Monday 31 December 2012

BAIBS Monday 31/12/12

Last blog of the year yadeyadeya. As previously mentioned I'm no great fan of New Year's Eve. Tomorrow's just Tuesday but with a lie in for me. Christmas I love, New Year I'm just waiting for everything to go back to normal. For instance you can't tell by reading but there was an awfully long pause between just and Tuesday as I worked out what day it is.

Far more importantly for me my youngest is 13 today. I now have 3 teenage daughters. Oh bloody hell! Anyway, Happy Birthday Charlotte. She did have the decency to post a facebook status this morning saying 'I'm now a stroppy teenager.' Least I'm prepared. In a few years time she'll have some awesome New Year's Eve parties, what's annoying at the moment, and has been for the last 13 years, is the 'Oh it's a present for Christmas and her birthday.' No it's not. It's you being tight and/or lazy. Tell you what, when it's your daughter's birthday in June I wont get her a present, I'll get her one at Christmas and it can be for both. You know who you are.

Rant over.

So New Year means the New Year's Honours list. I'm not sure how I feel about the honours system. I know as a teenager I used to love reading the honours list and seeing if any of my heroes had got the recognition they deserved. I was particularly delighted when Geoff Boycott got an OBE. Less delighted when my mate told me it stood for Obnoxious Boring Egotist. But do we really need to honour our music/film/sports stars for basically being good at their job. Even worse the faceless civil servants who seem to hog the knighthoods.

The charity workers etc I have no problem with. Ben Parkinson's MBE for his courage, inspiration and charitable deeds is one of the most deserved honours I've ever known. I had the pleasure of interviewing Ben on the radio a couple of years ago. It was truly humbling. Watching Ben carry the Olympic torch was the definition of inspirational.

Sir Bradley Wiggins is an interesting one. Let's bring back jousting. On bikes. Him and Sir Chris Hoy facing off. Sir Brad may want to ditch the mod target motif he's so proud of though. Jousting with a target on your chest is just asking for it.

Excellent chat on air this morning with the brilliant Rita Payne. They release their debut album this Saturday and having had a sneak preview it's quality. One of the most enjoyable live bands you'll ever see too.

I was gonna do a kinda review of the year but it's been a busy one. I've gotta play drunken bongos tonight and don't want to spend all day doing this so just to say saw some great gigs and heard some great new music. Of course it goes without saying I saw some crap gigs and heard some awful music too!

Said goodbye to two good friends. R.I.P. Guy Hunter and Pete Meredith. 2013 will be a duller place without you both.

Made a new close friend in the enigmatic Richard Pierce.

And on October 17th had a first date with a young lady I call Cherry Blossom whom I love very much.

So what does 2013 have to offer? How the bloody hell should I know!? All I'll say is I expect a sleep deprived Easter.

Be safe tonight people and I'll catch you....

Laters

SS

Playlist Monday 31/12/12

Tom Hark - Elias and his Zig Zag Jive Flutes
Made Of Stone - The Stone Roses
Once In A Lifetime - Talking Heads
Babylon's Burning - The Ruts
Stand In Line - The Cornerstones
She Comes In Fall - Inspiral Carpets
Molly Gray - DN AllStars
Local Boy In The Photograph - Stereophonics
Cum On Feel The Noize - Slade
Paradise City - Guns 'n' Roses
Somewhere - The Pilots
Babooshka - Kate Bush
Follow Me - Muse
Alternative Ulster - Stiff Little Fingers
Last Train To Transcentral - KLF
Baby I Love You - The Ramones
Sun - Two Door Cinema Club
Never Knew Her Name - Madness
It Hangs - The Darlingtons
Kings For The Weekend - Missing Andy
Cool Zombie - Adam Ant
Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve
Right Now - Bang Bang Romeo
Mardy Bum - Arctic Monkeys
After You - Pulp
The Killing Moon - Echo and the Bunnymen
Jeremiah - Rita Payne
I Love You My Dear - Rita Payne
Family Ramble - Rita Payne
On The Pull - Straight Razor Angels
Country Girl - Primal Scream
Swords Of A Thousand Men - Tenpole Tudor
I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance - Black Kids
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - The Police
Post Break Up Sex - The Vaccines
Adultery - Little Comets
Break On Through (To The Other Side) - The Doors
Egyptian Reggae - Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers





Friday 28 December 2012

BAIBS Friday 28/12/12

Latest smartphone mishap: A txt to Rob Dannatt that said 'Still winking prawn.' It was meant to say still working on it. What's most alarming is Rob didn't reply for 2 hours so he was either trying to work it out or thought it was a perfectly natural txt.

Today has just confused me immensely. Just doesn't feel like Friday. Christmas should be moved so we just get a long weekend every year and we know where we stand. They do it for Easter. What makes Christmas so special it wont accept change? And don't give me that our Lord's birthday nonsense. We all know he was born in October or something. Don't know why he moved it. Probably hoping for a long weekend before New Year or something.

I've never been a massive fan of New Year. I've been dragged, quivering into the new year before screaming, 'No, not another one!' It's much less stressful just to call it Tuesday. Anyway that's something else that moved. Up until 1752(ish) New Year's day was March 25th. (My phone just called first footing, first footling. I prefer that). The Scots, obviously eyeing up a party (and potential long weekend) moved New Year's day to January 1st in 1600. Same as the smoking ban, we always try it north of the border first. I'm not sure either worked out too well.

See you all know I like a cigarette, yes I'm addicted but I do enjoy it, but being a smoker now is like being a second class citizen. Was in a pub one Christmas night. A room full of people who'd  been on sprouts and Guinness all day smelt a lot worse than my cheeky little fag. They should have stood outside and let me have the warmth.

A (normal) weekend beckons. Tonight in Haworth for the Nexux Noise Christmas jam at The Blacksmith's Arms. That's gonna be messy. No Tom Hark tomorrow, Rovers away at Preston. Tricky one that.

Excuse me a minute. The towels in the washing machine would appear to have transformed into a bag of pebbles.

Back to the weekend. Apart from tonight a quiet one. Can't wait. Monday's show should be a good un with the awesome Rita Payne joining me live prior to their album launch.

Laters

SS

Playlist Friday 28/12/12

Tom Hark - The Piranhas
Don't Let Me Down Gently - The Wonderstuff
Song 2 - Blur
I Wish I Was Someone Better - Blood Red Shoes
Sing For The Deaf - Missing Andy
Bats - The Darlingtons
(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais - The Clash
Police And Thieves - Junior Murvin
Devil Woman - Neon Lion
Temptation - New Order
Geraldine - Glasvegas
One In Ten - UB40
The Pretender - Foo Fighters
Since Yesterday - Strawberry Switchblade
Monster - Automatic
Stay Beautiful - Manic Street Preachers
I Didn't See It Coming - Belle And Sebastian
Feel It Up - Clockwork Radio
Where's Your Head At - Basement Jaxx
Down In The Tube Station At Midnight - The Jam
Ho Hey - The Lumineers
If I Ever Stray - Frank Turner
I Still Believe - Frank Turner
Special Brew - Bad Manners
After You - Pulp
Like A Dancer - The Enemy
South Australia - The Pogues
Message In A Bottle - The Police
Fictional State - To Kill A King
Elysium - Section 60
Streets Of Philadelphia - Bruce Springsteen
Munich - The Editors
The Cave - Mumford and Sons
Never Knew Your Name - Madness
Pretty In Pink - The Psychedelic Furs
Hard To Handle - The Black Crowes
Crazy - Nexus Noise
Wouldn't It Be Nice - The Beach Boys
Never Fade Away - Spector
Life On Mars - David Bowie
Egyptian Reggae - Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers

Thursday 27 December 2012

BAIBS Thursday 27/12/12

And so that was Christmas. Loved it. I'm sat here typing, eating Christmas cake and wearing my new top, socks and slippers. I'm at an age now were socks are a welcome gift. For years now I've done the standard only buy black socks trick but I still end up with odd ones. How can you lose a sock? And somehow when I wash them I manage to turn them either grey, blue or brown, but only one at a time. Never a pair.

Got some new trainers too yet still halfway into work this morning the laces had come undone. I think this proves the fault lies with me and not with the footwear.

And I got a new smartphone. As you all know I'm not at home to Mr. Technology. So far today I've rang my voicemail four times, 999 three times, took a picture of my finger with my foot in the background, whilst walking through what I think is Elmfield Park and sent a txt to Cherry Blossom that says, 'Thank you Flowers Missouri.' I also managed to answer an X-Factor related question with the txt, 'My nephew washes in an egg factory.' See it's got this dictate your txts function but I cant understand my voice so the phone's got no chance.

