Solo Blyth / LoGOz Middlesbrough Gig Reviews / AcoustiCalendar Song #24 KiDS T.V.

Another busy early start to the weekend kicked off with a Solo gig on Thursday night at The Tavern in Blyth. I was already familiar with this place as LoGOz had played here in April for Tony Collision's 50th Birthday Bash! Tonight I was opening up for the ALMiGHTY UPRiSERS. It was a warm sticky evening as me and Clemmy rolled up to the venue to be greeted warmly by the evening’s promoter Mr Vince Race. A breezy soundcheck swiftly followed and everything was running like clockwork as an 8:45pm slot was the order of the day! After toying with a different opener I kept it cool and started with usual BALLAD OF THE DiSENCHANTED then straight into RiOT ON THE RADiO. I really enjoyed the intimacy of The Tavern as a solo artist, standing toe to toe with everyone, as people listened and joined in the acoustic shenanigans! Koast Radio DJ Nick Newcombe and Co particularly keeping the banter flowing! I closed the set with OLD PUNKS NEVER DiE complete this time with the crescendo featuring snippets from PRETTY VACANT / ONLY FOOLS & HORSES and climaxing with THAT'S LIVING ALRIGHT!!! The set went down great and a big thanks to everyone who came down. Much appreciated.

Next up it was the ALMiGHTY UPRiSERS with their upbeat skinhead Ska tunes and political vitriol delivered charismatically by frontman guitarist/vocalist Sparra! These boys look like they've come straight off the set of This is England! But they sure can play, even between onstage swigs of Navy Rum, the lads delivered a set as polished as their Ox blood Docs! I look forward to seeing them again, and there’s already talk of teaming up with LoGOz in the very near future so watch this space! Thanks again to all who came along, and big up again to Mr Race in what was his first night at The Tavern. Cheerz.

The next night saw not only the return of TFI Friday to our TV screens but also the return of LoGOz to Teeside, Middlesbrough. Tonight we were opening up for NEWTOWN NEUROTICS and touring support FLiES ON YOU at the Westgarth Club. Soundcheck as ever for us was a swift affair and we were happy with the cooperation from our youthful bearded sound guy! The place was filling up very healthily as we took to the stage just before 8pm. Launching straight into LONG TiME DEAD and quickly following up with UNEASY STREET the crowd was right on our side! Happy faces, familiar and strange all danced, bounced and sang along and it was all over too quickly as standard set closer MEXiCOLA was ringing around the place to an amazing response! Job done yet again! T-Shirts were sold, flyers were signed and pictures were taken as we mingled with the Middlesbrough massive. Next up were FLiES ON YOU with their quirky punk alternative anti pop tunes, including the fantastically titled 'Katie Hopkins in a Human form'. They delivered a more than entertaining set with amusing banter including tales of living next to Frank Bough! Then headliners NEWTOWN NEUROTICS took to the stage and gave the Middlesbrough hardcore just what they wanted! Frontman Steve Drewett was on top form performing their post punk rock classics including the 1981 political anthem 'Kick out the Tories'. Another fantastic night for LoGOz and everyone involved. Special mention to Promoter Steve Harland and Martin Mathers and all at Westgarth Club Middlesbrough for a cracking night! Also a big thank you to everyone who came down to support us, you know who you are :)

I can’t believe we're nearly halfway through my 52 tracks in 52 weeks Project! So here we are its AcoustiCalendar Song #24 KiDS T.V. This was just written on Sunday. I was idly messing about with a few chords trying to come up with something new, when the idea of old Kids TV Shows came into my head. That golden era of watching your favourite Shows, long before on demand TV, i-players and multi 24/7 childrens channels!  So I quickly jotted down a few classic Kids programmes from my era! I suddenly realised this could run forever and ever so I had to put a lid on it somewhere! Already people who have heard it are asking "Where’s Inspector Gadget?" "Where’s the Flumps?" "Where’s Postman Pat?" Haha but as I've said I can’t mention them all, but there’s a fair few in there, see how many you can spot :) As always the song will be available to download FREE from www.logozworld.com/52 for 7 days until the next new track is uploaded :) 

Phew that’s it for now! Thanks for reading :)

Cheerz

Peesh

Solo Acoustic Roxbury Gig / LoGOz The Doll Review - AcoustiCalendar Song #23

A busy weekend of Solo/LoGOz activity kicked off in familiar territory at the good old Roxbury in Blyth on Friday night. A warm summers night was just the ticket to get thirsty Friday night revellers in the mood to kick off the weekend in style! I was opening up the nights proceedings with an Anarcoustic set for Vinces Birthday Bash with 3 of the North Easts top punk bands ALL OUT ATTACK, COLLiSiON & DEATH TO iNDiE.

