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NEWS
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2012/2/06
| Various News from TMTCH & Cohorts:
The
Men They Couldn't Hang
Last weekend we were invited to come along and play at 'The Gathering'
in Prestatyn, Wales. It was a freezing cold drive from London
but the reception we received was warm and welcoming. Met up
with ton of old pals including Mike Peters and Gareth Jones
www.garethjones.tv We crammed as many songs into our 45
minute slot as possible and Tom Spencer swapped over from his usual
TMTCH Banjo to playing lead guitar as Paul Simmonds had previous
commitments up at Celtic Connections in Scotland where he was playing
with Naomi Bedford. A clip of our set can be seen here: http://youtube/BMGskwL-z0s
Looking ahead to the summer we have started going through the festival
offerings for this year. Confirmed so far is the Rhythm Folk Festival
on Friday 24th August . This year The Rhythm festival is going to be 3
festivals in one so make sure you buy a ticket for the 'Folk Festival'
part if you want to see us. There will also be a set by The Feral
Family at some point as well as Naomi Bedford and Paul Simmonds. Phil
'Swill' Odgers' will also be doing a solo set on one of the days.
As well as two main music stages for the Rhythm Festival, 2012 sees the
addition of a Blues festival, Rhythm & Blues and the Rhythm
Folk Festival – both of which can be accessed by holders of
an All Festivals Weekend Pass or weekend tickets are available for each
of them for just £70 for the weekend (includes one free
child, price increase on June 1st to £80). Camping and other
amenities, including children’s and other entertainment will
be shared.
The price of an All Festivals Weekend Pass is currently £99
and will rise to £119 once 1,000 are sold. At 8am on Feb 1st
there were just 158 x £99 tickets left and they are expected
to go very quickly. www.rhythmfestival.com
Phil 'Swill'
Odgers
Work is well underway on Swill's latest solo album due to be released
through Cargo records in Spring/Summer 2012. Produced by legendary
producer Mick Glossop (www.mickglossop.com) this album follows on from
the acclaimed 'Sunday Morning Coming Down' EP
(www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0057AQM6Y). The recording sessions have been
something special and there are seven songs already down in one shape
or another including a one finished track with Australian folk rock
supremo's 'Weddings, Parties, Anything' ...their first studio recoding
in 15 years!!! Swill also has a couple of other special
guests up his sleeve ...all has to remain hush-hush for now while
things are sorted out but, let me tell ya, it's going to be impressive.
Keep up with news at www.tmtch.net and www.twitter.com/SwillOdgers
Stefan Cush
& The Feral Family
The Feral Family's debut album, Brough Superior will be digitally
released through Cherry Red on Monday, February 13th, 2012 when it will
be available to download from iTunes etc. CD's will also be available
to purchase from Amazon, and various other retailers from late February.
Due to a series of unlucky circumstances most of the Stefan Cush
& The Feral Family tour dates now have to be rescheduled but
the good news is that they've picked somewhere really personal for the
launch party. Cush is inviting one and all to his local pub The White
Horse in Llandeilo, Wales on Feb 10th to see the band in action and get
the CD before it goes on sale generally. It's going to be free entry
and one helluva night. Be prepared for a massive hangover
...even if you don't drink!!
Also, we've just been reliably informed that the CD will be
available to buy from www.fourdogsmusic.co.uk from next Wednesday, Feb
8th!!
Other dates
so far are:
- Fri 24 February BEDFORD Esquires
www.seetickets.com
- Fri 02 March BRIGHTON Brunswick
www.wegottickets.com
- Thu 08 March LONDON Club Surya (Kings Cross) -
To Be Confirmed
- Fri 09 March PORTSMOUTH Cellers (Eastney)
www.ticketweb.co.uk
More gigs and festivals to be announced shortly at: www.stefancush.com
Other TMTCH friends and cohorts...
