Girl in The Garden at The Hobgoblin.

I'm so far behind with my Blog that I've interrupted myself - Saturday night saw us down at the Hobgoblin in Staines. It was sad really, because the refurbishment that was due in the summer is going ahead.

It means big changes - there will still be music but probably not the kind that's made The Hob so innovative.

It means this year will be the last 'Rockgoblin'......ever!

Last night we had a treat in a pared down '48 Hours', who normally are a loud, vibrant three piece heavy metal band.

Tonight they were down to just two, exchanging an acoustic guitar for metal. Actually it was still more than a bit metallic.

There were a few covers, it wasn't very quiet or restrained....classic Hob band.

Meanwhile, mainlining;

'Girl in the Garden', local band, regulars at The Hob, reunited with their old guitarist and playing in front of all their fans.

It all made for a very special Hobnight;

What always made The Hob special was the opportunity it gave to young bands, that it always chose innovation over what was safe and reliable and even though I usually didn't actually like the music........there was always a spark there.

Saturday night was certainly sparking;

 

 

There are some good nights planned from here to Christmas but you had probably better take advantage of them while you can.

 

Neil Harris

(a don't stop till you drop production)

 

Home:  helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

 

Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

 

 

 

 



Hobgoblin in a mist; The Wicked Venetians, According to you, Girl in the garden.

I’ve been having internet troubles; running a high powered multimedia campaign without broadband is not so easy. There’s been a bit less of the ‘multi’ in my media recently.

But I do have a surprise for you on Monday – so much so I can’t actually tell you about it till then. It's a secret.

I can tell you about the Jenson Nightingale 50^th birthday bash at The Hobgoblin, which he celebrated by laying on 5 bands and a fair supply of Jägermeister.

I didn’t catch all the acts – I was distracted by an amazing plate of noodles and a cloud of mist which meant my poor old pawnshop camera couldn’t cope very well.

I did get to see ‘According to you’, a local band which has been around for years but still seems fresh;

 

And then a band I’d travel some way to see;

The Wicked Venetians who have a new video out which you can check out for yourself by searching for them in YouTube.

Any way I took some great photos, shame about the mist.

But as I said, after we’d polished of the noodles I got even more distracted.

Monday night? Sorry, my lips are sealed – it really is a big secret.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Brooklands College end of year at The Hob.

Thursday night and I’m at the Hobgoblin with Robyn for The Brooklands College music department end of year concert. It’s the Hob at its best; putting on a gala night, putting something back.

This is Girl in the Garden who you’ve seen a number of times;

 

Reduced to a three piece for one night, I prefered their rougher, simpler sound but for the last number they were joined by a former guitarist for a much fuller sound which was more Robyn’s thing.

Then there was Primal Beard;

Where I managed to cut the heads off the excellent female lead and bass guitars. But I didn’t get to cut the beard off;

 
That was a spirited performance.

Amazing young musicians and there were quite a few I didn't pictures of. But, for an elderly punk, where is the anger of a generation that had its future stolen from it?

I'm puzzled.

The really good news for me is that the planned refurbishment of The Hob has been cancelled.

Whatever the reason, I’m glad, I like it the way it is – you can change it when I’m gone.

There’s still going to be a good night on the 19^th – with According to You and The Wicked Venetians there (amongst others) it will be an amazing way to celebrate not making a new start.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home:  helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

Girl in the Garden at The Hobgoblin.

   Girl In The Garden

Friday and I’m back in The Hobgoblin, Staines for the return of Girl in the Garden who are about as local as it gets; all the way from Staines.

They are;

 Jordan Hewett - Vocals, Guitar

 Bo Hawkins - Guitar, Backing vocals

 Jamie Gaywood - Bass

 Connor Hansell - Drums, Backing vocals

 

They describe their music as ‘Punk/Grunge’…..but its fresh and fun; always worth seeing and not really very grungey.

 

  Girl In The Garden

 

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home:  helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

 

 

Shape of things to come; a taste of Boomboxlive 2014.

Saturday night and there was only one place to be - another special night down at the Hobgoblin-

boomboxLive

This was a taster night for the Boombox 2014 festival which explodes on the 21^st June 2014 at Brooklands College in Ashford. It was rammed.

 

These are the people behind it;

 http://www.thesoundhive.com/about

They support and help young bands in Spelthorne and here’s the Boombox festival site itself;

http://boomboxlive.co.uk

As ever Facebook is probably the best way to get to them – you can find that for yourself.

The Hob was heaving – lots of young people and not a few proud parents in the audience.

I was late so only caught the end of the two acoustic duos that started it all off but then you’re going to the festival anyway – you can catch them there?

This is ‘Chasing Cara’;

Playing their own thoughtful stuff (indie with teeth) and ending up with a lively song for Ian Curtis. I nearly used the word nice there – that wouldn’t do, not for Ian.

Here’s their lead.

I was watching them play and thinking back to the bleak, monochrome/beige world of Joy Division where nothing much ever happened…this really is a different time and place.

Helping me snap out of that thought was the shockwave coming from 'Room 4';

And yes, in real life they are all smaller than they look here.
Big sound though. 

A complete rocket powered, duel-exhaust, nitro-fuelled blast of heavy metal. Mainly their own stuff but ending up with Motorhead’s Ace of Spades.

Now those who know me know that metal is never going to be my thing (don't start me off about Lemmy) but if it’s your thing you’d better watch out for this lot.

What really frightens me is that they are going to grow.

Next, no stranger to The Hob are ‘Girl in The Garden’;

 

A sheer wall of sound and as it got louder you can see that I got pushed further and further back by the crowd.

Finally a real treat for me, although they’ve been around quite a while now;

 This is ‘According to You’ and they played a blinder;

 

 

All their own material, lots of energy;

 

Lots of beat and a crowd getting more excited by the minute

 

They are definitely on my list.

If you weren’t there you missed quite a night.

The secret?

It was all put together by people who give a #.

So if you’re teenage you should definitely be putting Boombox in your diary now – it’s going to be quite a day and you get to see bands who are going to be something in the years to come.

If you’re in a local band you need to be contacting the links I’ve posted here – these people can help you.

And the Hob donated the door takings to the festival, isn’t that a nice thing to do?

As I said, people who give a #

For a slideshow and better quality, click on any photo.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact:  neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

 

Scott Freeman and Girl in the Garden at The Hobgoblin.

Hobgoblin

Saturday at The Hob was a night of (to me) grungy, garagey, thrash at the top of its voice. This is Girl in The Garden;

 

And their lead singer:

 

Scott Freeman from Shepperton started it all off – but he wasn't grungy, wasn't garagey. Not bad either.

 

 

  – an acoustic guitar, a beard and irrepressibly cheerful?  Not what I was looking for. And, no I don't like audience participation either.

 

I was sold before he started when both of us were separately miming to Ian Dury on the Juke Box – ‘Sex and Drugs and Rock ‘n Roll’. Unlike everything else, Ian gets better with age.

Scott was irrepressible, a ball of thumping energy singing his own songs at the top of his voice.

All he needed was a bit of anger.

 

That's never going to happen, is it?

Next Saturday I'm back in Hayes - moonstompin' with The Reggulaters.

Mmmmmh, 'Long Shot kikky bucket' and 'the Return of Django', or at least I hope so.

Click on a picture for better quality pictures.
Since I wrote this I discovered I was a month too early for The Reggulaters - 29/4/14. Check it on lemonrock.

You can catch them on 5/4/14, but I've got something even more exciting planned for then....... watch this space....

 

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com