Once, on a visit to Newcastle, I saw the standard winter Saturday-night carousing by young women dressed in very short skirts with bare arms and legs, tottering along on skyscraper heels, bodies folded against the bitterly cold winds.
A kind thought crossed my mind, and I resolved to fill a white van with cosy duffel coats, and take them on a mercy-mission to keep those poor young women warm.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Friday, February 27, 2015
Friday Is
Friday is
Pieday is
Hide(away)day
Cryday
Payday
Heyday
Awayday
Prayday
Gayday
M'aidez
My day.
Pieday is
Hide(away)day
Cryday
Payday
Heyday
Awayday
Prayday
Gayday
M'aidez
My day.
Thank You, Librarian
The book I needed is £400 on Amazon (not that I use it any more anyway... well, not much).
I managed to find one copy in a library, but it wasn't possible to borrow it.
16 pages into my notebook of scribbles, I realise that the best thing would be to photocopy the whole lot.
(When I did my MA, one of the students did the calculations and discovered that this was cheaper than buying some books).
I went to ask the librarian where the photocopier was situated and explained what I needed to do.
'Oh well: how long do you think you'd need it for?'
'A week'.
'Nobody borrows it any more. I can let you borrow it for that long'.
He even came downstairs and waved it in front of the security bleeper to make sure the alarms didn't go off.
Now that is a kind librarian. Bless your cotton socks, sir.
I managed to find one copy in a library, but it wasn't possible to borrow it.
16 pages into my notebook of scribbles, I realise that the best thing would be to photocopy the whole lot.
(When I did my MA, one of the students did the calculations and discovered that this was cheaper than buying some books).
I went to ask the librarian where the photocopier was situated and explained what I needed to do.
'Oh well: how long do you think you'd need it for?'
'A week'.
'Nobody borrows it any more. I can let you borrow it for that long'.
He even came downstairs and waved it in front of the security bleeper to make sure the alarms didn't go off.
Now that is a kind librarian. Bless your cotton socks, sir.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Stuck Zips In A Fishing Village Shop
It was cold.
It was time to get a jacket to keep the biting wind at bay.
The large size was enormous. As he took the khaki weatherproof jacket off, the zip stuck and he had to wriggle out of it to remove it. We put it back on the hanger.
The medium size was huge. How strange to be a 'small', we thought; as he tried to get the zip undone, it stuck.
We pulled it over his head and put it back on the hanger.
The small size was perfect; he decided that was the One. He unzipped it, halfway; the zip stuck.
It was a wrench to get the jacket off, over his head, again. We put it back on the hanger.
We left.
It was time to get a jacket to keep the biting wind at bay.
The large size was enormous. As he took the khaki weatherproof jacket off, the zip stuck and he had to wriggle out of it to remove it. We put it back on the hanger.
The medium size was huge. How strange to be a 'small', we thought; as he tried to get the zip undone, it stuck.
We pulled it over his head and put it back on the hanger.
The small size was perfect; he decided that was the One. He unzipped it, halfway; the zip stuck.
It was a wrench to get the jacket off, over his head, again. We put it back on the hanger.
We left.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
The Zine Fair in Brighton
With a huge painty shelf wedged into the car and a box crammed with Caroline Lucas cupcakes, we pulled up to the neat little Unitarian Church Hall in Brighton's New Road to be met by a crowd of Offsprog One's friends who had come to help. They were really excited and some of the zine sellers were already there to help set up. It went really well: some people sold out really quickly. There was a bread-seller and some visitors even tried to buy the nursery children's paintings of igloos from the wall display. It was a successful day and there was a great atmosphere: well done to Offsprog One for setting it up and to Offsprog Two for making some superb Simpsons t-shirts.
Me and Joan gobbled up a couple of Caroline Lucas cupcakes: mmm lemony! Then it was a nightmare drive back home through lashing rain and strange, drifting orange fog made of mega water droplets from hell, the M25 peppered with crashed and broken down vehicles. My car may be a complete wreck itself, but the good old rust-bucket got me back home safely in the end.
