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Xmas Mp3s
Here's some mp3 versions of the Christmas cd tracks:
(Click to play or Control Click to download)
2007: The year of living dangerously
December 31st 2006
On this windswept final day of 2006, we three will be huddled together in a corner of home counties countryside, necking. Necking port. It's been a fab year for us, from our US tour in a similarly windswept and wet February, to a wild denouement in London's Queen Elizabeth Hall with members of the Look Around You cast. And next year we'll be premiering our new film and album in the re-opened Festival Hall, our favourite building in the world. Ohhhhh yeah.
Thanks for all your lovely comments on the Xmas 2006 cd we gave away at the Turntable Cafe. We'll be putting mp3s of the songs up very soon for those of you who couldn't make it. And the 'questions for the band' section of the messageboard will go - try www.myspace.com/saintetienne if you want to discover our favourite hotel bars and first edition dealers.
Most exciting news.... we'll be working with Britain's greatest pop arranger Robery Kirby in the new year. He was responsible for the beautiful scores on Nick Drake's first two albums, as well as Keith Christmas's Forest And The Shore (on the Early Morning Hush comp we put together for Sanctuary) and John Cale's I Keep A Close Watch. Songs we've written so far include Dome Of Discovery and Magic Mike McCart. There is a subtle Johnny Dankworth influence running through them.
Can Pards save Charlton? I think not, but am already looking forward to a promotion battle next year. Can Hendon stay up? On the evidence of the splendid 4-1 win at Leyton... yus, my dear. Yus.
Have a very happy new year
Bob xx
Eve of destruction
December 24th 2006
Hope you have a fantastic Christmas.
We're feeling a
bit jaded after our spiffy
Turntable cafe event. Thanks to all who
came. For those who
couldn't make it - here's the two songs that we gave
away on cd:
http://www.saintetienne.com/xmas2006/xmas2006songs1
http://www.saintetienne.com/xmas2006/xmas2006songs2
(They are in Quicktime format and may take a while to
load!)
Next Turntable Cafes:
Jan 30th - Watch With Mother (inc Joe, Bod, Fingerbobs)
Feb 1st - Joe Meek (inc Pram live, dj Sonic Boom)
Peace, Love and Figgy Pudding
Sarah, Bob & Pete XXX
PS our xmas tip - lots of brandy butter on yr mince pies
Popcorn Double Feature
December 8th 2006
Here's the timings for Stockholm's Popcorn film festival tomorrow (9th Dec):
13.00 -Finisterre showing in the Konsertsalen (plan1)
18.45 - Saint Etienne Special (...Mervyn Day, Today's Special and excerpts from Hungry Beat)
22.00 - Q&A with Sarah, Bob, Pete & Paul
23.00 - 01.00 Pete DJing (all at Debaser Medis, Medborgarplatsen 8, Stockholm)
Putting the "arty" into Party
December 7th 2006
Thanks to all who came to the last Turntable cafe - It was ace!
More info about our Saint Etienne Xmas Party : We've got a jazz trio bringing to life Vince Guaraldi's music from the Peanuts Christmas specials,
a comedy interlude from the 'Look Around You" team, DJ delights from Bob, Pete and Sheila B, and maybe a song or two from the Etienne
themselves! Everyone who comes gets a specially recorded two track cd too.
And there's more festive fun at the Xmas edition of Cherrybomb on the 14th, with guest DJs Sheila B and the Queens of Noize.
November spawned a monster
November 16th 2006
We have fixed our compuphonic problems at last and are able to bring you news, news, news.... keep scrolling
The soundtrack to "What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day?" will be released on cd on November 27th via Recordstore.co.uk - preorders are being taken now.
The album features 18 original and unreleased pieces of music that were recorded for the Paul Kelly / Saint Etienne film.
The film is screening at the CPH:DOX documentary in Copenhagen's Cinemateket tomorrow (17th Nov - sold out) and Bob, Pete and Paul will be showing clips and discussing
their recent film projects at the Kunstakadamiet in the afternoon at 4pm. Bob and Pete will be DJing at Cinemateket (23.30 - 1.30) on the 17th and at the Tivoli Aquarium (00.00 - 2.00) on the 18th.
There will be more screenings and appearances at Stockholm's Popcorn Festival (8-10 Dec) www.popcorn.nu - more details when we get them.
