The Mark Three release second LP, 'Happy Today', on coloured 12" vinyl

 

https://marklegallez.bandcamp.com/

PHK's debut Limited Edition 12" LP, 'You Should All Be Ashamed Of Yourselves', out now with sleeve notes by Detail Magazine Editor, Claire Mahoney

 

You Should All Be Ashamed of Yourselves

‘You Should All Be Ashamed of Yourselves’ takes aim at the complacency and chaos of modern life and mixes it with razor-sharp social commentary. It's the first album from Paul Hooper-Keeley under his own moniker, ‘PHK’, and he delivers it with both barrels with 12 tracks and one hidden surprise.

With nods to his Mod, Garage and Power pop roots, each track offers a carefully penned critique of modern life packaged in a sharp collection of tunes that hold up a mirror to the modern world. Musically think The Prisoners mixed with shades of XTC. This is Mod revivalism all grown up. 

“What is wrong with your life that isn’t right

That you have to troll us on a Saturday night”

he writes in 'Social Media Psychopath'

or this caustic reference to a character on the Mod scene:

“You are just a Walter Mitty, I suppose I should feel pity

We know you have never been, a real part of our scene

You appeared from nowhere, but you tried to say that you were there

Your history is more flaky than me old Nan’s puff pastry”

Sharp, sardonic and observant, PHK tackles hypocrisy, political posturing and everyday absurdities with wit and bite. Other tracks such as 'Music Industry Conspiracy' point the finger at the cynical machinery of fame itself. As someone who has continued to support independent music for over four decades, PHK has every right to have a go.

Elsewhere, ‘Fears of a Clown’ is a play on the Smokey Robinson classic but instead explores insecurity and image in a world obsessed with judgement; ‘The Luvvies Brigade’ lampoons the self-serving elite south of Watford Gap and ‘Battle of the Little Big Man’ exposes the fragile egos behind empty authority - we all know one!

Paul plays almost every instrument on this album, drawing together decades of experience into a record that captures both the energy of his early years with the perspective and wisdom of someone looking back over his long career on the Mod circuit.

In Lincolnshire in 1982 as a young Mod of the revival era he formed his first band, The Threads - a hard-gigging Mod/Garage outfit whose Rickenbacker-driven tunes and sharp attire earned them a loyal following.

Away from The Threads, Paul continued to support independent music through his labels Biff Bang Pow Records and Burnt Toast Music Publishing. Over the years he’s supported countless artists, organising the all-star Mod Aid 20 charity single, and fronted bands including The Deep Six and The Mark Three. His work as a songwriter, musician and producer has remained consistently true to his roots - honest, melodic, and fiercely independent.

This solo album marks yet another chapter in a career defined by that independence and integrity.

After all, PHK is not a number. He’s a free man.

Claire Mahoney

Editor

Detail magazine

 https://paulhooper-keeley.bandcamp.com/

The Glory Boy 'live' Review - Alan May watches The Threads at their 'Homecoming' gig at The Courthouse, Skegness, Lincolnshire on 17th May 2025

 

Very exciting to spend a day in Skegness alongside likeminded people who we're going to see the homecoming gig of Lincolnshire based band The Threads.

Although I knew the musicians in the band The Threads, they are one of the bands that seemed to have evaded me over the years. With a new line-up as listed below consisting of Paul and Tim, the two original founder members, alongside Emma Page on Drums and Chris Leese on keyboards, the word on the street was that the band were excellent live. This was not an understatement; the band took to the stage and went through their discography flawlessly creating some of the most original and individual mid 80s revival sounds that you're ever likely to hear, alongside a couple more recently written tracks such as my favourite by previous band member (David Abrahams-Edley) - a track entitled ‘The International Times’, which incidentally was also a recent vinyl 12” EP release from the band.

In earlier times with the second coming of the mid 80s revival, the band gained a large following not only from local people but fans from all over the country, and would often fill venues on the live circuit - not to be outdone 40 years later, it was great to see a large crowd at The Courthouse welcoming the band to the stage.

Flawlessly, each track was performed without question with Paul’s all-black Rickenbacker Stealth 330 guitar taking the lead, with the back line of the bass and drums enhancing the sound, the keys added something a little bit extra to complete the performance.

I have to say my day in Skegness was made complete by seeing The Threads for the first time and hopefully not for the last - though I'm guessing with the other  commitments of the band members, including Paul’s PHK project, it may make seeing them again a rarity!!

If you have the opportunity to see the band in all their glory you will not be disappointed.

