Curveballs On Phoenix Fm

First up tonight I chatted to three lovely ladies – Debbie, Sinead and Lisa about First Step, a centre specialising in early years care for pre-school children with learning difficulties and disabilities. Debbie is from the centre management team while Sinead and Lisa have both had children attending. Lisa is holding a pamper event in aid of First Step this coming Wednesday (June 5th) at 7pm at St Augustines Church Hall in Rush Green, with a huge number of stalls & services on offer, as we found out! You can read more on the Facebook event page here. Next up I was joined by Mark, Dan and Dave from Jimmy B & the Death Rattles (aka The Professor, Jimmy B and Skid!). The six-piece released their first album, Porno Taught Me How to Love, earlier this year, and also played a sell-out gig at the Joiners in their hometown of Southampton. Click to listen back to them discuss the story behind the band getting together and forming their personas, how they got an album out within a year of forming (no mean feat!

First up tonight I was joined by Canvey/Southend trio Shooting Gale. They’ve just released their new EP, Open My Eyes, which is now available on all streaming sites (including, as we found out, some sites even certain SG members hadn’t heard of!). The threesome are back on the gigging trail next month – follow their Facebook and Twitter pages for more.  Next up I was joined by Penanceville. Hailing from the “deepest darkest corners” of Essex, the fivesome joined us just ahead of their latest gig at Edge in Basildon, and have a whole host of gigs in the pipeline with new material on the way too – stay tuned to www.penanceville.com for more! Click above to listen back to the interview, including tales of gigs in breweries, unusual quotes from promoters, and me reading out their backstory in my best audiobook voice…    A – I Love Lake Tahoe Seedling – About to Fall Concrete Natives – Tightrope Thecityisours – Veins Shooting Gale – Launchpad McQuack SHOOTING GALE LIVE IN THE STUDIO Shooting Gale

Check out more shows at http://www.phoenixfm.com/category/curveballs !    Space featuring Cerys Matthews - The Ballad of Tom Jones Ani DiFranco - Shy Wrip - I Don't Want To Steve Hewitt featuring Orfila - Pieces Micky Niner - VW Van Ummagma - Caravan Lakey Inspired - By the Pool Idlewild - There's a Place for Everything The Clockworks - Bills & Pills Motorcycle Display Team - Erosion Jimmy B & the Death Rattles - Tallulah Elliot Porter - What Happened to Our Love? The Lemoncurd Kids - Tick Tock Penanceville - Old Sins Parrilla - Surrounded Walk In Coma - Subhuman Concrete Natives - Tightrope Takai - I Knew What I Found Slim Pickings - I Don't Know Rad Pitt - What is the Point of Piers Morgan? Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer - I Can't Be Arsed Laika Spacedog - Vicky the EU Worker The Mighty Fallen - Mountain Calling Osmium Guillotine - Through the Black Mirror Jodie Abacus - She's in Love with the Weekend Gyvus - Blue Sky Shooty & the Bang Bang - Dazed 

First up tonight I was joined in the studio by Micky Niner. Previously a guest on the show as a member of The Recoupes, Micky started his new solo project in November last year with his debut single Teenage Disaster and has had a busy time since, working on his new EP Songs For Cars which is out this week. Click above to listen back to the interview where we discuss the various motor vehicles that inspired the new EP, and a reminder of Micky’s previous band’s claim to fame on national daytime TV. Find Micky on Facebook and Twitter! Next up I was joined by Motorcycle Display Team (l-r Morgan, Steve, Jim). After first forming 12 years ago, the trio may not do much with motorcycles but do have a fine back catalogue of material, including their latest album Yours Probably. With more new tracks in the pipeline, which we got a sample of tonight in the form of a live session, it’s safe to say we’ll be hearing a lot more revving from these guys soon! Click above to listen back to the interview, including tales of hec

First up tonight I was joined once again by Stackfest organisers James and Joe to chat about this year’s event, held again at the Haystack Pub on Canvey Island this coming Bank holiday weekend, but this year with a full three days of live music across two stages, and with no less than 47 acts of a variety of genres on offer, it’s all set to be Essex’s biggest free live music event! Join the party on May 4th, 5th & 6th – check www.stackfest.net for more info! Next up I was joined by Essex metal foursome Political Hesitation (l-r Conor, George, Craig, Amadu). The Southend-based quartet have released two singles so far, The Truth (available on their Bandcamp page) and Reggie (available on Spotify), and are currently recording their first album which, as we discussed, is set to feature a huge variety of genre and instrument crossovers! We were given a preview of what to expect in the form of two track snippets tonight, and the album is set for a summer release date – they’re also planning to hit the local liv

