Leonard Smalls

Peek-a-Boo - Siouxsie and the Banshees

Had another bluesjazz band jam last night... For some reason the guitarman had completely lost any sense of funk, so where he previously grooved in some place between Nile Rodgers and James Blood Ulmer he was now like a lumpy Eric Clapton, which is Not A Good Thing in my book. Drummer's still On The One though. Still, it's a bit weird to be playing what is potentially The Devil's Music in an 18th Century church!

I do the cold shower thing... Sometimes I start with the cold - in which case it's about 45 seconds before there's a hint of warmth. And for that time I sometimes "speak in tongues", and sometimes sing raucously. Like this one (beware of An Oft Repeated Swear Word!):

(Not Just) Knee Deep - Funkadelic

We only do two covers, but I enjoy 'em both! First, there's "Don't Dictate" by punk legends Penetration - I play it with a mashed up section of Cameo's "Word Up" which works very well. We also do Dead Kennedys' "Moon Over Marin". As we're a 2 bass band El Rapho plays a relatively straightforward version of the bass line, but I play it as if it was Magazine's "Song From Under The Floorboards", which also seems to work.

Beasley Street - John Cooper Clarke

Back in the day most of the band were in the back with no seats, just lying on top of the cabs... That wasn't so bad if we were in our usual roadie's hand painted black transit cos at least you could see out of the windscreen and the cabs were a handy flat surface to roll up on... But we once had a gig in Bournemouth and had to hire a van. The only one available was a Transit Luton so being in the back was a bit rubbish, especially as it took 3 hours from London with absolutely no clue where we were or ability to speak to the two lucky souls in the front!

Strange headed blokes playing groovy fusion...

I always thought "Acid Jazz" was a bit of a misnomer, as it didn't sound like the sort of jazz anyone who'd done acid would either produce or listen to! Funnily enough, I was listening to Gilles' show on 6Music yesterday and he played this, which perhaps fits the bill somewhat better!

Blockheads - Ian Dury and the Blockheads

King Creole - Elvis Presley

I'm a big fan! They're a bit different from your usual widdle-meisters because they have a definite sense of fun and put on a bit of a show... And besides, who needs melody? That's for boy bands

Increased Resistance - Gerry and the Holograms

You know when you're all savoury-ed out? And all you want is cake? Or treacle tart with clotted cream? Or vanilla pannacotta? Or Or pineapple Upside Down pud with custard? Well then you got The Puddin' Blues! For those amazed at the vocal prowess, it's all me!!!!! Bass (x3!) = Wal. Keys = Ableton organ VST. Guitar = Strat (and a couple of looperman loops). Drums programmed in EZ Drummer. Some Ozone Elements and Ozone 9, plus Neutron 3 and Bias FX on guitars.

God is in the Rhythm - King Gizzard and the Lizard wizard

I've got an albumen by them...

Straight Edge - Minor Threat

13 for me this year with the punkyfunky beat combo, which is about right - I'd do more if they were more local! However, I've just started a blues jazz funk thang, which may do more nearer to home stuff. And my nearly 40 year old band has finally got round to thinking about releasing a mini LP, so we may even do a gig or two (EEK!) to promote it...

Wake Me Up Before You Cocoa - Wham

Herd it through the Grapevine - The Slits

Mind Transplant - Alphonse Mouzon

One Weak - Deftones

One for the road - the Rumjacks