I've always had this deep sense of resentment and loss in my heart that I was not old or wise enough to see Elvis & the A's 1986 Spinning Songbook tour which took a simple idea that shook up the often dull and predictable live rock gig. No-one has tried it since.

I always promised myself that if Elvis toured it again I would go to as many as I could. So when "The Revolver Tour" started to roll last year I hoped i wouldn't have to make the trip across the pond just to see it. So when he announced UK dates I went for broke (almost) and booked up for five.

Since I'd booked the tickets I'd gone and got myself a proper job and the 1st gig fell on my 2nd day at work. So I was a bit tired as I drove through the wind and rain on the M40 up to the Birmingham Symphony Hall. A truly great venue with excellent sound and I've seen some great Costello shows there

(continued in comments)

Just listening to the new Richard Hawley album on vinyl and blimey its a wonderful pressing again from the man.

Just put in an order for Chris Difford's "I Didn't Get Where I Am" vinyl pressing from fellow blogger topjukes Plane Groovy label.

Anyone else picked up some nice shellac of late or any they are looking forward to?

Been after a decent copy of this for ages - its free to see on Youtube

Live long and prosper, people

Anyone going to see them soon. Anyone already seen them. Anyone going to Shep Bush on Tuesday?

As I know there are fans of the Folds man here - get these dates in your diary

O2 Academy Bournemouth on November 23rd
Nottingham Rock City on November 24th
Dublin Vicar Street on November 26th
O2 Apollo Manchester on November 29th
O2 Academy Glasgow on November 30th
O2 Academy Leeds on December 1st
O2 Academy Birmingham on December 3rd
O2 Academy Brixton on December 4th

Hope a good number of you will be joining me in South London

for those who missed out on Record Store Day, the 10" and 3 more to come will be released via his "Singles Club"

https://store.digitalstores.co.uk/RichardHawley/

New Order, Primals and Spiritualized to hold "No 6" festival (no smoking) in Portmerion - the stage for one of the 60's most inventive TV series (as well as an episode of 2 point 4 Children)

http://www.festivalnumber6.com/

not the first time that bands have played there mind

"Two One Direction stars have reportedly become concerned that they may have chlamydia after being urinated on by a koala. Harry Styles and Liam Payne feared they may have caught the disease after visiting a sanctuary in Brisbane during their trip to Australia"

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a377755/one-direction-harry-sty...

No, the old lad's in fine fettle, dinnae worry. It just that I've been listening to a fair bit of his OJ n solo work lately and this sour swipe at the rock business of old and still to come seems to sum up my attitude towards the festival season these days

Yes here they come both old and young
A contract low or high
The gathering of the tribes descending
Vultures from a caustic sky

The rotting carcase of July
An ugly sun hung out to dry
Your gorgeous hippy dreams are dying
Your frazzled brains are putrifying

Repackaged sold and sanitizied
The devil's music exercise
You live, you die you lie you lie you die
Perpetuate the lie
Just to perpetuate the lie

Yes yes yes it's the summer festival
The truly detestable
Summer festival

What happened to the plethora of joke candidates that used to enliven otherwise dull count announcements at general elections?

Yes we have the bad joke that is the BNP but whilst watching the 1992 Election coverage on BBC Parliament on Easter weekend (yes I have no life) I was reminded of how many "fringe" parties there were.

In John Major's constituency alongside 'Screaming' Lord Sutch was 'Lord Buckethead' , 'The Natural law Party (George Harrison's Yogic Flying pals), the 'Forward To Mars' party and more.

I assume some of these were student stunts (cockney rhyming slang) which may suggest the grant system and then having to pay fees has killed off brave men like Lieutenant Colonel Kojak Slaphead the Third of 'The Bald Brummies Against the Bigfoot Conspiracy Party'

yes they were often annoyingly wacky but quintessentially British

(must add that the "headslapping?" sequence still has me helpless with laughter especially as you can see Patrick Marber nearly corpse at the end. He should do this more rather than writing plays. Damn you, Patrick Marber.)

