Ghost Trains Album Launch @ Bad Apple Studios 28th January 2011

Article by John West

Image courtesy of Ghost Trains


It’s a bitterly cold night as I arrive at the studio located not far from the City Centre and pitch black as I approach the stairway to the inner sanctum, thinking to myself I hope the security light clicks in...it does. There’s a loud thudding rhythm emanating from the building as it vibrates the icey cold air, a band is coming to the end of their practice session at Bad Apple tonight. The nearby takeaway tantalises my senses reminding me that I’m hungry, its been a long day, having come straight from the day job and in need of replenishing the soul, but alas music is the food of love tonight, I can get the physical sustenance later. I switch off and will deal with that later as I ascend the steps to find shadowy figures at the summit, I say hello enquiring where the band are – “they’re along the corridor mate” as I make way for musicians exiting with guitar cases, amps and kit.

I walk along the top floor and hear the sound of the Stones greatest ever song “Gimme shelter” oozing from behind a curtained doorway. The song itself is a perfect entrance for me as I escape the biting icicle tentacle fingers of Jack Frost outside as he spreads his gossamer chilly blanket across the streets and hidden corners of Staffordshire and beyond.. I make my introduction to the band and receive a warm welcome. The room is a glow with candles enhancing the relaxed atmosphere however we all acknowledge the fact that it is very, very cold tonight.

I accept their hospitality as we situate ourselves in a quiet corner of the room complete with a portable heater! A candle is lit as we begin and exchange a few pleasantries, making me feel very much at home as I explain it will be more a brief chat about the band and the new release as I don’t wish to impose as they prepare for the evening launch. So who are Ghost Trains? Well there is the principal songwriter Tim Ellis, guitar and vocals (who also runs Bad Apple rehearsal rooms); Elijah Wolfenheart, lead guitar and piano and the bands newest member percussionist Greg Wood. We discuss the music and how I’m new to their sounds but having been very much impressed by what I’ve heard so far.

It’s not really a question and answer session I just want it to be relaxed so I can get a flavour of what the band are about. I banter with them discussing other musicians, music generally and I express my own thoughts on where I feel they’re coming from . Elijah and myself talk about guitarists, Americana folk/blues and alternate tunings naming Nick Drake, John Fahey, John Martyn, Davy Graham and Robby Krieger amongst others. I mention that I hear echoes of a number of influences amongst the recordings – the Beatles (acoustic stuff), Richard Ashcroft, Difford and Tillbrook, CSNY, the Buffalo Springfield. Acoustic Magazine recently cited the Finn Brothers and the Eagles as a source but there is more to this band to my ears, I hear a lot more from within these recordings.

I mention to Tim that I feel that the songs seem very personal and that they resonate certain feelings within oneself and certainly hit home to the listener, touching on themes which we can all identify with, ‘Set in stone’, ‘Dark clover’ ‘Love is dead’ and ‘Angel Heights’ resonate perfectly for me; they are quite simply beautiful songs - goosebumpy, in fact. They delve deeper with the song ‘Godfather’ the song is almost spiritual, with a subtle piano from Eli complimenting the guitars. Is it a questioning? A re-awakening of our consciousness? I’ll let you come to your own conclusions. These songs hit on all levels as you absorb the serenity, sentiment and feelings of the human psyche contained within. Yeah its deep I guess, and Eli is upbeat about this, taking it in his stride yet being very humble at the same time as are the rest of the band.

The new self produced album ‘Sniffing round L.A.’ is now playing in the background as other guests arrive. The title itself reflecting a previous visit to the States to promote and gig their rootsy harmonic music. Percussionist Greg informs me that he’s come from a more rock based background with a grungier edge so it’s quite a departure for him to be involved in a more stripped down affair having only joined a mere six months ago. The opening track on the album is ‘Michael Caine’ a song which they first performed together as the new line up - the concept of less is more is their working ethic as they gelled together to perform the new songs and take the band to new horizons. Tim echoes that it was a natural progression from their 2010 debut ‘Where Lovers Die’ although some of the tracks had been around for a long time before being recorded and being heard by a wider audience. This certainly paid off for Ghost Trains as they appeared at the Acoustic Festival of Britain last year and were described as “the highlight of the whole event” by Acoustic Magazine. High praise indeed for one of our own home grown talents.

As with their previous recordings everything is done at their base here at Bad Apple with Tim as producer, a DIY ethic which has to be admired. It very much reminds me of the Independents of yesteryear when music lovers actually went to record shops excited by a new release and physically held the record in their hands, admiring everything about it from the artwork to the music being taken from within its sleeve and placed on the record player. You don’t get that buzz with a download folks!

I take my leave to mingle with the guests as the band make their final preparations for a mini gig of sorts, just a handful of songs. Interestingly as I chat we talk about the band and bizarrely the Staffordshire delicacy that is the Oatcake, there’s a bakery nearby, must have heard my stomach rumbling. A debate ensues, what is the best sauce to top said delicacy - the UK favourite “HP” or a particular supermarket brand , I quip there’s only one way to find out “Fight!”. What’s this got to do with rock ‘n’ roll you shout , nothing really but we all have to eat ha ha and it passes the time as we wait. We are ushered into a small room close by as the band decide its too cold to be in the larger one and this is cosier and even more intimate.

Tim and Eli spark off each other as they wait for a friend to appear, Tim takes control and starts his introduction thanking everyone for turning up quipping that we’d only come for the free beer. Eli is to his right clutching his guitar and warming up, Greg sits atop his beatbox with his trusty percussion at hand. They perform the afore mentioned ‘Michael Caine’ it is simply mesmerising to witness this, Tim’s voice is emotive and powerful, filling the room as the guitar interplay is a joy to behold as Greg keeps percussive rhythm at the back. It really is an unplugged session tonight, just instruments and vocal harmonies.

Next up is a song from their debut called ‘Miss Emily’ as Tim introduces it as the song to which Andy Hughes of Acoustic Magazine has recently placed in pole position of a top ten list of the all time best acoustic songs ever! They’re in esteem company here, placed above the likes of the Beatles ‘You’ve got to hide you love away’, Neil Young’s ‘After the Goldrush’, Crosby Stills Nash and Young ‘Helpless’ and the Stones ‘Angie’ to name but a few. Tim jokingly says its all bollocks but is honoured by the praise I’m sure, he is sincere in the support they’re getting from the magazine as is the rest of the band. What follows next is “the cheesey pop song” as they put it, not me, called ‘Liar’ which apparently is being played nonstop on a Russian radio show. Their appeal is certainly growing beyond Stoke and appropriately the weather reflects those Russian climbs. Tim shamefully plugs the new album, “It’s on sale tonight folks. You had the free beer so buy a copy”. I like this approach, and as his former kitchen salesman pitch is highlighted by Eli. Someone shouts out “you never sold any of them either”.

They conclude the evening with another personal highlight of mine from the new release ‘Deathdance’ again the vocal harmonies are to the fore with some wonderful intricate guitar and subtle vibrant percussion. So there you have it, I felt privileged to have been there it was the perfect antidote for what had been a challenging few weeks for me personally it certainly lifted my spirits as do the songs. Ghost Trains are currently out on tour across the country and will be off to Russia in April, appearing at UK festivals in the summer. You can catch them locally at Fat Cat Cafe Bar, in May. Their appeal is getting global with a possible return visit to the States in the Summer too, from the Bad Apple studios SoT, near Forest Park to the Big Apple Central Park NYC who knows where they’ll be over the next 12 months. Let this album become the soundtrack to your lives, it’s already a serious contender for one of the albums of the year for me and we haven’t even started yet. I strongly recommend you buy a copy.

Listen Ghost Trains

Friday Street / Skinny Pigs @ The Sugarmill 28th January 2011

Review by Liam Kelly

Main support for tonight’s show came from one of Stokes newest and youngest bands, Friday Street. The boys looked pretty nervous and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but these boys are something special! Frontman Rhys Oakes is one of the most talented musicians I have seen for a long time and his versatility alone is enough to see this band onto big things. Dan Hyatt provides assertive bass guitar to give the band a unique sound and steady grounding. ‘Expectations’ was the strongest track of an impressive set and the techno mixture of Rhys on Keys and Ashley Arnolds on drums gave Friday Street a sound similar of that of Editors or Klaxons. Other notable tracks including ‘Cowboy song’ and crowd favourite ‘Hey soldier.’ I’ve been told that this was only the third gig for Friday Street, watch this space as they are a band bursting onto the local music scene with a bang.

Headliners Skinny Pigs entered the stage to a near sell out crowd; word is defiantly spreading about the quality of their music. Not a band to mess around, the Pigs kicked straight into an explosive hour long set with ‘I never listen.’ Tonight though was all about new Skinny Pigs and the three new tracks they played just prove how far this band have come, keeping their britrock northern guitar genre but showing a more melodic side to their music. ‘I’ve got a fever’ and ‘Drinkin up’ see frontman Craig Patterson at his best, showing a different side to his onstage antics and bringing out a stronger style of vocals. ‘Leave me alone’ sees the furious cymbal crashing drums of Jake Cunningham and Ben Nixons heavy bass stamp complete authority through the track. The bands strongest track and arguably their calling card ‘Best in me’ sent the crowd into a frenzy, much to Craig’s delight (he worked up the crowd as if it was Wembley arena). He’s a frontman with a real passion and never fails to put on a show, and with guitarists Sam Hardy and Lee Swindells, Skinny Pigs offer some serious amp smashing riffage. Finishing the night with ‘Wish you were here,’ The Sugarmill is the scene of chaos and the band clearly enjoy this and all throw themselves to the top of the bass boxes and receive rapturous applause from the crowd. A great start to the year, 2011 is maybe a make or break year for Skinny Pigs, and I expect them to achieve big things. Be sure to check out the link below for their new music video, ‘Best in Me.’

