{"id":148,"date":"2020-12-28T13:56:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-28T13:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/coventrygigs\/2020\/12\/28\/2020-an-overview\/"},"modified":"2020-12-28T13:56:00","modified_gmt":"2020-12-28T13:56:00","slug":"2020-an-overview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/coventrygigs\/2020\/12\/28\/2020-an-overview\/","title":{"rendered":"2020 – An Overview"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

2020 – An Overview<\/b><\/div>\n
by Pete Clemons<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/div>\n
People <\/span>do not need
\nme reminding them that 2020 has had its extraordinary difficulties. And live
\nmusic was especially hard hit. Clubs closed and tours cancelled. Will life ever
\ngo back to the way it was. I am not convinced. The virus is certainly here to
\nstay. So we will need to adapt in order to live with it. But I am certain we
\nwill. That said it has not all been doom and gloom. Remarkably, and despite the
\nproblems it has encountered, the music world has still managed to give us many
\npositives. Listed below are a selection of the positives I have come across. Of
\ncourse, this is a very narrow view and, with music being such a vast ocean,
\nthere will have, I’m sure, been many positives in other areas of music. <\/span>Massive
\nthanks to all for keeping our spirits high…………..<\/b><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

\n

 <\/span>Albums<\/span><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Gazpacho \u2013
\nFireworker:<\/span><\/b> each Gazpacho
\nalbum takes you on some kind of a journey. And this release is no exception.
\nWith Fireworker you are taken on an immersive exploration to the depths of your
\nmind as they question why we react the way we do in certain situations and why
\nwe think the way we do.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Colin Edwin and
\nRobert Peck \u2013 Infinite Regress: Infinite<\/span><\/b> regress, as I understand, is a statement that needs
\nto be supported by another, and so on. So in that sense these ten songs support
\neach other. Heavy bass and lyrics based around how memories hold up over time.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

The Pineapple
\nThief \u2013 Versions of the Truth:<\/span><\/b> the growth of the internet has been both a benefit and a curse. Here
\nBruce Soord delves into how the magnification of the digital age has enabled
\ntruth to have been twisted to suit certain agendas and aims.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Lunatic Soul \u2013
\nThrough Shaded Woods: <\/span><\/b>This
\nis the seventh album from multi instrumentalist Mariusz Duda. Here, Mariusz
\nfound his inspiration for the album from his childhood home, an area of Poland
\nknown for its forests and lakes. Musical soundscapes guide you through the
\nlocal folklore.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Dyble Longdon \u2013
\nBetween a Breath and a Breath: An<\/span><\/b> accompanying postcard, that came with the album, and signed in one
\ncorner by David Longdon just spoke volumes. There seemed to be this large
\ngaping void that was yearning for another name. Of course, it was that of Judy
\nDyble who is no longer with us. But what a way to bow out.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Sanguine Hum \u2013 A
\nTrace of Memory: <\/span><\/b>Sanguine
\nHum have been going about their musical business for 20 years now. Quietly
\nreleasing a series of really good albums. And still they have the capability of
\nturning one out as engaging as this one.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Iamthemorning EP
\n\u2013 Counting the Ghosts: <\/span><\/b>As
\nif to prove that the pandemic was indeed worldwide, this Russian pair vented
\ntheir frustrations. ‘All I wanted lately was to scream aimlessly into space but
\ninstead I recorded a Christmas song’.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Tim Bowness \u2013
\nLate Night Laments: <\/span><\/b>Very
\nmuch an album to be heard under the headphones. This a very inward looking and
\na self examination of an album. Brooding and, at times, quite dark.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Jack Hues \u2013
\nPrimitif: <\/span><\/b>it was the Syd
\nArthur connection that drew me toward this album. Before then, to my knowledge,
\nI hadn’t been aware of Jack Hues. Yet here he is at the age of 60, with time on
\nhis hands, writing a set of wonderful songs of reflections and relationships
\nspread across a double CD release.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Steven Wilson
\nEP’s \u2013 Eminent Sleaze & 12 Things I Forgot: <\/span><\/b>Steven’s latest album has been ready to go for a
\nnumber of months. But the pandemic, along with the chaos it has caused, has
\nresulted in its delay to the wider world. But the intervening time has seen
\nSteven release a series of tasters in the form of EP’s.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Nektar \u2013 The
\nOther Side: <\/span><\/b>This was a
\nvery pleasant surprise. Following the passing of Roye Albrighton in 2016 the
\nnew Nektar began work on a new album. As I understand some of the songs on this
\nrelease were based on ideas from 1978. Those ideas were reworked on and
\nreadapted to produce this beauty.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Judy Dyble and
\nthe Band of Perfect Strangers – Weavings of a Silver Magic: <\/span><\/b>Recorded live at St Barnabus Church,
\nCambridge complete with full band and strings. I am proud of the CD and want to
\nblush a bit with joy \u2013 Judy Dyble.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Airbag \u2013 A Day
\nat the Beach: <\/span><\/b>Their music
\nis smooth and sophisticated. It is rich and creates atmosphere’s. At times
\nthough I do struggle with the rawness of the lyrics. But it is with the music
\nwhere this band excel.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Locally released
\nmusic<\/span><\/u><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Voodoo Kings \u2013
\nRollin: <\/span><\/b>this dynamic
\nrockabilly trio completed their album just prior to lockdown. Released during
\nOctober ‘Rollin’ contains a mix of highly original and imaginative reinventions
\nof standards and classic foot tapping tunes.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

