My band - Magic Ship - is making its debut on Friday 6th June at Ye White Hart pub in Barnes SW3 (right next to Barnes Bridge Station) at the launch party for our album 'LoveTel Motel'. I've asked all over and have thus far have drawn a total blank in finding somebody that can come along and competently bootleg the gig for us. Even my old mate Planet Mondo is unable to attend, so if anybody fancies a bit of a knees up at an old fashioned 70's style rock n' roll party (we're expecting a pretty large crowd) where dancing is actively encouraged, please do get in touch to make arrangements. You can do what you wish with your recording but we would very much like to have a record of the night to post on our various websites for our international supporters who can't attend the party. If you want to know more about both the gig and our rather interesting LP record, simply visit my site at www.axevictim.com where you can listen to a pretty groovy podcast. I am happy to provide refreshments and a free copy of both the album and a Magic Ship t-shirt to whoever comes forward with bona fide bootlegging credentials.
Cheers!
Axe Victim aka Col from Magic Ship

If you're living near Ashford in Middx, are middle aged-ish and like old fashioned rock and pop, have your own transport and can carry a tune in a bucket, I'd be intersted to hear from you? My band needs a strong yet melodic rock singer for recording adn the 'odd' local gigs. Think of it as a project that you could write a feature around or a series of blogs - whatever. You might not have sung in a long while, no matter, just as long as you can actually sing and want to express yourself. I'm also on the look out for a competent but unflashy lead guitarist for jamming purposes for a side/fun project. If you think you fancy having a go, look me up via my profile. We're listed on We7.com I'll have you know...

Take a look through the back pages of any music magazine and count the number of tribute bands that are doing the rounds and you begin to wonder if there will eventually be any room for new bands with original material. It's even worse at this time of year as venues are getting ready to milk the seasonal cow that is the Christmas night out. A case in point is a band I know who are currently being traipsed around a major label with interest being shown from a handful of its divisional labels, but they can't get a gig at the Half Moon in Putney until January 2008 because the place is busy booking up 'tribute' money spinners. I have the same problem with my own band - sadly no label interest but still no gigs. Original bands do not seem to be in demand unless signed. It sucks as, in my opinion, so do a lot of tribute acts and I can't wait for this silly fashion to come to an end.

Does it feature the Rock n' Roll A level? I miss that. I'm sans digi radio and hate listening to the wireless on my desktop. Once upon a time in London there was GLR which had everything I needed and it was played in every room of my London flat, but today, what used to be GLR is now a talk radio station. Even Danny Baker, who once had great taste in music, pays only lip service to good music on his afternoon show. OK, so I know that we've all gone 'global' what with podcasting and the internet but can anybody point me at a decent broadcast station aimed at the over thirties? Not Smooth, Radio 2, Virgin yadda yadda yadda...

It's certainly a middle aged thing but who really gives a toss what rock stars think about anything? These days I am more likely to ignore a publication on the newsstand if it has a front cover depicting Slash or that bloke from Oasis who sticks two fingers up to everybody. What have they got to say that will be remotely interesting? Or is it just me becoming an old curmudgeon?