one nation, under dog.

and the you no longer want to be part of the team

Every now and again a shining, majestic beacon of joy finds its way into my stereo before making its way into my head via two well positioned ear holes. The latest dream crumbed blissful blast comes in the form of Bon Iver and their rootin tootin' For Emma, Forever Ago.


The fact is, everything that comes out on Jagjaguwar is worth a listen - see Black Mountain and Besnard Lakes to name but two. This is sure to be a summer sidekick of mine. The only downside is you'll have to hover dangerously close to the Bon Jovi section to find it.

Now, if only they'd perform Greenman.

we got yer back, mun.

Just £10 Llanelli Dollars gets you this felt feel broon underdog logo on a khaki/mustard (?) tee.
Available now @ chesswithdeath tees.

Why not, you'll be dead before you know it and there aint no tees in purgatory.

for the love of Richard Nixon

UNDERDOG SESSIONS

Fish Lovin' Pink Penquins and Calsonic Socialites

Thanks to all who came and made Friday's Gig at The Calsonic Club so successful.
The daunting space which greeted us was packed by the end of the night and those in attendance witnessed the cream of Llanelli talent, which merged the legendary soothing laments of The Hepburns with Sierra Alpha's searing sonic melodies. The evening, kicked off by an acoustic set of oddities by Fosta ended in a crescendo of pop perkiness by The Mams. All in all an evening which will live long in the memory.

For future line-ups watch this space or go to underdog sessions.

If you are in a band and are interested in featuring in one of the gigs or you are a venue interested in hosting an underdog session please contact - chesswithdeath@gmail.com

all photo's courtesy of Mark Foster.

Rumours that Gary and Taff have been added to the bill...

have been very greatly exaggerated.

One day to go to the Brian Potter-esque music extravaganza that is Fosta, Sierra Alpha, The Hepburns and The Mams at the "legendary" Calsonic (Morris Motors) Club, Llanelli.
Its £3 at the door - (arrive early to avoid being at home any longer than you have to) - I make that £1 a band, plus a cheeky wink in Fosta's direction.

Listen out for some sweet sounds from underdog sessions on the decks too - the perfect full bodied merlot to accompany the live meaty musical feast.

A big "We are not worthy" goes to - Chantelle Rees for great column inches in today's Llan Star which could easily have been used for another desperate plea from local residents to keep the Scarlets playing at Stradey or for more poems bemoaning the lack of shoe shops* in the town centre (12 at the last count). Pints will be forcoming!

So in three, bring it on - Friday night, Joio indeed.

*for shoe shops read "any shops".

Cack-Hand of my Fathers

Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom - highlight of the Calzaghe v Hopkins showdown in Vegas at the weekend was Sir Uncle Tom's total balls-up of the Welsh National anthem. It really was worth setting the alarm for, perhaps more than the fight itself. Talk about making it up as you go along. He thought he could easily fool us with a well placed cloud of vowels but alas it was not to be!
I think all that fake tan has finally done for his brain. I was embarrassed both for him and for Wales - not that the Yanks noticed mind!

That said, at least he's still got the accent after all these years of being over there - Zeta Jones has only been there two minutes and sounds like she was raised in the back of a Starbucks in the Hollywood hills. Idiot.

Woo Hoo P.O. Blue!

Late Beach Boy Dennis Wilson's legendary solo album Pacific Ocean Blue is beloved by those who've waded in its grandiose psych-soul... and all but unknown to those who haven't. The album's been out of print for over 10 years, rendering the audience for this forgotten gem smaller and smaller. But after all that time spent out to sea, Pacific Ocean Blue will come crashing back to shore May 13 as a two CD set from Caribou/Epic/Legacy and a double LP vinyl version from the Sundazed label.

LINK

Lets not Lose The Point

"The Point is under threat of closure due to impending court action by Cardiff Council over noise emitting from the venue and disturbing some of our new neighbours.

Whilst we are doing everything we can to resolve the issue, we do need you to register your support for this great venue and keep live music alive in Cardiff - and maybe politicians and the Council will take notice and work with us to get it fixed. "

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/thepoint/

http://www.thepointcardiffbay.com/

Laugharne weekend - spring sunny sunday

A great day at the Laugharne Weekend - my cursing paid off and the weather was great. Goddam, has spring finally made an appearance?