For Christmas I gave Cherry Blossom the horn.


Cant do Christmas without an innuendo. Actually I think it's an awesome present. Gave a Famous Villain a heart attack in ASDA with it!

Oh and before regular followers question me eating Christmas cake it's pretty much a fruit free cake.

Gotta go. Just noticed the reindeer didn't eat the reindeer food we generously sprinkled. Better clean that up.

And need to explain to my brother what the txt, 'Did you hack angry Christians?' means.

Laters

SS

Playlist Thursday 27/12/12

Tom Hark - The Piranhas
American Slang - The Gaslight Anthem
Temptation - New Order
7 O' Clock - The Quireboys
Shadow - Gringo Star
All Alone On Christmas - Darlene Love and The E Street Band
Everything - The Darlingtons
Tonight - Iggy Pop
Gold On The Ceiling - The Black Keys
Bubbles - Biffy Clyro
Revolution - The Beatles
Never Knew Your Name - Madness
My World - Secret Affair
To Be Like - China Rats
Lip Up Fatty - Bad Manners
Quiet Night In - All The Young
A Song For Lovers - Richard Ashcroft
Too Shy - Kajagoogoo
Born Of Frustration - James
Bring On The Dancing Horses - Echo and the Bunnymen
Chemical - Bang Bang Romeo
I Will Wait - Mumford and Sons
Three Minute Hero - The Selector
Follow Me - Muse
Ignorance -Paramore
Teenage Icon - The Vaccines
Another Love - Tom Odell
Everlong - Foo Fighters
Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles
Rise Up - The Skints
Senses Working Overtime - XTC
Slow Hands - Interpol
Whip It - Devo
Sultans Of Swing - Dire Straits
I Can See For Miles - The Who
Caught By The Fuzz - Supergrass
Green Eyes - Coldplay
Spinning Plates - Middleman
Marlene On The Wall - Suzanne Vega
Wild Wild Life - Talking Heads
Egyptian Reggae - Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers



Tuesday 25 December 2012

BAIBS Tuesday 25/12/12

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!!!


A massive thank you to everyone who takes time to listen to the show and to read this blog. Have a great Christmas. 

Presents opened, croissants ate. Time to go wassailing.

Laters

SS

Playlist Christmas Day 2012

In Dulci Jubilo = Mike Oldfield
Oh Come All Ye Faithful
The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
Winter Wonderland - The Euryhthmics
The Way We’re Made (Made In England) - Missing Andy
I Always Knew - The Vaccines
I Believe In Father Christmas - Greg Lake
It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Andy Williams
Let It Snow - Dean Martin
Ding Dong Merrily On High
Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea
Pipes Of Peace - Paul McCartney
Adore Me Dear - Bang Bang Romeo
All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
Away In A Manger
2000 Miles - The Pretenders
Do They Know It’s Christmas - Band Aid
Lead The Way - The 48ks
Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag - James Brown
Antarctica - Sound Of Guns
Christmas, Baby Please Come Home - Darlene Love
I Was Born On Christmas Day - St. Etienne
Step Into Christmas - Elton John
Once In Royal David’s City
Pictures Of You - The Cure
Last Christmas - White Valentine
Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
Chemicals - Various Cruelties
Another Love - Tom Odell
A Wombling Merry Christmas - The Wombles
The Power Of Love - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Lonely This Christmas - Mud
Frosty The Snowman - The Jackson 5
Deck The Halls
Is This Our Day In The Sunshine - Section 60
Minnie The Moocher - Cab Calloway
Stop The Cavalry - Jona Lewie
Mary’s Boy Child - Boney M
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Viva La Vida - Coldplay
I Cant Stand Up For Falling Down - Elvis Costello
A Heart That Can You Can Borrow - Ian McNabb
Fairytale Of New York - The Pogues ft Kirsty MacColl
Merry Christmas Everybody - Slade
Little Drummer Boy - Johnny Cash
White Christmas - Bing Crosby

Monday 24 December 2012

BAIBS Monday 24/12/12

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a blogger. I've finally stirred for another late blog. Today's been a slow day, the after effects of The 48ks Christmas Extravaganza last night, so it's took me ages of doing nothing to get to a point were I can do nothing.
Still, if it's not done now it's staying not done and Christmas will just have to do without whatever it is that's not done.

A very fragile show this morning. 5.30am is no time to get up when you've been on free beer the night before. Thanks Paul and Stew for your hospitality! As I said 5.30am is no time to get up which is why the snooze button got some hammer and I got up at 6.20 and had a very rushed stagger into work.

For those following Santa he's just reached Mumbai.

I had the pleasure of comparing last nights gig with my colleague Rob Dannatt. I'm guessing The Leopard crowd just weren't ready for The Rob n Si Comedy Roadshow. At least the bands went down well. As I've said before when The 48ks are on fire few, if any, can touch them. And more than any band I know they will have you smiling, dancing and singing. Catchy ain't the word! If there's any bands out there after disarming hooks and harmonies ask The 48ks. They're masters at it.

Santa's in Karachi.

It's a credit to the band that both Steve and Ryan messaged me today apologising for the shoddy show. Well if you cant have a couple of beers at Christmas when can you? And a shoddy 48ks are still immense. If they were shoddy no-one told the Leopard throng. The crowd lapped it up, right from Walking In The Air leading into Marching Feet all the way to final song Fortune Teller and a rough sing-a-long of Do They Know It's Christmas. Yes it was chaotic at times, frantic and hectic too. It was brilliant! Just a shame a fat dj invaded the stage to join in on Lazy Boy with dodgy tambourine playing and even dodgier singing.

Santa's just left Kabul.

So a peaceful Christmas Eve night beckons. I'm seriously doing nothing! Well that's the plan. I've failed to do nothing for a long time now. I'll let you know. Proper Christmas show tomorrow with carols and everything.

Nothing left to say except have a great day tomorrow people, tell the ones you love how much they mean to you and raise a glass for absent friends.

Laters

SS

Santa's heading for Dubai.

Playlist Monday 24/12/12

Fairytale Of New York - The Pogues ft Kirsty MacColl
Common People - Pulp
2000 Miles - The Pretenders
Fortune Teller - The 48ks
Boxer Beat - JoBoxers
Layla - Derek and the Dominoes
If I Had A Million Dollars - Barenaked Ladies
Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles
Papillion - The Editors
Cool Zombie - Adam Ant
King Rocker - Generation X
Bats - The Darlingtons
Never Knew Her Name - Madness
Poison Ivy - The Lambrettas
Keep The Car Running - Arcade Fire
Rock n Roll Star - Oasis
Geraldine - Glasvegas
Motorcycle Emptiness - Manic Street Preachers
Silent Night - Sinead O'Connor
Pipes Of Peace - Paul McCartney
My Very Favourite Stalker - The Adulescents UK
Happy Christmas (War Is Over) - John Lennon
Black Chandelier - Biffy Clyro
Smooth - New Killer Shoes
A Certain Romance - Arctic Monkeys
Antarctica - Sound Of Guns
Chevy Thunder - Spector
Candy - Paulo Nutini
All Alone On Christmas - Darlene Love
Like A Dancer - The Enemy
Hey Mr. Christmas - Showaddywaddy
Boys Don't Cry - The Cure
One More Shot - The Rolling Stones
Men's Needs - The Cribs
I Saw You Blink - Stornoway
Ace Of Spades - Motorhead
I Always Knew - The Vaccines
Regret - New Order
A Man Is In Love - The Waterboys
Egyptian Reggae - Jonathen Richman and the Modern Lovers

Saturday 22 December 2012

BAIBS Friday 21/12/12

Well as late blogs go this is right up there. Friday's blog at 10am on a Saturday morning but as I mentioned on Thursday, Friday was gonna be a busy day, Mablethorpe to be fed too much by the in-laws and not put lampshades up. Plus now we know the world's survived it's safe for me to carry on with this drivel knowing there's still a civilisation out there to blog at.

Saying that today is the last Saturday before Christmas so being a bloke I've decided to start my Christmas shopping in earnest today and I may not survive that. You all know my shopping tactics but also my inability to choose presents and I fear today is not a day to browse.

So Friday's show, seems so long ago now. Hang fire, a reminder's just gone off on my phone. Just says 'meat.' I've no idea! Throughout most shows I'm usually having twitter conversations with my friend Richard Pierce. These normally take a surreal turn. When it becomes a threeway (Richard's bad influence there again) it gets very surreal indeed. Yesterday became a chat with an author and an bookshop owner about fish and hats, possibly fish in hats. If my performance on the radio appears distracted at any point that is why!

