THE STIRRER’S WEEK

10-05-2008

It’s been a musical melange this week, what with Birmingham International Dance Festival, Leonard Cohen’s weird album with Phil Spector, Nick Cave, and the strains of Keep Right On.

It’s been a musical week for The Stirrer; starting last Saturday with a frenetic performance in Victoria Square as part of the International Dance Festival.

Thankfully I was watching, not taking part, as several dozen lithe young things went through their paces on a special stage straddling the Floozy in the Jacuzzi, all backed by a scarifying, megavolume soundtrack.

It was the kind of “dance” that actually looks more like gymnastics, all somersaults and acrobatics, but no less engaging for that.

Even better, it ended with one of the cars suspended from the rigging outside the Council House filling with smoke and exploding.

This probably wasn’t one for the connoisseur, but from “Joe Public” perspective it was splendid entertainment – and a useful way of giving ordinary Brummies a connection with the Festival in their midst.

Terry Wills also enjoyed his trip to Havana Ratakan at The Hippodrome (see link here) and there’s still a few weeks of the event to run with the mainstream highlight being the trip from the Kirov (www.idfb.co.uk).

Having had my eardrums tickled by the speakers in Viccy Square, I mooched on down to Swordfish Records on Temple Street, an old haunt which seemed down on its luck and alarmingly low on new stock.

They have got plenty of good, cheap old stuff though. I spent less than £13 on three CD’s, among them, Death of A Ladies Man by Leonard Cohen – a truly weird album produced by Phil Spector and featuring one of the best song titles of all time – Don’t Go Home With A Hard On.

I supplemented that with The Stooges’ Funhouse – raucous, piledriving power, and one of the lodestones of Punk; and the bombastic, trippy Ladies And Gentleman We Are Floating In Space by Spritualised.

Lovers of more earache inducing psychedelic weirdness (ie me) might like to note that the Butthole Surfers are appearing at Wolves Civic on July 6 (www.wolvescivic.co.uk)

Talking of the Civic, congratulations to our old mate and Stirrer advertiser Dave Travis whose Cheeky Monkey/Blast Off gig won Best Club Night in the Express and Star Awards.

Dave reports that he got Noddy Holder’s autograph – only the second of his life. The other was Frank Sidebottom!

Oh, and in case you want to know what a cheeky monkey looks like on a skateboard, here’s your answer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uZh4s6gdAI

Back in Brum, I caught a wonderful performance by Nick Cave at the Academy on Monday. This was a top notch show from an artist who has properly matured from the squeal and belch of The Birthday Party into a fine gloomy balladeer, even if with the Bad Seeds in tow, there’s always a temptation to let it rawk.

Glad to see our musicmeister Paul Samuels rated it too (see link here).

Even John Hemming couldn’t have done better (see link here)

Less good news from Birmingham’s Jug Of Ale, though, now doomed to closure with a final gig on Sunday night starring Misty In Roots and featuring a DJ set from one of the Editors. It promises to be a tearful night.

For old times sake, here’s DJ Ernie Cartwright at The Jug with Simon Fowler from Ocean Colour Scene, and his band-mate Steve Craddock.

The Stirrer popped by to the pub when we heard the news and bagged the only interview with landlady Anne Garside (see link here).

On a final musical note, I trust the strains of Keep Right On will be ringing out from St Andrews come the final whistle on Sunday.

Like many Baggies fans, I feel an affinity with Blues and hope for the sake of the West Midlands that they can keep their place in the Premiership.

Now the Baggies are there, I even want Wolves to go up – if only because it would be a guaranteed six points every season.

What a pity that Albion pooped the promotion party by refusing to have a victory parade. After a marvellousnine months, I’m in a forgiving mood, but there’s no doubt it was a PR own goal (http://tinyurl.com/6ro3a2).

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