Sunday 31 October 2010
Thursday 28 October 2010
Wednesday 27 October 2010
The 2010 ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP-AWARDS
I had big plans for the ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP-AWARDS this year. I remember planning to get sponsorship, and have more awards. Well, it didn't happen. I sent some emails, got one back from Hiwatt, who seemed a bit interested; Marshall sent me a nice email back, saying thanks but no thanks; and the rest ignored me.
Still, I'm not one to be put off by such things; if I was, I'd have given up making music around 1987 when the demo cassettes started coming back in the post along with xeroxed record company letters 'passing' on them. The show will go on, and the awards will be lovingly handcrafted and the engraved brass plaques will be funded by the 'firm', just as they were last year. The ERNIE BALL-ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP-AWARDS sounds shit anyway. (The ROTOSOUND-ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP-AWARDS sounds okay, though -Ed). (Fuck off - Author).
Last year's deserving winners of a 'Coffin' (so-called because that is indeed the shape of the award) were Creak for Best Band, 14 Carat Grapefruit for Best CD (Long Time Coming), Punks Not Dad for Best Song (In Me Shed), The Joint, Kings Cross, for Best Rehearsal Studio and the Dublin Castle, Camden, for the Best Venue.
I haven't decided how and when to present the Coffins this year, but I'm a few weeks ahead of where I was last year, so I'm not panicking. Quite yet. Gotta source some wood first, preferably oak...um, floorboards, like last year. No, they looked good, ask any of the winners, who incidentally are currently residing in the where are they now? file, where all award winners end their careers.
Of course that's not true. I know, cos they're all playing in December. See the RTYD Calendar for more details.
Voting link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NJR8C56
Voting for the 2010 ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP-AWARDS is under way!! Place your votes 'ere: http://ping.fm/DcL2X
Tuesday 26 October 2010
Pedal Power: a discussion for guitarists and bass players on the RTYD Musicians Network: http://ping.fm/Bteyq
RTYD welcomes new members from Lancashire, Surrey & London to its Musicians' Network: http://ping.fm/3ChEd
Friday 22 October 2010
Last night's RTYD gig at the Fiddler's, Chalk Farm
Thanks to all those that piled into The Fiddlers Elbow last night to see HM Band, Blues Trinity and the Mighty Care Takers.
Finally I had the pleasure of seeing Steve Denholm fronting his Mighty Care Takers (albeit from my post at the venue door), and mighty they are.
Blues Trinity, who followed TMCT on stage, were as professional as bands at this level can get, while still being really nice people. It's a fine line, in my experience, especially with the blues lot; but they are definitely on the right side of the line. And they bought a film crew, so I look forward to seeing the results on YouTube soon.
The HM Band, too, were a pleasure to meet and have on, tonight playing a set of original works mostly about fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. Maybe Hugh's McManners has been listening to a lot of the Angelic Upstarts lately? Seriously though, these songs have all been written for a good cause. Watch this (my)space to find out more.
Incidentally, whatever happened to the Angelic Upstarts? They must still be going, like all the rest of 'em. I was talking to someone about Mensi the other day, someone who knew him. I forget who, now. I hate that.
Thursday 21 October 2010
Wednesday 20 October 2010
Tuesday 19 October 2010
Monday 18 October 2010
Acoustic gun for hire
Hi guys, I am looking for gigs, solo acoustic. My influences are eclectic and include: Lou Reed, Serge Gainsbourg, Bowie, Iggy Pop & James Williamson, Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen, Jacques Brel, Johnny Cash, Led Zeppelin 3, Rolling Stones late 60's/early 70's, Edith Piaf, Otis Redding, Dion, Johnny Thunders, all the arty pretenscious stuff which I love. It is very different to my electric stuff, very quiet, controlled, sparse and personal, quite romantic if truth be told. People seem to like it. So any gigs would be welcome. Thank you. Michael Fleck
http://www.rock-til-you-drop-musicians.com/profile/MichaelFleck
The Lone Groover rides again
THE LONE GROOVER continues his one man folk ‘n’ bop assault on the capital this Thursday 21st at The Wilmington Arms, 69 Rosebury Avenue EC1 (Opp Exmouth Market – Farringdon or Angel tube). Where he'll be supporting three of the most happening bands on the circuit (The Dash + Bobby Petrov + Philadelphia Mainline + Recharged Radio DJ’s) as a guest of the mighty Death and Glory crew. Thursday’s almost the weekend so don’t be shy - DO NOT MISS!
