Pennyblackmusic: October 2021 (Updated)
Interviews
Blue Aeroplanes
Thirty years ago this month, The Blue Aeroplanes released ‘Beatsongs’, the Bristolian art-rockers' biggest critical and commercial success. But, as frontman Gerard Langley told Nat Mumford, only a twist of fate stopped it from being much bigger...
Paul Carrack
Brinsley Schwarz
Burner Band
Singer-songwriter and keyboardist Paul Carrack talks to Eoghan Lyng about working with Eric Clapton, Squeeze and Mike + The Mechanics and his impressive new solo album, 'One On One'.
Guitarist-turned-songwriter Brinsley Schwarz talks to John Clarkson about his long career and second solo album, 'Tangled'.
Leeds-based musician Lewis Burner talks to Julie Cruickshank about his two solo albums, his new group The Burner Band and their debut album, 'Signs and Wonders'.
Steve Harley
Primitives
Gerry McAvoy
Maddy Read Clarke
Seminal 70's singer-songwriter Steve Harley talks to Andrew Twambley about his current tour, his latest album 'Uncovered' and his friendship with Marc Bolan.
Indie pop pioneers The Primitives are currently on the road on their Electric Acoustic tour which celebrates the release of boxset 'Bloom! The Complete Recordings 1985-92'. Guitarist/vocalist Paul Court chats to Richard Lewis about the group’s early days, chart success and returning to the stage.
Bassist Gerry McAvoy talks about Rory Gallagher’s legacy, touring during their heyday, the 5Oth anniversary of Gallagher’s eponymous debut album and keeping his memory alive.
Originators of the ‘No Music On A Dead Planet’ campaign, environmental group Music Declares Emergency aims to raise awareness of the climate crisis. Campaigning Director Maddy Read Clarke chats to Steev Burgess about the group’s aims, objectives and success so far
'Legs' Larry Smith
Gabriel Moreno
Al Campbell
Al Campbell
In this 2010 archival interview Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band tuba player, tap dancer and occasional percussionist ‘Legs’ Larry Smith speaks to Nick Dent-Robinson about his long career, working with the Beatles and his band’s reformation for a series of 40th Anniversary shows.
London-based singer-songwriter and poet Gabriel Moreno muses with Steev Burgess about the relationship between the UK and Gibraltar, learning from other cultures, and the meaning of ‘Duende’.
In the first part of an extensive two-part interview, 70's reggae star Al Campbell speaks to Adam Coxon about his long career.
In the second part of an extensive interview, reggae star Al Campbell continues to chat with Adam Coxon about his career.
Kevin Hewick
Steve Allen
Spinmaster Plantpot
Roger Chapman
Leicester-based cult musician and singer-songwriter Kevin Hewick talks to John Clarkson about his tenth solo album ‘Never Give Up on A Song’, working with the surviving members of Joy Division just after Ian Curtis’ death and also Adrian Borland and The Sound.
Nicky Crewe talks to Steve J Allen about his new album 'Contrast', his influences and approaches to life and music and moving from Sheffield to the other side of the world,
Antifolk-punk pioneer Hank Osasuna aka Spinmaster Plantpot tells Julie Cruickshank about his influences and his TV work.
Legendary singer and songwriter and former Family frontman Roger Chapman talks to Adrian Janes about his long career and his first album in seven years ,'Life in the Pond'
Visitor Comments
Editorial
Roger Chapman - Interview
Zombies - Interview
Bob Geldof - Interview
Cliff Richard - Vs Elvis Presley
Kiefer Sutherland - Photoscapes
Jowe Head - Interview
Hugh Cornwell - Interview
James Williamson - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Chuck Prophet - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Miscellaneous - 3
Zombies - Interview
Bob Geldof - Interview
Cliff Richard - Vs Elvis Presley
Kiefer Sutherland - Photoscapes
Jowe Head - Interview
Hugh Cornwell - Interview
James Williamson - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Chuck Prophet - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Miscellaneous - 3
Hello and welcome to the September 2021 edition of the Pennyblackmusic Magazine. It has been a long time coming, but this new edition features our first live reviews and Photoscapes excluding streamed concerts since lockdown was announced in March of last year. It will be 2022 before the majority of bands will start touring again, but, while at one level it is a terrifying, prospect in this new reality of COVID, it does feel good to be starting to do this again. We are also very pleased to announce with this edition our first Bands Night in two years which will take place at the Water ....more
Profiles
We preview the next Pennyblackmusic Bands Night which will take place with Idiot Son, Morton Valence, The Volunteered and Simon Bromide at The Water Rats in London on the 29th January 2022.
Charlie Watts
Lee "Scratch" Perry
Aztec Camera
Blues and Gospel Train
Nick Dent-Robinson pays tribute to Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts who died on August 24th.
Maarten Schiethart looks back on the life and career of Jamaican producer and musician Lee "Scratch" Perry who died in August.
Aztec Camera’s five albums for the WEA label are being compiled in a massive nine disc box set 'Backwards and Forwards', with four discs of extras! But even though he enjoys it, Tommy Gunnarsson misses their amazing debut album, 'High Land, Hard Rain'.
