Tommy McCardle’s Birthday Party
Most of the people using the internet right now won't remember "Brookside" the innovative Channel 4 soap of the eighties - let alone the villain of the piece Tommy McCardle. He was brilliantly acted and put the fear of God into you believe me. So when I attended a New Year's Day soiree at a mayfair neighbour's flat this year, I saw the face of McCardle and indeed spoke to him but wasn't able to place him - perhaps the twenty five years which have passed blurred my memory somewhat.
It was only when being invited to a birthday party last night at one of Soho's famous private drinking clubs that I googled Malcolm Tierney and discovered that he indeed in a previous life had been Tommy M. He is doing very well at 71 years of age and still full of acting spirit.
Tommy McCardle's Birthday Party - only in Soho !! It would make a great song title
Seven Seas Club Limassol Cyprus
We all got on the very early morning flight from the lovely new Terminal 5 at Heathrow bound for Larnaca. We had a TON of luggage and on arrival the rather miserable check in girl wasn't having any of it - even though we had a special "letter" giving us extra baggage allowance. Never mind - we got through after payment of a small bribe to BA. The guys tucked into the free booze on board and on arrival in Larnaca we got in a minbus and went straight to this BEAUTIFUL club which has just been built http://www.7seaslive.com. We were all knackered as you can imagine after a 4.00am start but that is rock'n'roll! The first night went off a treat - we were up on the bar dancing - Martin with his tenor, Erica with her baritone and me with my "strap on" and the bar staff were chucking shots of tequila at us . When we got back to the villa - I just had to jump into the (non-heated) swimming pool - 10 degrees - pretty cold but very refreshing. This became a bit of a ritual although only Erica and me did it at night (jumped in the pool that is.....) We were looked after VERY well by our Cypriot hosts - a substantial drinks rider each night, villa with pool and the use of a BMW 520i. Eddy the entertainments manager was the perfect host and really looked after us. Let's hope we will return one day. I took a little video just before we left the island of the club and stage below. There is loads more photos and vids to follow - our entire show on the Saturday night was recorded using an HD camera.....
Our first Wedding of 2009
We all trundled out beyond Guildford in Surrey last Saturday night just as the storm started, to play at a Wedding Reception at Loseley Park in the Tithe Barn - a lovely venue for sure!
We had been recommended by the lady who did the flowers because she had loved our show at her 40th birthday party some months ago.
We were superbly looked after with a great meal and accompanying wine. The evening went off very smoothly - we got the ipod from the best man and put the dance music on around 7.00pm. It also had the first dance on it which was "Chasing Cars".
Our first set kicked off at around 9.00pm and we rocked - everyone was in good spirit by that time and the dance floor remained packed throughout!
After a short break we played our second set with all our off stage antics - Erica (baritone) was great and got up on one of our bass bins during her solo in Tequila whilst Martin and I were rocking out on the dance floor - him on Tenor and me with my Keytar!
The bride and groom loved it and sent an email the next day which was great:
"Dear Neil Just a quick note to say thank you to you and the band for making our reception so special and memorable. Everyone commented on what a fantastic band you were and how great the set was. Your genuine enthusiasm and love of what you do really comes through and we'll definitely recommend you to as many people as we can! The great reception topped on a brilliant day.
Thanks again.
Alex & Amy"
Makes it worthwhile!
WARNING
I must point out that in no way am I suggesting that "licking an electric piano" is a safe pasttime - under no circumstances should it be tried by an amateur - I have had several years experience and am able to carry it off without injury either to my tongue or the tongues of those nearby.............
Ruby’s Wine Bar
Well it used to be called Blasé and it is in Walton on thames in Surrey. I started playing there every wednesday night at the beginning of 2000. The owner was pretty non plussed to begin with but after a while we had a big regular following and I accumulated a collection of songs which people could come up and sing to. A kind of open mic/karaoke evening. It became a real party night . I loved it and met so many friends, girlfriends , musicians there - the real centre of my social life for six years. I went through three owners and finally when I moved to soho I stopped doing the regular wednesday Red Stripe night. However I go back once a year to do a Xmas special with xmas songs and snogs and mulled wine and mince pies and that was last wednesday.