The Session: <\/span><\/b>as ridiculous as it sounds, The Session
\ncould quite rightly claim that 2020 was the most successful in their two decade
\nhistory. Tunes like ‘Denver Hill’, ‘The Fear’ and ‘Ravages of Time’ have
\nensured that the accompanying videos have received thousands of hits and
\nvisits.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Crokodile Tears
\n\u2013 Hoi Polloi: <\/span><\/b>in the
\ncontinuing tradition of any Croks release this album is piled high with musical
\nquirks and is choc full of joy.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Fresh Maggots \u2013
\nWaiting For the Sun: <\/span><\/b>Almost
\nfifty years after the release of their first studio album, during October 1971,
\nFresh Maggots released a new album. But do not expect a follow up to that
\ndebut. Equally as enjoyable, this album represents the duo today.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/b><\/div>\n


<\/b><\/p>\n

Barnabus \u2013
\nBeginning to Unwind:<\/span><\/b>all
\ngood things come to those who wait. And this album, that sat in the vaults for
\nyears, at last saw the light of day. Rise Above Records\/Relics, led by Coventry
\nborn Lee Dorrian, pulled out all the stops in giving this record the most
\ntasteful of releases.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Alternative
\nSounds \u2013 Compilation: <\/span><\/b>Volume
\n4 of an ongoing series that showcases the best of what Coventry offers.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 https:\/\/alternativesounds.bandcamp.com\/album\/alternative-sounds-volume-iii<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Re-issued
\nalbums<\/span><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Medicine Head \u2013
\nOld Bottles, New Medicine: <\/span><\/b>Fiftieth
\nanniversary release of Medicine Head’s debut album. Comes with unreleased tunes
\nand live material recorded at the Marquee Club.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

Brian Davidson \u2013
\nEvery Which Way: <\/span><\/b>A vastly
\nunder promoted album when first released. Now available on CD this is an
\nexcellent album by a band that received little recognition at the time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Crystalline \u2013
\nAxe Music: <\/span><\/b>One of those
\nlong lost albums revamped and produced onto CD-Rs by Steve Giles of Dark.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Classic 1970
\nAlbum – fully endorsed by Steve Gordon, drummer from AXE – which is now
\navailable again.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Live music<\/span><\/u><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Sadly live music
\nfor 2020 was decimated by the pandemic so not much to report on. What there was
\nof it though, particularly during the lockdown and restricted times, was a huge
\ntonic. Grateful thanks to those who led the way in pioneering these gigs and
\nwho had to jump many hurdles, following the ever changing rules, to ensure they
\nwere all run safely.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Pre Lockdown
\nGigs<\/span><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Glen Matlock and
\nEarl Slick \u2013 Robin 2, Bilston<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Kafkadiva \/ Andy
\nNixon \u2013 Duffy’s Bar, Leicester<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Post Lockdown
\nSocially Distanced Gigs<\/span><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Voodoo Kings \u2013
\nGatehouse Tavern<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Roddy Radiation
\n– Arches<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Blues2Go –
\nArches<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Stone Foundation
\n\u2013 Queens Hall, Nuneaton<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

On Line Gigs<\/span><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Bruce Soord \u2013 5
\nsessions<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Soft Machine \u2013 2
\nsessions<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Losses during
\n2020 included amongst many others……….<\/span><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

Neil Peart<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Kenny Rogers<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Bill Rieflin<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Neil Landon<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Bill Withers<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Little Richard<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Florian
\nSchneider<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Dave Greenfield<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Phil May<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Judy Dyble<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Peter Green<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Wayne Fontana<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Pete Way<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Lee Kerslake<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Johnny Nash<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Brian Locking<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Dave Munden<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Spencer Davis<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/b><\/div>\n



<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Charlie Pride<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Eddie Van Halen<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Leslie West<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

There are moments
\nin all lives when the world turns slightly on its axis, a death, a birth, a
\nshocking of the soul coming from nowhere to change the reality of the days .
\nAnd there is no going back. There is no returning to how it used to be.<\/span><\/p>\n

So we go forward
\ninto the unknown future, with no real understanding of how or why. But knowing
\nthat the universe has turned and changed forever \u2013 quote borrowed from Judy
\nDyble<\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  2020 – An Overview by Pete Clemons People do not need me reminding them that 2020 has had its extraordinary difficulties. And live music was especially hard hit. Clubs closed and tours cancelled. Will life ever go back to … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/coventrygigs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/148"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/coventrygigs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/coventrygigs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/coventrygigs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/coventrygigs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=148"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/coventrygigs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/148\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/coventrygigs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=148"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/coventrygigs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=148"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/coventrygigs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=148"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}