Are the two possibly connected in some way?

From Chris T-T's blog

My other big fuck-off headache right now is the PRS, the Performer Rights Society, which is the agency I belong to, who are supposed to collect royalties for me whenever and wherever my songs are performed or broadcast. Over the last few months I’ve gone back through my PRS payment statments for more than five years and can’t find a single payment for Frank Turner singing The Huntsman Comes A-Marchin’, not a single one.

If you know Frank you’ll know he played the song fucking loads between 2005 and 2008 and you’ll also know he’s a 100% honest guy and would’ve written the song down assiduously on PRS forms, including at festivals and on big tours with The Automatic etc.

It’s not money Frank pays, it’s money the venue pays for their entertainment licence, which then the PRS should pay to me because my song was performed in the venue. Simple. But can they find it anywhere? Can they fuck!? Did they try!? Well someone looked it up on a computer and sent me a thing saying I’d been paid £43.50 since 2005 for six performances. I checked the performances, they were my own fucking performances! Frank? Nada. When I first flagged it up with them, I provided a massive gig list, a pile of Youtube links and links to print and web reviews where the performance of the song got mentioned. By which I mean I did their job for them (this is what they tell you to do). They are a collections agency. Well go collect! It’s not about the money, honey. But it fucking is.

Anyway, even thinking about that makes me angry, the deeper I dove, the more confused I got – most recently discovering I have two separate IDs as a songwriter with them, even though I only ever registered one. Their website, and in particular the interactive database where you can check claims and make claims, is a total fucking mess. Frustrating.

From today's BBC News

The PRS collected a record £117 million in the first three months of 2009.

Katie and the Ayres

Fans of PJ Harvey and Echobelly should love this band, who come from just down the A127 in Southend on Sea.



The comparisons are admittedly lazy (female vocals, strong voice, indie guitars), but the 90s-tinged music is still great to listen to. Saw them last night at the Hermit Club in Brentwood and you can see more at http://www.myspace.com/katieandtheayresuk.

TRP Eurovision Betting Guide 2009

Like horse racing and baseball, some things are only worth watching if you have a bet on it. As I'm not planning to go out tonight I will no doubt end up catching bits of Eurovision, usually the bit where everyone votes because that's the best bit, isn't it? You only have to listen to one song that way? AND there's no Terry Wogan, so in the words of MJ Hibbett, that's DOUBLE EXTRA MEGA WIN!! According to the bookies at the moment, the likley order of the result is:

1. Norway
2. Greece
3. UK (they have GOT to be joking)
4. Turkey
5. Azerbaijan
6. Bosnia and Herzegovina
7. France
8. Iceland
9. Ukraine
10. Estonia

You may know that Google has been running a Eurovision predictor based on searches that people in the voting countries are making on the finalists from other places and not their own country, which sort of makes sense. They are going for:

1. Turkey
2. Norway
3. Greece
4. Sweden
5. Ukraine
6. France
7. Russia
8. Switzerland
9. UK
10. Azerbaijan

Unofficially I am supporting Iceland because I had a nice holiday there last year and I'm also a fan of those crazy Icelanders such as Hafdis Huld, Eliza Newman and the Sugarcubes, all of whom would make the event worth watching if only they joined in.

So I am trying to make some money by putting my faith in technology by having an each way bet on three of the favourites. I'm not betting on Norway because they are ODDS ON (what's that all about?) but numbers 1, 3 and 4 in the Google list are long enough to almost get your money back if one of them reaches the top 4 and to make a small profit if they win. I found £20 in my Betfair account and £15 in my Paddy Power account, just as luck would have it. So I am blowing the whole 35 quid as follows:

Betfair - to reach the top 4
Turkey - £10 with odds of 2.64
Greece - £5 with odds of 1.82
Sweden - £5 with odds of 14

Paddy Power - to win
Turkey - £5 with odds of 11
Greece - £5 with odds of 6.5
Sweden - £5 with odds of 51

The odds are decimal and include the return of the stake. So 11 is really 10/1 and 51 is 50/1, etc.

I do have form - the last time I had a bet on the winner was in 2006 and Lordi came in at around 20/1 for me. I should point out I haven't listened to ANY of the songs, just like I don't read any of the form when I have my yearly bet on the Grand National. And fingers crossed I won't have to listen to them either ...

