1. RIP Charlie Watts
To be clear, it's no brilliant thing that he's passed away, but his career and the music he helped make are completely wonderful. I saw him once stood outside Exeter St David’s Station looking more elegant than I have words to describe. I didn't go and say hello, I am not sure he would have appreciated that. But I stood and looked at him for ages - perfectly straight trousers, crisp shirt, grey Mac - he looked immaculate. He always looked like a gentleman, the classy riposte to Jagger’s prancing posing and to Keef’s ramshackle pirate. Sleep well Mr C R Watts.
Ⓒ Jill Furminovsky
2. Ode to Joy (well, the Blackheath Tea Hut)
Where did you go late at night
When your head was spinning, seeing lights?
Where did you go when you were feeling down?
When you’d crashed and burnt in The Crown?
Where did you end up when you were half cut?
You went of course to the Blackheath Tea Hut
Drivers, Bikers, cabbies, truckers
Coppers, pensioners, ravers off their nutter
All in need of sustenance
It was of course common sense
To stagger across the Heath half pissed
It was the stop not to be missed
Tea, coffee, burgers, bites
The big ones, the regulars, the cold delights
All sides of life filled their face
Happiness restored there with grace
Then it was taken suddenly in a crash
Our favourite stop gone in a flash
It was quickly destroyed, years of work
Accidentally wrecked by a berk with the Merc
But like flares, hoodies and disco tracks,
The Blackheath Tea Hut is back, Back, BACK!
When out on the piss, when your stomach growls,
You can wander across to join the night owls
Have a restoring cuppa and get fed
Before you toddle home back to bed
So thank you God for saving the day
The Blackheath Tea Hut is here to stay
3. Jungle
Loving the new Jungle album, Loving In Stereo. Lead single, The Go! Team-styled Keep Moving, was a pretty clear announcement for the album - it's business as usual electronic soul, with big choruses and lots of fun.
4. The Delays
Again far from brilliant, but very sad to hear that Greg Gilbert from The Delays is now in a hospice - wishing him all the best and thanking him for some truly beautiful music, especially this gem, Nearer Than Heaven, which sounds like Cocteau Twins meets The La's.
5. The Boo Radleys live
We got tickets to see The Boo Radleys at The MOTH Club in October - very excited to see them again - gigs are back, baby!
See you next week, stay safe, x