Been lucky enough to have been working on the beautiful game project being run by Billy Franks. The proceeds of this venture will be going to the charity formed by Prince Harry and Lesotho’s Prince Seeiso, Sentebale, which cares for orphaned children in Lesotho, Africa. So far I’ve been in the studio and on location and am currently knee deep in edits and footage. These are really exciting times! Check out the link above and while your there the 10 second tease for the project film/ music video - you’ll find ‘the tease’ on the video page.
Last night I stepped back in time and sang and drank in a pub like pubs used to be - warm, welcoming and with a back room! All pubs should have a backroom, a saloon or snug. The Gorringe Park in Tooting has a backroom and last night hosted a ’sessions’ evening for acoustic and comedic acts.
A great little pub and an excellent night - I, a little suprisingly, was headline - not suprised because I was but just suprised that nobody had told me! Anyway after the shock came the music. Dick Philpot and the JBs (Black and Barker) performed 7 songs (and not the facebook reported 8 - fool that I am I counted ’set list’ when totting up without my glasses on). The songs were Confetti (I got the verses in the right order and remembered to name before sail), the demon inside, the goodliest river, arlington, what I need is your love, the red river and sub prime.
I really enjoyed the night and look forward to future evenings at the pub - well done Andy for organising.
Oh what would we do without treasure. A Ronette microphone (various internet entries suggest manufacture between 1945 and 50!!) found at a boot bought home and it works - lovely jubbly.
If I can avoid mic overexcitedness for just a while I must say well done to Hannah White whose live career goes from strength to strength. Well done Hannah great headlining gig at Half Moon.
In late 2008 I completed a collection of songs which I entitled ‘The South london Stroll’. I had originaly intended to call the collection ‘The River Wandle Red’ as a homage to my hero Dennis Wilson’s 1977 masterpiece ‘Pacific Ocean Blue’ But after a photoshoot featuring me mimicing Dennis’ pose on the cliffs of the Big Sur - but in my case me standing on the banks of the Wandle - I bottled out - somehow my fat face and belly just did not cut it - oh what a tart. The cover ‘mockup’ does exist and can be seen at my myspace so if you want a laugh go and have a dig around. Anyway - while the photo shoot may have been a disaster the album was and is not. As far as I am concerned this is my best work - from the bottle neck guitar playing on the title track to the harmonies on the Goodliest River this collection oozes quality - if I say so myself - quality with a big Q as was said by the very drunk woman in the Nelson Arms who complimented an act ‘Quality - thats what that was - Quality’. And so - yes even if I say it myself Quality - I am very proud of this collection. So I must recommened it to you all - go and buy a copy! Yes do it now and raise a cheer to Roy Wood - he played all the instruments on his solo albums just like me and like Dennis Wilson he too is one of my heroes. So beware as you prepare to spend your cash - this album is not for the faint hearted nor the classicaly trained brigade - this album is for those who have stood at the front of the Hammersmith Odeon stage and said to their mate “I can do that” - well I did say that and now I have done it.
Go out and buy - spread the word and let it multiply and as a wise Native American once said “let the smile you send be returned”.
