MAD RAT MAG Once again I put on my clever head to tell you that the Mad Rat Mag website at OI Oi www.madratmag.co.uk has been revamped and its fabulous we now have Well here we are again, only this time the an online gig guide and an online news sun is shining and its time to be out and page where we will include all the news about in your best halter neck and peep you send us. The site isn’t quite fininshed toes…and I am talking to the females yet, but the Rat will pull his mouse out this among you! month and get it all together. There have been a few near misses this Bands can sign up for distribution of their last month, where established events that merchandise and clubs can give us all would normally be sold out by this time of there details DJ’s can contact us or you the year are struggling and threatening can just send your reviews features and cancellation, and I thought that the implo- information… you can book an ad, pay for sion of the scene was upon us. Phew how it and send it all online and be seen all close and how pleased I am to say that over the world and I mean all over the panic over, they are saved. So, it’s left for world, Canada, Lithuania, Sweden, Aus- us promoters to sweat till the very last tralia, USA, Germany, Finland and many minute. It appears that buying tickets is more far flung places. Once again I thank out of fashion, I assume in case some- you all for your support, your nice com- thing better comes along, fair play I guess ments, your reviews and your input gen- that’s only natural and after all the scene erally. is about choice. And here comes the moan, we had an Don’t forget that your contributions and email asking us why so advertising keep the Mag going. So, much was omitted from the please keep your articles and ads flowing gig guide, well if we in, either by snail mail or over the Net. don’t know its happening then See you in the daylight we can’t put it in. So if you spot a club that isn’t being Rockin’ Regards listed then tell us about it or tell the promoter about us, one or the Spike other. 3 MAD RAT MAG Having booked the lavish sounding many musicians, a touch of red light Gracelands Recording & Rehearsal fever can come at any time during a Complex, we turned up on a wet and recording and send limbs into states of windy Spring evening to be greeted by a seizure. building that looked like a couple or three allotment sheds spliced together Nev was getting ready to roll and start- with tarpaulin. “I don’t suppose the King ed sticking bits of surgical tape onto his would have recorded here” said Nev. “I bass fretboard to remind him where the don’t think Jimmy Crankee, would’ve notes are. He’s been playing for fifteen recorded here”, I replied. years but still can’t quite grip the root, third and fifth pattern in C#. Each to We strode towards the entrance door their own, I thought. His bass is one of which swang open with a creak that those Chinese jobs that you can buy in could have come from the BBC horror FX any pound shop, although he insists it’s archives. In the dimly lit doorway stood German Bow Back. In my mind it sounds a figure that resembled a cross between like a Taiwanese Stickleback. Marylin Manson, Charles Manson and that singer from Depeche’ Mode. “You’ve Big J was warming up under the unshad- brought me to a studio to record a rock- ed 60 watt Osram in the kitchen. abilly album run by the spawn of the Another heavy night on the sauce meant devil?” I whispered to the boys. “Nah, that he wanted to keep close to the sink Jane’s alright, bit of a Goth but she just in case the redelivery of his pizza knows her slap bass. How ya doin’ Jane” occured! said Nev. “This is woman?” I muttered. Chas was soundchecking the drums in “Come on in” gruffed Jane “Let’s get set the main room. “ A bit more talent in the up and crack on. Anyone fancy a tea or cans, please” he jokingly called to Jane. something stronger?” “Got any JD” replied Nev. “Leave it out son” I retord- I decided to go through the restring the ed forcebly. “The last time we recorded guitar ritual that I should have done the you were three sheets to the wind” “But, night before. I am famed for breaking I was bloody good, give us a small triple strings at gigs and this time I thought Jane....cheers” I’d bring a few sets just in case. Unfornately the only strings the local It was gonna be one of those sessions shop had were the weight of coat hang- where Nev and the other anibreates er wire and likley to slice and dice my were more interested in caning the mini- fingers before the first chorus of bar than getting down to the business in Mabeline! hand! Within half an hour of our arrival we It didn’t take long to haul the instru- were almost ready. The instuments ments into the studio and Jane got the tuned, the drums dampened, the mics mics into position ready for the sound set and the cans bellowing. A signed pic- check. We had opted to record all the ture of Stu Francis stuck on the wall tracks live with as few overdubs as pos- looked over proceedings as J legged it sible, which is always a bit scary as like for the sink. “CrackerJack”, I called. 4 MAD RAT MAG 5 MAD RAT MAG 6 MAD RAT MAG gig review Pikey Butler’s Jumpin’ Five well as you would expect from a band Yakarocker, Armetieres, France whose leader doowopped his way 1st April 2006 through the 80’s and 90’s. Some of you may know of Pikey (Peter) By their second and last set the crowd of Butler as one of the members of 80’s pop approx 250 were hot and ready to dance doowop outfit Darts. Well, I managed to some more. Tunes of sassy swing and catch up with him and his band, Jumpin’ pumpin r’n’b such as Ray Charles’ Mess Five, while on the same bill last Around were executed with great aplomb. month...and what a nice guy and what a The great dance band. dance floor was The venue was a village hall in the polite kept full town of Armentiers situated about 40 all miles from Lille in France. The event was evening a dance/jive/ceroc/le roc type of thing and only to included a dance demonstration from a deplete a troop from Amsterdam. The sets were little for split between my band and Pikey’s by the avid way of two 45 minutes sets each with photogra- enough time in between to sample the phers to hospitality provided (very rarely seen in flash at the UK) of a baguette avec fromage et the jambon and copious amounts of Leffe bands, bottled beer. which was evi- After our first set we made way for the dent next act. Hearing Jumpin’ Five them at when sound check I realised that this wasn’t both just another tempo dominated “Nobody bands Here But Us Chickens” band! The Band joined together for a encore of Joe Turn- consists of Peter on double bass and lead er classics. All in all a very enjoyable gig vocals, Michael Pronost, guitar and BVs, and well recieved by our chums across Phillipe Guennou, tenor sax and BVs, the Channel. Sylvain Duthuille’, piano and Hammond plus a dep drummer whose name I can’t I can whole heartedly recommend the remember. Their first set comprised of a Jumpin’ Five for any jive event. They’re number of jive classics with a mixture of entertaining on all fronts and they can do self penned numbers featured on their the ‘tempo’ thing to suit the crowd. Their CD. The musical talent of the ”Five” is CD is also well worth a listen and can be obvious from the tight performance and purchased at www.pikeybutler.com . If the tasty licks put into arrangements that you would like more information on book- with lesser performance could have ing the Band, then please contact the sounded a little bland. The backing Mad Rat - 01268 454494. Merci. vocals and harmonies were delivered Paul Richardson 7 MAD RAT MAG Hi All but why is it the same DJs are always playing at the Rave? Why is there no out Having picked up the Mad Rat Mag at a siders allowed in? They don’t play no dif- recent gig here in the Pit Stop rock n roll ferent to the unknown DJs who only play Coventry ,I open the first page an OI OI at the small clubs, who would love to play Spike Spouts I can't belive my eyes to 2500 rockin cats. I know of four DJs on praise indeed for US the unsung heroes the southcoast alone who could rock the rat mail rat the DJ .Well, having just finished DJaying socks off at the Rave and Hemsby i.e.