Hello, good evening and welcome to another packed edition of the MIS Online Newsletter.

It’s still sweltering here in Blighty, and while the rest of you have been relaxing in your back gardens, at the seaside or by the pool we’ve been slaving away over our keyboards in an effort to bring you this week’s issue.

From gig dates and gig reviews to details of Madstore sales and Dury art kickstarters, we’ve got it all for you this week and a lot more besides.

So, grab that ice-lolly or cold beer then sit back and enjoy the read

Jon Young, Liz Hazelby, Rob Hazelby, Simon Roberts

SHOWTIMES

See below for all forthcoming Madness and Madness related gigs and events. If there’s something we’ve missed off or you feel should be added then please let us know.

Madness

August 10th Fete Du Bruit, Landerneau, France
August 11th Brussels Summer Fest, Belgium

September  14th. Madness play Free at Applepop Holland.  21.25pm at The hoofdapodium – http://www.appelpop.nl/

September 15th Rockhal, Belval, Luxembourg
September 16th L’Olympia, Paris, France
September 22nd Northants CCC, UK
September 28th Alexandra Palace, London, UK

October 12th Esprit Arena, Duesseldorf, Germany

November 22nd-25th House Of Fun Weekender, Minehead, UK

For tickets see links via: www.madness.co.uk

Suggs Live

Suggs My Life Story, the West End of London December Run.

http://www.nimaxtheatres.com/garrick-theatre/suggs_my_life_story_in_words_and_music

December 1st     – Garrick Theatre, London’s West End.
December 8th     – Garrick Theatre, London’s West End.
December 15th  – Garrick Theatre, London’s West End.
December 22nd  – Garrick Theatre, London’s West End.

The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra

July 28th, Secret Garden Party Festival, Midlands, Nr Huntingdon

August 11th  United Colours Festival, Sheffield
August 16th Belgium (Brussels Summer Fest)
August 25th Craig Charles Weekend, Bristol

September 7th, Meatopia, Wapping (www.meatopia.co.uk)

October 2nd Brighton, Concorde 2
October 3rd Cardiff, Globe
October 4th St Albans, Arena
October 5th Norwich, Waterfront
October 18th Ipswich, Corn Exchange
October 25th Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
October 31st (Halloween)  Jazz Cafe, Camden Town.

November 1st – Komedia, Bath
November 8th, headlining the Friday of Specialized, The Big One 2, Parkdean, Sandford, Dorset

See ticket links via: www.ltso.mis-online.net

Deaf School

August 23rd  – Hoxton Bar & Kitchen
August 24th –  St Helens – The Citadel
August 25th – Aspatria, Cumbria – Solfest
August 26th – Liverpool, Sefton Park – Intl Music Festival

Thursday 24 October. Jazz Cafe, Camden Town.  Book launch gig

More info at: http://deafschoolmusic.com

Near Jazz Experience

Although we don’t know the dates of any future gigs we understand that The Near Jazz Experience will continue gigging in the autumn with an album release in the pipeline.

BUY IT NOW

If money’s currently burning a hole in your pocket then perhaps we can help with your dilemma.

The Benevolence Of Sister Mary Ignatius (Audio CD) – £15.99

If you’ve yet to add the Ska Orchestra’s album to your collection, what are you waiting for? Featuring covers of 12 classic ska tracks, this is the album that many Madness fans are describing as the soundtrack for the summer.

For more information, and to order, point your web browser here:

http://amzn.to/13WMNgF

Bargains Galore

We all like a bargain, so why not get yourself over to the official Madness web store, where you’ll find a mass of goodies all at sale prices. From t-shirts and hoodies to mugs and programmes, you’ll find those there and more, all at “it’d be rude not to” rates.

http://madness.mamstore.co.uk/

LIVE AND INTENSIFIED

With the number of Madness gigs now ramping-up we’ve decided to begin an irregular section entitled “Live and Intensified”.

If it’s fan gig reviews you’re after, then this is the section you’ll want to read.

Those of you who get along to any future gigs please knock up a review and send it in as we’d love to print your thoughts.

Brockwell Jungle

A free festival in Lambeth is the next phase of the Sister Mary Ignatius album touring, and there is a massive turn out in the park and the sunshine.