Had the joy of The 48ks joining me on the show for a live session and a chat. Two things about these guys: When they're on fire there's few, if any, better in Donny and I think they're actually better than they give themselves credit for. They are immense fun (Steve's bad jokes aside) both on and off stage but sometimes need that kick up the arse to get them heading in the right direction.

I'm so glad they're a quality band though cos they're all mates and it's hard to tell your mate his music's crap! Singer Ryan has been a mate for getting on ten years now and I think I can finally tell him I thought Libawalks (the band he was in when we met) were awful. Thankfully I can now look him in the eye and truthfully say The 48ks are brilliant. So thanks for the session guys, sorry we had no tea Kato and I'll see you all Sunday.

Got a txt from my brother yesterday. This is a momentous event. We both have an aversion to phones, live miles apart and he doesn't do the social networking thing so txting is pretty much our only form of contact. I like txting, my brother less so, so txts are few and far between. I once txt him a question and got a reply two months later that just said, 'Yes, Hampshire.' I have no idea what I'd asked him. He also doesn't see txting as a proper conversation so just stops mid chat. To me txting is like talking to someone and if you're having a conversation you don't just walk off halfway through. So I'm expecting an answer to the question, 'Do you fancy a beer over Christmas?' sometime around March.

So the weekend. Managed to totally avoid Mad Friday. Good. I hate it, my least favourite day of the year when I worked in pubs. Today is Tom Hark day down at The Keepmoat, Rovers at home to MK Dons. Need a win to bounce back from the heavy defeat last week and hopefully me and Rob wont have any technical issues. Tonight I'm at The Garage for The Dirty Dancefloors Christmas bash. Really tight covers band and great fun. Just get writing some tunes Mr. Foster! The Cherry Blossom is at some swanky works do at the racecourse while I slum it.

Tomorrow is The 48ks Christmas gig at The Leopard with The Starkins, Jack's House and the frankly awesome Beast supporting. Oh and your's truly as the compare without compare. It's gonna be messy. Not too messy I hope, live radio Monday morning. Never good with a hangover.

OK, Christmas shopping. My heart's just sunk.

Laters

SS

Playlist Friday 21/12/12

Soul Man - Sam and Dave
Antarctica - Sound Of Guns
Mrs. Robinson - The Lemonheads
Ceremony - New Order
Never Fade Away - Spector
524 Fidelio - The Wedding Present
Truth Is - The Levellers
Roses In The Hospital - Manic Street Preachers
Shadow - Gringo Star

THE 48ks LIVE SESSION

It Cant Be Me
Feel About You

Fortune Teller - The 48ks
To Be Like - China Rats
Undercover Martyn - Two Door Cinema Club
(All I Wanted Was) Danger - The Milk
Altogether Now - The Farm
Smooth - New Killer Shoes
Take Her Back - The Pigeon Detectives
Chi Town - The Cribs
Heart Will Haunt - The Bedroom Hour
Stacy's Mom - Fountains Of Wayne
Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon - Urge Overkill
The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
Two Princes - Spin Doctors
Another Love - Tom Odell
Fluorescent Adolescent - Arctic Monkeys
Police And Thieves - The Clash
Seven Seas - Echo and the Bunnymen
So Long And Thanks For all The Fish - Neil Hannon
Slumdog Millionaire - The Beeds
If I Ever Stray - Frank Turner
Why You So Cold - Wet Nuns
Genius Of Love - Tom Tom Club
Best Of Friends - Palma Violets
Subterranean Homesick Blues - Bob Dylan
If You Wanna - The Vaccines
Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys
She Comes In Fall - Inspiral Carpets
Don't Go - Yazoo
Egyptian Reggae - Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers

Thursday 20 December 2012

BAIBS Thursday 20/12/12

Another speedy blog today for a plethora of reasons:

1: I feel sick, have a banging headache and my brain is refusing to think about any blogging subjects. It just wants to moan.

2: I'm pre-recording the New Year's Day show this afternoon and only have an hour before the studio's free.

3: Sine FM Christmas meal tonight (sickness permitting) so no time after the pre-record to blog.

4: I'm lazy.

I'm leaving big               spaces so the blog looks bigger.

As previously discussed I'm technically inept so accidentally clicked a link on here yesterday that gave me a breakdown on where this blog is read, so hello to the Russian, Norwegian and Belgian, the 2 Frenchman, the, (what's the collective noun for Australians? We'll go with a Fosters), the Fosters of Australians and the many, many Americans. And for the German who got in touch a twonk is just a way of insulting someone without swearing.

Oh and re yesterday's blog, artistic licence Nidge!

So got a lift to the radio this morning (Thank you Cherry Blossom) and I'm now sat in the office with coffee and mince pies hence no precarious journey to report. One thing I did miss from yesterday's travel details was the trainspotter. I fully appreciate everyone should have a hobby but every time I walked down Balby Road there was a guy on step ladders taking photos of trains. I don't get it. They all look the same to me. Trains, not trainspotters. Although saying that...!  And he stayed up the ladders no matter how bad the weather got. Now that's commitment. The one time he did get off his ladders he stepped in something he really didn't want to. Should have stayed where he was. Or not got up there in the first place.

Five days to Christmas, presuming the Mayans are wrong. Everyone walking round town has that haggered I'm never gonna get it all done look. If the Mayans are right stop fretting! I go for the resigned I was never in with a chance of getting it all done so what the hell look.

Does anyone know what time (GMT) the world is ending tomorrow? I'm going to the in-laws in Mablethorpe straight after tomorrow's show so it's gonna be a really late blog and I don't want to blog at 5pm only for the world to end at 6pm. That would just be annoying.

OK off to put on a hungover voice and pretend it's New Year's Day.

Playlist Thursday 20/12/12

Never Knew Your Name - Madness
I Always Knew - The Vaccines
Papillion - The Editors
Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick - Ian Dury and the Blockheads
Just To See You Run - Bang Bang Romeo
Lose Control - Courteneers
One Way Or Another - Blondie
One Drop - Public Image Ltd
Back Of My Hand - The Jags
Fix Me - Kiziah and the Kings
The Way We're Made (Made In England) - Missing Andy
Bats - The Darlingtons
Heroes - David Bowie
La Tristesse Durera (Scream To A Sigh) - Manic Street Preachers
Lead The Way - The 48ks
Hard To Handle - The Black Crowes
Miss You - The Rolling Stones
God Save The Queen - Sex Pistols
Hold On - Don Broco
(All I Wanted Was) Danger - The Milk
Rag Doll - Aerosmith
Mack The Knife - Bobby Darin
Rebel Yell - Billy Idol
Lust For Life - Iggy Pop
Is This Christmas - The Wombats
It's The End Of The World As We Know It - R.E.M.
Like A Dancer - The Enemy
Wrapped Up In A Carpet - Tribes
The Power Of Love - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Feel It Up - Clockwork Radio
Sexuality - Billy Bragg
The Great Leap Forward - Billy Bragg
Gangsters - The Specials
Beach Day - Beach Day
Love Is A Wonderful Colour - The Icicle Works
Hungry Heart - Bruce Springsteen
Ready To Die - Famous Villains
America - Razorlight
45 - The Gaslight Anthem
Egyptian Reggae - Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers

Wednesday 19 December 2012

BAIBS Wednesday 19/12/12

Right, pay attention cos I'm in a hurry. Back at Sine FM Towers later to step in to Mark Kelly's shoes and do The Home Run Show for him. He's covered for me enough times and it's Christmas so thought I should. Mark's been known to dip into the charts from time to time for his play list. Cant see me doing that without swearing on air and that's just not the done thing. Not sure what Mark's up to today. Probably buying chickens.

So because of this I needed an uneventful dash home. Did ok through town. Avoided the two buskers. One playing a harp. Now the harp is a beautiful instrument but when fed through a tiny guitar amp it sounds horrific. Like a camel battling with two half bricks. The second busker had a backing track and a mic and was destroying Tracy Chapman's Baby Can I Hold You as I walked past. There's just no need. Boyzone successfully destroyed it years ago. AND a backing track and a mic is not busking, it's karaoke!

I like buskers, I used to busk myself. I played bongos in Leicester Square while my mate Nidge did all the clever stuff with a guitar and a voice. We were never overly brilliant, though one night an American tourist did offer us £50 to play some Elvis. One quick run through of His Latest Flame and we're off to the pub to spend our hard earned. Someone tried to sell me drugs who it turns out was an undercover policeman though I still think he was actually trying to sell me drugs. We all argued over who said the Shaw Taylor joke first (you had to be there) then went our merry way.

Anyway I'd like a return to acoustic guitars and singing from our buskers please. Maybe DMBC can look into it.

