Hayseed Dixie – at The Lemon Tree – Aberdeen, UK

In 2004 I was walking in the centre of Aberdeen when I heard there was a Hillbilly band in town that night from Nashville, who did a great version of “The Ace of Spades”. Taking a chance I bought a ticket and went along. That night I saw one guy with a guitar, one with a banjo, one with a mandolin and one with a bass guitar. I wondered what was going to happen, and thus I was introduced to rock grass - a cross between bluegrass and rock. I took some pictures with a small compact camera and really enjoyed myself. A few months later I attended gig number two and was told by the band that I could take as many photos as I liked. This was the start of my band photography career. In 2005 I attended 13 gigs by Hayseed Dixie, from Aberdeen to Wales. They also started up a festival in Ullapool called Loopallu which was actually where I met my future wife and best friend Sally. Now I’ve seen them at least 50 times and we are like family. Fast forward to 2013 and there I was at their 999th gig in Aberdeen…

It was hot, cramped and sweaty, but everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. For this tour Hayseed Dixie decided to play the whole of their ‘Tribute to AC/DC’ album, followed by requests given to them by the audience. This turned out to be an excellent premise as the crowd got to hear exactly what they wanted.

The AC/DC songs went down well, always favourites of the fans and obviously where the band got their name from. John Wheeler on vocals drew everyone in with his dulcet tones and southern accent. Don Wayne Reno excelled on the banjo and his brother Dale was as good as ever on his mandolin. That left Jake Byers on his booming bass guitar to wow the punters with his great rhythms.

For the requests we were treated to songs like “Uncle Virgil” (not a favourite of mine but fun to hear), “Moonshiner’s Daughter” and “Poop in a Jar”. My highlight was when they dedicated a song to me and mentioned how they’d seen me grow over the years from an amateur into a proficient photographer. The song was the Sex Pistols “Holidays in the Sun”. They finished up with an excellent version of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb”.

These guys always take time out after their gigs to speak to the fans and have a beer with anyone that wants to. It’s a really nice personal touch which too many bands fail to do.

Hayseed Dixie – thank you for all the memories and here’s to making many more!

More photos of the show can be seen HERE

-Dod Morrison-
Big Wheel Overseas Reporter

 

 

 

 

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Interview with Olga of The Toy Dolls

Interview by: Dod Morrison
Big Wheel Overseas Reporter
 

Toy Dolls have just finished there Uk tour. I had been to two of the shows, one in Sunderland, his home town which they hadn’t played for 30 years, and Glasgow, both were brilliant shows. I managed to get front man Olga to answer a few questions from his favourite food to playing at Rebellion.

BW: You have just finished your 1st UK tour in a while, how did it go?

Olga: Highly enjoyable!  And what a lovely warm loyal crowd, EVERYWHERE! Local crews and treatment were nice too!  Twas a pleasure!  But knackered now though!


BW: How did you feel playing Sunderland your home town for the 1st time in 30 years? 

Olga: Oh, a bit surreal!  Felt like being in a dream, so many people we knew from the past there!  A very special night for me obviously, but the nerves didn’t help!


BW: What is your favourite country or venue to play?

Olga: Ah, I wouldn't like to single out one particular country! Wouldn't be fair, Japan is great for many reasons, France mega too, Brazil, Spain, Argentina are probably the wildest party people! Germany & Switzerland rock, and Austria, Poland, Czech Republic & Hungary, I love Sweden & Norway also, Russia too …..Bah, EVERYWHERE ROCKS!


BW:  I read that originally you could only play if you wore your sunglasses, is that still the case?

Olga: Yep, always has been! Already a bag o’ nerves with them on, never mind taking them off n’ playin’!


BW:  How long will you keep touring. As a very big part of your show is jumping about etc, when you can't do that anymore would you still play? 

Olga: Mmm, tough one, as soon as we can’t manage certain jumps & choreography, then we will stop, I wouldn't wanna carry on if we couldn't do the full stage show, so probably a couple more weeks I guess!

