Vamika – The Best band You’ve Never Heard (2)
Apr 28, 2010 The Best Band You've Never Heard
Well, you would not have as they have only played one gig so far with another lined up for 7th May at 9.00pm at The Pleasant Retreat in Lostock hall, Lancashire, UK.
However, they have previous. Until part way through 2009 they were Crimzon, a gigging band with a dedicated local following in this part of the country, and bloody good they were too.
My knowledge of them started a number of years ago. At that time I had a programme on a community radio station. One day a friend (Dave Sharples) sidled up and says ‘Phil, me and a couple of friends have recorded a few songs, what do you think?’
Now, the trouble with being given a home recorded CD is that they are usually crap, and you have to think of how to be polite when asked what you thought of it.
On this occasion I should have had no fears. They were good. In particular Dave had found a singer with a great voice, Amy Murrell.
Over a period of time I saw them often and had them in the studio a couple of times. During that time I saw their progress and witnessed Amy’s development and the growth of her confidence.
Then they went the way of all flesh……
Enter Vamika.
Vamika refers to the Hindu goddess Durga. Durga is a form of Devi (Hindu dieties and the relationship between them can seem quite complicated when you first investigate them). Devi is a supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having ten arms, riding a lion or a tiger, carrying weapons and a lotus flower, maintaining a meditative smile, and practicing mudras. Durga herself is said to be able to “redeem in situations of utmost distress”
Anyway, enough of the name the important thing is the music.
The band is;
AMY MURRELL Vocalist & Belly Dancer
DAVE SHARPLES Lead Guitarist
DAMIEN WELLMAN Bass Guitarist
JIM LEWIS Drummer
check them out at www.myspace.com/vamikarockband
Tags: amy murrell, dave sharples, love rock music, real rock and blues, rock and blues, vamika
ON This Day – Brittain Needs A Fascist Dictator! David Bowie
Apr 26, 2010 On This Day
On this day in 1976 Bowie gave an interview in which he said that Britain would benefit from having a dictator and that he would be good at it. He also said that Hitler was the first rock star and that Hitler drew more fans than Jagger. Then there were the stories about his Nazi salute, the detention of Bowie’s train (yes he had a train) as it crossed between Russia and Poland. Lots of Nazi memorabilia, books, etc. were confiscated.
So what was it with Bowie at the time?
Bowie had been interested in Buddhism for some time (yes, this is relevant, honest). From there he moved (descended?) into an interest in the Occult, accompanied by an ever growing consumption of cocaine.
From a general interest in the occult came painting mystic symbols on the walls of his house, burning candles, and reciting rites to protect him from the evil ones who were trying to get to him. He also began to retain his hair and nail clippings and urine in bottles in the fridge so that they could not be used in magic rituals against him. In other words serious chemical induced paranoia.
From there he became aware that the Nazis were heavily involved in the occult. (The idea that they hunted the Ark of the Covenant is not just an invention of the Indiana Jones film’s writer). It is this interest in the occult that drew him towards the Nazi symbolism. It is even possible that he got to Nazi symbols via an interest in the Kabala.
The quotes ? Not quite as they were reported at the time, it would seem, Yes he said that Britain would benefit from a dictator, a socialist none not a fascist one, he also said that he thought that he would be quite good at the job………. Hitler the first rock star? If you think of Hitler in the terms of the public rallies and adoration of the crowds, then yes, you could make some sort of comparison. However, you really have to be off your head on something to think that comparing Hitler with anything other than the spawn of the devil is a good idea.
So there you have it, paranoia, caused by ingesting the whole of Columbia’s export trade on his own, and spiralling interest in the occult, combined to encourage Bowie to make some outrageous comments and act as a cretin.
Mind you there were some upsides for Bowie. It would seem that the comments broke just before the Bowie tour reached England. Ticket sales were poor before the comments, sold out afterwards. Remember, he had previous for playing the media. There was the Hunky Dory tour, poor sales up until the “I’m Gay” interview in the music press and, hey presto!, tickets sales soar.
So, what is the truth? Probably, drugs and a descent into paranoia. If you do not inhabit your brain for a length of time you are likely to do some strange stuff.
As for the Nazi salute. I saw the clip some time ago and went to look at it again but it has been taken down on YouTube. However, there is an equally shocking clip featuring a Nazi salute by Ringo! (Or he may just be waving to his fan).