Through town and onto Balby Road when I got hit by a bike. Again!! On the pavement, going at a rate of knots until he ran into me. He swore, got back on his bike and rode off straight into a car. The driver got out and they both swore. Thought maybe I should join in. I didn't. The cyclist rode off again and the driver looked at me and just said 'Tuck in, fool.' I thought it was a dinner invitation at first till I realised I'd misheard him.

Past Balby Road park and a final mention of leaves: All the leaves have been swept into what can only be called a leaf hill. About 20' by 12' across and 5' high. Before the year's out I'm so jumping into that.

Home straight now when I got hit by a window. No front gardens on Balby Road and some guy just opened a downstairs window wide open just as I walked past. My nose can vouch for it being toughened glass. My fault apparently. More swearing. Who knew it was the season of goodwill.

Got home and the bin's back. Either the thief read yesterday's blog and felt guilty or the bin had just fancied a break and buggered off for a while. A winter break, and why not. I cant imagine being a bin's the most rewarding of jobs.

Off to straighten my nose.

Laters

Playlist Wednesday 19/12/12

Whiskey In The Jar - Metallica
Hold The Magic - Officer Kicks
In Between Days - The Cure
Battleship Chains - The Georgia Satellites
Another Love - Tom Odell
Never Knew Your Name - Madness
Stranger At Your Door - You Addiction
Ho Hey - The Lumineers
Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) - Darlene Love
Fortune Teller - The 48ks
Owner Of A Lonely Heart - Yes
Black Chandelier - Biffy Clyro
Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard
Keep The Car Running - Arcade Fire
Bankrobber - The Clash
Redemption Song - Joe Strummer
The KKK Took My Baby Away - The Ramones
My Hero - Foo Fighters
Mary - The Adulescents UK
High On A Hill - Ian McNabb
Dead And Gone - The Black Keys
Have A Nice Day - Stereophonics
Is This Christmas - The Wombats
Take Me Away - Steve Foster
Teenage Kicks - The Undertones
Wetsuit - The Vaccines
Memories - Jery At Controls
Where The Streets Have No Name - U2
Best Of Friends - Palma Violets
Step Into Christmas - Elton John
Monsters And Angels - Voice Of The Beehive
Love Me Two Times - The Doors
Cool Zombie - Adam Ant
Town Called Malice - The Jam
Love Train - The O'Jays
The Jean Genie - David Bowie
The Passenger - Iggy Pop
Lithium - Nirvana
2-4-6-8 Motorway - Tom Robinson Band
Panic - The Smiths
Roxanne - The Police
Egyptian Reggae - Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers

Tuesday 18 December 2012

BAIBS Tuesday 18/12/12

Let's start by answering a few questions I've been asked recently.

1: Bigger All Important Breakfast Show (BAIBS). get it now?
2: The Boomtown Rats.
3: Wensleydale with cranberries.
4: Between 9 and 18.
5: The Boomtown Rats.
6: I've no idea.
7: Def Leppard with an apple pie.
8: Hampshire. Kent if it's a leap year.
9: An unduly large llama.
10: The Boomtown Rats.

Glad we've got that out the way.

Our bin went missing about a month ago. I've just been all down the back alley looking for it or the new bin ordered from DMBC. No sign of either at all. There were about 4 other people having the same problem. I then realised I was in the wrong alley and tried again in the right one. I blame yesterday's events for my befuddledness. Same outcome in the right alley but with 6 people bin hunting this time. There's obviously a spree of bin thefts. If anyone in a Balby pub offers you a second hand black wheelie, no questions asked, can you let me know please.

I mentioned sometime ago about politics in music but I'll be honest I've been avoiding the issue. I know what I'm like for going off on tangents and political ranting so thought maybe I should avoid it. If you still feel I should avoid it you may want to skip to apricot frying later in the blog.

I played Peter Gabriel's Biko on today's show. Steve Biko was an anti-apartheid activist, born this day in 1946 and murdered in a South African police cell in 1977. He was beaten and tortured which resulted into him slipping into a coma. Police claimed he committed suicide by going on hunger strike despite the multiple and massive injuries to his head. No-one was ever charged for his murder. When I first heard Biko I was at that 'What you rebelling against? What you got?' stage and it's the first song that made me politically aware. As Billy Bragg said 'If you've got a black list I wanna be on it.'

I played it some time ago on the radio and received an email saying music and politics should never mix. I flippantly replied on air that music should always be about politics. Part of the problem here is a lot of people assume that a 'political song' basically has a left wing be a socialist mantra going through it. This is rarely the case. Biko itself is about the horrors of apartheid, the murder of an innocent man and a calling to stand up and be counted. A longing for justice not socialism. A political song should make you think, whether you agree with the sentiment or not, it's about making people aware. Nothing more. It's a personal choice if the listener, or writer for that matter, act on what they've heard.

As for my 'music should always be about politics' statement this is obviously not possible. Probably our most political songwriter, Billy Bragg (Between The Wars, The Great Leap Forward, Scousers Never Buy The Sun) still writes songs such as Walk Away Renee - a story of falling in love, thinking it would be forever, then falling out of love. It could be argued this is the politics of love of course.

Chumbawumba were a hugely political band but there biggest hit was a song about drinking.

Madness have always been massively political but their message seemed to get lost in the whole commercial fairgroundness of their singles. Embarrassment was written by Lee Thompson about a member of his family who gave birth to a half-caste child and the fallout that followed, One Better Day (homelessness) and Michael Caine (supergrasses in Northern Ireland) were all political songs who's message never really got across. I urge you to check out Blue Skinned Beast off The Rise And Fall album. An excellent anti-war (in this case The Falklands) song.

I told you I'd ramble. My point, my view, is if a songwriter has a strong viewpoint on ANY subject they're in the perfect position to make people aware. More than anyone else in the public eye. Journalists and politicians are no longer trusted and soap box street preachers are dismissed as Manic. Ian McNabb could stand on a street corner and rant about the banks and fat cats that have brought this country to it's knees or he could write a song like High On A Hill (check that one out too) and make far more people listen.

I personally feel it's more important than ever given this government's divide and conquer domestic policy.

Apparently my good friend Bo got home from his gig Saturday night and decide to poach an egg. It was the healthy option. Given the bottle of red he'd consumed that night I'm not sure any kind of healthy option was really relevant. Still, he poached an egg, with no water. Chaos. Should have stuck with the unhealthy frying option. My mother used to bake regularly and there'd often be an unused egg in a cup in the fridge waiting to be used in some cake. I came home drunk one night, peckish as per, and spied such an egg in the fridge. That'll do thinks I and proceeded to fry said egg only for it just refuse point blank to fry properly. I gave up and went to bed. My mum woke me next morning and asked why I'd been trying to fry an apricot.

Spell check wants me to change befuddledness to bloodletting!

Laters

SS

Playlist Tuesday 18/12/12

Roxette - Dr. Feelgood
Temptation - New Order
So Here We Are - Bloc Party
Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid
Never Knew Your Name - Madness
Big Sur - The Thrills
Born Of Frustration - James
Bring On The Dancing Horses - Echo and the Bunnymen
Molly Gray - Sick Note Tez
Time For Heroes -The Libertines
Dancing Makes Her Happy - Jery At Controls
Fairytale Of New York - The Pogues ft Kirsty MacColl
Walking Down Madison - Kirsty MacColl
A Song For Lovers - Richard Ashcroft
Antarctica - Sound Of Guns
We've Gotta Get out Of This Place - The Animals
Somewhere - The Pilots
No You Girls - Franz Ferdinand
I'm Waiting For The Man - The Velvet Underground
Always Like This - Bombay Bicycle Club 
Mr. E's Beautiful Blues - Eels
Don't Know Why - The Beeds
Ship Of Fools - World Party
Hush - Kula Shaker
Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
Biko - Peter Gabriel
Song For The Deaf - Missing Andy
Everything - The Darlingtons
It Cant Be Me - The 48ks
Rip It Up - Orange Juice
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - U2
Along For The Ride - AVIT Blues Band
Time To Pretend - MGMT
One More Shot - The Rolling Stones
Start Me Up - The Rolling Stones
All These Things I've Done - The Killers
Taste It - Jake Bugg
A Certain Romance - Arctic Monkeys
Egyptian Reggae - Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers

Monday 17 December 2012

BAIBS Monday 17/12./12

I'll be honest, today really hasn't gone as planned at all. I'm blogging late again and a little bit worse for wear. Who invented Christmas drinks? What's wrong with just drinks? I know where I am with them. They're not out the blue or at odd times. Christmas drinks are sprung upon you with no time for mental preparation. It's all Steve Holmes fault. Working abroad doesn't give you the right to drag me to the pub when you're home and make me drink all day!