Somewhere along the way I've picked up a virus; I know I'm ill because I had to cancel a day out with Gina after locking myself out of the house, and I can't stop sleeping.
Goodnight.
Me and Joan gobbled up a couple of Caroline Lucas cupcakes: mmm lemony! Then it was a nightmare drive back home through lashing rain and strange, drifting orange fog made of mega water droplets from hell, the M25 peppered with crashed and broken down vehicles. My car may be a complete wreck itself, but the good old rust-bucket got me back home safely in the end.
Somewhere along the way I've picked up a virus; I know I'm ill because I had to cancel a day out with Gina after locking myself out of the house, and I can't stop sleeping.
Goodnight.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Lee Thompson in Barnet
The Black Bull was so packed that the best strategy was to squeeze in and then try to hold your ground. The crowd was good natured, bordering on rowdy, and at least half of them looked far too young to remember Madness. Lee was in fine voice, dedicating the song Honey to his wife and playing a new song which I think was called You Don't Own Me, whose words were on the ground. 'Im not admiring my shoes', he promised. A tall man sporting one strut of a pair of specs over his ear conducted along happily; everyone was wearing their finest, even the grown-up skinheads, still wearing pristine Harringtons, who were on their best behaviour.
When the band launched into Too Much Too Young, there was a surge to the front and people started bouncing; a cover of a Jam song (don't know the title, it was a hit but I'm not fan enough to know it) went down a storm. It got so crowded I tried out the courtyard where a sax player was lurking, but you couldn't hear a thing so I came home. This was a spirited gig that obviously pulled the punters in from miles around. There was much mobile-phonery as people phoned their mates, but alas I think they'll get there too late.
Pretty good having a proper gig in my manor. The guy round the corner in the antiques market used to drive pop stars around and he told us one day that Madness, Sade and Spandau Ballet all used to play regularly in a pub in Barnet which was demolished a few years ago: they cut their musical teeth out here in the sticks. On the sticks, possibly.
We all get older, fatter, wrinklier. I wish I hadn't opened that bottle with my teeth to show off; there is a gap where it once grew.
I was left wondering about skinheads. Was it a good rehearsal for going bald in middle age?
When the band launched into Too Much Too Young, there was a surge to the front and people started bouncing; a cover of a Jam song (don't know the title, it was a hit but I'm not fan enough to know it) went down a storm. It got so crowded I tried out the courtyard where a sax player was lurking, but you couldn't hear a thing so I came home. This was a spirited gig that obviously pulled the punters in from miles around. There was much mobile-phonery as people phoned their mates, but alas I think they'll get there too late.
Pretty good having a proper gig in my manor. The guy round the corner in the antiques market used to drive pop stars around and he told us one day that Madness, Sade and Spandau Ballet all used to play regularly in a pub in Barnet which was demolished a few years ago: they cut their musical teeth out here in the sticks. On the sticks, possibly.
We all get older, fatter, wrinklier. I wish I hadn't opened that bottle with my teeth to show off; there is a gap where it once grew.
I was left wondering about skinheads. Was it a good rehearsal for going bald in middle age?
Crockery Design
This is the design for the mug for the last Guitar Weekend, which was a smasher. The weekend, not the mug.
I actually learned quite a lot this time around, probably because there was an atmosphere of enjoyable industry about it although there were still plenty of laughs. It was great to hear Tim Donkin's fab voice on the group version of Hold Me which you can hear here: https://soundcloud.com/the-daintees/hold-me-guitar-weekend
We did a fair bit of group recording as well as the learning sessions; and of, course, listening to Martin, Jim and Brian playing in their distinctive styles is always a pleasure.
I actually learned quite a lot this time around, probably because there was an atmosphere of enjoyable industry about it although there were still plenty of laughs. It was great to hear Tim Donkin's fab voice on the group version of Hold Me which you can hear here: https://soundcloud.com/the-daintees/hold-me-guitar-weekend
We did a fair bit of group recording as well as the learning sessions; and of, course, listening to Martin, Jim and Brian playing in their distinctive styles is always a pleasure.
