tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-166155782024-03-14T00:46:26.788+00:00PEPPERMINT IGUANABACK STAGE AT PEPPERMINT IGUANA HQ: Gigs, Festivals, Parties, CDs, Books, Protests, travels, photography and Cardiff City FCClint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.comBlogger324125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-83922845120869084742012-03-05T17:42:00.003+00:002012-03-05T17:51:00.985+00:00The Peppermint Iguana Radio Show Number 12: what's coming up on the dirty dozen?<a href="http://www.anders-fischer.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/the_dirty_dozen-290x300.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 290px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.anders-fischer.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/the_dirty_dozen-290x300.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="mso-bidi-;font-family:Arial;" >Yep, it’s a Peppermint Iguana Tuesday this week.</span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-;font-family:Arial;" >Two weeks is a long time in the world of rock and roll and we can confirm that the rift between John and Clint over the play list mix up is now almost healed. The problem is, he was as a little ‘tired and emotional’ (wrecked) when he gave Clint this weeks play list to sort out and he was shouting numbers instead of words – so if there are any mistakes this week, it will be his fault. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="mso-bidi-;font-family:Arial;" >Clint’s Play List</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-;font-family:Arial;" > – will include US pre-punk legends <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">The MC5</b>, a new track from the forthcoming <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">The Skints</b> album, prolific DJ/Producer <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Gaudi</b>, </span>New England's Indie/West-African Psychadelic Funk darlings <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Barika</b>, an interesting remix from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Subsource</b>, me usual ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">old skool punk’</i> slot, me ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">when indie meant something’</i> slot and a new ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">music from the movies’</i> slot.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Silver John’s Play List</b> – will include festival legends <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">The Tofu Love Frogs</b>, the band that launched a thousand flat tops <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">- Theatre Of hate</b>, Joe Strummers pre-clash pub rock outfit <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">The 101ers</b>, Reggae from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Big Youth</b>, soul from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">The Impressions</b> and his ever so clever ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">original and cover back to back’</i> slot.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Of course, this is just a taster to whet your appetite, there will, as ever, be loads more treats for you heads hearts and feets</p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, log on to <a href="http://www.dapperfm.co.uk/">www.dapperfm.co.uk</a> from 8pm on Tuesday 6<sup>th</sup> March, set fire to the telly, get naked and dance like nobody is watching.<span style="mso-bidi-;font-family:Arial;" ></span><br /></p>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-71525957407608002612012-02-21T23:04:00.000+00:002012-03-05T17:08:27.962+00:00RADIO SHOW NUMBER ELEVEN: "I didn't bloody want that song!"<a href="http://i2.listal.com/image/1415511/600full-the-odd-couple-screenshot.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 314px; height: 328px;" src="http://i2.listal.com/image/1415511/600full-the-odd-couple-screenshot.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Irony of ironies, after going to great lengths to keep the songs on the play list short so we could actually play everything, for technical reasons we don’t need to go into, the show before us ended early, meaning we ended up having to waffle to pad the show out for an extra three minutes. But hey, which ever way you look at it we finally got to play 28 songs. <p>Actually, that is not quite the whole picture, that should mean we played 14 each, but in fact due to a break down in communication, one of Johns songs turned into one of mine, in that there was a misunderstanding about which Flowered Up track got played, so we played my favourite, not Johns. The playful banter nearly turned into full on fisticuffs behind the scenes. Oops, sorry john,</p> <p>Anyway, other than that the show went swimmingly and Vince, our Dapper FM virgin of the week, thought it was groovy. </p> To find out exactly what we did play <a href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/radio.html#show11">GO HERE</a>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-18061312046025241032012-02-18T10:05:00.005+00:002012-02-18T10:10:25.945+00:00What's coming up on show number eleven? (a teaser)<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/images/WILDBILLYCHILDISH.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 457px;" src="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/images/WILDBILLYCHILDISH.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Wild Billy Childish and the Musicians of the Brithish Empire</span><br /></div><br />Clint will be running with one of his irregular themes this week, in the shape of a play list where every band has ‘and the’ in the title. Artists will include <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Slaughter <span style="font-style: italic;">and the</span> Dogs, Doctor <span style="font-style: italic;">and the</span> Medics, Booker T <span style="font-style: italic;">and the</span> MGs, Sexton Ming <span style="font-style: italic;">and the</span> Diamond Gussets, Jello Biafra <span style="font-style: italic;">and the</span> Guantanamo School of Medicine</span> and many more. Clever eh? Tune in to see if you can guess some of the other bands he has chosen (<span style="font-style: italic;">Note - do <span style="font-weight: bold;">not </span>expect to hear Dianna Ross and the Supremes)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GO TO <a href="http://www.dapperfm.co.uk/">DAPPER FM</a> FROM 8 TILL 10 ON TUESDAY 21st FEBRUARY</span>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-56701853735714563442012-02-07T23:07:00.000+00:002012-02-14T17:12:22.906+00:00The Peppermint Iguana Radio Show Number 10: THE WANDERER RETURNED<a href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/images/radioclintbig.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 800px;" src="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/images/radioclintbig.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;"><span style=" ;font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;" >The wanderer returned this week, after skiving off to watch Cardiff City secure a place in the league Cup Final two weeks ago, the silver one was back at the controls (well, sat near a mike anyway). After several weeks of arguing about the pros of playing long tracks (and the cons of not playing them), we came up with a play list that allowed us to play 27 of our 28 track play list. Yeah!</span></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;"><span style=" ;font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;" >Unfortunately, we need to apologise to Spiderbait for forgetting to tell people it was them covering Black Betty, and we own an apology to Chaz’s son Hunter, for referring to him as Chaz’s little girl. Other than that it went like a dream. The full play list, together with links to find out more about the bands can be found here <a title="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/radio.html#SHOW10" href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/radio.html#SHOW10">http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/radio.html#SHOW10</a>.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;"><span style=" ;font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;" >Included in the links you will note links to Efa Supertramp’s soundcloud, where you can download a shed load of her music for nout and if you go to the Sonic Boom Six website and join their mailing list, you will be able to download their acoustic EP, again, gratis. </span></span></p><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;"><span style=" ;font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;" ></span></span><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;"><span style=" ;font-family:Calibri;font-size:12pt;" >Oh – and thanks to captain paranoid (Chaz) for donating some radio artwork for the website. You is a diamond geezer</span></span>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-74468479612454643302012-02-05T20:00:00.005+00:002012-02-05T20:13:20.096+00:00What's coming up on show number ten?<a href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/images/eskimoradio.