Tweets of the week: robots, lemon meringue and crisps for breakfast

A possibly irregular feature although there is a lot of appeal in other people writing your stuff for you.

what a neat few days...lovely drake event yesterday... have run out of clean socks.. wheres the marks and sparks in nottingham!?
Posted by Graham Coxon

If someone spots a big bird with concussion Essex way... that'll be the one that just flew into my bedroom window.
Posted by Imogen Heap

If anyone in Australia finds a pair of brown glasses in a black zip up case, they're mine. And I need them to tweet w/o getting a headache.
Posted by The Grates

i keep thinking its monday
Posted by Mike Skinner (The Streets)

Ha Ha. Wow. I'd forgotten that I bought a robot earlier. What a lovely suprise.
Posted by Eddie Argos (Art Brut)

Just rescued a bumble bee , I think summer is finally here in Ice ! yessss
Posted by Eliza Newman

Hey men of twitter! Its national "pull your trousers&pants down to your ankles when you go for a wee like when you were a child" day! Enjoy!
Posted by Scroobius Pip

I WANT TO BUY A LEMON MERINGUE AND FEEL LIKE A MAN
Posted by Calvin Harris

George Lamb didn't like us! DOUBLE EXTRA MEGA WIN!!
Posted by MJ Hibbett

Whatever happened to magic eye pictures? Ross
Posted by The Cribs

Breakfast 1 salt & vingar french frie crisps, packet of salad peanuts, chicken tikka sanwich & another packet of ready salted Hula Hoops.
Posted by Dominic Masters (The Others)

From today's Twitter: Bill Bailey

Not really related to stuff I normally do, but still.

• just putting in my expense claims, chameleon counselling £3500, woodlouse stabling £250, woodlouse internet usage £450, zombie shutters £27
• ok these zombie shutters may not actually conform to British kitemark standards, they're cheap Belgian ones..
• Belgium is so flat they can see the zombies coming from miles off
• oh, and nearly forgot £2,937,012.37p to have my moat gold-plated to avoid further cleaning costs

Gigs I went to #1: Art Brut and Robocop Kraus, Electric Ballroom London, 8/5/2009

The first in an occasional series just dropping in some photos or videos that I might have taken at some gigs.

Since this one was last night it's possible that future posts of older gigs may have some details that are sketchy, or just made up.



The sound wasn't great (it never is at that place), the security guards were as fat and as smelly as I can ever remember at a gig (the first was unusual if not the second) and the two bands I saw were fantastic, so good times all round.













More on Flickr:

Every gig ever

1. Peter Gabriel 26.6.1987
London Earl's Court

2. Genesis 2.7.1987
Wembley Stadium
Support: Paul Young
I have never seen so many fights anywhere in my life as I did between 2pm and 7pm waiting for the acts to come on. And I was brought up in Romford.

3. T'Pau 1.4.1988
Hammersmith Odeon
Support: Bourgeois Tagg

4. Steve Hackett 7.5.1988
London Sadler's Wells
Support: Panic Brothers, Mae McKenna
What the hell were the Panic Brothers?

5. Steve Hackett 16.5.1988
Dartford Orchard
Support: Mae McKenna

6. Siouxsie and the Banshees 21.9.1988
London Royal Albert Hall
Support: Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft
Without a shadow of a doubt, the worst gig I have ever been to. And as you can already see, I have seen T'Pau live.

7. Marc Almond 13.10.1988
London Victoria Theatre

8. Pink Floyd 9.7.1989
London London Arena

9. Cure 22.7.1989
London Wembley Arena
Support: Shellyan Orphan
Hottest day of the year and a gig that went on for hours and hours and hours. I swear they played every song twice, some three times.

10. Kinks 15.8.1989
Kentish Town Town & Country Club
Support: River City People

11. Who 27.10.1989
London Wembley Arena

12. Ben Elton 27.11.1989
Hammersmith Odeon

13. Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe 29.10.1989
London Wembley Arena
Briefly, the band formerly known as Yes.

14. Jasper Carrott 16.5.1990
London Royal Albert Hall

15. Marillion 12.7.1990
London Wembley Arena
Support: Little Angels
Little did I know that in nine years time I would be seeing one of the Little Angels perform in the infintely better Younger Younger 28s.

16. Marillion 22.12.1990
Kentish Town Town & Country Club
Support: Cry No More

17. Carter USM 9.3.1991
Reading University
Support: Genius Freak

18. Newman & Baddiel 29.6.1991
Grays Civic Hall

19. Carter USM 21.10.1991
Hemel Hempstead Dacorum Pavilion
Support: Resque

20. Senseless Things 6.12.1991
Kentish Town Town & Country Club
Support: Frank & Walters, Mega City 4, Midway Still

21. They Might Be Giants 4.2.1992
London Bloomsbury Theatre
Support: Family Go Town
During half of the TMBG set, between songs a lone voice could be heard clearly shouting among the cheers - "you wankers! you student wankers! fuck off!" etc. Turned out it was Jonathon Ross from the side of the stage. I think his celebrity star was on the wane at the time.

22. Sugarcubes 7.3.1992
Brixton Academy
Support: Levitation

23. Thousand Yard Stare 20.3.1992
New Cross Venue
Support: Jennifers, School of Fish
The Jennifers were an earlier incarnation of Supergrass. There were a lot of people making a fuss of them although I didn't really notice them that much!

