Billy Liberator - "Companions" album review

 

Life as an independent artist is never an easy one and it's rarely a glamourous one either. Writing songs from the heart that won't be heard by nearly as many people that they should be and playing small gigs often with just a guitar, microphone and solitary spotlight Billy Liberator has chosen this life. Through passion, talent and a warm nature though Liberator has secured the help and support of Steve "Smiley" Barnard who has drummed, recorded and toured with a variety of household names including the iconic Joe Strummer as part of The Mescaleros.

Recorded at Smiley's Sunshine Corner Studio the multi-instrumentalist co-wrote the music as well as providing the musical backing alongside Liberator's guitar and words. This is quite a coup and has given the album a great overall sound and polish, maybe too much so in places as I'd love to hear some of these songs in a starker solo setting. Nevertheless it's undeniable that songs such as "Stand Up For Love" and "What Needed To Be Said" benefit from the full backing and lush production.

The album works best for me as a songbook of a great songwriter and standouts include "Get Up, Make It Better", "As Good As You Are" and "Evelyn". There are others crying out to be heard live with a good band behind him and a slight strain in his voice, "Boxcar Revival" is a definate dancefloor filler whilst "The Stuntwoman" is just waiting to find a roof to raise!

Liberator says his next album will be looser and that is something I can't wait to hear as "Companions" does a bloody good job at laying out his stall and whetting your appetite.

Find out more at billyliberator.com including purchase and streaming links.

James Stevenson "The Other Side Of The World" interview

 This year saw the release of "The Other Side Of The World", the excellent second solo album by guitarist extraordinaire James Stevenson, so did a global pandemic help or hinder the recording? Talking all things about the album and what we can expect in the coming year it's time to catch up with James!

With a global pandemic happening did that forced downtime spark the idea for the album or was it something that was already underway and did the pandemic help or hinder the recording process?

A bit of both. I always wanted to do a second album - but lockdown definitely gave me the time to do it. I recorded the song "The Other Side Of The World" to be played at my brother Dave's funeral - that was the catalyst.

I emailed the files to Smiley and Peter Walsh and I was really pleased with the results, even though the reason I'd written the song was heart-breaking. So I asked Pete if he thought we could record a whole album like this and he thought we could.

Were all of the songs written with the album in mind or are there some that have been on the back burner so to speak?

Well "New York 10023" was a very old piece of music about a mad night I had in New York in the mid 80s with the model Paula Hamilton. I rerecorded it for the album - and even though it's basically an instrumental people do like it a lot. I got Johnny Pisano (Willie Nile's bass player) and Thomas Trask (who was David JoHansen's guitarist) - two New York mates to speak the script I wrote at the end - just to give it a New York edge.

"Take A Little Love" I wrote with Adam Masterson a few years ago and "Point It To Your Head" is a song by Steve New whose version was never released - so I recorded a version as a tribute to Steve. Other songs like "I'm Getting Over You Now", "Just Like I Do", "Gotta Find That Feeling", "When You're Feeling Sad and Lonely" and "Ugly/Beautiful" are all recent, or finished as the album progressed. "In The Nighttime" I wrote when I was about fourteen or fifteen - but I updated it a bit.

You've used a core "band" for the album featuring yourself, Peter Walsh on keyboards and Smiley on the drums then adding in guests for selected songs - do you think this helped focus the sessions and give a more unified feel overall?

I think it did, yeah. I liked the fact I played all the bass guitars too. I love to play bass and I don't think I'm a bad player if I say so myself! I didn't know Pete Walsh was such a great keyboard player until this album...he's very modest - but he's so tasteful. He produced the album too of course. So Pete, Smiley and I would basically knock the songs into shape and then I'd get people in to embellish. Terry Edwards is incredible and all the girl singers, Jessica Lee Morgan, Elizabeth Westwood, Tracie Hunter. I got my lifelong friend Henry Badowski out of retirement to play sax on "Baby Come On" - it was Henry who encouraged me to record "In The Nighttime" - we were in bands together in school. My friend Rana Rains did some great vocals on "New York 10023" too and Mike Peters added the harmonica on "Point It To your Head" of course.

Peter Walsh co-produced the album alongside you and has a rather impressive CV featuring such household names as Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel, Scott Walker, Spandau Ballet, Boomtown rats and Heaven 17 amongst others, where did your paths first cross?

You can also add Simple Minds and four Gene Loves Jezebel albums! We met when our A&R man at Geffen, Gary Gersh, wanted him to produce "Desire". It worked out great and he's been a Gene Loves Jezebel staple ever since - right up to GLJs last album "Dance Underwater". He has an incredible pair of ears and is a close personal friend too.

You've kept the guest list quite short with Elizabeth Westwood and Tracie Hunter returning again to provide the majority of the albums backing vocals, your Holy Holy bandmate Jessica Lee Morgan takes that role on the album opener "Baby Come On" and one Michael Peters lends his harmonica skills to "Point It To Your Head". Were there any guests that you would have loved for the album but couldn't get?

To be honest I would have liked Steve Norman to play sax on a track or two. He was incredible on my first solo album "Everything's Getting Closer To Being Over" but he was tied up in Berlin doing stuff.

What are your hopes and expectations for the album?

I just want as many people to hear it as possible. I'm very proud of it.

