Sunday, February 10, 2008
Something In The Air
A special night for the DS3 at the Windmill in Brixton, our first foray into the legendary SW2 postcode. We got a really warm reception from a great crowd at the kind of old school pub venue that you used to find everywhere in London but which has now become something of an endangered species. Low, triangular stage in a corner, wooden floor, well-worn fixtures & fittings, generous, unspoilt vibe.
We were sharing the stage with Thunderclap Newman - the band famous for their song Something in the Air, a massive No.1 hit in 1969. Of the original guys who made the record only the keyboard player Andy "Thunderclap" Newman is still alive, which is tragic for those involved, but handy at least for the continuing maintenance of the brand name. Speedy Keen who wrote, sang and played drums on the song died in 2002, while Jimmy McCulloch, just 15 when he recorded the guitar parts, died in 1979 at the age of 26. (Actually, Pete Townshend, who played bass and produced the record, is still alive, but he was never a formal member of the group.)
Newman was already something of an eccentric in 1969. Now in his mid-sixties, he looks and acts as if he has recently escaped from the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. He has gathered an endearingly quirky bunch of talented, multi-national musicians around him, who were some of the friendliest people we have encountered on the circuit. They were great company and special thanks to Antonio for letting Drew use his kit.
I've got to say, that for me, part of the fun of this whole adventure is hooking up with characters like these and becoming a part of the loose fraternity of musicians that operate with continuing commitment and dignity, far from the commercial mainstream. Mind you, I'd like to become part of the fraternity that operates a little closer to the beating heart of the business, and to that end we are, of course, spreading the word about the Trio's new album, Threewheeling, available here solely through NovaTunes, the new, websmart record label based in California.
Four of the new tracks are now up on the MySpace page. And a new video of London Dust shot in the studio is on the way. George has seen it and says it is awesome. Surely, a breakthrough appearance on Later with Jools Holland cannot be far behind! We're available, guys! ¶ 7:56 pm
We were sharing the stage with Thunderclap Newman - the band famous for their song Something in the Air, a massive No.1 hit in 1969. Of the original guys who made the record only the keyboard player Andy "Thunderclap" Newman is still alive, which is tragic for those involved, but handy at least for the continuing maintenance of the brand name. Speedy Keen who wrote, sang and played drums on the song died in 2002, while Jimmy McCulloch, just 15 when he recorded the guitar parts, died in 1979 at the age of 26. (Actually, Pete Townshend, who played bass and produced the record, is still alive, but he was never a formal member of the group.)
Newman was already something of an eccentric in 1969. Now in his mid-sixties, he looks and acts as if he has recently escaped from the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. He has gathered an endearingly quirky bunch of talented, multi-national musicians around him, who were some of the friendliest people we have encountered on the circuit. They were great company and special thanks to Antonio for letting Drew use his kit.
I've got to say, that for me, part of the fun of this whole adventure is hooking up with characters like these and becoming a part of the loose fraternity of musicians that operate with continuing commitment and dignity, far from the commercial mainstream. Mind you, I'd like to become part of the fraternity that operates a little closer to the beating heart of the business, and to that end we are, of course, spreading the word about the Trio's new album, Threewheeling, available here solely through NovaTunes, the new, websmart record label based in California.
Four of the new tracks are now up on the MySpace page. And a new video of London Dust shot in the studio is on the way. George has seen it and says it is awesome. Surely, a breakthrough appearance on Later with Jools Holland cannot be far behind! We're available, guys! ¶ 7:56 pm
