Ray's Gigs

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News and Reviews: 2nd October 2018

Monday 01 October 2018....I went to two events tonight...
7pm to 8pm
BMI Awards at The Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London W1.
The BMI Awards are annual award ceremonies for songwriters and publishers.
I have been here several times over the past decade with the main BMI Icon Award going to Jay Kay last year
and previous years included John Lydon, Sting, Bryan Ferry and Yoko Ono.
Around 300 guests here at this black tie event at this famous five star hotel.
Tonight, BMI proudly honored acclaimed film composer Harry Gregson-Williams with the BMI Icon Award at the 2018 BMI London Awards. Guests including Liam Payne, James Arthur, Natasha Bedingfield, Tinie Tempah , Right Said Fred, Naughty Boy, Bernie Marsden and Trevor Rabin attended the awards at London’s Dorchester Hotel for an evening of celebration for UK and European songwriters, producers and publishers of the most-performed songs of 2017.
Harry Gregson-Williams, one of Hollywood’s most sought-after and prolific composers, received the BMI Icon Award in recognition of his unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers. On receiving this award, Gregson-Williams joins an elite group of composers and songwriters who have been named BMI Icons for their exemplary contributions to the art of music.
Complimentary Laurent Perrier champers for the arrivals reception.
We came back later for the awards after the dinner.
www.bmi.com
Visit the BMI website here for more info.
then
8.15pm to 10pm
Frieze London 2018 Party - Phillips Gallery, 30 Berkeley Square, London W1.
Frieze is London's biggest week of art showcases as most galleries have events & parties this week
and the main event is held in Regents Park.
Over 200 guests here.
A dj is playing tunes in the background.
Complimentary Ruinart champers, Cosmopolitan Cocktails, wines , beers and bowl food.
www.phillips.com
Visit the Phillips Gallery website here for more info.
then
Back to BMI Awards at The Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London W1.
10.15pm to 11.45pm
We came back here to see most of the awards being given out.
At 10.40pm the BMI Icon Award was given out Harry Gregson-Williams and for 15 mins
on the big screen it showed the many films he has been involved with and thanked
Hans Zimmer and Trevor Rabin.
The awards finished at 11pm but Liam Payne and Tinie Tempah left before then.
The others were all here including James Arthur, Natasha Bedingfield,Right Said Fred and Trevor Rabin.
Complimentary Laurent Perrier champers was still flowing along with a full bar so i had a couple
Disaronno with ice and Baileys with ice.




Monday 01 October 2018.
French music legend passes away.
French singer and songwriter Charles Aznavour has died at 94 after a career lasting more than 80 years.
The star died at one of his homes in the south east of France.
The performer, born to Armenian immigrants, sold more than 180 million records and featured in over 60 films.
He was best known for his 1974 hit 'She'and was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2017.
Aznavour married three times and had six children.
He was named entertainer of the century by CNN in 1998.
I saw him live back in 1974 when he played Hammersmith Odeon on the back of the success of 'She' and
also more recently at The Royal Albert Hall.




Sunday 30 September 2018.
SOFT CELL live at The 02 Arena, London.
Synth-pop pioneers Soft Cell will reunite for one last time ,in their first UK show for 15 years.
Marc Almond and Dave Ball will perform together for a one-off show, ‘One Night, One Final Time’, as they celebrate their 40th anniversary as a duo with their first UK show since 2003.
The show will be beamed live to some 250 cinemas around the UK and overseas.
I have seen Soft Cell several times including their early 1980s heyday and the first time was a bizarre one
as it was 1982 for a recording of The Old Grey Whistle Test where they supported Edgar Winter.
Soft Cell had ten Top 40 hits in the UK including a number one with 'Tainted Love' in 1981.
Soft Cell have returned with ‘Northern Lights’, their first new song in fifteen years to coincide with the show.
Marc Almond has had a full solo career outside of Soft Cell.
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I would not have thought Soft Cell were big enough to play this massive venue but it is totally sold out.
Despite front stalls seats costing £100 a pop.
A few faces here including Jarvis Cocker, Alex Kapranos (lead vocals Franz Ferdinand),
Rusty Egan (dj and ex drummer of The Rich Kids and Visage), Mark Jones (Wall of Sound Records),
Neil X (ex Sigue Sigue Sputnik) and no doubt a few more I did not see.
SOFT CELL arrive on stage at 7.50pm and play a mammoth set of 2 hours 40 mins.
Before the show I was thinking how are a synth duo going to project themselves in this huge space?
The answer is to the the big production boys in - Stufish.
U2, Madonna, the Rolling Stones, the London and Beijing Olympics, Pink Floyd, Cirque du Soleil – all their jawdropping extravaganzas have emerged from the small but skilled team at the Studio Fisher.
The main feature is three larger than usual big screens which excellently mix live footage with
great pre-recorded images, along with a small stage extension that Marc used.
Lots of lights including neon strips , lasers and flames.
Marc Almond is looking good for his age of 61 and Dave Ball is surrounded by a bank of synths/keyboards.
On some some songs they use percussion, trumpet, sax and four backing singers.
Sooo many great songs played in a long set.
Marc messed up the lyrics a couple of times and but just laughed it off.
The highlight was the last 30 mins where all the big hits were played and the crowd sang loudly.
A great show.
Full Soft Cell setlist played tonight...
Memorabilia
Monoculture
Darker Times
Together Alone
Torch
Forever the Same
Baby Doll
Insecure Me
Where the Heart Is
Numbers
Barriers
Loving You, Hating Me
Last Chance (with Mari Wilson)
Frustration
Youth
The Best Way to Kill
Meet Murder My Angel
Surrender to a Stranger
Somebody, Somewhere, Sometime
So [whilst off stage]
Martin
Heat
The Art of Falling Apart
Northern Lights
Soul Inside
What?
Bedsitter
Tainted Love (Gloria Jones cover)
Where Did Our Love Go (The Supremes cover)
Sex Dwarf
Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (ticker-tape falling over the front floor area)





