Archive for March, 2009
by Modculture 25 March, 2009
That stylish man-about-town you keep seeing around London is one Darron J Connett. Over the past couple of years his live show has been much in-demand.
Now things have developed fast for him over the past few months. A new band line-up has seen him trading as Connett, and his shift from acoustic outings to a full-band seems to have paid off, as it’s a musical step up from before. The classic rock and power-pop influences are still there, but much more besides.
Seven-track mini-album Waging War On The Obvious adds sitar sounds to the crunching guitars (on 'Son') and orchestral flourishes (on 'Can't You Hear Me') to great effect. Elsewhere his Small Faces and Kinks influences are still strong. Also Darron can be heard showing off his soulful voice on The 24ths 'space age lounge sound' track 'Think I Know'.
Connett have plenty of gigs lined up in the coming months, including the Mods Mayday event, the NUTS Brighton weekender, and the annual Small Faces convention. Meanwhile if you want a free copy of the album get in contact with Mono Media at mono_media@hotmail.com
Hear Connett on
Myspace here.
by Modculture 25 March, 2009
Uriel Jones, Motown musician and one of a trio of drummers of the house band The Funk Brothers, has died in Michigan following a recent heart attack. He was 74.
He was brought into Motown in 1963 at the insistence of Marvin Gaye, and played on a string of hits for him and other artists. He was instrumental in driving forward the 'psycehdelic soul' sound that Motown pioneered in the late-60s. He toured the world several times with the band, and appeared in the 2002 Standing In The Shadows Of Motown documentary. Up until then his work and place in musical histroy was still relatively unknown. The Funk Brothers were given the lifetime achievement award at the Grammys in 2004.
The majority of the main players in the Funk Brothers have passed on – Jack Ashford, Joe Messina and Eddie Willis are the remaining trio, and still play live from time to time.
Jones is survived by a wife and three children.
by Modculture 24 March, 2009
French Connection's recent designs have been steeped in vintage aesthetics, and they just keep coming. Specialising in classic design that's well made ans uncomplicated, this Roundaboat Dress is typical of the high street shop's recent output.
The dress looks classically sixties, with a simplistic shift cut that's a perfect Mod style. The simplistic A-line shape and block white colour is given some interest with a lace overlay to add texture. Without looking like a cheap imitation, this takes Quant style to the high street to great effect.
It's available online for £150.
Find out more from the website
Via Retro To Go
by Modculture 23 March, 2009
We previously previewed the upcoming Mods Mayday event in Birmingham, but here is an update on the line-up.
The 17 bands roster previously mentioned has now expanded to encorporate 26 acts over three days and nights. Here is the line-up in full:
Friday May 1st, 8pm-4am
9.00pm – NITE POLITICS
9.30pm – THE ACE
Saturday May 2nd, 1pm-4am
1.45pm – UPPER FIFTH
2.15pm – RINALDI SINGS
2.45pm – MIKE WALKER
3.45pm – DC FONTANA
4.15pm – YEH-YEH
4.45pm – SHAUGHNESSY
7.00pm – MODUS
7.30pm – THE VISITORS
8.00pm – THE TEENBEATS
9.15pm – LONG TALL SHORTY
10.00pm – KILLERMETERS
10.45pm – SQUIRE
Sunday May 3rd, 1pm-3am
1.45pm – THE COOPERS
2.15pm – THE ITCH
2.45pm – THE LAYNES
3.45pm – THE ‘Q’
4.15pm – PETTY HOODLUMS
4.45pm – STA PREST
7.00pm – BRESSLAWS
7.30pm – TRINITY
8.00pm - CONNETT
9.15pm - SMALL WORLD
10.00pm – THE RISK
10.45pm – RT3
Tickets for the weekend are now running low, so to be sure of getting into this sure-to-be-memorable event either contact the venue The Sound Bar on
07834 039992, email
jlmod@yahoo.co.uk, or pay via PayPal by visiting the
Myspace page
here.
by Modculture 23 March, 2009
Much loved Chess Records harmonica man Little Walter has a new and comprehensive boxset anthology out now.
The Complete Chess Masters: 1950-1967 is a limited edition 5CD set, covering all aspects of his recording career. Walter had fourteen top 10 R&B hits between 1952 and 1958,
including the number ones Juke and My Babe. The 126
recordings here include nine previously unreleased recordings, including a pair of songs recorded with Bo Diddley.
