Wednesday 19 November 2014

Turrentine Jones Music Review Manchester Band




Turrentine Jones







I was asked a while ago to do a review for the band Turrentine Jones but *stuff* got in the way. Personal and otherwise. So I am sat here listening, (again), to their fantastic music. I did listen to it and LOVED it so much, and, I know you will too.







Their album OUR DAYS was launched 11th August 2014 and the latest single from the album is out to download NOW. A brilliant track called Moonlight is on Yer Side. Take a gander at the official video below. Leading up to the release the band appeared on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury to rave reviews, as the third most shared act on the day, eclipsing the Rolling Stones.







The band are a three piece blues-rock band from Manchester and are getting acclaim for their amazing music all over the show right now, from XFM to the BBC.


Glamorous, sleazy, sexy, Turrentine Jones was brought together by a mutual love of Stax Records.  The band's sound is reminiscent of and rooted in modern indie rock and blues rock and draws heavily from acts on the Memphis, Tennessee label Stax Records. 

Infectious Manchester-based indie blues-rock outfit Turrentine Jones formed in the late 2000s around the talents of Julian Neville - on vocals and guitar, Thomas Scotson on electric organ, and last but not least  Rich Watts on drums.

The trio, which has drawn comparisons to everyone from the Strokes and the Rolling Stones to Booker T & the MGs and the Doors, released its debut EP, “Le Debut,” on their own label Monkey Junk Records in February 2012, and followed a series of download-only singles, Show Me Mercy (2012), Della May (2013) and Electric Angel (2013) in anticipation of a full-length studio album in 2014. Leading up to the release the band appeared on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury to rave reviews as the third most shared act on the day, eclipsing the Rolling Stones. That debut, Our Days, appeared worldwide this August in conjunction with the band signing a deal with Rough Trade. Moonlight is on Yer Side, the band’s first single from the album, was produced by Andrew Jackson (Pink Flloyd) and recorded at Toast Studios in Salford, UK.

The scorching new single blends blues, southern rock, and pop into sinister but beguiling melodies and offers a taste of the band’s debut album, Our Days.

"Maybe the holy trinity is here on northern earth. Do check ’ em out" - Andrew Oldham, Manager of The Rolling Stones (1963-1967)

“The new single listens like a fine jacket” Artrocker

“Neville’s lyrics are witty and inspired by great literature- shades of Jack Kerouac and William S. Borroughs- with elements of the ‘Beat Generation’, co-mingling with witty bon mots and min-dramas” Faded Glamour

“Fabulous record. It’s on my stereo right now!” – Horace Panter, The Specials 

"Very Booker T & The MGs. I quite like them!" Shaun Keaveny, BBC 6 Music

"…a kind of bastard child of the Rolling Stones and the Strokes" Barry Gruff, hypem.com

It is impossible NOT to make comparison to others, I am listening to Moonlight on Yer Side right now. 

They won prestigious awards in 2012 with 'Best Blues Act' and 'Best Male Act' at Exposure Music Awards, London. 


My favourite tracks from the album have to be the latest release Moonlight on Yer Side, Watch Yourself   and the first on the album Gift of a Rose. 



They are on tour currently, so check out the venues and tickets are available via their website below



FRI 21 NOVEMBER
O'Rileys Hull, UK

SAT 22 NOVEMBER
The Dog & Parrot Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK

FRI 28 NOVEMBER
The Abacus Scunthorpe, UK

SAT 29 NOVEMBER
Carpe Diem Leeds, UK

THU 11 DECEMBER
The Barfly London, UK

FRI 30 JANUARY
The Deaf Institute Manchester, UK

FRI 20 FEBRUARY

Cult Café Ipswich, UK


You can find  Turrentine Jones here on







Back very soon with my latest gig review, and a report about Leigh as it relates to the misguided busway

Scarlett

xXx

Sunday 9 November 2014

Book Launch for CHAOS IS COME AGAIN by John Dolan and Fiona Quinn












One of my old writing buddies, John Dolan, releases a new book this week – entitled “Chaos Is Come Again” – and this one has an interesting history to it. In the first place, it’s a novel that John has co-authored with thriller writer Fiona Quinn. But what makes “Chaos” all the more unusual is that JOHN AND FIONA HAVE NEVER MET!!!