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 371px;" src="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/images/eskimoradio.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Well folks, as the winter finally lands, the ‘Artist Formerly Known as The Ginger Peppermint Iguana Radio DJ’ returns to the fold after his week off to watch the Bluebirds fly, to warm the cockles of your hearts. And yes, you heard that right; we are ten shows old this week!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Clint’s Play List</span><br />Bands to feature in my play list this week include; Spiderbait, The Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad, Sick Note, Captain Paranoid, Baka Beyond and Sonic Boom Six. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now, despite considering myself to be an old punk, amazingly, nine shows in and I have not played any old school punk yet. I will be putting this right this week with a new ‘old school punk rock’ segment and will be kicking it off this week with Manchester’s Satan’s Rats. I will also be kicking off a new ‘When indie meant independent, not some vague style of guitar music’ segment with The Pale Fountains.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">John’s Play List</span><br />Meanwhile, our part time presenter, Badly Drawn John, will be digging out his usual collection of oldies, including The Wailers (60s American garage band not in the least connected with Bob Marley) Richard Hell and the Voidoids, John Cooper Clarke, The Shamen and R Dean Taylor</p> <p class="MsoNormal">As usual, you can tune in by logging on to <a href="http://www.dapperfm.co.uk/" title="http://www.dapperfm.co.uk/">www.dapperfm.co.uk</a> from 8 till 10pm. With night time temperatures due to drop to -5C on Tuesday night*, what better way to spend the evening than in front of the computer with ya hemp rug wrapped around you and a glass of mulled cider in your hand?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And of course, the full play list will appear on <a href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/radio.html" title="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/radio.html">http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/radio.html</a> a few hours later.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">*NB – this forecast only applies to our UK listeners – our fan clubs in Bulgaria, South Africa, Colombia, Greece, Franc, Australia and Sw**sea will have to check their own bleedin forecasts!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-74339882585424291732012-02-05T11:07:00.001+00:002012-02-05T11:09:17.303+00:00Too Hard BasketOk - its dating back to 2001, but Witts reposted it today and it is the first time we have heard it. Awesome - Iguana HQ is rocking to it today!<br /><br />It is a solo project from Spiderbait Drummer Witts<br /><a href="http://soundcloud.com/whittsolostuff/sets/too-hard-basket?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=blogger&utm_content=http://soundcloud.com/whittsolostuff/sets/too-hard-basket">Too Hard Basket</a><br /><br /><iframe src="http://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fplaylists%2F1586610&show_artwork=true" width="100%" frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no"></iframe>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-61972085398081162002012-01-24T23:05:00.000+00:002012-01-29T15:08:23.532+00:00RADIO SHOW NUMBER NINE: Ginger John's stunt double unveiled<a href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/images/PETE-THE-PUNK.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 367px;" src="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/images/PETE-THE-PUNK.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="style114">This week’s show was a little bit different. The Artist Formerly Known as Ginger John went to watch Cardiff city secure a place at Wembley for the league Cup Final, so we had a special guest stunt double type bloke drop in – in the shape of Pete ‘the punk’ Crews, Branch Secretary with Rhondda Cynon Taff UNISON.</span> </span><h2 style="font-weight: normal;font-family:arial;" class="style106 style112" align="left"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="style114">Why did we pick him? what did he play? Answers to all of these questions and more <a href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/radio.html#show9">can be found here</a></span></span></h2>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-48148968295358769872012-01-08T18:43:00.004+00:002012-01-08T19:20:17.465+00:00A taste of peppermint.. What's coming up this week<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciF8D7vpZvpwsM0C9nbydq9hWTSg_Cqt9835WyLPNRYa8X3lCmLjpKFqSTQRsSkTgxg1y85CGcV2P5tjpTixPXI6hqqN7AOPHdle5AomeueNMvcWjV0FeMX3_Yniv6BL9AJbNlg/s1600/2012worldsend.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 381px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciF8D7vpZvpwsM0C9nbydq9hWTSg_Cqt9835WyLPNRYa8X3lCmLjpKFqSTQRsSkTgxg1y85CGcV2P5tjpTixPXI6hqqN7AOPHdle5AomeueNMvcWjV0FeMX3_Yniv6BL9AJbNlg/s400/2012worldsend.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695336694464312546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;font-family:Arial;" >Yes folks, 2012 is finally with us. There are various interpretations as to what might happen this year. Some believe the world will come to an end; some believe the Earth and its inhabitants may undergo a positive physical or spiritual transformation and that 2012 may mark the beginning of a new era; some believe that Cardiff City will be promoted to the premiership. The only thing that is certain is that the Peppermint Iguana Radio Show will carry on regardless – even if the world comes to an end</span><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;" >.</span> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Calibri;font-family:Arial;" >NEXT PEPPERMINT IGUANA RADIO SHOW: 8PM, TUESDAY 10<sup>TH</sup> JAN</span></b><b><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;" >UARY 2012.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;" >Clint</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;font-family:Arial;" > will be taking a break from his themes this week and will be catching up on some recently released tracks and a few gems that you may have missed in recent years that your life will not b</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;font-family:Arial;" >e complete without (and if the world is coming to an end we better get them in quick). His selection will include the blues rock of Aberdare’s <a href="http://www.henrysfuneralshoe.com/">Henry’s Funeral Shoe</a>, funky 12 piece brass from <a href="http://www.renegadebrassband.com/">Renegade Brass Band</a> (<i>playing a benefit for the Kebele Social centre this week</i>), militantly work shy drum and </span><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;" >bass (literally) from <a href="http://sicknote.tv/">Sick Note</a>, Colombian latin dub in the shape of <a href="http://www.frentecumbiero.com/hola/DubMeCrazy/">Frente Cumbiero</a> (<i>thanks to our Colombian listener Gareth from bringing these to our attention</i>), some old classic grunge rock from <a href="http://www.pro-rock.com/">Clutch</a> and <a href="http://www.pitchshifter.com/"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Pitch Shifter</a> and a special Balkan treat for our mate Tom who has been ill in Bulgaria since our last show.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;" >The Artist Formerly known as Ginger John</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;font-family:Arial;" > will be sticking with the tried and tested for</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;font-family:Arial;" >mula of classic hidden gems including reggae legends <a href="http://steelpulse.com/">Steel Pulse</a> , <a href="http://www.stranglers.net/">the Stranglers</a> (need we say more?), ex Last Shadow Pup</span><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;" >pets and Rascals front man <a href="https://www.mileskane.com/">Miles Kane</a>, classic <a href="http://www.pparnold.com/">PP Arnold</a>, and the wacky <a href="http://www.sultansofping.com/">Sultans of Ping FC</a>, plus few newbies - including a demo hot off the mixing desk from <a href="http://www.thebleedinnoses.com/">The Bleeding Noses</a>. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri;font-family:Arial;" >We will also be keeping you updated with the scores on the doors with Cardiff City Carling Cup Semi Final first leg against Crystal Palace – yes folks, that is how com</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;font-family:Arial;" >mitted to you we are, we will be missing the game to keep the show coming at ya. Our man Blue Mist will be texting direct from th</span><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;" >e terraces (<span style="font-style: italic;">if we are feeling adventurous we might even risk a phone in!)