Friday, February 20, 2015
The Millionth Marple
I'm trying to work out how many million times I've watched this episode of Miss Marple.
Often, I forget the plots because I'm simply not concentrating. The Offsprogs once told me that I'd watched a Poirot episode many times before, but I didn't remember it probably because mostly with those I'm looking at the clothes.
I think I know whodunnit in this one but I don't know how. There are lots of camp moustaches (toothbrush-style, not beetle-looking ones like Poirot's), some nice wooden furniture, red lipstick on all female mouths, pancake make-up on everyone, unfeasibly green grass (lots of it), stern detectives, and the thread of Mis Marple's quavery voice holding it all together throughout.
Dum de dum. I wonder if there are any crisps left?
Often, I forget the plots because I'm simply not concentrating. The Offsprogs once told me that I'd watched a Poirot episode many times before, but I didn't remember it probably because mostly with those I'm looking at the clothes.
I think I know whodunnit in this one but I don't know how. There are lots of camp moustaches (toothbrush-style, not beetle-looking ones like Poirot's), some nice wooden furniture, red lipstick on all female mouths, pancake make-up on everyone, unfeasibly green grass (lots of it), stern detectives, and the thread of Mis Marple's quavery voice holding it all together throughout.
Dum de dum. I wonder if there are any crisps left?
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Article Playlist
I'm at the fact-checking stage after another three hours working this morning. There are two books I need to consult- one extremely rare one that's going for £400 on Amazon, and one that I don't have. So I'm off to the library on Friday. I thought it might be interesting to share the playlist with you. I have really enjoyed writing this article even thought it's been hard work. It's not particularly academic but is more of an attempt to pick a different path through the history of songs than the normal one, and I've listened to some great music on the way through it. It was unexpected to suddenly be asked to finish it, but a refreshing change in directing from the mega-project I've been working on since 2010.
1954 Tubby the Tuba by Danny Kaye
1966 Under My Thumb by The Rolling Stones
1966 Out of Time by The Rolling Stones
1968 Wet Dream by Max Romeo
1969 Melting Pot by Blue Mink
1969 The Lemon Song by Led Zeppelin
1970 Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys by The Equals
1970 (To Be) Young, Gifted and Black, by Bob and Marcia
1973 Brother Louie by Hot Chocolate
1973 Stir it Up by John Holt, Island Records
1973 Funky Kingston by Toots and the Maytals
1973 Can the Can by Susie Quatro
1973 I Shot the Sheriff by Bob Marley
1974 I Shot the Sheriff by Eric Clapton
1974 Devilgate Drive by Susie Quatro
1977 Oh Bondage, Up Yours! By X-Ray Spex
1979 In Love by The Raincoats
1979 Fairytale in the Supermarket by The Raincoats
1979 Typical Girls by The Slits
1979 Shoplifting by The Slits
1979 Black Woman by Judy Mowatt
1982 Do You really Want To Hurt Me by Culture Club
1982 Night Nurse by Greg Isaacs
1983 Kill the Police Bill by Ranking Anne
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Phew
I hadn't realised how wound up I'd been until I woke up this morning and didn't want to.
It was a really successful night with spot-on performances from the hilarious Amy Corcoran, who somehow managed to get the word *rsehole into every song, a very poignant contribution from Pete Astor, and a fantastic set from Martin Stephenson and Jim-the-Fiddle that had them rolling in the aisles. The atmosphere was great and I appreciated Kalamazoo Klub promoter Guy Simpson turning up to show his support, plus Paul Eccentric and Donna, Lester Square and Jo, Dubulah and Jim, Gina Birch and Mike, Nat the Hammer, Foolish Girl (yay! but when's Him Indoors going to come along?) and a very supportive audience who listened all the way through and generally got into the scheme of things. New songs were debuted; Amy trembled before her first song, I trembled after mine. We ate chips from down the road and sausage rolls from my bag, we drank coke or wine. Jim went walkabout at Martin's behest and people tried not to lure him over to serenade them; they were just that side of cool. Niosha and Yuzrin from the University of the East did a fine job of the sound and Offsprog One did a great job on the door for us. The Boogaloo is a convivial place and people chatted with each other for a long time afterwards. Thank you for coming along everyone, and roll on the next one on April the 20th!