After a swift soundcheck and the clock ticking to 9:20pm I strapped my guitar on and asked the ever expanding room of punters and bands to make their way round to the front of the stage! And to my joy and surprise they did just that! So now with all eyes and ears on me it was time to stand and deliver. I kicked straight in with THE BALLAD OF THE DiSENCHANTED and swiftly onto RiOT ON THE RADiO which after the tremendous reception helped settle the nervous energy that was eating away at me! With this being only my second Solo gig I changed the set around from the last one and slipped in LoGOz favourites UNEASY STREET and LONG TiME DEAD as well as AcoustiCalendar track THiS iS MY ENGLAND which got its Live gig debut. I was just really starting to find my stride when it was my 9th and final song OLD PUNKS NEVER DiE along with my Only Fools/Auf Pet outtro it went down a storm and I was blown away by the response! Cheers everyone who came down and made a noise, you know who you are :) 

But this night wasnt all about me! No. Next up ALL OUT ATTACK quickly stepped up to the plate. Blasting through tracks from their latest Album OKTOBERFEST and a rousing cover of MOTORHEAD's 'No Class' frontman Adam was leaping about the stage like Zebedee on Special Brew! The lads were having way too much fun to notice the concept of time and could've played all night given half the chance :)

After another quick changeover it was the turn of local heroes COLLiSiON to take centre stage. With the charismatic sneer of main man Tony Houghton and the sweet vitriol of Karen Khaos, the dualling vocals were backed by the band on top form! They blasted through a no nonsense 30 minutes of classic punk rock scattered with punchy originals. Top stuff.

To finish off the night it was our old buddies DEATH TO iNDiE with their high energy tongue in cheek punk stompathon! From inviting a refreshed young lass onto the stage to sing lead vocals on one track, to off the wall pop covers, as well as their own hook filled originals, it was a great end to brilliant night! Big thanks again to Vince for putting the show on, and a very Happy Birthday fella :)

So onto Saturday and another welcome return to The Doll at The Black Bull in Gateshead for LoGOz supporting punk veterans DEMOB. But not before the band had gathered at Pulse Studios in Blyth for a cheeky practice. It was almost 2 weeks since we had played together at The Riverside Live Festival so it was good to brush the cobwebs off and blast through tonights set! We didnt half go for it! If we play half as good as we did at practice tonight we're gonna be alright! We rolled up to The Doll just as aptly titled touring  support  band 

BORROWED TiME were soundchecking and slightly over running! But hey this is punk rock kids and nothing ever goes to plan :) Before we knew it were back on that familiar stage and ripping through a quick line check! Theres something about this venue that just makes us sound nastier and heavier. I like that. Even BORROWED TiME's friendly mohawk spouting drummer was visibly impressed at the sheer power we had! Showtime! As we lauched into LONG TiME DEAD the crowd was growing as friendly faces nodded, bustled and sang along as Paul and me kept up the energy levels up with our bassless twin guitar assault! Meanwhile Harry played a blinder behind the kit I'm sure there was smoke coming out of his sticks at one point! I dont think we've ever played TROPiCAL APOCALYPSE as fast as we did on Saturday night haha it really could've been the end of the world! But it wasn't. But not before too long it WAS the end of the set. And a cracking set it was too. The reaction again onstage and off was brilliant so thanks again to everyone who came along to support us!

