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PLAYING OUT LOUD!
ARTICLES
GIG OF THE MONTH
DAVE DEE, DOZY, BEAKY, MICK & TICH, CELLARS AT EASTNEY,
SOUTHSEA – SATURDAY NOVERMBER 15.
 There
can’t be many groups from the 1960s who can put the complete original lineup
together when they play a gig nowadays, but Dave Dee and company can do just
that.
Way back in 1961 the origins of the band began when five friends from Wiltshire,
David Harman, Trevor Davies, John Dymond, Michael Wilson and Ian Amey, formed
Dave Dee And The Bostons. They soon gave up their jobs to play music full-time;
as well as playing throughout the UK, they also occasionally played in Hamburg
and in Cologne.
In the summer of 1964, British songwriters Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley became
interested in the group. They made recordings with Joe Meek that proved
unsuccessful, but eventually gained a recording contract with Fontana Records.
They changed their name to Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich — an amalgam of
their nicknames. The distinctive name, coupled with well produced and catchy
songs by Howard and Blaikley, quickly caught the UK's public's imagination, and
their records started to sell in abundance. Indeed, between 1965 and 1969, the
group spent more weeks in the UK Singles Chart than The Beatles.
They also scored a Number One hit on the UK chart in 1968 with "The Legend of
Xanadu". This particular track made it 'big' world-wide - even where they had
rarely previously had success - in the USA. Their other Top Ten UK hits included
"Hideaway", "Hold Tight", "Bend It", "Save Me", "Touch Me, Touch Me!", "Okay"
and "Zabadak". "Zabadak" and "The Legend of Xanadu" - the last achieving Number
One.
In September, 1969, Dave Dee left the group for a short-lived solo career. The
rest, re-billed as D,B,M and T continued releasing records, until they broke up
in 1972. In the 1980s the group reformed again, but without Dee although there
was one further single with him, "Staying With It" in 1983. In the 1990s, at a
time when many other of their contemporary bands were also reforming to tour on
the lucrative "oldies circuit", they started performing once more, this time
with their one-time leader, Dave Dee.
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich have continued to play regular 60s Gold
package shows and many other gigs at various venues across the UK. Their gig in
the intimate setting of The Cellars should be a cracker.
IMELDA MAY, THE BROOK, SOUTHAMPTON –
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 19
 Dublin-born
Imelda May brings a touch of burlesque to The Brook later this month. Her unique
fusion of rockabilly, blues and jazz and her extensive self-penned repertoire
along with her dynamic stage presence has won her many admirers including the
late Kirsty MacColl and Jools Holland.
Imelda has shared the stage with an impressive array of musical talent - Alison
Moyet, Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross, Bryan Ferry, Anastasia, The Supremes, Sister
Sledge, Scissor Sisters, Matt Bianco, Elvis Costello and Elton John, to name but
a few.
Imelda's creative evolution began at an early age. From singing with her sister
in church as a child to performing in nightclubs as an under-age teenager (she
was once turned away from one of her own gigs for being too young!) her journey
continues to be one of passion, substance and insight. In her own words "My
whole life revolves around music. There's no magic story in there, just that
I've been singing my ass off since I was four!! Oh, I did sing the jingle for a
Findus Fish Finger ad when I was fourteen but I think the less said about that
the better!"
Inspired by such jazz greats as Billy Holiday, Dinah Washington, and the
undisputed queen of rockabilly, Wanda Jackson, Imelda is forging a contemporary
sound all of her own. She was nominated for Best Burlesque Singer in 2007 and
made her movie debut in LA starring as the singing voice for a character in
forthcoming American gangster movie “Dark Streets.” She also recorded an album
of original material, “Love Tattoo,” alongside her talented band of renowned
musicians; Steve Rushton on drums, Al Gare on bass, Darrel Higham on guitar, and
Dave Priseman on trumpet.
MICAH P HINSON, WEDGEWOOD ROOMS,
SOUTHSEA – SUNDAY NOVEMBER 9
 Gravel-voice
Texan Micah P Hinson has seen his share of tragedy – self-admitted prescription
drugs addiction and jail stints during his teenage years. But music has rescued
him and he is currently enjoying good critical feedback to his third album “And
The Red Empire Orchestra.”
