Released on this day – 30th October 1995 By the autumn of 1995, Pulp had gone from being Sheffield’s best-kept secret to the band that defined British life in the mid-90s. Jarvis Cocker — gangly, awkward, funny, and a little bit filthy — was suddenly a national icon. He’d conquered Glastonbury, confused the tabloids, and made being the… Read More »
October 29th 1990 By 1990, Paul Heaton had perfected the art of sounding chipper while quietly reminding us that life is largely disappointing. Choke, their second album, is a masterclass in middle-England melancholy — cheerful brass, bitter lyrics, and the sort of charm only found in pubs with sticky carpets and functioning jukeboxes. It’s the record that gave… Read More »
This month it was the turn of our good ladies to take the reins. The brief was simple: each of us asked our partner to choose the album. No rules, no persuasion (well, not officially). The result? A night that was more eclectic, tuneful, and at times more argumentative than any of us predicted. Kelly (Bryn’s pick) –… Read More »
A blustery Friday night by the coast, a couple of pints in The Grosvenor, and a five-minute battle through Storm Amy — not the most glamorous route to rock ’n’ roll history, but that’s Felixstowe for you. This time it was just me and Neil, venturing out to see Roy Orbison & The Traveling Wilburys Experience at the… Read More »
Another night, another trip down nostalgia lane — this time to Ipswich Corn Exchange for The Lightning Seeds, my third time seeing them in just ten months. Some bands wear thin after repeated viewings, but Ian Broudie and company still have that knack for delivering a comforting evening of melodic pop done properly. This outing was with a… Read More »
Oasis – Wembley Stadium, 27th September 2025 Gemma was my gig partner for this one. She swung by at 13:30 and we set off for Newbury Park. Roadworks meant a diversion through Harold Wood, but the Elizabeth line soon had us into Liverpool Street. A pit stop at Patty & Bun for a much-needed tea, then it was… Read More »
Not a gig in the traditional sense, but still worthy of a review. Sometimes a day out isn’t just a day out. For us, Elvis Evolution doubled as a tribute to Mum. She adored Elvis, so me, Rory, Tracie and Tamara finally lined up our diaries and set off for London. The drive was classic sibling chaos: digs,… Read More »
Rail Freight Rock Hits The Water Rats Two of GB Railfreight’s directors, Carl Kent and Liam Day, had an idea that might have seemed daft after a couple of pints but ended up being something quite brilliant. Put a band together. Not just any band – a one-off charity gig to raise money for our fundraising partners at… Read More »
Gig Review: Stereophonics, The Blossoms and Jake Bugg – Sandringham Hammy was on driving duty again – for which I’m always grateful – with daughter Gabs and her boyfriend Jude in tow. The plan seemed simple enough, but Norfolk had other ideas. The last eight miles took three and a half hours. Good job we’d stocked up on… Read More »
Bryn’s theme for this round was a simple one on paper: male solo album by someone who had been, or still is, in a band. Straightforward. No confusion. Surely. And yet. Coxy arrived initially with a fine LP (his words) by the late Denise Johnson (former backing singer with Primal Scream/New Order) — he told us she has… Read More »