The whole project was conceived over the Internet last year while John was working in Dubai and Fiona was at home in Virginia, and over this summer they have put together all the pieces. Using a combination of Twitter, Facebook, Skype and emails (along with John’s favourite the spreadsheet!), the novel has emerged from the darkness of the Worldwide Web. Amazing stuff!
It’s a weird and wacky ride! Here’s the elevator pitch:-



Sean hears voices in his head.
Travis snorts cocaine.
Teagan thinks she’s the next Lady Gaga.
Avery has the boss from Hell, and a mother with dementia.
And Goose wants to catch a serial killer.



Chaos Is Come Again” is a psychological suspense, a mystery, and a love story – loaded with irreverent humour, and viewed through the lens of obsession.



WARNING: Contains references to Judas Iscariot, a dwarf, and a performing monkey. Only for broadminded people with a twisted sense of fun.







"Chaos" officially Launches on the 11th of November 2014


Grab it today on all Amazon sites worldwide! Available as a Kindle book and in paperback.






I have read ALL of John's books and can't wait to read this one, that he has co-authored with Fiona. As I gave ALL of his others 5* I don't doubt that this will be equal to that




Scarlett

xXx


Thursday 6 November 2014

Remembrance Day Potentially Blighted by a Misguided Busway



Every year for many years now, Scouts, Guides, Beavers, ex-servicemen and the general populace around Tyldesley, Astley and the surrounding area, have gathered in the market square of Tyldesley. It is always a little chaotic but organised chaos. Everyone eventually becomes organised, including the brass bands which add greatly to the pomp and ceremony of our remembering those that gave their lives for us.


No matter what the weather, they would all march to the Cenotaph situated in Tyldesley Cemetery, down Hough Lane. Wreaths placed, sing hymns and songs, prayers, then walk back to Tyldesley Square. The ceremony is always poignant and I, as  everyone else, will wear our poppies with pride. Frequently they have done this journey in the rain but this year is going to be more difficult unless a miracle has happened. The route across the area where the railway bridge used to situate on Hough Lane when I visited on Tuesday afternoon the 4th of November 2014, looked dreadful.







Above are photographs of Hough Lane on late Tuesday afternoon the 4th of November, and bottom right is mud on the roadway. I slipped here, even though I was walking very carefully. Now The local council has promised that this will be improved and widened for the Remembrance Parade on Sunday the 9th of November 2014. 

I would like to know how they have got away with the state of this pathway in the first place. Adults, children and older people must use this path daily now! Where are the risk assessments, what of Health & Safety? Balfour Beatty are considerate builders according to the credentials on their website. I would hardly call THIS considerate, or even remotely acceptable.

The parade is going to commence at the market square, but the state of the square has left everyone very disappointed and upset. In previous years flowers were in the flower beds, and although the square was a little jaded, it served it's purpose well. Generally in good repair, tidy and safe to traverse too.






The problems with the market square lies in the fact that Wigan Council, and local councillors pushed through a project which is known locally as, the misguidedbusway. We refer to the busway as this because there was, (and still is), overwhelming opposition to this busway ever being attempted. Part of this *plan* is for a bus to travel up Stanley Street, in front of the local Library and travel across the pedestrianised Market Square then turn in toward the oncoming traffic against the one way traffic. This will be by the use of traffic lights and the buses will have priority. 

There have been major problems since the local council in their wisdom introduced traffic calming on Elliott Street in Tyldesley. Although, this left the road users anything other than calm, livid is the word I would use. Traffic CURRENTLY  forms a queue along the main road towards Mosley Common and to the roundabout at the junction of Sale Lane, towards Little Hulton. This then trails  down to about half way towards Little Hulton itself. Now we are led to believe that this new additon of a bus travelling against the flow of traffic, therefore stopping traffic each time. Will NOT make the congestion any worse. Hmm well I haven't met anyone that lives locally that believes that for one minute. There is also the fact that there are usually school children, a great deal of them, travelling to and fro to the local schools, such as Fred Longworth High School and St George's Primary School. Currently they can walk along Elliott Street fairly safely. Now they are going to have to contend with a bus turning the wrong way down a one way street, after travelling directly in front of the local library.

Together with the fact that the estimated cost of the work to send the bus up Stanley Street stands at £75,000 and if they used another street , or even follow the one way system. The cost of changing a street so that traffic could travel a different way up it, was estimated at £750.