Saturday 29 September 2018.
OCEAN COLOUR SCENE + BLACK GRAPE + ECHOBELLY live at Brixton Academy, London.
This all day event was billed as Star Shaped Festival where seven Brit Pop bands from the 1990s played.
I missed the first four bands and focused on the three headliners who all played 60 mins each.
My sources at the venue said over 500 freebie tix given out for this gig due to lack of ticket sales.
Huge guest lists for the press/guests/various website comps etc.
The A-List bands from the era including Oasis, Blur, Suede and Pulp were played by the djs between bands.
ECHOBELLY arrived on stage at 7pm.
The most prominent part of Echobelly's success formula was vocalist Sonya Madan, who is still with them.
I saw Echobelly twice in the 1990s.
They were one of the support bands when i saw The Sex Pistols play a stunning set in 1996
at The Phoenix Festival on their 'Filthy Lucre' reunion tour.
The band drowned out the vocals on some songs but they played a good set.
Great to hear tracks 'Great Things' and 'Dark Therapy' again.
Full Echobelly setlist played tonight...
Mouth Almighty
Car Fiction
Hey Hey Hey
We Know Better
Faces in the Mirror
I Can't Imagine the World Without Me
Anarchy and Alchemy
Bulldog Baby
Great Things
If the Dogs Don't Get You, My Sisters Will
King of the Kerb
Dark Therapy
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BLACK GRAPE arrived on stage at 8.40pm.
Black Grape feature former members of Happy Mondays and Ruthless Rap Assassins. Their musical style fuses funk and electronic rock with electronic programming and samples.
Shaun Ryder ex Happy Mondays is still one of their two vocalists who bounce off each other well.
They still seem to be glorifying taking drugs as usual, but they created a nice indie dance vibe.
The set included their Top 10 hits and a couple of tracks from their new album.
Full Black Grape setlist played tonight...
In the Name of the Father
Tramazi Parti
Nine Lives
A Big Day in the North
Set the Grass on Fire
Reverend Black Grape
Yeah Yeah Brother
Pop Voodoo
Shake Well Before Opening
Little Bob
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OCEAN COLOUR SCENE arrived on stage at 10.05pm.
I have seen OCS several times before as they play loads of gigs each year.
Steve Cradock is their guitarist and also he plays the guitar in Paul Weller's band, having appeared on all of Weller's solo records following his self-titled debut solo album.
They have the most fans here tonight and play a good set including hits 'Profit in Peace',
'The Riverboat Song', 'You've Got It Bad' and 'The Day We Caught The Train'.
Full OCS setlist played tonight...
Profit in Peace
The Riverboat Song
One for the Road
The Circle
July
Drive Away
Up on the Downside
Better Day
You've Got It Bad
Get Blown Away
Travellers Tune
Hundred Mile High City
The Day We Caught the Train





Saturday 29 September 2018.
Sad news that MARTY BALIN has passed away.
Marty Balin, best known for his role as co-founder and vocalist for San Francisco band Jefferson Airplane,
has died at the age of 76.
I saw him play three years ago at Brooklyn Bowl @ The 02 Arena complex.




