will recall back in October I enthused about The Drums.

The Drums

Anyhows my friend Bruce Ravid who I met in 2007 interviewed them recently at SXSW 2010 and gave me a sly alluding to mid interview. Check it. Wikipedia may eventually recall the NME broke this band or even Moshi Moshi records but the truth will out. I really should work in publishing. No really I should. In my next blog I’ll recall how I was the first guy playing Daft Punk to the rock kids. I played it at CBGB’s. Everybody thought I was crazy.

Bruce is a first class guy you do well to check in on him. New music enthusiasts are good people. Along with Gram Parson fans, girls who make crafts, and anyone who bakes cakes. To name but a few.

Bruce At Work?

Yes I am abit peeved about it. Yes it’s a low score cool points in your stratosphere but not in mine. The departure of John Frusciante from the Chili Peppers has funked me off. For me, I put the Peppers up there with the Beatles/Stones (probably higher than the Stones) so the thought of a new guitar slinger doesn’t appeal. No doubt the newie can play the notes but with Frusciante the songs are/were so much better. Damn It. Reasons why I like the Peppers 

1) They played the vision skate escape 1988 with prime time Hawk v Hosoi which was the start of all things good.
2) Flea & Anthony went to the Stacy Peralta film Z Boys premiere.
3) Anthony championed Robert Williams kinda.
4) They’ve gone from being all about their instruments and energy to all about the song.

So it’s 2010. Hello 2010 you look better than 2009 already. There’s been a lot of music prediction lists about. ALOT. I’m not a big fan of lists sorry. If The Drums get their songs mixed better and louder they’ll rule the school. I also like this song by Frankie & The Heartstrings called Fragile. Good song.

Exciting up Manchester at the moment is Dan Parrot’s Love & Disaster label. Check em in Dazed&Confused. 

This isn’t ohh its from Manchester must mention it. This is step the f*ck aside there’s a new label in town. I hope it does well. There’s no reason why Manchester shouldn’t have an ace label. Watching some old footage over Chrimbo about Creation Records (yes I know tis London) they sure had some fun. 2010 bring on the fun.

I’m a little frazzled. Anyhows I got down the front for the Drums show at Manchester’s Night and Day on Tuesday. I also caught abit of the soundcheck earlier both RAD. Heres a picture I took

The Drums, Night & Day Manchester Oct 09

I helped out for the first time last year in the Midland Hotel and am doing the same this year. I am Alexander Suite Panel Co-ordinator. I do this out of the goodness of my heart because I’m here to help. I do this so I can sidestep paying the £350 delegate entrée and get meself a free pure fix of music. For bands this year my plan is to have no plan. I know the people who know their sh*t I’ll ask them. Easy. Music makers are my favourite people (ever) and I’m looking forward to stealing robbing shoplifting ideas with a blink of the eye/ear. I think the word is “influenced”.

The pre-weekend buzz band is the Drums I don’t mean 9/10 NME review buzz I mean when girls say “The Drums The Drums” they say it twice, they do a slight variation on restrained jazz hands and their eyes roll back like a shark when it bites your leg. That’s a f*ckin’ buzz band. For me I hope The Drums rule I also hope they do actually surf.

Story telling stuff I’m looking forward to Gerard Mankowitz talking rock n roll photography with Jill Furmanovsky. Gerard Mankowitz photos of Jimi Hendrix adorned my guitar book for “Are you Experienced?” We spent a lot of time together (me and The Hendrix book not me and Mankowitz) especially Wind Cries Mary..C Bb F. Jill Furmanovsky did that shot of the Ramones at the Rainbow, did all the Oasis early tour stuff and is a bit of a honey.

The Ramones by Jill Furmanovsky

Last year was good. I learnt if you’re a musician and not making music you’re not a musician you’re a music enthusiast there is a difference. Don’t stop making music. For no one. What else … at the heart of the big timers there was this passion for music and protectiveness of the music world. Seymour Stein (worked with Madonna/Ramones/Blondie) had a foaming at the mouth music addiction. After an hour of mindnumbing spillage on building fanbases, file sharing, how to print a tshirt by somebody Geoff (Rough Trade)Travis said “it’s about helping the musician create”. Geoff Travis helped the Strokes. Well it’s better than helping  <insert corporate car advert syncing band name>.

Geoff Travis

Last year Band wise I liked Tubelord, The Racehorses and the bassist out of the Jesse Rose Trip.

Tubelord

This year who knows…

I’ll take me camera and upload them when I can.

One more thing when I mentioned what I was doing last year a group of friends bundled in that Tony Wilson was a business idiot and loss money. I didn’t say anything. I should have. They missed the point.