24. Carter USM 1.5.1992
Tonbridge Angel Centre
Support: Frank & Walters

25. They Might Be Giants 13.5.1992
London Town & Country Club
Support: Cast
Yes, that Cast, over three years before the release of their debut album.

26. Carter USM 23.5.1992
Brixton Academy
Support: Frank & Walters, Sultans of Ping FC
This is the daddy - the best gig of the whole lot.

27. Sultans of Ping FC 6.6.1992
Canterbury Kent Uni (Rutherford JCR)
Support: Nineteen Miles High
I'd forgotten that I'd been to this one until I found the poster I nicked off the walls. It was A3, badly xeroxed and put together Viz style by a bunch of students.

28. Thousand Yard Stare 3.7.1992
Charing Cross Marquee

29. A House 14.8.1992
Charing Cross Marquee
Support: Strangelove

30. Kitchens of Distinction 12.9.1992
Clapham Grand
Support: Darling Buds
Although being a fan of both bands at the time, I remember leaving early because I felt sick :-(

31. Marc Almond 30.9.1992
London Royal Albert Hall

32. Sultans of Ping FC 8.10.1992
Rayleigh Pink Toothbrush
Support: Radiohead, The Shopkeeper Appeared
The Pink Toothbrush is quite a small venue and I managed to bump into or obstruct Thom Yorke several times while he was helping to wire up all the guitars just before Radiohead came on. Deliberately, on some occasions …

33. Frank & Waters 9.10.1992
London Astoria
Support: Radiohead

34. Pop Will Eat Itself 10.10.1992
Brixton Academy
Support: Mercury Rev

35. Frank & Waters 11.10.1992
Canterbury Kent Uni
Support: Radiohead

36. Punt & Dennis 28.10.1992
Dartford Orchard

37. Sultans of Ping FC 29.10.1992
London ULU
Support: LMNO Pelican

38. Carter USM 22.12.1992
Brixton Academy
Support: Family Cat

39. Billy Bragg 30.12.1992
Hackney Empire
Support: Barenaked Ladies

40. Pop Will Eat Itself 16.1.1993
Kentish Town T & C 1

41. Sultans of Ping FC 5.3.1993
London Astoria
The night before I got married …. Was busy drinking in the pub round the corner and missed the support acts.

42. Ben Elton 7.5.1993
Brentwood Centre

43. Bad Manners 11.6.1993
Brentwood Anglia Polytechnic

44. Barenaked Ladies 29.7.1993
Kentish Town Forum

45. Blur 27.8.1993
Windsor Old Trout
Support: Elastica

46. Punt & Dennis 29.8.1993
Hornchurch Queen's Theatre

47. Radiohead 1.9.1993
Highbury Garage
Support: Contempo

48. Pop Will Eat Itself 4.10.1993
Charing Cross Heaven
Support: Collapsed Lung

49. Jack Dee 7.10.1993
Dartford Orchard
The most unfunny twat I have had the displeasure to see live. Bored the arse off me and much of the audience. Even Jim Davidson could have done better.

50. Carter USM 21.10.1993
Tonbridge Angel Centre
Support: Sultans of Ping FC
Played in a big school gym type room.

51. Carter USM 23.10.1993
Brixton Academy
Support: Mega City 4

52. Paul Merton 29.10.1993
Dartford Orchard

53. Pop Will Eat Itself 7.3.1994
Romford Ritzy
Support: Blaggers ITA

54. Sultans of Ping FC 20.5.1994
Ilford Palais
Warm Friday evening, 45 minute set or thereabouts which was a bit of a shame.

55. Blur 26.5.1994
Shepherds Bush Empire

56. A House 10.6.1994
Highbury Garage

57. Carter USM 8.7.1994
Clapham Grand
Support: S*M*A*S*H, Salad, Blaggers ITA
I don't remember S*M*A*S*H playing and I think I was too late for most of Blaggers ITA, I wonder if I was actually there sometimes. Salad were excellent though, truly one of the underrated bands from the Britpop era.

58. Blur 4.10.1994
Cambridge Corn Exchange
This was the one where I had to pay 70 quid for 2 tickets from a tout.

59. Echobelly 1.11.1994
London Astoria

60. Carter USM 6.2.1995
London Virgin Megastore

61. Carter USM 17.3.1995
Kentish Town Forum

62. Marc Almond 23.5.1995
London Hanover Grand

63. Essential Festival 27.5.1995
Brighton Stanmer Park
Bands seen: Carter USM, Charlatans, Pop Will Eat Itself, Gene, Dodgy, Teenage Fanclub, Lightning Seeds, Skunk Anansie, Reef
It took me a long time to remember who played there that day …

64. Marc Almond 15.7.1995
London HMV
Free gig to promote Fantastic Star album.

65. My Life Story 22.8.1995
Camden Jazz Café
Support: Bikini Beach

66. Carter USM 23.8.1995
Highbury Garage

67. Blur 17.9.1995
Clacton Oscar's
I think this was the first gig I went to which was advertised on usenet (alt.music.blur), it sold out within hours. Oscar's is a small nightclub and we were all packed in around 10 to a square foot. In those days, Dave Rowntree (Blur's drummer) used to write and post up the Blur FAQ himself!