</span><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;" >To listen to the show</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;font-family:Arial;" > go to <a href="http://www.dapperfm.co.uk/" title="http://www.dapperfm.co.uk/">http://www.dapperfm.co.uk/</a> … we will be on from 8pm (that’s GMT for our international listeners). If you fancy tuning in a bit early though Steve Goodie, a fellow Cardiff City fan, will be playing some ‘bangin’ dance choons’ to warm you up from</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;font-family:Arial;" > 6pm</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;" >For past play lists and stuff</span></b><span style="font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;" > go to <a href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/radio.html" title="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/radio.html">http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/radio.html</a> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;" >IGUANA RECCOMENDS</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;font-family:Arial;" >.. <b>Friday 13<sup>th</sup> January</b>, Black Swan Bristol - Renegade Brass Band, the Sporadics (punk/dub) and a French swing funk outfit called Fantazio (benefit for Kebele Social centre, Bristle) <a href="http://kebelesound.wordpress.com/" title="http://kebelesound.wordpress.com/">http://kebelesound.wordpress.com/</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri;font-family:Arial;" ><a href="http://kebelesound.wordpress.com/" title="http://kebelesound.wordpress.com/"></a></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjOhqA5MAGMOnEp2jHoUy6QpuoswFyjJxgF1JFPeeCUJMa28PZ6aIVoQUVcqH_1E9Ry8J4FXOz6pG2CprpsVtfvtvSJ6o7Zs9Q6IMrci8a8PpM5o63T3DfaC32vTJpN601jOmuw/s1600/kebele-poster-colour-web.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjOhqA5MAGMOnEp2jHoUy6QpuoswFyjJxgF1JFPeeCUJMa28PZ6aIVoQUVcqH_1E9Ry8J4FXOz6pG2CprpsVtfvtvSJ6o7Zs9Q6IMrci8a8PpM5o63T3DfaC32vTJpN601jOmuw/s400/kebele-poster-colour-web.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695336701918125650" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-70555439714554496572011-12-27T23:43:00.000+00:002012-01-02T19:46:18.916+00:00The Peppermint Iguana Radio Show number 7 : THE ONE THAT WENT PEAR SHAPED<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/images/double-facepalm.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/images/double-facepalm.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>Well it had to happen sooner or later. After several weeks of being trusted to run the show without anyone else in the studio looking over our shoulder, the wheels finally came off – big time. <p>It started so well, we managed to get in to the studio without getting stuck up the chimney, we uploaded the necessary music in record time, the show was going like a dream then all of a sudden, with no explanation, it all went pear shaped and the computer started playing five different tunes at the same time before grinding to an unexpected halt. We still do not know what went wrong. </p> <p>Eventually Eggy managed to get his pants back on, pull up his trousers and rush down to the studio to get things back on track – but only after going through a re-boot of the entire system (when we mess up, we mess up big time!).</p> <p>We did manage to play over an hour of music before it went wrong, Clint continued with his theme of mates and John joined in the theme idea, playing a strictly reggae selection.<br /></p><p style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/radio.html#show7">This is what we did play…. </a></p>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-37784252932060298092011-12-15T23:39:00.002+00:002012-01-02T19:42:44.037+00:00The Peppermint Iguana Radio Show number 6 THE INVITE YA MATES ROUND FOR A PARTY SHOW<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/images/FADERONE.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/images/FADERONE.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />With the winter solstice almost upon us, this week Clint decided that he would be running with the theme of ‘invite ya mates around for a party’, and only played tracks by bands he knows personally. John, on the other hand, stuck to the tried and tested old skool favourites<br /><a href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/radio.html#show6"><br />PLAY LIST HERE</a>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-34054696124142920882011-11-29T23:28:00.003+00:002012-01-02T19:43:15.206+00:00The Peppermint Iguana Radio Show number 5: THE STRIKE SPECIAL<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/images/dapperstrikecart.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/images/dapperstrikecart.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><strong>POWER TO THE PEOPLE: </strong>Yes folks, the country ground to a halt this week as two million public sector workers refused to go into work, manned picket lines, marched through town centres and did a bit of Christmas shopping in defence of their pensions. We here at Iguana HQ kicked things off early with an eve of strike radio show on Tuesday night and the track listing is as follows <p>This week we flew solo for the first time, with our illustrious studio manager and technical adviser needing to have a lie down following a hard day drinking and chasing ‘ginger birds’ at a funeral. it wont be long before we are totally self sufficient!</p><p><a href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/radio.html#show5">PLAY LIST HERE</a><br /></p>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-12612926628215279872011-11-01T23:45:00.001+00:002011-11-06T13:48:01.860+00:00The traditional difficult third show<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/images/John_Peel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 184px;" src="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/images/John_Peel.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><strong><br />SHOW NUMBER THREE: Tuesday 1st November 2011. </strong>Despite dodgy headphones and a misplaced confidence to twiddle with knobs we should not be twiddling with, show three still managed to sound almost competent. A more disciplined approach to play listing meant we only had to cut two tracks of the show this week, but they will be slotted in to the next show. <p>We kicked off with a little tribute to John Peel who passed away seven years ago last week. Without him, all our play lists would be very different. We also paid tribute to him by making lots of technical mistakes in the show.</p><p><a href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/radio.html#show3">Play list here</a><br /></p>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-69630639755367988762011-10-19T19:16:00.001+01:002011-10-19T19:25:56.662+01:00SHOW TWO DONE AND DUSTED<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.arcticbeacon.com/greg/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/on_the_air.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.arcticbeacon.com/greg/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/on_the_air.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Well folks, that’s two shows under the belt and everything is starting to come together like a well oiled jigsaw. 'Learning curv'e is phrase of the week. A bit more rabbit between choons resulted in half a dozen tracks being lopped off the play list as we progressed, but lessons are being learnt – although John is still forgetting to shut down the mikes after the music has started.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri">Don’t know about you, but we are enjoying it and starting to wish we were doing it every week. Too many tunes, too little time and all that. We have some interesting requests in that we are going to fit into the show over the next few weeks, but they are going to have to fit in with the stuff we want to play, that is after all why we are doing it!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri">If you check out <a href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/radio.html#show2">the radio page on the Iguana website,</a> you will see we have already uploaded the play list from this week, which contains links to find out more about any of the bands featured.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am going to try to start concentrating on unsigned/self released stuff, whilst John is going to stick to playing from the archives. Although I am sure temptation will result in the odd variance from this.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-weight: bold;">NEXT SHOW: 1ST NOVEMBER</span><br /></span></p>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-87907864481466628662011-10-04T23:56:00.003+01:002011-10-16T00:03:58.389+01:00The Peppermint Iguana Radio Show launches<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/images/Family_listening_to_radio.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 323px;" src="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/images/Family_listening_to_radio.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">PEPPERMINT IGUANA RADIO SHOW SUCCESS SHOCK.</span> Well, nobody expected that, the Peppermint Iguana Radio Show burst into cyber space on 4th October like a drunk coming out of a pub, stumbled, got up then ran and ran sobering up as it went. We managed to break the station record for listeners (no, not the least listeners, the most) and we ended the evening with a big high five (although Eggy messed up the news link at the end - amateur) Face book is dead, long live having real friends!