One might have noticed that our Mixcloud is up and running once again, currently holding the informative and entertaining DogPod's.
Please have a gander as the next few weeks are going to see many new additions including:
*Full sets from bands from Dogstock/Gigs *Archive shows from the past (Kjimn and Elvis show, Saturday Supliment, SGG broadcasts) *Neuvou and exclusive mixes from our quality DJs
Exciting times eh? Quality pre night out listening EH!?
That’s supposed to read live as in the antonym of dead.
I suppose it’d be more pressing to read it as live as in ‘live
music’.
Anyway, enough of this. It’s too early to be kicking about
lexis and splitting homonym’s.
I’ve never seen the Mighty Vipers before. I played (along
with the rest of the Minions) with their previous incarnation, Catch-It Kebabs
and booked ‘em off the strength of that. Why? We’ll the Kebabs were one of the
tightest most talented ska bands around with a fiery live show and tunes with
some killer hooks.
I first remember playing with them at easter in Liverpool
(Bar Hannah’s) around and about 2004. It was fucking hot and Hannah’s at that
time had two mirrored walls. The sun’s rays and the heat was slowly baking us
all. We played well, steady but well and then the Kebabs tore it up and showed
us how it was done.
They signed to Do the Dog and toured the country going out
into all weird and wonderful directions that Ska bands used to do(Yeovil!?). The ska-punk scene really does
peak once every ten years or so, inbetween times band either plunder on playing
to ever decreasing crowds or drop the ska bit, lose the brass section and
become a rock band. Ahem.
Taking all this into account when I delved into the world of
the Mighty Vipers I was hit by a rush I’d not felt since those heady days of
2004/2005. The immediate, exciting, furious sound still exists but it’s more
knowing and less eager to please. There’s other rhythms in there two – there’s
a calypso feel to sections and songs –
party music from all over the world.
So this isn’t just a bit of nostalgia for me (although it
did lead me to dig out all the albums I was listening to around that era) it’s
a genuine excitement for a band that I’m glad that still do it for me and a
band that have still so gloriously ‘got it’.
Long long long may it last.
Playing with the Vipers are a true local favourite and one
of the best guitar bands in the north, Don Blake.
Right. This
weekend IS going to be brilliant. It has been hard to sort out but we’ve put
together (at relatively short notice) a gig that is of real quality and that is
a testament to Chris.
The thinking was
to book bands that he’d either been in or recorded. A massive list.
We decided the
date should be around his birthday (a date he shares with me and something we
always tried to make special every year).
Unfortunately,
straight away, this date was inaccessible to some performers who, I and they,
wish were there but by this point it was too late to change date. So here’s
some honourable mentions.....
Glaring
omissions are Charlie Tiefenauer, who album is amongst some of the last recordings Chris
had made. I’ve promised Charlie we’ll get him down at a time when he isn’t in a
different country.
Andrea Glass is
another person who can’t make it. Chris spent a great couple of years (along
with Andy Dawson) in Andreas band and anyone who saw ‘em around this time will
remember how beautiful some of their performances were. Again I’m personally
going to make sure Andrea will be back at some point in the new year.
Old HousePlayground, or ‘the Greeks’ as we affectionately refer to ‘em, are currently in
the process of being courted by record labels in London. Considering Chris did so much to push
‘em – booking gigs, recording that brilliant debut album (on tape) – it’s quite
apt they’re missing out on this weekend due to them being in London pushing for
bigger and better things.
There was more,
we could’ve done three full days to be fair, but I couldn’t be happier with who
we’ve got.
SATURDAY OCTOBER
19th
Blackjack Casino
had their debut EP recorded by Chris at LoFi studios – one of the last
recordings at the legendary place. They'll be first up at 2030.
We needed to
give some of the Chris Evans Collective songs and airing. So we’ve been listed
as Chris Evans Collective and Friends. I’ll be singing the ones I used to and
we got mate us to fill in Chris’s vocals. It’s gonna be a blast and we hope we
can all you singing along too!
It’s a REAL boon
to get Islands Lost At Sea to play. I know that Chris looked upon their first
album with pride and it really was a superb piece of work (even though they cut
the track with me singing on – bastards). This is their first full gig in ages
(5 years) and it’s gonna be a real year highlight to see em take the stage
again after all this time.