68. Carter USM 14.10.1995
Colchester Essex University

69. Alexei Sayle 4.11.1995
Ipswich Regent

70. Blur 2.12.1995
Wembley Arena
Support: The Brit Pops Orchestra

71. Pulp 21.12.1995
Brixton Academy
Support: Stereolab

72. Supergrass 29.2.1996
London Astoria
Support: Divine Comedy

73. My Life Story 10.3.1996
Camden Dingwalls

74. Divine Comedy 17.5.1996
London Camden Centre
Support: Frank & Walters

75. Essential Festival 26.5.1996
Brighton Stanmer Park
Bands seen: Echobelly, Audioweb, Menswear, My Life Story, David Devant and his Sprit Wife, Bis, Add N to X
I interviewed Jake Shillingford from My Life Story for now-defunct Billericay radio station Mayflower FM. I had met Jake in the audience at the Divine Comedy gig the previous week - he gave me his contact number by writing it on my ticket in lipstick!

76. Bis 3.6.1996
Camden Dingwalls
Support: Comet Gain

77. Carter USM 20.9.1996
London Astoria

78. Bikini Beach 10.11.1996
New Cross Venue

79. Cardigans 21.11.1996
Shepherds Bush Empire

80. Kenickie 20.6.1997
London Astoria 2

81. Sleeper 24.2.1998
Southend Cliffs Pavilion
Support: Libido

82. Catatonia 1.5.1998
Shepherds Bush Empire
Support: Snug

83. Kenickie 3.6.1998
London Electric Ballroom
Support: Earl Brutus, Seafood
Kenickie were always good live, Earl Brutus were outstanding. One of the bands I always wanted to see again, but their live shows after this were few and far between.

84. Ben Folds Five 29.6.1998
Kentish Town Forum

85. V98 22.8.1998
Chelmsford Hylands Park

86. Divine Comedy 5.10.1998
Cambridge Junction
Support: Pelvis

87. Marc Almond 19.12.1998
Charing Cross Albery Theatre

88. Abdoujaparov 30.1.1999
Chelmsford Y Club
Support: Pharmacy, Ton Up Kid
Abdoujaparov is the band that Les Carter formed after Carter USM split in 1997. This was their second gig and I interviewed them for Phoenix FM. (A copy of the interview can be found here. Les Carter mentions it in his tour diary here). Pharmacy featured Morty on drums - he was formerly with the Sultans of Ping FC.

89. My Life Story 27.5.1999
London LA2

90. V99 21.8.1999
Chelmsford Hylands Park

91. My Life Story 7.10.1999
Colchester Arts Centre
Support: Younger Younger 28s, Dum Dums

92. Elastica 26.1.2000
Colchester Arts Centre

93. Phill Jupitus 5.2.2000
Hornchurch Queen's Theatre

94. V2000 19.8.2000
Chelmsford Hylands Park

95. Leeds Festival 26.8.2000
Leeds Temple Newsam

96. Frank & Walters 30.9.2000
London LA2

97. Coldplay 2.10.2000
Cambridge Junction
Support: Lowgold

98. Frank & Walters 20.10.2000
London Mean Fiddler

99. Barenaked Ladies 2.11.2000
London Forum

100. Chumbawamba 16.11.2000
Cambridge Junction
Support: Robb Johnson

101. Marc Almond 12.12.2000
London Union Chapel

102. My Life Story 15.12.2000
Camden Underworld
This was MLS's last ever gig. Jake Shillingford went on to form Exile Inside, whose first album sounded very much like MLS's last one.

103. King Adora 12.3.2001
Charing Cross Sound
Support: Last Man Standing
This was a free gig organised by XFM.

104. Soft Cell 16.3.2001
Hackney Ocean

105. Manic Street Preachers 30.3.2001
Brixton Academy
Support: My Vitriol

106. Mull Historical Society 21.5.2001
Charing Cross Sound
Another free gig organised by XFM.

107. V Festival 18.8.2001
Chelmsford Hylands Park

108. Reading Festival 25.8.2001
Reading down by the river
Bands seen: Dropkick Murphy's
I'm sure there were others but this is the one I remember for now!