<br /><br />Was this a one off though, with people tuning in just cos it was the first show? Will people come back or be scared off? Will it sky rocket and get head hunters from big radio stations looking for us to sign us up, or will we have head hunters from Penywaun looking for us to beat us up?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SO WHAT DID WE PLAY?</span> We now have a page set up on the Peppermint Iguana website that gives details of when the next show is and what we played on the last show and answers all the other questions you might not have. Go to <a href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/radio.html">www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/radio.html</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">THE NEXT SHOW IS THIS TUESDAY (18th October) FROM 8pm TILL 10pm.</span> We are a little more organised this time and the play list will feature, among others, Dubrovnik, Tarantism, Tattsyrup, Bleedin’ Noses, Joe Gibbs, Major Lance, the Ethiopians, the Damned, King Blues, Crisis and Dub Trio. With first night nerves over and done with, we might even talk to each other. If you have any gig dates you want us to plug, let us know before Tuesday. Or failing that, e-mail us during the show studio@dapperfm.co.uk<br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style=" FONT-WEIGHT: bold;">CAN’T WAIT TILLTHE 18TH?</span></b></span> We are not the only show on Dapper FM you know, drop by and show some love for other DJs <a title="http://www.dapperfm.co.uk/" href="http://www.dapperfm.co.uk/">http://www.dapperfm.co.uk/</a> </p>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-42136131349117409922011-08-01T19:58:00.002+01:002011-08-01T20:01:05.169+01:00Cosmo's strikes again<span style="font-weight:bold;font-size:130%;" >Oh! To Be In England (Now the EDL's in Town)</span><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jeQm1RImEc0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="257" width="400"></iframe>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-49528665929452498172011-07-17T08:58:00.000+01:002011-07-17T09:00:29.392+01:00Goldie Lookin Chain Strike Again<iframe width="400" height="257" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dvuxYxmlfrc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-9390874040466239812011-07-09T12:36:00.003+01:002011-07-09T12:46:46.835+01:00Captain Ska Strikes Again!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Captain Ska strikes again with his third anti-cuts single. This time he looks back to the last Tory government and has a feeling of dejavu.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/o3yA7wiFqZ4" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="257" width="400"></iframe></p><p class="MsoNormal">For those that have missed, his previous singles are here<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BQFwxw57NBI" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="257" width="400"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6B_dVrA9AwE" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="257" width="400"></iframe><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">follow him on <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/CaptainSKA">TWITTER</a><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-40761530966631482952011-06-08T23:22:00.009+01:002011-06-10T19:42:57.140+01:0040 ODD OF ANOTHER KIND: Otway and Barret hit Cardiff<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe style="font-weight: bold;" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wkYOZyNocrw" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="330" width="400"></iframe><br /></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;" >In 1977, Polydor released ’20 of Another Kind’, a sampler of the then new phenomenon of punk rock – or new wave at it was then sometimes acceptable to be called. Hidden amongst bands like 999, the Lurkers and Sham 69 were two tracks by a gangly misfit known as John Otway and his then sidekick Wild Willy Barret. </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The two tracks were the A and B side of the single ‘Really Free’ and ‘Beware of the Flowers cos I’m Sure they’re Gonna Get You’. This single sky rocketed into the charts, back in the days when the charts meant something, to the giddy height of number 27.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Although this was a punk compilation, Otway and Barret were hardly from the classic punk mould – although the spirit of rebelliousness, originality and rule breaking seeped from every chord. The single had ‘novelty record’ or even ‘one hit wonder’ written all over it and it was clear this was not going to be a ‘band’ that would last – or was it?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTM849GVXKF1frZLQyGEH2vZ8sXsHQn5oQcxmDYNaB1Ss4fECECSP8SwGnwG7apOrPY-1ufSSldHJOc3wua_tnWO8fJ2tdK_0Ga777pPbbmEY17u0USdciH7tKMyxRkcxmSeQFg/s1600/2011_0608otwayandhalfterm0263.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTM849GVXKF1frZLQyGEH2vZ8sXsHQn5oQcxmDYNaB1Ss4fECECSP8SwGnwG7apOrPY-1ufSSldHJOc3wua_tnWO8fJ2tdK_0Ga777pPbbmEY17u0USdciH7tKMyxRkcxmSeQFg/s400/2011_0608otwayandhalfterm0263.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616654720262805010" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Punk rock came and went. Then we had post punk, mod and ska revivals, rave, grunge, brit pop, jungle, big beat and all manner of music trends that came and went, scrubbing the decks of the good ship rock and roll clean before setting out on their own voyage. Yet through all of this the unlikely pop star that was Otway clung on to the mast and weathered all musical storms that were thrown his way. He has never given up and has been touring constantly – although the name of the bloke that stands next to him on stage has changed several times.</span></p> <p style="text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Never quite equalling that early chart promise he steadily built up a cult following that eventually decided to give him a second hit for his 50<sup>th</sup> birthday by all appearing on one of his singles singing backing vocals and then getting their families to go out and buy it – thus hyping it into the charts.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Tonight, 34 years after that first hit and 40 years since his first gig, he is back with his old partner in crime, Wild Willy, and touring the nation once more.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">As we enter <a href="http://www.theglobecardiff.co.uk/">Cardiff’s Globe</a>, we find them both, not quite propping up the bar – but very close to it. After a quick introduction we head backstage for a chat bout the mad mad world that is Otway. We talk of crazy publicity stunts - like going around peoples houses to perform his single Frightened and Scared, getting his fans to vote his lyrics as the seventh best lyric of all time, and an attempt to tour the world taking his whole fan club with him in a chartered jumbo jet.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">(<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Interview to be uploaded to </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/">Iguana website</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> shortly</span></span>).</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">After some more bar propping up and dealing with autograph hunters, he and Willy eventually take to the stage to entertain the gathered masses.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">It is difficult to classify an Otway show. Part pop concert, part comedy show, part cabaret act – the whole thing just rips up the rule book and takes the audience on a death defying thrill ride.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The return of the prodigal Wily makes for a special vibe. He is the ying to Otway’s yang; his dry cynicism and lack of respect for Otway’s genius is matched only by Otway’s own self depreciation; his rack of many instruments, including balalaikas, banjos, guitars, fiddle, bagpipes and a wheelie bin, make up for Otway’s acoustic guitar and a Theremin; his nonchalant take everything in his stride attitude counters Otway’s undiminished child like enthusiasm and his mastery of any instrument he cares to pick up nicely compliments Otway’s – erm – enthusiasm.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The on stage rapport between them is pure comedy gold, Willy’s straight man bouncing off Otway’s court jester. It is such a good match it is difficult to comprehend how Otway has managed without him – although it has to be said he managed quite well – hence the cult following. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Tonight Barret manages to impress with fret board trickery, amaze with playing guitar and bagpipes at the same time and amuse with sawing a guitar in half and smashing it with a hammer – while still playing it (even Hendrix had to stop playing his guitar down when destroying it). Oh, and there was the wheelie bin thing – but I don’t want to spoil it for when you go to see them.</span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6ZduHZNOP2ibruwaVtmvEOsgQ65mwe4nRccCWZZkdCOoS8aLWW5Sc6XkZEvzw3AVQeD7Dt8nDZ2I-zlrdG_MgM98DqqvewP6Yp4TUmcpteiItyxG6umM7JwPy9yD7bvTIt1zOw/s1600/2011_0608otwayandhalfterm0280.