Naomi Bedford
Often seen on stage dueting with Cush on 'Silver Gun'. Naomi's 2nd solo
album has received rave reviews. Featuring guest appearances from the
likes of Paul Heaton, Justin Currie and Alasdair Roberts as well as our
very own Paul Simmonds (who also wrote several of the songs), the album
is up for a spiral award - as best americana album of 2012 and Naomi is
also one of the nominations for 'best female singer'. This is
a public vote and you can make your mark here - www.spiralearth.co.uk/spiralawards2012/Americana.asp
Bobby
Valentino
Long time muscial collaborator on the fiddle with TMTCH Bobby
Valentino’s new album, “Pat-a-Cake,
Pat-a-Cake”, is Handmade Music in the true sense of the term.
What you hear is what the musicians played and sung at the time: no
computers, no synthesisers, no sampling, no auto-tune and no drum
machines were used in any way. This more traditional approach adds
liveliness and an organic heart that makes the music breath in a very
natural way. It does exactly what it says on the tin.. Some blurb is
here - http://www.bobbyvalentino.co.uk/pat-a-cake.html and a link to
Amazon is -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pat-Cake-Bobby-Valentino/dp/B0054JFOAS
Phil Martin
Another fiddler on the loose recently seen doing gigs with Swill is
Phil Martin. Mr Martin has just released his debut album 'Before We Go
To Paradise' on the newly-founded Brentford Records. Across ten new
recordings the album presents a selection of original songs, alongside
the words of some of England’s greatest poets –
Shakespeare, Coleridge, Hopkins, Blake – recast and
reimagined against the emotive and occasionally quirky music. The
result is a quintessential English album dwelling on spirituality,
resignation and humour in the modern world. Some blurb is
here - www.philmartinmusic.com and a link
to Amazon is - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005FTVEV0,
That's about it for news right now.
Keep the Faith!
TMTCH |
2012/1/04
| Various News:
Swill spent some time between Christmas and
the New Year in the studio with Mick Glossop working on tracks for his
new solo album where he also had the pleasure of Jen Anderson (http://www.myspace.com/jenandoxtropod)
dropping in. You may know Jen from playing with Mick Thomas and
'Weddings, Parties, Anything'. She happened to be in the UK so
came over to add some fiddle to a track that he have
written...for a Mick Thomas project in fact. The song is called 'The
Godforsaken Voyage' (previously The Machine Breakers') and it's
sounding pretty darn good. It will also have squeeze
box wally and a few others playing on it too plus Paul Simmonds on
Mandolin AND Bazouki!!
Recording is going well and Swill is very excited about it all. He is
about a quarter of the way through it and release is set for
April/May. He have a full distribution deal on the boil so it's set to
be widely available through CARGO RECORDS - the same people that are
now distributing the EP.
The EP is now available world wide on Amazon:
UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0057AQM6Y
US http://amazon.com/B0057AQM6Y
Germany http://www.amazon.de/dp/B0057AQM6Y
France http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0057AQM6Y
Japan http://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0057AQM6Y
and all other regions.
By the way, almost all other TMTCH CD's are also now available through
Amazon and iTunes too.
Cush Tour!!
Cush is set to unleash his solo album to the world this March. Are you
ready for it??
Stefan Cush & The Feral
Family
TOUR DATES FEB MARCH 2012:
Fri 10/2 Llandeilo (Wales) - White Horse
Fri 24/2 Bedford - Esquires
Fri 02/3 Brighton - Brunswick
Fri 09/3 Portsmouth - Cellers (Eastney)
Info & Ticket Site Links:
|
2011/7/07
| EP from iTunes & Last Minute Gigs:
First off sorry to those of you that are
waiting for a mail order delivery ...due to the unexpectedly high
number of orders for the 'Sunday
Morning Coming Down' EP there is a bit of a backlog of
post waiting to be sent out. We are almost up to date now and 'normal
service' will be resumed very shortly.
If you want to buy a copy instantly though please download from
iTunes (search for Phil Odgers, Sunday Morning Coming
Down).