Tonght’s show was about remembering old B-sides, records of our childhood reaching their quarter-century, and on the subject of anniversaries, how it was almost exatly 10 years since I helped put on a gig at the Bitter End in Romford! We did however avoid dwelling too much on the past with plenty of top new tunes too. Blur – Bank Holiday Free – Wishing Well Lambchop – Up with People Idlewild – Interview Music The Youts – Pull Mansun – Can’t Afford to Die Ben Folds Five – Fair Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra – Like a Cuckoo Twist Helix – Newcastle Gyvus – Blue Sky Concrete Natives – Tightrope Bonus Points – Stratford Razorrhead – pIKE Political Hesitation – The Truth Doojip – Would I Lie to You? The Tibetan Tea Company – Pressure Osmium Guillotine – Blight Upon Mankind Mercury Rising – White Rabbit Lemoncurd Kids – Tick Tock Shooty & the Bang Bang – Dazed The Theme – Distance Dr Meaker (featuring Sian Evans) – Right Back Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer – I Can’t Be Arsed Mr Happy Chainsaw – Standing There

Great new tunes & old favourites to rediscover in this week's Curveballs. Listen back to more shows & see our live sessions at http://www.phoenixfm.com/category/curveballs. Nirvana – About a Girl Mansun – Egg Shaped Fred Elastica – Stutter Jodie Abacus – Liquor Store Day Aaron Beri – Naked The Theme – Distance Takai – Fazed The Royals – Lavender Thecityisours – Veins Idlewild – Same Things Twice Motorcycle Display Team – Letters of Last Resort Laika Spacedog – Vicky the EU Worker Shooty & the Bang Bang – Dazed The Mighty Fallen – Mountain Calling Padrilla – Surrounded Killatrix – Broken Teeth Concrete Natives – Tightrope Leanne Louise - Heaven Now The Lightscopes – In My Head Two Year Break – Change My Mind The Arthur Clark Collective – Coin-O-Matic Lambchop – Up With People Ben Folds Five – One Angry Dwarf & 200 Solemn Faces Chas & Dave – Rabbit

Featuring interviews with Parilla & The Theme, plus a live Theme session! See the Theme live session videos here:   https://www.phoenixfm.com/2019/04/14/curveballs-10th-april-2019-parrilla-theme/  Mansun – Fool Idlewild – Same Things Twice Two Year Break – Change My Mind Dishy Tangent – Monster PARRILLA IN THE STUDIO Avenged Sevenfold – Creating God Gunship – Dark All Day Parrilla – Surrounded In Flames – The Truth Jeff Wayne – Thunderchild (War of the Worlds) THE THEME IN THE STUDIO The Theme – Hold Me The Theme – Hits the Sky (live in session) Paul Weller – All I Wanna Do (Is Be With You) The Theme – Distance (live in session) The Who – The Kids Are Alright The Theme – You Don’t Talk to Me (live in session) Ocean Colour Scene – The Riverboat Song The Theme – Twisted Little Soul (live in session) Fleetwood Mac – The Chain The Royals – Lavender Lost on Broadway – Not Young Anymore

First up tonight I was joined once again by our good buddy Rock’n’Roll Andy to chat about some of the great nights his company, Rock & Roll Enterprises, is hosting in the coming weeks in Peterborough and London. Highlights of these gigs include burlesque night ‘Fancy That’, GN’R tribute act It’s So Easy, and Curveballs favourites Lace & Whiskey – find the full list at www.rockandrollenterprises.co.uk. Next up was The Arthur Clark Collective (l-r David, Brian, Lemme Bon Jail), who joined us just ahead of their latest gig at Luna Lounge in Leytonstone on April 9th. Click above to listen back to them discussing being a collective rather than a band, the recording of their latest set of tracks, & the obscure 90s indie track they might be heard covering soon… check out their latest tracks on SoundCloud, & more on Facebook & Twitter.  Space – We Gotta Get Out of This Place Bob Collum & the Welfare Mothers – Little Rock Salad Undressed – Evergreen Sleeper – The Sun Also Rises ROCK N’ ROL

Featuring an interview with Millie from Laika Spacedog - http://www.soundcloud.com/meserpico Full tracklisting:   The Beat – Mirror in the Bathroom Blood Red Shoes – Mexican Dress Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra – Like a Cuckoo Idlewild – Same Things Twice Takai – I Knew What I Found The Clockworks – Bills & Pills The Youts – Pull Steve Hewitt – Healing & Hurt Parrilla – Surrounded Static – Another Kick Bob Collum & the Welfare Mothers – Knockdown Dragout Dishy Tangent – Don’t Turn Your Back Forged in Black – Seek No Evil Gyvus – This Time INTERVIEW WITH MILLIE FROM LAIKA SPACEDOG Europe – Girl from Lebanon Laika Spacedog – Vicky the EU Worker SKAMP – You Got Style Tasmin Archer – Sleeping Satellite Laika Spacedog – Breakdown (The Car Insurance Song) Alexander Rybak – Fairytale Lena Zavaroni – Going Nowhere Laika Spacedog – Forevermore Bonus Points – Sangria Sunset Walker Brothers – The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore

Listen to more Curveballs shows at http://www.phoenixfm.com/category/curveballs !  Full tracklisting:  Jamiroquai & M-Beat – Do You Know Where You’re Coming From? Flogging Molly – Drunken Lullabies Republic of Loose – The Translation Bis – There is No Point (Other Than the Point That There is No Point) Darrah – Business The Theme – Hold Me Steve Hewitt – Healing & Hurt The Taboos – 2004 Elliot Porter – What Happened to Our Love? Concrete Natives – Tightrope The Waterfalls – Homewrecker Jamie Lenman & Justine Jones – Long Gone Laika Spacedog – Vicky the EU Worker Lost on Broadway – Mysterious Girl Perry Lane – Can’t We Be Like This Mercury Rising – White Rabbit Missing Andy - Money Terrorvision – Hypnotised Delta Jacks – Moon & the Stars Jack Found – Uh Oh Takai – Wait & Wait Farrago – This Spark Oddisee – Right Side of the Bed NOVA – InDenial Dishy Tangent – Pick Yourself Nom – New Day

   Nick is joined in the studio by The Swiftbeats for a chat and live session, plus Lady Grey & The Earls make a special 10th anniversary appearance. Links, photos & videos at  https://www.phoenixfm.com/2019/03/21/curveballs-13th-march-2019-swiftbeats-lady-grey-earls/ Full tracklisting: Luscious Jackson – Ladyfingers Lisa Wright – Tennessee Jack Found – Uh Oh Dishy Tangent – Pick Yourself  THE SWIFTBEATS IN THE STUDIO Beach Boys – Wouldn’t It Be Nice? The Swiftbeats – Steppin’ Stone (live in session) Little Walter – My Babe The Swiftbeats – Love Potion Number Nine (live in session) Smokey Robinson & the Miracles – You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me The Swiftbeats – This Boy (live in session) The Dynamics – Ain’t No Sun (Since You’ve Been Gone) Bis – Sound of a Heartbreak Lady Grey & the Earls – Freak Show LADY GREY & THE EARLS IN THE STUDIO Lady Grey & the Earls – Twisted Feeling Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody The Pixies – Where is My Mind? Lady Grey & the Earls – Tea

Nick is joined on the phone by Jack Found to introduce and discuss his new single Uh Oh. Plus the gig guide & plenty of new tunes! Tracklisting: The Prodigy – Breathe Zero 7 featuring Sia & Sophia – Destiny Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra – Like a Cuckoo Idlewild – Dream Variations Sleeper – The Sun Also Rises Dishy Tangent – Any Day Jack Found – Sundown Jack Found – Uh Oh Takai – I Know What I Found Contemplate – Feel the Vibe MJ Cole & Freya Ridings – Wake Up Kenickie – 411 (La La La) Lady Grey & the Earls – Freak Show Counties – Bitter Silent Natives – Sunlight Lace & Whiskey – Out of Time The Lightscopes – In My Head Minerva Falls – D-Evil Political Hesitation – The Truth The Theme – Hold Me Laika Spacedog – Vicky the EU Worker Bis – Sound of a Heartbreak Francis – Take You Out Dusty Stragglers – Strange Neighbours The Clockworks – Bills & Pills Babeheaven – Friday Sky The Prodigy - Omen More info at https://www.phoenixfm.com/2019/03/11/curveballs-6th-march-2019-jack-found-p

A collection of off-the-wall music from the local Essex scene and around the world. Includes a round of Curveballs Turbo when things get really unpredictable! More details at   https://www.phoenixfm.com/2019/03/09/curveballs-27th-february-2019/  Talk Talk – Life’s What You Make It Gomez – Bring it On Phoenix – If I Ever Feel Better Elliot Porter – What Happened to Our Love? Lady Jane’s Revenge – Pure Static – Another Kick Polsky – Halcyon Days Hurricane #1 – Chain Reaction Babeheaven – Moving On CURVEBALLS TURBO Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra – Life’s a Drag Agoraphobic Nosebleed – The Withering of Skin Lizz Fields – Hey Kenickie – Save All Your Kisses for Me JD Simo – You Need Love Drinking Girls & Boys Choir – Keep Drinking!! Dillie Keane – Back with You Mos Def & Vinia Mojica – Get Ta Steppin’ Agoraphobic Nosebleed – Los Infernos Zero 7 – Morning Song Rachel Bloom – I Don’t Care About Award Shows The Mighty Fallen – All a Man Wants Cavalcade – Alkaline Past Kings – 100 Whoremo

Join me every Wednesday on PhoenixFM.com at 8pm & listen back to past shows at www.phoenixfm.com/category/curveballs.