The album as well as the title track are dedicated to your brother David who sadly passed last year. Is there anything you'd like to tell us about him?

Well he was my best friend as well as my brother - the one person I would always call first to talk about anything. There were only fifteen months between us. I was destroyed when he died even though I knew it was inevitable and because he lived in Australia and died during lock-down I couldn't even go to his funeral. 

I discovered it was caused by a familial gene on my mother's side. You have to inherit it from a parent. If you have a parent with the gene you have a 50/50 chance of inheriting it. If you inherit it you die from Pick's Disease, it's terminal and there's no treatment. 

My mother died very young from cancer when she was only forty eight, before the disease took hold but her sister, my aunt Janet, who I absolutely adored, had the disease and died from it in her 50s but we never realised what it was until my brother started developing symptoms. It came from my mother and aunt's mother Claris Raynes who died of an illegal backstreet abortion in the mid1930s - she was only 28! So it's been hard to work out the trail.

I tested negative but it was a very stressful time.

You write about some very personal subjects lyrically on the album, do you find it cathartic to do so?

I've always written from personal experience - I think most artists in any genre do that don't they?

All the reviews I've seen have been full of praise and seem more positive than those of your debut "Everything's Getting Closer To Being Over" despite that album being a firm fan favourite ever since its release. Are you happy with how it has been received?

Yes, everyone does seem to like it. I'm very proud of both of my solo albums.

One thing that is striking about the release is that your vocals seem stronger and more natural, is this something that you consciously worked on?

Not really - I think they just evolved because I sang more. But I agree with what you're saying. My ex-wife Elizabeth Westwood did help with a bit of coaching - she's an awesome singer.

You've announced one live date for this year so far, do you envisage being able to play more solo shows next year?

Yes. Pizza Express Live in Holborn, London December 12th. I really want to do more solo gigs if I can.

I know Smiley will be playing drums with you in December but have you finalised the rest of the band yet?

Yes. Smiley on drums, Terry Edwards, Patrick Ralla on keys (Mark Taylor sadly couldn't do it) but Patrick is awesome. Peter Rizzo from Gene Loves Jezebel on bass - he's my fave bass player of all time. And Liz Westwood, Jennie "Belle Star" Matthias and Tracie Hunter on BVs. Hope we can all fit on the stage!

What can those people fortunate enough to be able to attend the London show expect to hear in the set, with two albums of original material you certainly have enough to play all your own songs but are you tempted to play anything from your long career so far or even some covers?

It will be songs from my two solo albums...but I might throw in a surprise!

Are there any plans to potentially record the show for a digital release or maybe a livestream?

There aren't, maybe next time. So if you want to see the show get to the gig!

There have been plenty of tours in the news being affected due to band or crew becoming infected and having to cancel shows. Do you have any restrictions yourself that you'd like to see in place for the immediate future?

I think that's just the way the world is right now and we're gonna have to soldier on and hope for the best.

Do you envisage a few short notice calls asking you to fill in to allow gigs to go ahead within the multitude of friendships you have?

I'm always up for that!

One of the lockdown releases saw the rapid writing and release of the album "War" by The Alarm in order to catch the spark and it was very well received even garnering national media attention. With how quickly things move forward with The alarm and that live dates couldn't be played to support and promote it do you think there's a potential it may become somewhat of a "lost" album?

I hope not. I think it's a really strong album. But we are living in very strange times for sure!

Did the impact of the pandemic allow you any more time to develop your autobiography?

A bit, I've been slack there I have to admit - all my focus went on the album.

With the pandemic far from over but with live music making a return (albeit with some dates having to be pulled or rescheduled) what is 2022 looking like currently for you?

Well from March it explodes! Holy Holy first, then The Alarm and then Gene Loves Jezebel UK dates. Then Gene Loves Jezebel have the Cruel World Festival in the USA May 14th - not sure if you've seen the line-up for that but it's incredible! Yeah 2022 looks very busy with tons of cool stuff - thank god!

That certainly sounds like there's a lot to look forward to next year and not forgetting that solo gig in London on December the 12th this year. James Stevenson, as always, thank you very much!

James' excellent second solo album "The Other Side Of The World" can be ordered HERE!

Tickets to the Pizza Express Holborn gig in London on December 12th can be ordered HERE!

Smiley - "2021" review

 The first album from Smiley not to bear the "Friends" tag yet it still manages to sound both new and familiar despite the change to a core band set up. Without having to accommodate the various styles that his always well chosen guests bought "2021" is much more focussed but still explores the trademark indie with sixties influence sound of the previous albums.

The song writing again shines through and manages to achieve a sense of optimism and healing in "Another Day", acknowledge loss in "Goodbye Old Friend" while the whole album is set up with the mantra of "Just Show Love". Those upbeat Smiley bangers are , of course, present in droves and rest assured "Rise Above", "The Last To Know", "Hollywood" and "The Firm" have hooks galore as well as choruses that you can belt out not to mention a few tasty guitar solos!

So do you miss the "Friends"? Well, yes, no and maybe! It's certainly been a long time coming and building a core that can make live dates more of a possibility as well as grow into each other is a fantastic prospect however there are times where you wish that you had the presence of a voice like Kerry Barnard Schultz to bring something else to the mix but as a debut for the new direction the potential is limitless and you won't be disappointed!

