Re-introducing the band
Having debuted last December as Totalshambles, the Official 6 Music Band re-formed this year for our difficult second gig. This time, we were called VCS Soundsystem, which is a 6 Music in-joke that's too dull to explain. From last year's lineup, we retained Jim Simmons on keyboards and vocals, Mike Hanson on guitar, Jude Adam and Nemone on vocals, and myself on drums. Our new bassist was Ian Painter, who's also in Candidate, and we were proud to induct Shaun Keaveney on vocals and guitar, and Zoe Fletcher on vocals. Mr Gideon Coe guested on Garageland, and Tom Robinson guested on his own War Baby, Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick and Gimme Some Loving, along with Tim Sanders, saxophonist extraordinaire (he's in the Kick Horns - blessed, we were!). We started with Addicted To Love and moved through a variety of covers old and new, cool and uncool: I Predict A Riot, Golden Skans, Kids In America, Video Killed The Radio Star, Lassoo, Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Keaveny's finest hour, with false moustache), My Sharona, Honky Tonk Women, Golden Skans and Waterloo to finish. When I say "difficult second gig", it wasn't really. It was the 6 Music Christmas party at the Loom basement club in Central London. Considering we'd had three rehearsals this year, only one of which had all band members at it, I think we coped admirably. Mike threw Keith Richards shapes, Jim set his keyboard to 80s on more than one occasion, Tom was so good it's almost as if he's a professional singer and has been doing this for 30 years, and "the girls" were on fine form throughout. I made a few basic errors, including ending War Baby a bar too early, and losing a stick, but nobody noticed. You don't play the drums to get noticed. Or captured in many photographs - which is actually a blessing, as I don't look too good when I'm behind a kit. If I can post a bootleg up here, I will. You can see the whole set of photos - if you're a member - on Flickr. (Don't worry if you're not - the best ones are reproduced here.)
And a big hand for Jim, without whose enthusiasm, organisational skills and keyboard wizardry, neither Totalshambles nor VCS Soundsystem would ever have got off the drawing board. Next year, we really must play Jump by Van Halen, rather than just threaten to. (Hey, I'm not really qualified to be in the 6 Music Band this year - who knows whether they'll let me back next year!)
I actually had the time of my life.
posted by Andrew Collins @ 2:12 PM
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31 Comments:
Yer kit looks tince Andrew (or your stool was v high or you are 6'5"...). War Baby is in a funny time signature isn't it? Some deft hi-hat work required. Bet you wished Tom had chosen some four to the floor TRB instead. Looked a lorra fun though.
Tiny looking tom you've got there. Is that a little jazz kit you've got there?
It's a fantastic junior kit, lent to me, as last year, by Frank Wilson, my old 6 Music producer, who keeps it set up in his basement for jam sessions. It really is a beauty: small but perfectly formed, and a really tough sound for a little'un. I wish it were mine. (Or that I had a basement.) War Baby's all toms, Anonymous, of at least it was the way I played it. Actually, Tom gave me a few hints on how his drummer plays it, so I hope it was an accurate fascimile. Bootleg will be available next week, I'm told. (We did 2-4-6-8 with Tom on vocals at last year's inaugural bash. Fantastic fun.)
Tom's very generous about you downloading his songs by the way. His excellent website is here.
Sounds like you all had a blast. Gideon summed it up on his show last night, "Everybody, and I mean everybody, wants to be in a band". Or words to that end. Nice one.
does the flickr link for for anyone ?
As a daily reader of this, and an evening listener of Richard Bacon,just how nice was it for me to end the day yesterday with both of you?
Lovely.
This blog's recommended in the Guardian today, I noticed over my breakfast...
The link the guardian gave (tv scoop or something) doesn't work though.
sorry, but thats clearly steve lamacq on bass there. when did he shave his head?
It looks a lot of fun and the singers are pretty glamorous too. Perhaps a world tour is on the cards!
This got my attention at the time, my favourite drumming footage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL2cEbyzOOI
Think you should do the song next year, Andrew, if you're there.
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The link in the Guardian Guide seemed fine to me. (How nice of Johnny Dee to recommend the blog.) I guess that means one or two more people turning up to have a pop. Let's hope so.
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I searched for the story yesterday on the Guardian website and clicked on the link - it didn't work. Maybe it was just down temporarily or something. As a fan, any thoughts on the new Wu-Tang Clan album? (Read Guardian article on it -haven't heard album myself yet)
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[sigh] tedious and unfunny.
Anyway. can anyone use that flickr link ?
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Bloody hell, the blog's been taken over by children.
Apparently you have to be a member to access the Flickr photos. Sorry! (Didn't realise.)
Tristan : "Tiny looking tom you've got there."
Tiny Tom - how very seasonal!
I must admit that I came over to your blog today expecting to read something about the Led Zep gig AC.
Did you go? Even if you didn't I bet you know someone who did. Was it as good as everyone is saying?
I didn't go, no. Not terribly interested. (I'm interested in Led Zeppelin, but not in seeing them in 2007.)
Know what you mean. Felt the same about the Sex Pistols recent tour. I wasn't one of the 750,000 who claim to have seen them at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in 76, so the recent Mcr MEN concert did appeal... briefly.
However having seen Rilo Kiley at the Academy 3 back in August, and thoroughly enjoyed myself standing up and frugging like the old days, I vowed never to set foot in a big venue ever again.
I just got a bit caught up in the Zep hysteria last night. You can't imagine all the major news networks covering them (or even knowing who they were) back in the mid 70s, but even Paxo signed off with Black Dog last night. Bit weird really.
And I think the drummer in Hard Fi (was there ever a more shameful waste of a recording contract?) is on thin ice when he questions the validity or the cost of buying a ticket to see Led Zep's (et al) return when his own band is... well, frankly shit.
Oldnathan: "Know what you mean. Felt the same about the Sex Pistols recent tour. "
I'm not sure that's such a good comparison to make though. I mean, the Sex Pistols were as much about an attitude, if not more so, than about songs and musicianship.
I can totally see Led Zepp, in their early 60s, still playing as well as they did in their 20s, and the songs are as good as ever.
Led Zepp don't need to be anti-establishment to work, which is why I think this recent concert worked. Sex Pistols getting back together just seems a bit sad in comparison.
Interesting question in terms of timing for me. I was 15 – just the right age I reckon to savour it all - when Punk got underway and the Sex Pistols probably mean more to me than Led Zep because of that. And obviously, for quite a number of years I was a Zep-refusnik anyway because of the ‘punk wars’ year zero policy, but came to appreciate them properly when I grew up a bit.
Which kind of backs up your argument I know. And I do take your point about Zep’s musicianship skills etc – although Jones and cook are way better than people give them credit for – but I just think both bands were truly only ‘great’, for whatever reason, around 3 decades ago. So, same difference for me.
And I really, really hate going to big venues now. So I just hope Sufjan Stevens doesn’t get too big for Manchester Academy before his next tour.
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