Gloucester punksters BORROWED TiME quickly followed us and delivered a sound solid set playing tracks from their debut album 'Pushed to the Brink'.  Check them out at www.borrowedtimeband.co.uk

Headliners DEMOB then finished the night off in style tearing through their back catalogue as if their lives depended on it! The main highlight being the fantastic 'Anti-Police' which even had Sound man/Promoter/Owner Mr Shev and his collagues sporting Coppers hats behind the bar, much to everyones amusement! Yet again another successful gig for LoGOz! Thanks again to everyone for the support at both gigs this weekend it really is truly appreciated! Cheerz :)

Monday again and its now AcoustiCalendar Song #23 KEEP YA TiMBER iN AND YA POWDER DRY. What??? I hear you say? Well, let me explain. Apparently this was an old Ashington Miners saying when they used to work down the pit, a kind of warm friendly looking out for each other, take care, watch what you're doing type of camaraderie spirit! I was told this by  a good friend of my Dad, who goes by the nickname Doof! He keeps saying it and earlier this year he challenged me to write a song called KEEP YA TiMBER iN AND YA POWDER DRY.  Its my nod and homage to the brave men and boys who are a huge part of our heritage. As an Ashingtonian myself and have mining history in my family, I feel proud and allowed to write this. So here we are, and what better time than to tie it in the Miners Picnic which takes place this Saturday June 13th at Woodhorn. As always the track will be available to download FREE from www.logozworld.com/52 for 7 days until the next song is uploaded. Just to remind you the first AcoustiCalendar 13.1 CD is available from www.logozworld.com/merch NOW!!!

Cheerz

Peesh

LoGOz / Solo Gigs this week - AcoustiCalendar Song #22 HEROES OF THE DAY

After a LoGOz gig free weekend just passed us by its nice to look forward to a busy week ahead of activity band and solo wise! On Friday June 5th I have a Solo gig at The Roxbury in Blyth. I will be kicking off the night in style before anarchic anthemists ALL OUT ATTACK, snarling local heroes COLLiSiON & in the yer face punk rocking DEATH TO iNDiE. I will be playing Songs from my AcoustiCalendar Project as well as a few LoGOz tunes, and maybe a cheeky cover who knows ;) This is also local Promoter and general all round top guy and sound man Vince Race’s Birthday Bash. So come down boys and girls its FREE entry. Doors open 8.30pm See ya there :)

Then on Saturday June 6th LoGOz return to Live action at one of our favourite venues The Doll @ The Black Bull in Gateshead. This time we're supporting punk veterans DEMOB. The band originally formed in 1978 and gigged heavily on the circuit in the early days supporting diverse acts of the likes of UK SUBS, DISCHARGE, THE BEAT, ANGELIC UPSTARTS and U2! Probably their most famous track is the 1978 Single 'Anti-Police' which was championed by legendary DJ John Peel and journalist Garry Bushell. The band spilt in 1983 and didnt reform until 2001 before wrapping it in again in 2008. But again reforming for a third time in 2011 DEMOB have been touring the punk circuit ever since, and LoGOz are more than happy to be sharing the stage with the guys this Saturday night. Tickets are £5 and Doors open at 8pm.

Back to the present now and its Monday yet again and here we are on week #22 with my AcoustiCalendar project. Tonights song is HEROES OF THE DAY. This track harks back to the days of youth, innocence, wonder and hero worship! The times when pop stars really were pop stars, TV stars really shone through the small screen, Sport stars had talent with character to match, and Movie stars literally were like Gods. I'm not ashamed to admit I've posed in the mirror and dressed like Adam Ant as a kid, cheekily thought I was Tucker Jenkins at school, pretended to be Luke Skywalker in the playground, and copying the skills of Maradona in the park with my Mitre Delta! Christ I'm showing my age again haha! As ever this song will be available to download FREE from www.logozworld.com/52

That's it for now, its gonna be a busy Summer! Bring it on :)

Cheerz

Peesh

LoGOz - Riverside Live Review 24/05/15/ AcoustiCalendar Song #21 NORTHERN LiFE

After a heavy night on the pop on Saturday at The Newcastle O2 Academy watching the fantastic Chas & Dave, l thought Sunday had come a little too early as pick up time was 9:45 am prompt.

My hangover hadn’t even had time to kick in as we headed out of Northumberland and south of the Tyne! Today us LoGOz boys are kicking off the Riverside Live Festival at Chester Park in Chester-le-Street! With rain forecast all week for most of the day we were happy they seemed to get it wrong in Michael Fish type proportions, as we rolled into Chester Park with the sun peering through the clouds above.

