Sat Feb 25th: 3 reasons why

1. LOUISE DISTRAS

 

2. ROUGHNECK RIOT

 

3. BEER

7pm. See you then.

SAT FEB 4th: Zapian, Duckworth, Special Agent Set, Cordell

Just a quick one folks. A sickeningly good gig this Sat.

Four superb melody driven punk bands for absolutely nish pounds.

Absolute bargain.

ZAPIAIN
amazingly good punk rock from Leeds on Bombed Out Records. Buy their album Jibberjabber, it's exactly what you need in your life.
http://zapiain.bandcamp.com/

SPECIAL AGENT SET
cracking pop punk from Bolton, Year one is another album that you need in your life.....now.
www.specialagentset.co.uk

DUCKWORTH
new energetic rock band from Bolton featuring ex members of The Emos, Postcards from Wakanda and Tall Trees.
www.thisisduckworth.com

CORDELL
new punk rock band from Leeds, the best description is awesome.
http://cordell.bandcamp.com/

And if that wasn't enough, the lovely Sam Cook (ex-The Living Daylights) will be opening the night up with an acoustic set!

Free in. No excuses.

8:30 - 9 - Sam Cook
9:15 - 9:45 - Cordell
10 - 10:30 - Duckworth
10:45 - 11:15 - Special Agent Set 
11:30 - 12 - Zapiain

SATURDAY JANUARY 28TH – Gigantes, Spitting Cobra, Neurosync, Undergrowth

Fantastic news! I’ve got a cold.

OK, that’s not fantastic news but it is news. Factual. Facts.

Another fact is we’ve got an awesome gig this Saturday coming. A good old fashioned Dog and Partridge mish-mash.

First up is Undergrowth. A Dog Debut. A heavy rock band formed over a beer. Sounds perfect. Sounds?:



Next is local lot Neurosync for their first appearance within the hallowed walls. Formed early 2005 as a Jayson Franks solo project. Perhaps ‘formed’ is the wrong word. After a few musicians failed to cut the muster the band have a settled line up and are currently working on a second album. Check out the live cut of ‘So?’ below:

The next band have a e.p. called 'Angel Tits'. Yes! Guitar and laptop combo Spitting Cobra fuck together elements of noise, psych, electronica, lo-fi and post-rock. Aparently. In fact (back to facts again) they do! How do I know? I’ve listened with my ears. You should too:

Gigantes are from Liverpool but don’t hold that against them (fnar). Two synths, one drum kit. Capeesh? No? Awesome proggy, doomy goodness featuring members of Kling Klang and Black Octagon. Yes? Good. More aural fodder for you:   Moonboots by GIGANTES

Usual drill. Free in from 7pm. First band on around 2130 and DJ's til fucking late.

I'm off to blow my nose.

Do you like the Kinks?

I've only just opened my eyes since Chrismtas/New Year. How was it for you?

Good.

You're probably wondering why I'm asking whether you like wonderful 60s pop band the Kinks aren't you? Well I'm about to explain with a bit of writing.....after these videos

Last year Neuron No! joined up with Minions guitarist/Total Victory drummer James Ellams to perform classic Queen tracks. It was an absolute blast (click vid below). 

 

Off the back of this the NN! boys have decided to take on most of the back catalogue of their fav band, you guessed it, the Kinks.

1 hour of pure pop bliss followed by Boardy (from TRASH) and Dan Brookes (Total Victory) DJing until the very early.

Welcome back, happy new year.

Ash Mandrake, Second Hand Wings, Injun Joe, Sarah Dixon

Friday December 17^th. Christmas well on the way. Its cold, its dark. How depressing!

Don’t fret though people we’ve got an antidote in the form of a gig to warm those cockles, get smiles back on faces and to set you up for those lovely – and not at all stressful (!) – festive holidays.

Sarah Dixon first visit to the Dog. Managed by our mate Dave Nailor at 1000watt, Sarah’s is a real find with a stunning voice. Songs about running away, falling in love and having your heart torn from its seams – not as grim as it sounds. Check her out:  

Too Much to Ask by Sarah Dixon

Hats, Vikings, seagulls! No, this isn’t the worst game of word association you’ve ever heard, these are all words close to Ash Madrake’s heart. Musician and milliner Ash flips open the top of his head (metaphorically) and spews forth visions and tales from his alternative universe.