Friday 28 September 2018.
ZICO live at Shepherds Bush Empire, London.
Zico, aged 26, is a South Korean rapper, record producer, singer-songwriter and leader of the boy group Block B, signed under the label KQ Entertainment. He has released two solo albums, ' Gallery ' and ' Television '.
Acts from countries including Korea, Japan, Taiwan are getting more and more popular in the UK.
I saw Babymetal from Japan headlining Wembley Arena a couple of years ago.
Mayday from Taiwan headlined The 02 Arena in March 2018.
I will be going to this show as a friend has a plus one guest list place for me.
This is part of Zico 'King of the Zungle' European Tour.
A couple of days ago he was in Madrid and two days after London he is Berlin.
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It is pretty full tonight as maybe 1600 out of 2000 tickets sold.
Amazing cobsidering only fans of K-Pop music know who he is.
They search it out on YouTube i presume.
The video for Zico track 'Bermuda Triangle' has had 33 million views.
We have a 95% female crowd here tonight with many from Asia.
Fans claim their spot quickly and stay there and hardly anyone buys any booze.
Ticket prices are steep as 180 fans have paid £190 for VVIP early entrance to the front four rows
and 'a high five' after the show with Zico ...yes just 'a high five' only , no photographs or signing etc.
It was £90 for stalls standing general which was also steeply priced.
There was no support and ZICO was on from 7.30pm to 9pm...so 90 mins on stage.
An early finish to allow for the meet n greet 'high five' after.
A crazy atmosphere as the excitable crowd are screaming loud throughout the show.
The know most of the words to most of the tracks.
A basic production with two big screens showing live footage and pre-recorded images along
with half a dozen male dancers on some some songs but there is no band...it's all sung to a backing track.
His sound has got elements of Eminem to it as he mixes K-Pop and Hip-Hop.
The lyrics seem to be a mix of English and his native tongue.
A better than expected show.





Friday 28 September 2018.
My security friends at The Roundhouse told me that Brian Johnson (AC/DC) was at the
Nick Mason show there on Monday night.




Friday 28 September 2018.
Billy Idol's Vital Idol gets a modern day upgrade with his new release of
Vital Idol: Revitalized OUT NOW on CD & DIGITAL and on 16th November (Vinyl) through Virgin EMI/UMC.
Lending their hands to the Revitalized proceedings are electronic dance luminaries including Moby, Paul Oakenfold and The Crystal Method together with current innovators including Tropkillaz and Shiba San.




Thursday 27 September 2018.
KYLIE live at The 02 Arena, London.
Kylie plays the second of three shows at this big venue.
Kylie Minogue has dropped her surname for live performances so is now just Kylie.
Kylie is on a UK arena tour to promote her number one country tinged album 'Golden'.
The CASSETTE version of her album is the best selling cassette this year selling over 2800 copies.
Kylie is still looking amazing for age 50 as she celebrates 30 years of hit singles and albums.
To date, Minogue has sold more than 80 million records worldwide. She has sold over 10.1 million singles in the United Kingdom alone, making her the 12th best-selling singles artist and the 3rd best-selling female artist in UK history.
I have seen her over a dozen times since 1998 when she played at Shepherds Bush Empire.
Kylie is always excellent live and i would make her my fave female artist in concert after Madonna.
I have already seen her twice this year for the launch gig for the new album at Cafe de Paris and the
BBC Radio 2 show in Hyde Park just over a fortnight ago.
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A large gold circle standing area that takes up the front half of the floor standing.
Kylie now charging £150 plus booking fees for that....yikes!
Lots of gay men here down the front who can afford those silly prices.
KYLIE is on stage for two hours over two sets of 55 mins and 65 mins.
We have a nice big stage production with big screens showing live footage and pre-recorded images
along with lots of lights, lasers, ticker-tape, disco ball, streamers and eight dancers ( 6 male and 2 female).
Kylie had a full band with two female backing singers.
Kylie made several costume catches including a great tight leather black biker catsuit outfit.
Not as visually incredible compared to previous tours such as the 2011 tour 'Aphrodite: Les Folies Tour (also known as Aphrodite Live) but still visually great to look at.
The 'pop princess with the heart melting smile' was on top form tonight.
A nicely paced set with the first set a bit of a slower vibe and the second set was more uptempo.
Loads of her many classic hits played as the crowd sang along loudly to them.
The setlist featured several tracks from her recent album 'Golden'.
An excellent show.
Full KYLIE setlist played tonight...
FIRST SET
Golden
Get Outta My Way
Better the Devil You Know
Blue Velvet (Tony Bennett cover)
Confide in Me
I Believe in You
Where the Wild Roses Grow (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds cover) (Snippet)
In Your Eyes
A Lifetime to Repair
Shelby '68
Radio On
Wow
Can't Get You Out of My Head
The Chain (Fleetwood Mac cover) (instrumental outro snippet)
SECOND SET
Slow
Kids (Robbie Williams cover)
The One
Stop Me From Falling
Wouldn't Change a Thing
Especially for You (Jason Donovan & Kylie Minogue cover)
Lost Without You
All the Lovers
New York City / Raining Glitter / On a Night Like This
The Loco-Motion (Carole King cover)
Spinning Around
Encore:
Love at First Sight
Dancing