Phew.
It was a really successful night with spot-on performances from the hilarious Amy Corcoran, who somehow managed to get the word *rsehole into every song, a very poignant contribution from Pete Astor, and a fantastic set from Martin Stephenson and Jim-the-Fiddle that had them rolling in the aisles. The atmosphere was great and I appreciated Kalamazoo Klub promoter Guy Simpson turning up to show his support, plus Paul Eccentric and Donna, Lester Square and Jo, Dubulah and Jim, Gina Birch and Mike, Nat the Hammer, Foolish Girl (yay! but when's Him Indoors going to come along?) and a very supportive audience who listened all the way through and generally got into the scheme of things. New songs were debuted; Amy trembled before her first song, I trembled after mine. We ate chips from down the road and sausage rolls from my bag, we drank coke or wine. Jim went walkabout at Martin's behest and people tried not to lure him over to serenade them; they were just that side of cool. Niosha and Yuzrin from the University of the East did a fine job of the sound and Offsprog One did a great job on the door for us. The Boogaloo is a convivial place and people chatted with each other for a long time afterwards. Thank you for coming along everyone, and roll on the next one on April the 20th!
Phew.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Be Hare Or Be Square
No talk at tomorrow's event, but lots of music. Pete, Amy and me will be playing new songs (I will be airing the Two Minutes Left song Quik Fitte for the first time that I wrote and recorded for Linear Obsessional just before Christmas http://linearobsessional.bandcamp.com/album/two-minutes-left ) before Martin takes to the stage, joined by Jim the Fiddle, to make us all smile with his music and humour. The evening starts at 8.30 and finishes just before 11. It is £9.00 on the door to get in, £7.00 concessions although UEL students with a card get in for free, and it's very close to Highgate Tube which is on the Northern Line. I should be practicing my songs but I'm eating strawberries instead, or just about to. I hope to see you there!
Saturday, February 14, 2015
More Writing
On my bookshelves there are two layers of books. I have mined these, but will have to delve deeper tomorrow because I can't find Roger Sabin's Punk Rock? So What. I've just acquired a really interesting book by Gareth Murphy called Cowboys and Indies, which is a history of record labels, a lightning tour. I'm halfway through the article, but I took a break and went for a long walk to clear my head before a large dose of Come Dine With Me.
A Petition
I am so concerned about what is happening to the NHS that it's giving me nightmares. Bit by bit, it's being eroded and pruned until soon there will be nothing left.
This petition is quite specific and I am posting it here because a friend in Sussex is so worried about a Mum she knows not being about for much longer for her children. If you have time, please sign it.
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/73911
This petition is quite specific and I am posting it here because a friend in Sussex is so worried about a Mum she knows not being about for much longer for her children. If you have time, please sign it.
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/73911
Friday, February 13, 2015
Back To The 1980s I Go
Back to the 1980s I go: the radio is in the kitchen set to play BBC6Radio whenever I want it and the record player is singing merrily along as Cristina's out-of-tune disco ricochets off the kitchen cabinets in a joyously trebly celebration that chases the seeping grey February fog out of the cracks in the back door, back to where it came from.
'Balme it on disco!', trills Cristina. Oh well yes I will, then!
Ping pong go the vibes, thrasha-thrasha goes the brass section, here come the key changes and the drop section... my feet don't fail me now, all the housework is getting done with the rhythm of the cowbell.
God bless vinyl and all who sail with her!
'Balme it on disco!', trills Cristina. Oh well yes I will, then!
Ping pong go the vibes, thrasha-thrasha goes the brass section, here come the key changes and the drop section... my feet don't fail me now, all the housework is getting done with the rhythm of the cowbell.
God bless vinyl and all who sail with her!
