Don't mention the war

I've said it before but it bears repeating, without the support and encouragement of Dave Collins (a.k.a. Mondo)  there would be no 'Are We There Yet?' (formerly 'Even Monkeys Fall Out of Trees'). Back in 2010 his passion for all things rock and roll  - and of course the blogging 'scene' - pushed me into getting a lot of the ephemeral nonsense that had been cluttering my head onto the printed (you know what I mean) page. In particular his love of both glam rock and comic books was enough to persuade me to write about some of my own passions and obsessions. And back then blogging seemed like the perfect outlet.*

Mondo has become a good friend over the intervening years - both in the digital world and in the real world too having met up numerous times. And so when he points me in the direction of a 'good read' I always pay attention. When I said above about Mondo's love of both glam and comics then the one band that sits firmly astride both these categories, in true Venn diagram style, is KISS. Only a few weeks before I went in to hospital our Power Trio WhatApp group (Brother Mondo, Brother Steve and myself) were debating all things KISS. Yes they're silly, yes they're totally overblown and no you can't take them seriously, but... they do get under your skin. For what it's worth I think they've written six (seven at a push) good songs, but that's not the point. For instance, I was still the happiest man in the world when a couple of years ago in the States I was playing pinball on a KISS machine in a bar in Albuquerque! Life doesn't get much better than that. 

Anyway, the tome Mondo had pointed me in the direction of was (Kiss frontman) Paul Stanley's A Life Exposed. And what a terrific read it is. I was gripped from the start. Some fascinating insights into what it was like to growing up in New York in the 50s and 60s and being constantly picked on and bullied by his peers (Stanley was born without a left ear and therefore 50% deaf); then forming his first musical friendships with other like minded coves not just in his Queens neighbourhood but from other boroughs of the city too - not least a cocky bass player by the name of Chaim Witz (soon to be Gene Simmons). I'm  nearly half way thru and am now reading something which back in 2014 when it was written would have been noteworthy for sure, but fast forward ten years, and with the far right literally on the march, it's a subject that couldn't be more on point: in the book we learn that the KISS logo (as jointly designed by Stanley and guitarist Ace Freeley) is outlawed in Germany by Section 86a of the German Strafgesetzbuch (their Criminal Code); the font being alarmingly similar to the insignia of the Nazi SS. 

Stanley has always denied such symbolism (he and Simmons are both Jewish) but as with all logos (not least those that resemble Swastikas), you've got to tread very carefully. That said, take a look at the 'S' in Stanley on the book jacket. Anyway, bottom line, the band have always had a different logo for their German released albums and their touring backdrops - see below how the S's have been flattened out. A wise move. 

Another wise move, on my part anyway, was reaching the end of today's Nazi themed (loosely) blog post without once mentioning Elon Musk. D'oh! Oh, alright then, he's a cunt. And a prize cunt at that.

Until next time. 

We're not Nazis

* Still does; fifteen years later and I still love writing this blog. I may not be the most prolific blogger (I average two posts a week) but every time I sit down at my Mac to start writing I feel energised; It's a feeling that's never gone away. 

From Romford to Nashville

What I know about Spencer Cullum and tuppence wouldn't get yer hair cut. However, what I can tell you is that he was born and raised in Romford, Essex and now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. I can also tell you that his 2021 album - Spencer Cullum's Coin Collection - is something of a gem. When I first lowered the needle onto the opening groove I thought I'd got him pegged: singer songwriter (with some fantastic tunes and enchanting imagery) playing in a modern idiom trying to sound relevant whilst at the same time not afraid to tip his hat in the direction of Nick Drake. A bit like this... 

Spencer Cullum - Iminent Shadow (From BBC 6 Music session with Marc Riley)

 

However, just when I thought I'd rumbled him, about two thirds of the way in, Cullum parks up his, not unpleasant, folk noodlings and changes gear quite spectacularly. I was not ready for this: here's a live version of the track that when I first heard it was convinced I was listening to a factory mispressing.

Spencer Cullum - Dieterich Buxtehude (Live in London)

 

★ 

Any artist who tries to throw their listeners off the scent are, in my book, automatically elevated to the top of the class. Keep your audience on their toes would always have been my mantra if I'd ever been in a band.

As always I'd love to know what you think. Anyway, must dash - I've got an appointment with his next album (imaginatively titled) Spencer Cullum's Coin Collection 2.

