JIM JONES AND THE RIGHTEOUS MIND at OSLO, HACKNEY

For whatever reasons, and I don’t know what they were, contenders for the most exhilarating live band to fill my ears and eyes, the glorious Jim Jones Revue, disbanded a year ago; now Jim’s back in town to show he still really knock ‘em down.  

The set falls into three sections. The first is a clattering cauldron of percussive voodoo rhythms and guttural chanting to summon the spirits and stir the soul. Jim leads the mantra "Give Everything, Take Everything" before the blood curdling debut single 'Boil Yer Blood' mixes up the medicine with three parts Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and one part a torn-off half-riff scrap of ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’.

Jones is the master of ceremonies, as always, but he keeps Gavin Jay on bass from the Revue and the pair are flanked by a Marilyn Manson lookalike keyboard player and pedal-steel player who lays on the ghoulish effects. Behind them, sitting in on drums, is the unmistakable bearded figure of Bad Seed and Grinderman Jim Sclavunos; who fits like a black glove with the gothic nature of proceedings. My red shirt being a rare splash of colour in the blackest of seas.

In keeping with the apparent intention to create a new distinct identity away from Jim’s previous bands (add Thee Hypnotics and Black Moses to the list), there’s a notable lack of guitar wailing and a slow three song segment with Jay playing what to my ignoramus mind is a double bass with a bow, plus Jim singing in a lower, softer register cements this. In a live setting some of the subtleties of these more cinematic, almost Tom Waits tinged songs, probably get lost and ‘1000 Miles From Sure’ benefits from listening to the recorded version.

After this interlude, Jay straps his bass on again, bashing away at his knees like all great bassists, and the pedal-steel makes way for another guitar. From here on in we’re back on familiar ground, albeit with unfamiliar songs. No matter, they’re instant adrenaline rushes. Two guitars held out front and the Righteous Mind are rocking the joint. The two encore songs – one making me think of a bastardized offspring of John Lee Hooker’s ‘Big Legs, Tight Skirt’ – bring the already smouldering pot of bone crunching gumbo stew to the boil. 

JUKEBOX 7's SETLIST - SATURDAY 10th OCTOBER 2015

fun last night at the latest instalment of Jukebox 7s at Biddle Brothers in Clapton. The original plan was to play records until midnight but myself, Long John, Miles and Matthew Macleod eventually banged them out until two. It’s an ace bar with a friendly appreciative clientèle. So I remember what I played for next time, here are my sets. Now, where’s the paracetamol?

Peter Doherty – Flags From The Old Regime

Todd Rundgren – I Saw The Light

Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames - Yeah, Yeah

Dusty Springfield – Stay Awhile

Delaney & Bonnie – Just Plain Beautiful

The Impressions – Seven Years

Donny Hathaway - The Ghetto

The Style Council – Have You Ever Had It Blue

Billy Fury – Wondrous Place

Manfred Mann – Hubble Bubble (Toil & Trouble)

Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers – Slow Down

The Pretty Things – Midnight To Six Men

The Who – Happy Jack

Jessie Hill – Ooh Poo Pah Doo

The Profiles – Take A Giant Step (Walk On)

Bob Dylan – Subterranean Homesick Blues

Leroy Van Dyke – It’s All Over Now Baby Blue

Fun Boy Three – The More I See (The Less I Believe)

The Modern Lovers – Roadrunner

Jilted John – Jilted John

Art Brut – Emily Kane

Pulp – Razzmatazz

The Rolling Stones – Miss You

The Seeds – Mr Farmer

The Doors – Touch Me

BB King – Heartbreaker

Dean Jones – Women

Kim Weston – Helpless

King Curtis – Whole Lotta Love

Spencer Davis Group – I’m A Man

The Cure – Why Can’t I Be You?