Hinson was born in Memphis Tennesse, and shortly afterwards moved with his
family to West Virginia whilst his father completed his PhD. When Hinson was
four years old his family settled in Abilene, Texas where his father had secured
a professorship at Abilene Christian University. Early in Hinson's childhood his
parents would listen to artists like Neil Diamond and John Denver and and
instruments such as a dulcimer and his grandmother's piano were ever-present in
the house.
Hinson's father bought him his first guitar when he was around 11-years-old so
that Hinson could perform in a fifth grade talent show. ] However, it was the
influence of his older brother that really sparked Hinson's desire for music.
Both the brothers owned guitars and Hinson's older brother quickly became
proficient on the instrument, sparking a friendly rivalry. He began his first
efforts at making music around age 12 and as he entered his teenage years he
began to listen to his brother's Ministry and The Cure records. By the end of
high school Hinson's tastes had expanded and he felt drawn to the sounds of
Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr as well as more popular bands like Nirvana.
He felt constrained by the smallness of his hometown, Abilene, and found escape
in skateboarding, drugs and playing guitar. Around this period, Hinson met later
member of The Earlies, John Mark Lapham. Around this period Hinson had been
declared bankrupt, was homeless and had drug dependencies. However he resolved
to change and found employment, saved up some money and moved to Denton, Texas
beginning a college course there.
After making a series of demo albums, Hinton eventually recorded his debut album
in the winter of 2003, “Micah P Hinson and The Gospel of Progress.” His second
album “Micah P Hinson and the Opera Circuit” was released in 2006, and his third
album, mentioned earlier, was released earlier this year. Over the last few
years, Micah has finally been getting some recognition for his mixture of alt
country, gospel and blues, and has opened for artists like Will Oldham and
Calexico.
STACEY KENT, CONCORDE CLUB, EASTLEIGH –
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 12
 Popular
jazz singer Stacey Kent, originally from New Jersey, returns to the Concorde
Club in Eastleigh with her musicians for a gig at a venue where she has become a
great favourite.
Since appearing on the jazz scene in the mid-1990s, Stacey has racked up five
best-selling albums and a string of awards, including the 2001 British Jazz
Award and 2002 BBC Jazz Award for Best Vocalist. She has also built up a fan
base that enables her to sell out concert halls around the world, as well as
becoming a presenter on BBC Radio 2 with "Big Band Special" and on BBC Radio 3,
with "Jazz Line Up."
The twist of fate that steered Stacey's life towards jazz was a chance meeting
in Oxford with saxophonist, Jim Tomlinson. Like Stacey, Jim was embarked on an
academic path, but their meeting sparked in each other the desire to pursue
their love of music together. After a year's study at the Guildhall School of
Music, Stacey set about honing her skills on the London jazz scene in the
company of, now husband, Jim Tomlinson. A demo tape, sent simultaneously to
Polygram, Candid Records and broadcaster, the late Humphrey Lyttelton, secured
her a role in Ian McKellen's film version of "Richard III," a recording contract
and national airplay.
Since the release of Stacey's first album, "Close Your Eyes" she has achieved,
without compromise, both critical and popular success, with her fresh and
heart-felt interpretations of the finest love songs of the 20th century. Her
album, "In Love Again," a celebration of Richard Rodgers in his centennial year
was launched in style with a sold-out performance at the South Bank's Queen
Elizabeth Hall, London.
Stacey has some celebrity fans too: Clint Eastwood invited Stacey to sing at his
70th birthday party, Michael Parkinson invited her to sing on his television
show, as did Sir David Frost. And former Chancellor Of The Exchequer and jazz
buff, Ken Clarke, has included Stacey's tracks on his BBC Radio series.
DENGUE FEVER, SALISBURY ARTS CENTRE –
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 19
 An
intriguing band from Los Angeles, Dengue Feve, who combine Cambodian pop music
with psychedelic rock, play a date at Salisbury Arts Centre a week after a
scheduled appearance on the TV show, “Later With Jools Holland.”
Dengue Fever were formed in 2001 by Ethan Holtzman and his brother Zac after
Ethan was inspired by a trip to Cambodia. As Ethan and Zac were searching for a
vocalist to sing in Khmer lead Singer Chhom Nimol was discovered in a nightclub
in Little Phnom Penh, an area of Long Beach.
She was already a well-known karaoke singer from Cambodia, but
decided to move to US after visiting her sister, and thought it was a good
chance to make more money to send to her family back home.
