Brighton in the sun.

Yesterday was the first warm day of the year - the first time I wasn't freezing cold since the autumn.

We went out for the afternoon to Brighton.  

It's never really been my favourite place. Too much of a rip off and just a little bit sleazy really.

But there's a very fine pier;

........and everything you could want from a traditional seaside resort;

And of course, where else would you want to go if you are a MOD?

But Brighton has always been a bit sinister, a bit violent just as in Graham Greene's novel 'Brighton Rock', set amongst the 1930's razor gangs and the 'Bookmakers Protection League' gang wars up at the race track.

We had a walk along the seafront but I was suffering a bit - feeling ill and with a nosebleed for a lot of the time.

Still, I cheered up when I saw The Grand Hotel, site of the assassination attempt on Margaret Thatcher.

Thatcher destroyed so many peoples lives, that I can't help wondering every so often, how life would have turned out if the IRA had been a little more accurate in 1984.

We wandered off and walked around 'The Laines', a little rabbit warren of old streets which used to be the centre of the antiques trade on the south coast.

These days it's mainly jewellery and posh, scented shops.

We looked into the excellent Fisherman's Museum which has taken over a couple of the arches on the seafront;

Although we disgraced ourselves by falling about laughing at some old cine film they were showing.

I can recommend it as probably the best tourist attraction in the city.

I couldn't resist a look at Volks Electric railway, which runs along the seafront.

It's now the oldest surviving electric railway in the world having been built in 1883.

It's a big part of summer on the seafront;

Although it's a struggle to keep it open these days;

I've grumbled about Brighton; the tourists, the whole rip-off of it all.

What I like is the alternative Brighton - Gay and Lesbian Brighton, skateboard punk rockers, a slightly crazy Brighton.

I like galleries and art shops that sell things like this;

Or bags like this;

And I like graffiti artists, although there wasn't as much as I remember. I did like this;

Quite a lot;

I ended up collapsed on the pier just soaking up the sun until at 5-30 (like Cinderella) we had to leave.

I am the lucky holder of a disabled parking badge these days and we were able to park on the seafront, free of charge for 3 hours.

You have no idea what a luxury that is, until you have to walk back to the car!

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)
Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me; neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

The Serious Chord Squad at The Blue Anchor, Byfleet.

We had a great night out on Saturday - at The Blue Anchor, Byfleet where we saw old friends.........

.......and enjoyed a night out with 'The Serious Chord Squad' one of my favourite bands;

SQS are Darren, Mike, Vere and Andrew and formed when 'The Highs' split up. They've been banging out MOD classics, some Soul, Paul Weller, some Jam and Style Council and a bit of Britpop for about a year now;

They're more raw, there's more energy - just the way I like it - a great night that only ended at midnight.

There were some great, classic Rhythm and Blues;

A real MOD night out!

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

Jazz in London.

Well, it happened - the last issue of Jazz In London came out this month;

It's finally over for me, a love affair of 36 years!

It's hard to write how much this little, free, listings magazine has meant to me over the years.

I like lots of different kinds of music but Jazz has always been there and it's very much a part of being a MOD - as much as wearing a parka!

For the last 43 years, 'Jazz in London' has come out every month, for most of that time produced single handed by Mary Greig herself. 



The thing about the Mag was that you couldn't buy it, you couldn't order it, you couldn't subscribe to it......you had to be part of the scene to get your hands on it.

So if you went to a gig or wandered into a club or a record shop you'd see a little pile of the mags in the corner.

If you had it in your pocket you were in 'the scene' and if you weren't?

Well, you were just nowhere.

I remember going up to London in 1977 and feeling the warm glow of carrying around this little listings mag and feeling I'd finally arrived in the big, big city.

When I was broke the big clubs would be out of reach but having that list of tiny venues and struggling clubs meant that for every night of the week there was somewhere you could afford to go, something to listen to.

Jazz has been big and at times it's been almost invisible but with a JiL in your pocket it lived..... because the London Jazz scene was really made up of an interlocking network of small clubs and venues.

The oil that kept it all moving?

The loss of the mag is huge.

Recently Mary Greig's husband has needed more help managing and there's just no one else to carry it on, so this month, for one last time I have a copy of 'Jazz in London' in my pocket.

To say thank you for all the issues over the years I thought I'd republish Mary's own article telling the story of the little pocket sized magazine for herself;

                                 ----------//----------

"The story of Jazz In London started in 1971, forty years ago . . . at a time when contemporary Jazz was even more of a minority music than it is today. At that time, there were only two major clubs ( Ronnie Scott’s and the 100 Club ) although, interestingly, the jazz audience could support three specialist Jazz record shops within walking distance of each other (Dobell’s, Asman’s and Collet’s). It was a very intimate, small sub-culture in Soho in those days, and it would be no surprise to find yourself drinking alongside the great American musicians who were performing at Ronnie Scott’s at the time, or alongside luminaries of the art world like Francis Bacon.


