CRY WOLF at STAINES - JULY 4TH at RIVERSIDE CLUB £3

Cry Wolf at Staines Riverside Club

…. We have got a Blackfoot Sue track on a K-Tel album (remember those?) up in the loft. Thinking about it, the track is most likely ‘Standing in the Road’ a No.4 hit single for the band in the UK and one of those ‘if only there were more’ numbers. It sounded a lot like 1970’s Slade with a thudding base and a stomping drum, but a bit meaner and a bit more moody, like a Free track. But no, in fact, the song was by a band that was most often found in the ‘girl teen’ magazines like Jackie, June or School Friend etc. in the poster pages in the middle titled ” Most fanciable fella ” or “Boys I would most like to snog”. Yeah, as far as I can remember, Blackfoot Sue were a 1970’s boy band with lots of long hair and pouts who had a mean and raw edge in music that didn’t quite go with their ‘pop-tastic’ persona.

Starting out as a progressive group (not unlike the band ‘Tomorrow‘ or even Soft Machine) but with a haunting, driving tribal beat, riff-orientated melodies and soaring vocal harmonies- this Brummie/Hounslow band evolved into a household name in 1973 with a beautifully polished gatefold-sleeved album and a media-friendly glittery public image. And I will bet you a pound to a penny that you have heard that pounding, hummable single ‘Standing in the Road’ several times yourself in your life (at School Discos and Wedding Receptions) and you would still swear that it was Slade even after reading this review!

Well Blackfoot Sue have now incarnated into Cry Wolf and I was lucky enough to see and hear them at the Staines Riverside Club last year. They are now heavy, bluesy, mature and very, very serious and I will be going to see them again next week! Heavenly mix of vibrant raw rock and blues. Oh, and they still have long hair and pouts too!

Well worth a night out…. and the lager is good at The Riverside too !

STAINES RIVERSIDE CLUB
6 LALEHAM ROAD
STAINES

You can also check out CRY WOLF at:

http://www.crywolfrocks.co.uk/

http://www.blackfootsue.com/

Keep checking www.adpontes-staines.com for articles, reviews, gig guides

If you miss them in Staines, try to catch Cry Wolf at one of these local venues:

1.

See Some Art at the Sunbury Art Trail Weekend

Surrey Open studios, Riverside Arts Centre, Sunbury - Art Trail

Friday 13th June to Monday 16th June

The Studio & Craft Centre, Riverside Arts Centre, Sunbury

Featuring the work of artists:

Malcolm West
Hildegarde Reid
Robert Shaw
Freda Anderson
Sue Munson
Robin Lee Hall
Douglas & Pauline Burnett
Annie Shaw
Mary Shanahan

2.

Get the Prog-Rock Sound with Pendragon

Jun 14 2008 8:00P The Peel, Kingston, Pendragon

Back in 1978, Stroud, Gloucestershire, four friends got together and decided to form a band. Zeus Pendragon consisting of Nick Barrett [guitar/vocals], Julian Baker [guitar/vocals], Nigel Harris [the most sought after drummer in the Stroud area] and Stan Cox [bass] was born.

Young and full of ambition Zeus Pendragon started out playing cover versions of classic rock tunes by Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, and Santana and their first gig was ironically the same day that Nick left school, burning his maths text book and picking up his guitar on the way… The future had been determined.

The Zeus part of their name was later dropped when the logical and visionary Julian decided it was far too long to fit across a t-shirt, and this ridiculous cross pollination of Arthurian and Greek mythology just seemed plain silly.

Fast Forward to 2005 …. the release of Believe, the 7th studio album by Pendragon which reflected a renewed youthful exuberance and fresh approach both musically and visually for the band.Once again a line up change reared its ugly head, and after 20 odd years with the band Fudge Smith was replaced by 26 year old whipper snapper Joe Crabtree on drums. The band now had a real firecracker of a drummer underpinning the rhythm section which brought a renewed need to fight and the passion and energy of the band was almost like they were 17 years old again for the upcoming Believe tour.Pendragon undertook the biggest tour of Europe they had ever done and followed it with a release of the brilliant And Now Everybody To The Stage dvd.

2007 sees the 21st anniversary of The Jewel dvd release called Past And Presence which includes most of the musicians from those early days and shows how this tenacious band can still thrill, evolve and capitalize on its strengths over a 28 year period where so many others have failed.

So to the future, a new album is on the cards and a year full of festival dates just goes to show that in this hurly burly world of fickle pop music….some ships were built to last.

http://www.pendragon.mu/

3.