Still, we nailed Countdown with subtitles in Cask Corner.

The day started badly. Alarm went off at half 5, woke up at half 6. I'm lucky to have a girlfriend who takes me to work at that ungodly hour at stupidly short notice and then picks me up again 8 hours later when I'm drunk. Again, blame Steve Holmes and his sneaky I'm paying ploy.

So we've had another weekend. Friday night was epic.

Quick pause to acknowledge the txt that there's no butter in this town.

Bang Bang Romeo at Social Bar on Friday were just immense. See yesterday's blog for a full review. I'm still buzzing though. Saturday was Tom Hark day at the Keepmoat and a disastrous day on and off the pitch. On the pitch Rovers got beat 4-1 and deservedly so sadly. Off the pitch anything that could go wrong did. The Vikettes music didn't play. They stood on the pitch waiting to dance while me and Rob fumbled with their phone, trying to make it play music. We never did. 5 seconds before kick off I'm poised over the go button for the clock on the scoreboard when the scoreboard computer died. Not crashed, or froze. Died. It had to be rebuilt whilst the game went on. Half time we'd sorted out the Vikettes music, using Rob's tablet instead of their phone only for the internet to go down and the music cut out halfway through their dance.

Such a poor Rovers performance did give me and Rob time for a general knowledge quiz though and we decided that the answer, 'Shall we say yes?' is always acceptable. So it is now a fact that the moon was invented in 1912 and that Cambodia banned the colour yellow in 1961 because it clashed with the sun.

This carried on later that night at The Garage Bar and let it be said that Rob Dannatt has poor taste in clouds. Gbone and Pure Pearl Jam at The Garage Saturday. Gbone are the most wondrously filthiest band in Donny. The guitar solos alone are top shelf. Pure Pearl Jam are just a joy. You need to see both these bands.

Well I was meant to be wrapping presents and putting clothes away today. As it is I'm writing this whilst drunk while dried fruit gets abused in the kitchen.

Tomorrow's another day.

Laters

SS

Playlist Monday 17/12/12

The Boys Are Back In Town - Thin Lizzy
I Don't Like Mondays - The Boomtown Rats
Chemical - Bang Bang Romeo
Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order
I'll Be Fine - White Valentine
(All I Want Is) Danger - The Milk
2000 Miles - The Pretenders
The Way I Feel About You - The 48ks
Never Knew Your Name - Madness
She Bangs The Drum - The Stone Roses
Another Love - Tom Odell
Given To Fly - Pearl Jam
London Calling - The Clash
Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea
Tracy Jacks - Blur
Californication - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Why You So Cold - Wet Nuns
Need You Tonight - INXS
Best Friend - Tashaki Miyaki
Tenth Avenue Freeze Out - Bruce Springsteen
Babies - Pulp
Ring Out Solstice Bells - Jethro Tull
To Be Like - China Rats
Slumdog Millionaire - The Beeds
Orange Crush - R.E.M.
Oh Yeah - The Subways
Captain - Biffy Clyro
Burning Love - Elvis Presley
Soul Uncensored - Section 60
Follow Me - Muse
Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House
Lose Control - The Courteneers
Adultery - Little Comets
Alright Now - Free
I Always Knew - The Vaccines
Ever Fallen In Love (with Someone You Shouldn't Have) - The Buzzcocks
Egyptian Reggae - Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers

Sunday 16 December 2012

BANG BANG ROMEO @ The Social, Friday 14/12/12

The most anticipated gig of the year? It certainly was for me at least. I’ve been a fan since Doncaster Live 2010 but catching them live takes some doing. A kind of treat em mean, keep em keen attitude. Rather that then play every week though. It means when they do play there’s a buzz around town as soon as the date’s announced.

This was my first chance to catch the full band live since The Garage Bar gig in September 2011. The new stuff I’d heard is immense so it was with great excitement and huge expectations that I arrived at The Social Bar Friday night about 2 hours early!

Support came from Liberty Ship. 4 young lads from Sheffield already being mentored by Reverend and the Maker’s Jon McLure. A quality set to an appreciative crowd that finished with The Who’s My Generation. It was a brilliant mess, just how it should be.

Bang Bang Romeo kick off with Right Now from new EP Adore Me. It’s a stunning track, Starsie’s voice already soaring to heights other singers can only dream of. She’s the best singer in Doncaster. End of. She’s got one of the best voices I’ve ever heard.

Ross Cameron’s guitar effortlessly trading licks with Anastasia’s voice as they power through the opening numbers, pausing only for Stars to chat with the crowd like they are all old friends and to apologise to her Gran for swearing.

Ross looks cool as despite the sweat box the Social has become as he shows his dark side on the second EP track of the night, Just To See You Run. The song kicks in and the rhythm section of new bass player Joel Phillips and guest drummer, Richie Stott (White Valentine) keep the song driving through with Stars bansheeing all over it. It’s epic.

And then it’s Chemical. A long time fan favourite, a haunting and beautiful song. The crowd, word perfect, give Starsie’s voice a rest. In 25 years of local gigs I have never seen a reaction like this. It’s already an ‘I was there’ gig and we’re only half way through.

A tip to Fleetwood Mac with The Chain and a chance for Joel to show off his undeniable talent before the final two EP tracks of the night. A reworked Bones and the anthemic Adore Me. A more gorgeous song you will never hear. Lyrically and musically it is a work of pure genius.

Wally Lopez’s Keeping Running The Melody is thrown into the mix and just to show how diverse this band are they finish with Invitation, a proper balls out rock monster.

Tonight was everything I hoped for and more. If there’s any justice in the world Bang Bang Romeo will be massive. And when they are you’ll say you were at this gig. It was that huge.

Just don’t make me wait another 18 months for the next gig!

Set List

Right Now
Carnival
Johannesburg
Just To See You Run
Chemical
The Chain
Bones
Adore Me Dear
Beautiful World
Keeping Running The Melody
Invitation

Friday 14 December 2012

BAIBS Friday 14/12/12

So wish my phone was working properly. It seems to pack up when near anything electrical (like in a radio studio or next to a laptop) or when it's being bounced along in my coat pocket. Which is pretty much a day in the life of my phone. Wanted to take some photos as I walked through Hyde Park Cemetery.On a wet, grey day like today it has a stark beauty. As I walked through the gates a young lad said to me, 'Look at that tree. It's rate gnarled.' Several thoughts went through my head, the first one being a damning indictment of our education system, the second being the realisation that he wasn't in school so I cant really blame the education system, the third being an overwhelming joy in so much Yorkshire in one so young and the final one confirming he was right. The only way to describe this tree was rate gnarled.

I must learn to think before I tweet. Two perfectly innocent tweets sent this morning could be so misconstrued when taken out of context:

'I'm a big fan of the colon'

and

'I like a nice rim shot'

The first was a conversation about punctuation. I've just realised how geeky that sounds. The second was talking about the drumming in The Beat's Mirror In The Bathroom. Equally geeky really. Still, the geek shall inherit the earth.

'You should know better at your age.' A sentence normally said by someone not having fun to someone having fun. It came my way this morning as I walked through Elmfield Park. To be fair I probably should stop pretending I'm making a video when in public with my ipod on full whack. Still if The Stones want a new video for Miss You I've got some moves sorted. Or if The Pogues fancy re-releasing Misty Morning, Albert Bridge, me singing whilst walking through the rain could make an affective video.

Had to wait to cross the road this morning as a long funeral cortege slowly drove past. Three of us: teenage lad in baseball cap, old bloke in flat cap, me in porn star coat with cigarette. Teenager took his cap off, I wished I'd not just sparked up and old bloke moaned about never getting across this road now. Now he really should have known better at his age.

So the walk home continued. There always seems to be the same bloke outside the White Swan pub having a fag. Yesterday he told me he was cold, today he told me he was wet. As a weatherman he's right up there. I'm looking forward to the Spring day when he says. 'Typical day for our temperate climate.' Obviously the anti-smoking brigade will be pointing out our foolhardiness for standing out in all weathers smoking but the anti-smoking thing seems so right wing these days I see my smoking now more as a militant tendency rather than an expensive addiction.

Joined on this morning's show by Somerset band The Darlintons. My favourite kind of live session. A quality band and really nice guys too. No rock star posing or arrogance. I appreciate we like a bit of arrogance in our rock stars but it has to be earned. There's a few local bands/musicians who should learn this and quickly. If venues/promoters/other bands don't want to work with you because of your attitude then you're pretty much finished before you start. It's a you scratch my back world. Anyway, The Darlingtons, I seriously suggest you check them out:

www.wearethedarlingtons.co.uk

Hectic weekend ahead. Spoilt for choice tonight: Bang Bang Romeo and Liberty Ship at The Social or The Pilots, The Darlingtons and Northern Avenue at The Leopard. I'm going for The Social purely cos I've never seen Liberty Ship and not seen BBR in ages. And Stars gives great hugs.