Rest

The remit from the Cardiology Dept. when they sent me home was very simple. Rest. No driving. No lifting. No reaching. No stretching. To the point that when making a cup of tea boil only enough water for one cup. My body is healing they said. The wound, the chest cavity, the nerve endings are all slowly knitting back together and any exertions are to be kept to a bare minimum. And so, since my release papers from hospital were signed I've basically done nothing of a physical nature. Fuck all; a brisk daily walk just to get me out of the house for half an hour (my sanity is at stake here!) has been the sum total of my exercise regime.

My post-operative nurse is coming to assess me tomorrow to set up a rehabilitation programme which will hopefully see me dipping my toe back in the water of normality. I think I'm ready. 

 ★

It being a Monday I thought, after a long hiatus, I'd reconnect with the Monday Long Song thread. I've been playing a lot of Ashra recently. Hailing from Germany they carved out quite a successful career from 1976 to the late 90s straddling in equal measure krautrock, electronic & ambient - basically making the sort of racket I like. See what you think...

Ashra - Sunrain (1976)

Rhymes with magnum

I've mentioned Scott Lavene around these parts before; to the best of my knowledge the Essex punk poet flies mostly under the radar, occasionally popping up with standout albums like last year's Disneyland in Dagenham. The title track is (I think) a lyrical masterpiece and although it depicts a world I'm not overly familiar with (scoring drugs in sub-optimal high rise flats whilst dealing with equally sub-optimal lowlife) I can see in my mind's eye the views of east London and Essex - and the infamous A13 - afforded by these squalid flats in dodgy tenement blocks in Rainham.

Lavene is embarking on something of a low key 'tour' at the end of this month/early next and that he's coming to a pub in Northampton (The Black Prince, since you ask, and the nearest venue on his jaunt to me.) Under normal circs I'd have bombed down the M1 to see him and say hello, but I feel my post op recovery, whilst I'm getting stronger each day, may not allow such a sortie just yet. Next time, Scotty.

Scott Lavene - Disneyland in Dagenham (2024)

Dressin' fine, makin' time

I'm still not 100% sure why, but I listened to a lot of Roxy Music and, indeed, Bryan Ferry whilst laid up in hospital; morphine painkillers make you do strange things, that's all I can say. One song I kept coming back to time and again was a solo single Ferry brought out in 1974 on the Island label. I remember buying it as an ex-jukebox 45 (with the middle missing) from Grantham Market fifty years ago, can you believe. If memory serves it cost me the princely sum of 25p; money well spent if you ask me. At the time I couldn't get over the sheer ferocity of the riff that runs all the way through it - guitar, keyboard and horns joining forces to make up a relentless wall of sound.

Imagine my delight when I discovered (still in hospital) Ferry and his band recreating the track note for note at one of the BBC live sessions they used to put on regularly at St. Luke's in Shoreditch, central London. And what a band it is. Look left and you'll see ex-Womble & Sex Pistol Chris Spedding and look right, just behind the fabulous backing singers, you'll spot a young and ridiculously talented guitarist bunking off from school, seemingly. His name is Ollie Johnson and he helps bring The In Crowd to a new audience whilst the ever urbane front man just stands there leaning on his mic stand looking amazing in his made to measure sparkly black jacket*.

Bryan Ferry - The In Crowd (Live from 2007)

* He's come a long way since his retro pilot chic days. Here he is playing the very same number at a Roxy gig in 1976 c/w Phil Manzanera on guitar.

From the heart

A belated Happy New Year to you all. I knew, prior to going to hospital that I'd be out of commission for a wee while. Quite how long was/is something I'll have to judge on a day by day basis. Anyhoo, despite a couple of setbacks I'm now finally back ensonsed at Medd Towers. In between receiving visitors bearing hard boiled eggs and nuts I've also been penning a thank you letter to the hospital. In the last 30 days or so a number of very special NHS workers (they know who they are) who between them, it's no exagerration to say, saved my life. And for that I know I shall never be able to thank them. Not fully.  

Anyway, enough about me. How are you all doing? How was your Christmas and New Year? Good, bad or indifferent I'm sure it was well doucumented. Mine normally would have been but as I spent Christmas day, my birthday and New Year on an isolation ward, I can honestly say that my camera never saw as much as a bit of tinsel. However, my phone did come out to record one very special event: during one of my many explorations of my new heart (I lost count of the number of chest X-rays, ECGs & echo cardiograms I had while I was in there) I was asked to look at how magnificently my new aortic heart valve is performing...

That's quite enough exertion for now. I'm not sure if I'll be able to write anything meaningful at this time; I will, however, endeavour to visit other blogs and even leave the odd comment. In the meantime, it's good to be back. J x.