Tags: beatles, bowie, bowie's nazi salute, classic rock music, david bowie, On This Day, rock and blues, thin white duke
On This Day – Ladies and Gentlemen, I Give You The Nerk Twins!
Apr 23, 2010 On This Day
On this day in 1960 The Nerk Twins played a couple of gigs at the Fox and Hounds in Caversham. As these were the only bookings fulfilled by the Nerk Twins that in itself would merit an ‘On This Day’ mention, the more so that the location was the world famous Fox and Hounds.
However, the reason why there is some interest in the Nerk Twins was that they later became part of a local pub band called the Beatles. After the artistic peak of playing to 3 people in Paul’s cousin’s pub Paul and John took the almost precedented step of turning their back on fame for the obscurity of rock band mediocracy.
Tags: beatles, classic rock music, john lennon, love rock music, On This Day, paul mccartney, rock and blues, the beatles, the nerk twins
On This Day – One Hit, No Wonder Laurie!
Apr 19, 2010 On This Day
On this day in 1958 Laurie London hit the number one spot in the USA with “He’s Got The Whole World n His Hands”.
It was the one and only time he troubled the top 100 in the states, or any else, much – although he might have been quite big in Germany….
Laurie was 13 when he recorded the dismally up beat, up tempo, get’s up your nose happy clappy record (I am not a fan).
Laurie was not our only successful young teen export to the USA about that time. Jackie Dennis wore a kilt and had spikey hair (is that where Axl got his look?). He was 14 when he recorded ‘La Dee Dah’.
Here’s Jackie at the ripe old age of 15 after he’s found out that boys wear trousers, not skirts…..
This is Laurie doing his best……
It seems that Laurie finally gave up hopes of a long term career in music (good choice) and owned and ran a hotel in the south of England before selling up and moving to London. Jackie is, apparently, a care worker and is happily married. If the comments on YouTube are anything to go by he is a bit of a character and well loved.
Tags: jackie dennis, la dee dah, laurie london, one hit wonders, rock and blues
So What is it About Wreckless Eric?
Apr 16, 2010 Rants
Why does Wreckless Eric deserve a Facebook appreciation society any more than any musical artist?
Is it because he has a great voice, hardly. Is it because he is a great guitarist that wrings all the emotions of your soul from six metal strings? Nope. Is it simply that he is still alive, some sort of national treasure like Johnny Rotten? No, although I am very glad he is still alive, obviously.
Wreckless deserves all the recognition and plaudits available (and more) for one simple reason. He has produced a body of work worthy of recognition as one of the greatest living songwriters to come to prominence in the late 70s. He marries his words to sparse arrangements that have the energy and directness that real rock evoked, and continues to evoke, emotional and conscious responses from his audience. He writes about real life about the pain and joy, the beauty and ugliness of the human condition.
In other words he is an artist working in music and song.
Ex art student (he thought he would meet lots of girls), rejected as a Butlins‘
Redcoat (he thought that would be a way of meeting lots of girls), some time banana quality checker and packer (no girls there) he knows the human condition.
Problems with alcohol, drugs, girls, handling fame and fortune (or no fortune and more notoriety than fame) has shaped his music. From the stunning first song that demanded our attention (Whole Wide World) to Same and the magnificent 33s & 45s via Reconnez Cherie his songs have always touched and moved.
Yet, somehow, he is not an aging rock star lauded for their past with no future like so many of the heroes of that time. He remains an artist of today, still writing singing and performing.
It’s Official (sort of) Whitney is Crap!
Apr 14, 2010 Rants
So the long wait is over. 11 years since her last concerts in the UK and The Big Houston is back.
Trouble is that the H was rubbish. I was not there (of course) but from the reports;
15 minute costume changes
Microphone and technical problems
Out of Key
The backing singers had to sing songs
Her brother sang a song
She talked too much sang too little (but if she was out of key…)
She started sentences that trailed away into………..
Although sad, it is nice to have my prejudices reinforced.
Tags: rock and blues, whitney houston
On This Day – Ashes to Ashes Jerry Garcia
Apr 14, 2010 On This Day
On this day in 1996 some of Jerry Garcia’s ashes were scattered into the bay by the Golden Gate Bridges, San Francisco. The rest had been scattered into the Ganges river at Rishikesh on 4th April (Rishikesh being a holy place for hindus at the foot of the Himalayas and where the Ganges leaves the mountains and begins it long journey to the sea bringing life to large areas of North Eastern India).