Jazz in London was started by John Jack, a record producer and champion of the contemporary end of Jazz music. He lived, as he does now, in Charing Cross Road, and ran the jazz sessions at Ronnie’s Old Place in Gerrard Street, which provided a showcase for many of the young players who have since gained international recognition:- John Surman, Mike Osborne, Mike Westbrook and many others.

This was pre Time Out London, and information on where to hear Jazz was mainly word of mouth and posters, so John started to produce a folded A4 sheet called Jazz in London, with a strapline of “Mainly The Newer Trends In The Music”. The early editions listed around a dozen venues, two of which were weekly venues run by Jazz Centre Society, the forerunner to Jazz Services.

In 1973 John took on the full-time commitment of Cadillac Records, so Jazz In London was passed over to me. I was very involved in the jazz scene and was active in running clubs for Jazz Centre Society, and working in Collet’s Jazz Record Shop. I knew a lot about the Jazz scene, but nothing about how to produce a publication. In this pre-technology era, I learned to use cut-and-paste typed text and Letraset to compose the layout, pasting it all out on boards and taking the boards to the printer. Some of the early issues look extremely clunky now, but nobody seemed to mind at the time.

I’ve continued to produce Jazz In London single-handedly since then, and over that time it has grown from a single A4 sheet to the multi-page publication that it is today. Although a bit of a technophobe, I’ve managed to get to grips with the fundamentals of desk-top publishing, so these days it gets sent to the printer down the phone line, rather than on bits of card! In recent years I’ve been immensely aided by Mick Sexton, who since 2003 has been the person who puts the publication online and also helps me with the distribution.

I think the extraordinary longevity of Jazz in London is essentially down to it having been a one-person operation, and being very pro-active about getting information. Also, I’ve always kept to the simple format of providing information, rather than branching into editorial content. And by keeping it simple, costs are contained and therefore advertising is very affordable to small promoters. It reflects a genuine network of promoters, performers, punters etc. who all contribute in their separate ways to a healthy scene. So that now, something that started as a labour of love seems to have become an important underpinning of the London Jazz community, and I suppose I’m rather proud of that.

The Jazz scene has, of course, now changed beyond recognition, with the huge expansion of wonderful young talent and the recognition of the music conservatoires that jazz is a music worthy of their curriculum. These days I find myself typing the names of many musicians that I’ve never even heard, whereas 35 years ago, they were all my mates!"
                                                                           
                                                                             Mary Greig.

                                 ----------//----------

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

Bye bye Parka.

This is a depressing sight; my parka lying on top of the wheely bin and later on today its going into the rubbish.

I've had it for about 14 years, wearing it through thick and thin. Mainly it's been thin really, if I'm honest. I did wear it on a few adventures - including a couple of wild trips to the continent but a lot of the time it's been trips to hospitals.

Sadly it's been worn out for a while; there are some rips and I've been trapped by the zip a couple of times and couldn't get out.

Grrrrrh!

The final straw was when Robyn told me that I looked like I'd been in a fight with a duck and lost - the down had started leaking all over me.

It's sad because it's probably the first time I've ever been without a Parka in my wardrobe and it's really part of me.

I've had cheap silly kids parkas and I've had original German NATO fishtail Parkas as well as everything in between but I've always had one somewhere.

It's a symbol of being a MOD, the ultimate symbol of straight up two fingers, What'cha gonna do about it,  in your face rebellion.

And while I've been fitfully looking around shops and even on the net, the truth is there's a big hole in my wardrobe right now.

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

A trip to London.

We had a treat!

Well, it was a grim week, we had to get out.

I'm not going to tell you what we did till tomorrow because I've got to wait for Robyn to send me her pictures but we had to go up to London;

We got off at Piccadilly Circus to walk up Regent Street and look at the Christmas lights and nose into the expensive shops along the way.

People were wearing Christmas pullovers and hats, there were office parties looking slightly embarrassed and lots of happy shoppers.

There was a photo shoot - hey it's London!

And I absolutely had to go to Carnaby Street which always has the best lights;

I wonder who this old MOD is in his Parka?

I was here in the 1960's and it was shabby and full of Hippy tat.