There are a couple of gigs coming up this weekend:
First off there is the wonderful Ely
Festival in Cambridgeshire where TMTCH are Headlining this
Friday night (www.elyfolk.co.uk). But, just
heard that it's sold out so if you haven't got a ticket do check first.
However, if you can't make that why don't you get down to Brentford,
West London (ish) the next day ...Saturday 9th of July where Phil
'Swill' Odgers is joined by Phil Martin on fiddle as special guests to
ex- Icicle Works frontman Ian McNabb.
The gig is at Brentfords hottest new venue, St. Paul's Church (don't
worry it has a bar!!). St Paul's Road, Brentford, TW8 0PN.
Timings: 7.15 Doors
7.45 Phil and Swill
8.45 Ian McNabb
Tickets are a mere £12 (£10 Concessions) and are
available directly from the promoter Helen Martin. Email
helphil@blueyonder.co.uk or from http://www.wegottickets.com/event/102517
or on the door but get there EARLY.
And, yes, the EP will be on sale too.
More details at http://www.helenmartinproductions.com/events.html
|
2011/6/26
| New EP from Swill Odgers:
Phil
Odgers 'Sunday Morning Coming Down'
Vinyl Star Records, VSREP001
Available from our mail order
page or http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0057AQM6Y
Track List:
1. Sunday Morning Coming Down
2. Fools
3. I'm a Lonesome Fugitive
4. The Parting Glass
5. Bottom of the World
Produced, engineered and mixed by Mick Glossop at Magazine Studio,
London
Mastered by Pat Collier at Perry Vale Studios, London
Phil 'Swill' Odgers; Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Companion Reed Organ,
Harmonica
Mick Glossop; Electric guitar, keyboards and Pro Tools programming
The Songs
After recording two 'solo' albums backed by the magnificent
'Swaggerband' I decided it was time to do something a bit more up close
and personal. I had a yearning to get into the studio and make a new
solo album.
In 2009 The Men They Couldn't Hang released the critically acclaimed
album 'Devil On The Wind' on Irregular Records. The tour for the album
was wicked, the audiences wild. For several years leading up to this
TMTCH have thrown in a couple of acoustic songs at the midway point in
the set. However, during The Devil On The Wind tour we stripped this
down further and each night in the middle of the set Cush and myself
would take it in turns to play a couple of solo 'acoustic' songs each.
This gave me the chance to throw in songs at the last minute, sometimes
planned but often anything that took my fancy on the night, I like to
try out the odd cover version I'd learn in the dressing room or back at
the hotel. Songs I'd heard in my youth or songs I'd discovered as my
musical horizons broadened.
I'd already settled on the idea that it was time to get started on
another solo album but knew that it was going to take me about a year
to write all the songs. It was obvious to me that something was needed
to fill the gap between the idea and the album.
And so, after many years of recording original material with The Men
They Couldn't Hang I decided, just this once, to try my hand at an EP
of some songs written by other people. I fancied doing something a bit
bleaker and darker than my usual solo stuff. These are my
interpretations of tales of hangovers, heartbreak and hopelessness.
Songs that, at one time or another, I've either played during the
'acoustic' section at TMTCH gigs or on family occasions.
Although I wanted to record in a very simple way and focus on vocals
and guitar I decided to get in touch with legendary producer Mick
Glossop (Van Morrison, Waterboys, Frank Zappa, etc, etc…).
We'd
worked with Mick on 'How Green is the Valley' and 'Waiting for
Bonaparte' and I always liked the sound he got for my voice on acoustic
songs like 'Parted from You' and not just the bigger sounding
productions like 'Island in the Rain' or 'The Ghosts of Cable Street'.
The EP was mastered by Pat Collier who produced the classic TMTCH
albums 'Domino Club', 'Silvertown' and 'Devil on the Wind' so I feel
privileged to have such great talents to work with me on this project.