Go rock with Rough Justice - Staines

Rough Justice Fri 13th June Staines Riverside Club, Laleham Road £3

Sensational rock covers band with a huge local following,

Not to be missed

http://www.myspace.com/roughjusticerocks

4.

Get your Dancing Shoes On… dancing in the aisle

Dancing in The Streets Monday 9 - Saturday 14 June 2008 - Woking Theatre

The Hit West End Show

Dancing In The Streets

Experience the energy, emotion and electricity of Motown in Dancing in the Streets, the spectacular celebration of classic music from the heart of Detroit!

Featuring legendary Motown classics including I Heard It Through The Grapevine, My Girl and Dancing in the Streets and a full supporting company of singers, dancers and an amazing live band, Dancing in the Streets re-creates the energy, style and music of all your favourite Motown stars!

Box Office: 0870 060 6645

5.

Join in the celebrations at Egham - Magna Carta day

HMagna Carta Celebrations - High Street Egham Sat June 14th 11:00 to 4:00P

FTo celebrate the ’signing’ of the Manga Carta (check the facts here) this years event at Egham will include Morris Dancers. live bands, brass band, dancing irish vocals, a belly dancer and lots & lots of fun

——————–

Keep visiting www.adpontes.co.uk for up-to-date news, articles, reviews & gig guide for staines and area

10 Things You Didn’t Know about Magna Carta

Every schoolboy (used to know) the old joke:-

Question: Where was the Magna Carta signed?

Runnymede?

Answer: No, at the bottom!

1. Magna Carta was never actually signed by King John. At that period in history a man’s signature was not worth the paper it was written on (after all, most men couldn’t even sign their name) so a contract or binding agreement would always have been sealed. So the Magna Carta was sealed (not signed) by the sovereign’s ‘own hand’ at Runnymede on June 15, 1215.

The barons were never asked to sign nor seal the document.

2. There were originally 45 copies of Magna Carta created. But the original document commonly known as Magna Carta today is not this first 1215 charter but a later charter of 1225. Of these 1225 charters, several still exist. The Magna Carta is often quoted as being the earliest written statute and the earliest example of a written ‘bill of rights’ but the Charter was never fully accepted and it is the much altered 1332 version which remains on the statute books of England and Wales.

3. You can see a 1216 copy of Magna Carta at Durham Cathedral

4. There is no need to use the definite article ‘the’ when discussing or describing Magna Carta because the term is Latin and there is no consistent correlation with a definite article in Latin.

5. The first written term ‘Magna Carta’ was not actually used until 1218 (three years after the document was sealed). The document was later described as a concession of the certain liberties here written in our great charter of liberties; “Concesserimus libertates quasdam scriptas in magna carta nostra de libertatibus”.

6. One copy of Magna Carta can be found in Canberra, Australia at the Parliament House

7. Although several barons, bishops and abbots had to travel hundreds of miles to witness the sealing of Magna Carta in 1215, at least one witness, the Abbot of Chertsey, had just a short 30 minute ride to Runnymede Fields.

8. The Mayor of London (the City of London) was a surety for the document and the City of London, to this day, holds certain privileges that can be directly traced back to Magna Carta (the so-called “ancient liberties” of the City of London.)

9. Magna Carta was actually reissued in 1216 omitting certain clauses (including the all-important clause 61 - the clause that takes away the soveriegn’s power). It was again shortened by Henry III in 1217 to a lighter version with just 37 articles still without the all-important clause 61.

10. The Magna Carta was reputedly signed under a tree called the Ankerwyke yew …but Ankerwyke Priory was on the Staines side of the Thames opposite Runnymede Fields - so some historians think that the event in 1215 actually occurred in Staines and not Runnymede after all.

Satellite State

Monday 4 June saw the release of a new Satellite State EP boasting what has already been described in some circles as four epic ‘stadium filling’ tracks.

The Guildford band’s eponymous EP starts with the sad and soulful sounds of “Plans”, a song that has been described as reminiscent of Snow Patrol but I think shares more similarities with material by The Editors due to the sweet sweeping synth or even to work by the progrock band Porcupine Tree for the sheer depth of longing. This is a smooth, charming and irresistible rock song for a generation that urgently needs some solace in the turmoil of these turbulent times.

Then try “Sometimes/Always” Track 2 -for rhythm, grace and rapture. With the vocals of Gary Nicks and gently increasing support from Ryan Nicks and Ciaran Stephens, this sumptuously orchestrated track- constantly flavoured by sweeping and majestic guitar-work leaves a bitter sweet aftertaste and gently washes away the cobwebs from a worn-out and cynical mind.