Thursday, February 12, 2015
5
I must be mad. I woke at five, got up at six and was on my way to the quiet office at work by seven. I had a good couple of hours writing before I had to do the first lecture of the day but by three in the afternoon I had almost completely lost my voice and now I'm sitting like a brainless amoeba on the sofa.
Early, I had an idea about pirate radio and contacted Joly, who used to own Better Badges in Portobello Road; he responded in an instant- what time was it in New York?- with lots of details, including the fact that he had bought his first transmitter form Luke the Duke. I think Luke the Duke's station was called Radio City and it broadcast from the top of a tower block in north west London, not far from where I lived in Kilburn. It was mostly rockabilly- very fine music indeed. I used to listen every Sunday afternoon, until it just vanished off the air. That must have been when he sold the transmitter to Joly!
Early, I had an idea about pirate radio and contacted Joly, who used to own Better Badges in Portobello Road; he responded in an instant- what time was it in New York?- with lots of details, including the fact that he had bought his first transmitter form Luke the Duke. I think Luke the Duke's station was called Radio City and it broadcast from the top of a tower block in north west London, not far from where I lived in Kilburn. It was mostly rockabilly- very fine music indeed. I used to listen every Sunday afternoon, until it just vanished off the air. That must have been when he sold the transmitter to Joly!
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Girl Punk and Reggae
I got up early this morning to finish off an academic article that I started more than two years ago; the files were buried deep in my computer, hidden by a false name. For several minutes I could only find a weak skeleton of what I'd written and then finally I unearthed it.
The town where I live is being demolished and rebuilt, all of it, and it was so noisy that I gave up working at home and ventured in to work where the repetitive organ riff from the rehearsal room next to the office was a welcome relief from diggers, drills, hammers and bellowing men in fluorescent jackets and hard hats.
I thought I could get by with three books (Lloyd Bradley, Christopher Partridge and Paul Gilroy) to add to the bibliography but by the time I got home to watch telly, my brain was buzzing and there's a pile there ready to take in tomorrow: Lucy O'Brien, Sheryl Garratt and Sue Steward, Dick Hebdige, Don Letts and the academic journal Punk and Post Punk.
I have another 1000 words to write, but then I need to edit out about 500 words so that's 1500... you know how it goes: add, subtract, multiply, divide, words, words, ideas.
The town where I live is being demolished and rebuilt, all of it, and it was so noisy that I gave up working at home and ventured in to work where the repetitive organ riff from the rehearsal room next to the office was a welcome relief from diggers, drills, hammers and bellowing men in fluorescent jackets and hard hats.
I thought I could get by with three books (Lloyd Bradley, Christopher Partridge and Paul Gilroy) to add to the bibliography but by the time I got home to watch telly, my brain was buzzing and there's a pile there ready to take in tomorrow: Lucy O'Brien, Sheryl Garratt and Sue Steward, Dick Hebdige, Don Letts and the academic journal Punk and Post Punk.
I have another 1000 words to write, but then I need to edit out about 500 words so that's 1500... you know how it goes: add, subtract, multiply, divide, words, words, ideas.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Gideon Coe Tonight, BBC6 Radio
Gideon Coe will be playing not only The Chefs but also The Weather Prophets tonight.
Pete Astor of the Weather Prophets will be playing some songs on Monday night at Club Artyfartle at The Boogaloo, from 8.30 p.m.
Link to Gideon's show:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0072l9v/broadcasts/upcoming
Ticket link for Club Artyfartle, headlined by Martin Stephenson of Newcastle's The Daintees and also featuring Pete and Amy Corcoran, the Bolton balladeer:
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/305483
Pete Astor of the Weather Prophets will be playing some songs on Monday night at Club Artyfartle at The Boogaloo, from 8.30 p.m.
Link to Gideon's show:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0072l9v/broadcasts/upcoming
Ticket link for Club Artyfartle, headlined by Martin Stephenson of Newcastle's The Daintees and also featuring Pete and Amy Corcoran, the Bolton balladeer:
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/305483
Monday, February 09, 2015
Sunday, February 08, 2015
Offsprog One's Zine Fair in Brighton
At least Blogger doesn't autocorrect her name to Offspring One. Grrr.