Remember, turn up, enjoy, and ensure you wear the right Threads!!

Alan May

DJ, Broadcaster

Fan, Follower and Friend

The Glory Boy Mod Radio Show

Breeze 97.7 FM

Sunday UK 6PM -9PM

The Threads are: -

Guitar/Vocals - Paul Hooper-Keeley

Bass Guitar - Tim Mitchell-Smith

Drums/Backing Vocals - Emma page

Keyboards – Chris Leese

BREAKING NEWS: Third PHK 7" single, 'I'm Not A Number (I'm A Free Man)' c/w 'Fears Of A Clown', available to order now from Bandcamp.

 

The third PHK 7" single of 2025, 'I'm Not A Number (I'm A Free Man)' c/w 'Fears Of A Clown', (featuring the artwork of Makin' Time's Neil Clitheroe) is available to order now from: -

https://paulhooper-keeley.bandcamp.com/album/im-not-a-number-im-a-free-man-c-w-fears-of-a-clown-7-vinyl-single

Paul Weller unveils 'Lawdy Rolla' video

 

The URL for the 'Lawdy Rolla' video is: -

https://paulweller.lnk.to/lawdyrolla?eml=2025June2/6792419/520004717&etsubid=114280159

Booker T Jones to play 2 London shows in August

 As leader of the legendary Booker T. & The MG's, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, GRAMMY lifetime achievement award recipient Booker T. Jones is arguably the most famous Hammond B3 player in History. 

Working alongside Otis Redding, Albert King and more at Stax Records, Booker T. Jones has also worked with Willie Nelson, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, Bill Withers and countless others. 

Do not miss this chance to catch one of the finest musicians of all time as part of the Ace Records 50th Anniversary Concerts Series.

Images from The Threads at The Cavern on 25th May

 

Brett 'Buddy' Ascott & Steve Rinaldi confirm The Moment are back together.

 

Direct from the USA, DELVON LAMARR ORGAN TRIO - October Tour Dates

 Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio specialise in the lost art of “feel good music.” The ingredients of this intoxicating cocktail include a big helping of the 1960s organ jazz stylings of Jimmy Smith and Baby Face Willette; a pinch of the snappy soul strut of Booker T. & The M.G.’s and The Meters; and sprinkles Motown Records, Stax Records, blues, and cosmic Jimi Hendrix-style guitar.

 

Since its humble beginnings in 2015, the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio have issued two Billboard-charting albums; toured nationally and internationally, and performed on live at Upstream Music Festival broadcast by KEXP that has garnered over 14 million views.

Paul Weller announces new album, 'Find El Dorado', for 25th July release (Parlophone)

 

Find El Dorado' is a deeply personal new album of reinterpretations, that sees Weller revisit songs that have long lived in the back of his mind - now reimagined with fresh meaning and a sense of reverence. Less a covers album and more a map of his emotional and musical DNA. Produced by Steve Cradock, the album includes further guest appearances from Declan O’Rourke, Noel Gallagher, Amelia Coburn, Seckou Keita, Robert Plant and more.

New BDQ 7" single - 'The Night' c/w 'Tainted Love' available to pre-order now

 

The Night/Tainted Love, is the latest 45 release from BDQ featuring Sarah Orpen on vocals, and is taken from the forthcoming album The Ultimate BDQ, for this single we decided to go big or go home, both of these tunes are our absolute favourites, and were so much fun to record.

The Night is an all time banger and an absolute floor filler, the Frankie Valli version is a brilliant tune, so we thought why not bring this album project to a close with a female vocal version, and Sarah as usual knocked it out of the park with her slamming vocal take on this fabulous classic.

Tainted Love is a tune that we all agreed would be fun to record, and we weren’t wrong its no mean feat to approach a tune of this magnitude with the full respect it deserves, the bass line thunders along driving the tune like an express train in a hurry to deliver the goods, and yet again Sarah was well up to the task, this tune fits a lot of punch into its 2 minutes 18 seconds, we hope you enjoy it as much as we do

Albums are usually released and then a couple of single releases are taken from the album, however we decided to flip this usual way of doing things on its head, we have released almost all of the tunes on 45 first, and now we are busy compiling them into the album, which i have to say is sounding great.

This release brings this covers project to a close with a bang, the album will bring all of them together as one with some updated mixes with subtle changes to the 45s. 

Release Date - June 28, 2025

https://bunndebrettquintet.bandcamp.com/album/the-night-tainted-love-pre-order