June....goings on.

Morning chaps, it's 9.30 am and I have just been out for the evening with Milk Kan and Black Daniel. I feel fine. I got home at 1am and slept like a log.

It is Glastonbury season and I wasn't there, thats ok too. It must have been so hot there, and apart from the Pet Shop Boys and The Hold Steady, both who I have already seen this year there isn't much I wanted to see. I was going to write my usual , cliche, festival rant. However, I found this

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/jun/25/glastonbury-live-friday-grace-dent

This is the best festival rant ever. This woman needs a Knighthood and her own daily TV show. She should be made counsellor to anyone whose head is too far up their own bum.

This month I turned 34. I will be 40 in 6 years, i am happy with my life and pleased in my place. Welcome to the first summer since 2008 with (hopefully) enough cash to do something. Most of my friends seem in a good state too. I like this.

Music wise, well, Angry Bees performed at Guided Missile with special guests Nicky Biscuit of TOANWTS (The Owls Are Not What They Seem, which IMHO is far too long a name for a band) and the amazing Charley Stone of Gay Dad/ New Royal Family and countless other acts. We made a terrible noise. People clapped and then we watched "We Are The Physics." What a band tight, funny melodic and increadibly loud. Nickys Owls (as they will always be refered to from now on in) were brilliant. Damien Pinset, in a band, Marcus Fulcher on the drums, sublime, if a little savage , on the lyric side. Great.

The Hold Steady, I am sorry, may be it is because I haven't heard it that much, but the new stuff isn't all that. This was MORE than made up for by the fact that the old stuff Is amazing. It always will be amazing, they do miss something in their lack of moustaicioed keyboard player, but they gained an extra guitarist. As a show, this did nothing for them, but the new guitarist looks like a direct cross between KTOTP and Ian Wilson. The did wheel out some amazing guitars. On to guitars, everyone please, check out The Heritage Guitar Company, Kalamazoo. This is where the next one is coming from. Back to the Hold Steady, great, would have been better with more older crowd pleasers, I hate to selfishly say that, but it is true.

Black Daniel just keep getting better. I enjoyed my brief spell as a bass player for them but they just don't need one! They look much better as four across the front ranting lunatics. I still managed to join them for the last few songs on BV's. Last night was the best that they have ever sounded.

There were some GOD awful bands playing on the same bill, someone with an acoustic guitar in a band, that is wrong, wrong , wrong, you have drums behind you play an electric f**king guitar, who do you think you are? Jack f**king Johnson? or some other sappy twat loved by Australians. And some Le Faux Roux.....pointless and pants, piss off please.....

I am sure i saw some other bands, this month....but I want to go and get eggs benedict so I must go.

On the my new bands thing....The Wayne, 2 Shoes, Ciaran,and me band have a new keyboarding man in the form of Tom Iceman Beats Collinson. We are back in the studio this week.

Department, the other one, are almost ready to go, first gig is booked, 21st August at 93 Feet East. www.myspace.com/departmenttheband

La la Love you La La Laters......

A superior week in music

Last Sat it was Ollie Ballerinas stag do. The best man was a girl , there were no boobies or strippers and we went to an indie club.

Sheffield is a great place and everyone is lovely there, well those I met were. 2.50 a pint too. Downstairs in the Cazbah was a rock club, where they played the sisters and the cult. Amazing. Ollie and Nick A grade both independently told that they hate the Smiths, I was a little pie eyed but I think the phrase "Like "poor me" sixth form poetry without the wit" made me smile. "Johny Marr, great guitarist, since when has strumming a rickenbaker made you a great guitarist. We went downstairs and danced to Poison by Alice Cooper.

Now, some of you might disagree with what I am about to say, but I am right and you are wrong. Mark Knophler is a genius. Seeing him perform telegraph road at the RAH from 8 feet away was just mind blowing. I have been a fan since I was years old. Since "that" moment from the Nelson Mandela concert. The guy is amazing.

Last night I saw the pixies for the third time at a fan club gig at the Troxy. It was one of the greatest live experiences of my life. They even played river euphrates. It was superb. The sound was the best live sound I have ever heard. First class.

This week I also purchased a ticket to see The Wall on the 11th May 2011. Roger Waters is a total schlong but The Wall is a work of art. Anyone who disagrees with me on this is also wrong.

Great week. I am now 34, 34 is a good age to be!