The third track on the EP is “One Small Step” which evokes memories of the Lightning Seeds and could be described as one of the most accessible of the songs on the album with its shimmery pop-synth sounds and grandiose vocal arrangements acting as counterpoint to the scintillating guitar.

“Lights Out”, the final track on the album, starts with simple repeated piano chords and synth-strings and Gary’s vocals standing proud of this structure. But these simple themes soon develop into an anthemic and nostalgic hymn for our times, redolent of sunny Sunday afternoons in Surrey and the strain of living and loving in a world stained by disappointment and starved of hope. But the desire is there. And the longing. Towards the end of the track the listener is left with some hope for the future, as this last song gently lifts its head suggesting light and expectation.

Does it happen sometimes or always? The promise from Satellite State is for always.

If you like Snow Patrol, Editors or even Marillion, Syn or Porcupine Tree you will adore this.

Satellite State is:

RYAN NICKS
{drums,synths,backing vocals}
CIARAN STEPHENS
{lead guitar, backing vocals}
GARY NICKS
{vocals, acoustic guitar}
WILL GRAY
{piano, synths}
IAN COOKE
{bass}

See them at:

4 Jul 2008 09:00 Redfest, Redhill
5 Jul 2008 20:00 Stage 2 @ Guilfest 2008 (on stage midday)
1 Aug 2008 20:00 Jericho Tavern, Oxford
2 Aug 2008 20:00 Water Rats, Kings Cross,
20 Sep 2008 20:00 West End Centre, Aldershot

Download the EP here

http://www.myspace.com/satellitestatemusic

Netherworld at Staines Riverside Club, 30th May 2008

Netherworld can be regarded as an instrumental trio of power, with the addition of a strong vocal armoury. Though the band relies heavily on Thin Lizzy numbers and cites Lizzy as a major influence, the lack of twin-leads (and therefore the consequential loss of any lead-clashes) makes their Lizzyfied sound a little weak. Instead, you would be better off comparing the band to Cream. Their’s is the classic three-way rock explosion that most aptly defines the work of Netherworld.

The predominant instrument in the arsenal of these long-haired do-gooders is the guitar of Jason Stretch. Or should I use the plural- guitars? That would more accurately describe the monster wails, sighs, cries and laments that heavily depend on lyrical echo to achieve their full splendour. Jason has, reputedly, toured with the likes of the Iron Maiden Steve Harris and Whitesnake’s Neil Murray and the sheer professionalism and dedication of his rock pedigree is fully demonstrated.

With a rampaging and driving rhythm provided by Ian Roberts, from the engine room, and the structure of each song carefully woven by bassist Smiffy, the Netherworld experience is as exhilarating as it is satisfying. Heavy and technically proficient, the two guitarists share out the vocal leads (actually I prefer Paul Smith). They even, at one stage, employ their road manager as a lead vocalist (very talented and well received by all.)

This band demands that the audience pays attention. Even in a small (and to be quite honest- fairly olde worlde) venue like Staines Riverside Club, the band were provocative and hard. One old-time club member pointed out to me before the show that the bass drum was amplified, “We have never experienced that kind of power here before”, he exclaimed with a startled expression. The hair is big, the sound is wide and fills a barn. The sense of urgency is electrifying. The sheer exhilaration is dizzying and uncompromising.

If you like AC/DC, Thin Lizzy, Free, Hendrix and a big dollop of Cream and you don’t mind having your eardrums shattered by power-crazed solos, riffs and fills- then Netherworld is for you.

If you missed them in Staines, try to catch them locally here:

Jun 15 2008 8:00P The Six Bells Brentford
Jun 20 2008 8:00P The Shire Horse Hounslow
Jul 11 2008 8:00P The Running Horse Bracknell
Jul 12 2008 8:00P Social Club Hounslow
Jul 20 2008 8:00P The Six Bells Brentford
Jul 25 2008 8:00P The Shire Horse Hounslow
Jul 26 2008 8:00P The Cardinal Wolsey East Molesey
Aug 1 2008 8:00P The Red Lion Twickenham

http://www.myspace.com/netherworldrock

Keep checking www.adpontes.co.uk for gig guide, reviews, articles and what’s on in your area

The Riverside Players summer show for 2008 will be Little Shop of Horrors. Book and lyrics by Howard Ashman. Music by Alan Menken. Based on the film by Roger Corman. Directed by Susan Bell, Musical Direction by Robert Wicks.

