Monday, December 29, 2008

Leiston Aces


Here's a blast from the past. Continuing the theme established by the Francis Bacon painting below, this is a picture from my cycle speedway days, when I used to ride for Leiston Aces. Look at those bikes! This was way back before single speed bikes could ever be considered vaguely fashionable. I remember my bike was given to me by a bloke my dad worked with: check out the straight front forks! I don't recall whether they were supposed to give me any kind of advantage, but I wasn't a great advertisement for their beneficial qualities if they did have any. It was all about gating as I remember and in this picture Dean Freeman, whose Dad was the landlord of the Royal Standard, is making a flying start. To my left is Robert Adams - he was in the Fifth Element you know, and was also the bassist in the band we formed at school, The S-Men, as well as the original line-up of Heave. On the starting line, having just let the tape fly, is the legendary Eric 'The Shout' Cracknell, and one of his sons, I think Mark, is to my right. In the background is another Leiston legend, Skid the window cleaner, recently seen on TV during Leiston Town FC's FA Cup run. I reckon this picture was taken in early '78, which doesn't do much for my punk rock credentials. If you look very carefully though, you can just make out a Stranglers badge on Robert's jacket.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Francis Bike-on


Made it to the Francis Bacon exhibition at the Tate in its last few days, and it was well worth it, despite the irksome crowds. I particularly enjoyed his studies of Pope Innocent X, which I find very sinister indeed. I also really like the paintings he did not long before he died, still going strong in his early eighties. If I had to choose an absolute favourite though, it would be this, his portait of George Dyer riding a bicycle (1966).

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Saddle up!




Cracking live session yesterday from the autoharp wielding Mary Epworth & the Jubilee Band, whose current Wicker Man-esque single 'The Saddle Song', is one of my favourite releases of the year. Here's the video:



They also played a live version of their next single, 'Black Doe', which sounded equally fantastic. Lucy John Paul was also in session and you can see both her and Mary this Thursday, 18th December at the Gladstone in Lant St, SE1.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Last of the Summer Wine


The Crops may be closed for business but the Cropsmas social continues. This year's bunfight featured Mark Shaw as guest of honour, making it a men of Heave reunion: a kind of AGM for veterans of the indie wars.

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Monday, December 08, 2008

My bass or yours?








Impending fatherhood and mountains of marking have made the Badger a bit slack on the blogging front once again of late, so here, better late than never, are the last two Saturdays. Pub Pop at the Miller was a cornucopia of remarkable bassists, with Georgie from Plug playing the casio with her feet in a most impressive display of multi-tasking. Not to be outdone, Rose Kemp's bass player opted for the over-arm approach to his instrument, to very good effect, it must be said. T-Lo and I were on the brand new wheels of steel, with Ugly Pop not being killed, but unceremoniously resurrected.Ye Gods: Life in a Northern Town, anyone?
Left With Pictures and the Soft were live and direct on last Saturday's show. The Soft are something of a super group, featuring not only the lovely Rich Nuvo once of the Teens but also ex-Bibster, Chris Kaos, now splendidly renamed Chris Kiosk. Champion!