ORDER FROM smileysfriends.co.uk/music

James Stevenson readies new album release!

I'm very glad to be able to announce that James Stevenson will be releasing a new solo album this year: his first album of new material since the fantastic "Everything's Getting Closer To Being Over" in 2014!

The new album is called "The Other Side Of The World" and features eleven tracks including one instrumental with James providing all the guitars and bass as well as lead vocals and Smiley all the drums.

More information as it becomes available and keep an eye out for an interview with James around the albums release!

Smiley Talks "Clang!" audiobook and more! Interview

As England nears the end of it's second lockdown I took the opportunity to catch up with Smiley who has just released the audiobook version of his popular memoir "Clang!" of course it also seemed a good chance to touch upon some Alarm plans too!

The initial print run of "Clang!" sold out pretty quickly, that must have been a nice feeling! Did you anticipate that sort of demand?

To be honest I had no idea. I sat with James Walsh, my publisher, and we just stared at each other when trying to guess the reaction and order the right amount of books. I didn't think in a million years it would get the reaction it did and to actually need a reprint was quite a touching moment. What surprised me also was how it was quite a slow burner and the orders were coming from further and further a field. Immensely humbling and truly surprising.

For those that are yet to get a copy from the second run, how are the numbers looking for those maybe asking Santa for a copy?

Well I've just ordered a 3rd run to cover myself for Black Friday ha ha! I was down to one so I've backed myself up just in case. The audiobook version is now available from the same place gatecrashthepartybooks.com That's quite funny. I start off sounding like Alan Partridge and end up like Danny Dyer!

"Clang!" was written in a very conversational style so was an audiobook version always in your plans?

Funnily enough it wasn't. It was the fact that so many people said it was written in the style of sitting in the pub telling stories. The audiobook idea was an after thought...but it makes sense.

Totally! 

How have you approached the audio version, have you gone for a straight reading of the book or were you tempted to elaborate and add in further details?

It took a while to get into my stride. It's actually a lot harder than you think. Every word, every phrase has to be spot on. It was nice to be able to read it the way it was written....I did elaborate a little though.

I've listened to many autobiographies read by the author so can appreciate the importance of getting it right!

Were there any moments that caught you by surprise and caused you to stop the take?

Yes, the spelling mistakes!

Since the publication of the book have many of those name checked been in touch to comment?

Some have, some haven't. I haven't annoyed anyone yet, except for my 2 brothers who took huge offence to me calling them twins, even though they are! That's saved me on Christmas pressies this year!

Before we move on can I ask what the running time of the audiobook is and how long did it take you to record?

It's about 375 mins which in my world is just over 6 hours, or London to Scotland or 3 Big Night In's! It took me about 2 weeks to record. I used my positive Covid test to fill my days...so it's officially a Corona audiobook.

This year's been a tough one for a lot of families but having both you and your wife Kerry earning a living in music must have hit hard?

It's been pretty tough on many levels. We both lost a years worth of shows, theatres, festivals, tours etc all in a matter of days. It's been especially hard on her as I have the studio to keep me busy. I was away with Gene loves Jezebel on The Mission tour in Portugal when I first heard a whisper of what might be happening. It moved so fast and the next day we were all flying home. We got to Heathrow and there were musicians I knew from all over Europe. It was surreal. Nobody knew that was it for the foreseeable.

You've managed a few things around the restrictions in place such as the new Coloursound sessions and did I see some more work with Hard Fi?

I had a really good run initially. I was working with Richard Archer from hard Fi on his Offworld project. That album is finished and amazing by the way. Then both Ian McNabb and Mark Butcher asked if I'd be up for doing their albums from my studio while we were in lockdown so that filled my days. Then the Coloursound album came up so we all went to Lincolnshire for a week. That was really special. Playing with Mike & Billy. It's a superb album. Had to pinch myself a few times. Rock royalty either side of me. I did odd things too. A track for Owen Paul, some film tracks for Chesney Hawkes and a track with Ryan Hamilton. Variety is the spice of life!

That sounds like a lot for us to be looking forward to. I'm guessing you're sworn to secrecy about the Coloursound album but is there anything you can share about it?

I am a bit. It's been quite hard keeping so quiet. All I can say is it's a belter. Billy and Mike on top form and it's BIG!!! in every way. I do hope we get to play it live. We would "blow the bloody doors off!"

Live shows seem a million years ago at the moment but there does seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel. There's been some smaller socially distanced gigs but I think in Alarm world we all have everything crossed for the Gathering next year. Before that of course we have the virtual Xmas Gathering next month, can you tell us anything more about that?

The Christmas Gathering. I'm afraid I am sworn to secrecy. My contract says I must not tell a living soul, especially if he is a 7ft Geordie!

LOL! So we can expect some surprises on the night?

Well, it's very Christmassy!

So we can expect an appearance from Santa and maybe a festive cover version or two?

Yep!

Everyone will be grabbed by the baubles! How are feeling after your Covid infection? Any lingering effects or are you fighting fit again?

I really swerved the bullet on that. I tested positive and all I did was lose taste and smell. Good as new now.

That's great to hear! Part of your lockdown also saw you revisit your Smiley's Friends releases. Had you already planned on a new album this year before everything changed or was it a result of having more time afforded to you?

