COVENTRY Music Museum curator Pete Chambers BEM writes for the Observer
WELL, ABZ is back with a great new song (yet again) from one of Coventry’s finest artists.
‘Are You Good’ is yet another powerhouse of a song – crunching distorted guitar drives the in your face choruses.
With Abz’s astoundingly powerful voice right there, acerbic and right to the point, hell hath no fury etc.
How she can keep creating these impressively professional songs is a mystery – Red Flag remains one of my favourite songs to ever come out of the city in recent years.
Then there is ‘Wasted Energy’, another song that has seen Abz’s make the prestigious Unsigned Guide.
The online site is glowing about the song, saying: “Her latest colossus of the single ‘Wasted Energy’ begins life as an upbeat, catchy pop gem before exploding into unbridled rock with heavy guitars and formidable drums.
And with a powerful message to boot: “it’s about not wasting time and energy on relationships and being happy in your own skin.”
We definitely think Abz is onto a winner. It would seem we’re not alone in these thoughts, with Spotify Fresh Finds, Kerrang! Radio’s Johnny Doom, Amazing Radio’s Jim Gellatly, plus BBC Introducing CWR jumping on board so far.
Having previously appeared on ITV’s Walk the Line, playing the Next Stage at Godiva Festival, plus at the Coventry Christmas lights switch-on, Abz seems keen to ride the wave of momentum and spread her wings further on the live circuit, and is working on putting a band together for more gig and festival slots.
With more music being conjured in the studio, we look forward to hearing Abz’s next serving of fiery pop punk.
Let’s be Frank
Happy 86th birthday to singing legend Frank Ifield, born in Coundon, Coventry, on November 30, 1937.
Frank has done it all – four number one hit records with ‘I Remember You’ being one of the first songs to ever sell over £1million, spending 17 weeks at number one in the 1960s.
He helped introduce The Beatles to the world (they were on HIS shows) and he single-handedly made yodelling a trend in the 1960s.
A proud Coventry-born-Australian, he visited Coventry on many occasions and as an honorary patron he also visited the music museum many times.
Frank said: “I still wear the title of ‘Coventry Kid’ with great pride.
“Most of my youth was spent during the war in the Midlands and dad was a prominent inventor, working for Lucas on secret projects and invented the fuel systems for jet aircraft.
“In 1947, war was over and dad decided to return to Australia with the family that had grown by this time to six boys, proving he was not only a prolific inventor.”
Despite all he has achieved, Frank remains a kind and humble human being and I’m honoured to know him and call him a friend – keep rocking Frank.