Garcia had died of a heart attack at a drug rehab clinic where he was trying, again, to beat his drug habit. Garcia had well known issues with various drugs over a long period. He also had other health conditions, he had fallen into a diabetic coma in 1986. He also suffered from sleep apnea. Not a well bunny in fact.
Best known for his work with The Grateful Dead Garcia undertook several side projects the low point of which is surely playing pedal steel guitar on “Teach Your Children” by Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young. (In my book having anything to do with anything by CSN&Y is a career low for anybody). He worked with a whole range of people including Dylan, Warren Zevon, Country Joe McDonald, Ornette Coleman and many, many others.
With The Grateful Dead he played and toured for 30 years (the so called “Endless Tour”). The touring was only punctuated by rests due to ill health and exhaustion. There is a gig count doing the rounds that puts the total Dead gigs at 2,314. No wonder they were occasionally exhausted and resorted to stimulants……….
A phenomenal guitarist and performer.
Tags: bob dylan, Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, rock and blues, sleep apnea
On This Day – The Stones, Decadent and Awful!
Apr 13, 2010 On This Day
On this day in 1976 the Rolling Stones played 2 concerts in the Palace of Culture and Science building in Warsaw, Poland as part of their European tour. It was the first time the Stones had played behind the Iron Curtain. It was also the last tour that included Brian Jones.
The tickets were handed out to Communist Party members – apparently much to the surprise of the band. I think that the only surprising thing was that the band was surprised. Anyway, the audience was instructed on how to behave. It is true to say that visiting Soviet officials were not impressed with the show. They thought that the Stones were decadent and awful.
On their part, the Stones, fake surprise or not, drove round the streets to give away copies of their records to fans after the show. Whether this was a real gesture of protest or a rather good publicity stunt is not known.
It would be a long time before the Stones visited communist bloc countries again.
Tags: brian jones, classic rock music, love rock music, mick jagger, rock and blues, rolling stones, stones and poland
On This Day – Nat King Cole Attacked
Apr 9, 2010 On This Day
On this day in 1956 Nat King Cole was attacked while on stage in Birmingham Alabama. He was attacked by a group of white segregationists (otherwise known as scum “Stupid Caucasian Uneducated Morons”). They were upset that a couple of years before there had been a landmark ruling (Brown Vs Board of Education). That case had mandated the desegregation of all public schools. The men who stormed the stage that night were some of the remaining members of the White Citizens’ Council. The council had grown quickly when it was formed in 1954 but then dwindled.
This was not Nat King Cole’s first brush with racism, how could it be in the atmosphere of 1950s USA? Remember that in spite of the desegregation law passed by the Truman administration in 1948 the US army did not announce plans to act on the law until 1951 and it was was segregated units fighting liberty and justice in Korea.
Cole had been the first black TV presenter but the show was pulled when he could not get a sponsor for nationwide broadcasting in 1957. He was also subject to objections and abuse when he moved into the fashionable (rich) area of Beverly Hills, but he refused to move.
On this day Cole was told that there would be trouble but he still decided to go on stage. When at 7 o’clock he strode onto stage where the UK’s Ted Heath band (mainly white) was waiting to accompany him there was a fair amount of tension back stage. The security was tight with local police being very visible. A little way into the show the trouble began and Cole had to leave the stage.
After 30 or 40 minutes he returned to complete the show.
Tags: nat king cole, rock and blues
On This Day – Ravi is 90!
Apr 7, 2010 On This Day
Ravi Shankar celebrates his 90th birthday today.
Best known by the wider western world for his connection with George Harrison and the Beatles Ravi is a master of the sitar. He has received 3 Grammys, played with Yehudi Menuhin. He is a great performer, he is also a noted composer, teacher and writer. Certainly he has done more for Indian music than any other musician.
He began as a dancer touring Europe in his brother’s dance troop and did not start to study the sitar until he was 18. Apart from his music (as if that was enough) he was awarded India’s highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, in 1999, as well as serving in the upper house of the Indian Parliament.
I have been lucky enough to visit India a few times and have witnessed various types and stiles of music and performances from formal religious ceremonies to scratch bands playing together for the joy of music which we all share. The music is complex but accessable formalised but improvised, it has a religious basis but is secular in its appeal.
If you ever get the opportunity I urge you to listen to Ravi and to Indian music in general. You will love it!
Also check out tabla music….
Tags: beatles, george harrison, ravi shankar, rock and blues
