6 minute read
MUSIC
Phil’s soundsational year
Pic: David Jackson Phil Moore, driving force behind SBD Promotions
Emerging from the shadow of Covid in 2022, Sweet But Deadly (SBD) Promotions honcho Phil Moore decided this year would be his busiest so far. And he smashed it.
“I made a conscious decision to try and put more shows on,” he told Pulse Music, “The demand is there and the acts are there, so there was no excuse. Thankfully, it’s been almost uniformly a success.
“I don’t think a huge amount has changed because of Covid, except perhaps a general tardiness to buy tickets, so you have to hold your nerve a little,” he admits, “By the start of 2022, most people had been vaccinated and the hesitancy had started to fade. Other venues are reporting a lack of sales but it’s not particularly hitting our shows.”
Phil has been bringing bands to the stage in his hometown since 2016, but he had more than a decade of experience under his belt before hitting up the ‘fampton – having promoted on the fast flowing London scene.
This year he has put bands on at The Roadmender, The Picturedrome, The Lab, The Playhouse Theatre, and at a number of bars in the town, but most frequently he booked acts into The Black Prince which is thriving. 2022 highlights? There have been a few...
“I must give a big shout out to The Lovely Eggs and The Bluetones for their brilliant sold-out shows,” Phil said, “And Independent Venue Week back in February was big – with five shows in as many nights. It was a great celebration of what grassroots music venues are all about.”
And who is on the wish list of the future?
“I’d love Temples to come and do a comeback warm-up show before their next album. A secret Babyshambles/
Pete Doherty show maybe? I could go on all day...” Being a promoter can be tricky – what keeps you in the game? “I guess you just know you’re a music lifer at a certain point, and you go wherever it takes you,” he reckons,
“Personally, I love the energy in a room of a fantastic band playing their hearts out. There’s a certain romance to it, so perhaps it’s chasing that next hit...”
As the curtain comes down on 2022, it’s good to know that the local scene is thriving too – there has been an explosion in good stuff over the past couple of years, and Phil knows that better than most having booked many of them.
“It’s in rude health,” he agrees, “I thought it was decent before the pandemic, but then a load of bored kids started forming bands and there’s a renewed energy around the place now.
“There’s no doubt that a couple of acts would have been more nationally recognised if Covid hadn’t gotten in the way of their ascent, which is a shame. I won’t single any one act out for stardom,” he says diplomatically, “... there’s such a depth of talent around that any of them could break out in 2023.”
Pic: David Jackson Check in for the latest: sbdpromotions.com
Get your glam rags on!
Sweet are back on the road with their Blitz of Hits road trek and the tour bus stops off at the Roadmender on Friday, December 9.
The band, still featuring original guitarist Andy Scott, will be delivering those classics including Love Is Like Oxygen, Ballroom Blitz and Blockbuster.
Incredibly, 50 years have passed since they first became chart-busting monsters, and the band has since shifted more than 55 million albums, and had 34 No1 singles.
That’s quite the body of work, is that!
Also coming up at the venue this month, Soul II Soul play on Saturday, December 3, Clearwater Creedence Revival will be live on December 5, with support from Joe Martin, and Trevor Nelson returns on December 17 with Soul Nation and Club Classics to get you in a spin.
> Tickets for all shows can be booked by visiting theroadmender.com
Billy’s new song burst
Last month, Northampton’s Billy Lockett released an emotive new single, Last Thing On Your Mind, much to the delight of his fanbase.
“Last Thing On Your Mind is about all the relationships that sometimes die for no real reason,” Billy explained, “It’s about feeling like the love is just running out with someone and that you almost wish something dramatic could happen just to give you a better reason for being so sad.”
Billy celebrated the release with a sold-out show at Islington Assembly Hall, and there
XSLF play The Lab in December are exciting times ahead – starting with the release of his debut album, Abington Grove, which will be with us in February.
This single, and the three previous releases, will all feature on the opus.
We’re not quite there yet, but already 2023 is shaping up to be a great one for our talented singer-songwriter.
We’ll be catching up with Billy in the near future, so stay tuned to Pulse Music for that, and keep up to speed on all things Lockett through FB: @ billylockettmusic
Billy Lockett - a new single released and new album release on the way in February
XSLF come to The Lab
Stiff Little Fingers founding member Henry Cluney will play The Lab on December 3 with his band XSLF.
The band came together when Henry reconnected with fellow ex-SLF member Jim Reilly the best part of a decade ago, but Jim won’t be in the line-up for the Northampton date – he had to step down from the band for health reasons on the advice of his doctor.
“His health is more important than gigs and we really wish him back to full fitness soon,” Henry said.
In Jim’s absence, the drum stool will be occupied by Glenn Kingsmore, drummer with Belfast noises The Defects.
“Anyone who has seen him play knows what a powerhouse he is,” Henry added, “Come support us through this and see for yourself!”
Support comes from Thee Acid Tongue, Dropping Like Flies and Julie’s Dead. Tickets are £10 in advance.
> Get them from wegottickets.com/furiousthirty
Anice local gig for Utopia Development Corporation is incoming – they will be live at The Lab for SBD Promotions on Friday, December 2.
If you fancy a session of post-punk noise head to the Charles Street venue. Doors open at 7.30pm and UDC will be joined in play by Our Condolences, Balter and Tankesque.
On Christmas Eve eve The Galileo 7 will rock The Black Prince, again for SBD.
The Kentish four-piece have been music making together for well over a decade, during which time they have dished out several albums and a few singles, all of them psychopop pleasers.
Frontman Allan Crockford has picked up a bass with a roll call of cool – The Prisoners, The James Taylor Quartet, The Prime Movers and The Solarflares among them.
If you pore over the XTC back catalogue, love 60s psych-pop and garage treats, and get excited by current players like Thee Oh Sees and Tame Impala, you’ll want in for this show.
And psychedelic-indie quartet The Marabar Caves have been added to the bill. Originally active from 1982, they reformed in 2018 with bassist Duncan Bisatt taking over from Chris Jess. The rest of the line-up remains unchanged from those early days. Also unchanged is their passion for the sounds – get along early and give your support.
To be fair though, you’ll need to be at The Black Prince long before they take the stage, because Gogo Loco are up first. Anyone fancy a portion of maraca-driven rattle n’ roll? We knew you did.
The Galileo 7 (right) and Utopia Development Corporation (below)
