smoe.org mailing lists
ivan@stellysee.de
| From | "Jaimie Vernon" <bullseyecanada@hotmail.com> |
| Subject | LIVERPOOL PART 1 - ROLL UP FOR THE MYSTERY TOUR (long) |
| Date | Sat, 26 May 2007 16:44:59 -0400 |
[Part 1 text/plain (10.2 kilobytes)]
(View Text in a separate window)
Hellooo from Liverpuddle...
Arrived safe and sound in the UK on Friday morning at Manchester
international after an uneventful but sleepless flight overnight (watched
‘Dreamgirls’…highly recommended for those who appreciate Motown era pop
music). From there it was easy access through customs – being Canadian has
its advantages -- and grabbed a taxi into Manchester’s downtown core. Was
dropped at Manchester’s modern looking train station (think Harry Potter on
Mars) and caught a small commuter train through the lovely English
countryside north to Liverpool. Was regaled by the passenger next to me who
was from Warrington and told me his whole life story in under 20
minutes….including a mother who’d had a stroke and a next door neighbour
with a nasty dog. Lovely gent but he thought I was American. Ah, well.
The train drops you off at Queen's Square in the port city of Liverpool
which is a hub of activity...mostly because it's seriously under
construction as the residents gear up for their 800th anniversary in 2008.
Quick history note: Liverpool is the second oldest port in the UK after
London itself. Captain George Vancouver who discovered the inlet in British
Columbia and city that bares his name on the 3rd James Cook expedition is
buried north of Liverpool. But I digress…
Walked down Lime Street with luggage in tow because it was a lovely, though
cool, day and my hotel was a short ‘hop’ from there. Across Ranelagh/Hanover
streets which remind me a lot of Montreal. Shops and bistros and street
performers. In one square block I spotted 3 music stores and two CD shops
including a massive Virgin Megastore. Will have to explore those up close
another day.
Down Paradise Street...which it no longer was as they've torn down every
building in the Liver Street crossover area to make way for a monster mall
of some sort -- I counted 11 construction cranes. In amongst the dust and
hard-hats I stood outside the Hanover Street Merseyside headquarters of the
BBC (but more on that later).
Made my way to The Strand...which is like Toronto's Lakeshore Blvd...minus
the eyesore that is the Gardiner Expressway. Final destination being the
Albert Dock.
Across the road and over ancient cobble stones, the pier stands
magnificently restored since my last visit to Liverpool in '02. I was
greeted at the desk of the Premier Travel Inn by a lovely gal who said I was
too early to check in, but gladly hid my luggage so I could explore. Minutes
later, I found myself wondering about the huge dock facility investigating
the local shops. The highlight here is the Beatle Museum where they're about
to reconstruct one of Ringo's childhood homes from scratch after tearing it
down last year. I've been to the museum in the past and it's a fascinating
recreation of the Beatles story...using mannequins and authentic artifacts
(like sections of the original Cavern Club stage). They’ve even recreated
the offices of Mersey Beat magazine and the music store where McCartney
bought his first and subsequent Hoffner bass guitars.
The dock is an enclave of brownstone buildings on stilts that encircle a
rest-water pier where local boats can navigate from the canals and locks off
the Mersey River proper. The out-buildings consist of an authentic mechanics
house (converted to a museum to show what pre-WW II tenement homes look like
inside), a Pumphouse which is now converted into a two story hotel and pub
and sculptures of Liverpool icons including Billy Fury.
Had lunch at the Panamerican Café & Bar and took in a gourmet Turkey
BLT…with bacon that looked like Canadian peameal. Food was delicious and
allayed my greatest fear coming back here that I’d have to eat (cold)
bangers and mash my entire trip!
Got my hotel room sorted out which overlooks the Mersey, had a shower after
being awake some 22 hours straight, a call home to the "colonies", and then
off to investigate the entertainment for the day as a prelude to the whole
purpose of my trip – The International Pop Overthrow Festival.
A brisk 15 minute walk in another direction leads one to James Street/Lord
Street (I’ve noticed in Liverpool
that any street longer than you can properly kick a soccer ball immediately
changes names), up North John Street to Victoria and presto – The Cavern
Quarter….or more specifically, Mathew Street….the legendary home of The
Cavern Club and the birth place of The British Invasion. The street itself
is barricaded at both ends and is now a colonade for pedestrians with only
three ways of getting in and out. The impetus, and the luring charm, aside
from its historical significance on the world of popular music is the
continuation of its musical vibe. There are only pubs and souvenir
shops…mixing tourist commerce with the ongoing tradition of music…and
drinking. The Irish Pub, The Grapes (where The Beatles often went to drink
after their Cavern shows because they were under age and couldn’t get served
at the Cavern as it was an all-ages facility back in ‘the day’), Remiss (a
90s dance club), Rubber Soul Oyster Bar, Kid Cavern’s, The Cavern Pub,
Lennon’s and The Cavern Club itself.
