Just back from my latest road trip with James; it concluded our trilogy of recent B-town expeditions(Belfast in '22, Brighton in '23 & Blackpool this year.) In keeping with second letter in the alphabet status, Blackpool was, in equal parts, base (some may say broken), brash and (very) blustery.
(Number One) Son
But none of that mattered: we'd come to see Richard Hawley at the Tower Ballroom - the most beautifully appointed concert hall that really does take your breath away. Unlike the last time I saw the ex-Longpig and friend of Jarvis Cocker, I managed to stay awake for the whole gig. (Though to be on the safe side I stayed out off his eyeline in case he recognised me from that fateful night in Bradford.)
Suffice it to say the craic was good and we had an excellent few days away (we always do) and sampled various local brews, Indian Street Food and of course traditional fish and chips. And we walked fucking miles (something I would've struggled with this time last year). You won't be surprised to learn that discussions regarding next year's trip are already under way.
If you like your Americana homegrown (i.e. South Yorkshire style) then Fargo Railroad Co. are for you. I've mentioned this southern rock/good time rock & roll band a couple of times round here and I can honestly say I never fail to fall in love with every new collection of songs they release. So I reached out to head honcho Jody Davies and asked him if he wouldn't mind a light grilling. He came back with a resounding 10-4. I told him I'd describe their sound as ZZ Top meets Steve Earle in (Sheffield's) Kelham Island but I was keen to know how he'd describe it.
What a fine and kind description! It’s difficult to tell people exactly, we just encourage people to attend the live show. Once you add in the audience it just becomes something else.
In the lyrics to Barroom Band you say you don't do covers. But what one non-original song would you drop in to your set (probably a song you really wish you'd written).
Ah, so many great songs. Songs I’d wish I’d written and songs that fit the set are not necessarily the same thing. We would easily do a great job of Take it Easy, and speaking of Jackson Browne I’m jealous of his song These Days which I believe he wrote when he was 16; what the hell, man! How??... I bet he can’t weld. Not sure if that’s the answer but it's an answer. Ha.
To these ears your sound is getting more polished (in a good way, I hasten to add); do you prefer recording to playing live?
It’s two very different things but I think live will always win that battle. That being said, the studio is real special, hearing those songs change and take flight… it’s pretty amazing.
Are you a band with a plan (4D chess) - or do you prefer to 'wing it'?
I’m not sure we prefer to wing it but it often feels that way. We’re trying to be more precise and determined but honestly we probably land somewhere in between. LOL.
Have you toured America? What do you think they'd make of you?
We haven’t, but I’ve always wondered... Could go either way in my mind. It could be like the Stones taking R&B back to America and being celebrated, or it could be like an American duo that sound like Chas & Dave coming over here - and everything in between. Not sure we’ll ever get the chance but it would be an interesting experiment.
What's the first record you bought with your own money?
I think it was Yourself or Someone Like You by Matchbox Twenty. Still love that band.
Four wheels or two? M6 or Route 66?
Four, and I prefer vans to cars! Route 66 would be a dream but the M6 is nice.
Bourbon or beer?
Is tequila an option?! I’ll say Whiskey/Bourbon.
Cowboy hat or baseball cap?
I should really invest in a western hat but as it stands it's baseball/truckers all the way.
Buddy Holly (1936-1959) - The day the music died
I can lend you my Time Machine for a couple of weeks. Where and when are you going?
February 3, 1959 and slash the tyres on the plane and pull some important parts out the engine. Then on to October 20, 1977 and do the same on the Skynyrd Plane. Wait! Is there a causality thing where I can’t change the future?? Great Scott!
Thank you for taking the time, Jody. Hope to see you on the road real soon. But definitely not on a plane!
In the same way I like to support local musicians so do I try to get behind local writers and, indeed, local publishers: founded in 2023, Another Small Press are an independent publisher based up the road in Newark. They champion local writers across many genres, fiction and non-fiction, and already have an extremely impressive back catalogue. I was in that neck of the woods recently and came away with a short story collection from the pen of Lynn Roulstone. Feel free to browse their wares and, if you can spare a few bob, why not chuck one of their titles in your digital basket. It can be your good deed for the day!
I've just been reading about the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games held recently in Beijing and, I've got to tell you, my mind's beginning to race. Any Doctor Who fan will tell you exactly what I'm thinking, and what I'm thinking is: this isn't gonna end well. Where's it all leading? Robot bar staff* in pubs & robot postmen will just be the tip of the iceberg. We've already got robots making cars, drones delivering pizzas, driverless taxis and A fucking I. If you know the 1970 film The Forbin Project you'll know what I mean. I'm slightly bewildered (not to mention uneasy) that people paid good money to attend these games (and yet part of me was wishing I'd got seats, how weird is that?). Current state of mind? Uneasy. Am I fearful? Not yet, but ask me in again in five years.
And finally, see how one of these gadgies gets on when walking the streets of Michigan and, just as importantly, gauge the general public's response. All I would say is "Don't be fooled." It'd put a bullet in the back of your head before you could say Robot Wars; speaking of which, where's Matilda when you need her?
* Though at least, you'd like to think, said humanoid wouldnt look over the bar gormlessly and ask "Who's next?"
With the onset of Autumn almost upon us I've got to say I'm already looking forward to the time of year my dad still calls 'back-end'; when the temperature starts to drop noticeably and the number of daylight hours visibly dwindle. It's when I dive into the back of the wardrobe and reach for knitwear. And I generally find in early Autumn you can get away with a gansey in lieu of a coat; unless it's thraiping down. However, I've got knitwear envy: I've just seen Billy Idol on the front cover of Flaunt magazine and he's sporting a rather fetching red & black sweater. I want it. Come on, Billy - where d'ya get it? Do they do it in my size? (Insert joke here.)
