Brighton Mod Weekender 2013

New Untouchables Brighton Mod Weekender is traditionally a high point of my summer. Especially since Brighton's own (once great) Mod/Psych scene went from being rubbish to being virtually non-existent in the last 2-3 years.  This will be my last ever summer in Brighton, therefore I was determined to enjoy NUTs weekender even more than usual.

As regular readers of this blog probably know, it is not the 'Mod' part that I love the most about those weekenders. Having literally no interest in scooters, I usually skip daytime events at the seafront. In  the evenings, not being a fan of soul music, I hardly ever pop in to the main room at Komedia, which is usually full of ageing blokes with Paul Weller haircuts. No, to me, the back room at the Studio Bar at Komedia is where the action is - a place where on Saturday and Sunday you can hear some of the best 60's Freakbeat, Garage and Psychedelia.

I always talk about NUTs events with a mixture of love and hate. I love dancing to my favourite obscure Psych tracks in clubs. Moustrap (Fuzz For Freaks) in London - bi-monthly clubnight organised by NUTs is the best 60's psych night in the country and I discovered some of my favourite tracks there. But, every now and then, I find some things about NUTs slightly annoying, like for example, unnecessarily strict djing rules - original 60's 7-inches only and no re-issues/compilations allowed. Ok, I understand why they wouldn't want dj's to use LP's - there is a discernible difference in sound (although I wouldn't say it sounds worse, but maybe it's just me). But why no re-issues? Does it really take away so much authenticity? DJ's are also afraid of playing too obvious or too popular tracks. They don't seem to understand that expensive and rare does not equal the best. Or even good for that matter. Also, having seen some of the dj's multiple times before, I can say that the sets of some of them have become a little too predictable - every time I see them they play the same records. Of course, if you only buy 7-inches priced £500+, how many new records per year are you gonna get? Not too many probably.... But then again maybe I am not the best person to talk about these things. You see, I belong to a very rare breed - passionate 60's music fan NOT interested in vinyl. I don't mind it, but I never saw it as a superior format. If dj's at The Mousetrap were playing the same tracks they always play, but from their Ipod's instead of vinyl, I'd still come. I love the tune, not the format (I'll probably get banned for saying this, though).

Anyway, on Brighton weekenders, Sundays are traditionally the best for psychedelia. This year, I would say it was Saturday. Sunday turned out to be a bit of an anticlimax. Still, I had a great time that weekend, and I certainly encourage anybody who's into Psych/Garage and, most of all, Soul to come and check out Brighton Mod Weekender in 2014.

I stopped taking photos on my nights out long time ago, so here, I am using some from New Untouchables website. The photos were all taken by Carlo Sesto.

 That's me on the right..

I'll end with some photos of my now ex-girlfriend in her amazing original Biba dress..

Also, I heard this great tune for the first time at this year's weekender - 'Kicks And Chicks' by The Zipps - I've been listening to it on repeat ever since..

New Untouchables NYE Party

Here are some photos  I took at the New Untouchables NYE party at 229 in London. When I go to NUTS, taking photos is never a big priority, which should explain why my photos are low in number and poor in quality. They should however, give you a general idea of how much effort NUTS regulars put to recreate various 60's fashions. Among hundreds of Mods in sharp suits, I spotted quite a few people dressed in psychedelic/peacock style.

This double breasted jacket is from Pretty Green - Liam Gallagher's boutique. It will set you back a considerable £540. 

The clubnight was traditionally divided between 3 rooms: Beat/Psych room (where we spent most of the evening), Northern Soul room and Skinhead/Ska room. The rooms were not synchronized as far as time was concerned, which gave us a rare opportunity of witnessing two New Year countdowns - first in beat room and then in soul room. Apart from top dj's of London Mod scene, the other attraction of the evening was a tribute band to The Small Faces called The Small Fakers who performed Small Faces' classic 1968 album 'Odgen's Nut Gone Flake' in its entirety, as well as a few hit singles such as 'Whatcha Gonna Do About It' or 'Tin Soldier'.