Wednesday 26 September 2018...I went to two events tonight...
6pm to 6.45pm
SHARA HUGHES -private view - The Arts Club, Dover Street, London W1.
Always nice to be at this plush private members club.
Around 70 or 80 smartly dressed guests here.
Shara Hughes is a contemporary Brooklyn based American painter known for her colorful invented landscapes. Employing varied marks, the artist loosely depicts floating moons, gnarled trees, and blazing sunlight. As in the paintings of David Hockney and Charles Burchfield, Hughes’s works defy conventional depictions of space and light while still adhering to a pictorial logic. “Texture, pattern, and perspective is something I like to use to describe a space in ways that maybe don't always make sense,” she has explained.Today, her works are held in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Denver Art Museum, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., among others.
Around a dozen colourful paintings here.
Complimentary wines and beers for all guests.
then
7pm to 9pm
ZEBRANO CARNABY - 15th birthday party - 14/16 Ganton Street, London W1.
This bar & restaurant is located just off Carnaby Street.
It is over two floors with the larger space down in the basement.
A very buzzy lively crowd as over 200 guests here.
Guests included Vanessa Feltz and Tallia Storm.
A trio played some cover versions.
The floor downstairs had some guests dancing to the dj sounds.
They have a daily Happy Hour from 5pm to 8pm for reduced price drinks.
Complimentary prosecco, three different cocktails and canapés for all guests.
www.zebranolondon.com
Visit the Zebrano website here for more info on their bars.




Tuesday 25 September 2018...6.30pm to 9.15pm...
OCEANIA - private view - Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly, London W1.
A real buzz for this one as Royalty is on the guest list so there is extra security and
all the 500 guests have to show photo id to match their name on the guest list.
Around 30 photographers and tv crews are here in the courtyard waiting.
MEGHAN MARKLE stepped out for her first solo royal engagement tonight.
The Duchess of Sussex, 37, geared up for her tour Down Under with Prince Harry, 34, next month by
attending the opening of a Pacific art exhibit.
In her second public outing of the week, Meghan headed to the Royal Academy of Art in London’s Piccadilly to see “Oceania,” an exhibit featuring some 200 artifacts from Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia, a huge ocean area encompassing New Guinea, Easter Island, Hawaii and New Zealand.
Meghan chose to wear a black Givenchy dress with billowing sheer sleeves (her wedding dress designer!) and her go-to black pumps by Aquazzura for the milestone moment. She kept her long hair straight and sleek and carried a Givenchy clutch.
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A dozen native dancers and singers in national costume performed for us on arrival.
The exhibition is spread over a dozen rooms and celebrates 250 years since Captain Cook
embarked on the first of his three voyages across the Pacific Ocean , an area that was
largely unknown to Europeans at the time.
At 7.10pm we had a couple of speeches but not from Meghan.
Meghan had the full Royal treatment as she went through the exhibition room by room but the
general public were only allowed in when she had moved on to the next room.
I got a few glimpses of her but she was kept away from the peasants.
Downstairs was complimentary Bouvet sparkling wines along with canapés, cheeses and hams etc.
www.royalacademy.org.uk
Visit their website here for more info and to buy tickets.



Tuesday 25 September 2018.
BLONDIE classic album 'Parallel Lines' was released 40 years ago this week.
Parallel Lines contains several of Blondie's best-known hits, including "Heart of Glass", "Hanging on the Telephone", "Sunday Girl" and "One Way or Another". Six of the twelve tracks were issued as singles, either in the US or the UK.
The album has sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
I remember buying it when it first came out and also buying the
American version in 1979 when i went to New York.



Monday 24 September 2018...I went to two events tonight...
7pm to 7.45pm
BEST Hero Awards at The Waldorf Hilton Hotel, Aldwych , London WC2.
BEST is a weekly woman's magazine in the UK.
We are here for the red carpet press/VIP drinks reception in the stunning ballroom of the luxury hotel.
Only 110 guests with 11 tables with 10 guests on each.
Some tv celebrities here to give out the awards later after the dinner.
Eamonn Holmes, Gloria Hunniford, Linda Lusardi, Lizzie Cundy, Ola and James Jordan.
A few others too.
Complimentary champers for all guests.
then
BIFFY CLYRO live at The Royal Albert Hall, London.
A smallish gig for these Scottish rockers as they have headlined Wembley Arena and The 02 Arena
and headlined big festivals in the past so this show sold out pronto.
Biffy Clyro are playing an acoustic tour to accompany the summer release of their ‘MTV Unplugged’ album.
Biffy Clyro were on stage for around 1 hour 45 mins.
It is more semi-acoustic rather than acoustic as there are still drums and bass etc.
Half a dozen big spotlights around the stage at low level to give it an intimate feel.
Great to hear classics like 'Bubbles' and 'Many of Horror' played in this way with all the crowd singing.
However , i still prefer them as a full on electric rock band.
An enjoyable show.
Full Biffy Clyro setlist played tonight
The Captain
Biblical
Saturday Superhouse
Re-Arrange
Drop It
Black Chandelier
As Dust Dances
Folding Stars
Different People
Different Kind of Love
The Rain
Mountains
Adored
Opposite
Justboy
Medicine
Small Wishes
Bubbles
Machines
Encore:
Friends and Enemies
God & Satan
Many of Horror
---------------------------
When I got out of the gig i switched my phone back on and a friend had sent me a message that said
"Photos on the internet of Led Zeppelin book launch tonight".
Did not have that on my radar for September as i thought it was happening in October.
'Led Zeppelin' by Led Zeppelin, the official illustrated book marking the 50th anniversary of their formation, at
The National Portrait Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London.
Looks like JIMMY PAGE was the only member of Led Zeppelin in attendance and no other musicians
from any other bands were there as it looked a small event.