109. Who's The Daddy Now 15.9.2001
Harlow Square
Support: Jim's Super Stereoworld, Abdoujaparov, Iinviisiibles

110. Gorillaz 28.9.2001
London Forum
This was weird, they just played behind a big screen. All you could see was their silhouettes and some superimposed animations. Quite freaky without the benefit of alcohol.

111. Who's The Daddy Now 14.12.2001
London Astoria
Support: Jim's Super Stereoworld, Abdoujaparov, Iinviisiibles

112. A 7.3.2002
London Astoria
Support: Fenix TX

113. Jim's Super Stereoworld 22.3.2002
Highbury Garage
Support: Chris T-T, Bransby

114. Abdoujaparov 24.5.2002
Highbury Garage
Support: Divine Brown

115. A 29.5.2002
Kentish Town Forum

116. Thurrock Music Festival 6.7.2002
Thurrock Orsett Showgrounds
Bands seen: Sugarcoma, Inme, dury*falls, Electric Sky, thisGIRL, Revolution 45, Reconsider, Bastion 4, Keratose, Jacob, Warblefly, The Wires, The Java Sea, Inertia, The Egyptians, Minx, Seven Machine, Djevara, The Lanes, Jadegroove, Missin Link, Spankin Harry, The Grove, Cyrus, The Zoltans
Damn I saw a lot of bands that day.

117. Jim's Super Stereoworld 27.7.2002
Harlow Square
Support: Chris T-T, Malowski

118. V Festival 17.8.2002
Chelmsford Hylands Park
Bands seen: Bluetones, Elvis Costello, Supergrass, Nickelback, Athlete, My Vitriol, Manic Street Preachers, Turin Brakes, Seafood, Donnas, Coral, Elbow, Idlewild, Doves, Royksopp, Lamb, Soft Cell
Bit of a weak line up this year I thought - Royksopp and the Manics being the best of best ones.

119. Reading Festival 23.8.2002
Reading down by the river
Bands seen: Pulp, White Stripes, Dandy Warhols, Peaches, International Noise Conspiracy, The D4, Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, Muse, Ash, Sum 41, Hives, A, Princess Superstar, British Sea Power, Datsuns, Interpol, Mitch Benn
International Noise Conspiracy were by far and away the best band of the two days I saw. They're the Swedish Jam, with hammond organs.

120. Who's The Daddy Now 7.11.2002
Harlow Square
Support: Jim's Super Stereoworld, Abdoujaparov, Iinviisiibles

121. Blur 9.5.2003
Charing Cross Astoria

122. Jim Bob 29.5.2003
Brentwood White Hart
Support: Celeste, Bransby, Crazy Sadie
Acoustic set from Jimbob (Carter USM) which I promoted. I'm pleased to say we created a very homely atmosphere at the venue.

123. V Festival 16.8.2003
Chelmsford Hylands Park
Bands seen: Cardigans, Hives, Ash, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Athlete, Killing Joke, Turin Brakes, Feeder, I Am Kloot, Inspiral Carpets, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Distillers, Asian Dub Foundation
There is a list of the bands who played the whole festival here.

124. Tommi & Chris 23.1.2004
Kentish Town Bull & Gate

125. Celeste 6.2.2004
Grays The Fat Surfer
Support: Whitegirl, MCH2R

126. Dum 5.3.2004
Grays The Fat Surfer
Support: Black Top Phoenix, Carnies

127. Abdoujaparov 9.4.2004
London Metro Club
Support: Art Brut, Rhesus

128. Phoenix FM All Dayer 1.5.2004
Brentwood White Hart
Bands seen: Celeste, Abdoujaparov, Whoremoan, Whitegirl, Nothing, Black Ash, Crazy Sadie, Doobie Snax, MCH2R, My Paradigm, Fiction, A Python G
Another event I organised, and we had over 100 paying customers for this one which I was very pleased with. I took a lot of pics which you can see here on the Phoenix FM website.

129. Jim Bob 16.5.2004
Hastings Brass Monkey

130. Bad Manners 17.6.2004
Grays The Fat Surfer
Support: The Big

131. Thurrock Music Festival 8.8.2004
Thurrock Orsett Showgrounds
Bands seen: Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, Reuben, Amplifier, Breed 77, Milliondead, Sluts Of Trust

132. V Festival 21.8.2004
Chelmsford Hylands Park
Bands seen: Divine Comedy, Hal, Phoenix, The Killers, Pink, Crimea, The Dead 60s, Human League, Tim Booth, Kasabian, Jamie Cullum, Goldie Lookin Chain, Snow Patrol, Fountains Of Wayne, Kristian Leontiou, The Zutons, Scissor Sisters
My pics from the event can be seen at various places on the website including http://www.redpenguin.net/v2004-pics.php.