BW: Can you remember that eureka moment when you decided, that’s it I want to be in a band?

Olga: Yes, when I saw Suzi Quatro on Top of the Pops, it’s her fault!

BW: Some bands have outrageous items on there riders what’s the weirdest thing you have asked for if any?

 

Olga: Ha, boring rider we have, water, water water…., we did ask for Cadburys flakes a few years back, but they didn't have them outside o’ the UK, so they used to give us 30 boxes of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes instead!

BW: When writing your songs what comes 1st the lyrics or the music?

Olga: It differs all the time, but generally the melody, but could be a lyric or title or whatever.

BW: And how do you get your ideas for songs?

Olga: From everyday life, keep listening to gossip & people talkin’ on the bus, and try to absorb everything that's going around.


BW: When not touring or writing songs, what do you do to relax? 

Olga: Well, on those rare moments. I like the theatre, TV, walking… Punk or what!


BW:  What bands are you listening to just now?

Olga: Ella Fitzgerald, Chet Baker or silence!


BW:  What is your favourite food? 

Olga: Cauliflower cheese.

BW: Million dollar question, will you ever play Rebellion punk festival? 

Olga: Possibly!

 

 

 

 

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Show Preview: SKAmania Holiday Extravaganza Featuring Pat Kelly & The Clarendonians – at Los Globos – SilverLake CA – December 7, 2013

Friday December 7th local reggae and ska regulars will once again converge on silver lake, at the now infamous and vastly important reggae clubhouse known as, SKamania! In what felt like an eternity, SKAmania returns for their ‘Ska  & Rock steady Holiday Extravaganza’ featuring The Steady 45’s, Queen P, Chris Murray and BOTH Pat Kelly & The Clarendonians being backed by The Delirians.

 

For as long as one could remember SKAmania had been introducing locals to the finest Jamaican artists from the country’s golden era to artists of today in what was always a perfect mash up of the past and present, continuing that trend SKAmania picks up right where it had left off. For those with their ears closely to the ground and hips glued to the dance floor, have no doubt noticed the influx of top level Reggae, Rock steady and Ska to wash over the west coast in recent years as Local labels have brandished their artists with a glimmer in their collective eyes, left Coast mainstay SteadyBeat Records will no doubt swell with pride as both The Steady 45’s and The Delirians accent this remarkable year ending show.

Local favorites The Delirians have been featured across all media outlets near and far and how could one question it? The talent these young men display has been seen with the likes of Ken Boothe, Jimmy Cliff, Eric Monty Morris and Pat Kelly to only name a few. And now return to the old stomping grounds with label mates The Steady 45’s. Adding to the Rock steady Flavor The Steady 45’s bring with them a very polished sound and dance craze invoking energy that has help propel them to the top of Los Angeles’s ska scene in a short amount of time placing them amongst the young elite in the community.

Original SteadyBeat Records and recent SKAmania lovers will no doubt recognize another lovely face belting away beautiful tune after beautiful tune as Queen P makes her anticipated return to the Los Globos stage. Always assured a fantastic set, Queen P and her dynamic vocal range will only add more merriment to this Holiday Extravaganza.

The next Christmas gift under the Rock steady tree is old friend The Globetrotting-acoustic legend, Chris Murray. With as many frequent flyer miles as popular tunes Chris Murray has delighted audiences from every genre and creed. And BigWheelMagazine.com even had the pleasure of catching him class things up a bit amongst all the debauchery of this years Punk Rock bowling festival 2013 in Las Vegas. Aside from his sheer acoustic mastery fans know him from his countless appearances on endless Ska tracks and one of the most revered regular Ska/Reggae nights to come across L.A. Bluebeat Lounge. 

Rounding off the highly anticipated night will be Pat Kelly and The Clarendonians being supported by The Delirians. Since going solo in 1968 with ‘Little Boy Blue’ Pat Kelly has turned out some of the finest music ever to leave the island. SKAmania regulars will once again welcome him back to Los Angeles and the Los Globos Stage as he makes his triumphant return, and is sure to bring with him some dance floor favorites such as ‘How Long Will It Take’ ‘Soulful Love’ ‘Sunshine’  ‘I’ll Never Fall In Love Again’ and personal favorite  ‘Dark End Of The Street’. Never a disappointment and a huge draw, Pat Kelly is just one half of the co-headline bill sure to be one for the ages.