I was tinkering with the idea and then decided to revisit some of them. Then I kind of pulled them apart and started rebuilding them. It became quite cathartic. Before I knew it I had my 12 ready and Karl had the idea of including friends on the cover. It was quite a nice way of connecting during a pretty dark time. It's also quite a nice way of drawing a line under the friends and moving off into a different direction.

For those that haven't taken the plunge yet how would you describe the new versions?

Rethought

restructured

replayed

remixed

remastered!

And all sounding great! Having the fans photos on the cover was a nice touch too!

It was a great idea. Karl Parsons is so clever. We did accidentally leave a couple off...I've apologised, offered Curly Wurly's as compensation.

An Internationally recognised currency!

Exactly.

Are you ready to give any hints to where your next solo project is heading?

I've co-written albums with KirbyWalsh and Memphis Stone & The Elevators this year so that's opened my eyes a bit and broadened my thinking.

That sounds interesting as both artists sound fairly different to each other.

I've really enjoyed both projects. Producing them as well I've kind of seen it from a different perspective. That's the joy of working with so many artists. I learn something new every session. You never stop learning.

When are we likely to hear something from the new project?

The KirbyWalsh album is available from gatecrashthepartybooks.com same website as my book and album are. The Memphis album will be coming out some time next year.

I know The Alarm have pushed most live plans into 2022 but are we likely to see a new album next year?

An Alarm album? It's planned. Not sure when yet but I know it's written.

That sounds promising, anything you can share about it at this time or is Mike keeping it close to his chest?

I know George has heard it and said it's amazing. Mike never shares stuff with me until we are in the studio about to press record.

Archive have repurposed this year with the remix project "Versions" but again they are a band that thrive in a concert setting. Are there current plans for a new studio album and is it too early to start talking about live dates again?

Again, they are due in the studio next year and again I haven't heard any of the new songs, There's a pattern forming here isn't there!

I'm sure the end results will still be spectacular! I think that covers most of what I had in mind is there anything else you'd like to cover?

I think that's pretty much it!

Smiley, as always thank you very much for your time!

Click HERE to order the "Clang!" book or audiobook, Smiley's "Best of Friends" and KirbyWalsh's "You Can't Go Back". 

Tickets for The Alarm's Christmas Gathering can be ordered by clicking HERE!

"CLANG! Smiley Drops A Few - Book Review

"CLANG" the art of name dropping someone famous in to a conversation.....and let's face it I would imagine those nights and days on The Alarm tour bus could sound like a gong with the collective Clangs that there must be potential for in any conversation!

In Smiley's memoir Clangs come thick and fast but what would you expect from someone that has played a wide spectrum of music from Robbie Williams to Joe Strummer and even being in The Who (for 2 minutes - read the book!). This isn't a boring by the book autobiography tripping over dates and places or dwelling long on his formative years before hitting the nitty gritty which bought us all to the book in the first place, in fact Smiley lays out very early on that his memory for dates is shocking and is often worked out by which teams were in that years Cup Final! The chapters are short and sweet and are designed to be read mostly in any order so you can skip to read about your favourite bands or to try and track down the juicy bits!



I'm not going to repeat any of the stories Smiley tells as they are there for you all to discover and delight in but his time with Robbie, Strummer and From The Jam get a fair bit of coverage. Even without being a fan of the former Take Thatter I found this time interesting especially the sliding doors moments and the various times he crossed paths with a Gallagher brother! The time of being in the Mescaleros was obviously a key point in Smileys career and there are many stories that will cement your opinion that Joe Strummer was someone special and Smiley handles his departure from the band with class and that is something that comes across again and again, there's no bitterness (or very little) and some doors close allowing others to open.

For those coming to the book from an Alarm point of view then it will obviously be no shock how his passion for his band mates, "family" and fan base obvious, there will be some new info for you - did you know that Mark Taylor had taken a lecturing post at a music school for instance? There is no salacious gossip here and the criticism from some areas of the fan base to the current Alarm line up is given short thrift. Personally I think pointing out that Jules had given up her stage membership in the Poets Of Justice when she and Mike began a family and was now returning to that role might have been a better explanation than the fact she is a grade 8 pianist but hey it's not my book or my story to tell! I would have loved to have had more, a lot more on Smileys time with The Alarm and I'm sure most people reading this will come to the same conclusion.

Archive are an amazing band, every single time I've seen them they've been like no other time and every single time they've been magnificent! The fact that Smiley acknowledges the general fan response of "massive in France, can't get arrested in the UK" says something and I hope after reading CLANG! more Alarm fans may explore Smiley's "other" band! The peanut story was something else!

From The Jam don't appear until the end of the book and to be fair they don't come out of it that well, there is an obvious respect of the material and of Bruce Foxton but both Bruce and vocalist/guitarist Russell Hastings come across as a little petty and a million miles away in attitude from Smiley. Shame as anyone who saw them during Smiley's tenure will attest that they were blinding! 

The writing style here is very conversational, deliberately so and you could imagine all these stories being told over many libations across a few great evenings in your favourite watering hole or as a post gig wind down. This ironically makes it the perfect holiday/airport book at a time when you can neither fly or grab a copy from the local bookshop! Instead you will have to order direct and help Smiley clear the boxes stacked in his living room or head over to Amazon. Either way CLANG! is a must read that will make you smile and in this day and age what more could you want!