John Lee Hooker – Boom Boom

Slim Harpo – I Need Money

13^th Floor Elevators – You’re Gonna Miss Me

The Libertines – Up The Bracket

Sham 69 – Hurry Up Harry

The Trashmen – Surfin’ Bird

Chas & Dave – Rabbit

Supergrass – Alright

Suede – Metal Mickey

The Byrds – Feel A Whole Lot Better

Shadows of Knight – Shake

The Isley Brothers – This Old Heart Of Mine

Barbara Randolph – I Got A Feeling

Wilson Pickett – Land of 1,000 Dances

James & Bobby Purify – Shake A Tail Feather

Mel Torme – Comin’ Home Baby

Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart

Q65 – Cry In The Night

Outsiders – Touch

The Primitives – Crash

The Stone Roses – Elephant Stone

Happy Mondays – Kinky Afro

The Seeds – Pushin’ Too Hard

Altered Images – Happy Birthday

Just Brothers – Sliced Tomatoes

Georgie Fame & The Blues Flames – Green Onions

The Action – I’ll Keep Holding On

The High Numbers – I’m The Face

Chubby Checker – Hey You! Little Boogaloo

Sam Cooke – Shake

The Rolling Stones – Dandelion

Chas & Dave – Ain’t No Pleasing You

THE PRETTY THINGS at SHINDIG! 50th ISSUE PARTY, ROUGH TRADE EAST, LONDON

The Pretty Things, Rough Trade East, Bethnal Green (Thanks to Gray Newell for photo).

Booking midnight to six men The Pretty Things for an event billed as running from seven to nine always had the potential for confusion and so it proved. As I sauntered into Rough Trade East off Brick Lane at 7.25pm to celebrate the 50^th issue of Shindig! magazine the star attraction were already halfway through their set and into ‘SF Sorrow Is Born’ followed by ‘She Says Good Morning’.

It’s a slightly weird sensation watching a band in what feels like the late afternoon, in a record shop, stone cold sober so it took a while to acclimatise but after a couple of tracks from their new LP – ‘The Same Sun’ and Turn My Head’ – they had me clicking a Cuban heel in appreciation to the rhythm and bruise hat-trick: ‘Don’t Bring Me Down’, ‘Midnight To Six Man’ and ‘Rosalyn’. Founding members Phil May and Dick Taylor cut familiar figures. Dick, hunched over his guitar, playing searching solos, spectacles perched on the end of his nose, never seeming to age having looked his 72 years since 1971; and maraca shaking Phil still wearing his hair long, only with a wider centre parting. The pair were joined by Frank Holland on guitar, George Woosey on bass and Jack Greenwood giving it some youthful stick on the drums. They can still pack a punch.

The lights came on briefly before Pretties manager Mark St. John jumped on stage to say they’d love to do another song, if we wanted. We did. St. John also used the opportunity to plug the new album, The Sweet Pretty Things (Are In Bed Now, Of Course…), saying it was available on vinyl and that was still the correct way to purchase music; “everything else is just storage”. His argument might need tweaking but one gets the gist. A feisty version of ‘Roadrunner’ was dispatched and the Pretties set up shop to sign a long queue of LP purchases and chat to admirers. Phil, from previous experience, loves to gas and was bang on form as usual. 

I’m listening to my (signed, obviously) copy of the album now and enjoying it. It sounds like the Pretty Things, a good thing, and not a million miles from SF Sorrow. Fifty years from their debut LP it must be said they make a better fist of new material than, say, The Who. Eight original tracks - 'And I Do' and the aforementioned 'Turn My Head' standing out after first few plays - plus covers of The Byrds’ ‘Renaissance Fair’ and an obscure 1972 Sky Saxon/Seeds song ‘You Took Me By Surprise’. They get a bonus point for that last one. Rest Sky's soul. 

Anyway, after the Pretties left the limelight, tipsy Shindig! editors Jon Mills and Andy Morten grabbed the mic to say a few words. Well, Andy said a few words, Jon said plenty more, thanking contributors and readers alike in a speech pitched somewhere between a milked Oscar acceptance, a censored Derek and Clive routine and a tenth pint you’re-my-best-mate-you-are session in a Salisbury pub. With hirsute seven-foot Jon clutching his little pal Andy under his arm he looked like a big mama bear protecting baby bear. Fifty issues of Shindig! celebrated with fifty years of Pretty Things albums. Congratulations to them both. 