Monday 24 September 2018.
METALLICA are playing a European Tour of massive venues in 2019 including two UK shows.
The Metal icons will play Manchester’s Etihad Stadium on June 18.
London’s Twickenham Stadium on June 20.




Sunday 23 September 2018.
EUROPE + KING KING live at The Royal Albert Hall, London.
Europe are touring to promote their 11th studio album Walk the Earth!
Europe have sold over 25 million albums and the band’s all-conquering ' The Final Countdown '
album has alone sold over 15 million copies worldwide and the single of the same name was No 1 in 25 countries.
The official video for 'The Final Countdown' has been viewed over 500 million times on YouTube.
I have seen Europe around a dozen times since 1987.
Support band , King King are a British blues rock group, formed in 2008.
On their last UK tour King King headlined Shepherds Bush Empire.
King King have released four studio albums and one live album to date.
--------------------------
EUROPE have been touring the UK a lot over the last few years with London shows at
Shepherds Bush Empire and The Roundhouse but this time it is a venue twice their size
which has resulted in the circle being 75% unsold tonight.
KING KING arrived on stage at 7.40pm and played for 50 mins.
I was looking forward to seeing King King as i have never seen them play live before.
The burly singer is from Glasgow and is wearing a kilt and desert boots.
Some good melodic blues rock songs that featured nifty guitar solos and nice Hammond organ.
They went down well with the crowd tonight.
EUROPE arrived on stage at 9pm and played for one hour 40 mins.
There is floor standing tonight so there are plenty of females down the front drooling over singer
Joey Tempest who still looks like a proper rock star.
A nice stage production with loads of lights on and above all the amplifiers, along with some pyros.
The new album tracks ticked along nicely but it was still the three big hits from 30 years ago,
'Rock The Night' , 'Carrie' and the pop rock perfection of 'The Final Countdown' that went down best.
A very enjoyable show.
Full Europe setlist played tonight...
Walk the Earth
The Siege
Rock the Night
Hole in My Pocket
Prelude
Last Look at Eden
Pictures
Firebox
Ready or Not
Turn to Dust
Sign of the Times
Vasastan
GTO
Carrie
Nothin' to Ya
Drum Solo (The William Tell Overture)
Scream of Anger
War of Kings
Superstitious (with snippet of "Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake)
Encore:
Cherokee
The Final Countdown





Saturday 22 September 2018...I spent a full day in Reading today.
3pm to 5pm
READING 3 HULL CITY 0
A very damp rainy day but Reading at last win a home Championship game.
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then a bit later...
Wall Of Sound showcase @ Rising Sun Arts Centre, Reading.
Mark Jones, pioneer behind Wall Of Sound Records, invites you to experience some of his favourite new discoveries in Love Love Live, the first in a series of new music happenings.
HOT SAUCE PONY head up tonight, as they unleash their sound of explosive and brutal beauty. Described as a “a collision of the crushing and the delicate” by Soundblab, the sound is their own self-styled genre of ‘avant hard’ with echoes of hardcore, grunge and punk and topped off with the exquisite, sultry vocals of Caroline Gilchrist. Imagine Deerhunter and Mudhoney facing off while Marianne Faithful grabs the mic.
Their debut album is due for release early next year, recorded and engineered with Steve Albini (Pixies, Nirvana, PJ Harvey) at his Electrical Audio studios in Chicago with his trademark sound very much apparent. It follows the success of their controversial debut HSP single Fenced In, a raucous and heartfelt protest against gentrification and social apartheid. With their recent track ' Burnt Ends ' debuting at BBC 6Music, they’ve been described by Marc Riley as “Pretty Special”.
CHINA BEARS return to Reading with their self-styled soirée of alt.indie rock, as they combine ambient guitars, choral vocals and raw lyrical talent. Picking up attention across the board from Huw Stephens, Steve Lamacq, John Kennedy and BBC Introducing, they have been called upon to support bands from Declan McKenna to The Big Moon and have been booked for a whole host of festivals this summer, with their recent track Night Calls and their live sound commented on as “A bunch of strong sounding melodies” by Steve Lamacq at BBC 6Music
Kicking off this evening are THE PURPLE LIGHTS as they deliver a sound clash of rock and reggae topped off with loopstation magic within a sound that reflects the upbeat buoyancy of Vampire Weekend, Reginald Omas Mamode IV's distinctive take on Afrobreat to the free-flowing wig outs of Fuck Buttons. Watch as an “atmosphere of studied cool turns into glorious carnage” (GIITTV)
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My first visit to this intimate venue.
The Rising Sun Arts Centre is an award winning, independent arts centre, which for 27 years has been staffed and run by volunteers. The Rising Sun started as a squat, created by a group of intrepid artists who saw a need for ground-level arts development, for and by, the people of Reading. The centre gained charity status in the mid-90s, and has been at the heart of Reading’s cultural life ever since.
The stage is nicely decorated with fairy lights everywhere along the back and sides of the stage.
All three bands tonight play sets of around 35 mins.
Up first were THE PURPLE LIGHTS who were a great sounding duo...Guitar, synth and vocals and drums and vocals.
Their very danceable psychedelic groove rock tunes were great.
Dj Mark Jones from Wall of Sound Records played some cool dance tunes between the bands.
CHINA BEARS are a four indie band who played a good set of tunes with some nice harmonies.
Headliners HOT SAUCE PONY had hints of hardcore and grunge in their sound along with vocals
that had hints of Alison Goldfrapp on some songs...a good set.