Neil Swift investigates the groundbreaking, one-off Granada TV showcase 'Blues and Gospel Train'.
Live Reviews
Spear Of Destiny
Denzil Watson at Yardbirds in Grimsby watches an emotive performance from Spear of Destiny to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their third album, 'World Service'.
Spear Of Destiny
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Yardbirds, Grimsby, 29/9/2021
Steve Hackett - Apollo, Manchester, 24/9/2021
Libertines - Rochester Castle, Kent, 16/9/2021
London Grammar - O2 Academy, Oxford, 29/9/2021
Genesis - Arena, Liverpool, 3/10/2021
New Order - Heaton Park, Manchester, 10/9/2021
Primitives - Live Rooms, Chester, 12/9/2021
Stewart Copeland - Police Deranged For Orchestra - Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, 11/9/2021
Mike Garry and The Cassia String Quartet - Stamford Quarter, Altrincham, 23/7/2021
Joe Bonamassa - Austin City Limits Livestream, 1/4/2021
Hector Gannet - Live at Polestar Studios
Wytches - Signature Brew, London, 22/9/2020
Steve Hackett - Apollo, Manchester, 24/9/2021
Libertines - Rochester Castle, Kent, 16/9/2021
London Grammar - O2 Academy, Oxford, 29/9/2021
Genesis - Arena, Liverpool, 3/10/2021
New Order - Heaton Park, Manchester, 10/9/2021
Primitives - Live Rooms, Chester, 12/9/2021
Stewart Copeland - Police Deranged For Orchestra - Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, 11/9/2021
Mike Garry and The Cassia String Quartet - Stamford Quarter, Altrincham, 23/7/2021
Joe Bonamassa - Austin City Limits Livestream, 1/4/2021
Hector Gannet - Live at Polestar Studios
Wytches - Signature Brew, London, 22/9/2020
Steve Hackett
Libertines
London Grammar
Neil Swift at the Manchester Apollo watches Steve Hackett plays Genesis' entire double live album 'Seconds Out' as well as highlights from his own back and current catalogue.
Steev Burgess watches The Libertines play a fiery set of their classic songs at Rochester Castle.
Nick Dent-Robinson enjoys a rare, intimate show from stadium-filling act London Grammar at the O2 Academy in Oxford.
Most Viewed (articles)
Current Edition
New Order - Heaton Park, Manchester, 10/9/2021Burner Band - Interview
Steve Hackett - Apollo, Manchester, 24/9/2021
Paul Carrack - Interview
Libertines - Rochester Castle, Kent, 16/9/2021
Brinsley Schwarz - Interview
Stewart Copeland - Police Deranged For Orchestra - Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, 11/9/2021
Steve Harley - Interview
Spear Of Destiny - Yardbirds, Grimsby, 29/9/2021
Blue Aeroplanes - Interview
Previous Editions
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - InterviewLovejoy - Interview
Paul Clerehugh - Interview
Hawks - Obviously 5 Believers
Sound - Interview with Bi Marshall Part 1
Sam Brown - Interview 2008
Walter Egan and Pamela Des Barres - Interview
Mary O'Meara - 1966-2017: An Appreciation
Sound - Interview with Bi Marshall Part 2
Sal Bernardi - Interview
Favourite Albums
George Harrison
George Harrison
Joni Mitchell
In the first of two articles Nick Dent-Robinson commemorates the 50th anniversary of the late George Harrison’s seminal album,’ All Things Must Pass'.
In the second of two articles Eoghan Lyng finds that George Harrison’s ‘All Things Must Pass’ “is the most thoughtful and fully-realised" of all The Beatles' solo debut albums.
In our 'Re:View' section, in which we look at albums from the past, Nick Dent-Robinson examines Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell’s classic 1971 album, ‘Blue’, which is being released in various 50th Anniversary editions, which include demos and out-takes.
Features
In her series, 'A Life in Music', in which she speaks to Pennyblackmusic writers about how music has affected and influenced them, Cila Warncke talks to our long-term American writer Lisa Torem.
Spencer Robertshaw writes of his now grown-up daughter in the latest poem in his 'Evidently Spencertown' column.
Bandcamp Explorer
Beatles
Liberty DeVitto
Evidently Spencertown
Inspired by own search for a fuzz pedal for his own band The Volunteered, Mark Rowland in 'Bandcamp Explorer' looks for the best fuzz-influenced bands on Bandcamp.
In 'The Image That Made You Weep', in which our writers write of the personal impact of a photo or image on them, Eoghan Lyng writes of a photo taken at Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach's wedding in 1981.
In her 'Raging Pages' book column Lisa Torem interviews rock drummer Liberty DeVitto and reviews his compelling musical memoir, 'Liberty: Life, Billy and the Pursuit of Happiness'.
Spencer Robertshaw returns after a break with the latest poem in his poetry column 'Evidently Spencertown'.