JUKEBOX 7'S at BIDDLES, SATURDAY 10 OCTOBER 2015

Even by the niche standards of Monkey Picks this post is targeted at a minuscule percentage of potential readers. Still, if you happen to live or are within easy reach of Clapton in East London on Saturday 10 October, then pop in to Biddle Brothers bar and join myself, Long John McNally and Miles Macleod. 

We’ll be playing records of the 7 inch variety to enjoy with the tipple of your choice (we’re not paying by the way, let’s get that straight). We’ve done a few of these before and it’s a nice relaxed bar tolerant of us playing whatever the hell we fancy: from 60s hits, indie classics, funk and punk and soul, to Chas & Dave. Records until midnight and then a quieter wind-down session for anyone still standing. 

SEPTEMBER PLAYLIST

September has been soundtracked by these...

1.  Lead Belly – “On A Monday” (1943)

Huddie Ledbetter sings the old prison song which Johnny Cash later cut as “I Got Stripes”. An arbitrary selection from the wonderful treasure chest that is the five-CD boxset Lead Belly: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection.

2.  Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames – “Humpty Dumpty” (1964)

Was fortunate to attend BBC’s Maida Vale studios this week with Monkey Snr for the recording of Radio 4’s Mastertapes, focusing on Georgie Fame’s Live At The Flamingo. John Wilson interviewed Georgie about the album and the era, interspersed with live performances of Work Song, Eso Beso (with special guest appearances from Blue Flames Colin Green on guitar, Mick Eve on tenor and Eddie ‘Tan-Tan’ Thornton on trumpet), Green Onions, Yeh Yeh and Humpty Dumpty, which as well as appearing on the LP was also on one of the very first records to migrate from my dad’s collection to mine, the Rhythm and Blue-Beat EP.  The show will be broadcast in two parts later in the year.

3.  The Victorians – “Monkey Stroll” (1964)

A whacking, echo-drenched, Gold Star studio, Wall of Sound, monkey dancer. What’s not to love?

4.  Mary Love – “Baby I’ll Come” (1966)

There’s a touch of “I Can’t Wait Until I See My Baby’s Face” about this slow and moody winner from Ms Love. Great vocals, great strings, great song from Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson.

5.  Cool Benny Velarde & His Stone Swingers – “Wobble-Cha” (1966)

Not generally a fan of Latin stuff but this is cool release on Virgo Records from timbalero Velarde and his Bay Area band.

6.  Modern Jazz Quartet – “Home” (1966)

If you wake up one Sunday with the hangover from hell, The Modern Jazz Quartet’s Blues At Carnegie Hall, with the vibes of Milt Jackson, might ease you back to some semblance of normality. 

7.  The Faces – “You Can Make Me Dance, Sing Or Anything (Even Take The Dog For A Walk, Mend A Fuse, Fold Away The Ironing Board, Or Any Other Domestic Shortcomings)” (1974)

Now that’s a song title.

8.  Janko Nilovic – “Drug Song” (1975)

Man, this is some super-strength shit. Spectacularly groovy funky flute from Montenegrin Nilovic’s Soul Impressions LP.

9.  Bronco Bullfrog – “Marmalade” (2015)

During the great British pop party of the 90s, Bronco Bullfrog tapped gingerly at the window, outsiders, scandalously uninvited and thus arriving late. It was a shame as the Broncos had much to offer: specifically a holdall stuffed with magical gems, and in a backward looking scene they were masters of evoking old memories, even if tinged with sadness. On the strength of this new 45 they’re now more than content in their isolation, managing to squash ‘I’m A Man’, ‘Funeral Pyre’, some Hollies harmonies and some Who powerchords into a track that finishes before their Mother’s Pride pops out the toaster.