The Small Fakers

Although it was a great evening, I, personally left the venue feeling slightly 'unfulfilled'. In spite of having quite a good knowledge of sixties psych/garage music, throughout the six or seven hours I spent there, I have only heard about six songs I actually knew. Despite being used to the fact that at NUTS dj's often compete with each other to see who will play the rarest and the most obscure records, I find it slightly irritating, that they treat their dj sets solely as an opportunity of 'displaying' their expensive record collections. They seem to forget that people come to those clubnights to dance, not to admire taste and musical knowledge of the dj's. I quietly hoped that on NYE, the 'obscure stuff only' rule would be loosen up a little, but clearly I was wrong. I did not expect to hear Beatles or Stones, not even The Seeds or Electric Prunes, but surely throwing 'I Cannot Stop You' by Cherry Slush, or 'A Question of Temperature' by Balloon Farm (which I heard on past NUTS nights)  wouldn't destroy dj's credibility.I realize of course, that the dj's (most of whom had been on the 'scene' for decades) might be bored of playing certain songs,but after all, djing is not always about playing songs YOU want to play. Sometimes you have to play a song you hate, or are bored of. I feel strongly about it, because, as a 60's Psych/Garage obsessive, I rarely have opportunity of hearing my favorite songs in the club. And I think the fact that I spent money on the ticket and travelled all the way from Brighton gives me a right to complain.

Despite all this, I am sure I will be coming to the future NUTS clubnights, and I encourage any other 60's obsessive to do the same (after all, my criticisms are based on my personal taste). I certainly look forward to their Easter event on the the 6th of April when they are putting on The Pretty Things, Crazy World of Arthur Brown and recently reformed July. This amazing line-up will be followed by all-night psychedelic freakout inspired by legendary UFO events at Roundhouse in 1967. 

      

King's Road Today

Here are some photos my girlfriend and myself recently took on King's Road. Unfortunately, these days, it looks just like any other street in London - full of high street shops and soulless gastro pubs.As we were walking around, we were trying to imagine how amazing this place it once must have been....

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Michael Chaplin and Nigel Weymouth outside Granny Takes a Trip (488 King's Road) in 1966.

Yours truly, same place, November 2011

Granny Takes a Trip, 1967

Granny takes a Trip, 1968

 Granny's former location, November 2011. If my girlfriend had been there in 1968, she would have blended into the yellow background.

At present, 488 King's Road is a home to a bespoke Italian chandelier shop.

Freddie Hornick and Alan Holston outside Dandie Fashions (161 King's Road) in 1967.

Me on 161 King's Road, November 2011. Now it is a location of lovely, small photo gallery. The subject of their current exhibition is Andy Warhol, Edie Sedgwick and The Factory in 1960's.

Still from the film "Blow-Up", 1966. David Hemmings goes to meet his agent a restaurant on Blacklands Terrace, off King's Road.

Same place today. The building had acquired few windows and extra floor, but it's still a restaurant.

Still from "Blow Up" (1966) - Dedicated Followers of Fashion on Culford Gardens, off King's Road.

Dedicated follower of 60's fashion in the same place, November 2011.

Ok, this has nothing to do with King's Road, but since I'm posting photos of myself I might as well include photos of  me and my girlfriend taken during NUTs Brighton Mod Weekender in August by photographer Kim Tonelli.

The Action - In The Lap Of The Mods

Some time ago, I picked up this flyer in Brighton Mod clothing shop called Jump The Gun. It announces that a book about 1960's Mod heroes The Action, titled In The Lap Of The Mods will be published in early 2012. The book  will contain plenty of unseen photos, interviews, limited edition 7'' and foreword by one-time producer of The Action - Sir George Martin. The flyer provides us with a link to a website, where we can find out more about the book. So, I thought it would be a good opportunity to do a post about this extremely sharp-looking band.

Apart from Small Faces, The Action were probably the best looking Mod band in London in 1960's. Their style was the most perfect example of what Mod style was originally about - a subtle, understated elegance, tailored suits, fitted button down shirts and sweaters with geometrical patterns (but without flashy Op and Pop Art craziness which was a trademark of The Who).