133. Leeds Festival 27.8.2004
Leeds Brahmam Park
Bands seen: The Stills, Client, Secret Machines, British Sea Power, Radio 4, Auf Der Maur, The Others, Von Bondies, Do Me Bad Things, Reel Big Fish, The (International) Noise Conspiracy, The Departure, Pretty Girls Make Graves, The Distillers, The Hives, LCD Sound System, !!!, The Offspring, Mclusky, Graham Coxon
British Sea Power and the (International) Noise Conspiracy were the best acts on the two days I saw, just like 2 years ago really then! My pics from the event can be seen at http://www.redpenguin.net/leeds2004-pics.php.

134. Human League 13.12.2004
Ipswich Regent

135. Ned's Atomic Dustbin 15.12.2004
Highbury Garage
Support: My Dad Hitla

136. Pop Will Eat Itself 22.1.2005
Birmingham Carling Academy
First time I had seen PWEI in nearly ten years. First time I had ever been to Birmingham too. What a magical double whammy that was for me!

137. Pop Will Eat Itself 24.1.2005
Shepherds Bush Empire

138. Abdoujaparov 20.2.2005
Brixton Windmill
Support: Jim Bob, Ciccone
Tsunami benefit gig - there were other bands on the bill but I didn't get a chance to see them.

139. Fiction 2.4.2005
Leigh on Sea The Ship
Support: Goose

140. British Sea Power 4.4.2005
London HMV
Free gig to promote Open Season album.

141. A 4.4.2005
London Metro Club
Phill Jupitus was Djing. I didn't see him even though I was standing next to the record booth.

142. Bravery 17.4.2005
New York Bowery Ballroom
Support: Ash

143. Girls Aloud 25.5.2005
Ipswich Regent

144. Frank & Walters 25.6.2005
King's Cross Water Rates
Support: Amazing Pilots

145. Wireless Festival 30.6.2005
London Hyde Park
Bands seen: The Rakes, The Others, The Editors, Soulwax, Ladytron, Babyshambles, El Presidente

146. Madness 4.7.2005
King's Cross Scala
Played under the pseudonym "The Dangerman". It was a full-on extravaganza of ska, and no mistake.

147. Maximo Park 20.7.2005
London The Rocket
Support: The Research

148. Hayseed Dixie 31.7.2005
Southend Riga Music Bar

149. Jesus Jones 4.8.2005
Highbury Garage
Support: The Jungle

150. Thurrock Music Festival 6.8.2005
Thurrock Orsett Showgrounds
Bands seen: The Others, The Duke Spirit, Electric Eel Shock, The Hellset Orchestra, The Betes Noires, Sikth, Engerica, Blood Roses
Too many bands to mention once again.

151. Data Panik 9.8.2005
Camden Dublin Castle
Support: Luxury Of Feeling Fine

152. Whoremoan 18.8.2005
Basildon The Castle Mayne
Support: The Rejects

153. VHS or Beta 7.9.2005
Shoreditch 93 Feet East
Support: ¡Forward, Russia!

154. Jim Bob 14.9.2005
Camden Barfly
Support: Bransby

155. Leigh Regatta 17.9.2005
Old Leigh High Street
Support: Dirty Fairies, Dirty Water

156. Fat Surfer All Dayer #3 18.9.2005
Grays Civic Hall
Bands seen: Whoremoan
Back to the Civic Hall in Grays for the first time in over 14 years! There were many other bands playing but I only got a chance to see Whoremoan.

157. Robocop Kraus 19.10.2005
London Metro Club
Support: ¡Forward, Russia!

158. Amnesty gig 23.10.2005
Shoreditch Amnesty International
Support: Others, Starsailor

159. Subways 24.10.2005
Cambridge Junction
Support: Kooks

160. Frank and Walters 11.11.2005
London Borderline
Support: Beauty Shop, Hybrasil

161. Sultans of Ping FC 19.11.2005
Grays The Fat Surfer
Support: iDou, Dirty Fairies

162. Mystery Jets 29.11.2005
Southend Chinnery's
Support: Ludes, Les Incompetents

163. Others 3.12.2005
Southend Chinnery's
Support: Jacksonswarehouse

164. Dead 60s 8.12.2005
Camden Electric Ballroom
Support: Suzukis

165. Ben Elton 14.12.2005
Brentwood Centre

166. Sultans of Ping FC 17.12.2005
Dublin The Village
Support: Jim Bob, Rulers Of The Planet

167. Sultans of Ping FC 18.12.2005
Belfast Spring and Airbrake
Support: Jim Bob

168. Celeste 23.1.2006
Southend Chinnery's
Support: Absent Kid

169. MJ Hibbett 8.2.2006
Soho, London Push Bar
Support: The Fighting Cocks, Leeeevil

170. Frank and Walters 18.2.2006
London Carling Academy Bar
Support: iDou, Hybrasil

171. Mama Shamone 8.3.2006
London Hoxton Bar and Grill

172. Futureheads 9.3.2006
Colchester Arts Centre

173. White Rose Movement 13.3.2006
London King's College
Support: Violets

174. Rattlesnake Remedy 6.5.2006
Grays Fat Surfer

175. Fat Surfer All Dayer #3 26.5.2006
Grays Civic Hall
Support: The Nurse Who Loved Me, Intern, Dismembered August, Brainache, A Sense Of Urgency