JUNE GIGS

Jun 07 2008 8:30P Walkabout, Putney, Andrew Lawrence

Jun 07 2008 9:00P Hampstead Comedy Club, Nick Doody

Jun 08 2008 8:00P London Arts Theatre ’Random Musings’ Russell Howard

Jun 09 2008 7:45P New Wimbledon Theatre, Dan Antopolski

Jun 10 2008 8:00P Soho Theatre, London, John Ryan

Jun 12 2008 8:30P Walkabout, Putney London, Simon Brodkin

Jun 14 2008 8:30P Walkabout, Putney London, Glen Wool

Jun 14 2008 9:00P The Comedy Tree, London, Jo Caulfield

Jun 17 2008 8:00P Soho Theatre, London, John Ryan

Jun 19 2008 8:30P Walkabout, Putney London, Lewis Schaffer

Jun 21 2008 8:30P Walkabout, Putney London, Jack Whitehall

Jun 21 2008 9:00P Hampstead Comedy Club, London, Earl Okin

Jun 21 2008 8:30P Walkabout, Putney, London, Hal Cruttenden

Jun 21 2008 9:00P Hampstead Comedy Club, London, Matt Kirshen

Jun 21 2008 8;30P Walkabout, Putney London, Milton Jones

Jun 22 2008 8:00P The Crack, The Grey Horse, Kingston, Matt Kirshen

Jun 26 2008 8:30P Walkabout, Putney, London, Rob Rouse

Jun 29 2008 12:00P Guilford Electric Theatre Guildford, Neil Cole

[Shappi Khorsandi July 31 Soho Theatre]

JULY GIGS

Jul 05 2008 8:30P Walkabout, Putney, London, Dave Fulton

Jul 6 2008 8:00P London Arts Theatre ’Random Musings ’ Russell Howard

Jul 08 2008 9:30P Soho Theatre, London, Nina Conti

Jul 09 2008 9:30P Soho Theatre London, Nina Conti

Jul 10 2008 9:30P Soho Theatre London, Nina Conti

Jul 11 2008 9:30P Soho Theatre London, Nina Conti

Jul 12 2008 9:30P Soho Theatre London, Nina Conti

Jul 12 2008 8:30P Walkabout, Putney London, Sean Collins

Jul 22 2008 8:00P South Street Arts Centre, Reading, Dan Antopoloski

Jul 31 2008 8:00P Soho Theatre London, Shappi Khorsandi

[Earl Okin Jun 21 Hampstead Comedy Club]

Visit www.adpontes-staines.com regularly for your comedy gig guide, reviews & articles

1.

Sing & Dance Along with Abba Gold at Hayes

ABBA GOLD The Beck Theatre, Hayes Friday 6 June 2008 7:30P

CLICK HERE YOUR TICKETS

The fantastic and sensational Abba Gold - Live on stage. A non stop high energy performance from one of the leading Abba tribute bands who have been thrilling audiences since 1992 with hits like Money Money Money, Waterloo, Dancing Queen, Super Trouper and many more.

Get those feet tapping and vocal chords ready to sing-along to your favourite hits. A spectacular show for Abba fans of all ages - bring the whole family.

JOHN HESSENTHALER PRESENTS
ABBA GOLD
BECK THEATRE
GRANGE ROAD, HAYES
FRIDAY EVENING 19:30
6TH JUNE 2008

2.

Get Folked Up with Eleanor McEvoy

Eleanor McEvoy - June 4 2008 at West End Centre, Queens Road, Aldershot 8:00P £9

In a world where the word star and the gift of talent are often devalued, Eleanor McEvoy is neither an overnight success nor a four week wonder. A musician and songwriter of note, the real deal, possessing all of the qualities that go to make up the complete artist.

Her career began at the age of four when she took piano lessons, taking up violin at the age of eight. Upon finishing school she attended Trinity College in Dublin where she studied music by day and worked in pit orchestras and music clubs by night.Eleanor graduated from Trinity and was accepted into the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland where she worked four years before finally taking the plunge to concentrate on her passion for songwriting.

After a long hard slog, the girl who spent the year of 1988 busking in Union Square, New York had come a long way, a route that took her through the disciplines of classical music, Irish traditional music and contemporary music to a point where she finally found success in 1992.

It happened when one of her songs “Only a Woman’s Heart” inspired the title for, and appeared on, the “A Woman’s Heart” anthology album. It has since gone on to become the best selling album in Irish history, staying in the Irish Top 10 for over a year.