Their self-titled debut album was released in 2003. Their second album, “Escape
From Dragon House” was released in 2005 and re-released as a limited edition
coloured vinyl earlier this year. Their third album, “Venus On Earth” was also
released earlier this year on Real World Records founded by Peter Gabriel. Peter
himself enthused: "We have Dengue Fever coming out on Real World Records
(outside of the USA) - it’s really cool stuff, with the small Cambodian singer
and big American guys behind! They’re California based but have taken 60’s
Cambodian pop as their main source of inspiration and it’s done with a lot of
style. It’s spirited, impassioned stuff."
All lyrics on the earlier albums are sung in Khmer, whilst the third album
introduces some songs in English. Many of the songs are covers of 1960s
Cambodian rock tunes by such artists as Sinn Sisamouth and Ros Sereysothea but
some are originals, first written in English by the Holtzmans before being
translated.
Zac performs vocals and guitar, while Ethan plays the Farfisa organ. Rounding
out the band are bassist Senon Williams (who also plays in Radar Bros) drummer
Paul Smith, and David Ralicke on brass.
JAMES YORKSTON, THE JOINERS,
SOUTHAMPTON – WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 19
 Scottish
folk singer James Yorkston comes to The Joiners with an impressive CV. He was an
integral early member of The Fence Collective who have gone on to pervade
contemporary music with the emergence of artists like King Creosote, KT Tunstall
and The Beta Band. He has also released five albums and toured with the likes of
Bert Jansch and John Martyn.
A native of Fife, Yorkston is primarily a singer-songwriter, although he also
tackles a variety of traditional songs, learned from singers such as Dick
Gaughan, Martin Carthy and Lal Waterson. His quoted main influences are Anne
Briggs, Linton Kwesi Johnson and Michael Hurley, Yorkston started out as bassist
for punk band Miraclehead, who morphed into the band Huckleberry.
James’ solo career began when John Peel played a demo of his ‘Moving Up Country,
Roaring The Gospel’, proclaiming it had “The song title of the year, no doubt”.
This led to Bad Jazz Records scrambling for James’ details and releasing that
track as James’ debut 7” under the name 'J. Wright Presents.'
At this time James had started to play solo gigs in Edinburgh – his debut
supporting Bert Jansch in the Café Royal. Seeking more shows, James sent a copy
of the single to John Martyn, asking John for a support slot on his forth coming
Edinburgh date – and John Martyn responded by offering James all 27 dates on the
UK & Irish tour. Whilst on this tour James was spotted by Laurence Bell of
Domino Records (Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand), who was so impressed he had a
recording contract sent to James’ lawyer the following week. Subsequently he
signed to the label recording music with a number of friends and associates
credited as 'The Athletes' on his records. James recorded and produced his debut
album for Domino – “Moving Up Country” which became Rough Trade Record Shops
Album Of The Year for 2002. James also played at the inaugural Greenman
Festival, to which he has been asked back every year since.
James’ second album was “Just Beyond The River”. This album was extremely well
received, his fan base continued to grow and he was offered tours with Beth
Orton (USA), David Gray (UK & Ireland), Tindersticks (Europe), Turin Brakes
(USA), Lambchop (Europe), Kathryn Williams (UK) as well as a slot on the
prestigious Accelerator tour of Sweden.
The follow up, ‘The Year Of The Leopard’ came next, followed by a “Best Of The
Rest” collection – unreleased songs from his career so far- ‘Roaring The Gospel’
which led the NME to say “Yorkston has talent as deep as a mine shaft”.
More recently, James was invited to work as Musical Director with Oliver Knight
and the Waterson Carthy clan for the BBC Electric Proms tribute to Lal Waterson.
This was broadcast by the Mike Harding show, as well as by BBC3. His fifth album
“When The Haar Rolls In” was released a few months ago, and included
performances by guests including Nancy Elizabeth Cunlifee, Norma Waterson and
Mike Waterson.
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DAVE DEE, DOZY, BEAKY, MICK
& TICH
CELLARS AT EASTNEY, SOUTHSEA SATURDAY NOV 15
IMELDA MAY
THE BROOK SOUTHAMPTON WEDNESDAY
NOV 19
MICAH P HINSON WEDGEWOOD ROOMS
SOUTHSEA
SUNDAY NOV 9
STACEY KENT CONCORDE CLUB EASTLEIGH
WEDNESDAY
NOV 12
DENGUE FEVER SALISBURY ARTS CENTRE
WED NOV 19
JAMES YORKSTON THE JOINERS SOUTHAMPTON
WED NOV 19 |
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