176. Phoenix FM All Dayer 23.4.2006
Billericay Hannakins Farm
Support: Doll Set Tones, Caleb, Whoremoan, Chauffeur Driven Aviator, MJ Hibbett, Cable Street Spy Club, iDou, Dirty Fairies, Bird Lane, Crosstown Traffic, Harry Shuttleworth, Deferred Success

177. Crack Village 3.5.2006
Soho, London Push Bar
Support: Fighting Cocks

178. Couse and the Impossible 6.5.2006
King's Cross Water Rates
Twelve years after I last saw A House - it's funny but sometimes you don't think you're going to see or hear certain songs played live ever again, and then bang! You're in a room with 150 people listening to a new version of Endless Art. Dave Couse's new material is just as good as the old stuff too which made for a very good night out.

179. My Life Story 26.5.2006
London Mean Fiddler
Support: Bikini Beach

180. Horndon Live 8.7.2006
West Horndon The Old Ship

181. MJ Hibbett and the Validators 8.7.2006
Cambridge Portland Arms

182. Sutton with Shopland Festival 8.7.2006
Rochford Sutton Hall
Bands seen: Noisettes, Dirty Fairies, Sam I Am

183. Blood Arm 16.8.2006
London Metro Club
Support: Hot Puppies

184. V Festival 19.8.2006
Chelmsford Hylands Park
Bands seen: Dead 60s, Divine Comedy, Upper Room, Young Knives, Bloc Party, Art Brut, We Are Scientists, Keane, Regina Spektor, Girls Aloud, Editors, Radiohdead, Butch Walker and the Let's-Go-Out-Tonites, Rifles, Dandy Warhols, Bic Runga, Feeling, Jim Noir, James Morrison, Hard Fi, Liam Frost and the Slowdown Family, Oceansize, Crimea, Bell X1

185. Grates 22.8.2006
London Metro Club
Support: Hot Puppies

186. Crack Village 24.8.2006
London Hope and Anchor
Support: The Real Heat, Fighting Cocks

187. Reading Festival 25.8.2006
Reading down by the river
Bands seen: Fightstar, Long Blondes, Guillemots, Gogol Bordello, Subways, Mystery Jets, Belle and Sebastian, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Howling Bells, Kaiser Chiefs, Milburn, Be Your Own Pet, Automatic, The Fall, Futureheads, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Jet, TV On The Radio, Coheed and Cambria, Metric, Tapes n Tapes, ¡Forward Russia!, Dresden Dolls, Semifinalists, Hope Of The States, Goldie Lookin Chain, Slayer, Boy Kill Boy, Pearl Jam

188. Blockheads 15.9.2006
Brentwood Brentwood Theatre
Support: Koopa

189. iDou 4.10.2006
Soho, London Push Bar
Support: Miss OddKid

190. Others 12.10.2006
Dunton Wayletts, Essex Private wedding
Support: iDou

191. Mystery Jets 21.10.2006
Romford Bitter End
Support: Kid Harpoon

192. Others 14.11.2006
London The 100 Club
Support: Dustin's Bar Mitzvah

193. Mama Shamone 14.11.2006
London Club 43

194. Sugarcubes 17.11.2006
Reykjavik Laugardalshöll
Support: mum, Rass

195. My Life Story 9.12.2006
London Astoria
Support: Sohodolls

196. Sultans of Ping FC 15.12.2006
London Mean Fiddler
Support: Sister

197. Bloc Party 31.1.2007
Brixton Academy

198. Abdoujaparov 2.3.2007
Cambridge Portland Arms
Support: S*M*A*S*H

199. Fat Surfer All Dayer #6 3.3.2007
Grays Civic Hall
Bands seen: Ask Sophie, Punch Judy, Fashoda Crisis, Fahrenheit 451, 9 Days Down, Late Night Episode, Kuru Smile, The Jays

200. Mega City 4 4.3.2007
London Carling Academy
Support: Carter USM, Andy Cairns, Reuben, Midway Still, Senseless Things, Ned's Atomic Dustbini

201. Musictek Festival 7.5.2007
Dagenham Victoria Park
Bands seen: Near Death Experiment, We Move As One, Jackie Bad, Last Night's Recital, 3rd Rock Revolution, Fear Of Fridays, The Last Light, In Hiding, High Voltage, Dead Beyond Buried, The Jays, Strings Of Fire, Adastreia, 9 Days Down, Physeter, CI-XI, Hunger For The Crash, Robert Allen, Retrofin, AKA Band, Pleasure Dead Cell, Koopa, The Flow, Devil Sold His Soul, Hell Is For Heroes, Tokyo Dragons, Happy Attack, Inme