Home made instrumentation, crowd participation, excitement for hat fans across the nation. Marvellously bonkers, absolutely unmissable. Not have a fucking clue what I’m on about, check this video:

The Dogs Sunday acoustic nights are the stuff of legend - people coming from far and wide with acoustics in hand playing tunes, telling stories and sharing a beer. Every so often a new face appears and blows everyone away (metaphorically). Injun Joe was one such artist. Travelling over from Leeds college and playing music so heartbreaking fragile three people rang me up holding up their phones to the PA to let me hear. “You have to book him.” – Neil Piper

So we did, and here’s his stuff:

Mama Tin Spoon by Injun Joe

You all must know Second Hand Wings. After a brilliant performance at this years Dogsotck it’s a real pleasure to get em back to their ‘beautifully presented folky pop songs.’ A fitting end to a great night:

Happy Lancashire Day

For all you Lancs lads and lasses here's the Chris Evans Collective with their self styled national anthem of Lancashire, 'Hearts Of Lancashire'

Happy red rose day all!

The 9th year

THE DOG WITH 9 LIVES (NEIL AND TERRY ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL), THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AT THE DOG! DETAILS RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS LONG LONG POST.

Have you read ‘The Dice Man’? No? A guy takes decision making away from logic and reason and puts it wholly in the hands of chance – in this case the roll of a dice.

Funny that.

I wouldn’t say that things were running smoothly when Angus’ business partner screwed him over but the Dog always has had a habit of limping along when other lesser establishments would, and have, laid down and died. Things really weren’t running very smoothly though and, lets be honest, after Mr Crompton was “dropped in it” the general consensus was that was that.

Neil Piper had previous at the Railway in Bromley Cross. He’d been running the bar at the Dog for 18 months when all this was occurring and had grown to like the shabby little bar and its regulars - he wasn’t prepared to see it close. Terry Fletcher agreed. T was prepared to stump up a fair wedge of cash to put towards buying the pub. But this is a big step. Should they go through with it?

Weeks of deep thought and soul searching were going to be avoided by taking their decision out of their hands. The future of the Dog and Partridge would be decided at the toss of a coin.

Heads was the call and Neil and Terry bought the pub the next day.

Funny that.

It’s been quite a ride.

If you went back in time to the Dog in '02/'03 it’d be familiar but not familiar at all. Always different, always the same. The pool table is a thing of the past, the pub is no longer a hot box of smoke and the yard is, well, inhabitable.

Ah the yard! Seven blokes, most with cigs pointing out of corner of mouths, trying so desperately hard to push a caravan up the incline and out onto the street. I wish someone would have filmed it. Come to think of it, there was a fridge out there too! Along with some remnants of some long forgotten Dogstock. What was a jungle has now been transformed into Bolton’s only purpose built outdoor live music space. And what a time it’s had! The Get Up Kids, Leatherface, some blinding SGG nights, Ginger Wildheart – some memories that’ll last for years. However please remember: ‘Don’t Be A Dick’

Of course it’s not only huge headline acts that grace the place. The Dog has always been a big supporter of local bands and local talent in general. It’s something that isn’t forgotten by the bands themselves with many who tour and charge large sums to play regularly returning to play i) usually for free and ii) at the drop of a hat (and hats get dropped let me tell you).

One of the biggest boosts the local music scene happened with the advent of the Bolton Music Collective which had it first meeting in a smoke filled back room of the pub in late 2003. Most Bolton bands, local music luminaries and an assortment of hanger-oners and weirdos were in the same room for the first time. Regular meetings were held, attendances grew, bank account/left handed cheque book was achieved and in no time gigs were being played everywhere around the town. This sudden surge woke the council up and with Paul ‘Yarkie’ Dean at the helm the first Bolton Music showcase was held at the Albert Hall in the summer of 2004. The success of this was repeated again in ’05 with 2006 seeing Leverhulme Park seeing some action. 

Over time the force of the BMC waned, the legendary BMC forum (geniouse) started to gather dust and smell a bit but the ‘damage’ was done – the music scene was brought together and the music scene was vibrant with the Dog, as it started, at the centre of it all.  

The natural replacement of the Bolton Music Showcase events has been Dogstock.

Dogstock predated the showcase and existed before Neil and Terry took the place over. Over the last few years it has REALLY flourished. The now 3 day fest takes pride of place around the second bank holiday in May. Over 700 people attended this years event making it one of the busiest and sort after mini festivals in the North West.

 But the stress! Frantic last minute meetings, bands dropping out at the last minute, “Where’s the fucking beer order?”, late night phone calls, fears that NOBODY will come, “Never EVER again”. It is, of course, always worth it.