The majority of the songs contained within have sadly long been out of print, making this release something of a special occasion. The set also contains numerous photographs and extensive liner notes by Little Walter biographers' Tony Glover, Scott Dirks & Ward Gaines.
The Complete Chess Masters is an American release.
Amazon UK has copies listed on its Marketplace
here, but if you have no luck there you can go straight to the source at
HipOSelect here.
by Modculture 20 March, 2009
A bit last minute, but if you're in the capital this weekend, you really should try and make it to It's A Shingaling Thing!
It's on Saturday March 21st, with resident DJs Will Bourton, Mark Ellis, Jo Sadler and French Fred, joined by guests Ben Olins ( Stag ‘O’ Lee Appreciation Society) and Richard Karstrom (Sweden) The downstairs is offering up smoking platters of Dancefloor Jazz, sizzling Latin Boogaloo and deep-fried side orders of cooking R’n’B with a dressing of red hot Jamaican Ska, A heady, steaming gumbo of Girl Group, Twist, Frat, Instrumental and Beat will also be available in The Watusi Room, upstairs. There's also a live Latin dance performance by those sisters of sass, The Actionettes.
The venue is The Apple Tree in Mount Pleasant, with festivities starting at 8 and finishing late. A £3 door tax and you’re in. Want to know more? Check out the MySpace site below.
Shingaling Thing MySpace site
by Modculture 20 March, 2009
Mind Yuh Business returns – on Saturday 4th April 2009 at the Dex on Brixton Road, London.
Joining resident Tim Keenoy are special guests Nick Record Kicks (Boogaloo Club – Milan), Mary Boogaloo (Blue Bar) and Jim Cox (Reggae Train). As if this wasn’t enough, there's also a live funk set from Karime Kendra and the Killer Meters.
The night runs from 9:00pm to 6:00am and advance tickets are £8 or £10 on the door. For ticket details, email mindyuhbusiness2008@gmail.com.
Mind Yuh Business on MySpace
by Modculture 20 March, 2009
A heads up for this one: in the second half of the year a fascinating documentary movie on The Doors will hit our screens.
The first trailer for
When You're Strange, a new documentary charting the journey of The Doors, can now be viewed below. The feature-length film, directed by
Tom DiCillo and narrated by
Johnny Depp, is made up entirely of archive (and previously unseen) reels of the band in rehearsals, in the studio, onstage and behind the scenes. Telling the strange tale from beginning to end, with full endorsement by the band, When You're Strange looks set to be a winner. The official movie site is
here.
by Modculture 20 March, 2009
Reggae club Blue Cat returns to its spiritual home in the town of Aylsebury next month.
After a couple of years elsewhere in the Midlands the Blue Cat – run by DJs Oxford Paul and Kris Tebbutt – moves to the White Swan on Saturday April 11th (Easter weekend), with guest DJ Sir Jim Cox and plenty of room to dance. As a bonus its free entry as well.
Blue Cat Reggae Club
@ The White Swan, 3 Walton St, Aylesbury, HP20 1TZ
8pm-2am, free entry
For more on the club please contact Kris at tebbutt_mod@msn.com.
by Modculture 19 March, 2009
The full-lineup for the always highly-anticipated Glasgow Mod Weekender has been announced.
The seventh edition of the Friday Street-organised four-day weekender playing the 'best in underground 60s dance music' is on the weekend of June 25th-28th. Various locations in Glasgow's Merchant City are used over the four night and two daytime events.
DJs for the weekend include residents Mikey Collins, Lenny Harkins, Paul, and guests Michael Wink (Berlin), Gav Arno (Pow Wow), Andrew Symington (Divine), and Holly and Sarah (Eyes Wide Open). Live bands present will be The Laynes (on Thursday) and Berry Tweed & The Chasers (Saturday afternoon). Also on the Sunday there will be the traditional scooter ride through the city centre and scooter competition.
Tickets for the Friday and Saturday night events cost £6 in advance from
Ticketweb. All other events are free to get into.
For more info on the weekend visit www.myspace.com/fridaystreet or email glasgowmodweekender@hotmail.co.uk.
