DIARY 21/05/10
Missed a day of rehearsals for The Ivors. The idea of doing so was a stress. But I like that awards very much. I was, for the third time (9th time on jury) chairman of the jury working on Best Song Musically & Lyrically. I think I’ve posted before on that. I am a songwriter, a musician, the proverbial wandering minstrel, and so committee stuff is not really my stuff. Juries not really for me. We do what we do, we move into this demimonde, onto this extracurricular plane, in order to get away from the real world. Makes us sad? Inadequate? Insecure? I expect all those and more are true. But those involved in the travelling-constantly world normally don’t care. I don’t care.
I care that a lady from MOJO mag has been (almost entirely) kind about my latest work. It has restored confidence just a gnat’s away from the start of a big tour.
Knowledge, now, recently acquired, that the critic who tore apart my very raison-d’etre (not just the record) was a man who has held a deep revulsion of all things me for the past 14 years, has come as a great relief. I hinted before that I once employed him as a “publicist” when he had then recently joined a PR firm specialising in the music business. He was recommended. He took The Harley Shilling. He was hard up. He was also useless. Had no idea how to present a new album to the British press, or how to handle a person like me, and all that meant. He was 30-something and I was me, in 1996. He was a helpless case. My manager called the firm he worked for and suggested they might replace him with someone even slightly more in touch with someone like me and my work (Poetic Justice CD at that time). In essence, the useless struggler was sacked. He never forgot it.
I am very happy to record this, as this knowledge, and I pass it on very happily now, completely negates his wildly, hysterically personal, negative review of Stranger Comes To Town. His subjective diatribe can’t really hold water, if you think about it. Why they gave him the album to “review objectively” is beyond my comprehension – unless....no, don’t go there. Get the idea, the way these people work?
Now you know: you can’t believe it’s true, just because it’s in the papers.
I wonder, is he a fan of rock music, and was he a fan of Gene Hunt and his fun Ashes To Ashes cronies? Those in Purgatory will ache. It must be a tough life in there.
I leave at dawn for a flight to Dublin. Friends for dinner. Gather the senses and prepare. Prepare to play concerts crowded with new songs and old additions seldom played. I wish I had stayed for that missing day at rehearsals, but I was chairman of that jury and Lily Allen had written the most moving lyric in a generation with The Fear. She had to win that category. Listen to it, Google the lyric. When you’ve read it a few times and got a grip, tell me it is not magnificent. It is My Generation for her generation. A masterpiece. I have written an album full of metaphor and allegory and poetry which I know will be difficult for some. But it is mine. And when I told Lily yesterday at The Ivors how deeply I was touched by her phenomenal observations of young womanhood, she cried. I cried, ever so distantly and privately, too. My daughter, who introduced me to Lily’s work, was with us, and asked for a photo. Lily was still crying and thanking us. What a girl. Sensitive. I like that. She’s an artist. She has to dig very deeply to entertain and amuse us. It’s her job. But glossy mag critics: hard and cruel and unromantic and chippy; nasty, bitter and green-eyed and on and on and on...I don’t like. MOJO has restored much confidence around here, here in family and amongst the 25 or so people involved in the tour as I prepare to head off to the airport for Dublin. To sing those songs. To do what I do, and love doing. Missed a day of rehearsals for The Ivors, but I’m ready. Mirror Freak. All Men Are Hungry. Loretta’s Tale...all played as per original recording. 3 hours rehearsed, so some will go by the board. Panorama, assembled late in the day. The Lartey Sisters add a big presence. Plus Mini-Moog...how cool is that?!
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written by jim pirie , May 22, 2010
So glad you have shared with us the story behind that review by Mick Wall,and there had to be a story,because it was venemous beyond belief,and just shows us what a sad little scrote the person must be.Lovely insight to the Ivors and Lily Allen,and I agree the fear is a wonderful song.
I am also on a 3.00am start to East Midlands airport,flying to Belfast, and then a train ride down to Dublin for the opening night,meeting up with the mad duo of Karen and Deborah for a pre concert feed and a glass or two in prepartion.See you there.
Jimbo,Chesterfield
written by dermot smyth , May 23, 2010
Been listening to the album for the last two weeks.Don't know what that guy wrote but he must have his head where the sun don't shine!
Heading to Dublin now from Monaghan to see the show.
Been looking forward since it was announced.Got the tickets for my 50th!See you there...
Dermo,Monaghan.
written by dermot smyth , May 24, 2010
Just got back from the concert last night!Head is not too bad.
Great show!Steve was in great voice.Band was fantastic.Can't pick a highlight yet,but 'All the Men Are Hungry' was a great surprise for me...
Slan,
Dermo
written by Karen Laing , May 27, 2010
Home from Queens Hall Edinburgh What a fantastic night Thank you It was absolutely the best. You, the band,the energy total package Just grand X
written by NIGEL BUCHALTER , May 28, 2010
Last Sunday's gig in Dublin was a thoroughly enjoyable. I feel compelled to make an effort and see them again before the tour is over, even if it means travelling to another country. Would it be too much to hope that they will come back next Autunm/Winter and do a pre-Christmas gig. I have been listening to nothing else but Stranger Comes to Town all week and how it grows on me is making me feel like I have just discovered music for the first time.
The gig in Dublin's Abbey St. Academy was very friendly, intimate and sincere. The band were really "tight" and Steve was well in control. His banter with the audience was so natural, he made us all feel very much as if it was specially for us. I enjoyed hearing the new material and the hits were fabulous too, All Men Are Hungry, Sebastian were favourites.
He is a great performer and his voice sounds so good. Thanks for a really great night in Dublin.
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