I went into Mick's studio and recorded 5 songs in in 7 hours -
spontaneity is the key! On the other hand, I spent months picking the
songs and then narrowing it down to just 5…!
The first one, 'Sunday Morning Coming Down', was introduced to me by my
good friend and sometime drinking buddy PJ Wildcat O'Mahony, who told
me about a rare version that Gene Vincent once did at the Corral Club,
Topanga Canyon, Ca. (U.S.A) just four months before he died in October
1971. I've heard a recording of this version and although technically
the sound leaves a lot to be desired, the spirit is there. It inspired
me and led me to the Kris Kristofferson original which from which I
build my version.
'Fools' I first heard sung as a duet between Peter Perret of The Only
Ones and Pauline Murray of Penetration and has crossed my mind many
times over the years. The original was written and recorded by Johnny
Duncan in 1972.
'I'm a Lonesome Fugitive' is a song made famous by Merle Haggard and
has been covered by several other people but I've rearranged the verses
a little and put my mark on it and recorded this in a style very
different from any other version I've heard.
'The Parting Glass' was suggested to me via our website
(www.tmtch.net). I've heard several versions of this song, my favourite
of which could well be the Wailing Jennys. but I decided to give it a
bit of a different twist as well cutting out a verse. Ian McCalman
(From The McCalmans) sent me their version of this to listen to but I
decided to stick with the more 'traditional' version this was
apparently the most popular song sung in both Scotland and Ireland
before Robert Burns wrote "Auld Lang Syne". Bob Dylan used the melody
for "Restless Farewell" from the album The Times They Are A-Changin'
with new verses of his own, based on the original lyrics.
The last track, 'Bottom of the World', is a Tom Waits song. It's a
bleak tale but I decided to put and slightly more jaunty
instrumentation to it.
So, that kind of sums up the idea behind the EP. We're already working
on a new TMTCH CD to be recorded later in the year and I've been
sketching out songs for a new solo album …it's not going to
be a
collection of covers but I wouldn't be surprised if the style of the EP
flavours it a little.
Cheers
Phil 'Swill' Odgers
The EP is Available from our mail
order page or http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0057AQM6Y
|
2011/6/25
| Galtres Festival:
The
Men They Couldn't Hang have just announced they will be playing the
Forest of Galtres Festival (York) over the August Bank Holiday weekend
alongside The Charlatans, British Sea Power, and the Levellers.
Members of this mailing list can get up to £15 off their
entry ticket by using the band's unique discount code.
TMTCH will play Galtres Festival at Crayke, North Yorkshire, for the
first time, playing just before the Levellers on the main stage on the
Sunday night. They will join 100 bands playing over three days on five
stages, plus a huge beer and cider festival, a night cabaret, comedy
tent, family fun, fabulous food and beautiful camping. The madcap
ArtsBarge crew will be there in force, bringing you cabaret, theatre,
music, wondrous wackiness, frills and frolics, and a good cup of tea
too. Clay Fish will be contributing magic, drama, film-making and even
a yo-yo workshop. Entry costs just £60* for a weekend ticket
or £36*
for the day so it must be one of the best-priced festivals ever, in the
setting of a wonderful hilltop arena overlooking the Vale and City of
York. John Otway, Chris Helme (Seahorses). Puressence, and Mostly
Autumn are also on the billing.
*
use the discount code TMTCH-630 at checkout to get your discount -
£3 off a day ticket, £5 off a weekend ticket and
£15 off a family weekend ticket. Offer ends 30 June
2011. Festival runs Friday 26 - Sunday 28 August 2011
See http://www.galtresfestival.org.uk
for more details and online ticket ordering.
|
2011/6/04
| T-shirt Offer and Rhythm Festival News:
TMTCH played Attila's wonderful Glastonwick
(Beer) Festival yesterday and with all the ales and cider on
tap a merry time was had by all.