Not just yet though because we (myself and Simon Griffiths) are here early. To get to the soundcheck. It’s 12 it’s overcast, and Lee is late. (Left his house without his sax! Not a good start for a day when he’s got 2 gig’s to play. He’s off to Haydock later.)  “You’re sacked” Some of his band shout, as he turns up 45 minutes late.

The gig is marked by the eccentrics in the audience somewhat today. A sole man who looks like he’s in his 90’s in a pink shirt and hat is grooving around like he’s in a dance moves competition, when he comes over and introduces himself to us, displaying the tightrope between mental illness and great British character, he says proudly “I was here last year”, following it with “I’m here this year” .   “Will you be here next year?”  I enquire.   “Don’t ask questions”,  he says and it’s back the to dancing on his own in the near empty field to the sound check’s drum tests.  He will later spill beer over Thommo’s son, such is this man’s grip on reality.

But he’s by far only one of several characters this free festival attracts amongst the more normal London Masses. Thommo from the stage will later notice the trio of old folks dressed in 70’s flares and wigs performing routines. Two or three more characters wearing baseball caps and flack jackets,  much from a different era to their wrinkles, fat Brazilian women with vuvuzela’s, fronting Jamaican rude boys,  and completing this set of unconventional maverick dressing characters, Jerry Dammers is in the audience to check out the band! too.

It’s a pretty full and long set of nearly all the Ska Orchestra songs.  Although the sun doesn’t peak out for Alison Limerick, it arrives for the ska orchestra. Line up tonight again features guest bassman Tadman, and guitarist Andy Riley.  Darren Smith in the brass line up with Steve turner, Chalky and Bob.  Drummer Mez, and the two faithful keyboardists.

Lee’s antics on and off stage today including regular jokes, such as the frankenstien bolt wooden blocks, cowboy masks, jumping/faling off stage, and abusing the security staff bongo-ing his bald head to get him back up on stage.   At one point he mimed the gap between stage and barrier being thrown away.  Amusingly he managed to convince a couple of people who wandered past during the soundcheck that, that was it. Louis Vause joining in the joke “Yeah we shortened the set.” he says backing up Lee’s lies that the one song soundcheck was the full gig in the open park today.  “you’ve just missed us.”  Lee insisted.

The songs go down great in the main gig.  Mission impossible was made brilliant by stage antics of Tadman.  Pointing out into the crowd, starring into the distance, shielding his eyes, making the dub guitar moment in the song into a search for a UFO about to descend on the crowd or something (probably here to pick a few of these crowd characters up!)   It worked brilliantly and added something to the show I’ve not seen before.   The musicianship was on fine form, this was a better gig then Coventry.  Longer, more relaxed, outdoors and you could tell how much all the band were lapping playing to such a big crowd.  so much so, they managed an encore for one last song and turned it into two.   Lee refusing to leave the stage until Soul Serande’ had followed Broadway Jungle.

Fu man Chu. Lee invited a reluctant Daley Thompson up to sing this track.  Fresh from his performance of it, with The Reverend Green Line up.  The mic’s are a little low so it doesn’t quite ignite the song, though Daley’s performance is pretty good addition.

The gig may have been slightly wrong in terms of running order,  I think Josephine might be better off at the end.   It was described as “getting us on the hootenanny with this one!”

It was great hearing Eastern Standard Time Again. Coventry having been squeezed in stage time.    The set list mentions Many Rivers, but there was no time for it.

Check out some great photo’s by Frankie Godding on the LTSO facebook group page.

Jonathan Young

MIS FEATURE

Norman Watt-Roy  – Faith and Grace, His Solo Album

He’s been an inspiration for Madness, during his time in The Blockheads, and he’s collaborated several times, even joining the band for Live and studio work in the past.

But this is the first time Norman has done a solo album.

THE FACE FROM OUTER SPACE – Extracts from a Record Collector Interview The August issue.

It’s not often that a bass guitarist influences the course of pop music, but Norman Watt-Roy is an exception; his gift for melodic invention has enhanced a long list of famous records made by an impressive number of different bands.

Norman switched from rhythm to Bass when in a school band the bass player quit due to blisters throwing down the bass guitar and saying they could keep it. Norman’s brother gave him the guitar and he’s never looked back.