ORDER YOURS HERE!!!

"Clang!" available to pre-order

Smiley's music memoir "Clang!" is available to pre-order directly from Gate Crash The Party Books priced at £9.99. In fact the initial demand has been so strong a second print is already being mentioned! 

Get yours ordered by clicking on the image or by clicking HERE!

Smiley Gig!

Smiley will be supporting the launch of his new book "Clang, Smiley Drops A Few!" with a gig at Jagz in Ascot on April 17th.

Gaz Top will be on hand to host a Q & A session and former England Cricketer turned singer/songwriter Mark Butcher will also be playing!

Tickets are available now priced at £13.75 which includes booking fee. Head over to We Got Tickets to order yours by clicking HERE!

Own Smiley's kit!

While everyone is busy plucking and strumming their Auden Deceiver guitars here's a great opportunity for all the tub thumpers out there to get yourself a truly special drum kit and a great bit of memorabilia at the same time!

Smiley is selling his Pearl Reference Drum kit that he played during his time with Bruce Foxtons From The Jam. The kit is a in a very distinctive Red & Oyster White Pearl finish (prototype) colour scheme and was used throughout the All Mod Cons and Setting Sons tours.

Bidding starts at £850 with a buy now option of £1300 and is collection only from Fleet in Hampshire.

If you want to own this amazing kit then head over to eBay by clicking HERE!

Smiley in Xmas Slasher Shock!

Smiley has decided to play Santa this year by giving every one the opportunity of picking up all of his "Friends" albums for just £5 each!

Each album features a whole host of well known names who also feature on Santa's naughty and nice lists and are a great addition to any ones music library. So whether you are taking the plunge or plugging a gap what better excuse do you need ?

Even if you have all 5 albums (which coincidentally have all been reviewed on here) then why not gift someone your favourite and let them in on the action!

CD's & Downloads can be ordered by clicking on any album cover below!

Birdpen need your help!

Birdpen (consisting of Mike Bird and Smiley's Archive band mate Dave Pen) are one of many bands caught up in the collapse of crowd funding website Pledgemusic out of pocket to the tune of about £12,500.

Now we all know that is a very bitter pill for a small independent band to swallow so they've made the decision to appeal to their fans for any help that they can get....whether that's a blind donation or buying something from their store to help them in their hour of need every penny will make a difference!

As you'd expect Smiley has appeared on multiple releases and if you aren't familiar with them then you can listen via the bands Bandcamp page by clicking HERE! If you take in all your music through a streaming subscription service then why not tip a couple of quid into the hat as a thank you?

Now, we all have different financial circumstances so there is no pressure or guilt trips....many bands got burnt but Birdpen have a connection to The Alarm family so I've chosen to highlight there plight, I've also got 3 of their albums which are fantastic so yes I need to get up to date and follow my own advice too! 

Their statement reads.....

"It pains us to have a write a statement like this but we feel we have to so we can let you, our fans, know what has happened regarding our latest album There’s Something Wrong With Everything.

As you all know we crowd-funded this album through you, our amazing fans, and it was to date our most successful album. The response was fantastic and the tour, which even saw us go and play two shows in China, was quite mind blowing for us!

With the money we raised through Pledge Music we were able to manufacture the album ourselves. Luckily, you the fans managed to get the album, and thanks again for anyone that did so. This obviously cost money. Almost half of the money we raised went into the physical side of the album, and the other half was used for promotion, as it’s always been our goal to try and make BirdPen bigger and to reach as many people as possible. This only happens through promotion of some sort so we partnered up with various promotion companies to try and build the band. The promotion companies did a fantastic job for us and we are very thankful for everyone’s hard work promoting the album in France, Belgium, Germany and the UK & Ireland.

So this brings us to our situation with Pledge Music. To sum it up, somehow Pledge Music have gone bust! It’s made the international news, both financial and music related, and it’s left artist’s and fans unpaid and without products they have paid for. It’s a complete disaster.

At the beginning of our Pledge campaign we managed to get some of our funds from them so you, our fans, got the physical album, and we expected to receive all the remaining money once the campaign was finished.

Pledge had promised all of the rest of the money so many times we’ve lost count, and we desperately tried and tried to get what we were owed and what you pledged towards the campaign. We’ve had the Musician’s Union and their lawyers involved trying to get us our owed money, and even they’ve been fobbed off, avoided and plain lied to along with many other artists in the same situation as us. It’s criminal what has happened and we hope somebody or somebody’s are held accountable for this disastrous neglect to what should be a safe and great way to fund good music and musical artists.

Being a self-funded band, all our expenses were paid for on our personal credit cards, expecting that the funds would soon be coming in, and with all sales shipped, we simply have no comeback. Mike and Dave now both owe money to our PR companies, we have no publishers, no label and no management so we solely carry this financial burden. This situation has left us with no money to pay the PR debts and fund our next album, which was what the remaining owed funds would have done.

Non of the funds have gone to paying ourselves anything, we don’t make much money from music in this day and age and we live hand to mouth and have the same issues with money as most of us do, mortgages, bills to pay and mouths to feed.

Pledge currently owe us over £12,500. Your money, which you paid in good faith and trust, never reached us. It truly sucks for us to be in this position but we have to carry on so we’ve decided to set up a campaign to try and get some of the funds back.