That's the last night of the tour proper and we have a handful
of TMTCH 'Crest' white T-shirts left over. If you'd like to
get one at a bargain price email orders@tmtch.net
and let us know what size you'd like and
we'll see what's available. Plenty of XXLs...
We have a few Festivals coming up not least of which is the always
fabulous Rhythm Festival (http://www.rhythmfestival.com/) where
TMTCH are honoured to have been given our very own stage to program on
Saturday 27th August. We have tried to combine the very best live music
with also getting our very best mates to play and have come up with a
line-up that I'm sure you will agree is simply stunning:
The Men They Couldn't Hang
Boothill Foot Tappers
The Bubbery Hellbellies
Fastlane Roogalator
Bobby Valentino and the Musicians
Killer B's
Robb Johnson
Naomi Bedford
Wob (TBC)
Plus 1 or 2 others to be announced
...and that's just our stage!! Our plan is to get everyone to stick
around and make it an all-day party ...forget the other stages and
bands, this is the place to be ;-). Cush and Wendy May will be DJ'ing
between acts and it's likely that we'll each do impromptu solo slots
here and there throughout the day too. It's our day and our stage but
TMTCH might not go on last (we're still trying to decide) ...our
dilemma is that we don't want to be playing at the same time as Nick
Lowe (9PM).
It's gonna be something special for sure. Kids welcome too. Get your
ticket now and join our party!!
|
2011/5/31
| Swill Solo, London:
Hot on the heels of The Men They Couldn't Hang
tour, Swill is doing a solo show at The George IV,in Chiswick, West
London on Thursday 9th June. Swill will be showcasing songs
from his new EP as well as from his last 2 CD's and is appearing either
side of solo set SYDNEY J SPENCER (FastLane Roogalator) and The Hops.
The
running times are:
Syd Spencer 8.30pm - 9.00pm
Swill
9.15pm - 9.45pm
The Hops 10.00pm - 10.45pm
Doors open at 7.45pm.
The George IV
185 Chiswick High Road
London
W4 2DR
(Tel: 07876 287546)
Admission - £5
Doors open 7.45pm
Showtime 8.30pm
Nearest Underground: Turnham Green (District Line) |
2011/4/10
| Pictures wanted:
Swill Odgers has been in the studio today with
leading producer Mick Glossop and the songs are
sounding great. Swill is recording a 5 track EP
of versions of songs that he does occasionally
in The Men They Couldn't Hang's famous 'accoustic section' of
the set. Titles include 'Sunday Morning Coming Down', 'Lonesome
Fugitive' and 'The Parting Glass' as well as a couple of
suprises. The CD should be ready for release in about 2 or 3
weeks time.
If anyone has any good pics of Swill from recent gigs email them to this
website and they'll be considered for the CD cover.
|
2011/3/23
| 'Tales from the Weeping Willow' from Naomi Bedford:
'Naomi Bedford's album 'Tales from the
Weeping Willow' is now available via mail order from her website. Paul
Simmonds wrote two songs and played on it (also Ricky McGuire
and Tom
Spencer). It also featured a song by Paul Heaton and another one by
Justin Currie where Naomi duets with them. The album was engineered and
also co-produced by Gerry Diver who was in the Popes and has
worked with Shane McGowan.
www.naomibedford.co.uk |
2011/3/15
| Meadowlark EP by The Feral Family:
 Cush has
released a new EP called 'Meadowlark
EP'. It is from the forthcoming album called 'The Brough
Superior' by his actual side project
'The
Feral Society'. The EP is now
available at TMTCH gigs - the album release is planned for this summer!
The Meadowlark EP tracks are:
1. Meadowlark
2. Boomerang
3. Savages
4. Old Pair of Shoes |
2011/2/22
| New Album, Tour & more:
The Xmas hangovers have finally gone and
Spring is over the horizon. So it must be time for TMTCH to announce
their plans for 2011 – and this year is a busy one!