As we made our way through on site security we were greeted by Promoter Ben, who was also nursing a previous night’s hangover! But these were easily brushed aside as we had important business to attend to! With LoGOz being first band on at 12 noon we had the unenviable yet privileged task of opening this Mod Ska Festival up. Main headline acts to follow included Secret Affair, The Selecter, The Lambrettas and From The Jam.

A slightly different kind of vibe and band that we're used to playing with. But this is all part of LoGOz get up, we like to think and play slightly outside the box, and we couldn’t wait to get started! 

As time rolled on the stage was set, even a slight problem with our Drummer Harry's bowel movements, due to possible mild food poisoning, wasn’t going to spoil our moment, and not enough time to plumb in a bog seat instead of his usual drum throne! One Direction might have Harry Styles, but LoGOz have Harry Stools, and pumped up with Imodium and bicarbonate of soda the guy was ready, we all we were! I even had time for a quick Bourbon as we took to the stage...not the whisky...the chocolate biscuit variety kindly supplied in the backstage green room area! But before we knew it and after a quick Soundcheck, Mr Compere had announced us and we blasted straight into LONG TIME DEAD. The Festival was really starting to fill up as the Mod and Ska aficionados poured through the gates in the hundreds to the tones of LoGOz. It was great to spot a few familiar faces amongst the Parkas and Harringtons in the ever increasing crowd! We had a 30 minute slot time so the public got what the public wanted! Half an hour of pure energetic punk pop rock n roll...even if we do say so ourselves! The crowd agreed too as we went down a storm adding more friends and fans to LoGOz Army!!! As we left the stage we were collared by The Sunderland Echo Entertainment Journo Katy Wheeler for a brief interview! You can read it here 

As we mingled amongst the crowd we chatted and had pics taken with friendly faces old and new! Harry also took his life in his own hands playing flushing roulette by chancing a festival hot dog! Safe to say the Brown Reaper didn’t come a calling! It really was a cracking day for the band and everybody involved. Big thanks go to Gareth, Ben and Pauline for their behind the scenes hard work and pure professionalism in making this day a huge success! Cheers to all the other bands who played their part too, including The Style Selektors, The Whodlums and The Last Fakers. Last but not least big thanks to everyone who bought a ticket and made the trip to see the bands, we really appreciate the support :) Onwards and upwards!

So here we are another week another Bank Holiday Monday and in my world that means another AcoustiCalendar track. So song #21 comes in the shape of NORTHERN LiFE. Another reflective perspective on life around me as I see it through my Northumbrian eyes. The title is a nod to the old Regional News programme from a few years back. As always the song will be available to download for FREE from www.logozworld.com/52 for 7 days until the next song is uploaded. This kinda wraps up all things publically for me and LoGOz for the month of May. Still plenty of behind the scenes arranging and rearranging going on as we speak and a very busy June is fast approaching so watch this space!

Cheerz

Peesh

02 Academy Newcastle Headline gig 18/09/15 - AcoustiCalendar Song #20 TATTOOS & DRiNKiNG

Well we are happy to announce full details of our upcoming headline gig at the Newcastle Academy on Friday September 18th. Tickets can be bought directly from us the band and through our website logozworld.com/contact; via our facebook page facebook.com/logoz3 or by email clemmyscotswood@gmail.com and are £6:00 each. 

Supporting LoGOz on the night will be three chord heroes The HALF CUTS, Anarchic local legends COLLiSiON, and the recently reformed punk riff-meisters The FLAMIN' EiGHTS. All bands were chosen personally by us, and as well as being great acts themselves, they're also good friends of ours, having shared the stage on occasions with all of these guys over the years! So it makes total sense that this is gonna be one hell of a punk rockin' party! You don’t wanna miss out so get your tickets asap boys and girls!!!

As another weekend disappears along the corridors of history, we find ourselves back to the reality of a mundane Monday! But not for this cat! Today is AcoustiCalendar Song #20 in the shape of TATTOOS & DRiNKiNG. Two subjects and activities l am quite partial to, you could say :) The song has a deliberate lazy kind of drunken loose feel to it, revelling in the hopelessness of the lost but  not forgotten! This, as always, will be available for FREE download from www.logozworld.com/52 until the next track is uploaded.

