Night Train

Part of my recovery process is starting to do more of what I used to do when I was fit and well. Getting out and seeing live bands would definitely fall under that heading. I'd seen Chuck Prophet at the Metronome (and just about it made it unscathed) and last week I figured I'd be able to manage DeWolff at the Rescue Rooms (I saw it was a 10pm curfew so happy days - I still get very tired). All the way from Amsterdam, I've been following this insanely talented Dutch guitar/Hammond/drums trio for a few years now but this was the first time I'd managed to see them in a live situation. 

If I tell you they opened with this and didn't take their foot off the gas for 90 minutes it'll give you an ideas of just how good a night it was. A quick explainer - it was just the three of them last week, not the full on wall of sound with horn section and backing singers you see below. (And that's taking absolutely nothing away from them or their ridiculously high energy levels.)

DeWolff - Night Train (2025)

 

★

A week later and I'm still kicking myself for not getting to the venue a little earlier; that said I was still able to catch a fair bit of the support band's set and generally weigh 'em up. It can be daunting opening for anyone, let alone an established act, but Silveroller don't do nerves. Watching them strutting around - like they owned the place - it was like seeing a cross between Rod and the Faces and the Black Crowes up there on stage. And good to see the sound guy didn't fuck about with their sound either. I'd definitely like to catch them again. Preferably when they're headlining.

Silveroller - Hold (2024)

Bristol Express

I'd like to talk about a couple of films that entered my orbit this week. The first, from 1962, can loosely be described as coffee bar movie and arguably the first UK new wave film, featuring as it does David Hemmings and Ray Brooks. Some People also wraps up nicely my recent trio of Bristol themed posts (it was filmed entirely on location in the city and is a fantastic social history of both a culture and a cityscape long gone); juvenile delinquency, motorbikes, girls, beat music - there's a lot going on here - all a good two years before the Beatles made a dent in UK cinemas. And it's shot in glorious Eastman Colour, just as the sixties were starting to swing.

The soundtrack features local musicians and I've picked out this twang heavy guitar instrumental. It could be the Shads but it's not. Though I think Jet Harris did go on to record a version of it. I've also got a feeling Rol may have covered the Eagles in his Namesakes series; if he hasn't then he probably should.

The Eagles - Bristol Express (1962) 

★ 

The second film couldn't be any more different. I've been meaning to watch Manchester By The Sea for the longest time and finally made a date with my sofa on Saturday night. Casey Affleck gives the performance of his career in this Kenneth Lonnergan (Analyse This) written masterpiece from 2016. Affleck plays a loner, Lee Chandler, with a past so fucked up it's no wonder he shuns the world the way he does. With the recent death of his brother he finds himself returning to his former coastal home town in Essex County as reluctant sole guardian of his sixteen year old nephew. The film digs down into the root causes of Lee's depression and anger and after 2 hours 17 minutes you feel as if he's found (a kind of) peace with himself and those around him but that it could all still be blown off course at any moment. A powerful insight into dysfunctional families (something close to my heart) that will leave its imprint on you.

Manchester By The Sea - Trailer (2016)

Bristol Boogie

I defy anyone to listen to the following piece of music and not to be swept up in its sheer vitality and exuberance. Imagine this tune was playing in your buds as you were pulling into a certain railway station on the Great Western Main Line - with the sun streaming through the carriage and the guard over the tannoy advising you to ensure you've gathered up all your goods and chattels before disembarking. "Bristol, this is Bristol."

Morrisey Mullen - Bristol Boogie (1979)

★  

 Dick Morrissey (1940-2000)

Jim Mullen (1945-)

Johnny Bristol

Ernesto emailed me this morning: he was sending me not only his felicitations but also his contribution(s) to May's Photo Challenge (it's never too early - as Freddie Laker, or some other besuited 70s celebrity, may have said). In his missive the 4th. Earl of Goggins was also enquiring if I was on the up and to, and I quote, "Hang on in there, baby." (J. Bristol, 1974). Without delay I replied that I was indeed on the up and that God/Allah (other worshipees are available) permitting it is my avowed intention, in June, to be, literally, Johnny Bristol.

Ernie may or may not be aware* that J. Bristol Esq. in 1974 also penned Love Me For a Reason for the Osmond tribe. In what must have been a bumper year for the non-Bristolian Bristolian, both records were in the charts simultaneously. Also, and again Ernie may or may not know, Love Me For a Reason is, to the best of my knowledge, the only single ever to have bothered the Hit Parade containing the word 'facsimile'. As I say, Ernesto will I'm sure confirm or deny my claim.  

Johnny Bristol - Love Me For a Reason (1974)

* Though I'm sure Alyson will.

  ★

 Johnny Bristol (1939-2004)

I'm doing just fine

Following my last post where, even I, when I've reread it, could see someone potentially in trouble; a bit like the 70s coastguard ad I saw someone drowning not waving. But panic thee not. It was just a temporary blip (another bump in the road). The good news from the District Nurse team1 is that my wound is healing really well. The tissue is getting healthier day by day which, they say, is, in no small part, down to regular exercise (i.e. walking 10,000 steps per day - not pumping iron in testosterone-heavy gyms) and my new high protein2 diet (steak & eggs for breakfast is the new thing at Medd Towers). In time, as the skin begins to knit together, the dressing should reduce in size as will the regularity with which it needs changing: as much as I've kind of liked nurses making a fuss of me, I long for a time when my bedroom is free of anyone save for the current Mrs. Medd and George & Luna.

Yesterday I picked up the guitar and started to bash out a melody that had been niggling away at me for a while and, with a few snatched words (pieced together with imagery from recent dreams), I was able to write my first song of 2025. It's called 'I'm Doing Just Fine'. I'll play it in public for the first time at Songwriters. If there's any creases in it that need ironing out I'm sure they'll tell me. After they've given me a bollocking for missing the last four meetings.

1I've never had so many women in my bedroom.

2This wound is sapping all my protein so (look away now if you're a vegetarian) I'm currently eating more meat than a boxer training for a prize fight.