Malkmus to curate gig at royal festival hall!

[Ladt]

Hooray! And the Furries are playing as well, as is Graham Coxon. Bring it on!nme.com has more news.

[Ladt]

That's in London for anyone who's confused.

[Ladt]

Got my tickets for the day with the furries. Can't wait. The gig's called up the dust pipe or something.

[Noah]

you sir are very lucky. it's weird... good festival type shows never occur on the eastern seaboard (or at least near ny), at least thats how it seems to me.

[Ladt]

Thankyou for calling me sir. I'm not used to it. I'm glad someone replied, I thought I might've had the record for most replies to own post.

[jef]

I saw on NME that some of the other performers at this thing are the Groundhogs, Bert Jansch, and Alternative TV. Wow, that should be an amazing 2 days.

[Ladt]

Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it. I'll have to borrow some of my dad's Groundhog's records. Anyone heard of Vashti Bunyan by the way?

[tinobeat]

I was listening to her this morning.

wonderful wonderful stuff

[Dave]

Vashti Bunyan had a single or two in the later 60's then recored for Immediate (she has a track on the Tonite Let's All Make Love In London soundtrack but I don't think anything else ever came out. She dropped out of music in 1968, but was coaxed back and recorded a fantastic folk record Just Another Diamond Day w/Joe Boyd producing. Robin Williamson (Incredible String Band), Simon Nicol & Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention) play on it as well. The record was quite rare and expensive, but was reissued in 2000 by a label called Spinney.
If you dig Fairport Convention, Incredible String Band or anything that Joe Boyd produced and don't have the record you really do need it.
Recently Vashti added some vocals to the latest Piano Magic album Writers Without Homes on 4AD.

[Ladt]

Before my time I'm afraid, so I haven't heard of fairport convention or any of that other stuff either.

[Dave]

Ladt
Trust me, you need to check that stuff out. Here's a readers digest Fairport overview: Started out by, as they said, trying to sound like Jefferson Airplane. Put out a great self titled album on Polydor. Horrible accident, New singer (Judy Dyble out, Sandy Denny in) record three earth shatteringly great records (What We Did On Our Holidays, Unhalfbricking, & Liege & Lief) Then Sandy Denny leaves and they record another fantastic record w/out her (Full House ).
There is way more to it than that, but I'd advise to start w/one of the Sandy Denny albums listed above. There is an Island double CD best of, but honestly, the albums are so good you should just go straight to them.
Incredible String Band: Where Fairport where THE band that defined Folk-Rock, ISB were much more on the folk side of things, but they were also quite hippie-esque. The big two records are The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter & The 5,000 Spirts Or The Layers Of The Onion )
These days Fairport Convention will not sound that alien to anyone's ears, but The Incredible String Band is still something that I'd say to hear before you buy to see if it is "your bag."
How does Vashti Bunyon fit into all of this? Well her record is a bit more subdued and fragile overall than a Fairport Convention record, but way more straight forward than the Incredible String Band.
Hope that helps.
Dave

[hstencil]

on Hangman's Beautiful Daughter is one of the best songs ever. Can't remember the damn name.

[Ladt]

Thanks, I'll try and check something out before I go and see the gig.

[jef]

Fairport Convention is one of my favorites. The albums Dave mentioned are the best. My favorites being "Unhalfbricking" and "Leige and Lief". I haven't heard Vashti Bunyan yet either, but Bert Jansch has some amazing stuff too.

[jef]

That would be pretty cool to see Alternative TV too.

[Helen]

Ladt

Another great record to check out is 'Pentangle - Basket of Light'

Helen

[jef]

Wow, the Buff Medways are playing as well! I find it funny that NME conveniently left them out. No doubt because of Billy Childishs "I hate the fucking NME" song.

That's gonna be a killer fest.

[Ladt]

Excuse my ignorance, and everything, and I have heard of the Buff Medways, but who are they?

[jef]

It's the latest project of Billy Childish(pop rivets, the milkshakes, thee headcoats, mighty caesars,etc.,etc.)

[Ladt]

Oh dear. That means nothing to me.

[Dave]

Billy Childish:
Billy Hampshire aka Billy Childish is one of the most important figures in British music. Here is a reader's digest overview of his stuff. He is from Chatham and has been at the forefront of the Medway scene Since the late 1970's. His first band was the Pop Rivets in 1977. They were a very good straight forward punk rock band. After the Pop Rivets Billy started the Milkshakes. The Milkshakes were much more Chuck Berry damgaged than "punk." After the Milkshakes Billy Started Thee Mighty Caesars. Thee Mighty Caesars kept the Chuck Berry and brought the punk back in as well. They released some of the most savage records in the genre that has become known as "garage rock" ever. After that came Thee Headcoats. They were similar in style to The Mighty Caesars and released a lot of records. The Buff Medways are Billy's latest band and they too are similar to Thee Mighty Caesars, but they add a Jimi Hendrix fixation that has to be heard to be belived. While all of this was happening Billy also released lots of solo records, collaborations w/various other Medway scenesters (Sexton Ming), had other bands like Billy Childish & the Blackhands, orchestrated the Delmonas and later Thee Headcoatees. He also is a painter, has written tons of books and run his own record label. All of this stuff has happened, for the most part, outside of any attention from the British musical press. When Grunge broke Mudhoney were some of the most vocal supporters of Billy and Thee Headcoats and the press seemed a bit horrified at the aspect of even having to acknowledge him. Over the years he has attained a bit of noteriety and many of his associates have gone onto make many great records as well (Holly Golightly (a Headcoatee) for one has really been busy and you can hear her singing on the upcoming White Stripes album. Dan Melchior made a great record w/Billy a few years back called "Devil In The Flesh" and has since formed Dan Melchior's Broke Revue, whose last album "Bitterness, Spite, Rage and Scorn" made my top ten for last year.)
There are many many records that I would suggest checking out. The new Billy Childish comp on Damaged Goods called "25 Years Of Being Childish" is a very good overview. All of the Thee Mighty Caesars and Thee Headcoats releases on the Crypt label are what I would label: Essential!
I know thats a lot of info, but that was the breif version.
Dave

[Ladt]

Thanks for your patience!

[jef]

Also, he has some solo albums out that are more old blues sounding.

Dave, what's your favorite Billy Childish-related release?

[Ladt]

I've got a lot of catching up to do before the gig!

[Dave]

I'll try to keep it brief, but some of my favorites are:
Pop Rivets Fun In The UK an old boss of mine put this compilation of Pop Rivets stuff out and there was always a lot of Billy Childish stuff in the store where I worked (Jim's Records in Pgh. PA, now Paul's CDs)
The Milkshakes: They never really made a bad record, but I would have to rate After School Session or theShowcase comp on Brain Eater. If that Big Beat CD is still in print I'd say that is essential.
The Mighty Caesars John Lennon's Corpse Revisted Just buy the Crypt CD though.
Thee Headcoats Beach Bums Must Die and The Wurst Is Yet To Come and the Girl From '62 7" I would also recommend the Crypt CD.
The Buff Medways All of the 7"s before the first album.
I also really really like some of those Billy Childish & the Blackhands records and his records w/Sexton Ming (Which Dead Donkey Daddy? is esp. weird.
Enough for now.

[jef]

Right on. My favorites are probably thee Headcoats "Beach Bums Must Die" & the Milkshakes "19th Nervous Shakedown" collection. I actually like near everything I've heard from him.

[jef]

I still have yet to hear the one w/ Dan Melchior. I should get that.