Norman and friends from a later band The Loving Awareness, joined with Ian Dury and Chas Jankel to record Ian Dury’s Stiff album New Boots and Panties, and soon became The Blockheads.

“I was involved with Stiff from the start.” Watt-Roy says. “and there were all these people who couldn’t get recording contracts. Like Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, Wreckless Eric. Some of the artists even contributed to the finance to keep the record lable going.  Norman then played on a number 1 record Hit me With Your Rhythm stick in 1978.

On stage Ian used to call me The Face From Outer Space, because it rhymed with Bass.

Now comes Norman’s First Solo album. Faith and Grace.  In 43 years of playing.

“When I started it wasn’t going to be an album. Gilad Atzmon was working with me on some instrumental pieces I wanted to do. Gil as producer liked the results of these couple of pieces.

He said I should do some more. Make a CD and include some  songs.  I said “I don’t know im a bass player not a singer.”  Then at the time my late wife Pattie  started saying “do something for yourself. So I thought Why Not.”   So I thought I’d cover one of Ian’s songs, and one of Wilcko’s.  I chose Billericay Dickie.  I didn’t want the album too Jazzy but to pay tribute to Jaco Pastorius who it like king of the bass. ”

Album Review

The mission statement for this album comes in the middle of the autobiographical ‘Me My Bass And I’: ‘When I heard Jaco (Pastorius) and Weather Report that was basically it. I realised where I came from, where I was aiming and I immediately grasped how to hit them with my rhythm stick’.

Norman Watt Roy’s point of departure is Pastorius’s bass opus ‘Donna Lee’ and for the most part he emulates his hero on a scrap book of an album that mixes inspired and incendiary playing with a collage of his musical past.

‘Faith & Grace’ (cockney rhyming slang for bass) is a jazz album dressed up as a solo album. It’s as much is a career summary of his time with The Blockheads, Wilko Johnson and his sessions for the likes of The Clash and Frankie Goes to Hollywood as it is a solo album.

‘Faith & Grace’ slips in and out of Blockhead style funk, virtuoso jazz fusion, bebop, pop, r&b and dance, to reflect his wide ranging career. But ultimately Norman never strays too far away his love of jazz, as evidenced by Billy Eckstine’s ‘My Foolish

Heart’ which closes the album.  The gently voiced bass notes, drifting piano and sonorous feel provide a moving ode to his late wife.

That Watt-Roy is one of the great rock bass players of our time is not in doubt. Not only does he have the chops but he has the track record to back it up. And this album is best understood as an attempt to cross over the music he really loves (jazz and funk) to a target audience schooled on Norman’s role as a conduit who glues together Dury’s funky word plays and Wilko’s stripped down rhythm & blues. And if it doesn’t quite make it, there’s still some scintillating music to enjoy as he pull’s together sharply contrasting musical styles.

The material is cleverly linked in intricate ways, from the studio reconstruction of the ‘Norman!Norman!’ chant which brings together some of his best known riffs, to the be bop, scat singing on ‘Moiche Tantrum’ and a sample of Ian Dury on ‘Papa Chu Pap’ that reflects Norman’s musical background. There’s also an underlying Zappa feel to the rapped out ‘Save it’, on which Sarah Gillespie cleverly enunciates the lyrical meaning.

The sequencing and dynamics of the songs and the flow of the material ensures a linear progression. The extravagant swinging horn section of the Dury’s ‘Billericay Dickie’, the beautifully crafted funk of the Weather Report influenced ‘John And Mary’ and the relaxed counterweight of ‘Wachu-Wa’ (Latino dinner jazz) all draw the listener in.

Best of all is the horn led groove of ‘Me, My Bass And I’, while he teams up again with Wilko Johnson on the reworked ‘Roxette’.

The high quality of musicianship – ranging from grainy sax work, boisterous drumming and Norman’s propulsive bass playing – and the ever present spirit of Ian Dury ensures that ‘Faith & Grace’ is a work of substance and good humour.