First up, and imminently available via mail order, I-tunes and at
our shows is the double CD 'Five Go Mad...' a tasty collection of our
best B sides, extra tracks and some rare live versions of legendary
tracks like 'Johnny Come Home' and 'Whisky With Me Giro'. The art of
the B side is long gone - swallowed by the download tidal wave
– but it gave bands a great opportunity to try different
things, play homage to influences and to have a barrowload of fun - as
evidenced t
oughout this fascinating selection.
 As
before, we're releasing this CD to raise funds for our next studio
album which we hope to start in the summer. More of that later. All in
all then a double whammy - all your previously uncollected extra tracks
on two CD's plus the opportunity to help keep the TMTCH wagon rolling
along along with another full album this year. Bargain!
Secondly, we are on tour this Spring - going back to places not visited
for a while. We are overhauling the set completely; bringing back long
gone favourites like The Crest, Company Town and Home Fires along with
many others. If you value TMTCH and we are in your town - please come
along. We need your support to make all this work.
Later in the year, finance permitting, we'll be going into the studio
to record our next album. There will be more information soon
– and possible an advance download single - but suffice to
say we will be reflecting the times and to an extent returning to
social and historical themes in anthem and ballad. And there will be
mention of Quakers, Buccaneers, haunted churches, the Russian
Revolution and the voyage of the Mayflower!
As if all that wasn't enough, there will be a long awaited solo album
from Mr. Cush, a CD of covers from Swill, Paul's co-production of Naomi
Bedford's 2nd album, gigs from Ricky's side project the Killer B's and
Tom Spencer in Ginger Wildheart's live tour. More on all these projects
soon. But not bad to be going on with!
|
2011/2/19
| New Double-CD with B-Sides & Flipsides:
|
2011/1/19
| Swill Odgers supporting the Boothill Foot-Tappers:
The
Boothill Foot-Tappers + Very Special Guest - Swill Odgers (The Men They
Couldn't Hang) with a very special aftershow party Courtesy of Wendy
May’s Locomotion
100
Club London, 28th January 2011
During the
mid eighties
The Boothill Foot-tappers spearheaded an extraordinary movement
providing the perfect foil to the plethora of foppish synthesiser duos
dominating the chart at the time. Some called it
“Cowpunk”, others
“Countrybilly”. Whatever you
chose to call it, they made brilliant, thoughtful and irresistibly
danceable music, often with a razor sharp social message, and always
with the emphasis on a brilliant night out. They played
benefits
for the miners with The Redskins, headlined a dream line up at the
London Alternative Country and Western Festival which featured The
Pogues, The Men They Couldn’t Hang and The Sheleighly Sisters
and
the rest is history. They won busking competitions the world over and
packed every pub and hoedown in London and t
oughout the UK. They
signed to Go Discs and with Billy Bragg and The Housemartins brought
the house down time and again in defiance of Thatcher and Apartheid.
Sadly, not
long after
signing to a major and releasing a handful of brilliant EPs and an
inspired debut album, it all came to a natural end. Singer Meryl
married Cush and performed backing vocals on the Cherry Red Jukebox
album recording of TMTCH favourite 'Silver Gun'. Co-Singer Wendy May
went on to present The Tube and run London’s best soul
night The Locomotion. (which is going to be back on the
tracks
and at the 100 Club for one night only as an aftershow party for this
gig) Chris Thompson gave us the fantastic folk inspired Barely Works
and later Bigjig. Accordion maestro Slim’s CV is way too long
to
list anywhere but has joined TMTCH many times over the years on stage
and on record. He’s currently a crucial component of the
Urban
Voodoo Machine. Drummer Danny has been the beat behind Shane
MacGowan’s Popes and The Men They Couldn’t Hang.
So the
Boothills
couldn’t ever reform could they? – Well actually,
to our
amazement and delight yes! It’s a special birthday for one of
them, so just this once, they’re taking to the stage again.
Do
not miss out on this incredible night, it won’t happen again.