It was rammed - I saw loads of people I hadn't seen for a year - really lovely evening - xmas songs - people joining in with the music - what a party !
I take my own piano but there used to be an old acoustic piano in the bar which was a pile of firewood - the photo above is me sitting at it probably around 2001- I used to kick it whilst playing and eventually it got taken away. But I miss the bar - nothing lasts forever - and I will NEVER forget the nights and experiences and friends I met there.................
Miller’s Academy
When we were booked for this private party I had no idea what Miller's Academy was. That's one of the things I like about the life of a musician - you never quite know where you are going to be playing, what the audience will be like, how well you are going to get looked after - it can go from the sublime to the ridiculous. One day fois gras and champagne and the next curled up sandwiches and awful coffee !
Well thankfully Miller's Academy was leaning well towards the former rather than the latter.
Nestling in Notting Hill on the junction of Westbourne Grove and Hereford Road, stands this impressive building. Starbucks has taken the corner spot but behind an inconsequential red door is hidden a real gem of bohemia. The rooms are adorned with bookcases, sculptures, curtains , chez longs, and more cushions than DFS !!!
It almost could be excused for being slightly middle eastern but it isn't.
There were rows of pews in the "Lecture theatre" on the ground floor which is where we set up for this small birthday party.
The picture above is of the upstairs dining room and you can see from the decor what a hugely comfortable and pleasant place it is.
Our audience was very very appreciative and as soon as we played the first note they were all up on the floor dancing !!!
It was a very enjoyable boozy party night - I am truly thankful to be able to earn a modest crust in this way whilst at the same time giving a bunch of people a really good time - who could ask for anything more..................?
Maison Bertaux
I don't want to head up the majority of my posts with the name of a Soho eat or drinkery but I guess I am surrounded by them so it is where I go! In fact it is the principle reason why I rarely venture to other areas of London
Before entering Maison Bertaux territory I must just recount last night's revelry which was a lovely pizza once again at Lorelei. I have also discovered what that word means - there was a clue in the restaurant - a ten foot square mural on the wall depicting a mermaid alongside a river!
The Lorelei is a mythical creature thought to have been responsible for luring sailors and boatmen to their deaths at a certain point along the Rhine. Mermaid like or at least female in appearance. I only found out coz it was the answer to yesterday's 19 down in the Daily Telegraph Cryptic crossword!
So this morning I ventured to Maison Bertaux - just across Old Compton Street and to the south part of Greek Street. It always has the old rustic tables outside with blue check tablecloths. It is another time capsule inside with a melee of trinkets, champagne bottles , an old piano , peeling paint - just like your grandmother's front room (although not my grandmother's front room which was demolished with the rest of her house to make way for the car park to a large office block!) A very charming experience with the pastry chef bringing down tray after tray of beautiful smelling croissants and cakes - a true cholesterolfest of a place. I had a cup of tea - served in a pot with a strainer - that's the way - with a lovely butter croissant - delicious.
On the subject of Champagne Bottles, I am somewhat intrigued as to the various names for the different sizes - so I think it is time I learned them :
Magnum - two bottles
Jeroboam - four bottles
Rehoboam - six bottles
Methusela - eight bottles
Salmanazar - twelve bottles
Balthazar - sixteen bottles
Nebuchadnezzar - twenty bottles
My Judy Really Makes Splendid Belching Noises - is the way to remember the names (apparently!)
And I know in Kettners (champagne rooms round the corner in Romilly Street) they have a Nebuchadnezzar on the menu - about £1,000 as I recall - can't remember the brand (not as in Russell...)
Last night before dinner I put together some old footage of the horn section miming on a beach in Scotland to Red Stripe Boogie. We were playing at the Kirkcudbright Jazz Festival in the summer of 2007 - it was raining but between the drops we did a little bit of filming - it has come out quite well as you will see - obviously subject to your opinion.................
If I hadn't been at Lorelei last night I would have probably been at the Sebastian Horsley Appreciation Society's night out having now finished his book and seen the youtube video of his crucifixion (yes I did use the right word!)
So anyway back to work now - looks like we are going to be returning to some festivals we played at a few years ago and Marlborough Jazz Festival has just been confirmed which is nice. Enjoy the vid.........
Groucho Club
I’ve started so I’d better carry on……
