The Love Cov Music Show.
If ever there was a gig not to be missed, then it’s definitely this one.
The ‘Love Cov Music Show’ is on December 1 at The Coventry Empire, in association with The Coventry Empire and Neville & Christine Staple.
It’s a night in aid of the Lord Mayor’s Charity Appeal (Councillor Tony Skipper) that is set to celebrate local music, past and present.
It’s a stellar line up, with the incredible Neville Staple Band headlining and 2-Tone originator Jerry Dammers providing one of his unique DJ sets.
Autopilot (featuring Andy Hopkins, ex Enemy) are also there, plus the superb ska/reggae outfit Barb’d Wire.
Tickets are available from The Coventry Music Museum at The 2-Tone Village.
The Matadors
Coventry’s Music Museum continues its mission to celebrate local music with another “Sounding Off” session on Saturday 25th at noon, with a glorious blast from the past with three members of the Hinckley beat band The Matadors.
They were often referred to as the Midlands’ Beatles, and played a similar set as the Fab Four, initially without having heard them.
“They went to see the Beatles when they played at The Co-op Hall in Nuneaton October 1962 and all turned to each other and declared that ‘they were doing our act!’.
By 1966 The Matadors, (that’s Dave Colkin on bass, Neil Tyson on lead guitar, Dave Findlay on rhythm guitar and Harry Heppingstall on drums) got a chance to record a single “A Man’s Gotta Stand Tall” with the legendary Joe Meek.
Meek was a loose cannon, a changeling producer who had an original approach to sound techniques.
He had produced the first US number one by a British pop group namely “Telstar” by The Tornadoes.
“We went down to Holloway Road in London, to his house he used as his recording studio,” said Dave Colkin. “I found him arrogant and not over-friendly.
“Instead of a normal mixing desk Meek had his in a stack and worked standing up. He fixed Dan Findley’s piano keys with paper and drawing pins to get the sound he wanted, everything was very experimental.”
The Matadors (or the Four Matadors as they were known at the time of this single), were not happy with Meek and the way he had speeded the whole song up making the vocals sound too high. Its B-side was selfpenned by the band “Fast Cars and Money”, and it’s the song that they are most proud of.
“More of this fascinating story will be revealed on the 25th when Dave Colkin, Dave Findlay and Harry Heppingstall will join us in conversation in memory of their late great bandmate Neil Tyson.
Forever The Spill Dean MacDonald
Dean MacDonald, front man of the rather wonderful band The Session, has finally released a solo track, and as you would expect “Forever The
Spill” is played, sung and produced to the high standards Dean always demands.
It’s of course a departure from the edgy sound of The Session, giving way to atmospheric strings and lilting heartfelt vocals.
“It’s produced at 14 records by Matt Waddell and features backing vocals by Gemma Leahy. A Dean MacDonald solo album is promised next year, and if this is anything to go by, it’s going to be a cracker.