One of our current film projects is Hungry Beat - a documentary about the UK 80s underground music scene, from Postcard to the Stone Roses. It will include the labels, fanzines and groups who created a parallel world in a particularly bleak time for anyone who didn't vote Conservative and dig Phil Collins. When independent was a state of mind and not a genre. We are looking for any footage that people might have from the era, especially super8 film or video of gigs. Please get in touch! ( hungrybeat myspace ). Hungry Beat will be completed in 2007.
AND... The next Cherrybomb is happening on 24th November...
THEN... We have two corking Turntable Cafes for you:
The BBC Radiophonic Workshop Edition on Thursday 30th November - info and ticket sales
AND the Saint Etienne Xmas Party edition on Thursday 21st December! - more info and ticket sales
XXXX
Non stop erotic cabaret
October 10th 2006
Introducing a brand new club for Girl Pop luvvers... first night is Thursday the 19th. Sheila B of Cha Cha Charming/Peppermint Lounge fame will be spinning mindblowing Japanese femme pop, along with me and Matthew Lees - yr regular hosts. C'mon down!!
THEN, it's the next Turntable Cafe on Friday the 20th, with another of New York's most dee-liteful dj's, Mahssa, who is partly responsible for all the psychedelic Turkish stuff that is currently flooding dancefloors. And Gareth aka Cherrystones, who promises some architectural soundscapes to match the film we'll be screening - Patrick Keiller's Dilapidated Dwelling. Check http://www.rfh.org.uk ...
PLUS!! we're screening the incred film about the 2002 Venezuela coup on the South Bank on Sunday the 22nd. Deets below.
Can you handle the truth?? Can WE??? Almost certainly not!!!
love Bob xx
Real Roy Of The Rovers stuff
October 3rd 2006
Our first official publication, Match Day is something me and Paul have talked about for years, while in the process of getting well refreshed. It's a tribute to a neglected art form - the football programme. Whether you're a fan of the sport or not, the covers are true folk art. They cover the period from 1945 to the start of the Premiership in 1992, a golden age for attendances which dipped badly in the eighties (hence some truly sad programmes) before the boost of Italia 90 and then onwards into a world of big money, bigger bungs, and desktop publishing. This is more scissors and glue, with some inspired amateurism at play.
We're having a launch party where you'll be able to buy the book before it hits the shops.
"The ideal Xmas present" - Paul Kelly
C'mon down. Football colours will definitely not be turned away.
Bob xx
There's only 10 tickets left...
September 21st 2006
For the first Turntable cafe event. Details of the next event coming soon.
Our new monthly club!
August 28th 2006
As part of our artistic residency at the South Bank Centre we are hosting a series of monthly themed events called Turntable Cafe at
various venues across the site. The first night will have a Festival of Britain theme, there'll be guest djs, film clips, skiffle, jazz, rock & roll, bunting and beer mats. Its happening at the Festival Square Cafe (round the back of the Festival Hall) on September 28th from 8pm. Tickets are on sale now: Box office number is 08703 800 400 or online at www.rfh.org.uk
Trafalgar Square not hapnin
August 17th 2006
Sorry to come over like the
bad news bears... We won't be playing in Trafalgar Square on Sep 1st due
to a logistical nightmare. Too many bands, not enough time to switch our
gear. All very sad but it just wouldn't have worked. I'm very sorry to
anyone who has made plans to travel to London. There's really nothing
we can do. Hopefully the upcoming Mervyn Day cd will be some consolation.
Bob xx
New electric pop and soul
August 11th 2006
We've put a sneak preview of the What Have You Done Today, Mervyn Day? soundtrack on our myspace page. It's called Sugarhouse Lane. Ah, the romance of dead industry. The full cd will be released on Foreign Office via this website in late Sep/early October.
Our monthly club on the South Bank - named Turntable Cafe after an original Festival Of Britain feature - will take place on Thursday September 28th. The theme will be the Festival Of Britain. Expect bunting. More details to follow.
The first three Eclipse CDs are in the shops right now. The Peddlers' Suite London got a five star review in The Times (no backhanders, honest), Time Out loved the Chris Montez A&M Years, while Barney Hoskyns went gaga for Dusty Springfield's Complete A and B Sides in Uncut.