Saturday 22 September 2018.
Very sad news.
CHAS HODGES - one half of the musical duo Chas and Dave - has died at the age of 74.
The duo's Twitter account said he recently received treatment for oesophageal cancer but
died peacefully in his sleep in the early hours.
Known for their rock and cockney style, Chas and Dave enjoyed the height of their fame in the
1970s and 1980s with hits such as Rabbit and Snooker Loopy.
Their 'rockney' sound was totally unique.
They also performed four FA Cup final songs with Tottenham Hotspur FC.
I saw them live several times with the first time back in 1976 as well as their recent big headline show at
The Royal Albert Hall just a few months ago in April 2018.
Worth a view on YouTube is Chas and Dave - This Is Your Life - from 1985.




Friday 21 September 2018.
SEX PISTOLS legend GLEN MATLOCK releases his new solo album 'Good to Go' today.
I have an advance copy of the album which is full of great catchy tunes.
The Amazon link above have the cd for £10.99 and the vinyl version for £14.99.
1 Won't Put the Brakes on Me
2 Wanderlust
3 Sexy Beast
4 Speak Too Soon
5 Piece of Work
6 Hook in You
7 Montague Terrace (In Blue)
8 Cloud Cuckoo Land
9 Strange Kinda Taste
10 Chill
11 Couldn't Give a Damn
12 Keep on Pushing




Thursday 20 September 2018...I went to two events tonight...
6.15pm to 7.15pm
LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL - party - The Conran Shop ,Michelin House, 81 Fulham Road, London SW3.
With a heritage spanning over 50 years, the Conran name has established itself as a brand synonymous with all areas of design. As a collection of design led entities founded by Terence Conran, the principal activities of the Conran Group are architecture, interior, product and graphic design, brand licensing and the operation of shops. Improving the lives of their customers is the aim and lifeblood of the Conran Group – whether it be creating a range of cookware or running and furnishing shops in major cities around the world, or large scale urban master planning.
A big crowd of around 500 guests here at this massive store that is over two levels.
A dj is playing some tunes.
Complimentary prosecco and Peroni beers for all guests.
www.conranshop.co.uk
Visit the Conran Shop website here for more info.
then
7.30pm to 11pm
LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL - opening launch party - V & A Museum, South Kensington, London SW7.
This was the big opening party for London Design Festival which started at Olympia earlier.
LDF brings together more than 400 international design brands as well as a range of innovative projects from the likes of Tesla and Riko by Starck. The highly coveted Talks with 100% Design will return for 2018, featuring keynote sessions by industry heavyweights, panel discussions, trend forecasts and more.
LDF is the destination for architects and designers to source the latest products, discover new interior design trends and emerging brands.
It is open to the public this weekend.
Another massive crowd as there must be 600 or 700 guests here as they are using the outdoor garden space
out the back as well as the normal front reception area.
There are different djs every hour playing tunes.
Complimentary drinks and food here including two different gin cocktails, white wines, beers,
tasty canapés and big tubs of ice-cream.
www.londondesignfestival.com
Visit their website here for more info.




Wednesday 19 September 2018...7pm to 10pm...
TIMOTHY OULTON - flagship gallery launch party - 350 Kings Road, Chelsea, London SW3.
During London Design Festival 2018, daring furniture and interiors company Timothy Oulton will launch its new worldwide flagship gallery at Bluebird, Chelsea. The 7,200 square foot space will feature the brand’s most iconic designs alongside rare vintage collectibles and one-offs including a custom-designed spaceship to look like a very comfy seated bar space.
Timothy Oulton have over 30 stores/galleries worldwide.
A full red carpet was here along with flowers all over the entrance area.
Over 200 guests here in their massive space next to Bluebird restaurant & bar , Chelsea.
Timothy Oulton was here as was interior designer Kelly Hoppen.
Inside is a treasure trove of great furniture that includes part of one of the world’s largest collections of customised Louis Vuitton trunks. A giant fish tank housing a Yellow Submarine.There’s Apollo, a custom designed ‘spaceship’, showcased at this year’s Milan Design Week, along with 200 vintage cricket bats behind the bar,20 vintage typewriters on another wall and many other visually spectacular one off items.
A dj playing tunes in the background.
All the staff are dressed in white outfits with black bowler hats as they top up your drinks.
Complimentary Veuve Clicquot champers, red wines, beers, canapés , cheese table buffet
and mini ice-creams for all guests.
A great party , and much better than expected.
www.timothyoulton.com
Visit the Timothy Oulton website here for more info.




