Good evening, and welcome to the latest issue of the MIS Online newsletter.

This week the band added yet another gig to their ever-growing summer line-up. This latest addition sees the band descend on Cyfartha Castle, Merthyr Tydfil on Friday 19^th August.

Tickets for this event can be purchased via Ticketmaster for a wallet-busting £46.75!

Also, this week, the first few support acts for Madness’ Clapham Common gig on Monday 29^th August were also revealed.

Toots and The Maytals, David Rodigan and Norma Jay have now been added to the line-up, with “more to be announced soon”.

When further acts are revealed we’ll publish details of these in subsequent editions of the MIS.

Now, on with the issue!

Jon Young, Rob Hazelby, Simon Roberts, Paul Williams

 

 

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

May

Saturday 28^{th –}  Dauwpop Festival, Netherlands (headliners)
More info at: http://www.dauwpop.nl

July

Saturday 30^th – Kendal Calling, Penrith http://www.kendalcalling.co.uk/information/ticket-info/

Sunday 31^st – Y Not Festival, Matlock
http://www.ynotfestivals.co.uk

August

Thursday 4^th – Edinburgh Corn Exchange *** Sold Out ***
More info at: http://m.whatsoninedinburgh.co.uk/event/028964-madness/

Friday 5^th – Edinburgh Corn Exchange
More info at: http://m.whatsoninedinburgh.co.uk/event/028964-madness/

Saturday 6^th –Tartan Heart Festival, Inverness, Scotland (headliners)
More info at www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk

Thursday 11^th – Cropredy Festival, Oxfordshire. First day headliner

Saturday 13th – Boom Town Fair – Winchester

Friday 19^th August – Cyfartha Castle, Merthyr Tydfil *** New ***
http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/37005067CAE570E4?tpab=-1

Monday 29^{th –} House of Common, Clapham Common
More info at: http://www.madness.co.uk/houseofcommon/

November

Friday 18^{th –} Monday 21^st – Madness Weekender 6, Minehead

 

Suggs

March

17^th – An evening with Suggs and Friends for Pancreatic Cancer. The Emirates Stadium

April

22^nd – Scarborough Spa Theatre
23^rd – Lincoln Drill Hall
24^th – Carlisle Sands Centre
25^th – Ilkley King’s Hall
27^th – Bournemouth Pavillion Theatre
28^th – Bath The Forum
29^th – Worcester Huntingdon Hall
30^th – Wrexham William Aston Hall

May

1^st – Crewe Lyceum Theatre
3^rd – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
4^th – Sheffield Lyceum
5^th – 02 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

 

The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra

April

Saturday 16^th, Boisdale, Canary Wharf, London

July

Friday 22^nd, Hampton Pool Picnic, Supporting The Selecter

 

Rhoda Dakar

June

Saturday 18th – 100 Club London

(Also appearing at The London International Ska festival, Glastonbury, & European festivals this year)

 

 

WIN IT

Win Suggs Tickets

Like and share a post over on Suggs’ official Facebook page for a chance to win tickets to his One Man Show. At the same time you’ll will be helping the big man promote the forthcoming dates into the bargain.

https://www.facebook.com/thesuggsmcpherson/

 

 

BUY IT

Deluxe edition of The Lone Ranger.

https://www.discogs.com/Suggs-The-Lone-Ranger/release/8172245

A Deluxe Edition release of Suggs’ first solo album “The Lone Ranger”.

Originally released in 1995 this much requested reissue is the most comprehensive collection available of the original album and all the related bonus material.

Other bonus material includes the b/sides – ‘Bedazzled’, ‘Animal’, ‘When You Came’ and ‘I Feel Good’. The CD booklet features the original artwork, a UK Discography, lyrics of the original album tracks all in a 16 page colour booklet.

Out April 22nd

http://www.recordstore.co.uk/recordstore/recordstore/The-Lone-Ranger-Deluxe-Edition/54070000000?utm_campaign=suggs-lone-ranger&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter

Buy it if you don’t have the original classic album or want those original collected B-sides together or if you want Suggs to consider another solo album in future support this release, but if you want it for all the remixes please stop taking e and consult a dr. Some were as dreadful as the Macarena.

 

 

MIS FEATURE

Walk With a Woodgate

http://www.nickwoodgate.com/

As mentioned previously, for a couple of weeks now, you have been able to listen to Nick Woodgate’s second album streaming from his own Website. Entitled, Walk With Me. This album marks the fourth in a writing period that has covered The Magic Brothers and Woodys own solo album project previously, as well as at least 4 Madness tune submissions of late. Happy or emotionally tugging tunes with great guitar spots are Nick’s strong points, there are more varied keyboard sounds to some of these new tracks though this time around, and a little more electorinc backdrops all self produced. You can check them out on his website now.