Total Victory
close the night. Earlier this year Chris and I were in talks to take out a
triple header of a gig – TV, CEC and the Minions. He never got the chance to
record TV but always wanted to perform some “Hannett magic” on ‘em. It’s a
shame he didn’t as I’m sure it would have been something else.
We’ve got Liam
Maloney (Black Forest Ghetto), Si Sharp (Badvibes) and hopefully Alan
Martindale (Chris’ old Hawthorns DJ partner) spinning the tunes after the gig
and we’re using THE FULL licence. That’s 4am close to me and you.
SUNDAY OCTOBER
20th
Good job we’re
starting a 6pm really isn’t it. And that it’s gonna be a full day of soothing
acoustic music. Well I can’t guarantee it’ll all be soothing but you get this
gist. Very very happy to note that we’ve got Sam Haine of the Blood Flames
playing – I think Chris recorded the Blood Flames in a kitchen (!) – and Nick
Jackson, a good friend and long-time collaborator of Chris’s, will be coming
down to play too. It really is quality and a fitting day to end an awesome
celebration.
1800-1820 Don
McColl
1830-1850 Kris
Weatherall
1900-1920 Emily
Cooke
1930-1950 Star
2000-2020 Sam
Haine
2030-2050 Dean Lane
2100-2120 Nick
Jackson
2130-2150 Russ
Dunn
2200-2220 Dan
Lever
2230-2250 Danny
Liptrott
2300-2320 Elvis
Hardy
2330-0000 Kev
Bates
Bring a full
wallet as we’ll be selling a load of the old Chris Evans albums with ALL the
money going to Amnesty International.
I know, it’s terrible. I should be shot. Or made to go and
have a drink around Westhoughton.
Chris (Capt. Hotknives) text me last Friday explaining he
was thinking of pulling the gig after coming down with some sort of virus. All
at the same time I got the warm rush of joy that comes when you remember you’ve
booked Hotknives mixed with the cold stabbing pain of someone letting you down (it could have been wind though).
Fortunatly the Bratford superstar is made of sterner stuff.
He tunred up and he played a fucking blinder. Hats off sir!
[moan]This mini oversight really should make me refocus but
to be honest it’s been very difficult. Anniversary celebration to be organised,
Chris gig to iron out, French tour coming up, fitting in multiple rehearsals
and extra hours at work have led me to do what we all need to do every now and
then. Phone off, laptop off and stay in bed.[/moan]
However, I heard the creaking of this gig from under the
covers. It’s fucking huge.
Saturday October 12: JERAMIAH FERRARI, DEF GOLDBLUM,
RENEGADE AND RETROSPECT
A many of you know we
live on a tight budget here at the Dog. We vary raley get chance to splash the
cash but I’ll be honest, we’ve pulled out all stops with this double headliner
special.
DEF GOLDBLUM
A lot of you already know Duke from his Dogstock appearances
and his barnstorming gig last month. Ever since he first came to see us he’s
been dying to vist with his metal band in tow.
Def Goldblum are Duke and the band Cleaverhook. They got
together for the sole purpose of rocking out some Public Enemy covers and
having a jam or two. And as these things do, they’re still at it.
JERAMIAH FERRARI
These four almost feel omnipresent. Taking great strides in
the last two years – winning every battle of the bands, starred in a cinema released
documentary and played at the MEN – nothing pleases us more than little old us
bringing them back down to earth by getting them to come warm our ears once
more.
Bless em.
Support for all this comes from local new boys Renegade and
Retrospect. Come down and show em some love.
Free in (I know, I know)
DJs til Sunday.
Great beers, more whiskey, happy days.
ML
p.s. New Dogpod at the end of the week. You lucky bastards.
Please have a gander as the next few weeks are going to see many new additions including:
Long long long may it last.
Unfortunately,
straight away, this date was inaccessible to some performers who, I and they,
wish were there but by this point it was too late to change date. So here’s
some honourable mentions.....
Blackjack Casino
had their debut EP recorded by Chris at LoFi studios – one of the last
recordings at the legendary place. They'll be first up at 2030.
Chris (Capt. Hotknives) text me last Friday explaining he
was thinking of pulling the gig after coming down with some sort of virus. All
at the same time I got the warm rush of joy that comes when you remember you’ve
booked Hotknives mixed with the cold stabbing pain of someone letting you down (it could have been wind though).