The other headline act, and final group of the evening The Clarendonians Ernest Wilson and Peter Austin will make their long awaited Los Angeles debut in smashing fashion. We join together in celebrating 50 years of Clarendonians music be it solo tunes or chart toppers as a tandem, including: ‘Rudie Gone A Jail’ ‘Rudie Bam Bam’ ‘Darling Forever’ ‘You Wont See Me’ ‘This Is My Story’ amongst countless others. The Clarendonians are a relic to the glory years, to be viewed, appreciated and held in high esteem. To miss December 7th for anything other than a medical emergency will leave you feeling like the Grinch for the remainder of the holiday season. 

 

 

-Gio Van Dam-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter

 

 

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Show Preview: The Bangles with Three O’Clock, The Dream Syndicate & The Rain Parade – at The Fonda Theatre – Los Angeles, CA – December 6, 2013

If, like me, you were too young in the early 80s to catch live shows, you’re in luck. On December 6th at the Fonda Theatre, Paisley Underground groups Rain Parade, The Dream Syndicate, The Three O’Clock, and The Bangles will perform. Paisley Underground is a term coined by Michael Quercio (of The Three O’Clock) to describe local Los Angeles bandsthat channeled the psychedelic sounds of the 60s (think The Byrds and The Velvet Underground).



Brothers David and Steven Roback were in a short-lived band with Susanna Hoffs before forming Rain Parade. Their debut album, “Emergency Third Rail Power Trip”, mixes melancholy lyrics and jangly guitars. David later teamed up with bassist Kendra Smith (Dream Syndicate) to form Opal, and later, Mazzy Star. If you like The Byrds sound mixed with Echo and The Bunnymen vocals, you’ll like Rain Parade.

Originally from Davis, CA, Steve Wynn (vocals) and Kendra Smith (bass) found themselves in Los Angeles and shortly after teamed up with Karl Precoda to form The Dream Syndicate. Compared to The Velvet Underground, I can hear Lou Reed on their album “The Days of Wine and Roses”, if Reed was fronting The Damned. The use feedback can sound jarring, but The Dream Syndicate uses it perfectly on their albums.

Originally formed as The Salvation Army (name changed due to legal issues), The Three O’Clock fall more on the poppy end of the psychedelic spectrum. If you listened to KROQ during this time, you probably heard their songs Jet Fighter, off of the “Sixteen Tambourines” album, or their later synth-y single Suzie’s On The Ball Now.  In the late 80s, The Three O’Clock signed up with Prince’s Paisley Park Records, but met with minimal acclaim.

The most well-known band to come out of the Paisley Underground is, without a doubt, The Bangles. Sisters Vicki and Debi Peterson are the foundation of the band, providing a seriously kick-ass drummer in Debi, and a brilliant rock guitarist in Vicki. Susanna Hoffs’ vocals can be gentle or raucous, depending on what emotion the song needs to convey. Though The Bangles have met with commercial success and chart toppers, it’s their lesser-known songs that deserve more notice. (Walk Like an Egyptian and Manic Monday can burn in an Eternal Flame as far as I’m concerned.) In Your Room and Hero Takes A Fall showcase their talents as musicians, and I will keep my fingers crossed that both of those songs make the setlist for the show.

Win tickets to go to go see The Bangles
  at The Fonda Theater in Los Angeles on Friday December 6, 2013
   Enter the contest HERE

 

-Anni Thyme-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter

 

 

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Boomtown Rats – at Beach Ballroom – Aberdeen, UK

This was the last night of The Boomtown Rats’ reunion tour, promoting the release of their album compilations and new EP. Having not played with this line up for 27 years expectations were high. We had Bob Geldof on vocals, Pete Briquette on bass, Simon Crowe on drums and Garry Roberts on guitar, plus a couple of newbie’s.