I'm definitely making this mini-fest a part of my calendar every year. Lin was a star and donned the role of nominated driver again, which meant I was able to hit the merlot with sideorders of 'bow. Well hey Laugharne and sobriety really dont mix.
The Smiths' Mike Joyce was charming and Patti Smith was a real joy.

Where else can you enjoy a pint with Howard Marks outside a rugby club, pop inside to hear Barry Llewellyn and Roy Begiers discuss Llanelli vs The All Blacks '72 and follow it up with an hour in the presence of a rock goddess meditating on Rimbaud?

PHOTOS ON FLICKR

cursing the god who's not there.

What is it with me and music festivals???
Glastonbury and Greenman were a complete wash-out last year. Foster promised his presence at GM would guarantee sun too,I should have sued. Anyhow here I am staring out into the squall, fully aware that tomorrow I'm off to The Laugharne Festival for the day.
All Im left do is look to the heavens and curse.

Turk T.V.

To say last night I enjoyed televisual feast would be an understatement - for most of the night I was pretty hooked on Most Haunted Live from Turin with the vino, but when eleven came just I had to hop over to HTV for Unsigned - two tracks from our very own The Mams - featuring great cameos from Steve from the Kilkenny Cat and the legendary Cyril, landlord of The Drovers. See Below.
Next up was a documentary on Llanelli's favorite alcoholic Hollywood suicide Rachel Roberts. She's great in two of my 60's favs - This Sporting Life opposite Richard Harris and Saturday Night, Sunday Morning (left) with Albert Finney.

Tickets for The Hepburns on sale here...

16 , John Street

Llanelli

SA15 1UH

Telephone

01554 771772

Opening Times

Mon - Fri 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

Sat 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

E Mail celticmuisicman@btconnect.com

LINK

£2.50 ADV - £3 on the door, the evening of the gig.

another dull day in the office...

and now my heart is full.

Just stumbled across this totally by accident...

" Morrissey to grace Wireless event"

...nuff said - tickets bagged - I knew nothing of this, thought I'd missed out on Mozza for this year.
Tickets for his Camden Roundhouse residency were like the proverbial G.D.
Beck and The National on the same day too cant be bad!

Of the Festival, Morrissey says: 'What is classical is what we all agree on, and I think we all acknowledge Hyde Park festivals as important events. I am honoured to be asked to headline on July 4th, marking my 26th year haunting British music, and following the Hyde Park greats - T.Rex, Joan Armatrading, and someone with insecure teeth. I promise a thundering bill of tight nerves and suavity and all your favourites from Disc magazine. I will take Hyde Park like a flea inhabits a dog. Art-hounds and people with badly cut hair are very welcome. I shall do my utmost not to pull a sour face. The sun will make up its own mind. It is, of course, the day when America celebrated its independence from Sidcup, but we can easily reverse that situation with a bit of John Mills stiff-upperness. Bring your own lodging-house towels, but don't expect any three-shrimp appetizers.'

Thanks to Alun at Cadno (Celtic) Music Llanelli for offering to support the upcoming event (as he does with all local gigs etc).
Tickets will be available from his shop in John St for the gig from this week.


Cadno (Celtic) Music Llanelli

Countdown to Calsonic Nights

Watched Pheonix Nights on More4 last night, really set me up for my visit to Calsonic today - where we were testing the new pa for the upcoming gig. The room is big to say the least - you could lose 200 people in there easily - (I think the capacity is around 300). We'll settle for 100 plus - but hey, we'll see.

I remember seeing Man there a few years ago, in all seriousness it really can be a cracking venue.
Good news is pa is more than capable - those who were at the first gig at The Met will remember the sound wasn't great to say the least. No repeat of that please. Anyhow it survived P.'s attempt at keeping up with Neil Young 'Harvest'.
The crying boy poster for the night will really fit in up there - reminding the bingo-ers of their lounges in the '70's - or hey, in Felinfoel, their lounges today!

Upcoming Gig

The Mams, The New Tea Party, Amelia Duke @ The Met Bar, Llanelli - Sunday, March 2nd

The Mams @ The Met Bar, Llanelli - Sunday, March 2nd