Hi y'all The elusive RHATIGAN rhythm section and the lovely Jacqui
'bone' Grace made a surprise return to last months Cushy proceedings,
what with the vagaries and schedules of personal and professional
lives miss-aligning and re-aligning from month to month, we just
never know what to expect.
One of the happiest evenings I've spent in a while was singing in the studio on the forth-coming MICHAEL J SHEEHY album out soon on Beggars Banquet. This will be his second solo album and is provisionally titled 'Ill Gotten Gains', though judging from what I've heard so far, any success or critical acclaim he receives will be justified. Michael is a soulful and engaging artist who following his release from the indie shackles of previous cohorts 'Dream City Film Club' is burgeoning into a singer songwriter of real depth and importance. CHRIS T-T's new album 'Panic Attack at Sainsbury's' Snowstorm
Records, will continue to garner him fans and friends in increasing
numbers. In a business that habitually ignores talent and substance
in favour of image and 'musical trends' it is artists like him
and the ubiquitous 'Badly Drawn Boy' who rear up and bite the
so called 'taste makers' in the arse. Munch, munch.
Doors 8pm |
RHATIGAN
Hi Thanks to everyone who came to our January show, not least
the lovely Peaches and Tram (the latter giving us a sneak preview
of what will be a wonderful record). It reminded me to pull my
finger out and get the forever-promised RHATIGAN
record finished. Life, technology and indecision have been the
stumbling blocks, I'll just have to get on with it. It's not
a shortage of tunes; perhaps I might ask you to pick your album
from the song list to help me make up my mind.
I've been waiting for Blair Jollands, EL HULA's delicious song writer and front man to come in from his yacht on the South Seas to confirm his band to play on the 8th. He assures me he will be back in time to regale us with tales of piracy and high adventure in his inimitable 'louche loungy' way. Our friends PARACHUTE from Birmingham are back in London to
give us a sneak preview of their new mini album 'Moving Still'
out in March on Fortune and Glory records. Produced by BBC engineer
and producer supremo Miti, it marks a move in direction for this
gritty, melodic guitar driven band.
Doors 8pm |
Thursday, 11th January 2001 RHATIGAN
I'm writing this two days post Christmas still full of food and drink from the Christmas parties but also full of anticipation for the coming year. First congratulations to Rhatigan drummer Paul and his wife Saff on the well over due birth of their daughter, weighing in at a hearty 9lbs 12oz, I hope they didn't mix her up the turkey over the festivities. They were both in attendance at our Cushy Christmas party, I reckon it was my home-made mince pies which finally got things going. Thanks to every one who attended it was fine. I had hoped to start the year with the
RHATIGAN band,
but with commitments for the year piling up already it'll be
me and my new harmonicas Santa brought me. Not for the faint
hearted!
I'm excited about the new year, not least as we are starting
our Cushy gigs with one of my favourite bands. TRAM's
subtle and compelling brand of folk/pop has been absent from
the live scene for a while now, they have been recording their
follow up to 'Heavy Black Frame' with their debut for Setanta
Records 'Most frequently asked questions' out on February
5th.
JOHN WHIFFIN is a fine singer songwriter in the traditional
and assured way of John Martyn and Nick Harper.
Doors 8pm |