yepmop Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Went to see the Blockheads tonight primarily to see the legendary Norman for the first time and..... he's not there To say I'm disappointed and P*ssed off is an understatement, probably wont get another opportunity to see him play locally again. I've since found out he's probably playing tonight with Wilco at a gig in Chelmsford and whilst I fully understand why he's there supporting his mate at this difficult and very sad time which I totally respect him for and I don't have a problem with that in any way. I'm just really Peeved that there was no prior notification that he wouldn't be appearing as I wouldn't have bought tickets or wasted my money on taxi fares etc. Probably get flamed to hell for this, but have to vent off my anger and disappointment. I need a few beers!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Think I'd have been disappointed too. But who was on bass and was he any good ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 Strings Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Feel for you, I would have been very, very disappointed. I've been privileged to have seen him many times with Wilko over the years and he is one of my heroes. I suppose the Blockheads gig would have been better paid but, as you say, sounds like he's putting his loyalty to Wilko in action, assuming he had the choice. I bet they were great though! Always admired that band, even when I was at school and they were fresh! So, was the bass player any good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duffer1 Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 I was there and was disappointed too. The bass player was good but lacked the punch that Norman has. They sounded a bit flat at times without Norman's bass pushing things along. It was a good gig - but lacking something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 TBH The Blockheads without Ian Dury (never mind NWR) seems a fairly pointless exercise to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1387527400' post='2312870'] TBH The Blockheads without Ian Dury (never mind NWR) seems a fairly pointless exercise to me. [/quote] I remember seeing them in the 70's and thinking the opposite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Sausage Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Gotta[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1387527400' post='2312870'] TBH The Blockheads without Ian Dury (never mind NWR) seems a fairly pointless exercise to me. [/quote] [quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1387527676' post='2312872'] I remember seeing them in the 70's and thinking the opposite [/quote] agree with big red really! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1387527400' post='2312870'] TBH The Blockheads without Ian Dury (never mind NWR) seems a fairly pointless exercise to me. [/quote] It does to me too in 2013 but in the 1970s The Blockheads were a great band even without Ian Dury. I saw them loads of times in pubs in London and they were up there with the best of them at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1387527400' post='2312870'] TBH The Blockheads without Ian Dury (never mind NWR) seems a fairly pointless exercise to me. [/quote] [quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1387527676' post='2312872'] I remember seeing them in the 70's and thinking the opposite [/quote] [quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1387532101' post='2312930'] It does to me too in 2013 but in the 1970s The Blockheads were a great band even without Ian Dury. I saw them loads of times in pubs in London and they were up there with the best of them at the time. [/quote] I think that's the point I was making. IMO Ian Dury was outstanding, but so are many poets/songwriters who don't make it. The Blockheads made him for me. The rather surreal counterpoint of the extraordinary technical skills of the band and the monotonic vocals (albeit with some clever lyrics) was the magic of the whole, and I doubt he'd have made it fronting the average pub band (I'd like to have have seen him fronting the Average White Band though, that would have been something ). And whilst there are moments of genius ('What a Waste' and 'Rhythm Stick' being the obvious examples), there is a catalogue of very average songwriting and mediocre vocal performances that without those moments of genius would probably never have surfaced. Alongside Ian Dury and AWB, I'd love to have seen the Blockheads with someone equally mercurial but perhaps a little more vocally adept; Tom Waits and the Blockheads would have been interesting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 [quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1387532101' post='2312930'] It does to me too in 2013 but in the 1970s The Blockheads were a great band even without Ian Dury. I saw them loads of times in pubs in London and they were up there with the best of them at the time. [/quote] and for all the 1970s radio caroline heads out there ... [url="http://youtu.be/zsa3OHzOIlM"]http://youtu.be/zsa3OHzOIlM[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 (edited) I believe Norm was playing in Chelmsford last night with Wilko..... Edited December 20, 2013 by crez5150 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Alsatian Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 (edited) I'd be gutted if Norman wasn't at last Friday's gig too - sorry to hear that you didn't get to see him in action. [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1387527400' post='2312870'] TBH The Blockheads without Ian Dury (never mind NWR) seems a fairly pointless exercise to me. [/quote] I don't agree, since it was Chaz Jankel who wrote the bulk of the music to back Ian's lyrics. His absence is really noticeable on 'Laughter' (although having Wilko onboard for that album was great). I'm a huge Ian fan and think his best material was when backed by The Blockheads. They're are too good a band to be not playing and their new material with Derek is excellent - well worth checking out. That Derek does justice to his old mate's lyrics when they play the older stuff live is a bonus. Edited December 20, 2013 by Green Alsatian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 [quote name='Green Alsatian' timestamp='1387534857' post='2312977'] I'd be gutted if Norman wasn't at last Friday's gig too - sorry to hear that you didn't get to see him in action. I don't agree, since it was Chaz Jankel who wrote the bulk of the music to back Ian's lyrics. His absence is really noticeable on 'Laughter' (although having Wilko onboard for that album was great). I'm a huge Ian fan and think his best material was when backed by The Blockheads. They're are too good a band to be not playing and their new material with Derek is excellent - well worth checking out. That Derek does justice to his old mate's lyrics when they play the older stuff live is a bonus. [/quote] I think that the most recent album Staring Down the Barrel is a very good album indeed, and in my opinion compares well to any Blockheads album with the exception of New Boots and Panties which is an absolute classic. The 11 reviewers on Amazon seem to agree with me. As does the BBC reviewer. http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/3xw6 The whole album can be heard on Spotify. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 (edited) you think that's bad, went to see Sham 69 once, no Jimmy Pursey, no announcement, we thought the replacement singer was a roadie, the other week Sham were advertised as being on in Derby, no Pursey or Parsons, just a couple of guitarist who played with them before they made it, I don't mind not seeing the original band as long as it's made perfectly clear on the promo material, if it's not it's a con Edited December 20, 2013 by PaulWarning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highfox Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 No Norm, that would be a real shame. Glad nothing has happened to him tho as we are supposed to be supporting Wilko in a few weeks time and looking forward to seeing NWR kicking out the licks. (selfish I know) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 [quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1387536957' post='2313024'] you think that's bad, went to see Sham 69 once, no Jimmy Pursey, no announcement, we thought the replacement singer was a roadie, the other week Sham were advertised as being on in Derby, no Pursey or Parsons, just a couple of guitarist who played with them before they made it, I don't mind not seeing the original band as long as it's made perfectly clear on the promo material, if it's not it's a con [/quote] Ha ha, once again - and in similar vein to the question over the Blockheads with/without Dury - one is forced to ask whether the absence of Jimmy Pursey could ever be considered a bad thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 [quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1387532898' post='2312941'] .....and I doubt he'd have made it fronting the average pub band (I'd like to have have seen him fronting the Average White Band though, that would have been something? [/quote] As it's Christmas, anyone know of any Ian Dury & Blockheads or AWB tribute acts. I feel like arranging an interesting gig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 (edited) [quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1387532101' post='2312930'] It does to me too in 2013 but in the 1970s The Blockheads were a great band even without Ian Dury. I saw them loads of times in pubs in London and they were up there with the best of them at the time. [/quote][quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1387532968' post='2312943'] and for all the 1970s radio caroline heads out there ... [media]http://youtu.be/zsa3OHzOIlM[/media] [/quote] Not sure how that's relevant to my post but if that's what you were listening to in the 70s then great but it was a long way away from what i was listening to. .............although it is rather soothing. Edited December 20, 2013 by BetaFunk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Alsatian Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 [quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1387536441' post='2313008'] I think that the most recent album Staring Down the Barrel is a very good album indeed, and in my opinion compares well to any Blockheads album with the exception of New Boots and Panties which is an absolute classic. The 11 reviewers on Amazon seem to agree with me. As does the BBC reviewer. [url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/3xw6"]http://www.bbc.co.uk...ic/reviews/3xw6[/url] The whole album can be heard on Spotify. [/quote] Indeed it is - I liked the central theme of what we're doing to the planet running through Staring Down the Barrel. I as I mentioned in another thread, I grew up with New Boots and Panties and it'll always be my fave followed by Do It Yourself and Mr. Love Pants. Have you heard their latest album 'Same Horse Different Jockey' yet? It's great! Plenty of catchy tunes on that one. Here's the video from the first single, 'Express Yourself': [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSb0uHwdTvg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSb0uHwdTvg[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 (edited) [quote name='Green Alsatian' timestamp='1387548307' post='2313246'] Have you heard their latest album 'Same Horse Different Jockey' yet? It's great! Plenty of catchy tunes on that one. Here's the video from the first single, 'Express Yourself': [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSb0uHwdTvg[/media] [/quote] No, I haven't, and didn't know that it existed. I even checked their discography on Wikipedia to see if anything had been released that I hadn't noticed before I posted, and it's not there. I'm off to see if I can find the album on spotify now, and will pick up the album proper soon. Edit: Album is on Spotify, listening now. Edited December 20, 2013 by Annoying Twit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1 Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 MB1. "O vanitas vanitatum Which of us is happy in this life? Which of us has our desire,or having it,is gratified?" (This is what we find!..Ian Dury and The Blockheads..Do It Yourself) ...Alas Blockheads without Norman? I feel your pain! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 [quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1387546158' post='2313199'] Not sure how that's relevant to my post but if that's what you were listening to in the 70s then great but it was a long way away from what i was listening to. .............although it is rather soothing. [/quote] It's the blockheads before they became the blockheads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenYork Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Seeing this has got me worried now, I'm going to see them at the Jazz Cafe tonight and a large part if booking the tickets was to see NWR. Anyone know if he's playing tonight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 (edited) [quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1387557612' post='2313383'] It's the blockheads before they became the blockheads [/quote] Exactly. Not the Blockheads. I saw Skip Bifferty for example on the college circuit long before two of them became Blockheads etc etc. I'm sure that there's numerous examples of them all playing in other bands other than the Blockheads. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asA5mPZDCW8[/media] Edited December 20, 2013 by BetaFunk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger2611 Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 I think on any other forum the Blockheads without NWR is probably no biggie but on Basschat it's like Christmas without [s]Jesus [/s]Cliff Richard, I feel your pain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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