smokingboot

With lyrics like this, who needs enemas? The line was courtesy of Collateral, a band playing at Rockstock festival in Wales. Afterwards I asked them to create a song about the Writing on The Wall because it was the only cliche they missed, though I didn't explain my reasoning (wouldn't be polite.) My mates were less careful. I hope the group don't feel dissed; I want my song!

Planet Rockstock was great fun with a fab bunch of friends and a genial atmosphere. The wind rocked the caravans so hard ours felt like it would take off or cave in, and just once I looked up into the night to see moon-lit clouds shaped eerily like a skull. The sea was magnificent, from its beachside conquest of a fallen tree to roan waves under a spike-crowned sun. Part of my problem is that for me there is always a dream under the dream and I am inevitably half way to finding it or thinking I've found it, deluded as that may be. After all, how could I really care about Planet Rockstock with Porthcawl locked in the sheath of a tempest, Manannan's horses wild on the spray and the wind-harried gulls trying not to fly backwards?

Answer: it was too bleeding cold for any of that mularky. I embraced the warm beer-scented world of Rock and Roll instead, surrounded by laughter and music. Can't complain really.

Hots:
Uriah Heep: Mad santas proving that you can be over 70 and still have charisma, total command of the audience and a voice clear as a bell. The masterclass. Who knew?

The Dan Reed Network: Just nuts about this guy and the way he loves his work, his audience, everything and everyone. Musically on point, artistically generous, amazing stuff. Caught up with Brion James afterwards and thanked him for an incredible set. He grinned and bowed. 'We're just a bunch of clowns up there,' he said.

This was in singular contrast to Saturday night's headliners The Temperance Movement, whose lead singer made an irony of the band name. He was drunk as a skunk, dancing like Dr Who on acid, but my god he could sing, even when he could barely stand. His muscle memory must be phenomenal. Despite all that, he didn't engage with the audience or even the band, so there was a strange flatness to the performance. We weren't surprised to learn they had cancelled future gigs due to 'illness.'

Good show Good Tunes
Last In Line,
Tyler Bryant and the Shakedowns,
Dead Man's Whiskey,
Hollowstar
Vega
Laurence Jones Band.

OK show, good tunes:
the Jack J Hutchinson band
I can't recall the others...

Good show, OK tunes :
Aaron Buchanan and the Cult Classics,
Quireboys.

OK show Ok tunes
It is just possible that I am bored with Kris Barras.

Nots:
Skid Row (I really don't care)
Virgin Marys (you're good so why are you screaming?)
Joanovark ('Girls wanna rock?' Joan Jett and Suzi Quattro did this stuff years ago, and better.)
Liberty Lies (When is a good voice not enough?)
Howling Tides (Yeesh. Just yeesh.)