Tomorrow is Tom Hark day, Rovers at home to Coventry with a chance of going top of the table. Tomorrow night is Bo's birthday bash at The Garage with Pure Pearl Jam and Gbone then Sunday drinks with my best friend Ian.

Think I best get some sleep in!

Laters

SS

Playlist Friday 14/12/12

Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea
Life In A Northern Town - The Dream Academy
Dead And Gone - The Black Keys
Mirror In The Bathroom - The Beat
Silly Thing - The Sex Pistols
Just Like A Woman - Black Spiders
By Your Hand - Los Campesinos
Gloria - Van Morrison
My Perfect Cousin - The Undertones
Fat Bottomed Girls - Queen
Best Of You - Foo Fighters
VPL - Gbone
Sheena Is A Punk Rocker - The Ramones
Flying - Cast
One Drop - PIL
Elysium - Section 60
Rags - The Waterboys
Whole Of The Moon - The Waterboys
We Wear Our Bones - Bang Bang Romeo
Saturn 5 - Inspiral Carpets
Love Like Blood - Killing Joke
The Power Of Love - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
My Number - Foals
524 Fidelio - The Wedding Present
Waterfall - The Stone Roses
This Is Real - The Enemy

THE DARLINGTONS LIVE SESSION

Bats
The Killing Moon

Everything - The Darlingtons
Hey Ho - The Beeds
Under Your Thumb - Godley and Creme
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Bruce Springsteen
Echo Beach - Martha and the Muffins
Follow Me - Muse
Fairytale Of New York - The Pogues ft Kirsty MacColl
I Saw You Blink - Stornaway
Roxanne - The Police
Egyptian Reggae - Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers

Thursday 13 December 2012

BAIBS Thursday 13/12/12

5pm. No time to be starting a daily blog but here we go. 'What kept you?' I hear you say. Well pre recorded the Christmas Day Breakfast Show this afternoon. We do get some time off. It's a festive filled joyous show of Christmas cheer. And The Wombles. I don't like doing pre-records and rarely do them. I'm taking advantage of my key holding status to keep the rest of the Christmas schedule live. A pre-record is the same principle as a live show, me on my own in a small room with a mic. Just doesn't feel the same. Plus if I cock up I have the option of deleting and starting again. Sod that. Keep the mistakes in, I know you expect nothing less. Also on a pre-record you don't get the insightful weather and traffic reports that I know you rely on, or at least find embarrassingly funny.

So what next? Basically avoiding going outside due to the freezing fog and my wimpish nature. Chatted with Mark Kelly at Sine FM Towers for as long as I could and for the first time this week he didn't mention chickens. Talked about them Monday, tweeted about them Tuesday, bought them Wednesday, froze them Thursday. Sounds like a Craig David song. Mark had become obsessed. Hopefully it's out of his system now. I once sat next to a bloke on a bus who kept telling me not to buy chickens from a certain supermarket cos they were injected. He didn't say what with. The nutter on the bus discussion can wait for another time. Just to say if you're not sat next to the nutter on the bus then you're the nutter.

Next stop the Tut 'n' Shive for a drink with my mate Ryan, singer with The 48ks, to celebrate his birthday. Was only having one. Freezing fog and a rather nice drop of Nottingham Rock Bitter said otherwise. Ryan asked me to compare The 48ks Christmas gig at The Leopard on December 23rd. Let's not kid ourselves, I'd go to the opening of an envelope, so made all the yes I'll do you that favour noises whilst my ego leapt around my head screaming YES! Speaking of going to the opening of an envelope I've been asked to present an award at next year's Best Bar None Awards in January. More ego leaping.

Then the walk home through the freezing fog. It was that thick I couldn't work out if I was catching people up or if they were coming towards me. I'm putting forward my proposal of fog lights for pedestrians now.

Had one of Donny's top bands, Bang Bang Romeo, on this morning's show. Singer, Stars, was traditional late so it ended up being the quickest interview ever. Star's worked for me this year and I think managed to be late 99% of the time. It became quite endearing in the end. Bang Bang Romeo launch their new EP with a live show at The Social tomorrow night. They are gonna be massive, trust me on that. Just don't be late Stars. Fame waits for no man. Or woman for that matter.

Must dash. Christmas tree up tonight.

Laters

SS

Playlist Thursday 13/12/12

I Will Wait - Mumford and Sons
Coming Up Easy - Paulo Nutini
Underdog - Kasabian
Chevy Thunder - Spector
Naive - The Kooks
Champagne And Cocaine - 12 Dirty Bullets
You Get What You Give - New Radicals
Somewhere - The Pilots
Antarctica - Sound Of Guns
Life's What You Make It - Talk Talk
Everybody Knows (Except You) - The Divine Comedy
Rose Tattoo - Dropkick Murphys
A Design For Life - Manic Street Preachers
Fortune Teller - The 48ks
Fishing For A Dream - Turin Brakes
North Country Boy - The Charlatans
Everything - The Darlingtons
Don't Stop - The Rolling Stones
The Chain - Fleetwood Mac
The Boy With The Thorn In His Side - The Smiths
Boxing Day - Blink 182
Men's Needs - The Cribs
Happy Christmas (War Is Over) - John Lennon
My First Love - Paper Aeroplanes
Post Break Up Sex - The Vaccines
To Be Like - China Rats
Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
Hoppipolla - Sigur Ros
Bring Me To Life - Evanescence
Hate To Say I Told You So - The Hives
Wonderful Life - Hurts
Whole Lotta Rosie - AC/DC
Baby Missiles - The War On Drugs
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
Right Now - Bang Bang Romeo 
Adore Me Dear - Bang Bang Romeo
Just To See You Run - Bang Bang Romeo

Wednesday 12 December 2012

BAIBS Wednesday 12/12/12

Found the snooze button on my alarm. Not a good thing. Finally woke up properly(ish) a good half hour later than I should have. Two options: Either quick wash, forgo the coffee and obligatory Live at 7 facebook status or wake my girlfriend and selflessly ask her if she'd like the pleasure of getting out of her warm bed, even though she's not at work for another 3 hours, chip away at the iceberg that was once her car and give me a lift to the radio. I'm good like that. I'm not that bad, I made the coffee.

So the show started on time thanks to the Cherry Blossom and I avoided the bag fiddling, hand freezing, coffee spilling walk into work. It was stupidly cold but I do like frost. I think it's Nature accessorising at it's best. As pretty as it is though I think we should have some deal were it's gone by mid-morning. Wasn't expecting a treacherous walk home too. Moaning to myself about non-gritted pavements when a gritter went past and pelted me with rock salt. Moaning then, through gritted teeth, about gritters. I'm 44. I'm allowed a good moan. And my teeth wont ice over now.

Walking through the town and a young urchin stopped me, tugging at my coat. I looked down at his flat cap, rosy cheeks, threadbare rags and hobnail boots with holes. 'Mister, tell us a story wontcha'. Think I'm taking this Dickensian Christmas thing too far now. But I did get a request this morning from the Cushty Librarian wanting something Noel Gallagherish with a footnote that she hates the Gallaghers so thought I'd share this with you.

It was back in October 1995. The Britpop wars were at their height with Blur and Oasis taking up positions in the NME. I was down in that London visiting my good friend Nigel Smith (co-writer of I'm Made Out Of Cheese). Back then he worked as a dj for the Virgin Megastore on Oxford Street and had got tickets for Oasis playing live at the megastore, midnight on Sunday October 1st, the release of What's The Story (Morning Glory). A ridiculously exclusive gig. We sat in the nearest pub til closing time, 10.30 on a Sunday back in those days, where John Lydon nestled in a corner with his 'Yes I am. Now f**k off' t-shirt. Off to the megastore with time to kill so we went up to the roof for a smoke. A security guard came up and told us we had to go downstairs so we got back in the lift.

The lift was one of those with doors front and back and we went through the wrong doors straight into Oasis' makeshift dressing room. With 'we shouldn't be here looks' we eyed up the table of beer and decided to blag it. Avoiding eye contact with the Gallaghers we waded into the beer. I scrounged a fag off Noel and couldn't decide whether to frame it or smoke it. I smoked it. Next thing Liam's kicking off cos someone's drunk all his f***ing beer. I hid mine in my jacket and continued to bore Noel with my 'We have the same shoes on' conversation.