Cheerz for now!

Peesh

Solo Lionheart FM Radio Session / LoGOz - Darlington review / New O2 Academy Gig / AcoustiCalendar Song #19

A busy weekend kicked off on Friday with a trip up to good old Alnwick for my solo appearance on Lionheart FM with DJ Principal Smooth himself, Mr Charles Ellis. A picturesque drive up was thirsty work as we managed a few outdoor promo snaps before nipping into the Queens Head for some pre-show lager flavoured refreshments! As we buzzed in at Lionheart HQ we were greeted warmly by Chaz as we headed up to the live room and after a quick off air warm up I was pretty much straight on the Show! After an introductory chat about the AcoustiCalendar project and a quick beef about that weeks track I launched into a Live version of THiS iS MY ENGLAND. Always nice to get the first one under my belt and especially after suffering from hand/tendon problems recently it was a good confidence booster to get it underway! Again Chaz and me chatted like old muckers as I told him and the Lionheart massive all about LoGOz recent and upcoming Academy gigs, plans for the future, and Harry's return to the band. Then it was time for track 2, and this came in the shape of BROKEN HEART STRiNGS. After spinning a few more tunes we wrapped up with old school record shop banter which lead us nicely to the final Live track of the evening THE DEATH OF THE 7" SiNGLE. Then after posing for photos with Mr. Ellis, and arranging a future appearance we said our goodbyes and headed back to the Queens for a few more celebratory jars, and cranked some RANCiD & The WiLDHEARTS on the jukebox for good measure! Nice.

So on to Saturday and our second trip this year to Darlington. This gig was a 50th Birthday bash, and got me thinking this is LoGOz third half century bash recently, we seem to be in demand for these growing old disgracefully punk parties! And we are more than happy to oblige, and Saturday was no exception. This time with no Sat Nav mishaps, but slight traffic nuisances, we rolled into the Slaters at Darlington around 7pm, just as first band NO THRILLS were taking to the marquee outdoor stage. As the name suggests the band were no nonsense in yer face straight up punk rock! With a tight schedule and licence issues the 4 bands had to be wrapped up by 10:15pm. So no sooner had the Thrills finished their last song, Paul and me were tuning our guitars side stage as Harry wrestled with the drum kit to his order. Before we knew it we tuned up turned up and blasted into LONG TiME DEAD. Basically playing the same set as the Academy the week before, although managing to squeeze JOiE DE ViVRE in, the band played a blinder, as familiar faces happily sang along, and new ones showed their appreciation this was another great gig and successful night for LoGOz. We also managed to push, promote and sell tickets for our next gig in that neck of the woods, The Westgarth Social Club Middlesbrough with Newtown Neurotics on June 12th. Plug :) Next up was KICKBACK GENERATION who played a cracking quirky punchy set littered with punky hooks, as main man Jim Thoroughgood was on top form. Last up was punk patriots MURDABALL with their Nationalistic punk hymns. The best quote of the night coming from Lead Singer Jimi who proclaimed "We might be shite, but at least we're passionate". Most of us agreed with half of what he said :) All in all a great night was had by all, top bands, top people, not least the birthday boy Andy himself who was blown away by the whole thing! Many happy returns mate! Also big shout to June Daly for asking us to play, and also Kickback Jim for a great sound. Cheerz.

Over the weekend we are happy to announce we have bagged a Headline show at the O2 Academy in Newcastle on Friday September 18th. Tickets are £6 and you can buy them directly from us. More details on this, including support bands etc coming very soon. Stay tuned!!!

So here we are back to Monday and Song #19 of my AcoustiCalendar project. This week’s track is called WEEKEND OFFENDER. The title came first when I was at a gig recently and l saw a bloke wearing a t-shirt with that written on the front, so I thought "I'm having that"! It just put me in mind of a documentary I saw on self-confessed Football Hooligans. These blokes who are more than happy to arrange punch ups with rival fans and how they revel in it! I just thought it makes an interesting concept for a song. It doesn’t condone or condemn their actions. It’s just a lighthearted take on a serious situation, if you like :) Each to their own! Hope you enjoy it? As ever the song will be available to download for FREE at www.logozworld.com/52 and will be up for 7 days until the next one is uploaded! I think thats all for now folks!

