Monday 29 February 2016

Gonzo reviews La Vie, Firebug, Leicester – 21st November 2015


A much anticipated return to my hometown of Soup & Bread joined by Callum Simpson and Wayne Napier-Gibbins. As I had missed the first night due to travelling elsewhere at the time, I was not going to miss this one. 

La Vie is upstairs at the Firebug pub in central Leicester, relatively easy to park and in reach of numerous hotels, so not hard to find if you know Leicester at all. 

A rather chilly November night found us entering the main Firebug doors. You have to enter the Firebug pub and cross the public bar to find the staircase to the upstairs function room.  

On entering La Vie you find yourself transported into the wierd and wonderful minds of Soup and Bread! (if you know these guys you will understand!) DJ decks high on stage at one end of a good size but “compact” vintage feeling room. A cool black and white 60's film being projected behind the DJ decks whilst snappy late 50’s - early 60’s RnB tunes are blasting out. 

At the other end of the room there is a decent sized bar and a standing/seating area close to the bar.

The Quorn Soul gang were already in place (Sean , Julian, Mick, Andrea, Tracey, etc) and the tunes were flowing as people arrived. 

A real cross-section of Mods were there or arriving, showing the wide appeal of Soup and Bread and their brand of serious/crazy Mod RnB tinged fun.  

You are pretty much guaranteed great memories or moments from these guys even if the dynamic duo are not DJ’ing, so it was an experience for me to see them both single and double deck playing their cutting edge vinyl Mod sounds with a healthy mix of classics thrown in. 

Very well supported by Callum Simpson, bringing his POW WOW sounds to La Vie added to that cutting edge Mod feel and as if that wasn't enough, backed up by another of my favourite DJ’s Wayne Napier-Gibbins, who also knows how to dig out some special non-run of the mill sounds!

Without noticing as I chatted to various people the room was soon pretty full, Martin Derby, Rob Glover, Kass Jones, Ian and Jane Buttery, Vicky Walsh Knightly, Sam Jackson, etc had all arrived and the dance floor was filling nicely. The good sized wooden dance floor buzzed along all night to the sounds of upbeat coolness. Great to meet Kev and Shirley Connellan who live really near me but had not met before! Kev knows his RnB and gorgeous Shirley knows how to light up a dance floor. 

Many smiling faces and a great mix of dancing and chatting soon saw the night pass too quickly.

There is a special fun feel to La Vie. The boys work hard to put their mark onto the scene, they have a style and its not a cut and paste formula - it is full on, enjoy it with a smile and while your at it, knock em out style too!! Very infectious. 

So if you like smiles, a cool vibe, proper RnB with plenty of class sounds mixed in AND if you like all of this with a genuine sense of fun and style you cannot go wrong with La Vie. 

The next instalment is March 12th 2016. See you there.

Ska Brewing Moves to All-Can Lineup


100 Best Songs of the 1960s by NME


MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCE 2016 NATIONAL TOUR



Great Northern Ska and Mod Festival returns to Thorp Perrow


Tamworth set for March Of The Mods reports The Herald


Roger Daltrey Talks Meningitis Battle, Teen Cancer Crusade, and the Who’s Farewell


You Say You Want A Revolution? Exhibition coming to the V&A


Suits, Scooters And Skinheads: Mod Life In 80s London


Reissue CDs Weekly: The Prisoners


Secret Affair to play Bristol on 12th March

The Spitfires announce new single release for 1st April


The Spitfires new single 'So Long' will be released April 1st on Catch 22 Records. Available on limited 7" Vinyl and Digital Download.

Pre order here: www.thespitfires.tmstor.es

http://youtu.be/zZ7AxEM13XQ

MOTM 100 Club Weekender on 11/12 March - tickets must be bought in advance. Don't delay, order today!


12 sleeps until the first MOTMs London Weekender. Please make sure you buy your tickets, as they won't be selling them on the door

https://www.facebook.com/events/976706049014010/

Saturday 27 February 2016

Deep Six demo gets latest radio play on Ice Cream Man's 'Power Pop & More' show


EPISODE DESCRIPTION
The Mayflowers - Lazy Sunday (Are You Green LP)
Fun W/Atoms - Titletown (Main Street LP)
Minky Starshine - Girl (Pop Jewelry Revised LP)
One Like Son - We're Not Standing Down (Leftovers LP)
Mitch Koheler - Blazt From The Pazt. (Single)
Donny Brown . Bitter Rival (Hess Street LP)
Club Wow - Norman Green (Nowhere Fast LP)
Pallenberg - Sweet Suicide (EP)
The Del Zorros - Hold You All Night Long (Dream Little Dreamer) (Single)
Dropkick - Wish I Knew (Balance The Light LP)
Stilleto Boys - Come What May (Liberator LP)
The Four Chords - One Hit Wonder (The Four Chords LP)
Bleached - Keep On Keepin' On (Single)
Yellowstone - Ingrid Sits (Your World Regarding Me LP)
Fast Cars - Mindset (More EP)
Deep Six - No I Haven't A Clue (Demo)
The Manics - Headphones (Single)
Arvidson & Butterflies - Alright (New Album, title to be confirmed)
Vista Blue - When She Cries (Single)
Stilleto Boys - Not That Way (Liberator LP)
Captain Storm - Superfun
The Adelians - Stay (The Adelians LP)
Dropkick - Slow Down (Balance The Light LP)

Friday 26 February 2016

THE STRYPES - TOP LINE-UP SET TO COME TO INDIEPENDENCE


New photo exhibition at Royal Albert Hall to celebrate 15 years of Teenage Cancer Trust concerts


Vespa chair sees old scooters upcycled into furniture by bel & bel


Sounds of Sneakers by Shirley - 17th February 2016


DEDICATED FOLLOWERS OF FASHION - A HISTORY OF LONDON'S TRENDSETTERS


We Are The Mods: Uncovering Britain's most stylish subculture


See two great bands battle it out together on stage in Mods vs Rockers at Bromsgrove's Artrix reports the Bromsgrove Advertiser


Mods and rockers urged to share their stories and pictures of old Northwich


Paul Weller signed scooter for sale at Goodwood


Monday 22 February 2016

FIRST VINYL JUKEBOX LAUNCHED IN 20 YEARS


Mickey Modern speaks to Paul 'Smiler' Anderson about his book, 'Mods: The New Religion'


Decca Beat Girls set for 25th March release (Ace Records)


Triple A Films need your help in the search for Chris Farlowe photos, footage and recordings for new film project.


***REQUEST***

***Chris Farlowe footage, photography and audio***

As many of you are aware we have been working on this film project with Chris Farlowe for quite a few years. It’s been a wonderful experience getting to know Chris and we have formed a close relationship with him. We have travelled many, many miles, and recorded hours and hours of footage. Whilst we still have some footage to shoot, we are beginning to get into post production.

NOW WE NEED YOUR HELP. 

We are on the hunt for old photos, video footage or audio recordings of Chris. We are particularly looking for footage from the 1960’s and 1970’s. You maybe a professional film maker or photographer who shot Chris with one of his many bands, or you my have been a budding camera enthusiast who simply captured impromptu footage or photos of Chris.

Either way, if you have such footage, photos, or audio recordings of Chris we would love to see what you’ve got, and talk to you about including them in our project. 

You can contact us on this Facebook page, or email us at info@tripleafilms.co.uk

We know there’s a lot of fans out there eager to see the finished film, and we can assure you, it will be worth the wait! 

Thank you for your patience and encouragement! 

Adam, Andrew, Asa. 

Triple A Films.

Glasgow Mod Weekender - Thursday 23rd to Sunday 26th June


Friday 19 February 2016

New releases on Heavy Soul Records in 2016


Stone Foundation to play their new single on Sunday Brunch at approx. 12pm this Sunday 21st February


Really excited to announce the new Stone Foundation single/video "Pushing Your Love" will be featured around 12 midday on this Sunday's Channel 4 TV programme Sunday Brunch. Great work in the new vid from Steve Furst hope you can all tune in.