Doors 7.30 – On stage 8.15
Peace 'n' Luv 'n' Haight,
TLG
Download music for free by The Lone Groover here
Saturday 16 October 2010
Thursday 14 October 2010
Wednesday 13 October 2010
Video of two songs by The Dipsticks at ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP at 4, Denmark St, 2nd Oct: http://ping.fm/4cQ7r
Save the Classic Rock Club: An appeal to members by promoter Mark Newman
Well I am hoping this is not the last Newsletter I will be sending to all our loyal Classic Rock Club Regulars...I am saddened to report I have been in front of the Committee at the Cheshunt Football Club headquarters and I have the following to report.....
Because the attendances at the last 3 Classic Rock Club monthly Gigs have been on the low side, the Football club committee feel it would be more beneficial to the club if they were to let our regular once monthly Friday spot out to another group of people who want to use the club premises for their activities...
We have been going for four years now and we have a Nucleus of around 30 regulars, who never miss a monthly Friday Gig...But we need at least a minimum of 50 members or more, to attend on a regular basis to get the gig to work for the club...
I believe we have slowly built a unique club, which has become a bit of an institution in Cheshunt to Music Lovers, over the last 4 years and it would be a crying shame to declare it “End of an Era”...So we have been given one more chance by the Club Committee to prove to them, that The Classic Rock Club can work and get a stronger audience....
If you Genuinely like want to keep what we have at ‘The Classic Rock Club’, and want it to carry on in the foreseeable future, I Appeal to you to make the Effort and come along to the club on the last Friday of each month to support ‘Live Music’ and keep what is left of our Culture Alive...
So Please come along this month to prove to the committee that we want to carry on and keep the club going !.... On Friday 29th October for a Special CD Launch Party for the Original Line-Up of ‘Tea for the Wicked’....they will be supported by Classic Rockers ‘FYREFLY’...We can only keep the club open if we use it ... “We Lose it if we don’t Use It”
Doors open 7:30 pm…Admission £3…First Band on at 9pm sharp
The Classic Rock Club at Cheshunt Football Club, Theobalds lane, Cheshunt EN8 8RU...5 mins from Theobalds Grove Stn or by road Junction 25 on the M25 just off the A10
Keep Classic Rock Alive....
Best wishes DJ Chilli...
Tuesday 12 October 2010
'Family Christmas' 14 Carat Grapefruit's hilarious Xmas single; Available at iTunes, November 2010 http://ping.fm/LabXc
Enter Doug Hamilton, into Stevie Buckerfield's small world.
Another fine time was had by all present at the ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP Acoustic Afternoon at The Libertine this Sunday. Tributes to John Lennon, who would have been 70 had he not been in the Beatles, were delivered by nearly all the acts who, as well as knowing John Lennon, not personally of course, all seemed to know Stevie Buckerfield of Live Wires, Bourbon Street Revival and acoustic duo Waterfield, the latter bringing him and his cronies to South East London on ths sunny Sunday afternoon. Thanks god for Stevie Buckerfield and his musical promiscuity!
Opening act Not Just Any Tom, Nick & Harry, brought two generations of the family, son Harry, aged just 15, playing bass in support of dad and mum team, Tom and Nick, on guitar/bvs and lead vocals respectively. And what a bass player Harry already is.
When they get together with two acoustic guitars and their shared love of 70s new wave music, Stevie Buckerfield and Paul Waterman call themselves Waterfield. On Sunday, they delivered a perfect mix of new wave covers and original Waterman songs of lost innocence and nostalgia.
RTYD member Doug Hamilton had come all the way from Frome near Bath in Somerset with his repertoire of funny songs about crashing computers, spam - not the processed meat - and Christmas - not the religious festival but the consumer-driven one. A real pleasure.
The afternoon was capped off by four-piece, the Acoustic Cavemen, who played a refreshing mix of 90s/00s covers including the Pixies, Echo & The Bunnymen and Arctic Monkeys, kept buoyant by some great percussive accompaniment.