It's more cool these days even if it is a bit corporate;

We couldn't get a picture but there were three shops in a row that just sum me up - Levi's jeans, Ben Sherman shirts and Dr Martens shoes - that's all my shopping sorted out;



It's become a home for us MODS, which I don't think it ever really was in the old days. It certainly wasn't when I was young;

Then we went to Liberty's which has to be just the nicest shop in London, even if it's outrageously expensive.

It's a huge shame that the private venture capital company that now owns it has done away with the bay windows which used to be filled with the most wonderful displays but they still have the florist at the front door;

And a grand display in the atrium;

It's a product of the 19th century 'Arts and Crafts' movement which is not my thing but it's a fairy tale at Christmas.

Also it reminds me of 'The Slaviansky Bazaar' which was a Czarist era restaurant in Moscow which survived in all its glory until the Yeltsin age when it was burnt down in an argument between rival gangsters;

There were lots of decorations wherever we went;

And a quick visit to the most impressive pub in London - 'The Argyll Arms on Argyll street;

It was built as a convenient bar near 'The London Palladium' and it has a truly theatrical interior with private little drinking areas and ornate ceilings and glasswork.



No time for a drink though, we were short of time - we had an urgent appointment.

We still had time to take in Oxford Street, Robyn's bank and a walk through Soho though.

Oh, we also had a Burger King which Robyn really enjoyed;

 

                                           

Then we had to get off we had an appointment........more of that tomorrow.

I had a tough week, feeling fairly ill most of the time but today I was feeling good.

If I tell you that after our busy day and our exciting evening we went Christmas shopping at midnight you'll get an idea.

I think I'm paying for it now!

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)

Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

Get Ready at Egham British Legion.

We had a treat on Saturday night - a first chance to see 'Get Ready' playing at the Egham British legion.

'Get Ready' are Rob on guitar, Boz on bass, John on drums and above all Pippa on lead vocals. We've followed Pippa Smith for a while and it was great to see her again, in good voice and with an appreciative audience;

Here's their Facebook description;

"Get Ready are a Mod band, embracing the style and music of the modernism era and culture. Playing classic songs ...from the 'style' decade of the 1960s, as well as some floor stomping Northern soul, we are a Mod band with a difference. Get Ready play songs that influenced and are ingrained in the mod psyche".

They played a combination of the great 1960's female vocalists, Motown and Northern Soul which is just my kind of night; it's been a while for me.
 That's a mixture of being ill, some good bands going under and a number of favourite venues closing.....whatever, it's been too long.

This was treat for any Mod - a long list of great songs sung at the right speed. For any band that means a massive set because back in the 6T's every single was only about two and a half minutes long.

It was also nice to see some familiar faces and not a few snappy dressers too;

And we got a very friendly welcome from a club we were visiting for the first time.

A good evening, a real pleasure.

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

The Serious Chord Squad at the Cedar tree, Bagshot.

Last year, my favourite MOD band split; we turned up to see them one night and as we arrived we could see all the other cars turning round and leaving. When we got there we found out why - cancelled!

Since then, The Highs have continued but with an almost completely different line up. I haven't been able to catch them yet - they are playing out of our area quite a lot.

Anyway, the rest of the band have started a new group and last night was our first chance to catch them in action - The Serious Chord Squad;

I was fairly nervous...I took the break up quite badly.

Phew! It was almost the same mix of classic 1960's maximum R 'n B, The Jam and Paul Weller.

Nice drum kit!

But there was a different character to the band - there was an Oasis track and also The Style Council turned up too. For my part, Weller's Style Council period was the ultimate expression of the 'MOD' style but it's usually ignored by MOD bands because it doesn't fit in with their prejudiced view of what it was all about.

So what was so different?

More relaxed, more informal, more fun.

In fact,. a lot of fun.

I'm hoping to catch them again, and if they are round your way, you should too.

Neil Harris

(a don't stop till you drop production)

Home:  helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

The Highs at The Cedar tree, Bagshot.

Friday night at the Cedar Tree, time for action, time for the Mods.

Time for;

 

The

H I g h s

 

I haven’t seen the band for ages; they’ve had a tremendous year appearing at various scooter rallies and for the spring bank holidays they were on Brighton pier celebrating 50 years of the Mods.

I couldn’t make it but we made it tonight for a packed Cedar Tree in Bagshot of all places.

For an evening of Motown, Stax, Northern Soul and R ‘n B from the 1960’s with a little bit of The Jam and Paul Weller thrown in too.

 

Thanks again guys.
And then while we were outside in the interval, we watched an amazing (Ooh! Aagh!) fireworks display in the distance while we stood on the central reservation of a dual carriageway to get a better view.

Nice night.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)