Tuesday 18 September 2018...I went to two events tonight...
6pm to 7pm
JIM MOIR (VIC REEVES) - private view - Grosvenor Gallery, 35 Bury Street, St James's, London SW1.
Jim Moir is better known by the stage name Vic Reeves, is an English comedian, artist, actor and television presenter, best known for his double act with Bob Mortimer as Vic and Bob. He is known for his surreal sense of humour.
Jim is showcasing 200 small drawings/sketches which are for sale at £250 each.
Various themes including pop stars, footballers and wrestlers from the 1970's.
Jim (Vic) is here with his wife Nancy.
There are three or four lesser known comedy faces here as well that I can't put names too.
Complimentary prosecco for all guests.
www.grosvenorgallery.com
Visit the gallery here for more info and photos.
then
DIONNE WARWICK with orchestra live at The Royal Albert Hall, London.
'The Queen of Easy Listening Pop Soul' returns to London.
Dionne's hits have included Walk On By, Anyone Who Had A Heart, Do You Know The Way to San José, and Heartbreaker.
Dionne, now aged 77 first appeared at the Hall in 1970 and this special orchestra evening
will mark her 10th date at the venue.
In America , Warwick ranks among the 40 biggest hit makers of the entire rock era, based on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Singles Charts. She is second only to Aretha Franklin as the most-charted female vocalist of all time, with 56 of Warwick's singles making the Billboard Hot 100 between 1962 and 1998 and 80 singles making all Billboard charts combined.
Many of them were with legendary songwriter Burt Bacharach.
Dionne also performed some easy listening covers in the set.
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JON ALLEN took to the stage at 7.30pm for a brief 20 mins.
Jon is a folk rock guitarist who has brought out four albums.
He is best known for the songs "In Your Light" and "Going Home", the latter of which featured
in a worldwide advert for the Land Rover Freelander.
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An older crowd as expected to see Dionne whose career spans over 50 years.
DIONNE WARWICK took the stage at 8.15pm and was on stage for 2 hours 5 mins.
For Dionne there are around 30 musicians on stage including band & orchestra.
It was her own band and the string section sounded great when at full tilt.
A pretty long set for someone of her grand old age of 77.
For some songs she stood up and for some songs she sat on a stool.
Dionne comes from the era of great songs that had great melody.
The crowd hang on her every word and Dionne got a full standing ovation at the end.
The crowd sing along to each song as everyone knows the words to these classic songs.
An enjoyable show.
This setlist has most of the songs performed tonight...
Don't Make Me Over
Walk On By
Anyone Who Had A Heart
I'll Never Fall in Love Again
Always Something There To Remind Me
Message to Michael
Close to You
This Girl's in Love With You
I Say a Little Prayer (with David Elliott her son on vocals, he is also on drums tonight)
Aquarela do Brasil
Do You Know the Way to San Jose
Heartbreaker
Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
Love's (Still) the Answer
99 Miles From L.A.
I'll Never Love This Way Again
The Look of Love
Alfie
Love Will Find a Way (with Cheyenne Elliott)
Let There Be Love (with Cheyenne Elliott)
What the World Needs Now is Love
That's What Friends Are For





Tuesday 18 September 2018.
Guitar legend JIMI HENDRIX died 48 years ago today aged just 27 in London.
Jimi Hendrix died at the Samarkand Hotel, 22 Lansdowne Crescent, Notting Hill, London W11 early on 18 September 1970. He had spent the latter part of the previous evening at a party, was picked up by his girlfriend Monika Dannemann, and driven to her flat at the Samarkand Hotel.This average looking hotel is still there with the same name.
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STEVE PERRY ex original singer of Journey (1977 to 1987) is in London to promote his new solo album.