Check out the new video here -http://youtu.be/BAApaA4Fr_s

You can also pick up a copy of the limited edition 45 at www.stonefoundation.co.uk

Mod Radio at 4pm today - interview with Carol Harrison, writer of the 'All Or Nothing' musical


We have exciting times this afternoon- at 4pm we speak to Carol Harrison the writer of 'All or Nothing' brand new musical.

If you have any questions for Carol please forward to this page, and we do our best to get you some answers!!!

Please let us have your comments, we love interaction at Mod Radio. 

Thanks Mark & Ruth
Mod Radio

Mollie Marriott & Carol Harrison Q&A on the Small Faces Musical 'live' on Facebook at 7pm on Tuesday 23rd February


Join Mollie and Carol on Tuesday evening at 7pm to hear them talking  and answering your questions on the Small Faces Musical All or Nothing. 

Simply connect via Mollies page on Tuesday evening and add your question into the comment box under the live feed

Ska legends Selecter are far more than three minute heroes says the West Briton News



Inside the time warp Birmingham home that has remained completely unchanged since it was announced House of the Year in 1966


Motown the Musical - Inside the Rehearsal Room


New 7" from The Magnetic Mind available to pre-order from Heavy Soul now!


The Other Side Of The Trax - Stax Volt 45 rpm Rarities 1964-1968


Thursday 18 February 2016

'That's Not Good Enough' 7" by Rope Store available to pre-order from Heavy Soul Records now


Reggae Steady Moonstomp on 21st May at The Arena, Stourbridge


The See No Evils to release debut album, 'Inner Voices' (Heavy Soul), on 15th March


The Spitfires European Dates 2016

Heavy Soul's schedule of record releases, gigs and the next issue of his Modzine as told by Adam Cooper


It's looking like a busy few weeks ahead for Heavy Soul! Records, there's new releases for ROPE STORE, THE SEE NO EVILS, THE MAGNETIC MIND and the hotly anticipated new 7" from CORDUROY INDUSTRIES featuring the Addison brothers from Corduroy and Boys Wonder. A new instruMENTAL 7" and LP from PAUL ORWELL is near completion too...
Exciting times! Pre-orders being taken on all except Paul at the moment
Below is the full schedule....
www.heavysoul45s.co.uk 
All the best
 
Adam
 
FEBRUARY
19th THE MAGNETIC MIND test pressing arrive for new single “Couldn’t Understand” c/w “No-one’s Child”
19th THE SEE NO EVILS test pressing arrives for debut LP “Inner Voices”
21st ROPE STORE “That’s Not Good Enough” c/w “Get Me Out” released on 7” pic sleeve, 250 copies
29th CORDUROY INDUSTRIES test pressing arrives – The Addison Brothers Scott and Ben’s new 7” “Test Drive”
Tbc new PAUL ORWELL 7” will be sent to the pressing plant – the Hammond monster “Don’t Do As As I Say”
 
MARCH
15th THE SEE NO EVILS debut LP “Inner Voices” released on vinyl and CD
21st THE MAGNETIC MIND new single “Couldn’t Understand” released – 250 7” vinyls
28th CORDUROY INDUSTRIES single “Test Drive” released on 7” 250 copies
Tbc new PAUL ORWELL LP will be sent to the pressing plant – the Hammond organ based “Organized”
Tbc a new edition of the Heavy Soul! Modzine
 
APRIL
14th THE HEAVY SOUL SPECTACULAR live event featuring PAUL ORWELL (Acoustic), THE MAGNETIC MIND & THE SEE NO EVILS
Tbc DEEP SIX will be in the studio rehearsing and recording for their debut 7” on Heavy Soul Records

BREAKING NEWS: The Mark Three to play the IPO Festival at The Cavern, Liverpool, on Sunday 2nd June

  The Mark Three's stage times for Sunday 2nd June are: - 5.15pm The Cavern Pub 7.00pm The Cavern Club