Ultimately this album all boils down to expectations. Some fans will embrace the opportunity to let Norman do his thing on his own terms, while others might be a bit puzzled his jazzy antecedents. Either way, just like his former boss Ian Dury, Norman Watt-Roy is a one-off and this album is a testimony to both his talent and his essential place in the last 46 years of rock history.

***** (4/5)

Review by Pete Feenstra, from Get ready to Rock blog.

TWEETS OF A DOVE

Recent nutty tweets from the Twitterverse (and possibly one or two other online places)…

Mike Barson

“Oh what fun we had in Lyon & Perpignan, lovely weather, amphitheater & vineyards – thanks to all who came 2 c us. Vive la France!”

Woody

“Really enjoyed the gig myself.” (Newmarket)

Did you believe MADNESS would be so popular and still going and being loved over 30 yrs later?

“I didn’t think I’d be alive this long!”

In reply to a video of a 1 year old playing drums…

“Better than me”

And finally…

“I spent some time with Johnny Vegas last night at Haydock. What a genuinely nice man”

Bedders

“Morning. Lovely setting and great atmosphere at Newmarket – big crowd at Haydock tonight. Looking forward to it.”

“A Top Tipster gave me a 1st & 2nd, first two races, Newmarket last night. Traffic jam getting out of London – missed both! Doh!”

Paul Tadman

“F**k me that was fun! I’m on a high chums. Friends one and all I know I’m standing in for Bedders in this Orchestra lark but thank you for such a great response this afternoon at Beockwell Park., it’s not often I get asked for a Mark King / Norman Watt Roy style bass solo off the cuff but always glad to oblige. South London done me proud today.

Bless you gang …

I love you all x”

I REMEMBER WAY BACK WHEN

This week, MIS co-editor Rob Hazelby, goes back 5 years to issue 481, and the week of Sunday 20th July to Saturday 26th July 2008, and then back 10 years to issue 219 and the week of Sunday 20th July Saturday 26th July June 2003.

5 years ago…

Issue 481 – Sunday 20th July to Saturday 26th July 2008

The big rumour doing the rounds this week was that Madness were apparently lined-up, along with Oasis, Lily Allen and Kelly Rowland, to perform at a knife crime awareness gig in London’s Finsbury Park this September.

A few music news web sites had reported on this over the past few days, but we recommended that until you’d heard this from a more substantial and reliable source you should take it with a pinch of salt.

On to music re-releases, and Jean-Pierre Boutellier got in touch to tell us that the legendary One Step Beyond album was about to receive a rerelease as a picture disc, as a date and catalogue number had just been issues.

Unfortunately, this was the first we’d heard about it, and the only info JP had to offer. If we heard anything else we promised to let you know.

We kicked this week’s collection of articles off with a rummage through the archives, and a journey back to 1995, when Suggs was interviewed about his first solo album. In it he commented on a number of tracks including Camden Town and Green Eyes, and revealed that “Fortune Fish” was one of the names shortlisted for the album title.

Next, it was over to Mojo magazine, and their preview of The Liberty of Norton Folgate, which was due out in September.

By the time you read this the group will have unveiled the album at London’s Hackney Empire, but Smyth says he’s still not sure he can see the end in sight. “We’ve written so many songs for it,” he says. “The ambition is to have totally strong content to make it one of those certain albums you play as a whole. So y’know… I hope it’s like Sgt. Pepper’s.”

Now, whether you thought the previous week’s reworked lyrics from Dan Fossard were truly awful, or a great amusing aside, you’d not doubt be equally horrified or delighted by the latest punning sensations from Mr Iain Mason.

Many of you had heard the Hackney Podcast MISCast1 by now, beginning as it did with our discovery that the Hackney Empire had lumped the Folgate shows in promotionally with the start of their “Spice” festival – a series of entertainment shows they were trying to link together. Iain promised 400 puns about it when he got back to work. And sure enough 2 days later we got this…