Oh no! It did! Grrrrrrrr!
Oh no! It did! Grrrrrrrr!
Friday, February 06, 2015
Academic Working Hours
Academic working hours are weird. Yesterday, there was no chance to take a lunch break until 3.45, and then I wasn't sure if what I was eating was lunch or tea.
Then this morning I got up at 6.30 and I've just, at 8.30, completed the Powerpoint for Monday's lecture.
Part of that is completing it before the very noisy building work opposite my house gets into swing. Building is happening everywhere at the moment: ring-a-ding-ding! More empty buildings to loom above us and make us feel small and insignificant!
I've got three A4 to-do lists and part of today will be spent making them into one, by doing some of the things listed on them and weeding out unnecessary parts.
I have a new item to add: edit academic article, which I shall enjoy doing. It's a bit like marking your own work, but with more scorn and a ferocious focus on following up your own critique.
I am not complaining. It is good to be busy and swimming in the river, even if you encounter the odd shark here and there.
Then this morning I got up at 6.30 and I've just, at 8.30, completed the Powerpoint for Monday's lecture.
Part of that is completing it before the very noisy building work opposite my house gets into swing. Building is happening everywhere at the moment: ring-a-ding-ding! More empty buildings to loom above us and make us feel small and insignificant!
I've got three A4 to-do lists and part of today will be spent making them into one, by doing some of the things listed on them and weeding out unnecessary parts.
I have a new item to add: edit academic article, which I shall enjoy doing. It's a bit like marking your own work, but with more scorn and a ferocious focus on following up your own critique.
I am not complaining. It is good to be busy and swimming in the river, even if you encounter the odd shark here and there.
Thursday, February 05, 2015
Wednesday, February 04, 2015
The Cold Walk
After completing a research interview with someone in Wandsworth (a much-appreciated interview: having this amount of goodwill more than makes up for the complete lack of funding I've had), I headed for Crouch End with a fistful of posters for Club Artyfartle and a slab of chilly Blu-Tack to stick 'em up with. Some Cafes were snotty (last time I do a free gig for you, guys) but most were great, although I had to put most of them at canine-eye level because of general poster congestion.
I expect to see a lot of dogs at The Boogaloo on 16th.
I walked up the hill to Highgate to put some more up, but the hill had grown considerably since the last time I went up it in a car. Puce-faced, I put a couple up at The Boogaloo and one in the amazing vintage guitar shop on Highgate Road. By then, I was so cold that I didn't even look at the amazing vintage guitars.
This is old-fashioned local publicity for a local gig.
Here is a newfangled ticket link to click on if you'd like to come to a lovely intimate gig with Martin Stephenson, Amy Corcoran, Pete Astor (who used to be in The Loft and The Weather Prophets) and me, on Monday 16th February at The Boogaloo in Highgate:
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/305483
I expect to see a lot of dogs at The Boogaloo on 16th.
I walked up the hill to Highgate to put some more up, but the hill had grown considerably since the last time I went up it in a car. Puce-faced, I put a couple up at The Boogaloo and one in the amazing vintage guitar shop on Highgate Road. By then, I was so cold that I didn't even look at the amazing vintage guitars.
This is old-fashioned local publicity for a local gig.
Here is a newfangled ticket link to click on if you'd like to come to a lovely intimate gig with Martin Stephenson, Amy Corcoran, Pete Astor (who used to be in The Loft and The Weather Prophets) and me, on Monday 16th February at The Boogaloo in Highgate:
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/305483
Tuesday, February 03, 2015
Theatre Royal Nottingham: Thank You
Despite the train from St Pancras being determined to hold things up, I managed to get to the Theatre Royal in time to give Mike and June a hug and do a neat sound check before the gig started.