Since then Eleanor has gone on to become an artist and performer known throughout the world. Her critically acclaimed canon of work spans six albums, several singles and appearances on numerous compilation albums and is today recognised as Ireland’s most successful female singer songwriter having enjoyed personal chart success and numerous cover versions of her songs. (Emmylou Harris, Mary Black, Phil Coulter, amongst others). Her song “All I Have” features in the most recent series of the HBO cult series “Six Feet Under”.

Links:

http://www.myspace.com/emcevoymusic

http://www.westendcentre.co.uk/

3.

Go rock with Rosenbridge at West End Centre

Rosenbridge, June 6 8:00P West End Centre, Aldershot

Rosenbridge are a three piece progressive instrumental rock band from Guildford/North Camp.

Band Members Richard Fennings - Guitar
Ben Wainhouse - Bass
Greg Foord - Drums

Links:

http://www.myspace.com/rosenbridgemusic

Also catch Rosenbridge at:

Jun 19 2008 7:15P The Peel, Kingston w/ Agent Elf + Rigid Sky

4.

Great Band - Foulplay - at Ye Old Swan, Burnham

Fouplay- Jun 7 2008 9:00P Ye Old Swan, Burnham , Berks

The time (before last) that we saw Foul Play at the cosy and bijou ‘pubette’ that is the Jolly Farmer, Staines, the band had managed to squeeze their four-piece guitar-based band plus amps & speakers plus some keyboards with female vocalist (plus two backing singers), into a space that was just about big enough to seat a pot-plant.
(They normally keep the pot plant on the corner table by the window.)

On that night, the band kept bringing out more and more songs from their plentiful archives like some kind of deranged ‘rock school’ lecturers.

“Do you remember Little Richard? No, well here’s some. Do you remember Rockabilly? No, well here’s some. Do you remember Surf Music? No, well here’s some”….their repertoire included everything ( as in EVERYTHING) from bygone ages of old-time rock and roll and skiffle, through to classics from the glam-rock seventies, big numbers from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and even into modern indie rock territory. I was astonished when the five piece ( and mainly guitar-based combo, remember) attempted- and pulled off with some aplomb- some 2-Tone British Ska.

That was the time before last.

When we saw the band last summer they had a new lead guitar player in the shape of Pete Downes - and, boy, can he play !!!

The lead singer, Lee Ridley, (who uncannily resembles David Brent) is still the main dynamo for the group and provides some nice chunky chords for Pete Downes to ornament and adorn. But they have now ‘lost’ the keyboards. But they retain Carl Gaywood on drums and Huw Stokes on Bass.

When did you last see a band without keyboards attempt a Pink Floyd number? It is typical of these boys to attempt Pink Floyd now they DON’T have keyboards any longer! Yep! The Foul Play boys even did a track from Dark Side of the Moon… God bless ‘em.

So if you like classic rock, and you like some fancy guitar work, and you like a good old sing-song why not go on a musical journey through the entire seven ages of rock with Foul Play?

You could do lot worse than coming down the Jolly Farmer the next night the boys are playing. It could be an education.

[Below] David Brent … sorry Lee Ridley foreground, with Pete Downes on lead

Links:

http://www.myspace.com/foulplayuk

http://www.petedownes.com

YE OLD SWAN : 34 High Street, Burnham, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 7JP

Also see Fouplay at:

5.

Laugh out loud with Andrew Lawrence at Walkabout

Andrew Lawrence -Sat 07 June 2008 20:30 Walkabout, Putney London

with Scott Cappuro, Colin Cole

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Andrew Lawrence’s dark, musical comedy landed him a place in the final of So You Think You’re Funny? in 2003, and won him the BBC New Act of the Year Competition the following year. His debut Edinburgh show in 2006 was nominated for the if.comedy best newcomer title, and his 2007 follow-up nominated for the main award.

Links:

http://www.myspace.com/andrewlawrencecomedy

Get Your Tickets for Beck Theatre, Hayes

The Beck Theatre
Grange Road
Hayes
Middlesex
UB3 2UE

-Visit AdPontes-Staines Regularly for Staines Arts-

The WEST END CENTRE, Queens Road, Aldershot …. 8:00PM Tickets £6

Also don’t forget your ‘local’ Festivals CLICK HERE for more news

Check Out ADPONTES-STAINES.COM

AdPontes is Staines own arts & lifestyle magazine

Also don’t forget your ‘local’ Festivals CLICK HERE for more news

Check Out ADPONTES-STAINES.COM

Keep visiting www.AdPontes-Staines.com articles, reviews, gig-guides and news from Staines and area