Tickets
£12.50 adv from wegottickets.com
or
£15 on the door if available. | Swill Odgers on Twitter. |
2010/12/2
| The Return of the Cherry Red Jukebox:
 At long last, due to popular
demand we are proud to announce that our 2003 CD 'The Cherry Red
Jukebox' is once again available. Originally releases in Germany on
Twah! Records in 2003 and in the UK on our own label the two versions
are differentiated by alternative covers - the German release has a
drawing of a Jukebox and the UK version shows a photo of a jukebox
floating on the Thames at Hammersmith and it is this ultra rare UK
version that is once again available from our mail order page.
Track List is as follows:
1. The Sunrise
2. Singing Elvis
3. Rivertown
4. Silver
Gun
5. The Red Rocks Of Spain
6. Ride Again
7. The Hill
8. Colwyn Bay
9. Highwater
10.
I Loved The Summer Of Hate
11.
10 Grand
This CD has
been almost impossible to get over the last few years and there are
currently 4 copies up on Amazon.co.uk ranging in price from
£34.98 to £59.66!! But we are now selling it, along
with all our other albums, at www.tmtch.net for only £10.
Here's what
the Greenman Review had to say about it:
"Well
Cracklin' Rosie said Let's Get it On (won't you Bang a Gong) / with a
wall of sound and Da Doo Ron Ron / Gasoline Alley, Roll Away the Stone
/ Yeah, we're singing Elvis all the way home." With that rollicking
chorus to their new pub-rock anthem, "Singing Elvis," The Men They
Couldn't Hang pay tribute to their musical heroes of the '60s and '70s
on their new CD, The Cherry Red Jukebox. It's fitting that they look
back on this, the 20th anniversary of their first single, their 1984
cover of Eric Bogle's "Green Fields of France."
Jukebox,
which takes its name from that second track, the one about Elvis et.
al., is a solid mix of pub-rockers and sentimental ballads sure to
please the fans. It hits the ground running with "The Sunrise," with
Cush sneering Simmonds' lyrics in his best Joe Strummer homage. The
Clash connection is more explicit in the soaring bridge, "I kick the
walls, kick the door / can't see the sun no more / waiting for the
sunrise," over distorted power chords and a wailing harmonica.
The homage
to Clash and the Ramones continues in "I Loved the Summer of Hate," a
big slab of garage punk with unexpectedly wistful lyrics about an old
leather jacket and the days of swilling cough syrup and beer in front
of the Marshall stacks.
The Men
aren't a one-trick pony by any means, however. Having started out as
something of an alternative country band like The Mekons, they continue
in that vein with "Silver Gun," a fiddle-driven outlaw ballad whose
protagonist is a female robber with the eponymous weapon in her purse;
and the Cajun-style stomp of "The Hill," the ballad of a crippled old
sailor who struggles up the hill from his bedsit to the pub every day.
"Colwyn Bay," a poignant folk-rocker about a young sea widow, is laced
with accordion and fiddle over acoustic guitars. And "Ten Grand" is a
swinging mid-tempo R & B number about an old gambler begging
for one last stake.
There are
some slower and mellower songs as well. "Rivertown" is a tribute to the
harbour and the lessons it has to teach the young traveller; "The Red
Rocks of Spain" is a road-trip/hitch-hiker ballad that sees the
protagonist and his lady cruising the length of Africa; "Ride Again" is
a gentle plea from a man to a woman for one last trip together before
their relationship falls apart completely; and "Highwater" is a
pastoral exploration of the tides as a metaphor for life and death.