If anyone is able to support us through this crisis then please do get in touch.

You can send us a donation via PayPal here www.paypal.me/birdpen

You can buy our records and merchandise from www.birdpen.com/shop and birdpen.bandcamp.com

Our album title is so fitting to what is really going on in today’s world.

Here is the latest news on the Pledge situation https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/…/03/pledgemusic-fire-sale/

We’ll keep the faith and continue to bring the noise.

Love and Fuzz.
Dave & Mike, aka BirdPen."

The Record Charity Book

Tim Darvell will be known to many UK Alarm fans (and many American ones after attending the Gathering there this year and last!) as well as being a fan himself he is also an author and fundraiser raising both money and awareness for the treatment of Bowel Cancer. His first book had heavy Alarm connections and now with the publication of his new volume "The Record Charity Book" that is something that continues! So here is what you need to know....over to Tim!

"I had been thinking about doing a follow up book to Lives & Times during the last couple of months of Mum’s life, and when she died my mind was made up, and I began approaching people to be in The Record in September 2016.

The Record has been done in memory of mum who died of bowel cancer on August 29^th, 2016 one week after her 80^th birthday. The cancer had spread to her brain, and she was moved into a nursing home for palliative end of life care once there were no ore treatment options available.

Lives & Times concentrated on Mike, Eddie, Dave & Twist, so for The Record I turned my attention to the current line up. 

I met Smiley at his studio in Fleet in spring 2016 just after his 4^th album, Smiley’s Friends Eclectic, was released. I spent a fascinating hour talking to him about his career, and this was just before the launch of the Blood Red album. 

I met James in Oxford at the O2 Academy before the band’s gig there in October 2017, and he gave me a fascinating insight into his musical roots.

 Then just when I thought I wouldn’t get Jules we had a great chat a couple of months ago, and her chapter is the longest chapter in the book and covered just about everything in her life.

The connections in the book continue with Gaz Top who I met before the concert at The Forum in London last May. Welsh rugby legend Rupert Moon also came on board. He is a great friend of Mike & Jules, and he gave me an amazing tour of The Principality Stadium.

 Ryan Hamilton needed to store his stuff in my hotel room at the recent New York Gathering, so I grabbed the opportunity to get him in the book. Finally there is the wonderful and inspirational fan of The Alarm, Gillian Wood, who is a bowel cancer survivor.

The book has 65 chapters, and everyone taking part gave up their own time to do it.

Since I published Lives & Times in 2015 I have met and become great friends with so many fellow fans of The Alarm. The support for that book took me rather by surprise, and as someone who used to keep very much to myself at concerts it made me come out of my shell, and it has been one of the best and rewarding things that has ever happened to me. I remain truly grateful for the wonderful and generous support from the fans.

The Record is available to pre order now in paperback and hardback from my website rivers2cross.com, and it will also be available to buy from all the usual online outlets soon including a kindle edition. All proceeds raised from sales of the book will be donated to Bowel Cancer UK. Since mum was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2012, almost £10,000 has been raised.

Bowel cancer is the second highest cancer killer in the UK. 16,000 people die every year. 42,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year, which is one person every 15 minutes… Bowel cancer is one of the most treatable and if detected early at stage 1 over 90% of patients can be successfully treated. At the last stage 4 just 7% of patients live for 5 years or more. This makes raising awareness about the disease vital to help improve early diagnosis rates. This is the reason why I continue to do what I do, as it raises money for Bowel Cancer UK, but just as important it helps to raise awareness about this awful disease."

"Smiley's Friends In The Sixth Dimension"

By now I'm guessing you all know the score but for those not familiar here's the set up..... Every year Smiley writes a load of top quality tunes, taps up his mates to play on the album and then releases it with very little fanfare! Oh, did I mention that they are usually blinding too?

So here we are at album number six hence the albums title and it's a monster! The energy jumps out from the get go and the quirky nature of Smiley's humour is immediately in evidence with the very first line of album opener "Be Careful What You Wish For" being "You got me walking in the wrong direction, you saw me shopping in the freezer section, I even voted in the wrong election now!" One thing that is apparent from the get go is the guitar is very much king on this album, amazing riffs and stunning solos permeate throughout the 12 tracks that make up "....Friends In The Sixth Sense".

As always different styles weave in and out or bounce along in the case of some of the more indie flavoured tracks. "Wheels" could even be a contender for a lost John Lennon song, and as for those sublime harmonies in "Lantern Light" what more needs to be said!

Whether this is the first Smiley album you've heard or the sixth you will not be disappointed, this is an album that deserves to be heard not to mention toured (we can but hope). With every release going from strength to strength this might just be the best "Friends" album to date!

Pick up your copy on CD or download direct from Smiley - just click HERE!

Beki Hemingway - "Whins and Weather" Review

Not all of you may be familiar with Beki Hemingway or her husband and musical cohort Randy Kerkman, some of you may even be questioning why I'm reviewing their new album "Whins and Weather" on what is essentially an Alarm fan page but I assure you this definitely belongs here! Firstly lets get the Alarm connection dealt with and out of the way....Steve "Smiley" Barnard plays drums on half of the albums ten tracks.....secondly Beki & Randy are both big Alarm fans and supporters and are known to many fellow fans and Gathering attendees through performing at various taverns in Llandudno during the Gathering Weekend.  Thirdly, for those that need more convincing, Beki & Randy are lovely people and if this review can help introduce their music to new people then why the devil not!