Monday 11 October 2010
Sunday 10 October 2010
DB Sound & Light The best Musicians & DJ's Equipment
RTYD welcomes DB Sound & Light (Kent) to the BANDS, FANS & INDUSTRY network
DB Sound & Light The best Musicians & DJ's Equipment
DB Sound & Light The best Musicians & DJ's Equipment
This weekend Kryptic Klu, Creak, The Outbursts, Lost & Punks Not Dad all played. It'd be great to hear about the gigs: http://ping.fm/8VWSz
Saturday 9 October 2010
Friday 8 October 2010
RTYD welcomes Birdman of Brighton band The MoTones (http://ping.fm/7l80X) to ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP http://ping.fm/Iy8fM
Aeroplane Blondes in November
Sat 20th Nov, The Railway, Crawley
Fri 26th Nov, The Dukes Head, Leatherhead
Fri 26th Nov, The Dukes Head, Leatherhead
Thursday 7 October 2010
Songwriting: a discussion on ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP (The mature musicians' social network) http://ping.fm/G9jq5
Wednesday 6 October 2010
ROKPOOL.COM is running a Xmas Songwriting Competition - the prize being inclusion on a CD album! http://ping.fm/HACOa
Anyone gigged yet at the revamped Binswood Tavern, aka The Venew, in Leamington? App., they're looking for bands: http://tinyurl.com/37v99pt
Tuesday 5 October 2010
Tomorrow night (Wed): The Lone Groover @ The White Lion, 232 Streatham High St, SW16: http://ping.fm/7XByY
Monday 4 October 2010
RTYD at 4 Denmark St: A great indoors experience (not so great, outdoors)
Two years ago I started ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP online. One and a half years ago I put on my first gig, at the Dublin Castle in Camden. Three months later I put on my second gig - back then one gig every three months seemed about the right frequency. On the bill that night along with Spirit of Play and 14 Carat Grapefruit, were the Dipsticks and The Great Outdoor Experience. Last night at one of ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP's new haunts at 4 Denmark St., these two bands met again.
Was it only a year and a quarter ago that I first met these guys? It feels like I've known them much longer. And the way it's going I will know them for many more years to come. That has been the success of the gigs over the last eighteen months. The attendances may not have always been that impressive, but the network of bands that RTYD has inspired in London is what makes me happiest.
I'm going to cut back on the gigs I put in on in the New Year. I'm not going to put on regular gigs at the Dublin or Hope or the Fiddlers. And I think I have to knock the Libertine acoustic gigs. I know I have threatened to do it before. But I want to cut back to (mostly) one gig a month, and like last night's gig, at 4 Denmark St.
Denmark St. is a great location. Apart from transport-wise, it is also a good location because everyone knows where it is, and what it stands for. The venue is a good size - 100+ capacity. It is a simple PA set up. I like Isabelle who is the new manager. Long may it last.
Anyway, last night the Dipsticks sounded fantastic there. Despite the heavy rain outside, the band's loyal fans came out in support and along with a contingent of passing trade, began the night's whooping and dancing. Patrick Begley's lead guitar playing sounded more confident than ever, and his whammy bar work evoked the spirit of the big-H, Himself.
I never get tired of hearing and watching them. And despite being motionless, save his spider-fingers and gum-masticating jaw, the Entwhistle-like figure of Mark McKendrick is as always enthralling. So on it. So in it.
The Dipsticks are for life, not just for Christmas, when they play again at their home venue The Constitution in Camden (11th December).
The Great Outdoor Experience, led by Phil Ram, never disappoint either. They have to be one of the best three-pieces around. Phil is the consummate frontman, one who is not hindered by being tied to a microphone stand by his guitar playing. They unveil a handful of new songs tonight and fill the club with beautiful pop-rock polystyrene chips. God bless them and the outdoors they care so deeply about.
For me the post-gig outdoors experience was not a great one. I cycled home in torrential rain with a sore throat and a throbbing headache, and then I wake the next morning to find my voice box will not open.
Saturday 2 October 2010
Friday 1 October 2010
ROCK-TIL-YOU-DROP.COM is 2 years old today.
Instead of me addressing the 'state of the union', I want to hear what RTYD’s members think.
What more could be done? And how could it be done? Bearing in mind that it is run in my spare time and as a labour of love, and that the activity of its members has a large part to play in its success.
Should we just let it evolve? Should we push it? Should we monetise it?
If you are new to the network, what is your impression of it? Is it confusing? Is it overwhelming?
Will RTYD change anything? Has it changed anything? Has it helped you, or your band? If not, why not?
Etc, etc, etc.
It’s open season.
Thanks, Toby
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