His live show with the full band is brilliant. He also spent about 30 minutes telling a bunch of stories from the road. If you ever get the chance to see him, do not miss out.

Preston on Thursday for me. Looking forward to the support act Y Niwl too. Welsh surf instrumentalists who should be good live.

They're supporting Friday too, along with another band I can't remember the name of. I'll get there early for them then. Cheers.

[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/us-news-blog/2012/apr/19/levon-helm-rememberedLevon Helm has sadly passed away[/url.

Have now. Thanks for the recommendation

And now [url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/apr/20/bert-weedon?INTCMP=SRCHBert Weedon has died[/url.

A true great. Sad day for me.

Spent a good hour last night learning Cripple Creek for the next open mic we go to.

The video of them with the Staples Singers doing the Weight, that is a musical consortium that just cannot met. Much like the whole of the Last Waltz (Ringo Starr finishing out of time on "I shall be released" aside).

A true great.

I can't make my mind up - it just freaked me out more than anything!

[url=http://i.imgur.com/XCuNs.jpgDidn't freak out these four[/url

All I can say about The Jim Jones Review... It was worth the wait. That is what rock and roll is about.

Exactly. 5 musicians who know how to [iperform[/i onstage. The energy is just brilliant, even though what they are doing has been done so many times before.

I don't know if you caught the 2nd support band (the surf band), I really liked the songs but they need to work on stage presence. It's difficult when you don't have any lyrics and it's instrumental but The Ventures never struggled. I despair sometimes, these kids have been given a great chance to promote themselves on a ten (??) date tour of the UK and they looked like they'd just crawled out of bed. Ditch the t-shirts, jeans and beanie hats, and put on a sharp suit!

Spot on... JJR know how to entertain, engaging the crowd, jumping about, gesticulating... proper stuff. And a six song encore? Nice one...
I caught the surf band, and was hoping for better. I'd rather have had Speedball Jr from Belgium, they're brilliant. Three blokes stood watching the drummer is not a stage act.
We also caught the opening act too 'And The Hangnails' who played authentic sounding 70s rock. They played it so well that my (70s rock loving) other half was stood there the whole time going 'but it's just a guitarist and a drummer'. They were very impressive.

Joe Pug's new album landed through the door today. I'd already heard it on Spotify about 6 weeks back, however, it is even better now.

And I was scared to take the plastic off because I didn't want to lose this sticker.

Got to agree with you - they were brilliant in Preston. I actually enjoyed [iY Niwl[/i a lot. I take what people are saying about stage presence but they just struck me as a bunch of shy lads. I was chatting to the guitarist whiolst buying a vinyl copy of the album and he just came across as unassuming and genuinely appreciative of my positive comments.

I went to see Luke Haines on Saturday and that was also great. He did all the songs from his album about '70s British Wrestling, some old favourites and readings from his latest book. Quite a treat as he doesn't really tour much. He finished really early so it gave me the opportunity to get over to another gig and see the excellent [iFolks[/i.

Next up is New Order on Friday.

Enjoying Frank from the Gallows new project "Pure Love." Not what you'd expect from him. But it's good.

Just heard it, it is bloody awful, he trying to be a pop star now?

I know what you mean, they are probably learning their craft still and might not have much experience onstage. The thing is, I really enjoyed listening to them and will be purchasing and downloading some songs, but if they toured again and played, say Leeds or Wakefield (where I live), then I wouldn't go see them as they don't put on a show, and I like to be entertained by bands. Talking to 5 friends who attended the gig, 2 of them didn't like the music anyway so we'll ignore them, but the remaining 3 said the same, they enjoyed the music but wouldn't watch them again. And I think that's a shame as it's very difficult for young bands to break through and I want to see them do well.

It's all a learning curve I guess-there is some footage of Jim Jones Revue's first ever gig on the internet somewhere, and they too looked a little unconfident and a bit uninspiring even though the music sounds ok.

BTW Jim Jones Revue are playing the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge on Friday 1st June. Not many tickets left.

Is it the house party gig? They'd done one rehearsal and were (according to JJ) pretty much making stuff up on the spot.

If you can get hold of the last issue of Scootering (leaving the shelves tomorrow!) there's a well written interview with him...

Have to say I'm blown away by the two tracks released so far from Beach House's new album [iBloom [/iwhich is coming out soon. Check out 'Myth' and 'Lazuli' on the band's official youtube - gorgeous stuff. If the rest of the album is anything as good it bodes very well indeed.

New gaslight anthem track. Yes. Just bloody yes.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17963855 www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17952383 RIP

www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17963855 www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17952383 RIP

Quote ="B0NES"www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17963855 www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17952383 RIP'" RIP. Some great songs by them. Sabotage a personal fave.

Quote ="B0NES"www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17963855 www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17952383 RIP'" RIP. Some great songs by them. Sabotage a personal fave.

It is a great song . The Skatalites made some great tunes too.

RIP MCA