 Album opener "Two More Hills" is a wonderful alt-Country number dripping with a lovely pedal steel guitar , in fact there are hints of country, folk , rock and even gospel on the album. Some tracks would fit very well on an Aimee Mann album especially the upbeat "Thank You For The Rain" while "Anyone But You" could easily work as a Sheryl Crow track but Beki has her own style and identity which she proves on the ballads. "Not Excused" is a simple arrangement of voice. piano and dobro which lets you focus on Beki's voice as does "Because" which just features an acoustic guitar accompaniment. One major coup is the inclusion of Duke Special as a special guest lending his easily identifiable harmonies to You Sing This Song" as well as piano and harmonies to the album closer.  

I'd like to take some time to single out that track for special praise. I must admit when scanning the cover I was surprised and honestly very wary about a track called "Tourist"as it had the legend Auschwitz/Birkenau 2016 below the title. I was slightly shocked that anyone could write a song about the location where the worst crimes against humanity in history happened but as the track started it's emotion and feelings made sure that my fears of any disrespect were quickly dispelled. The song is simply beautiful, heartfelt, moving and needs to be heard. It literally moved me to tears and is an amazing piece of songwriting, closing the album in a mournful and haunting way with a subtle violin line weaving amongst the harmonies of Beki & Duke.

"Whins and Weather" can be found on both Amazon & iTunes for ease but if you want to support new music you'd do well by buying from CDBaby by clicking HERE!

Smiley's Friends In The Afterglow Interview

As we all eagerly await the release of the brand new release from Smiley and his many friends he took time out of his birthday (bless him) to answer a few burning questions about his new masterpiece....

So let's get straight into the new album "Smiley's Friends In The Afterglow" - What can we expect?

Well, it's album number 5 in the series...it feels more mature and cohesive..Maybe I'm just getting better at it! I used some new co writers, some new friends, some old friends. Those who have heard it say it's the best one yet, there's only one way to find out  http://www.sunshinecornerstudios.co.uk/Home.html See for yourselves folks!

What made you go to social media for suggestions for the albums name?

I didn't have a title.... and I was in North Wales and was due to go and have an artwork meeting with Karl Parsons, I told him I didn't have a title and he suggested putting it out there for fun. I was staggered at how many made the effort to make suggestions (hence why they are all name checked on the sleeve)...Anyway I whittled them down to 10 and sent them to Karl the following morning. When I got to his that afternoon he had already finished the artwork! He picked "Afterglow" and the artwork is incredible! Again!....and it was tied in to Alan Thompson which made it even more meaningful.

How do you go about recording the myriad of guests that feature on the album, do you manage to get them all down to Sunshine Corner Studio when time allows or do you give specific instructions and get the part digitally transferred for you to mix?

Some come in, some send their parts, whatever suits really. I was in the studio with the Alarm and when Mikey went to get a curry I got James to play guitar on "25 Words Or Less"... you have to strike like a ninja sometimes!

Do the songs choose who you ask to guest or do you write with certain people in mind?

Some things are written with people in mind but it's mostly after they are written that I approach people. Like "25 Words Or Less" is about Iggy Pop and when I saw him at a festival in the summer Steve Norman was playing with him so that was written in the stars! Craig Adams played on "Prophecy" from his house in America, James Stevenson had to play on "25 Words Or Less" or I wouldn't share my sweets on the tour bus! And Mikey added some words to finish a couple of them. If you don't ask you don't get. I don't always have the nerve to ask...we were in the studio with Billy Duffy and I was dying to ask him but I bottled it! Next time, maybe! 

I notice Mark Warden is listed, what is his contribution and did you have any conversations with him about how to mix the album as you both have production credits to your names?

Mark is a great guitarist. I often send him tracks for his opinion and when he heard "Uprising" he asked to put some guitar on it. What he sent back was incredible! I really value Marks opinion, as a producer and as a friend.

Did James Stevenson suggest his Holy Holy band mate Jessica Lee Morgan or did you approach her after seeing her?

I met her at The Alarm show in Cardiff. I had been to see Holy Holy that week so we had a nice chat, I asked if she fancied being on a track and she played some sax on "Real Love". She's lovely, she's supporting at the Ascot show on Feb 10.

Alan Thompson features on the album, he sadly passed unexpectedly at the end of last year, I know you had a pretty special camaraderie...what can you tell us about his contribution?

Alan was my muse for the last 3 albums. Every idea, lyric, demo, string arrangement I ran past him. We were about 8 songs into "Afterglow" when he suddenly died, broke my heart, I adored him. It left a massive hole in my soul. I wrote the track "Afterglow" about him with John James Newman and then when I was mixing remembered he had played bass on "Real Love". Mixing those tracks was emotional. I played "Afterglow" to Kez and my mate Tony, when it had finished I turned around and they were in tears.

I miss him man....he was one in a million.

I have to ask this. Were there any "Friends" that you couldn't persuade to appear on this album or any that couldn't fit into the schedule?