Parking will be lost in addition to this, and there is talk of restricting the time cars are able to park on the car park off Stanley Street. THIS will all impact on the businesses that are already losing trade whilst this shambles of a scheme continues to go ahead without at least listening to locals. THIS is foolishness of the highess order.



The busway has resulted in the decimation of the flora and fauna that has thrived there since the railway was taken out of commission. Locals have reported seeing foxes, bats, rabbits, birds, newts, squirrels and even deer. But no more. The area was stripped back to what you see below.








You can also see it in these aerial photos that Peter Boulton is so proud of.


http://www.leighjournal.co.uk/guided_busway/11484567.Aerial_photos_showing_busway_progress_released/


THESE are photos that we, from Tyldesley are proud of. This is the disused railway line prior to the whole ecosystem that existed there, being removed.










The picture above is taken from a site where the photographer has documented in pictures the demise of the flora and fauna that was to be found along the old disused railway, and the quotation below accompanies this photograph

48, From a position to the north of the site where the old railway footbridge stood at the back of Lilford park. From this point northwards towards Tyldesley the trees are being cleared to around 30 yards or so either side of the old railway line with many more trees being removed than in the section towards Leigh. Why this is being done seems unclear at the moment unless they have plans for developing a park and ride facility with access from the end of Green lane?? 12/03/2013.

http://neils-photographs.smugmug.com/LeighLancs/Misguided-Busway-2012/Leigh-Misguided-Busway/20971557_Csht6t#!i=1666542150&k=WLdQgL8


I have to admit I got really upset looking at the devastation that has happened. Over and above anything I would have thought necessary, to be honest. 


But, apparently we should be grateful to the local councillors that supported this project, and grateful to Lord Peter Smith also. As this, was his *genius* idea. One that they want to carry out in other parts of the country, should Labour get back in power. This was reported only the other day in the news  whereby Ed Miliband has promised to allow local councils to deliver similar schemes across the UK. Andy Burnham is a big advocate for this scheme, and feels it will benefit us all.

Can you see why locals don't think ANY of this is beneficial. There isn't a successful guided busway in the country. Other areas are removing bus lanes as RESEARCH shows they CAUSE congestion, NOT prevent it!

Over 90% of the local population didn't want this busway in any shape or form although, alternatives such as a rail link off Mort lane, amongst other schemes MAY have been preferable. 

A survey of sorts was undertaken, and it is claimed 5000 leaflets were distributed within so many metres of the site on Astley Street! I, and others would like to see the proof that this quantity were delivered. The results of the survey showed overwhelming opposition to this scheme but this was disregarded out of hand.

This scheme has blighted the lives of people from Leigh to Ellenbrook then why were they not included in this *leaflet drop*. Weren't they entitled to an opinion?

Today in the news an article that upset a lot of people was about a resident in Leigh, and her plight due to work close to her home. The title of the article is Busway work puts home on a precipice


Ongoing is an online petition for a judicial review of the planning application for this ill thought out scheme. 


As many have no internet access there is also a paper version with additional signatures, of well over a thousand people too.

The local population are being treated like errant children, that don't know what is good for them. Yet, these same local population includes engineers and professionals that are quite capable of judging what is good, or not, for their own community. 

This scheme is being railroaded through whether we like it or not, but local people have been voicing concerns about how well suited these councillors, MP's etc are to fulfilling their obligations to the people that VOTED them in to power. Those people are just as capable of voting them OUT of power in the next elections. This whole debacle has left a sour taste in many local people's mouths. Maybe this area being a Labour stronghold's days are now numbered.

This is a comment made this morning on Enough is Enough Facebbopage



Richard ShortEnough is Enough. Stop the Traffic Chaos in our areaVery concerned to hear that the work on Tyldesley Square will commence on the 10/11/14. This will mean they be clearing the poppies and wreaths as soon as we leave and they will not be there for us to pay our respects on Armistice Day where many of us stop on the 11am for silence while we remember them. What will the contractors be doing with the poppies?



There is a meeting on the 8th of November Saturday at 12 noon at Fred Longworth High School in Tyldesley, that will be attended by Andy Burnham, Wigan Council, TfGM and others.

also

LeighTown Hall will play host to the next full council meeting.
The meeting will take place at Leigh Town Hall, on Market Street, at 7pm on Wednesday the 12th of November 2014
This is open to the public AND an ideal opportunity for individuals to watch their heroes in action.
(That WAS sarcasm by the way!)

 PLEASE TRY AND ATTEND

Scarlett
xXx


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