Overall, across those previously mentioned solo albums, I have at times struggled to deferentiate between a lot of the pop rock songs presented. They merge into a general sound that is pleasant but not entirely my personal cup of tea when it comes to choice of  music , as well as not always finding Nick’s vocals matching the talent of his song writing. This album these factors remain. But there has been quality always shinning through that general feeling as a couple of songs grab me as favourites and when you find I’m looping a track thats when it goes deep into my memory as a treasure. That happend too with this album which started life as an EP idea but grew into full set of 12 tunes with some others rejected along the way or passed to future projects.  Here is our brief track by track review.

1. My Brother

The album’s online cover picture is taken from that recognisable session of father Woodgate photographing his sons. At least two songs sing about family on this album. Woody is tributed first as “the brother like no other”. A pleasant sentiment to start on, we heartily agree.

2. Give Your Love

This track has a little more George Harrison style guitar sound to it or 60’s vibe in the backing, over a nice enough love themed song , one of  many.

3. Come On

More Mcartney now. A happy bopping along tune on a piano. Really like this one, its in that  “Sunshine” mode, with a guiding hand urging you forward.

4. All My Life

A little more electronic FX marks this slightly different to Nick’s other tunes in structure. In a minor way, other wise standard its fare.

5. Loving You

Pretty short at under two minutes, mostly features around the chorus. Guitars not bad. Bit blink and you’ll miss it for me.

6. You Are Not Alone

Nice guitar solo on this one builds around an electronic pop backdrop that’s quite relentless.

7. Carrie

Has that love story drama present in many Woodgate tunes.

8. Hope

Lyrically both fun and empowering. A tune that marches along.

9. Rain

So while you can applaud any album where only one song nudges just over the three and a half minutes line, as being an album not overindulging, or one trying to hit that sweet spot of single length music, this album sometimes might fail in the opposite direction of songs feeling a bit too simplistic or  too short here is another that’s just two minutes long, the backing really reminded me of the mood of the keep moving madness album, and a track like give me a reason just a bit slower and nicely moody.

10. Walk With me

Truly worthy of taking the album title spot, a moody dramatic verse structure feels weighty and meaningful, matching rhythms to a fast beat piano. It’s a questioning and cynical set of lyrical ideas conveyed, down trodden and doubtful and yet not sung distressfully, think of Grey day and while no song similarity exists they share a school of hard knocks. That is until the simple chorus arrives that is contrastingly benevolent and uplifting like a church gospel hymn, but with no clash of music style at this change point. If you are lonely walk with me, the Beatles sang something similar on hey bulldog. The answers aren’t all here, but here is the companionship that makes this hard journey halved. The chorus makes you want to join in and sing that amen. A guitar solo fits in nicely, not too showy but a great break none the less, and top of all wows the chorus reemphasizes for the last part of the song up one key I think and Nick achieves a vocal performance to be proud of on this one, both skilful and heartfelt sounding. All of that and some organ and FX footsteps walk us away after just 2 and a half minutes. One I have to play again, worthy of a loop. Walked this round the block a couple of times.

11. I’ve Become Like My Dad

The second track overtly about family, lyrically sentimental and proud in reflection and just a little stark about how we all change in life. Voice distortion FX or levels and performance style made it hard to really hear some of it on first listen.

12. It’s Only Love

The fast piano repetition style returns. Bit of a breakup sounding song , as the walk comes to an end, so does the album, with the longest song and a bit of a lighters in the air kind of an affair.   Fitting.

This is thoughts after a couple of listens, I’d say Walk with me the album, has a lot of pretty places to wander, a grower that would reward a couple of trips back to hear all that’s on offer.  If you’re less interested in checking out this side of the solo pathway, I urge you still to check out the title track. Take that one for a walk.

Jonathan Young

 

 

SIGN OF THE TIMES                               

Madness to Play Open-Air Show in Merthyr Tydfil This Summer

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/madness-play-open-air-show-11010696

Those Nutty Boys are coming to Merthyr Tydfil.

The 2-Tone institution will be turning Cyfarthfa Park into Ska-farthfa Park when they take to the stage in August.

The great British pop icons, who have been thrilling audiences for more than three decades, will appear in Merthyr Tydfil on Friday, August 19m transforming Cyfarthfa Castle into a House of Fun for one summer night only.

 

 

I REMEMBER WAY BACK WHEN       

This week, MIS co-editor Rob Hazelby, goes back in time to report on what was going on in the world of Madness 5 years, 10 and 15 years ago this week.

5 years ago…

Issue Number 618 – Sunday 13^th March – Saturday 19^th March 2011

Before we got on with this week’s collection of articles we reminded readers to get on and order their Minhead Weekender tickets if they’d not already done so. The event was about to be advertised on Absolute Radio, so the general public would soon know about it.

Speaking of the Weekender, we kicked off our articles with an update.

More information on the weekender line up of Bands, Events, Comedy and Cinema will be announced in May, fans were told.

“I can tell you that Madness will appear more than once, most likely the Friday night as well.  Saturday will be normal concert length 2 hours. Friday night depends on what they do but most likely just over an hour”, Katy from Madness management told fans during the question session.

For promotion, the event was partnering with Absolute radio and ads were due to start after the 2 week fan window on the 21st March. This would also signify the end of the online promotion period of 10% discount to fans.