It's all 'appened!!
love Bob xx
Tony Ogden RIP
August 10th 2006
Bad year for pop lovers. Saying goodbye to Syd Barrett, Arthur Lee, Arif Mardin, Gene Pitney, and now Tony Ogden, singer with World Of Twist. They were a major inspiration to the early days of Saint Etienne. Our first ever "gig" as a trio (a dire PA, truthfully) was supporting them at the Astoria in London. Me and Pete travelled to Manchester to see them play at the Ritz with its marvellous sprung dancefloor. One of my favourite shows ever. Yes, we nabbed the song title Spring from them - seemed so appropriate with the general spirit of rejuvenation in 1990. And we name-checked them on London Belongs To Me. Pop/psych/northern magic... they even covered the Joe Meek-produced Honeycombs song This Too Shall Pass Away. That seems a little hard to take right now.
Tony was a true pop star in waiting. He had great hair for a start, and a great throaty laugh. I loved the way he stood side-on on stage. My favourite story about him was when he went to a sixties pop weekender (WOT were truly anti-snob) with, I think, Gordon King. At the end of the night, after Wayne Fontana And The Mindbenders had finished their set, Tony and Gordon fancied partying. They saw Wayne outside the venue with a few middle-aged female fans and decided to tag along. They ended up back up at Wayne's chalet. The star of the show was obviously pleased to have the ladies to share a sherry with him, but was looking daggers at Tony and Gordon. The room fell silent. "So...errr..." Tony asked, breaking the ice, "when does the mindbending begin?" Our heroes were sent packing within seconds.
South Bank Show (Offs)
July 13th 2006 (sorry about the delay)
Saint Etienne / Pilgrim Films: (Bob, Pete, Paul Kelly & Andrew Hinton) have been given the exciting
opportunity to spend a year working at the South Bank Centre in London as Artists in Residence.
We're planning a series of films and events, including a Christmas music festival and a monthly club
where we can meet people, exchange ideas, and bring them along on the journey with us.
Collectively, the Royal Festival Hall is probably our favourite building in London, and we'll be working on a
film and music project that will capture the next chapter in its history, something we will premiere at the
RFH the week it reopens.
More details will appear at www.rfh.org.uk/main/generalinformation/residents.asp?subpage=st_et
Sarah’s family commitments mean she can’t be involved in such a full on capacity but she will be joining in
many of the events.
Film Frenz Experiment
June 26th 2006
Bob and Pete are DJing and there's another chance to see the new Paul Kelly/Saint Etienne short 'Monty the Lamb' at our
friend and producer Andrew (S.E) Hinton's regular short film/music soiree Film Friends Forever this Wednesday (28th Jan)
from 7.30 onwards at Sketch in Mayfair. Full Details
Any Answers
Some pressing questions have flown our way. About time
you had some answers.
Pete (not that one) read that Daniel Handler (aka
Lemony Snicket) wants to play accordion on our next
recordings. Well, indeed, he treated us to cocktails
last time he was in London for a reading. Recordings
were discussed. November/December was mentioned. In
hushed tones.
Tankerville wonders if Swaddling Songs, the folk club
run by Pete "Paphos" Paphides (with me tagging along)
is no more. Fraid so. Mainly because folk music now
has so many champions it doesn't really need us...
still, there's Early Morning Hush, a comp I put
together for sanctuary which could tide you over. Not
quite the weather for it, but wait til October breezes
start to bite yr legs.
DK Ronge wonders about a club me and Pete used to run
in the mid/late 90s. That'll be Don't Laugh - not
Rooster, as DK remembers surreally - and it was in the
basement of a bar on Shirland Road, Maida Vale. Much
of our regular set appears on The Trip, the comp
Universal put out last year.
Blissteria asks about favourite holiday locations.
Coo. I love the Scottish highlands, Suffolk (Dunwich),
Dorset (Cerne Abbas)... and for city hols New York,
Paris and Stockholm. Right now I'm having a holiday in
pubs and front parlours all over north London watching
thrilling fare like Croatia vs Japan.
Schwenko wonders if we might play in Japan soon. Love
to, but I can't see it. Trying to get over to Tokyo
and DJ though.
Edward and Sihmon wonder if the Mervyn Day soundtrack
is imminent. Good news is... yes. We're aiming for
September/October but you know how these things have a
habit of slipping. We'll try our damnedest.