Photography
Andrew Twambley in the first of two galleries at this year's Positive Vibration Festival of Reggae in Liverpool photographs Asian Dub Foundation, Don Letts and Jah Wobble and The Invaders of the Heart
Andrew Twambley in the second of two galleries taken at this year's Positive Vibration Festival in Liverpool photographs The Neville Staple band,. The Ruts, Tippa Irie and The Twinkle Brothers
Robert Hadley photographs the first day of The Moseley Arts and Folk Festival which took place this year between the 3rd and 5th September.
Moseley Folk and Arts Festival
Moseley Folk and Arts Festival
Sleeper
Robert Hadley takes photographs of the second day of the Moseley Arts and Folk Festival in Birmingham.
Robert Hadley photographs the third and final day of this year's Moseley Arts and Folk Festival in Birmingham.
Andrew Twambley photographs Britpop band Sleeper at the Manchester Rirz on the 13th August.
Most Viewed (reviews)
Current Edition
Miscellaneous - The Sun Shines Here: The Roots Of Indie Pop 1980-1984Roger Taylor - Outsider
Simeon Walker - Imprints EP
Coldplay - Music of the Spheres
Daydream Three - The Lazy Revolution
Lucky Ones - The Lucky Ones
Plenty - Enough
Sharon Corr - The Fool And The Scorpion
Ro Myra - Nowhere. Nebraska
Specials - Protest Songs 1924-2012
Previous Editions
Del Amitri - Fatal MistakesDr Feelgood - Greatest Hits
Bryan Ferry - Royal Albert Hall 2020
Various - Good as Gold – Artefacts of the Apple Era 1967-1975
Surreal Appeal - Gently Deranged
Ian M. Bailey - Shots of Sun
Ed Kuepper - Smile Pacific
Scott Matthews - New Skin
Earl Slick - Fist Full of Devils
Tom Odell - Monsters
Reviews
Ro Myra
Miscellaneous
Specials
Lucky Ones
Evocative and multi-layered debut album from Nebraska-raised, now Nashville-based Americana/folk singer-songwriter Ro Myra
Essential and delightful five CD box set from Cherry Red which focuses on the roots of indie pop and should be in every pop fan’s record collection.
Ambitious collection of political covers from influential ska group The Specials
Sublimely atmospheric debut album from Yukon country-roots band The Lucky Ones
Oh Wonder
Plenty
Daydream Three
Coldplay
Exceptional third album from under-rated South London alt pop duo Oh Wonder, the project of Josephine Vander Gucht and Anthony West, which was inspired by their near romantic break-up during its recording
Fascinating but overwhelming collection of new and historical material from 1980’s Liverpool post-punk art rock group Plenty
Charming and expressive second album from Sicily’s Daydream Three, praising the joys of the simple things in life.
Uninspiring and run-of--the-mill latest album from Coldplay
Roger Taylor
Sharon Corr
Mr Diagonal
Yebba
Reflective and versatile sixth solo album and first in eight years from Queen drummer Roger Taylor
Accomplished collection of rock and jazz-tinged piano ballads. on third solo album from Corrs multi-instrumentalist Sharon Corr
Curious multi-genre album about escapism from Robinson Crusoe one-man show Mr. Diagonal
Poignant and diverse debut album from Memphis -born singer-songwriter Yebba
Greatest Endangered Thing
Simeon Walker
Kacey Musgraves
H3000
Sam Taylor and Rebecca Van Cleave have changed the name of their duo, but not their music, which builds on their considerable musical achievements as Ophelia
Excellent EP from pianist and contemporary composer Simeon Walker proves the perfect introduction to his music for new fans and a treat for those who are already familiar with his work.
Emotive and adventurous new album from Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves which was inspired by her recent marriage break-up and divorce
Soulful and euphoric sci-fi inspired electronica on debut album from Australian/Los Angeles-influenced duo H3000
Halsey
Metallica and Various Artists
James McMurtry
Poppermost
Gritty and thought=provoking rock on latest album from Halsey, who came out as non-binary earlier this year
Enjoyable new four CD Box set released to mark the 30th anniversary of Meatllica's infamous black album which combines a remastered version of the original album with covers of its tracks by a total of 53 artists.
First new album in seven years from singer songwriter and guitarist James McMurtry which features killer stories and raucous guitar
Enjoyable album from one-man Glaswegian multi-instrumentalist The Poppermost which sheds a bright light on the British Invasion and 1960s American bands
Gordon Giltrap and Paul Brett
Blancmange
Various
Greg Antista and the Lonely Streets
Outstanding collaboration from two of the UK's best and most original acoustic guitarists/songwriters Gordon Giltrap and Paul Brett which showcases Brett's specially designed Raven guitar.
1980s synth-pop progenitors Blancmange maintain their highly prolific release rate with a solid new addition to their discography
Highly impressive compilation that pays homage to ground-breaking early 1980s club Blitz which created the New Romantic movement
Versatile album from Californiian elder statesmen Greg Antista and the Lonely Streets who maintain a punk attitude
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adam Coxon
Adrian Janes
Adrian P
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Carl Bookstein
Chris O'Toole
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Adrian Janes
Adrian P
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Carl Bookstein
Chris O'Toole
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dixie Ernill
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dixie Ernill
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank