Tuesday 16 February 2010

Purple Haze Days


When I was 16 I started going to this pub in Blackfriars Road called "The King's Head" This place was famous amongst hippies & rockers from all over London for playing continuous "spaced out" music at high volume with full psychedelic, liquid light shows on all the interior walls of the pub. The place used to get packed solid every Friday and Saturday night. All the walls were plain whitewash so as to maximise the lighting effects. The music was fantastic ranging from Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come through Blue Cheer, High Tide, The Pink Faries, Hendrix, T2, Pretty Things! Friday night at "The King's Head" was where the weekend began. At closing time we would cross the road and jump on a 63 bus to King's Cross cinema for the Midnight to Six rock show, to see acts such as Hawkwind, The Pink Faries, MC5, The Pretty Things, Status Quo, Patto, The Stooges, Skid Row, JSD Band, Cockney Rebel, Kilburn & The High Roads! We would usually drift off in the morning to some cool pad such as the famous Larkhall Rise in Clapham where we would chill/crash out for a while, listening to more sounds and jamming with guitars before continuing our weekend boogey non-stop taking in another all-niter at The Lyceum followed by a lunchtime session at The Tally Ho in Kentish Town with live music from the likes of "Quiver" before finishing at The Roumdhouse on Sunday night! Then back to work Monday morning and that long wait 'til payday on Friday when it would all begin again! If there were funds available then few weekday gigs at The Marquee or Tally Ho didn't go amiss! Oh for those bygone years between 1971 to 1974,

Friday 5 February 2010

Steele Guitars

It's been a busy week with lots of great music. Last night I went with my friend Theresa to Orpington Folk Club, I hadn't been there since Bruise played there last summer. Guest Performer was the great Paul Steele who was accompanied by his son Laury on lead guitar - this was the best performance I have ever seen from Paul - absolutely fantastic. The highlight was a stunning version of Dylan's Highway 61 with an extended "duelling Gibsons" guitar interplay. It was good to see old friends Steve Jennings, Ted Hanley, Tone Deaf Leopard, Stormin' Norman, Frank, Robin & Ivan.

Wednesday 3 February 2010

Moldy Piglet Dwellers from Bolton


What a cracking night at The British Oak last night! Many olsd and new faces including The Moldy Moldy Men, Salvator Piglet, Cellar Dweller,Bruise, and the illustrious former Atomic Rooster Axeman Steve Bolton! Thanks to the regulars who gave up their spots or played shorter sets than usual so that some of the newcomers could play - there were only a couple of people who didn;t get on - but hey, come on you have to get there early to guarantee a spot not 10pm! Well we had 23 performers in total - not bad at all! That's Steve Bolton & sarah in the picture.