Not on this album...there were quite a few on the last one, mostly singers. They are a funny breed, singers, I won't name them or shame them! We are still friends but they are not friends! (See what I did there?!)

The "Friends" albums are now becoming an annual thing, personally I love them and they are always amongst my hot picks for the year. Are they a labour of love or do you wish they could find a larger audience?

I love doing them! They seem to be a yearly thing now so I better pull my finger out and start writing the next one! I have noticed that people seem to be more aware of the "Friends" albums and a lot of fantastic musicians have asked to be on them now....who am I to say no, eh?

You've already started promotion of the album with an appearance on Radio 4, does this mean if time allows we will be hearing more from you when the album launches?

I will do anything to spread the word about "Afterglow", I want everyone to hear it! Everyone can share that love simply by making people aware of it...Spread the "Afterglow" love people x

I found the YouTube series of interviews released alongside "Smiley's Friend Eclectic" really interesting, will you be doing any more around "Friends In The Afterglow"?

Here you go......everything you need to know about "Afterglow" in exactly 10 minutes!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH!

Can you reveal who the band & guests will be at the album launch show in Ascot on February 10th....is this a closely kept secret or is it still fluctuating?

It's not totally in stone yet.There are some special guests coming, there's at least one Alarm member confirmed. Jessica Lee Morgan is confirmed as support and James Walsh plus others so watch this space!

The album is available to pre-order now direct from Sunshine Corner, for those attending The Gathering are you planning on having it available there prior to the official launch date?

Yes, I will have some with me. There will be a little acoustic showcase on the Thursday night, so once again watch this space! TBC

Are there any plans to maybe do a few more live dates or is this just not practical currently?

 I would love to. I will see how it goes, see if Stevenson wants to do some double headers as he has a new album out too. Especially in America, buy one Alarm member and get one free!

What are your hopes for "Friends In The Afterglow"?

For it to be heard by as many people as possible...and hopefully enjoyed!

You appeared alongside your writing partner Graham Turner on the Mike Read TV series "Tin Pan Alley" which searched for the best unsung songwriters that are out there currently. What did you get from the series and did it open any doors for you?

Not really, cheap TV.

The song featured on the series was "End Of The World" which has featured on 2 of the Friends albums ("Far Out Places" & "On Sunshine Corner") was recently covered, without your knowledge, by former Hawkwind sax player & vocalist Nik Turner who released his own "space rock" version both as a single and on his album "Life In Space". Is this still a touchy subject or does it speak to the quality of your writing that others wish to cover your songs?

At first I was quite annoyed that he hadn't asked, but then it felt complimentary. We contacted his record company and they sent us a little gift so all good on that front. Oh, and a review of his album said it was the best song on the album, can't argue with that!

Last year was a pretty hectic year for you, two Alarm albums, a huge amount of Alarm live dates as well as Archive shows (hopping back and forth from the USA to accommodate both at one stage) ....what were the highlights for you?

I LOVED touring America! Can't wait to go back. Alarm shows are ace because you look out and pretty much know everyone looking back at you! It's a family, like the Brady Bunch but cooler or The Cosby Show, without the court case!

You feature on the new Ian McNabb album "Our Future In Space" who was one of the "Friends" on both "Eclectic" and "Afterglow", what can we expect from it and are you likely to be doing any live dates in support of the release in light of the cancellation of The Icicle Works touring commitments for the year?

I love McNabb. He's ace so I would love to do some live stuff with him. His new album will be awesome.

What does this year have in store for you currently?

Well The Alarm dominate with a new album, shows in the UK, Europe & USA and finally doing some LHS stuff like Snowdon and The Grand Canyon. Plus McNabbs album & hopefully some live shows, also working with Hard Fi which will be fun. Producing some acts at Sunshine Corner and sharing the "Afterglow" love whilst writing the next one! Plus a new pup and a wife and kids....that should keep me going!

Many thanks! See you in Llandudno!

Always a pleasure Rob, looking forward to seeing everyone in a few weeks, love to you all!

SMILEY x

 

Smiley's Friends In The Afterglow preview

As you may know Smiley releases his 5th solo/friends album "Smiley's Friends In The Afterglow" on February 1st next year but if you really can't wait (to be honest I'm really looking forward to this!) there is a 2 minute "teaser" available on YouTube. 

The album is available to preorder direct from "Smiles" with the added incentive of a free badge with your order by clicking HERE!

Smiley on Soho Radio

Yesterday Smiley was the special guest of Andy Lewis his Soho Radio show. As you can guess The Alarm came up as did Archive and the show is packed with a whole host of other quality tunes!

You can hear it online for a limited time by clicking.....HERE!

Fantastic Four!

After 3 comes 4......didn't see that one coming! Smiley talks about the album production for his new album......and someone get Lola an agent!!!!

Click HERE to watch!

Smiley - Part III all write, no wrong!

Forgive the pun in the title, here's the third part of Smiley's interview regarding "Smiley's Friends Eclectic" and this time he talks us through the writing process.....can't wait to hear this album!

Watch it..... HERE!

Smiley....Part II

Hot on the heels of part one of the Smiley interview comes......PART TWO!!!! (Who saw that one coming?!)

This is shorter than the first and covers the influences for "Smiley's Friends Eclectic" and how the passing of Prince led to one of the albums tracks.

WATCH IT ......HERE!