The venue wasn’t sold out and there was definitely a higher than average age range compared with other music gigs from the same era. The support act played bland covers and we hoped this wasn’t the way the evening was going.

After quite a surreal Pedigree Chum advert, the band were introduced by a film showing images of rats along with photos of band members as they were then and are now. The actual band came bounding onto the stage glistening with attitude. Geldof was wearing a snakeskin suit and had crazy white hair. He started working the crowd straight away and quickly got people clapping and cheering. He moved all over the stage gesturing wildly, spinning and dancing, often leaning out over the crowd.

During ‘Like Clockwork’ Geldof started to play the tambourine. The whole band seemed to be really into the music and enjoying it.  When ‘(She’s Gonna) Do You In’ started we got treated to some harmonica playing, complete with a playoff against the guitarist, both of them on their knees.

In one break between songs Geldof yelled “You are Aberdeen on a Sunday night, and I can't understand a fucking word you are saying!” This brought a massive cheer from the crowd! He carried on saying that their songs could have been written today, nothing has changed and that the songs are still just as relevant.

In between songs Geldof would regale us with tales from back in the day. We heard about a kid called Joey who used to go to their gigs in the early days and disappeared for ‘Joey’s On the Street Again’. We also heard about when they got banned from playing in Ireland, so instead they wrote a song which ended up becoming a hit single all over the world – ‘Banana Republic’. This was followed up with ‘She's So Modern’.

‘I Don't Like Mondays’ was obviously a hit, and it was especially amusing when the band paused in middle of it whilst the crowd tried to work out when to keep singing! This was followed up with the rockier song 'close as you’ll Ever Be’. ‘Rat Trap' went down a treat too.

The band was begged by the audience for an encore and they didn’t disappoint – we got two! Thanks were said to all musicians, the crew and anyone who helped with the tour. This was meant to be the last tour they’ll do, and it’s a shame if that is the case.

This was one hell of a ride – energetic, fun and great music. As one punter said on their way out “that was one of the best gigs of the year”. Hear hear!

More photos of the show can be seen HERE

-Sally Morrison-
Big Wheel Overseas Reporter

 

 

 

 

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The Murder City Devils – at The Fonda Theatre – Los Angeles, CA

Sunday evening, fans of The Murder City Devils flocked to the world famous Fonda Theatre in Hollywood for the first of three southern California shows. Just as when MCD played The Fonda in 2010, the venue sold out! 

If you have ever experienced them live or rocked out to one of their albums while you are getting ready for a night of debauchery, then it should be of no surprise that tickets went as fast as they did. This band is epic in every sense of the word.

After what seemed an eternity (apparently they were waiting til everyone made it in the building), Murder City Devils took the stage with the veracity we have come to expect from them. 

I was a little confused when the curtains drew up and instead of seeing a laid back, cool Leslie Hardy hangin out behind the keyboard with a coke a cola and a cig, there was a young energetic guy kicking ass on the keyboard. (Guess I didn't get the memo or I don't keep up like I should) While I missed her energy, her replacement got the job done quite well. Not only did he sound good, but he was entertaining to watch and added energy to the over all stage performance.

Second song in, "Idle Hands", Spencer Moody was already deep throating his microphone like a pro, driving the crowd wild with his insane stage antics.

The band went onto play favorites such as "Broken Glass", "18 Wheels", "Dancin' Shoes", "Every Shitty Thing", "Left Hand, Right Hand", and "Dance Hall Music". As the show went on the energy from the crowd grew in intensity and everywhere people were dancing, singing to the top of their lungs, and crowd surfing.

The guys left the stage briefly and returned to play a three song encore ending with "Ball Busters In The Peanut Gallery" from their 7" released in 2011.

Murder City Devils killed it at The Fonda, however I couldn't help but be a tad bit jealous for the folks getting to see T.S.O.L. with them the next evening at The Observatory.

 

   More photos of the show can be seen HERE

-J.Moncrief-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter

 

 

 

 

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