07/04/2005 LMerc Week-Thu-Apr-07 6 Week JCook at 13:40:44 A3 PMU RIP3 Live

6 Music

ONCE DESCRIBED AS A ONE-MAN MUSIC CITY SCENE INDUSTRY, MULTI-TALENTED TODD DAVE DAVIES

RUNDGREN IS STEPPING OUT WITH JOE “FILLING Your Boots with Roots!” – that’sthe promise of the Musi- JACKSON FOR A GIG IN THE CITY. ST E V E cian in Clyde Street, and they usu- ally keep their promises. PUMFREY TALKS TO ‘THE RUNT’ Fridaysees Diesel Park West’s John Butler and RickWillson in acoustic mode. If you haven’tseen the supercharged performances of their songs and covers of The Byrds, Beatles, Stones, Love and Moby Grape classics, you’re m issing out. “A coustic” is not really the right description of their style, but it’s not surprising thata whole new gener- ation of city musicians is influ- enced by their superb vocal har- monies and guitar playing. EMI is releasing an expanded deluxeedi- tion of their legendary debut al- bum, ShakespeareAlabama, this summer. Watchthis space or check out their website for rare tracks. w w w. d i e s e l p a r k w e s t . c o m CITY Scene Band of the Year,The Dirty Backbeats, aresupporting TheHigh Plains Drifters at The Musician on Wednesday. Ben Weatherill and DJ Gumbo are also lined up to perform. The Dirty Backbeats’ unique mix of blues and 60s garage freakbeat should go well with The High Plains Drifters.The band has been odd Rundgren laughs at the suggestion described as a“two-piece phe- thathe might fancy acameo part in Des- nomenon with the power and en- perate Housewivesafter the producers ergyof afull-scale orchestra”. pickedone of his songs forthe show’s Critics describe them as “garage T soundtrack. “It’snot ashow I’ve band blues and psychedelia with C Y watched,” he confesses.“Television is too banal high-wire extrovert guitar and vo- M here, and anyway, I don’t know what they would IT’S THE cals anchored with power ham- K do with me.” mer drumming”. Sounds good. That’s the thing with “The Runt”: he never w w w. t h e m u s i c i a n p u b . c o . u k does what is expected. TO O young to go to venues to see His early 1970s records are shockingly good, bands? Fear not, The Shed holds combining Californian harmonies with rock all-ages matinee showcases on guitar and Beatles-esque production. Saturday afternoons. Problem is,Rundgren has a habit of derailing This week features Doss with his career with ambitious,idiosyncratic pro- TO D D Dania, Dandelions,Chloroform, duction experiments that antagonizethe critics Cardboard Box and Last Orders. and confuse his fans. w w w. s h e d v e n u e . c o . u k His breakthrough album, Something/Any- THE Mercury/Charlotte Showcase thing, included the pop nuggets Hello It’s Me on Tuesday is your chance to see and I SawThe Light. The follow-up,A Wizard, A newbands at a bargain price. True Star, was, well, different. This week’sbands areTell Tale “I suppose it started with the Beatles,” he says CO U P L E Hearts, Singe, Yes My Ninjas? and down the line from Hawaii. “They were the first Kill Carbide,and admission is band to push out the boundaries and conceptu- just £3, or two forone with the ex- a l i s e. clusive voucher on this page. In- “The Something/Anything album was well re- toured a“greatest hits” package – played in formation on 0116 255 3956. ceived by the record company and had hits. bossa nova style. w w w. t h e ch a r l o t t e . c o . u k “They were waiting for the next one and in- He is also a renowned producer. MeatLoaf ’s stead I came up with A Wizard, A True Star Bat Out Of Hell is just one of his credits. His BRANT BJORK which included echoes, feedback, even my dogs latest collaboration is with sharp-suited 80s boy b a rk i n g . Joe Jackson, who guests with him at DeMont- OFFER “The record company hated it. fort Hall in June. “It was more difficult to be eclectic in the 1970s Todd said: “I didn’t reallyknow Joe, but he SUN 17th APRIL because therewas too muchcommercialism, joined me on stage for acouple of songs at the M E RC U RY/C H A R LOT T E but I was already way out there.” DelacourtTheatre in Central Park, NewYork, S H OWCAS E Rundgrenthen had alengthy digression with and we hit it off. Tickets£8/£10 on door pop-rock group Utopia, which resulted in alot of “In the blink of an eye, we’re doing five weeks entertaining albums but not a lot of success, in the States and five weeks in Europe,suppor- 2 FOR 1 locking him moretightly into the image of a cult ted by the string quartet, Ethel. We can cer- Tickets available from s t a r. tainly promise eclecticism.” VO U C H E R The Crew,Queens Road Nuneaton Liars, released last year, was his first album of all-new songs for 10 years. TELL TALE HEARTS, SINGE, “It was much better received in the UK than I N FO R M AT I O N or available at BramsMusic Store over here. It was gratifying to get such agood re- YES MY NINJAS? and action.” TODD Rundgren, Joe Jackson and Ethel play KILL CARBIDE During the development of Liars,Rundgren De MontfortHall, Leicester, on Friday, June 3. ADMITS TWO PEOPLE FOR £3 Credit Card Hotline: 02476 642454 produced material for his internet patrons and Tickets on 0116 233 3111. 12 BAR FBBF STEVE ENGLAND Loughborough's Premier Rock Venue THE Week 12 Bar Best Performance Award The timing is unfortunate, because Harpist Doug Jay and his talented band Fortnightly Events, opening on: winners Dark Side of the Wall set off with a Robert Cray is making one of his extremely The Blue Jays were on form at the Musi- FRIDAY8th APRIL new line-up on Saturday. rare appearances at the Royal Concert Hall cian recently. He has a new CD out entitled with They are appearing at the Nicholas Cham- in Nottingham on the same night! Ja ck p o t . “STRANGERS” +Rock DJ at berlaine School, Bedworth. The Taj Mahal tickets cost £15.50 and Meanwhile, Rollo Markee appears with COTES MILL Then they are playing at Stoney Stanton £17.50. Call the box office on 0116 233 3111. his Tailshakers on Saturday at the Musi- 1 (on A60, ⁄ 2 mile outside Loughborough Town Centre) Social Club on April 23. Get tickets by The Robert Cray tickets cost £22.50 and cian. Doors open 9pm until 2am ringing Jim on 01455 272 492. are available on 0115 989 5555. Howard Smith and the Razors play at the £5.00 on entry (£4.00 before 11pm) Taj Mahal and his distinctive blend of Another concert lined up for June 24 is same venue on April 23, and the Smoke- Enquiries: Mick 07884107254 blues and world music comes to De Mont- Flamenco guitarist Juan Martin at The Y. house Blues and Smokestack Blues Bands www.foreverbrothers.co.uk fort Hall on June 24. Tickets cost £12/£10 on 0116 255 7066. play on April 30.

t h e week APRIL 7 – 13, 2005