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6ZduHZNOP2ibruwaVtmvEOsgQ65mwe4nRccCWZZkdCOoS8aLWW5Sc6XkZEvzw3AVQeD7Dt8nDZ2I-zlrdG_MgM98DqqvewP6Yp4TUmcpteiItyxG6umM7JwPy9yD7bvTIt1zOw/s400/2011_0608otwayandhalfterm0280.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616655023875057826" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Of course Willy is only half the act. Despite the self depreciation and jolly japery, Otway is something of a lyrical genius - who else could come up with “<em><span style="font-style: normal;font-family:Arial;" >Natasha you</span></em><i style="">'</i><em><span style="font-style: normal;font-family:Arial;" >re a smasher but you</span></em><i style="">'</i><em><span style="font-style: normal;font-family:Arial;" >re</span></em><i style=""> </i>working for<i style=""> </i><em><span style="font-style: normal;font-family:Arial;" >Russia</span></em><i style="">" -</i> and despite the comic approach to everything, what he does with the Theremin is actually very clever. You don’t get to fill the Albert Hall if you are crap as he makes himself out to be – which he aint.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">There have been books, rock operas (Cheryl) and fan club trips to Dunkirk. What next? Otway the movie (we kid you not). Watch this space.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >*Please note, no microphones were headbutted in the making of this blog</span><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></p>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-67909602962793630852011-05-07T23:10:00.002+01:002011-05-15T09:11:47.382+01:00Martin Harley Band - Drum rolls and green rooms<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://nordenfarm.org/cache/00000002982.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 420px; height: 280px;" src="http://nordenfarm.org/cache/00000002982.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal">Our first encounter with the <a href="http://www.martinharleyband.com/">Martin Harley Band</a> was six or seven years ago, late at night, at a festival. <a href="http://www.larmertreefestival.co.uk/">The Larmer Tree</a> was shutting down for the night, all the stages had closed down, the last of the revellers were off to bed and we were sat watching the food stalls closing up trying to squeeze what we could out of what was left of the night. Just as we were coming to the conclusion the night was over, three buskers turned up with a guitar, double bass and a cocktail drum kit. For the next hour we were served up a healthy portion of delta blues that made sure we went to bed happy.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Little did we know, this impromptu busking session would be the first of many gigs we would catch and that the Iguana CD collection would soon have to find a new section for the MHB.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Fast forward to 2011 and we are in very different circumstances – the plush and arty surroundings of <a href="http://www.courtyard.org.uk/">The Courtyard in Hereford</a>, where the latest incarnation of the Martin Harley Band are to entertain the local bohemians. We arrive early to interview the band are invited into the green room to chill with the warm and friendly Martin.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">We talk of slide guitars, living in cars, surfing in Australia, touring by bicycle, playing the highest gig in the world, touring Mali, chilling in Barbados, stoner rock, independent record labels and playing the Rive Cottage for Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. He is down to earth and ego free. While we do the best to squeeze as much as possible out of a night, he is squeezing as much as possible out of life – and doing a pretty good job of it.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Then its time for the show. I use the word ‘show’ deliberately. The bar and the auditorium are separate – with no drinks allowed while watching the band - mobile phones must be switched off and the seating is ‘cinema’ or ‘theatre’ style. There is even a planned intermission. A ‘gig’, this is not. </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">This sort of set up is probably the most sterile way of seeing a band and in the past <a href="http://peppermintiguana.blogspot.com/2006/05/geno-washington-legend-comes-to.html">we have refused to put up with this sort of thing.</a> It’s unnatural – like sitting down to watch football. However, it does tend to focus one’s attention on the stage and when you do that, the MHB reward you with a finely balanced serving of roots, blues, soul and jazz. </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Sat down, often with his slide guitar on his lap, Martin and his band are able to create a relaxed and intimate atmosphere. Most of the songs are personal tales and the audience are invited into the world of carefree globe trotting with a surfboard in one hand and a cup of tea in the other.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Between numbers we get chat and an interaction between band and audience that adds to the intimacy of the event. I have to grudgingly admit that the fact that everyone is sat politely adds to this atmosphere.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">We get a selection of numbers from throughout the bands back catalogue and as the show progresses some of the more rebellious audience members get up and shake their thang in the isles.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Whilst it is the Martin Harley Band, the rest of the band are not exactly extras. Pete Swatton occasionally ditches the drums to play the balalaika (yes, a drummer that is also a musician) and Jay Carter has a rest from propping up his double bass to play guitar. Both add backing vocals throughout and the chemistry between the three makes the band much more than the sum of its parts.</p> <p style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;" class="MsoNormal">Finally we get a version of Voodoo Chile that is both a nod to Martin’s love of heavier sounds and a demonstration of what can be done with a slide guitar. Even tea loving buskers can be a power trio when they put their mind to it.</p><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ImEXTzjgYm0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="257" width="400"></iframe><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dTABjgdmuGM" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="330" width="400"></iframe></div></div>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-10427792952064922072011-05-05T23:42:00.005+01:002011-05-14T09:25:59.027+01:00Creation Records - the movie<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/quC36o_9ZLo" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="257" width="400"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >If you grew up in the 1980s and early 90s, liked guitar music, read the Melody Maker or the NME (</span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-style: italic;">ah – the good old days, when the NME was a publication worth reading</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >) or paid the slightest bit of attention to what was going on beyond the mainstream; then you knew about Creation Records.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">They certainly weren’t the first indie label, they probably weren’t the best (although that is open to debate), but they were definitely one of the most successful. Many of the bands on their roster would never become household names or get day time airplay, but with few exceptions they all had a devoted cult following.</span> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">With an A&R policy of signing bands that were good, as opposed to potential money makers, there was always a danger that catastrophe was only around the corner. But somehow Alan McGee, founding director, had the fortune of signing many of the era’s defining bands. Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream, House of Love, Sugar, Super Fury Animals, My Bloody Valentine and eventually the colossus that would become Oasis, were all products of the Creation label. </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Upside down, the story of the label, features interviews – both contemporary and archive – with all the movers and shakers in the Creation story. We also get live footage from the days when Indie actually meant Independent, rather than a style of guitar music.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Run, on the whole, by amateur music fans who just wanted to have fun, get laid and take lots of drugs, they achieved success despite – rather than because of – their passion for music and no time for compromise. Based in a nondescript office in north London, day to day life was more like a 24 hour party than a business and new bands were generally stumbled upon when out on the pull.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">This warts and all documentary skips through the history of the label, from the formation, the early releases and the growing successes; through the glory years as the mainstream embraced the underground and Tony Blair embraced Brit Pop, to financial melt down, drug excess and the realisation – as Oasis played Knebworth – that the removal from the real world that comes with mega stardom aint all fun.</p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROYCKgo4gtI-0vHoJ7zEgi9UW5Z35a8ISWaJCqjtmp9mbNBQoUlXRgf3nSV0qZgX2WwNsaU7gLrBsDNlgwPdfAAxvBBilWeElZgWSs-VayhU4Ow7yORrmsNZp1UKhZ9sX-3l55w/s1600/alanmcgee.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROYCKgo4gtI-0vHoJ7zEgi9UW5Z35a8ISWaJCqjtmp9mbNBQoUlXRgf3nSV0qZgX2WwNsaU7gLrBsDNlgwPdfAAxvBBilWeElZgWSs-VayhU4Ow7yORrmsNZp1UKhZ9sX-3l55w/s400/alanmcgee.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606479549040506738" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Tonight, as the film gets it’s welsh premier in Cardiff’s Chapter Arts, McGee drops in for a Q&A session. He comes over as a passionate music lover that has been through the industry ringer and come out older, wiser and with his feet re-planted firmly on terra-firmer. He is entertaining, witty and contented with his lot, having now settled in Hay on Wye. </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">As the evening closes, we top it off with free drinks in the foyer – no need to withdraw from the highlife <i style="">completely</i>!</p><p style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal">THE Q&A</p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/L5X9CaIAG1Y" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="330" width="400"></iframe><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6Nb4qxzDMas" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="330" width="400"></iframe><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Kp8r1JjbBz0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="330" width="400"></iframe>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-59475852883965506042011-04-17T23:26:00.003+01:002011-04-24T20:58:27.658+01:00Generation Xerox - london Zine Symposium 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCN06hDl80qRglHb7og2gL5-IHMreOUdua4NKla5uEEJka-urM7yujmfvZGykJY5dyZfgt9nLPdn7DOIuQvnKJXSzFJnptuyw7EoTgnHsZvohr5y8fbqZLh4Psf1747x7c5JCo6g/s1600/lzs-2011-logo.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCN06hDl80qRglHb7og2gL5-IHMreOUdua4NKla5uEEJka-urM7yujmfvZGykJY5dyZfgt9nLPdn7DOIuQvnKJXSzFJnptuyw7EoTgnHsZvohr5y8fbqZLh4Psf1747x7c5JCo6g/s400/lzs-2011-logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599235812800079970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;" >If there is one aspect of underground culture that personifies the DIY ethic, it is zines. Since the dawn of punk and beyond, enthusiasts have been writing, laying out, publishing and distributing their own publications totally outside the traditional mainstream channels. <a href="http://www.londonzinesymposium.org.uk/">The London Zine Symposium</a>, therefore, seems like the perfect opportunity to get back into the habit of blogging (again).</span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">So, this morning, with the sort of head you can only get when up at the crack of dawn the day after a gallon of Taffy Apple celebrating a Cardiff City victory, I delicately climbed into the Iguana-mobile and headed for the bus station. After a quick flick through my in car CD collection, I opted for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desperate_Bicycles">Desperate Bicycles</a>, the quintessential DIY punk band, as the sound track to my journey – very appropriate for the day I thought.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">A few short hours later I was stepping out of Aldgate East tube station and heading in the direction of Brick Lane. Deep in the heart of the East End, brick lane is like walking down the curry equivalent of Amsterdam’s red light district. The street is full of curry pimps trying to entice you inside their restaurant, desperate to convince you their food is the best in town. Many have signs outside like ‘once featured on a TV programme about good curry houses’, or ‘winner of the best restaurant ever to have been opened at 84 brick lane’.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNHArfEU8_fFJeiFFT5IH_XNvH-3XYbZo1RyanqsJ_e-M7eTDIhSaLAL1rfyfFf2g3Cy19ZgWyeM1oInji_Hh36oDz4fqFqpNOlZJeIdWVif1VCxGjGKyBiMZ4VYwmJsPFRwV5w/s1600/2011_0417april20100246.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNHArfEU8_fFJeiFFT5IH_XNvH-3XYbZo1RyanqsJ_e-M7eTDIhSaLAL1rfyfFf2g3Cy19ZgWyeM1oInji_Hh36oDz4fqFqpNOlZJeIdWVif1VCxGjGKyBiMZ4VYwmJsPFRwV5w/s400/2011_0417april20100246.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599226604454450514" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Twas not always thus though. It was once the centre a centre for t</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">he weaving, tailoring and the clothing industry, and played host to a large Jewish community. Today I would have the opportunity to link both these strands of the area’s past, the Zine Symposium was being held in a former rag factory and in the afternoon they would be hosting a walk around Brick Lane’s radical history, taking in sites where Jewish radicals and anarchists had risen up</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"> in rebellion.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I had to find the place first though. Having not been to an event (quite) like this before, I anticipated lots of literate punks hunting down punkzines like Sniffing Glue or Maximum Rock and Roll – all I had to do was keep an eye out for a stream of punks heading into a rag factory. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Fortunately there were signs at the end of the alley pointing me in the right direction, because there was a distinct lack of punkyness about attendees, in fact, most did not look in the slightest bit ‘alternative’. Then again, sporting a full beard and a ‘built for comfort rather than speed’ physique, it is a long time since I looked alternative.</span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTksM7xiefp-FvT_OB8_UQyQ5MnPR5OwA-r6Cp20sZydeZ7zGXE99-5YbLHRMASRdudWCZfAR2ZHcW8kjGUqgRb6z8caniElMJMztHZnuILB5qMshrPF1pq0qpuRObt17UGA6DRw/s1600/2011_0417april20100245.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTksM7xiefp-FvT_OB8_UQyQ5MnPR5OwA-r6Cp20sZydeZ7zGXE99-5YbLHRMASRdudWCZfAR2ZHcW8kjGUqgRb6z8caniElMJMztHZnuILB5qMshrPF1pq0qpuRObt17UGA6DRw/s400/2011_0417april20100245.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599226602408847842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Entering the old factory, the first stall I came across (after the home made cake stall) was run by the <a href="http://www.lasthours.org.uk/">Last Hours</a> posse – quite possibly the best zine I have come across in the last ten years. I interviewed the main man, Ed, a few years back as research into the DIY scene. He was not around though and the stall was being run by two charming young ladies that were much better looking than him. They had a nice selection of zines and some interesting books, including <a href="http://www.freedompress.org.uk/news/2011/04/12/soccer-vs-the-state-book-launch-2/">‘Soccer –v- State’</a>, which I would end up purchasing before the day was out, despite the American terminology for the beautiful game.</span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">As is the way with these things, I was determined to suss out exactly where everything was, then slowly work my way around again spending more time on the more interesting stalls. This did not take long though, as the event was a little smaller than I had expected – although big enough to have a nice mix. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Zines come in many shapes and sizes and cover a huge range of topics. Most of the zines that have caught my attention in the past have been music related, with the odd footyzine chucked in – but today, football and music were in short supply, the stalls around the old workshop being covered in everything from anarcho-feminism to art and cookery, from wordy books to graphic novels, from photocopied pamphlets to professionally printed limited editions.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://www.activedistribution.org/">Active Distribution</a> were in the ‘hood, with their awesome selection of books, zines and music, along side a myriad of zine distros that seem to have been born, grown up, started a family and been thriving quite nicely without me ever having head of them.</span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5DrbqlVCBTnTYgr9FqUDuuJHONHLlUo-jjo89LLxN51tP-Q0hrkIcqHCXsk_uF1GrKFAzHorxtefVtzRgnPWSgMxGHm4rR9UsnoNE9cswna1fOPdkBywafUC1CpYPXmSSL4zYA/s1600/2011_0417april20100242.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5DrbqlVCBTnTYgr9FqUDuuJHONHLlUo-jjo89LLxN51tP-Q0hrkIcqHCXsk_uF1GrKFAzHorxtefVtzRgnPWSgMxGHm4rR9UsnoNE9cswna1fOPdkBywafUC1CpYPXmSSL4zYA/s400/2011_0417april20100242.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599226595929086482" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I mingled, swapped a few zines, strategically left a few peppermint Iguana’s lying around, went back and bought the football book, filled up on a falafel in the Anarchist Teapot kitchen, treated myself to a slab of chocolate orange cake and hung about to attend the ‘Throwing Zines at Thatcher’ workshop – which was cancelled. The twisted hand of fate led me in the direction of a zine about the Desperate Bicycles, which had to be bought – much to the surprise of the guy running that particular stall.