Monday 17 September 2018...I went to two events tonight...
5.15pm to 6.25pm
BLOWN AWAY - private view - Sketch, 9 Conduit Street, London W1.
This event was part of London Design Week opening day.
Always nice to be in this stunning venue with its iconic 'pod loos'.
Design research gallery Matter of Stuff returns to iconic London venue sketch in September with a new site-specific exhibit for London Design Festival 2018 - Blown Away. Six international designers will showcase a series of innovative hand-blown glass works and movement, including a new chandelier by master glassblower Simone Crestani in borosilicate glass. For the first time in London, WonderGlass will present Echoes chandelier – a never seen before illuminated speaker sculpture by studiopluz. The show will also feature a bespoke chandelier by Bocci, adapted exclusively for sketch.
The six stunning glass works and movement are in the entrance area before you get to the main rooms.
It is on until 14 November 2018.
They also have a bigger exhibition on at their sister gallery in Kings Cross at 5 Lewis Cubitt Walk.
Complimentary Venetian rum cocktails, wines and Peroni beers for all guests.
www.matterofstuff.com
Visit their website here for more info.
then
6.30pm to 9.15pm
The Frank & Lorna Dunphy Yellow Ball Collection : private view -
Sotheby's , 34 New Bond Street, London W1.
This September, Sotheby’s is delighted to celebrate one of the most extraordinary art world collaborations of our times: that of Damien Hirst and his unstoppable business manager, mentor and ‘partner in crime’, Frank Dunphy. Yellow Ball: The Frank and Lorna Dunphy Collection - a two-part sale and exhibition of over 200 artworks that charts the iconoclastic 1990s art scene of which Frank and Lorna Dunphy were at the very heart.
Over 300 guests here at this major art event.
Many of the items are on display here are by Damien Hirst.
The sale is this week and will certainly reach many millions in overall sales.
Frank and Lorna Dunphy were here but there was no sign of Damien Hirst.
Other guests here included Sir Peter Blake and Mark-Francis Vandelli.
Complimentary Ruinart champers, three different cocktails and tasty canapés for all guests.
www.sothebys.com
Visit the Sotheby's website here for more info.





Sunday 16 September 2018.
2pm to 5pm
I bashed the drums for a bit with my band GUN CONTROL.
This was our sixth rehearsal.
We are trying to arrange a free admission gig in Acton in November.
We will play ten songs...eight originals and two covers.
then
8pm to 10pm
AADNEVIK - Spring / Summer 2019 Show - Royal Horseguards,
One Whitehall Place, London SW1.
Day 3 of London Fashion Week.
AADNEVIK is a London based luxury womenswear label as a design partnership between Hila and Kristian Aadnevik, whose defining themes are a blend of opulence, sensuality and gloom. The brand is currently at a steady growing position with a strong customer base amongst the celebrity and elite society, stocking in key cities worldwide. Celebrities include: Rihanna, Beyonce, Madonna, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez, Jourdan Dunn and many more.
The company’s essence is driven by values such as tradition, passion, nature, vision and hard work, but above all by family ideals. Hence, the designers incorporated their workplace into their home when their baby Silver was born, keeping their production line very close. The pair works at hand with their couture team at their London Atelier to create the luxury handcrafted garments.
A very nice choice of venue for this catwalk show with it's swirling staircase up to the show area.
Complimentary De Watere champers at the reception for an hour then at your seats as well.
It is a proper catwalk show area with 200 seated and 200 standing...and 20 photographers...
200 seated with four rows of 50...two rows of seats either side of the catwalk show.
We have a seat in the second row.
Only those seated get the goodie bags of a few items including Moroccan Oil and 250ml champers.
One end of the catwalk is nicely dressed as the theme for their collection...'Alice in Wonderland'.
The show was on from 9.10pm for 20 mins and featured stunningly sexy dresses in vibrant colours.
A nice soundtrack that included a couple of songs by The Cure.
www.aadnevik.com
Visit the Aadnevik website for more info and photos.




Sunday 16 September 2018.
MARC BOLAN sadly died 41 years ago today.
Marc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, musician, guitarist, and poet. He was best known as the lead singer of the glam rock band T. Rex. Bolan was one of the pioneers of the glam rock movement of the 1970s. He died at the age of 29 in a car accident a fortnight before his 30th birthday.
Amazingly another T.Rex album 'Gold' has entered the charts this week at number eight.
It is a budget priced three cd box set that is only £5.99 on Amazon.
I saw Marc with T.Rex last ever London show at The Rainbow in March 1977 with The Damned as support.
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KENNEY JONES ex drummer with The Small Faces, The Faces and The Who is 70 today.
Kenney Jones is the sole surviving member of the Small Faces.
Kenney recently brought out his biography.




Friday 14 September 2018...7.30pm to 10pm...
NINA NAUSTDAL - AW18/19 London Fashion Week catwalk show -
Maddox Club, 3/5 Mill Street, Mayfair, London W1.
Upmarket designer Nina Naustdal is showcasing her latest creations.
Nina recently featured in the Channel 4 tv documentary 'Too Posh to Parent'.
Nina got plenty of press attention when she mentioned she hired a 'LEGO THERAPIST' for her three kids.
And there’s always a nanny on hand, if you can afford to employ one per child (and put them on pooper-scooper duty to pick up after the seven Chihuahuas) , not to mention two tutors, a personal assistant, chef, butler and chauffeur-cum-bodyguard.
Staff wages are £200,000 a year but that's peanuts when your husband is a big hedge fund manager and
they own big houses in Chelsea and Monaco.



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