2013 ; The year Psych strikes back

It all started with a lucid dream , indeed The Lucid Dream- a startling and challenging band that absolutely blow me away the first time - at the legendary [ Joy Division played there more times that anywhere else ] and all subsequent 6 times Ive been privileged to witness them this year...http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=the+lucid+dream+manchester&sm=1...there driving energy and sheer volume attack you and put some off - beware these Psych monsters are not for everyone ..However if you enjoy having your brain expanded then blown , join us at the Roadhouse in February where ,once again, TLD show Manchester how to Psych ....Not that it needs that with superb Psych explores and blues shouters - the  Mighty Purple Heart Parade...some are from Oldham and all explore Outer Space- dancing grooves, sharp dueling guitars , heartfelt [ if too reverbered!]  spacy vocals and a lead singer/shaman that excites like Iggy in his prime...http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=the+purple+heartmanchester&sm=3..Other classic Psych concerts have included the marvellous South American Holy drug couple  - great lads all .. http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=the+holy+drug+couple+manchester&sm=12 , the blissed out and super sweet Jacoo Gardner ..http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jacco+gardner+manchester&sm=1 ...and last Thursday , the far out and blistering The Oscillation...http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=the+oscillationmanchester&sm=3...marvelous end to a stunning year .But with next year’s Liverpool and Manchester Psych festivals - the solar system is the limit...

Mancmusic is back!

Armed with a new Mac my blogging legacy continues.

A Mixed Blessing

Two of the sights the gamblers will see as they leave the Super Casino,with empty pockets

Another day in Feb 07

"Another Day " was always a great lost track, and when I saw the wonderful video to the Gabriel /Bush never single I remembered why I kicked it... Cant believe in was in the 70.s..both look fantastic ..and seems to suggest an under-lining frisson going on between them..I used to listen to this constantly,recorded from a hand held cassette from the TV.. changed days indeed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKknfE4wGmM

The "Tommy Cooper " appraoach to global warmimg...smoke and mirors

I see the Bush administration believes we can cancel out global warming by the old magicians trick of smoke and mirrors..as The Guardian informs us http://environment.guardian.co.uk/climatechange/story/0,,1999968,00.html

The Earlies in the studio

March sees "Blowout " do a special treat with the brilliant Earlies http://www.theearlies.com/ http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=4427322 ably supported by Starless and Bible Black..who were impressed last time we saw them that I knew the name was from Dylan Thomas.. http://www.myspace.com/starlessbibleblack and all this , in the intimate Blueprint Studios Fab

Im back for 07

After a long absence Im back in the blogging scene ,with the gigiing scene revving up.. Soon come.. The Decemberists http://www.decemberists.com/ http://www.google.com/musica?aid=XsZJitaTI1F&sa=X&oi=music&c http://www.myspace.com/thedecemberists http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Decemberists The Automatic http://www.theautomatic.co.uk/ http://www.myspace.com/theautomatic THE band I predict with "do " an Oasis in 07 The View http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=35896220 ANd theres the nu rave....

Johnny fantastic

I celebrated and finished a great year of live music by seeing Johnny Bramwell from the mighty Iam Kloot http://www.iamkloot.com/ do a TWO HOUR , intimate , acoustic set at the tiny [ 200 capacity ] Green Room ,opposite the Ritz. He was joined by the keyboard player and bassist from Kloot to play a wide spectrum of songs from his glorious career and new songs to tantalise us...magnificent..the night whizzed by. It was even worth leaving a Xmas party ,with free drinks, at my favourite pub..Via A great night

The Bees swarm

The Bees http://www.myspace.com/thebeesofficial packed the intimate Club Academy with die -hard fans. This multi-instrumentalist band of Isle Of Wight new -hippies swopped guitars, bass ,drum and keyboards to create a swirling, organ driven , horn helmed , feel-good jig that got the crowd swaying ... Imagine dubbed sea -chanties helmed by Ringo and The Coral... Should catch on

"Fluff "flies

On the anniversary of my Mum's death..legendary DJ , Alan "Fluff " Freeman http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6187762.stm has died. I remember listening to him from the early 70's..and his Saturday afternoon programme , that always started with "Welcome back my friends " by ELP , was a must for us youthfull "proggers " getting us all excited and ready for a night of dancing and "freaking out " at "Waves " , UMIST and the Poly to 30minute tracks and concept albums..never singles ..galore.. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2475357,00.html The speed that he ran throught the charts on the "hung-over " Sundays was amazing..and never beaten.. When punk happend "Fluff " was in his 50's and his championing of "New Wave Of British Heavy Metal " alienated him from me.. I lost interest.. However I always hold him highly for going against the grain and playing "my " bands constantly in the glourious, technicolour , relatively innocent [ pre -AIDS and 9/11] and non -commercial 70s.. Thanks Fluff for flying the Prog banner.. I have one personal story about him..when me and my partner saw The Who in 76, http://www.thewholive.de/details/index.php?id=266&Tracklisting=&GroupID=1&Tag=&Monat=&Jahr=1976&Stadt=&Halle=&LandID=0 [the concert that had the last English performances from the original line ups of Alex Harvey , Little Feat , AC/DC and The Who ..macarbe..] there was a tube strike so we had to walk from Charlton FC to Euston..a long way ,believe me , on the way we "bumped " into "Fluff" and he was very keen on inviting us back to his flat to listen to some groovy sounds... "Not arf "....!!