The Theatre Royal in Nottingham is a gorgeous building, a gem in a lovely city that is full of surprises, as we discovered on The Daintees tour last year, and I had been looking forward to going back. Brass rails, thick pale green carpets, friendly staff and a warm welcome from the host, David Longford soon made me forget the journey.
I loved the gig- the sound was as clear as a bell, there was a great atmosphere and a listening audience; I enjoyed chatting to people afterwards and it was great to meet one or two people who were familiar with The Chefs and Helen and the Horns. Now, here is a totally nerdy thing: the set list, with links where possible!
Part 1
3 Maple Men http://helenmccookerybook.bandcamp.com/track/three-maple-men
Unsung Heroine http://helenmccookerybook.bandcamp.com/track/the-song-of-the-unsung-heroine
Love on the Wind
The House on the Hill http://helenmccookerybook.bandcamp.com/track/the-house-on-the-hill
I Feel It http://helenmccookerybook.bandcamp.com/track/i-feel-it
Temptation http://helenmccookerybook.bandcamp.com/track/temptation
Lover When You Leave Me (not recorded yet)
Snakebite (Helen and the Horns song, without Horns)
Loverman
Heaven Avenue http://helenmccookerybook.bandcamp.com/track/heaven-avenue
Part 2
The Word is, Goodbye http://helenmccookerybook.bandcamp.com/track/the-word-is-goodbye
Gotta Have a Heart http://helenmccookerybook.bandcamp.com/track/gotta-have-a-heart
Mr and Mrs Songsmith
Big Brother is Watching You (not recorded yet)
London http://www.reverbnation.com/helenmccookerybook
Little England http://helenmccookerybook.bandcamp.com/track/little-england
Sugar Hill http://helenmccookerybook.bandcamp.com/track/sugar-hill
If You've Got The Blues http://helenmccookerybook.bandcamp.com/track/if-youve-got-the-blues
24 Hours (Chefs song, acoustic version, not recorded yet)
Let's Make Up (Chefs song, acoustic version, not recorded yet)
Freight Train (Helen and the Horns song, without Horns)
The Theatre Royal in Nottingham is a gorgeous building, a gem in a lovely city that is full of surprises, as we discovered on The Daintees tour last year, and I had been looking forward to going back. Brass rails, thick pale green carpets, friendly staff and a warm welcome from the host, David Longford soon made me forget the journey.
I loved the gig- the sound was as clear as a bell, there was a great atmosphere and a listening audience; I enjoyed chatting to people afterwards and it was great to meet one or two people who were familiar with The Chefs and Helen and the Horns. Now, here is a totally nerdy thing: the set list, with links where possible!
Part 1
3 Maple Men http://helenmccookerybook.bandcamp.com/track/three-maple-men
Unsung Heroine http://helenmccookerybook.bandcamp.com/track/the-song-of-the-unsung-heroine
Love on the Wind
The House on the Hill http://helenmccookerybook.bandcamp.com/track/the-house-on-the-hill
I Feel It http://helenmccookerybook.bandcamp.com/track/i-feel-it
Temptation http://helenmccookerybook.bandcamp.com/track/temptation
Lover When You Leave Me (not recorded yet)
Snakebite (Helen and the Horns song, without Horns)
Loverman
Heaven Avenue http://helenmccookerybook.bandcamp.com/track/heaven-avenue
Part 2
The Word is, Goodbye http://helenmccookerybook.bandcamp.com/track/the-word-is-goodbye
Gotta Have a Heart http://helenmccookerybook.bandcamp.com/track/gotta-have-a-heart
Mr and Mrs Songsmith
Big Brother is Watching You (not recorded yet)
London http://www.reverbnation.com/helenmccookerybook
Little England http://helenmccookerybook.bandcamp.com/track/little-england
Sugar Hill http://helenmccookerybook.bandcamp.com/track/sugar-hill
If You've Got The Blues http://helenmccookerybook.bandcamp.com/track/if-youve-got-the-blues
24 Hours (Chefs song, acoustic version, not recorded yet)
Let's Make Up (Chefs song, acoustic version, not recorded yet)
Freight Train (Helen and the Horns song, without Horns)