Goodnight and good luck,
Bob xx
P.S. Sarah will be updating her faves soon!
New Art Riot
June 16th 2006
Fans of "...Turnpike House" designer Lora Findlay will be excited to know that she will be exhibiting a beautiful series of limited
edition screen prints entitled 'Waning' as part of 'Lifecycle' at The Gallery On The Green, 395 A&B Limpsfield Road, Warlingham
Surrey, CR6 9HA. Have a sneak peek. There's a private view on Thursday June 22nd from 5.30 to 8.30 where you can meet Lora, and
Pete will be skulking around too.
Watch out for Eclipse!
16th June 2006
Rumours have been abound for nigh on a year, but we can now announce the first four releases on Bob and Pete's exciting new label
Eclipse, which will be available from the 24th of July. Full details here.
What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day
Will be screened as part of the London Architecture Biennale on June 24th at 6pm at the British Library Conference centre.
Tickets in advance only. Full details here.
Six Days to Saturday
Come to the Barbican to see Bob's excellent choice of football films and documentaries from the '60s to
today - forgotten gems that mirror the public's love for the game, on the pitch and behind the scenes. As
part of this season we will be premiering Monty the Lamb the latest documentary collaboration with director
Paul Kelly about Hendon FC, seen through the eyes of their club mascot.
The season runs from Monday 5th June to Wednesday 7th June. (Monty the Lamb on the 6th)
Tickets £7 online / £8.50 full price / £6.00 Barbican Members and concessions (Multibuy offer: see all three
programmes for £6 each) www.barbican.org.uk/film or 0845 120 7531
Bob & Pete celebrate Marvin Gaye's birthday
30th March 2006
We'll be spinning Marvin songs and covers and generally reincarnating ourselves in a funky space way
next tuesday at the Big Chill Bar in Brick Lane - full details
Life on the road through Ian Catt's eyes:
Nice Price Released!
28th March 2006
We are pleased to announce the release of NICE PRICE - a collection of previously unreleased demos and alternate versions of well
known Saint Etienne songs with suitably 'nice' artwork by Paul Kelly and 'Behind the Music' insights from Bob and Pete.
• Nothing Can Stop Us (alternative vocal)
• 7 Ways 2 Love (Sarah vocal, original white label)
• Who Do You Think You Are (original mix, Debsey vocal)
• Hobart Paving (alternative single mix)
• Like A Motorway (demo)
• Former Lover (single mix)
• Western Wind (demo)
• Angel (original mix)
• Burnt Out Car (original mix)
• Sylvie (alternative single mix)
• Madeleine (alternative mix)
• Lose That Girl (demo)
• Heart Failed (In The Back Of A Taxi) (demo)
• How We Used To Live (Berlin rough mix)
• Milk Bottle Symphony (alternative mix)
• Goodnight (demo)
Lovers Unite members can now purchase 'Nice Price' for £12.99 (+shipping) from www.recordstore.co.uk/saintetienne/home.jsp
There are 3000 copies available with a maximum of two copies allowed per member.
When ordering you will first be asked to set up a record store account (or to log on to an existing one) after this you will be asked for
your Saint Etienne membership name (which is actually your email address) and fan club password.
Nice Price Update
20th March 2006
‘Nice Price’ - a collection of previously unreleased versions and demos of well known Saint Etienne songs will be available very soon to fan club members only. Existing members can retrieve a password to enable purchase of this cd and future offerings by going to: http://www.saintetienne.com/members/ and entering their email address. The password and other member details can then be updated
online at the same page.
We will be announcing the release very shortly. Sorry it's taken so long - there's been lots of technical shenanigans going on in dark rooms to ensure the whole process runs smoothly. Future releases will be much more swiftly available as the systems will all be in place! Thanks
for bearing with us (if you have)
Spanish castle magic
13th March 2006
You might be used to discovering
we're playing gigs/dj'ing/opening a pet shop at the last minute, but we're
not! Anyway, it turns out we're playing at a festival called FESMA (Festival
de Música Avanzada de Castilla y León) in León (north-west
of Spain) on Saturday. Leon is situated 350 kilometres north west
of Madrid. The venue is León Arena (the city's converted, covered
bull ring). Apparently there will other activities in small venues of
the city (expos, conferences etc).