Cheerz

Peesh

LoGOz - Newcastle 02 Academy Review 02/05/15 - New AcoustiCalendar Song #18

Well the big day had finally arrived that the masses had been anticipating, and I don't mean the birth of a new Royal baby! It was time for LoGOz first appearance at The O2 Academy in Newcastle. We'd been looking forward to this one for weeks and with fellow Ashington rockers BALL OF MAYHEM & GO GO MIDGETS, as well as THE FILTH HOUNDS, this was shaping up to be a cracking night!

We rolled up to the Academy around 4pm to catch BALL OF MAYHEM finishing their soundcheck, and with guitars roaring and the drums thumping out your chest almost making you sick, we knew we were in good company. A swift check by the MIDGETS then it was our turn to get the levels just how we wanted! Its a great sounding room up there and there's nothing better than the satisfaction of a good solid confidence boosting soundcheck and that reassurance you're gonna melt faces later. Nice. 

Photo (c) Clemmy Scotswood

The doors opened at 6:30pm and folk were streaming in already. So by the time FILTH HOUNDS kicked off at 6:40pm the venue was already bustling with thirsty punters! With a few last minute ticket settlements to deal with we caught the last few tracks of the HOUNDS harking back to the New Wave of British Heavy Metal days with a 21st century kick! The band warmed up the ever expanding crowd perfectly with good banter and slick delivery! 

So before we knew it, it was time to get backstage and tune guitars etc as Harry in only his third gig back with the band, was already onstage adjusting the drum kit! As Paul, Clemmy and myself were busy giving each other a last minute pre-gig pep talk we got the shout that we're onstage in 2 minutes!! So axes strapped on we were armed with our weapons of sonic destruction and hit the stage bang on 7:20pm. We blasted straight into Long Time Dead, no messing about as we ripped straight into Uneasy Street quickly after that, dedicated to the people of Ashington! The crowd was bouncing, lots of familiar faces, as well as new ones too! Friends, family and fans shouted, cheered and sang along as we had a ball of mayhem ourselves! It was all over too quickly with the closing note to Mexicola still ringing in our ears, as well as the rapturous response from a brilliant crowd! Job more than done! A great sound and another amazing gig for the boys :)

We were still basking in the sweaty afterglow as GO GO MIDGETS took to the stage. The band locked the crowd in with their groove laden alternative white noise. Playing songs from their new M.W.A. mini Album, they left their Midget Army wanting more! There was such a good vibe in the place, everyone was on the same side, and singing from the same song sheet. The beer was going down a treat and the night was in full swing as BALL OF MAYHEM prepared for their headline set. The lights dimmed and the atmospheric intro tape set the scene! The band launched into a cracking set with their signature melodic metal hooks pleasing the Mayhem massive. Also playing songs from their NEW 'Sonic Aftermath' EP the lads closed the show with their classic 'Obliteration'. 

This really was a night to remember, we would like to thank everyone who bought a ticket and came to the gig making it a special night. You know who you are! Big thanks to all the bands, FILTH HOUNDS, GO GO MIDGETS, and especially BALL OF MAYHEM who invited us to play this show. Also cheers to Phil Beevers and everyone at the Academy! We really should do this again yeah? Watch this space :)

Photo (c) Keith Talbot

So here we are Bank Holiday Monday May 4th. Cue lots of predictable Star Wars jokes etc haha. But for me its business as usual and that can only mean Song #18 of my AcoustiCalendar project. This weeks track is called THiS iS MY ENGLAND. It does what it says on the tin really with my spin on life in my England as l know it. With references to us all being slaves to the grind, the confusing politics of today (ooh topical) the forever disappointing National Football hopes, my own ever decreasing small world, living in the past...oh and tabs and beer ;) This song really is my England. I hope you enjoy it. As ever the track will be available for FREE download from www.logozworld.com/52 for 7 days until the next track is uploaded. My first Compilation Album of these tracks AcoustiCalendar 13.1 is available to order now and to buy at upcoming gigs! Also don't forget to check out and 'Like' my NEW www.facebook.com/acousticalendar page. Thanks. That's all for now folks :)

Cheerz

Peesh