Tees artist

We all have a favourite bridge. What's yours? I've actually got two; I know, that's just greedy. Number One has to be this beauty from my hometown. (Though it wasn't actually built at the time I emerged kicking and screaming into the Hull of the 1960s.) However, the Tees Transporter Bridge, just an hour or so up the coast from the River Humber and opened in 1911, most certainly was. And unlike the Humber Bridge, I've actually painted the Tees Transporter more times than I've photographed it. So, coming back from a weekend in Newcastle I couldn't resist calling into Ironopolis* and shooting it again - the first time in nearly 20 years. It probably won't surprise you that sometimes I get quite emotional when photographing iconic buildings and structures. I can't help it.  Anyway, I was OK; thank you Middlesboro' - I won't leave it so long next time.

* By the end of the 19th century Middlesborough was producing a third of the UK's Pig Iron output. It was during this time it earned the 'Ironopolis' moniker.

Zombie Hunter

I blame Ben Dakin; I can't stop photographing phone boxes. I posted this one (above ) on Twitter the other day and levelled my accusation at him: "It's all your fault," I said. Fair play, he came back ten minutes later: "Sorry! It's a curse - I am hundreds in and my spider senses still tingle when I pass one." (And yes, there was an accompanying photo of a 'fresh find'.)

So, that's it then, am I cursed to wander this land, camera in hand, trawling the highways and byways, the avenues and alleyways, the back streets and the mean streets, in search of moribund metal & glass boxes? Essentially, I've turned into a zombie hunter. I'm going up to Newcastle this weekend. Bet you can't guess what I'll be doing...

What's the best dog you've ever had?

I lost touch with Blancmage (the band) sometime in the 80s (I lost touch with blancmange, the party food, a good ten years earlier). And then recently (this year) I found them again. What's the Time from their Unfurnished Rooms album is on constant rotation here at Medd Towers. Not sure blancmange will ever make a comeback though - my head was turned by Angel Delight (butterscotch flavour) in the late 70s and I've never looked back since.

Blancmange - What's the Time (2017)

 

Everybody's Saying That

Smiling beguiling

When is a gig ticket not a gig ticket? That's right, when it lives on your phone; but not only that, turns out I need an App for these particular tix - Girl Ray playing & signing their new album at Rough Trade - and I can only 'activate' them two hours before the gig. Aaagh! It was probably more by luck than judgement that by the time I had to show them on the door the QR codes were good to go and we got waived in in an almost VIP lane manner. 

Said QR codes were then dutifully swapped for some rather sexy vinyl (yellow and pink  versions available) and it was straight into the tiny bar for a quick pint of Roadie IPA before the girls came on at 7. And what a formidable band they are. Tight as a tiger and owning every inch of the tiny stage they'd set their gear up on, their infectious guitar lead, disco leaning, pop (this new album would put Nile Rodgers to shame) is the perfect summer soundtrack. Everybody's saying that.

Girl Ray - Everybody's Saying That (2023)

Although I'd seen Girl Ray before (supporting Metronomy at Rock City in 2019) I hadn't really picked up on the fact that they have an almost gang mentality and really enjoy playing live and are supremely confident in everthing they do. It comes over both on stage and afterwards when we met them and got our records signed. Leaving the venue I couldn't stop smiling. And thinking how cool it would have been to have had sisters like Poppy, Iris & Sophie when I was growing up.

Bugging me

The Bug Club

Not for the first time, I have a new ear worm and this one has really taken hold and is showing no signs of leaving anytime soon. It comes from the Bug Club who I discover, after bit of fishing* on Google, hail from Caldecott in Monmouthshire.  Now I'm going out on a limb here and saying they are probably the only band of any note to hail from this particular enclave of south-east Wales. Though, as ever, I stand to be corrected. Before I sign off I must mention that I have seen a lot of these short and round haircuts on young lads of a certain age. I was in an Indian restaurant in town on Friday night and six of them on one table were sporting identikit haircuts; with the ubiquitous beard, obvs. I wanted to take their photo but two of them, at least, judging by their demeanour, may not have acquiesced to my photoshoot opportunity. So I left it. Anyway, here's that song...

The Bug Club - Short and Round (2023)

* Where I also found out that they're playing a clutch of UK dates in October, one of which is at the Rescue Rooms in Nottingham.