Moving on, and a few weeks back we asked for your help to sponsor a Just Giving page to support charities in the UK that help victims of domestic violence. Thanks to Madness fan generosity we smashed through the £200 goal, and had raised over £230.

We celebrated the £200 target by uploading a rare backing tape mix of Beat The Bride, on Another World.

It was time for some Madness history as we revealed that an exhibition at London’s O2, entitled “The British Music Experience” featured within its collection, a selection of Madness items. Retro Madness, who helped provide the items detailed just what was there.

We moved over to bee news next, as The Hackney Citizen reported that Suggs had visited the premises of The Golden Company to encourage more people to take up beekeeping and how to look after bees, especially in urban areas.

Suggs said: “Beekeeping is a crucial part of looking after our environment so that both the bees and our planet can continue to thrive”.

We brought this issue to a close with the news that the band would be performing at a big festival that they’d not played at before. News of this would be made available to fans on the 21^st of March.

10 years ago…

Issue 358 – Sunday 12th March to Saturday 18th March 2006

In this issue Kevin Tizzard provided us with the lowdown of contact details for the majority of the venues hosting various legs of the forthcoming European tour. If you wanted to get along to one or more of the Euro gigs, this could have been the exact information you needed.

Elsewhere, Simon Roberts revealed what soundbites were currently being used for each of the pages over on the MIS web site. If there was a clip we’d used that you’ve been wondering what on earth was, then now the mystery could come to an end.

Were you thinking of taking a weekend trek to Camden Town this summer? If so, we urged you to check out the article in section 4, as you could have to have added significant time to your journey. Why, well The Northern Line were about to undergo some 11 weekends of closures from mid-July.

Back on to a more Madness related note, we took a look at Madness and Madness related entries on the ever growing resource that is Wikipedia, and if that wasn’t enough we dug out some classic videos you could stream from the comfort of your desktop.

15 years ago…

Issue 96 – Sunday 11th March to Saturday 17th March 2001

We got this issue underway with news in from long lost subscriber Chuck Corby, who reported that after waiting for more than a year Madness’ appearance on ‘Late With Jools Holland’ would finally be appearing on BBC America.

Chuck did remind US readers that as the station crudely edited footage to fit in commercials, one or more of Madness’ four songs could be cut from the show.

Now, was there anyone who still hadn’t added ‘The Heavy, Heavy Hits’ to their collection? Well, news in from subscriber Mark Adamson reported that audiostreet were currently selling it for a not to be sniffed at £5.99, including postage and packing. Bargain!

On to the articles, and we started off with review of the band’s appearances in Spain from back in 2001. These would eventually appear in the next update of Jermaine’s excellent ‘Tour Madness’, but in the meantime he was kind enough to let us publish them in this issue of the MIS.

Moving on, and with the real Madness currently taking time out to pursue their own ventures, tribute bands were stepping in to fill the gap. This issue we looked at Complete Madness, who had a packed March and April ahead of them.

Next, we had a quick update from Juliet of the Ska Mad fanzine, who announced that as well as being busy working on the next issue, her time was limited due to yet another house move. Juliet apologised, and wrote a small ditty for you to read while you waited.

It was on to MIS reader ‘Madsource’, who in the next article reported that ‘It Must be Love’ had actually received an album release, albeit in Spain.

Described as a ‘black child’, It Must be Love never had an official slot on any (non hit) album. However, the Spanish version of Seven replaced Cardiac Arrest with It Must be Love.

Did the Spanish not like tales of heart attacks? Perhaps we’ll never know why the songs were swapped.

We finished off this week’s edition of the MIS with a massive round up of some of the more interesting Madness related items on online auction site Ebay. Well, news ‘was’ a bit thin on the ground!

Rob Hazelby

 

 

TWEETS OF A DOVE

Louise @LouiseButcher

“@CBoyForeman @suggsgmcpherson Remember the 1981 Dominion Theatre gig? One of your support acts was Pookie Snackenburger. Who were they?”

 

Chrissy Boy @CBoyForeman

“@LouiseButcher @suggsgmcpherson

youtu.be/_60xI0qb3R4

They were brilliant”

 

Louise @LouiseButcher

“@CBoyForeman @suggsgmcpherson Never forgotten them! When they came up into the audience they serenaded me. I was eleven and mortified.”

 

 

TIME…

And finally…

If you’re in London on the evening of Thursday 17^th March you could do a lot worse than head over to The Dublin Castle?

Why? Well, The Silencerz will be performing there from 8:00pm.

We’re told “This will be celebration of St Patricks Day so we’ll be playing some of the ska and reggae tunes that made Ireland what it is today! And some Ian Dury classics.

The rumours of a visitation from a legendary tenor sax player cannot be confirmed.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1679389225645737/”

If you do manage to make it along please send in a review of the gig once you’re recovered.

Until next week, take care,
Jon Young, Rob Hazelby, Simon Roberts, Paul Williams
(With thanks to Mel Nokes, Nick Godwin and Louise Butcher)