Watch

Skinny Pigs

Julian Cope @ The Slade Rooms Wolverhampton 14th December 2010

Review by John West

The Slade Rooms is a wonderful little venue paying homage to their local heroes which are of course the legendary Slade. The bar area is adorned with old photos of Noddy and the boys during their glory years. As I’m looking around they bought back for me some wonderful memories of one of my first ever musical heroes and first ever gig I attended way back in musical history when the land was awash with glitter and sequins. Oh happy days before the drudgery of eventually entering the big wild world in a couple of years time. Anyway, enough of nostalgia alley; what of tonight’s gig? Yeah, it is one of going down back on my own rock n roll journey recalling the times I’d seen Mr Cope over the years particularly of seeing the Teardrops for the first time and the excitement I felt about it. Both The Teardrops and the Bunnymen came out of the Liverpool, Zoo records scene and were way ahead of the pack in musical terms. They were great to listen too and terrific live bands too.

A week ago I saw the Bunnymen at the Ritz so it was a strange one that I should being seeing Copey tonight, 1980 became 2010 a thirty year journey from then and now and back again.

As the soundman quells the sounds a dimming of lights precedes the entrance of Mr Julian H Cope larger than life appearing as charismatic as ever. He promises an evening of songs proceeding with a spoken unaccompanied “Socrates” before reaching for his twelve string guitar and hitting “Upwards of 45degrees” before a favourite of mine which follows – “Autogedden Blues". He talks about being simply the minstrel tonight with guitar and mellotron to his side it is a one man show which he more than pulls off for the next couple of hours.

It's more than just music with Julian Cope as he brings to the mix his own take on life and beyond, always leaving you with room for thought, yet at the same time there is humour, a self awareness a greater understanding of the man. I guess much of the audience go way back and have appreciated his music and get where it’s coming from. However, there were a few tonight who seemed to like the sound of their voices too much, annoying those close by as well as JC himself – why go to a gig and talk crap to your mate all night? Unfortunately we’re getting this more and more.. Just watch the gig you p..... !

He is a real presence on stage adorning a cosmic biker military concept with his regular over sized shades. He appears like a being from another time and space with his mantra type stance as he addresses the audience. As a musician and songwriter he commands respect but also as a raconteur he comes into his own as he touches on a number of subjects such as the student protests urging our support to out there concepts such as psychedelic talking wasps, a séance involving his wife, it can be serious, yet humorous.

As for the music he takes us on a back catalogue touching on his old band the Teardrops to his solo outings among the highlights are “King of chaos”, ”Like Leila Kaled said”, and an epic “The Great Dominions” which was a real treat to these ears. Julian Cope has had many musical trials and tribulations over the last thirty years of hurt as he said. However he continues to inspire and be a cult icon for his legion of fans. As he continues to take us through the solo years we are treated to a number of Cope gems including a buoyant sing-a-long of “Sunspots”, “Pristeen”, Robert Mitchem” “Double Vegetation” a new song “In the underworld”? He concludes the night with “Sleeping Gas” as the support act David Wrench et al take up their instruments. This is a full band onslaught not the stripped down effect laden vibes of earlier, providing a suitable end to a great night and for this year of gigs; a night of thorough enjoyment as well as reflection. It’s been some time since Julian Cope has played in this part of Staffordshire let’s hope he will make a welcome return and give an appreciative local audience a truly real musical experience.

Recommended:Teardrop Explodes; Kilimanjaro (remastered edition)

Julian Cope; Fried, Peggy Suicide, CITIZEN CAINed, Floored Genius Series

>

Primal Scream perform Screamadelica @ Olympia London, 27th November

Review by John West

This was an eagerly anticipated event for me, having seen the Scream on numerous occasions, but this was the BIG one, big in all proportions from vastness of the stage, to the lighting, projections and huge video screens. Prior to our arrival it was bitterly cold as we left the coach in Knightsbridge, I must say thanks to the driver for allowing us to do that. There were Christmas celebrations in Oxford circus and the Capital was ground to a halt, I began to ask myself would we arrive in time for the concert. A quick word and we were given the all clear from National Express control to hit the streets and be on our way. Busy it was too, as the traffic meandered its way through the glistening glittering streets of London town.

