I'm at the northern tip of the UK mainland. I've just walked into 'The Last House' in John O'Groats, which since 2019 has been home to a new brewery, bar and visitor centre. 

Amidst various bottles of beer and related merchandise there's a screen showing a video of the local area with music playing that has my ear. This is how I got to hear John O'Groats local band Neon Waltz and learn via a promotional postcard that NME called them "Scotland's coolest new gang" in 2015 and their 2017 'Strange Hymns' record being nominated for Scottish Album of the Year.  

My first thought was they reminded me of Explosions in the Sky, but that was instrumentally. All the songs I've listened to are more vocal, but this track sounds more like what I first heard. 

'Perfect Frame' from 'Strange Hymns'. Bit of a psychedelic video happening too. 

* YouTube has more videos and a new LP is due in September. 

 

Same flower, different butterfly, TN35 4AT

Hydrangea plant, Red Admiral (left), Peacock (right) butterflies. Taken in our garden. July 2023

   

Ever since moving down to the Sussex coast I've seen more 'live' music than I've managed in ages. The local scene here is very active. 

But today I'm away back to London for the only performance in England on their 2023 World Tour for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Courtesy of my son who got the tickets for this evening's stadium event. So along with over 60,000 fans I expect the band will be heard more than seen and if the setlist info is anything to go by this track from 1999 will be part of the show. 

This video is a classic of it's time and is the band's most watched on YouTube. 'Californication' >

   

Last weekend the BST Hyde Park concerts in London concluded, penultimately with Billy Joel, who'd played a set full of crowd pleasing 'Greatest Hits'.

I checked the setlist and his encore began with this classic. You've probably seen the video before, but worth another spin, given the nature of history and it's ability to repeat itself. As one person comments: "As an US History student I understand this song and realize we have not changed at all in 70 years".

Billy Joel's 'We Didn't Start the Fire' (lyrics and history) ... 'But we tried to fight it' 

NB: the visuals start with the vocals at 32 seconds in >

  F O O T N O T E  

Just a few hours after posting this track I came across a new version by Fall Out Boy who've created an update of 'We Didn't Start the Fire' - running from 1989 to 2023. With new lyrics and the chorus line reads: 'But we're trying to fight it' (click here to view) 

  

Amazingly after nearly 380 'Friday Music Spots' these guys have yet to feature. Though one of their best known songs did make an appearance in 2018 as FMS#135 (click link).  

Simon & Garfunkel are therefore long overdue. So without further ado from The Concert in Central Park in 1981 here is 'American Tune' > Art, you in the mood ?

FYI: 'The Concert in Central Park' has had a few recent outings on the Sky Arts channel. 

   

It’s a little over 40 years since the release of the film ‘Local Hero’, one of my favourites (along with ‘Gregory’s Girl’) which was also directed and written by Bill Forsyth.  

Well the coastal town of Pennan in Aberdeenshire was the location for the fictional village of Ferness in ‘Local Hero’ (including the prop telephone box used in the Northern Lights scene - "because the actual phone box was not in a good position for the cinematography"). We discovered this gem of a place recently while touring Scotland and not surprisingly this song came to mind. Take a look at this link to see a 'wee' bit more of Pennan - then enjoy the music and movie clips …

"Going Home (Theme of the Local Hero)" by Mark Knopfler. 

   

Occasionally you hear a track from a group you thought you knew but it sounds very different from what you expected. My impression of this band was formed by their big 1978 hit, which you may recall: "Reminiscing".

Little River Band 'It's a Long Way There' is actually the opening track off their 1975 debut album and their hallmark three-part harmonies sung by Glenn Shorrock, Graeham Goble and Beeb Birtles are clear to hear. Although the CS&N parallels are unmistakable the guitar solo by Ric Formosa takes the song somewhere unexpected...
The video is all Australian (and slightly bizarre) with concert clips and film footage of "Have a Go Australia", 8mm film of Sydney Harbour, "C'mon Aussie C'mon" and the 1975 Bathurst 1000 (touring car race), plus the guitar solo at around 5 minutes becomes a spot the cricketer quiz for you ?

➤ I've read that along with AC/DC and the Bee Gees, the Little River Band were one of the first Australian groups to hit it big in the US, selling over 25 million records and scoring 13 American Top 40 hits. "Reminiscing" was their biggest, reaching #3. They are less well known in Europe. 

Interesting that these groups are referred to as Australian - all about the origin of the group I guess. Because the main members of AC/DC emigrated from Scotland while the Bee Gee brothers were born on the Isle of Man and only actually lived in Australia for a little over 8 years. 

  

Having mentioned last week the Outlaws band that's were we're travelling today with the opening track from their self-titled debut LP released in 1975. 

Hughie Thomasson - lead guitar, vocals

Billy Jones - lead guitar, vocals

Monte Yoho - drums

Frank O'Keefe - bass guitar

Henry Paul - electric and acoustic guitar, vocals

It's a 3-minute masterpiece of Southern Rock guitar and Country style picking as 'There Goes Another Love Song' >

That debut album also contained the classic "Green Grass and High Tides" at nearly 10-minutes long. And a track I'd forgotten called 'Waterhole' a mere two-minute instrumental.

EXTRAS >> See video blogs by Chris Hicks who played guitar with virtually every Southern Rock band on very informative videos called 'Southern Rock Insider' - for starters Billy Jones @ click here

OR see how difficult it is to play today's track @ play guitar solos   

 

Today is National Cheese Day - not to be confused with 'grilled cheese day' or 'cheesecake day' or indeed 'mac and cheese day' - this is the Queen of all diary, the big cheese !

>>> Cue Messrs John Cleese and Michael Palin for the Cheese Shop sketch.

It originally appeared in Monty Python's Flying Circus episode 33 "Salad Days" on 30th November 1972. I wont give too much away about the Forty-three cheeses mentioned in the original sketch but there is music to be enjoyed and as Mr. Mousebender (Cleese) initially expresses appreciation of the music, being "one who delights in all manifestations of the Terpsichorean Muse" the bouzouki playing away in the background adds to the craziness - 

Happy Cheese Day > 

   

Back in March, Gary Rossington the last remaining original member of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd joined his compadres in Southern Rock music's immortal memory:-  

He was the guitarist who would shuffle around stage, playing his Gibson Les Paul, looking cool and totally relaxed while others took the limelight. See 'Sweet Home' here. 

Original lead singer Ronnie Van Zant had died in the 1977 plane crash that also claimed the lives of Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines and three other passengers on board. Gary Rossington was one of 20 passengers who survived. 

Fellow Southern Rock band the Outlaws original member Henry Paul, left the group in 1978 and formed The Henry Paul Band releasing a debut album called 'Grey Ghost' - the title track is dedicated to the memory of Ronnie Van Zant. This slightly 'fuzzy' video is from January 1979 at Volunteer Jam V in Nashville, it's a cracking track with a deliberate 'Freebird' vibe and the band is really smoking.... 
'Grey Ghost' - his spirit will remain 

 

“Have you heard the one about the kid who got ptomaine poisoning and the physical education teacher at Jacksonville High - Leonard Skinner ? 

Skinner's strict enforcement of a policy against long hair inspired the members to name their band after him, changing the vowels to avoid a lawsuit. Skinner sent Rossington and others to the principal's office for wearing their hair too long. Rossington dropped out of school in 1969.

So "arguably the most influential high school gym teacher in American popular culture."

Leonard Skinner was you remember in the 1963 song by Allan Sherman ‘Hello Maddah, Hello Faddah’