But I wasn’t going to the Cavern on this day….I would walk right passed it
and downstairs into the newer Lennon’s pub where on arrival I met up with
one of my label’s premiere acts Dave Rave and also BongoBeat label president
and Diodes band manager Ralph Alfonso who was literally getting ready to go
on stage as the opening act for his roster of talent at this, the BongoBeat,
showcase.
For those who don’t know Ralph he is the embodiment of beatnik cool. A more
studied variation of Mike Myer’s jazz poet character in the movie "So I
Married An Axe Murder". Ralph knows his stuff and his poetry is entertaining
when set to surf guitar licks or a re-reading of "Louie Louie". Amongst the
dark and dingy basement stew of bodies, cigarette smoke (Liverpudlians go
smoke free on July 1st) Ralph managed to set the tone of stories about Billy
Fury and Gene Vincent (where Ralph takes the viewpoint of the ambulance
driver sent to the call to save Vincent’s life) entitled "Gene Vincent Died
In My Arms Last Night".
Next on board was a fabulous LA guitarist/songwriter in the early Elvis
Costello pub pop mould named Ari Shine. He was backed by a group of FRENCH
musicians known as the Plastic Heroes which made for an amazing set because
the drummer spoke no English and you’d swear they’d been playing with Ari
for years. Then the Plastic Heroes did a set of their own material….very
Killers/Strokes in their approach but melodic and poppy.
Several other friends arrived including Bullseye’s promo gal Lisa Millar and
our mutual friend Gail Shackley who was up from Manchester and another
expatriate Brit Jenny Barnett who lives in New York now and rarely misses
the IPO in whatever city it’s being held.
Dave Rave took the stage next representing both BongoBeat where his new jazz
album will be released shortly and as a Bullseye artist for Dave is still
promoting the very successful anthology series we released last year. His
backing band was a reformed alternate version of his pre-Teenage Head
rockabilly band The Shakers. A rousing set of rockabilly originals followed
culminating in Dave’s wild ride of a version of Teenage Head’s "Let’s Shake"
with added backing vocals by Ralph, Ari Shine and The Plastic Heroes. It
brought down the house!
The piece-du-resistance was due next. It took 30 years and a 3,000 mile trip
to accomplish, but The Diodes took the stage for the second of two shows
(they played the Cavern to a full house the night before) and levelled the
bar. I missed them during their prime but Paul Robinson, Ian McKay and John
Catto along with the drummer from Liverpool’s High Noon, made the long wait
to see them worthwhile. It was a short thirty minute set but they did not
disappoint with renditions of "Child Star", "Red Rubber Ball" and the song
that was voted by Chart Magazine in 1995 as one of the greatest Canadian
songs of all time "Tired Of Waking Up Tired". The entire BongoBeat roster
took the stage to do call-and-response vocals on the chorus.
By 6PM it was all wrapped up and several bands appeared after them….but we
all rolled out into the fading sunlight of Mathew Street as the Diodes
loaded gear to go back to John Catto’s rehearsal studio (he and Paul
Robinson live in Britain now).
But before we could figure what to do next Spencer Leigh, celebrated DJ and
legendary British Invasion historian, arrived to interview Ralph Alfonso and
Dave Rave about their knowledge of Liverpool ‘60’s singing sensation Billy
Fury (whom Leigh has just done a biography of in his new book ‘Wondrous
Face’). Leigh was quite impressed with the two gents and their knowledge and
will be airing the interview on BBC Merseyside soon. We chatted a bit after
that and Rave suggested I meet up with Spencer the next day at the radio
studio and have a chat there about Bullseye as an excuse to plug my new CD
"Time Enough At Last".
A rather gracious offer not to be missed !
As the noise from the surrounding pubs on Mathew Street grew louder –
particularly from the 40 or more soccer hooligans singing a karaoke version
of Thelma Houston’s "Don’t Leave Me This Way" !!! -- it was decided that
what we needed was Indian cuisine. So Dave Rave lead us up Victoria Street
passed the St. Thomas Hotel to the Jerome Building and The Sultan’s Palace.
Paul Robinson had arrived earlier to book seating for 22 people and so began
an interesting night of spicey food and tall tales. However, after a few
hours I took my leave as I’d been without sleep at that point for 35 hours
straight. I stumbled back to Albert Dock and face-planted for the next 12
hours. Jet lag’s a bitch baby.
NEXT TIME: Adventures at the BBC
Jaimie Vernon,
President, Bullseye Records
http://www.bullseyecanada.com
SWAG:
http://www.cafepress.com/bullseyecanada
BULLSEYE LIVE 365 RADIO:
http://www.live365.com/stations/bullseyerecords
Author, Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia
http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/
http://www.myspace.com/jaimievernonsmovingtargetz
_________________________________________________________________
Upgrade to Windows Live Hotmail for free today!
www.newhotmail.ca?icid=WLHMENCA151
For assistance, please contact
the smoe.org administrators.