Since
reuniting in 1996 after a five-year hiatus, The Men They Couldn't Hang
have proven that rock isn't just a young men's game or a freak-show
Rolling Stones-style circus. Mature fellows with some real life
experience have something to say, and they can still by god rawk when
they say it. So hold that lighter high and sing along with 'em."
http://www.greenmanreview.com/cd/cd_tmtch_cherryredjukebox.html |
2010/10/5
| Various News:
 Swill Solo Album
Swill has now got about 7 songs
picked and ready towards his next solo
CD. Provisionally called 'A Fistful Of Covers' it's going to be the
first time he's put together a collection of songs that weren't written
by either himself or by friends. The common theme being that these are
ones that appear in his solo set from time to time. Songs on the list
so far are: Lonesome Fugitive, The Parting Glass, Sunday Morning Coming
Down, Sunset Of My Tears, Sam Hall, Throw Your Arms Around Me, My Side
Of The Bed and possibly Ellen Vannen and Love Is Lies - let us know if
there's something you think would be a good addition - either leave a
message at this website or email (orders@tmtch.net).
Thekla gig chat leads to Duo
Album??
The Men They Couldn't
Hang had a cracking night in Bristol playing on
the Thekla last weekend (Oct 2nd) even though TMTCH were plagued by
some technical problems ...not least of which was the fact that Tom's
banjo decided to give up the ghost so we had to do without banjo again.
But we did manage to pop 3 new additions into the set. First off was
'The Parting Glass' which Swill kicked off with as an accapela song
seeing as there was no support that night. The other two were revivals
of songs TMTCH haven't played for years as a band - 'Industrial Town'
and 'Billy Morgan' ...come to think of it there was an acoustic version
of 'Island in the Rain' too!
After playing TMTCH
went on to the upper deck (the Thekla is a boat see (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thekla)
to have a drink and chat with people who'd been to the gig. It was the
usual drunken banter but Paul and Swill did have a chat with a couple
of blokes and their friends who said it would be an idea to release an
acoustic album of ballads that have rarely made an appearance outside
of our original recordings. They then went on to compile the following
list:
Our
Day
Australia
Map of
Morocco
Kingdom of
the Blind
To Have and
To Hold
Pieces of
Paradise
Red Rocks
of Spain
House of
Cards
Island in
the Rain
Scarlet
Ribbons
Parted from
You
Hush Little
Baby
It looks
like a great selection of songs. Perhaps something can be done
about this. So, what do you think? Do you think it's time for Swill and
Paul to do another 'Odgers & Simmonds' disc as well as Swill
doing a solo CD?
|
2010/6/7
| Catch 22 playing with the Clash 1980 article:
 There is a
detailed article on Catch 22 (Swill, Jon and Paul) playing
with the Clash on their 16 tons tour in 1980. Link: http://www.siiye.co.uk/E4/PAGE_001.html
|
2010/5/10
| New collaboration for Paul::
 Hello TMTCH people,
here's a brief update about a project i'm working on at the moment
which you might find interesting. regular gig go-ers have probably seen
naomi bedford at our shows, particularly singing the female part in
silver gun. well, for the last few months i've been collaborating on
her 2nd album 'tales from the weeping willow' - a folk/country hybrid
of murder ballads both old and new. i'm playing guitar, plus a few
other things and helping to produce and write.
there's a fair few special guests on this album. justin currie from del
amitri sings 2 duets; 'one of a kind' a new song by naomi, and 'castle
and keep' which he wrote especially for the record. there's also a new
song 'ferryboat inn' written by paul heaton from the beautiful south
which he also sings on. It is a bizarre kind of fairground waltz.
elsewhere there's two guest contributions from will oldham - also known
as bonny prince billy - one on a very old ballad called 'elendor' and
also a vocal on a new song of mine called 'daddy's got a gun' about a
notorious recent family murder.
as if that weren't tasty enough there's also two spots for ultra good
new folk artist alisdair roberts - including a cover of 'colwyn bay', a
yet to be recorded track with dick gaughan, contributions from our own
ricky mcguire and tom spencer and a version of warren zevon's 'roland
the thompson gunner'.
should see the light of day in the autumn with a bit of luck.
for previews check out naomi's site: www.myspace.com/naomibedford1
see you down the line
Paul Simmonds
|
|