Mission number one - to find a welcoming hostelry to quench the thirst and meet up with fellow fans who had travelled far and wide. The venue itself is a cavernous affair holding 10 thousand, and 20 thousand fans would witness over two nights Primal Scream’s biggest gigs to date. This was to be a celebration of an album which hits it’s 20th anniversary next year and the first time it would be performed in its’ entirety. The previous night the concert was beamed across the airwaves on BBC6 with Steve Lamacq holding court wetting our appetites for the event to come. The audience were clearly here as music fans of one of the most important albums of the last twenty years and a classic in its own right, certainly ranked amongst one of the greats, and in certainly their finest hour.

Within moments of entering the massive arena the band hit the stage to perform a first half of hits

including ‘Accelerator’, ‘Burning wheel’ ‘Country girl’ ‘Kowalski’ ‘Jailbird’ .On stage Bobby Gillespie throws his spider like shapes clad in his obligatory black suit, madly clapping, as the ever beaming Mani throbs his bass lines to his right. They work the faithful keeping them warm with their assault, then they lunge into the anthemic ‘Rocks’ from the ‘Give out...’ album but call a brief halt as Mani and guitarist Andrew Innes mess up, Gillespie asks the band to stop wryly quipping as the crowd sing along stating they know the words better than they do. They kick in again this time getting it right exchanging humorous glances towards each other across the stage.

An interval follows as Andy Weatherall hits the mixing desk to throw in some sounds to reflect the mood of the evening as the band take a break in preparation for the main event. Weatherall was responsible for some of the production of the album adding ambience and texture to the initial recording, therefore its only right that he should share in the glory tonight.

As the lights dim the familiar backdrop of the Screamadelica album cover is there in all its glory as the familiar Stonesy riffing of ‘Moving on up’ is belted out. The crowd are ecstatic as this is what they came for; this is a celebration of a great musical moment. Whereas some bands have rested on their laurels Primal Scream has continued to push the musical boundaries embracing all genres and soaking it up like a musical sponge. This is not merely a night of nostalgia its highlighting what is a masterful recording, and to hear it live in its entirety it works on all levels and beyond taking the audience higher than the sun for the experience.

Primal Scream has been together for well over twenty odd years with the ever controversial Gillespie at the forefront. They’ve taken on board all their eclectic musical tastes from the garage sounds of MC5, the Stooges, via the swagger of the younger Stones through to punk then embracing the ‘Krautrock’ of Neu and here with this airing the sounds of dub, coupled with acid house vibes and beats. It is the moment where the indie rock audience of all ages fused with the ravers of the chemical generation. Everybody wanted to dance and groove along whatever their personal musical bent, a unison of sound and vision. It’s a testament to the Screamadelica album that it cuts across all the musical snobbery that goes on, the rock kids were allowed to dance after all, they had moved to the dance floor.

Gillespie and co are first and foremost music fans themselves, they simply acknowledge what they hear and bring to the mix a sound that is very much their own. They are a true rock band, a gang, a collective who have led a much documented hedonistic lifestyle, but they have the ability to deliver here tonight they do not let us down. It is not a simple run through, the band have rehearsed this to maximum effect replicating the original and taking it even further, much to our delight.

The original running order has been mashed up and despite it being a massive venue for them, the sound fills every corner of the arena. With added vocals from the extremely impressive Mary Pierce and the addition of a wonderful gospel choir for added effect they can do no wrong. The climatic airing of ‘Loaded’ and ‘Come Together’ emphasises the point, the band have taken the time and space to deliver on all levels, with the psychedelic backdrops, hi tech lighting, and great musicianship the audience are left overwhelmed by their sheer power and majesty. Screamadelica won the inaugural Mercury music prize, it’s debt is somewhat owed to the masterful production and mixing qualities of both Jimmy Miller and Andy Weatherall, the music however is pure Primal Scream.

If you haven’t got this in your record collection you need to. This band don’t hide behind stylists they are pure rock n roll they are the Xtrmntrs of the Xfactor wannabes. Thank goodness we have bands like them who are original and groundbreaking , they continue to reinvent the rock ‘n’ roll rule book with their innovation and influence on a musical landscape which sadly currently is more concerned about the look and celebrity status – to coin a familiar phrase “just what is it that you want do?”

Primal Scream will be taking to the road in Spring at smaller venues across the country, get inside the house while you can. The album itself will be re-released and re-mastered for a March release with extras.

Listen

Screamadelica

Dirty Hits