The Dials at What's Cookin'

Birkbeck Tavern, 45 Langthorne Road, London, E11 4HL
http://www.whatscookin.co.uk/wchome.html

I had read that The Dials' sound is psychedelic country rock, influenced by The Byrds and Barrett era Pink Floyd. It all sounded very promising and they certainly lived up to expectations, at times on the more keyboardy numbers they also have that fairground sound of early Madness and Inspiral Carpets. If this all sounds a bit retro it is I guess, but they made a fantastic sound, a very enjoyable evening.

http://www.thedials.co.uk/home/

The Snakes; What's Cookin' Birkbeck Tavern, Leyton, E11

The Snakes are a bit rocky and a bit country, inspired by The Rolling Stones when they were in their country inspired period. This show was the last with drummer Dan who is apparently off to live in Copenhagen and get a proper job unfortunately and therefore became a celebration involving an extended & raucous encore. Great fun from a great band, get out and see them live if you can & buy their music - http://the-snakes.com/

The Lucky Strikes - Whats Cookin', Birkbeck Taven, E11

The Lucky Strikes play country rock with some blues thrown in for good measure. Featuring, at various times, fiddle, banjo, piano, acordian as well as the usual guitar/bass/drums they whipped up a storm in the intimate music room upstairs at the Birkbeck Tavern. A great live band.

Nirvana - Nevermind‏

Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of the release of Nirvana's seminal album Nevermind (if this was an episode of Inbetweeners I'd say that it is always referred to as seminal because so many young men gush over it but this is a family show so we'll move on). Highly influential, it is largely credited with the quiet then loud style that became very popular with lots of bands in the 1990's. Personally I think it's a great album but that it falls away a little after the first five or so songs.


The really worrying thing is that it doesn't seem that long since it came out. I remember the fuss made over Sgt Pepper's 20th anniversary back in the 1980's but that didn't worry me back then as 20 years seemed such a long time, indeed it was a lifetime. Nevermind is different; I recall its appearance as if it was only a short time ago and that is a bit depressing - pass me my shotgun Courtney!

What's Cookin' 4th Leytonstone Festival Sunday Picnic

The Fabulous Penterators / The Hightown Crows / The Curst Sons /
Benjamin Folke Thomas Band / Simon James Onions / Graham Larbey &
The Escape Committee / Texas Tea / The Lucky Strikes / The Dog Roses

Henry Reynolds Gardens in Leytonstone, E11 was once again the venue for the annual What's Cookin' picnic, which forms part of the Letonstone Festival. It was a lovely afternoon and the music was of the usual high standard. Highlights included The Fabulous Penterators who topped the bill and rounded of the day with rock n roll that got the audience dancing. The Dog Roses who are becoming big WC favourites with their bluegrass, Texas Tea a deut from Brisbane, the female singer had a good country voice although I preferred their more uptempo songs to the slower ones and my personal favourites The Lucky Strikes who have lost their singer and gained a banjo and fiddle player since I last saw them at WC. They were good before but I have to say I think they have got better, the bassist who has taken on vocal duties is good and the banjo/bass have given the band a more rootsier sounds and the songs more depth.

The large crowd suggests that the WC picnic has progressed from an event attended by locals to one that
people travel to from miles around. With the announcement, reported in yesterday's blog, that WC will no longer be based at the North Star pub we can only hope that another venue will be found near by and that the 5th annual picnic takes place next year.

What's Cookin' leaves North Star

What's Cookin', the Americana music club, has left the North Star pub in Leytonstone, its base for the last year. Here is Ramblin Steve's mailout : OK, a bit of news. This week will see our last shows at the North Star. So catch us while ya can! ... And then thats it for What's Cookin' for the foreseeable future. We do hope to have have 'What's Kickin'...Vol.5' out around September, and I think we'll find somewhere nice to do a release show for that. And tell ya what, Vol.5 is an absolute solid gold cracker, yer gonna love it... Have a good summer everyone!

http://www.whatscookin.co.uk/wchome.html

What's Cookin' Leytonstone Festival Picnic - Sunday 24th July

Henry Reynolds Gardens, Bush Road E11 1.00 to 8.00pm

The Fabulous Pentrators / The Hightown Crows / The Curst Sons / Benjamin Folke Thomas Band / Simon James Onions / Graham Larbey & The Escape Committee / Texas Tea / The Lucky Strikes / The Dog Roses

Real ales, beer & BBQ provided by the North Star pub. DJ's.

http://www.whatscookin.co.uk/wchome.html

What’s Cookin’- Leytonstone Festival

Thurs 14th July, The Dirty Beggars

The Dirty Beggars are from Central Scotland but play bluegrass.  Comprising of guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, harmonica and double bass, the band have an album coming out in Summer 2011 and on this evidence it is highly recommended that you buy it because this was right up there with the best shows seen at WC .

Sun 17th July, Suitcase

Suitcase is from New York and with his gruff vocals over fuzztone guitar plays the most incredible blues. This was another amazing WC show.

http://www.whatscookin.co.uk/wchome.html

Southern Tenant Folk Union Album Launch – What’s Cookin’

To Leytonstone’s legendary What’s Cookin’ club at the North Star pub for the launch of Southern Tenant Folk Union’s new album. Unfortunately we missed the support acts Deer Park, Ghost Town Showdown  and Paul Handyside as we were on our way back from a visit to the RSPB nature reserve at Fowlmere near Cambridge (a lovely, peaceful place if you enjoy that sort of thing).

The STFU are an Edinburgh based septet with a wide range of musical styles and influences. With mandolin, double bass, harmonica, banjo, fiddle and guitars the celtic influenced folk and bluegrass songs went down a storm with the appreciative audience, especially impressive were ‘The Rights and Interests of the Laboring Man’ and ‘The Tide’. With time running out What’s Cookin’ main man Ramblin’ Steve led the band and audience outside for an encore that was performed on one of the picnic benches at the front of the pub.

On first play the album, titled Pencaitland, sounds pretty damn good as well.

Whats' Cookin' - East London Music - North Star

"East London" sometimes I hear called souless, not to mention Leytonstone Village....Where is that?

Well every Thursday the backwater erstwhile known as Leytsonstone Village comes alive to the rythmic beats of music. Yes, indeed some you will like and some you will not be sure about, one thing is sure your pulse will be racing as you sample the hidden delights of this backwater of fun.

So for those who have not sampled this (It must be one of the 100 things in East London to do before you die!) you will have to visit and sample the delights for yourself....shhh don't tell all, argh alright then do bring your mates.

http://www.whatscookin.co.uk/wchome.html

RLJ

REM - Automatic for the People

Listening to Automatic for the People tonight for the first time in years (Man on the Moon is a great song, and film come to that) it occured to me that REM are one of the few bands that have managed to make more than two decent albums. Innovation and freshness are generally more important than ability in popular music and most bands have run out of fresh ideas by their third album. There are, of course, some notable exceptions alongside REM, the Beatles and Rolling Stones come to mind, but on the whole you can safely bin a band after they have made their second album (and often after one to be honest).