Musically, The Action failed to make an impression outside the Mod community, and unlike Small Faces or The Who , they never made it to the charts, despite the support of a big label or the fact that they shared a producer with The Beatles (George Martin produced the group briefly in 1966).

The Action in Jackie magazine, 1966

The group formed in 1963 in Kentish Town, North London, by the group of school friends Reg King (vocals), Roger Powell (drums), Mike Evans (bass) and Alan King (lead guitar). Initially they were called The Boys. Under this name they performed in Mod clubs, and on few occasions , they supported The High Numbers (Which is how The Who were called in summer 1964).

The Boys review,  1964 

In late 1964, The Boys were joined by rhythm guitarist Peter Watson, and changed their name to much more Mod-sounding  The Action.

Most of The Action's repertoire consisted of covers of obscure American soul songs. Perhaps the fact that they did not write many of their own songs was a reason behind their failure to make it in the charts. Their cover versions, however, were fresh and innovative, in some cases better than originals (for example, their version of "I'll Keep On Holding On" in my modest opinion, beats the original by The Marvelettes). They were also a great live band and their shows in London clubs such as The Marquee, were legendary for their incredible atmosphere. It allowed The Action to become the darlings of London Mod scene between 1965 and 1966. They were receiving a big amount of press attention.

Article about The Action sets at Marquee in Rave magazine, circa 1965.

Extremely sharp-looking Mike Evans, right, modeling suits, 1965. This, my dear readers, is how Mod should look like.  

Trivia on Roger Powell, 1965.

Trivia on Reg King, 1965.

A press ad for 1966 single "Baby You've Got It", produced by George Martin. This ad is probably better than the actual song.

Ad for another single, "Never Ever", 1966. Like everything else, it failed to set charts on fire...

With the demise of Mod movement at the end of 1966, the popularity of the group had faded. At the time, a lot of ex-mod bands - Small Faces, The Who, The Creation or The Pretty Things made a successful ventures into psychedelia. The Action also made an attempt at psychedelia, although a rather clumsy one. Their songs from that period, such as "Love Is All" (1967) show how uncomfortable they were trying to copy the sounds of West Coast.

The Action during their psychedelic period, 1967. They still looked great. Reg King's jacket looks like it might have been from Hung On You.

The Action split up in mid-1967. Some of the members went on to form hippie-prog band called Mighty Baby - but that is another story. The Action's story does not end there, though. During late 1970's Mod revival, a lot of bands, most notably The Jam, were quoting The Action as their biggest influence. Paul Weller wrote sleevenotes for their compilation LP "Ultimate Action". The interest in the band grew, and finally, in 1998,  The Action were hounded out of retirement by Rob Bailey - a promotor behind Mod clubnight New Untouchables. They played a comeback gig in Kentish Town Dome which attracted more famous faces. As Mojo magazine wrote in the review: Liam Gallagher (Ok,that makes sense) and Robbie Williams (What the hell was he doing there!?Perhaps he was looking for different sort of action?) stood in line for autographs, as did their number one fan...Phil Collins. "I went to see every gig (The Action played) at The Marquee", recalls the one-time Genesis sticksman. "It was the way Reg sang, the way Roger played, the harmonies by Peter , Alan and Mike on bass. Everything was so hip. I look at Roger and I realize how much of that went into my style. The most pathetic example was buying a jacket that was like Roger's. He wore this fantastically hip Mod nylon jacket, which I finally found and wore to death, before my mum put it in the washing machine and ruined it" (Mojo, issue 82, September 2000). Phil Collins joined The Action on drums during another reunion gig at 100 Club in 2000. He also financed the documentary film "In The Lap Of The Mods", which contains footage from both reunion gigs as well as some archive material.

The book at the same title which was a part of the project never materialized. Well, until now, that is (or should I say until early 2012). Phil Collins does not seem to be involved  this time. About being an inspiration for young Phil Collins, Roger Powell said: It's funny when you think The Action are pretty much responsible for Genesis (Actually Roger, It's not funny at all). The Action played one more reunion gig  - in 2004 at Modstock - a three day event organized by New Untouchables to commemorate 40 years of Mod Subculture. They shared a bill with other 60's mod/psych heroes - The Creation and The Pretty Things - who also reformed for that occasion.

It turned out to be  the last ever gig of The Action. Sadly , in 2010, both Reg King and Mike Evans passed away. 

In The Lap Of The Mods should make an interesting read, and I'll definitely try to purchase a copy (unless of course, the price will be too extortionate, like it often happens with limited edition books).

For more information about The Action visit www.action-mightybaby.com.

Read interviews with Pete Watson, Reg King and Mike Evans at Monkey Picks blog. 

Also check out Punks in Parkas - I have borrowed some images from this site. Back in the day (that is, before YouTube, tumblr, blogspot etc.) it used to be the most reliable source about Mod Subculture on the internet.

 And here's The Action performing "I'll Keep On Holding On" on TV show Ready! Steady! Go! in 1966

   

  

  

Brighton Mod Weekender

My lovely hometown, Brighton, has always been strongly associated with Mod subculture (well, at least since 1964 - a year of famous Mods vs.Rockers clashes during May Bank holiday weekend). It is only appropriate that New Untouchables - a promotion company from London specializing in Mod/Soul/Psych clubnights, chose Brighton for their Mod weekender - a 3 day event which usually includes clubnights, gigs, record fair, vintage clothing fair and an exhibition. Since 2006, every August Bank holiday, the Mods from all over the country come to Brighton to dance to their favorite music, show off their suits, scooters, etc. This community of 1960's obsessives  recently had been a subject of the photo book by Horst A. Friedrichs titled I'm One - 21st Century Mods. It is a good account of a contemporary Mod/Psych scene focused around New Untouchables and other London clubnights such as Mousetrap.

This year's weekender was the first one ever to sell out, which can only mean that the popularity of the scene is growing. Daytime events at the Volks - popular seafront venue in Brighton, consisted of mini vintage clothing fair, and live performances by  60's Garage revival bands such as  Thee Vicars and The Higher State. The evening events at the Komedia saw top 60's scene dj's spinning their precious vinyl records. In theory , the two rooms of the Komedia were supposed to be Psychedelic/Garage room and Northern Soul room. However, the Psych room usually was turning into second Northern Soul room after about 2 hours. I would say that about 75% of music played  during those 3 days was Northern Soul. Which, in my modest opinion, is a bit unfair to the Psych/ Garage fans such as myself. My Other criticism would again concern certain dj's and their annoying tendency of talking over the microphone between  songs. When you are feeling all excited by hearing your favorite obscure soul/psych/garage song in the club, you just want a dj to play the next number - not give you a 45 second - long history of the band that recorded the song.

Typical 60's Mod look - in the best tradition of Steve Marriott

And Clothes? Well, what can I say? I was very impressed by the ladies. Be it Mary Quant look, Grace Slick look or space-age Barbarella-style look, the female part of the crowd got it right to the last detail. Looking at the ladies, you could really feel like you stepped into 1967 or 1968.
I was slightly less impressed by men. Unfortunately, the majority of them were middle-aged Paul Weller lookalikes. Not to say, that they did not make an effort - some of them were dressed in the most amazing tailor-made suits, but they tended to look more like late 1970's revivalists, rather than original 1960's Mods. Perhaps , it is just my personal taste - I absolutely loathe late 70's/80's mod revival and all its crimes - bad haircuts ( the combination of short fringe, spiked top and long-ish back), checkered shoes, target t-shirts and dreadful bands such as The Lambrettas or the Purple Hearts.
I am also not suggesting that there weren't any young people there - there was plenty of them, and it is great to see that 1960's music and fashion continues to acquire so many young enthusiasts. I myself had a great weekend,  and I encourage anybody who is passionate  about 1960's music and fashion to come to future New Untouchables events.
I took some photos, but unfortunately they do not do justice to the clubnight. Most of them turned out to be unusable.It is hard to have a good time and take good photos at the same time.

One of the few passable photos. Me and my girlfriend in our psychedelic attires.

For better photos and  information about future events, visit www.newuntouchables.com