When the bands aren’t playing we’re very lucky to have some a set of brilliant DJs to spin tunes that drag you up dancing. TRASH and Badvibes have been going from the early to mid 2000s with Liam, Fish, James and Kris joining after that. The music policy is varied and pretty much anything goes. But not everything as a few have found out to their cost. It happens very rarely but if Neil doesn’t like what’s ‘now playing’ he’ll pretty much go to every length to stop it. Welcome to Piper country. He is the law.

Two such examples: i) Daniel Brookes playing some tunes for the first time at the Dog. He sticks on a bit of Justin Timberlake. The next minute we’re plunged into darkness as Neil has cut the power at the fusebox. Power returns when an agreement has been struck that the offending song will not continue to be played.

ii) Ivan decides to chance his arm and stick on the latest Girls Aloud. The CD promptly is wrestled from the tray, taken into the kitchen and put in the microwave for 2 minutes.

There’s SO much more but I’m becoming aware that I’m going on. There’s not time to mention Robbo’s quizzes. I won a minute behind the bar which was unfortunately cut short as I went straight for the till. No mention of the Saturday afternoon club although Guy’s ‘films’ do shed some light on this. 

No mention of the rotation of lodgers (Kim, Whitter, Si, JC Crilly, Warman and the ever present Biggs). Indeed no mention of the wonderful barstaff who have put up with our drunken demands over this near decade. Ah well. Whatever memories you have put below or keep to yourself. I’m gonna sign off with a bit of write up I did of the Neil and Terry’s 2^nd year anniversary that I found on a livejournal somewhere. It’ll probably take some deciphering.

“So it goes - sure it went

Neil and t at the dog celebrated the 2nd anniversary in fine style. Yeah illegally putting on bands prolly not much of a clever move (beautiful sentence construction) but it sure was a fun one.

It really was back to the old school. Playing in a pub (something we hardly ever do now) to a bunch of mates who, to be honest didn’t give a shit whether we were good bad or ugly. Usually all three……

We sidled into the d and p at 7. Just me and kim and lisa. that’s when I got my first Guinness.

Yes, my first of what was not to be my last.

I remember counting how many, a sure sign that you have had too many, when we hit 8. At this point the rest of the band were dribbing and drabbing in. the doors were to be locked at 9, keeping the mass in the pub and the stray and unfortunates well away. Usually at this point on a gig night talk would be of monitor levels and sound checkery non sense. Tonight though, this was pure in your face music. As raw as electrics can get. From the twatting arms of the guitarist through his choice of plank to the amp to your bleeding ears.

So the newds were first up. See em a coupla, but never really, um, listened. Should of done though. Finely crafted songs played to you will no frills. Top shit. Banged my head dancing though. Bastards! The sound clash continued with, and I use this term with added relish, metal titans displacement who really did blow a lot of people away that night. No the kinda stuff I’d listen too anymore but were immense (a compliment displacement axe wielder colin would latch onto us later that night). Fucking foisted upon us like a diet of molten lava and iron filings. More beer please. It still felt like a night out, well right up until the point some said that I should be onstage.

Playing a minions set these days can be a bit karaoke but considering I was concentrating on how to stay upright rather than on how to stay in tune and the innumerable other bollocks thought I have whilst spewing forth this ska filth, this was always gonna be much more that just another re-run.

I’ll level with you, I can’t really remember much, just a select few memories. Debuting two incredibly under rehearsed unfinished new songs (the witchdoctor rocked though), trying desperately in my addled state to dedicate something to neil and t and the fact that me ste tom and kim ended up playing ‘it came from the ska’ in the crowd. Fucking loved it. Brill.

Chillin out afterwards was bliss. Playing in your favourite drinking est. always makes that easier. We shared a coupla smokes upstairs with rose, biggs and neil and kimmy and I staggered home. I feel like shit but in a good way. Yes it is possible. Tonight, or yesterday should I say, made it possible.

Neil and terry, you knew anyways, but we salute you. Here’s to many more years doing bigger and better things. Oh yes.

M x”

Here’s to ten more years eh? We can but hope.

Oh shit! I’ve forgot to mention anything about the gig! Erm yeah. I’ll give you one line then a load of links: THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST GIG LINE UPS OF THE YEAR. There.

FRIDAY

The Minions

Neuron No!

Pancho Ballard and the Banditos

SATURDAY

The Kiss Off

 Kings of the Delmar

To The Bones

How good is that!? Free in too!

Cheers Neil and Terry and I’ll see you Friday.