</span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7F595ii0NZDogy5BjRWHcMG1UMZKjrUW53fuNNbqEuFjKEEd0GDYatZlB7rmp4MrVPi2-2BROg04nivPCZifQ0acx9u_iKvxhw-Jnvt5OJ2GZeDWa5Mg3Vyk7_oyExemvBV6_3A/s1600/2011_0417april20100148.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7F595ii0NZDogy5BjRWHcMG1UMZKjrUW53fuNNbqEuFjKEEd0GDYatZlB7rmp4MrVPi2-2BROg04nivPCZifQ0acx9u_iKvxhw-Jnvt5OJ2GZeDWa5Mg3Vyk7_oyExemvBV6_3A/s400/2011_0417april20100148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599226592928027890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Eventually, rather than hang about for the ‘Radical Brick Lane’ thing, I took it upon myself to explore the area on my own. On a Sunday Brick Lane is home to several markets – a sort of mini Camden town, but with more street cred and less tourists – this is after all, pwoppa east end. </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Nestled in the old Truman Brewery is <a href="http://www.roughtrade.com/">Rough Trade East</a>, the bigger of London’s two legendary Rough Trade shops. Starting out as a ground breaking independent shop, then moving on the become a respected independent label, the fortunes of the Rough Trade have been a roller coaster ride through cult status, bankruptcy, being bought out by BMG and becoming an Independent again.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Rough Trade East opened in 2007 and is more than just a shop, they sell coffee, put on gigs and it is generally a place where people want to hang out, not just buy music. It is clean and modern and – well – to put it bluntly, trendy. CDs and books are not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. They do have a half decent selection on sale, but it is a far cry from the old DIY ethos. It’s a dog eat dog world though, so if this is how they have to survive, good luck to them.</span><br /></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDugnJR-EMx-LC7BILX2VbpG0MpxDbm8gr960BF1fSf4iSxd1xeo0xlndFAz4EChv7yrVyeAR79LZhKBVpFhTiVd3liCxULrsdfQ7aRg3thuyiv6X7-LgYpYahLWZs7PU4m3F5w/s1600/2011_0417april20100248.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDugnJR-EMx-LC7BILX2VbpG0MpxDbm8gr960BF1fSf4iSxd1xeo0xlndFAz4EChv7yrVyeAR79LZhKBVpFhTiVd3liCxULrsdfQ7aRg3thuyiv6X7-LgYpYahLWZs7PU4m3F5w/s400/2011_0417april20100248.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599226608708490514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">Down at the other end of Brick Lane, next to the Aldgate East tube station, is the Whitechapel Art Gallery. Today the main exhibition is something that appears to be made out of broken doors and the floor is littered with lovelies waiting to watch someone prance around the sculpture. I opt to head upstairs and check out an exhibition of photographs of old Brick Lane from the 1970s, around the time the Jewish population were starting to be outnumbered by Asians.</span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">When looking around the gallery bookshop, I find a section dedicated to DIY art, street art and such like. Ironically, most of the books are of a size that would threaten the legs of the sturdiest of coffee tables, and a price tag that compares to the national deficit. Clearly, no matter what the motives of those producing DIY art, there is no shortage of people wanting to exploit it and even attempt to mainstream it – which is sort of missing the point I think.</span></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUamLW16M6b9G_noSDmvF54DTsUSAZUu0oUAQjogc81KOUOSo74s1r5rgZHMPp8xuN9qTYCkU6p01BDYsXHDP37LbJhDBLJsmoKsFZVT-IS6WHS09If3gkGseZ2Q0m3RtVY9mZA/s1600/2011_0417april20100249.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUamLW16M6b9G_noSDmvF54DTsUSAZUu0oUAQjogc81KOUOSo74s1r5rgZHMPp8xuN9qTYCkU6p01BDYsXHDP37LbJhDBLJsmoKsFZVT-IS6WHS09If3gkGseZ2Q0m3RtVY9mZA/s400/2011_0417april20100249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599226765266741554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Arial;">I can’t leave Whitechapel without popping in to see the posse in <a href="http://www.freedompress.org.uk/news/">Freedom Press</a>, London's leading anarchist bookshop. The place seems to go from strength to strength every time i visit, “We do quite well on a Sunday,” Andy informs me. “The gallery is open so we get lots of silly fuckers coming in to buy postcards and talk about how quaint anarchism is.” Quite. I steal some postcards and talk about how quaint art galleries are – then head for home.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">For antother review of the event, with lots more pictures, go to </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.ameliasmagazine.com/art/london-zine-symposium-2011-a-review/2011/04/18/">Amelia's Zine</a><br /><br />While we are at it, just found the story of rough trade on Youface, so here it is for your entertainment<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">STORY OF ROUGH TRADE PART ONE</span><br /><br /></span> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/utXZkUrBfIY" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;" >STORY OF ROUGH TRADE PART TWO</span><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uYxzK5DQreU" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="560"></iframe><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">STORY OF ROUGH TRADE PART (YOU GUESSED IT) THREE</span></span><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4m6tLiLjMH8" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="560"></iframe>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-69916306200360234312010-08-29T19:29:00.005+01:002010-08-29T19:40:51.693+01:00Under the Pavement<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.underthepavement.org/files/utpbadge.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 166px; height: 120px;" src="http://www.underthepavement.org/files/utpbadge.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"</span><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Under the Pavement</strong><span style="font-weight: bold;">" is a community radio station based in Manchester that reports on direct action and grass roots resistance in the Manchester area. Although we aint Mancunians, for the last few weeks we have bee walking around listening to their podcasts on our MP3 player, soaking up interviews with the likes of King Blues, the Autonomads, Chomsky All Stars, Zounds and many more.</span><br /><br />They have been on a break for the summer but will be back on 2nd September with Steve Ignorant, of Crass fame. Tune in, turn on and throw shit. Go to <a href="http://www.underthepavement.org/index.html">www.underthepavement.org</a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-78230319242579734092010-08-29T17:33:00.005+01:002010-08-29T17:40:56.258+01:00Baka Beyond Interview<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/images/bakamartin.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 365px; height: 380px;" src="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/images/bakamartin.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Since 1993 Martin Craddick and his wife Su Hart have been deeply involved with the Baka people of Cameroon. They have sampled them, made music with them, made music inspired by them, recorded them in the rain forests and created an amazing back catalogue of genuinely afro-celtic music. In the process they have helped the Baka, promoted their cause, built a music house with them, helped them build a school, taken them on tour and put on a festival in Cameroon. </span><br /><br />Baka Beyond, the musical project that has grown from all this, is undoubtedly unique. Not just doing the odd benefit for the Baka, helping the forest people has been the band’s Raison d'être for seventeen years. But they are not just people with a good heart, they are also bloody good musicians who put on a damn fine show. We sat down earlier this year for a chat with Martin. It would be impossible to cover everything they have done in the last two decades, but we hope it will whet your appetite and set you off on a journey to <a href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/SOUNDS/INTERVIEWS/bakabeyond.html">find out more.</a>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-11728041534137151032010-08-18T17:45:00.002+01:002010-08-18T17:54:09.315+01:00Billy Bragg Interview<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/images/bragg1.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 380px; height: 258px;" src="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/images/bragg1.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Blogging presents a bit of a conundrum. To have anything interesting to write about, you need to be doing things. But if you are doing things, you don’t have time to blog. Hence this 'ere blog being dormant throughout the summer. If we get a chance we will try to upload some post-dated tales about some of the major things, like festivals, cars breaking down and trips to Wembley. In the mean time, we thought we should let you know we have today updated the website with an </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/SOUNDS/INTERVIEWS/billy_bragg.html">interview with Mr Billy Bragg</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now Mr Bragg is not someone we have paid a lot of attention to in recent years. Back in the 80s we regularly went along to gigs and bought his music; he was a breath of fresh air, he was original, he was funny, his heart was in the right place and he was – well, a good bloke. Over the years though he sort of drifted from being ‘alternative’ to being ‘mainstream’. I don’t particularly recall a point when we stopped listening to him, we just did. One minute he was doing miners benefits in pubs for a fiver and getting played on John Peel, the next he was doing sold out shows in art centres for considerably more than a fiver and appearing on Question Time.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now there is nothing wrong with art centres and Question Time, it is just that it is territory we don’t usually hang around in (well, not much anyway). Being involved with trade unions and left wing politics he has never been far from our consciousness though. Comrades in the union that rarely go to gigs make the effort for him and whilst we don’t go to see him any more it is easier to have a conversation about Billy Bragg than it is the Tofu Love Frogs.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Earlier on this year we went along to see ‘Breaking Rocks’, the film about Bragg’s project, ‘Jail Guitar Doors’, which takes guitars into prison as a tool for rehabilitation.<span style=""> </span>Our interest in the man briefly went up a notch. Clearly he still has a heart and is interested in developing new talent and helping those less fortunate than himself. <span style=""><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Then there was the election, and he seemed to be turning up all the time talking about the BNP.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Then he turned up at UNISON conference to talk about defending the public sector, fighting the cuts and the possibility of a Robin Hood Tax. We just cannot get away from the bloke.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">As it happens, we were at UNISON conference working on some press stuff for the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Wales</st1:place></st1:country-region> region. Just after he had spoken to conference the press co-ordinator came into the room and asked if we would like to interview Billy, she had arranged for him to be available, but had not arranged for anyone to interview him.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And so it was, we found ourselves sat in a corner of the Bournemouth International with Billy and about a dozen other UNISON amateur journalists. We were told we could have a maximum of one question each and I began to despair when the first question was ‘if you could bring in one law, what would it be?’ Amazingly though, he managed to respond to what we snobbishly thought was a pretty unimaginative question with an extremely imaginative answer. And so it went, no matter how boring the questions, his answers were always articulate, thought provoking and entertaining. <span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It is easy to see now why he gets invited to speak about a wide range of subjects that one would not normally consider to be matters you would want a ‘pop star’s’ opinion on. The guy is far deeper than we had given him credit for and is an all round nice bloke. How could we not give him space on our website?<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.peppermintiguana.co.uk/SOUNDS/INTERVIEWS/billy_bragg.html">Go here</a> and check the man out. Find out more about the Robin Hood Tax, love Music Hate racism and Jail Guitar Doors.<br /></p>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16615578.post-17742967250583660472010-04-26T22:35:00.005+01:002010-04-26T23:09:36.172+01:00EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEofqBopwyGLtD1CwLUX-kJ2_d_BR8EQLX7HPeNN1_rWof8XiCuPJKEjxX8NICfQqIaHWCJ73r_GoMxDPkMEfuBDZA3rmkdEcKynSBz_f2Rh8jzWU07UPGgbOTkKkrpSYJilvqw/s1600/banksy_museum_exit_through_.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 380px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEofqBopwyGLtD1CwLUX-kJ2_d_BR8EQLX7HPeNN1_rWof8XiCuPJKEjxX8NICfQqIaHWCJ73r_GoMxDPkMEfuBDZA3rmkdEcKynSBz_f2Rh8jzWU07UPGgbOTkKkrpSYJilvqw/s400/banksy_museum_exit_through_.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464567332474612962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">“<a href="http://www.banksy.co.uk/">Banksy </a>is a sell out”. So reads the graffiti scrawled across the wall. Is this true? Well, he has certainly progressed from being an unknown street artist to an internationally renowned (all be it still anonymous) street artist that can put on sell out exhibitions, shift books by the shed load and – now – make his own films. </span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.banksyfilm.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Exit Through the Gift Shop</span></a> is, on the face of it, a documentary made by Banksy about a guy that tried to make a film about Banksy but messed it up so Banksy made a film about him. There is no point getting too bogged down in the plot because to be honest, it is difficult to tell if it is a genuine documentary or if it is another one of Banksy’s magnificent pranks.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Narrated by Rhys Ifans we are taken on a journey through underground street art with a host of graffiti artists, guerrilla stencil painters and pranksters. Whilst Banksy is the highlight of the film, it is clear he is not alone with numerous creative subversives making an appearance in this roller coaster ride that has you grinning, admiring, and on occasion down right laughing, for 87 minutes.</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRQ4KTgoWoXR9zb_J0lcbcF48Z9YYKtflHisEOdexarn_K2CpvKqh1KM6DX6X3yDGVqa6yoPg6lPmS4R5ql1W0hxrpaZdVr7EDSyiR5WVocUC51vsLAbsDXNKxDTFKuGTVx7rrQ/s1600/banksy-exit-through-the-gif.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 380px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRQ4KTgoWoXR9zb_J0lcbcF48Z9YYKtflHisEOdexarn_K2CpvKqh1KM6DX6X3yDGVqa6yoPg6lPmS4R5ql1W0hxrpaZdVr7EDSyiR5WVocUC51vsLAbsDXNKxDTFKuGTVx7rrQ/s400/banksy-exit-through-the-gif.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464567337816541218" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.drymounted.com/wp-content/uploads/banksy-exit-through-the-gift-shop.jpg"></a><p class="MsoNormal">Whilst this is based in ‘underground’, DIY, street art; many of Banksy’s pranks are clearly not cheap. Some punk with a spray can he is not. We get telephone boxes bent in half, giant spray cans and exhibitions with live elephants painted like flock wall paper. Where the money for all this comes from is never explored. A trip to across the <st1:place st="on">Atlantic</st1:place> to do a bit of graffiti is taken for granted, as if it is the most natural thing in the world.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Most of his antics are clearly beyond the pockets of 99% of street artists, but does that really matter? His blend of satire, art, humour and subversion has simultaneously given the art establishment and street art a kick up the rear end. Art is supposed to be about originality, so we don’t want loads of copy cats, but if it inspires kids to do a bit more than just inane tags on bus stops and brightens up our streets then surely that is no bad thing.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Fair play to him though, despite his global fame he appears to have stuck to his roots. His website declares:<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">"Banksy does not endorse or profit from the sale of greeting cards, mugs, tshirts, photo canvases etc. Banksy is not on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter or Gaydar. Banksy is not represented by any form of commercial art gallery. All images are made available to download for personal amusement only, thanks."</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">These are not the words of someone who has sold out<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div> <p class="MsoNormal">What impact this thought provoking film will have on movie making is difficult to tell, but at the moment that is not important, all that matters is that it does what all good films should do, entertain, inspire and agitate. If you don’t leave the cinema after seeing this film eying up a bit of blank wall you have no soul.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/a0b90YppquE&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/a0b90YppquE&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal">AND FINALLY….</p> If you like Banksy, you will love <a href="http://mutatebritain.wordpress.com/">Mutate <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Britain</st1:country-region></st1:place></a>, the latest project from the Mutoid Waste Disposal Company. And they be <a href="http://www.newport.gov.uk/newportfestival/?event=showWhatsOn&whatsonID=224219">coming to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Newport</st1:city></st1:place></a> in August!!<br /></div>Clint Iguanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353740213193461095noreply@blogger.com1