1. Solid Tarragon
2. Driving In My Paprika
3. Thyme
4. Saffrony Night, Sunday Morning
5. Embarrassmint
6. Tears You Can’t Chive
7. It Must Be Lovage
8. Madras (Is All In The Mind)
9. Primrose Dill
10. Are You Cumin (With Me)
11. Clove Escape
12. Johnny The Horseradish
13. Night Boat To Carob
14. Tarzan’s Nutmeg
15. Please Don’t Ginkgo
16. That’s The Caraway To Do It
17. Cayenne Shame
19. No Cinammoney
20. That Mace
21. Bed & Breakfast Mandrake
22. Cardamommy’s Boy
23. Sunday Myrrhning
24. NW Fivespice
25. Mr Speaker Gets The Wort
26. Missing Eucalyptus
27. Tamarind’s (Just Another Day)
28. Salts Into Mischief
29. The Liberty Of Norton Fennelgate
30. Edelweiss Heat

Elsewhere in this issue we had news of a new download for the die-hard fans out there. Entitled “Lost in Nassau”, and weighing in at around 12 minutes in length, this recording consisted mainly of instrumentals, from a pre-release of the 7 album. All this was presented by Mr Bosh, who turned out to be non other than Carl!

We brought this week’s issue to a close with a nice review of the Our House performance at The Theatre Royal, Glasgow, on the 4th of July, a mammoth write-up from Jonathan and Mikel, detailing their recent Spanish Madness exploits, and brought the issue to a close with details of a new Dance Brigade track which had just been uploaded to MySpace.

10 years ago…

Issue 219 – Sunday 20th July to Saturday 26th July 2003.

With me facing the joys of moving home, Jonathan took up the slack and single-handedly out this week’s issue together. A task made all the more challenging, as it was such a quiet news week.

Although not listed on any advertising materials, it seemed that an extra date was about to be added to the forthcoming Christmas tour, if Carl’s hints that the string of dates would see the tour starting in Dublin was anything to go by. Only time would tell if it would be officially announced, and added to the line-up.

With interest in the Madness Weekender in Great Yarmouth growing, it didn’t come as too much of a surprise when certain people started contacting the organisers with “please reserve me a room and I’ll then send a cheque”, style emails.

One of the organisers, Vince Carden, was quick to point out that the hotel wanted to see the colour of people’s money before they’d book a room in their name. Vince also pointed out;

“The other reason for paying early is to avoid the possibility of sleeping with somebody you don’t want to sleep with – I mean in the same room, that’s not a reference to beer goggles! Oh yes, there’ll be no falling for lamposts in Great Yarmouth…”

Being so short on news this week left Jonathan with a little quandary as to how he should fill the issue. In the end he decided to pad it out with a large chunk of script from the issue of long defunct TVseries, ‘Press Gang’, which featured Suggs in a one-off appearance as a pop star ‘Jason Wood’.

Rob Hazelby

SIGN OF THE TIMES

RCA Exhibits Uncovered Work of Ian Dury

“Did you know that Ian Dury went to the Royal College of Art, and even studied under Peter Blake? Well, OK, maybe you did, but we’re SURE you haven’t seen much of his work, because 90% of it has never been shown in public. Until now…”

Full article from Timeout.com here:

RCA exhibits uncovered work of Ian Dury

The Kickstarter (which reached its goal) can be found here:

The above link contains a nice video, is well worth a watch.

Chrissy Boy’s Cupboard

Do you still see Morrissey?

“I used to be in touch with Morrisey via mutual correspondence and he used to come and see my other band The Nutty Boys.

I liked him then musically and socially and I still admire him from afar. I have not heard from the great man since the time he didn’t turn up for the second Madstock [August 1992], which was a shame. Blimey, that’s 21 years ago…”

TIME…

Earlier this week we took delivery of issue 14 (Summer 2013) of the Tour Madness fanzine. We were hoping to have a full and in-depth review for you in time for this issue, but work and other commitments have meant that we’ve just not had time.

All being well we’ll be able to feature this in next week’s MIS. In the meantime we’d like to say a big thank you to editor Ian Taylor for being so kind as to send us a review copy.

And finally, news reached us earlier today, courtesy of Tour Madness editor Jermaine, revealing that Bitty Mclean will be coming to the Amsterdam Milky Way (Melkweg) this coming Thursday.

Bitty will be backed by Dutch Ska band The Highnotes, who previously toured with guest musician Rico Rodriguez.

Have a good week,

Simon Roberts, Jon Young, Liz Hazelby, Rob Hazelby

(With thanks to Jermaine Rogier and Ian Taylor)