202. Sutton with Shopland Festival 7.7.2007
Rochford Sutton Hall
Bands seen: A

203. Latitude Festival 13.7.2007
Southwold Henham Park
Bands seen: Hot Club de Paris, Fields, The Bobby McGees, Maps, Cake, Aqualung, Vessels, Les Rita Mitsouko, New Young Pony Club, Jeremy Warmsley, Bat For Lashes, Monkey Swallows The Universe, Middleman, CSS, Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Scouting For Girls, Charlotte Hatherley, Camera Obscura, Hot Puppies, Jarvis Cocker, Blood Red Shoes

204. Sohodolls 8.10.2007
Southend Chinnery's
Support: 586, Weirdgear

205. Hybrasil 16.10.2007
London Embassy Club
Support: Kill City Defectors

206. Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip 28.10.2007
Southend Chinnery's

207. Carter USM 2.11.2007
Brixton Academy
Support: Sultans of Ping FC

208. My Life Story 13.12.2007
Shepherds Bush Empire
Support: Jake Shillingford

209. Phoenix FM Live Sessions 19.1.2008
Brentwood Brentwood Theatre
Bands seen: Mannequins, Straights, Soprano, Kenai, Brights, Never Means Maybe, Ferungenous Brothers

210. Sultans of Ping FC 26.1.2008
Southend Chinnery's

211. Sultans of Ping FC 2.2.2008
London LA2
Support: Abdoujaparov

212. British Sea Power 7.2.2008
Canvey Island Monico Hotel

213. Young Knives 30.3.2008
Southend Chinnery's
Support: Ungdomskulen

214. Phoenix FM Live Sessions 2 17.5.2008
Brentwood Brentwood Theatre
Bands seen: Belisha, Kill Cartel, Fighting Cocks, Blind Vision, Buried In Mexico, Soprano, Colours Between, Two Stroke

215. Mama Shamone 18.5.2008
London Carling Academy
Support: Matt Trakker

216. Gestir 14.7.2008
London Hope and Anchor

217. Latitude Festival 18.7.2008
Southwold Henham Park
Bands seen: Bearsuit, Beth Orton, British Sea Power, Howling Bells, Johnny Foreigner, Julian Cope, Errors, Franz Ferdinand, Wave Machines, Fanfarlo, Captain, Kabeedies, dEUS, William Fairey Band, House Of Love, Elbow, Cheeky Cheeky and the Nosebleeds, Sigur Ros, Joanna Newsom, Fields, Jeremy Warmsley, Exlovers, Nada Surf, Foals, Glasvegas, Lovvers

218. Foals 20.8.2008
London Cross Kings

219. Reading Festival 23.8.2008
Reading down by the river
Bands seen: Subways, Mystery Jets, Ting Tings, Los Campesinos, Bloc Party, Metros, Yeasayer, Hadouken, plus some other bands I don't recognise

220. Offset Festival 30.8.2008
Hainault Hainault Forest
Bands seen: Swines, Untitled Music Project, Sputniko, The Rileys, Maths Class, Thomas Tantrum, Project Komakino, Young Knives, Victorian English Gentleman's Club, Kill Casino, XX Teens, LevelLoad, Jake Shillingford, Wire, Glam Chops, Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man., Popular Workshop, Fight Like Apes, Hatcham Social, Future Of The Left, Kasms, Your Friends Are Architects

221. Charlatans 8.10.2008
Southend Chinnery's

222. Jesus Jones 30.10.2008
Kilburn Luminaire

223. Carter USM 17.11.2008
Southampton Joiners
Support: Beautiful Life, Chris T-T

224. Baddies 19.12.2008
Southend Railway Hotel
Support: Tom Allalone and the 78s

225. Hafdis Huld 11.3.2009
Clerkenwell, London Slaughtered Lamb
Support: Fiona Bevan

226. Pure Reason Revolution 17.3.2009
Camden Dingwalls

227. Young Knives 22.3.2009
Colchester Arts Centre
Support: Barringtone

228. Tibetan Tea Company 25.4.2009
Romford Bitter End
Support: OneSevenFours, New Giants

229. Boxer Rebellion 30.4.2009
King's Cross Scala
Support: Pure Reason Revolution

230. Art Brut 7.5.2009
London Electric Ballroom
Support: Robocop Kraus


Others I have been to and I can't remember when or where (only two now!)


Mega City 4 in Hollywood's, Romford - one Monday in early 1994

Sultans of Ping with Serious Problem at the Pink Toothbrush in Rayleigh about a year or so later