Then ushered into the store for the gig, in front of the barriers. Oasis did two and a half songs. Noel bet Liam £50 he'd forget the words to Rocking Chair. He did and stormed off. There's a photo in an Oasis book of Liam in standard two finger salute pose with me peering over his shoulder still with the 'I shouldn't be here' look.

It all turned into a bit of a melee. I lost Nidge and ended up on the street and waited. Then Liam came swaggering towards me and stopped. All he said was 'You do the f***ing Morecambe and Wise thing and they don't f***ing like it'. Then he sauntered off into London followed by a pack of photographers who'd got exactly what they wanted.

So that's my brush with fame and, I think, enough name dropping for one day.

Laters

SS

Playlist Wednesday 12/12/12

Enjoy The Silence - Depeche Mode
Hunger - Frankie and the Heartstrings
Moving To New York - The Wombats
Mary - The Adulescents UK
One More Shot - The Rolling Stones
Feel About You - The 48ks
Black And White Town - Doves
(All I Wanted Was) Danger - The Milk
Money - Missing Andy
Stingin' Belle - Biffy Clyro
Stop The Cavalry - Jona Lewie
Hey Ho - The Lumineers
Bring On The Dancing Horses - Echo and the Bunnymen
The Death Of You And Me - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
Breathe - The Prodigy
With Or Without You - U2
Right Now - Bang Bang Romeo
You Held The World In Your Arms - Idlewild
Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones
The Love Cats - The Cure
Follow Me - Muse
Memories - Jery At Controls
You Overdid It Doll - The Courteneers
Baggy Trousers - Madness
Boxing Day - Blink 182
This Is Real - The Enemy
White Wedding - Billy Idol
Bats - The Darlingtons
A Message To To You, Rudy - The Specials
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Frank Sinatra
Altogether Now - The Farm
Keep On Running - The Starkins
You Jane - The Wedding Present
Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag - Pigbag
Souvenir - OMD
Ready To Die - Famous Villains
It's The End Of The World As We Know It - R.E.M.
Slow It Down - Amy MacDonald
What You Do To Me - Teenage Fanclub
Egyptian Reggae - Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers

Tuesday 11 December 2012

BAIBS Tuesday 11/12/12

A fraught walk into the radio this morning. It's the only word for it. First step out the door and the black ice has got me already. I struggle to walk at the best of times. I put it down to the length of my legs and a misplaced centre of gravity. I lost it with half my vinyl during one of my many house moves. In these treacherous conditions I've no chance. So walking/skating/skidding/falling down Balby Road and the shoulder strap on my rucksack broke. More cd cases ruined. I now have to carry my bag in my hand. The other hand carries the flask/mug of coffee I take with me to get me through the first hour of the show.

This now means that I cant swap hands carrying said flask/mug giving the none carrying hand some much needed pocket time. It also means I cant have the cigarette I treat myself too each morning when I get as far as The Leopard. Lightbulb moment. The coat I'm sporting this winter is a denim, fur lined (not real fur before you get the red paint out) affair (yes Jess, double denim)! (Way to many brackets in this sentence). Still with me? This coat has pockets big enough for the flask/mug. Brilliant. Free hand for cigarette and pocket usage.

Get to Sine FM Towers with a wet pocket, wet cigarettes and no coffee.

Did a makeshift fix on the rucksack only for it to break again on the way home at the exact same spot on Balby Road. I'll take a different route tomorrow.

Mopping up procedures in the Leaf War aftermath. The leaf blowers back out but now the piles of leaves are being shovelled onto the back of a DMBC lorry and transported away who knows where. I presume when they get to the last few that wont stay on the shovel they'll just lift the grass up and sweep them under.

A surreal walk through town after today's show. It could be because I was on my way to be fitted out for a tux. Not an everyday event for me so maybe life was just being genuinely random on my behalf. First up a man singing Christmas Carols whilst playing what I think was a hurdy gurdy. I need to check this properly, I'll let you know tomorrow. He asked me my favourite carol but before I could answer said 'And you cant say Vordeman' before breaking into Good King Wenceslaus still laughing at his own joke.

Next an accordion player who seemed to know no tunes and only one lyric. The word 'Yes' repeated at irregular intervals.

Then some ponies outside whatever Binns is called now. Looking very forlorn which I think was the point. They might have been forlorn donkeys. I'm really not sure.

Then a piper. I've tried to like the bagpipes, I really have, but to me it's just noise. And not really kilt weather. His sporran looked forlorn too.

One final pony/donkey before I got to the tux shop. (Do your own tuck shop pun).

I'm gonna meet my mate Ian now for beer. Think I need it.

Spell check insists Wenceslaus should be Venezuela's. Doesn't have the same ring to it.

Oh and cracking cup of coffee Starsie, cheers Tweacle.

Laters

SS

Playlist Tuesday 11/12/12

Rat Trap - The Boomtown Rats
Run Right Back - The Black Keys
Why You Looking Back Down - You Addiction
Permanent - Section 60
When You Were Young - The Killers
Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea
Adore Me Dear - Bang Bang Romeo
First Of The Gang To Die - Morrissey
Road To Nowhere - Talking Heads
Follow Me - Muse
Your Smile - Kiziah and the Kings
I Always Knew - The Vaccines
Spellbound - Siouxsie and the Banshees
We Take Care Of Our Own - Bruce Springsteen
Smooth - New Killer Shoes
Always The Last To Know - Del Amitri
Honky Tonk Woman - The Rolling Stones
Red Red Wine - UB40
It Hangs - The Darlingtons
Take Me Back - The Pilots
Iris - The Goo Goo dolls
Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid
Gangsters - The Specials
The Wagon - Dinosaur Jr
Disco 2000 - Pulp
Lola - The Kinks
Another Love - Tom Odell
Don't Let Me Down Gently - The Wonderstuff
Don't Know Why - The Beeds
Everything I Own - Bread
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love
F.E.A.R. - Ian Brown
Shadow - Gringo Star
Chain Gang - Sam Cooke
Best Of You - Foo Fighters
Fairytale Of New York - The Pogues ft Kirsty MacColl
Recover - Dexters
Best Of Friends - Palma Violets
Vicar In A Tutu - The Smiths
Egyptian Reggae - Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers 

Monday 10 December 2012

BAIBS Monday 10/12/12

I've Christmas shopped. A bit. A kinda SAS shopping raid. In and out before they see you coming. Blame Richard Pierce for what would seem to be an innuendo fueled start to this blog. As I'm sure you'll have worked out from previous blogs I have an aversion to shopping that's up there with my aversion to veg. You all know my shopping tactics but it's tricky when buying presents. I'm as useless at picking presents as I am at shopping, so given the lack of 'The Presents That Simon's Family And Friends Might Like Shop' in town I'm more lost than usual. I cant go into much detail of course should any present recipients read this but cd shop for cds, book shop for books and get out of there. Today's shopping trip was made more bearable by a friend that likes shopping who supplied coffee and cake. Thank you Miss Kirsche. I'm gonna have to try the online thing. I know what I'm like though. I'll dive into the internet looking for something specific and end up buying an electric garlic peeler-come-sausage prodder. Still, only once a year!

As you also know by now I'm technologically inept. To the point that an electric radiator attacked me this weekend. We were all happy doing our respective jobs, the radiator kicking out heat, me and Cherry Blossom soaking up the heat when the sparks flew. Then a little fire and me staring at it before trying to reason with it. 40 odd years of speaking to inanimate objects and I'm still convinced it'll work despite a 100% failure rate. I mantastically (see Biggest Show Ever for mantastic definition) unplugged said radiator then bravely ignored the fire still burning and the acrid smoke.Is it safe to throw water on an unplugged electrical device? I honestly have no idea! Pathetic. Long story short: the radiator's at the dump, the front room's cold.

Worryingly the spell check questioned online but not mantastic,

Joined on this morning's show by David Ramsay or Bo as we all know him. The perfect guest in that he'll just play and play if time allowed. He's like that on stage. The guy would play for 5 hours if people let him. He's an amazingly talented singer/songwriter/guitar player and if you ever see Tobias or Pure Pearl Jam advertised playing live go see them. You'll thank me after! He's also a damn fine sound engineer. Am I allowed a 'strings to his Bo' pun? No? Thought as much. As much as I enjoyed this morning's live session it was also an absolute pleasure to catch up with a good friend again. I love the live sessions. Music in it's purest form. Listen out for upcoming sessions from Bang Bang Romeo, The 48ks, Rita Payne and Famous Villains.