So, the dates of the festival are 17 and 18 march, and we're playing
on the 18th. Beyond that...good luck!
Something else again... have a peek at this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4843211925
This simply isn't on. I've got absolutely no problem with people copying this material for each other, but to SELL cdr's of stuff we sent out for free!! So cheap and greedy. Please stop, perpetrator.
Nice Price news this week... I promise.
Bob xx
Screen test
8th March 2006
Another outing for What Have
You Done Today, Mervyn Day? Here's RIBA's blurb from their website. Come
see!
The RIBA Trust is proud to present a unique evening of short films focusing
on urbanism and London’s changing landscape on Wednesday 29 March
at 6.30pm. The highlight is an exclusive screening of indie band Saint
Etienne’s What Have You Done Today, Mervyn Day? Three further short
films will also be screened. Director Paul Kelly and band member Bob Stanley
will introduce the evenings’ screenings and take an on-stage question
and answer session.
What Have You Done Today, Mervyn Day? continues Saint Etienne’s
deep-seated fascination with the city of London and its inhabitants and
buildings. The film is set in the vast mysterious pylon-covered wasteland
that is the Lower Lea Valley, East London, on the eve of the Olympic redevelopment.
Through the eyes of a paperboy on his first day at work, the band and
film crew race against time to document buildings, landmarks and people
before they disappear to make way for stadiums, spacious plazas and Olympic
villages. David Essex, who features on the band’s critically acclaimed
latest album, ‘Tales From Turnpike House’ narrates alongside
Linda Robson, with accompanying musical score by St Etienne.
Continuing the theme of changing London are three further short films.
From Director Paul Kelly 'Today’s Special' (UK 2004, 3 min) captures
London’s fast-disappearing ‘caffs’; 'The Elephant Will
Never Forget' (1953) loaned from the British Transport Films archive records
the last week of London’s trams, and 'Brief City' on the Festival
of Britain documents the celebrations of 1951.
This event is part of a RIBA Trust series examining how artistic practice
and emerging cultural phenomena are widening architectural discourse and
opening discussion and knowledge of architecture to a wider audience.
Tickets to the public are £12, concessions £10. The film will be screened at the Jarvis Hall at the RIBA, 66 Portland Place, London W1B 1AD For information or to book telephone 020 7307 3699 or visit www.architecture.com/programmes Tickets can also be purchased from the RIBA bookshop at 66 Portland Place, W1B 1A.
Q and A session
7th March 2006
Can't think of the last time I was confined to bed with a fever, but it does give me the chance to answer some of your questions! So, where shall we start? Thankyou Disco 45, glad you liked the Pop Fiction season. Yes, we would love to have a season on BBC4 but it's - not surprisingly - easier said than done. And the DVD rights? No chance. All in the hands of a conglomerate. Crappy as it may sometimes be, the music industry does often seem the most workable compared to film and TV.
Ember Glance asks who the hell is Mandy More. Well, her mindblowing If Not By Fire appeared on The Trip. It's from an album called But That Is Me on Philips in 1972 (which includes a great cover of God Only Knows, an almost impossible feat!). I know she did a few equally intriguing non album singles including Coffee Cups which is very proto Kate Bush. Most of the album is, too.
Any unreleased mixes of tracks from Tales From Turnpike House asks Jamie Stuart. Yus my dear, Xenomania did a single mix of Lightning Strikes Twice before Sanctuary changed their minds and put out A Good Thing. Not wildly different - fuller intro, tweaks etc.
Funen wonders if we'll ever do a live dvd. Hmm, we've thought of a live cd for the fan club, but to make a really watchable live dvd? I've never seen one. So that's a no.
Carlos is intrigued by our definition of the perfect caff. Banquettes or plastic seats he asks. I think he knows the answer. Green leatherette! Found another great one near Liverpool Street station, on the east side of Bishopsgate the other week. Win one, lose one... Di Marco's on Junction Road, Archway, has junked its wonderful sign that read 'Silver Cup ice cream award'. No, I've never heard of it either, but Di Marco's should have kept it proudly on display instead of covering it with a hideous illuminated kebab shop sign. Bah.
And Laura, so sorry to hear about your car accident. Trust me, you missed nothing! Well... we hope you're on the mend. Good luck.
To the rest of you... bon chance!
Bob xx
Paris when it sizzles
6th March 2006
News of our next show, April 18th, in Paris. The show is part of a femme-pop festival called Les Femmes s'en Melent at La Cigalle, 120 Boulevard Rochechouart.7 pm start. It's a beautiful venue. I dunno, New York on Valentines Day, Paris in the spring? We don't half spoil you. Details can be found at www.lfsm.net
American rock, ooh yeah
5th March 2006
Sorry for taking my sweet time about updating this page. I've been luxuriating in a pile of old vinyl I brought back from the US.What a time we had. New York was insane. Mary Weiss from the Shangri La's came to the show - "you guys kick ass" she said, as well as "I must have been listening to the wrong records" but you can't have everything. The Le One Night Stand after party got the whole gang dancing in a manner not seen at a London night spot too often. I played (Basil Kirchin's Viva La Tamla Motown rocked up a storm) and then out came the big guns - Audrey, Sheila and Layla. Annie's Heartbeat was so touching, Desireless's Voyage Voyage blew the roof off. Thankyou ladies. Please move to London.
Chicago was FREEZING. The local "goose beer" kept goose pimples at bay. San Francisco's Fillmore was a sellout - handshakes all round afterwards with Lemony Snickett (Daniel to his delightful wife) and Michael Gillette who did the pics of me and Pete for the inner sleeve of So Tough (c'mon, you remember). Mike also designed a fabulous poster for the gig, slightly reminiscent of a Stevie Nicks sleeve, which I loved. Sadly we lost our copies somewhere en route. Bah.
Los Angeles was WET. But the crowd at the Avalon became steadily more frenzied until we thought a riot might ensue after the encore. Hurrah! Sadly not, but it was the best reaction we've ever had there.
Late late nights. So good. At the moment I'm not saying "it'll never happen again" but it looks like we may not be Stateside for a while. Logistics, kids etc. But who knows what could happen next? We had a gas. I really hope I'm wrong.
On the cards right now we have a season of football documentaries at the Barbican (yes yes, I know Pop Fiction only finished last week but didn't you know there's a world cup on?) on June 6, 7 and 8. Nothing set in stone but we'll be showing our latest effort, plus Once In A lifetime a film about the New York Cosmos from the makers of One Day In September. Just about the only bit on a Venn diagram where football and disco meet - see Pele in Studio 54!
Record news... there are more mixes of Stars Above Us going out to US clubs soon, but I know no details. A Good Thing might be the next US single.
Pete made the front page of The Guardian after dj'ing at Guilty Pleasures last weekend! We'll be making that a regular date.
And that's all for now. As Clydie King's Missing My Baby rings out of my hifi, I will bid you adieu,
Bob xx
Stars On 45
9th February 2006
STARS ABOVE US is released in the US by Savoy on Feb 28th: the original plus six mixes by Eric Kupper and Jeff Barringer. The artwork is based on the Stars pic from the album artwork - once we've seen it we'll pin it up 'ere for you.
I was on BBC Radio 4's Front Row on Tuesday talking about our Barbican film season. And we're going to be on breakfast TV in Chicago the day of the gig. See how well preserved we look at 7am.
Bob x
Twisting the night away
4th February 2006
More details of US fun... may
soon find out about similar misconduct in Los Angles, but for now...
Le One Night Stand, New York's international pop + rock dance party
presents
SAINT ETIENNE AFTER-PARTY
Monday February 13th
Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette Street, NYC
11 pm - 4 am
Special Guest DJ:
Bob Stanley (Saint Etienne)
Resident DJs:
Melody Nelson (Calling All The Kids)
Sheila B. (BUST + Cha Cha Charming)
Josh Styles + Peppermintwist (Smashed! Blocked!)
Plus go-go girls: Anna Copacabanna + Kamila
45 and over
31st January 2006
Saw The Hollies tonight with our manager Martin 'The Cage' Kelly. They did On A Carousel and The Air That I Breathe (in the running for creepiest hit ever) faithfully, but insisted on "updating" early hits like an acoustic Here I Go Again which Ronan Keating would have winced at. Tsk.
In the meantime we've become aware from our super-fans that Stars Above Us is now on a US cd with various new mixes. Six, I think. Ebay won't know what's hit it.
Yrs Bob xx
Our Man In Venezuela
29th January 2006
Just got back from the World Social Forum in Caracas, and it blew my mind. The city did at any rate - I felt like a character from a Graham Greene novel! The place must be like Havana was in the early sixties. The atmosphere is intense. Army and police everywhere, but an incredible sense of optimism. Everybody I met (bar one) said the world should see what's going on there. I won't bang on about Hugo Chavez, even though he's a hero, I'll just recommend watching a documentary called The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.
Meanwhile our Pop Fiction film season starts on the 7th. Have a peek at this super flyer:
http://www.barbican.org.uk/bmail/cinema/PopFiction.htm
And there are screenings for Finisterre and What Have You Done Today, Mervyn Day? in the US too. Last minute as usual ... but the New York one is confirmed (Sunday, February 12th, 7pm).with possibly more to follow. Address for the NYC one in cheeky little Williamsburg is...
Galapagos Art Space
70 N. 6th Street
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
http://www.galapagosartspace.com
A Good Thing was on the soundtrack of Gray's Anatomy last week. Blimey, we'll be on Charmed next.
love Bob x
USA... USA...
20th January 2006
OK folks, here are the details
for our upcoming trip to the States. Hope to see you there.
13 th Feb New York - Irving Plaza - support Mosquitos
15th Feb Chicago - Metro - support Venus Hum
17th Feb San Francisco - Fillmore - support Every Move A Picture
18th Feb Los Angeles - Avalon- support Silver Sunshine
love Bob x
Can I take you to the cinema?
4th January 2006
Happy new year everyone. Got the details of our next film season, POP FICTION, at The Barbican. 3 nights in February, tickets available from the cinema hotline: 0845 120 7527, box office: 0845 120 7550, or at www.barbican.org.uk/film. Sordid details following...
Feb 7th
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN... THE FABULOUS STAINS (1980) + Three Minute Heroes
(1982)
Rarely seen in this country, The Fabulous Stains follows a fictitious
punk girl group (featuring Diane Lane and Laura Dern) touring with a washed
up Glam band (including singer Fee Waybill of The Tubes) and an up and
coming English punk group The Looters - Sex Pistols Paul Cook and Steve
Jones, The Clash's Paul Simonon and Ray Winstone. Written by Nancy Dowd
(an Oscar winner for Coming Home) and directed by pop producer Lou Adler
(The Mamas And Papas), it was shelved and only given a limited arthouse
release in 1983. The film was acknowledged by the likes of Bikini Kill
as an influence on the Riot Grrl scene.
Three Minute Heroes is a BBC Play For Today about five Midlands kids on
the dole who play in a 2 Tone band.
Feb 21st
MADE (1972) + The Long Distance Piano Player (1971)
Reprising her Cathy Come Home/Poor Cow role, Carol White is a single mum
living on a south London estate whose life changes when she meets rock
star Mike Preston (Roy Harper) on Brighton beach. Director John McKenzie
apparently wasn't sure whether to cast Harper, Marc Bolan, Kris Kristofferson
or Ray Davies for the rock star role. Made was chosen, along with Clockwork
Orange, to represent Britain at the 1972 Venice Film Festival.
The Long Distance Piano Player was a Play For Today that gave Ray Davies
his first starring role. He is bullied by his manager (Norman Rossington)
into playing a 48 hour piano marathon in a seaside town. Includes the
otherwise unheard Kinks songs Marathon and Got To Be Free.
28th Feb
JUMPING BEAN BAG (1976) + Glitter (1976)
1976 was a vintage year for Play For Today: Nuts In May, Abigail's Party,
Bar Mitxvah Boy, Brimstone And Treacle. Unlike those classics, Jumping
Bean Bag has never been reshown until now, its 30th anniversary. Public
school Glam band Slag Bag dream of being "as big as the Bay City
Rollers". With singer Ozzie Freemantle (David 'Ford Prefect' Dixon)
and drummer Snare (Denis Lawson) and songs like Snake Madness, they debut
at an end-of-year school play, are expelled, then rise swiftly to the
top only for disaster to strike. Among their loyal fans is a young Linda
Robson.
Toyah Willcox and Phil Daniels star in Glitter, as kids who break into
a TV studio only to be caught by Noel Edmonds.
More cinematic news... we are curating a season of football documentaries
at The Barbican this summer. It's non-stop erotic cabaret round 'ere,
mate.
love Bob