As the wheel started rolling again in Vancouver last night I thought I'd start a thread on the tour as it rolls its way towards the UK. If you're going to any of the US\Euro\UK dates then let us know any surprises the wheel throws up.

Last night ran -

I Hope You’re Happy Now
Heart of the City
Mystery Dance
Uncomplicated
Spin – New Lace Sleeves
Spin – Cash = Cry Cry Cry
Spin – Clubland
EC Spin – Detectives
Double Spin – Shipbuilding & Time Jackpot
Time = Strict Time / Out of Time / Man Out of Time
Impromptu bit of Temptation
NEW! Hammer of Song (like the carnival Ring the Bell with a mallet) with 3 sections: The Hits of Tomorrow, Ladies Excuse Me & Songs of Sneer. If you ring the bell and it’s your choice from the wheel
Her Choice – Accidents Will Happen
Spin – Beyond Belief
You Belong to Me
Radio Radio
EC Spin - I've Been Wrong Before
The Comedians
EC Spin - Happy Jackpot - Watch Your Step
Secondary Modern
5 Gears in Reverse
King Horse
Every Day I Write the Book

Encore Solo:
Slow Drag With Josephine
Jimmie Standing in the Rain
Alison/Tracks of My Tears/Suspicious Minds

Cheat Spin – Chelsea
No Particular Place To Go
Pump it Up
Diana Krall Spin was King’s Ransom = One Bell Ringing
Peace, Love & Understanding (Diana join in on piano at the end)

Its nearly Friday 20th April so here's a heads up

Copa Bar
76 - 78A Kings Road,
Reading
RG1 3BJ
From 6.30pm onwards

http://www.drinksinreading.com/pubs-and-bars/copa--reading/107/66.html
http://copareading.sm4.biz/#

Again - ANYONE is welcome. Reading is on the mainest of main lines with connections to loads of places. That's why we chose it. Don't feel nervous and decide against it, we all did the first time we rolled up but that lasts all of 30 seconds. (oi, leave it)

There was a charabanc (easy) from London last time so if any of you cockney bastards want to make the trip then get on the frog and toad.

The CD Theme is SPACE as Apollo 16 landed on the moon on 20th April 1972. So take that how you want - future, aliens, rockets, UFOs, distance, room, sky, star, planet, moon, place, area, land etc etc. Doesn't have to be in the title or band name.

You don't need to bring anything but your own self if you want to. The usual CD\book bring and buy and bootleg requests taken

Hope to see you there.

*if you live near Reading

OK so who is your most desirable beefcake or cupcake from the mists of time? Any candidate must have been born before 1900 (so sadly, no Queen Mother lads). Just a nice picture of your sweetie plus a little about why they are so SMOKING HOT!

My suggestion is Queen Victoria

Ok so after her sex machine of a hubby died she frumped up a bit and was built for comfort not speed but the sheer volume of children she produced suggested that she was utterly irresistible 365 and 24\7.

the above portrait from 1843 of the 24 year old temptress was deemed so damned sizzling that Prince Albert kept it in a "special room" so it was for his eyes only and it has only now go on display some 169 (that can't be a coincidence. can it) years later.

She wrote this about her wedding night

"NEVER, NEVER spent such an evening!!! MY DEAREST DEAREST DEAR Albert ... his excessive love & affection gave me feelings of heavenly love & happiness I never could have hoped to have felt before! He clasped me in his arms, & we kissed each other again & again! His beauty, his sweetness & gentleness – really how can I ever be thankful enough to have such a Husband! ... to be called by names of tenderness, I have never yet heard used to me before – was bliss beyond belief! Oh! This was the happiest day of my life!["

Phwoar, eh, phwoar!

She was mother to a nation and pin-up of the Empire.

* shamelessly stolen from John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman's The Bugle podcast http://thebuglepodcast.com/

she was barely 18 (what you did was obscene, no, sorry, hang on) and she was producing ace but later rejected stuff like this

I wish she'd give us some of these early piano demos but I know thats not in her nature.