Right, I'm off to shop online. Someone's gonna get an electric garlic peeler-come-sausage prodder in their stocking. Started with an innuendo, may as well finish with one.

Laters

SS

Playlist Monday 10/12/12

You Better You Bet - The Who
Teenage Icon - The Vaccines
Antarctica - Sound Of Guns
Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
Recover - Dexters
Givien To Fly - Pearl Jam
VPL - Gbone
Hate To Say I Told You So - The Hives
Another Love - Tom Odell
Animal Nitrate - Suede
Dancing Makes Her Happy - Jery At Controls
Undercover Martyn - Two Door Cinema Club
Never Fade Away - Spector
Seek It - Richard Hawley

DAVID 'BO' RAMSAY Live Session

Neverland
I Just Want To Dance With You
Mother
Leave Me Alone
Hurt

Left Foot Tommy - Unicorn Hunters
I Wish I Was Someone Better - Blood Red Shoes
Somewhere - The Pilots
Nancy Boy - Placebo
Two Doors Down - Mystery Jets
My Sharona - The Knack
Wrecking Ball - Bruce Springsteen
Do Nothing - The Specials
Chemicals - Various Cruelties
Cannonball - The Breeders
Into The Valley - The Skids
After Hours - We Are Scientists
Peach Blossom - Eels
Hotel Yorba - White Stripes
Tragedy Of Artists - Shade Of Red
Like A Dancer - The Enemy
Kennedy - The Wedding Present
Egyptian Reggae - Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers

Friday 7 December 2012

BAIBS Friday 7/12/12

Those that know me will know I have just two policies for when I'm PM. First one is to fill every IKEA with chavs and blow them all up. I'll admit this was a policy founded without ever having visited an IKEA. Fancy a politician coming up with a policy without any personal experience to base it on! It was based upon the flat pack furniture that'd occasionally turn up that I'd then struggle to put together. I've mentioned before my total ineptitude at all things DIY, this includes flat pack furniture. Screw B never lined up with hole Q. Panel F was always too short for base K etc. And there were always bits left over. And it always fell to bits exactly 47 days after my woeful construction attempts.

Anyway, I've now visited an IKEA store and can now base my policy on experience and the policy stands. Harsh maybe but no gain without pain, we're all in it together etc. I need a better spin doctor. So IKEA. The words hell, on and earth spring to mind. It's a maze and designed that way so there's no escape. Not until you've purchased something do exits miraculously appear. It was a relief to see that their efforts on constructing their own furniture were not much better than mine though. The cafe was an interesting experience. Had to construct my own mug before I could have a coffee. The handle fell off.

Oh and the stupid names they give their furniture too!! There's now a box of bits that wont quite fit together properly, but will vaguely resemble a wardrobe when finished, loitering in the hall going by the name of Flailingkrapness or something.

Oh and my second policy once I come to power is compulsory Dickensian Christmases every year. We'll import snow if needs be. Everyone to dress accordingly. Gentlemen to doff their top hats to ladies and every hour, on the hour, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen to be sung (with gusto).

I'm contemplating a third policy of annexing Suffolk but not sure yet.

So a weekend beckons again. Seriously need one of those lie ins I talk about. I'm fancying a quiet one but probably wont happen. The Graceholme tonight for The Yorkshire Main Commemorative Trust Christmas Variety gig. Sine FM session band The Colliers are playing. Now there's an apt name for such a gig. And host of Sine FM's Vinyl Daze, Pete Liversidge, is playing with his new band No Folkin' Around.

No Tom Harking again as Rovers away at Swindon. I'll take a point. Open day type thing at Doncaster Brewery tomorrow though. Be rude not to.

Gotta go. Flailingkrapness to shift.

Laters

SS

Playlist Friday 7/12/12

American Slang - Gaslight Anthem
Stadium Arcadium - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Madness - Madness
Tangled Up In Love - The Rifles
Ride - The Vines
Comerade Dog - Propane Rats
Jack And Diane - John Mellencamp
Do Anything You Wanna Do - Eddie And The Hot Rods
Roll The Dice - The Colliers
Black Chandelier - Biffy Clyro
Pumped Up kicks - Foster The People
Girl From Mars - Ash
Jimmy Jimmy - The Undertones
Chi Town - The Cribs
 
MARTIN BLACK LIVE SESSION
My Fingers Bleed
Time
 
Teenage Icon - The Vaccines
This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us - Sparks
The Magnificent 7 - Bad Manners
Medicine Show - Big Audio Dynamite
Hey Ho - The Beeds
Ruby Soho - Rancid
This Is Real - The Enemy
Open Your Heart - The Human League
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Bruce Springsteen
Another Love - Tom Odell
Sound Of The Suburbs - The Members
Real Gone Kid - Deacon Blue
Last Christmas - White Valentine
Country Girl - Primal Scream
Pretty In Pink - Psychedelic Furs
Just Like The Rain - Richard Hawley
Suburbia - Pet Shop Boys
Antarctica - Sound Of Guns
Uprising - Muse
Chevy Thunder - Spector
Going Out West - Tom Waits
Valentine's Day - The 48ks
Love Me Two Times - The Doors
Egyptian Reggae - Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers



Thursday 6 December 2012

BAIBS Thursday 6/12/12

OK not my best show this morning. It's why I normally don't party too hard on a school night. But Yorkshire Pete's funeral yesterday and we had to give him a send off, which is more than we managed with the chinese lanterns. More of that in a mo. I wont give you a blow by blow account for two reasons.

One: It'd take too long and

Two: I cant remember that much about it.

So edited highlights: Beautiful and brave eulogies by Mark and Shaun Kelly, a service that said it's OK to question God and his mysterious way of moving - don't get me started on that one. As Jimmy Carr says I'm way past having invisible friends. To quote Sine FM's Alex Dean, 'It's science.' Sheffield lollipop women hunting in pairs, a lost stylus for my phone which I don't think I'll ever get back. It's, possibly, in Maddie's car but given that would appear to be a mini (or Mercedes if you prefer) Bermuda Triangle I'm not holding out much hope. Pickled onions, bread and dripping and some woeful dancing. Thankfully I was at the bar when Gangnam Style was played but I've seen the videos. Not pretty.

A sea of Wolves shirts swaying to Rud Stewart singing Rhythm Of My Heart. Last time I saw that many Wolves shirt was in a subway outside Molineux. You don't wanna know what happened! Failed chinese lanterns. Only two really made the effort but didn't get far. The rest burnt where they lay. Any fires in Hillsborough last night can be blamed on us. Think everyone of us said 'Pete would have p***ed himself.'

It was a fitting send off for a man loved by so many. Old friends were appreciated more than ever, new friends made with the 'stay in touch' promise. For once I'm going to keep that promise.

Accosted on my way home this morning by a man with a clipboard outside the Frenchgate centre. I let my guard down. Eye contact is the crucial thing. Avoid eye contact at all costs. I combine this with my ipod and usually avoid the half hour conversation about how we must save the Mongolian ant that always ends with 'No, you cant have my bank account details.' But my ipod died and foolishly I took my earphones out and in my cold and hungover state he got me. The Mongolian ant is now £2 a month better off.

Remind me next time that I promised a whole music and politics blog. I'm just too fragile to face it today.

I'll be honest, I'm off to bed.

Laters

SS

Playlist Thursday 6/12/12

Dignity - Deacon Blue
Tears Of A Clown - The Beat
Local Boy In The Photograph - Stereophonics
On Trial - The Tricks
I Always Knew - The Vaccines
Last Christmas - White Valentine
Rhythm Of My Heart - Rod Stewart
Stingin' Belle - Biffy Clyro
Always Looking Forward - The Hostiles
Hong Kong Garden - Siouxsie and the Banshees
Valentine - Gbone
She Comes In Fall - Inspiral Carpets
David Watts - The Jam
I Am The Resurrection - The Stone Roses
Best Of Friends - Palma Violets
Mary - The Adulescents UK
Take 5 - Dave Brubeck
Life On Mars - David Bowie
I Want The World To Stop - Belle and Sebastian
The Way We're Made (Made In England) - Missing Andy
Don't Stand So Close To Me - The Police
Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon - Urge Overkill
Talking Woman Blues - AVIT Blues Band
Monster - The Automatic
Common People - Pulp
Geraldine - Glasvegas
Debaser - Pixies
Whistle For The Choir - The Fratellis
Back In Black - Amy Winehouse
Stand - REM
Chipping Away - Middleman
Down In The Tube Station At Midnight - The Jam
Boys Don't Cry - The Cure
Joy - Tracy Thorn
Jump - Van Halen
Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
Another Love - Tom Odell
Give It Up - Hothouse Flowers
Egyptian Reggae - Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers