What is it about Sheffield?
Last night went to see Reverend and the Makers who have but one album in circulation. They were terrific. The place was hopping from the first track, the band were tight and Jon McClure is a great frontman and from what I saw, (I don't know him personally) a jolly decent dude.
They literally rocked the joint.
And for a encore he grabbed his guitar and invited everyone outside on the street for a sing song. Just bloody fantastic. And very highly recommended.
For some reason they are not getting the acclaim they deserve. IMHO. I think Word should get on the case.
A few weeks back we saw Richard Hawley. Again the guy rocked in a totally different way. And another thoroughly decent (and funny) man. He should be a part time stand up comic. And having seen him a few times now his gigs are beginning to be an event.
He should be massive.
Then last year saw the Artics and I just thought they were fantastic. Just rocked the house again.
Is there something in the water in Sheffield. Whatever it is they are producing some very inspiring and exciting stuff.
- More from Springer Bell.
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Sheffield is ace.
I had the privilege of spending 1977-1980 at the city's main educational institution, just as its (electronic) response to punk was bubbling under.
Formative years of the Human League, Cabaret Voltaire, Vice Versa (later ABC), the Thompson Twins, Artery, The Extras and many more. Even Def Leppard, if you will. And Pulp, lurking around the edges.
Fast forward twenty-odd years, and we've got the Arctic Monkeys, Milburn, Little Man Tate, Reverend and the Makers, the Long Blondes, Richard Hawley....
And what have Leeds given us in the meantime?
The Kaiser Chiefs and Corinne Bailey Rae.
I rest my case.
PS: Mr Hepworth - before you express an opinion - you're a Londoner, remember?
speaking of which
On Radcliffe & Maconie last night it was mentioned that the afore mentioned Hawley is about to produce an album for Tony Christie and all the songs will be Sheffield written. Love Action anybody?
Ahem,
Springer, The Word are on his case.
March 2008 issue, page 128. A full page on the good Reverend, where, among other glittering pearls of wisdom, he informs us of his penchant for moving the gig outdoors towards the end of the evening.
Cripes
With all the march shenanigans I overlooked. I stand corrected. But still stand by the rest though.
Music of Quality and Distinction
I couldn't agree with you more Springer - said Steel City gave us back in the day the likes of ABC, Human League, Heaven 17 and the British Electric Foundation, whose early stuff is still shamefully not available for download or on CD - such as their cover with the late great Billy McKenzie of Bowie's "Secret life of Arabia", and of "Ball of confusion" with Tina Turner of all people.
On a completely unrelated note, I believe (and if anyone can confirm this then that would be spotty dog!) that ABC's "Lexicon of Love" is one of the two albums that have shared the number one spot in the UK charts with another album, the only time this has ever happened - in other words, they sold exactly the same number as one another. The other was I recall the "Fame" soundtrack.
..... quick edit : to Paul above, I agree with all that you say except to add that Leeds also produced Gang Of Four - the excellent socialism-fuelled funkpunk outfit, not those chumps from the SDP! .... (hmm, were they actually from Leeds or were they at Leeds Uni as you were? Me not know)