GOFFA FROM THE BLOCK

Posted on Facebook tonight.  I've re-posted on my wall and here so two for the price of one. My handwritten scrawled review of (The Teesside) Discharge's concert at The Teessider from me and Richard Sanderson's (too many links - just Google him) Print-Out fanzine from 1979.  Obviously you had to be there. Also, not only from the pre-digital age but also Tippex hadn't even been invented, or at least found it's way to Middlesbrough! Cheers John. Geoff

As a slight aside from my End of the Road festival posts.  On the way down to my satnav seemingly took me way off track not far from Larmer Tree Gardens and I went through the village of Tisbury in Wiltshire. I mention it for no other reason than a reference point to myself should I win the lottery I might consider moving there. Well?  It's another post.

If I had to describe this years Big Top Stage in 3 words I would say lots of laptops.  Small bands making big sounds.  Interesting sounding names like East India Youth and Deptford Goth turned out to be just lone boy's on stage tapping a few keys with a laptop.  Not unpleasant but just a bit dull. Lots of excellent stuff as well though.  Brooklyn duo Widowspeak made a lovely sound with pretty vocals from Molly Hamilton and great foot tapping (to me) guitar lines from star of the band Robert Earl Thomas.      I rather cared for rather weird and soulful Graphite Set .  Needless to say they were on in the Tipi last time. and by latish Friday evening after seeing some very nice pop and fine country music, lots of weirdness and The Eels I got a serious craving for some rock'n'roll.  Low and behold up popped a band I'd never heard before who turned out to be one of my faves of th...

It actually used to be in a Tipi but you couldn't swing a cat in it let alone hold a decent size audience.  Then they erected a marquee type tent next to the tipi.  That was better and for a couple of years perfect.  You could get in to see anybody and in the past I've seen amongst others The Low Anthem, The Felice Brothers, Mark Lanegan and Isobel Campbell, the mighty Slow Down Molasses and Boro faves Woodpigeon and Horse Feathers.  It's always been my favourite stage with lots of beat folkie acts and solo country singers.  Pretty much my cup of tea really. Only this year apart from the warm up night and the after hours secret shows virtually every time I tried to get in it was heaving.  I managed to catch the wonderful harmonic folkie/ethereal Golden Fable and (almost a late show) brother and sister spoken word guitar/bass/tapes duo  Jo Gideon and the Shark .  Not too bad.  I've already written about the Thursday ...

I really need to capture my thoughts on EOTR 2013 before the memories start to fade.  Whilst still in Dorset it was difficult to focus on anything other the journey home but it was great, probably my best of the 4 I've attended.  Why? The weather was fantastic, wall to wall sunshine.  The headliners were all top class  - however good the undercard is the top order is the biggest draw to me.  And never say never but this might be my last visit so I was really taking it all in.  Artist after artist commented on the  beauty of Larmer Tree Gardens and several said it was their favourite festival (they probably say that everywhere they play).  Christian Hardy from The Leisure Society went as far to say "you lot should be feeling very smug because this week-end you are at the best place anywhere in the world". We all looked at our surroundings at the   peacocks roaming in the grounds   at our own recording studio (rea...

Can't believe a week has passed since I arrived at EOTR. This time last week I was probably experiencing the thrills of  Californian heavy blues duo  Deap Vally  (think I previously mis-spelt their name - apologies go out to DV). They warned the audience it was going to be loud (unusual) and it was.  The warm-up night audience generously lapped it up and unlike Dinosaur Jr who were similarly loud/heavy on the final night (more later) there wasn't a melody in sight.  That's no good for me in 2013.  In truth it never has been. As I said last week there 5 bands on the night all from the Communion record label/promotions roster including soon to be Boro faves Catfish and the Bottlemen .  The singer, Van McCann (I'm not buying that's real) is a genuine hoot and a half as well so Teesside people join me at The Westgarth on 8 October.     Overall I counted up that I saw 50 bands/artists over the 4 days and much of it very good or better ...