10.  Kontiki Suite - The Greatest Show On Earth LP (2015)

It seems an aeon since I made Kontiki Suite's debut, On Sunset Lake, my album of 2012 but three years later their new one, The Greatest Show On Earth, finally sees the light of day in October and is odds-on to snatch the prize again. Things are slightly more muscular in places this time around, more confident, but everything I fell in love with is here - the meticulous playing, the carefully crafted arrangements and, of course, most of all, the gorgeous cinematic songs and guitars which don't so much jingle-jangle but shimmer and sparkle. The Greatest Show On Earth sees Kontiki Suite canter into view on horseback, with the autumn sun beginning to set, before pitching up to open their hearts under glistening stars and a listening moon. It's a beautiful trip. To put simply - it's bloody magnificent!

The Greatest Show On Earth by Kontiki Suite is available on CD and download from Kontiki Suite's Bandcamp page from Friday 2 October and on vinyl from 30 October via Sunstone Records (Broncos 45 from them too). 

CATCH UP: MONKEY'S WANDERING WIRELESS SHOW #3

Last Sunday's Wandering Wireless Show on Fusion is available on their Showreel to listen now (or, if you really want, again).

For your trouble you'll get an hour of brilliant music (I would say that) and a few minutes of me telling you what brilliant music you're listening to.  

Huge thanks to Fusion for letting me loose. Click here.

MAVIS! (2015)

There are many touching moments in Mavis! - Jessica Edwards’ film about Mavis Staples and the Staple Singers – but one standout scene is when Mavis visits old friend Levon Helm. In 1976 they’d appeared in Martin Scorsese’s The Last Waltz when their groups, The Staple Singers and The Band, performed a film stealing version of “The Weight”, and now Mavis, sister Yvonne and their band, turn up at Levon’s home. It’s immediately apparent Levon isn’t well (throat cancer would shortly, in 2012, take his life) but there’s a twinkle in his eye after Mavis gives him a big hug at the front door. Soon we see the musicians sat around, a few acoustic guitars, singing and clapping, following Mavis’s lead. Levon is visibly lifted, rocking in his chair, beaming, his fragile voice given extra strength, looking like the happiest man alive. It’s a beautiful moment and gets to the heart of the unique magic of Mavis Staples – the singer and the woman – who embodies joy, love and positivity. If scientists and medical professionals could clone Mavis or bottle some of her spirit, what a wonderful world this would be.

At 75 years of age Mavis shows no sign of slowly down as the film follows her touring, rehearsing, and reflecting on her career and life, from singing as young girl with her family in the churches, to the folk festivals, to civil rights’ marches, to soul superbowls, to the rock crowd, through lean times and a creative and commercial rebirth. There’s great archive footage (mostly seen before but some I didn’t recognise) are additional interviews with friends, band members, biographers and historians all giving an insight into her indomitable character and that deep voice which confused early listeners who couldn’t believe it came from a tiny girl, expecting it to be from, as Mavis says “a man or a big fat woman”.    

Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, who worked so well with Mavis on recent records, says he loves her more than any woman apart from his wife. He isn’t the first person I’ve heard say such a thing. Mavis’s magnetic personality easily draws such affection. She’s funny, has an infectious laugh, kind face, boundless enthusiasm, is serious about her music but balances that with a self-depreciating attitude and she’s “everyday people”. She’s also endearingly bashful when it comes to affairs of the heart; that Mavis gets all embarrassed and flappy when admitting to “a smooch” with Bob Dylan is typical.

The relationship with one man though, her father, is central to everything. Fifteen years after Pops passed away Mavis rescued the tapes they made which was planned to be released as a Pops Staples album and gave them to Tweedy to work on. When they listen to Pops’s voice on the finished version, Don't Lose This, it’s her father singing from heaven. As Mavis blubs her eyes out it takes a herculean effort of cinema goers not to follow suit.

Mavis! is an emotional film. Like its subject, it’s sensitive, uplifting and “feel-good”, and should be available on prescription.