Attention local music lovers...

POINTBLANKTEESSIDE

POINTBLANKTEESSIDE

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Alleviate the lockdown boredom with the brand new POINT BLANK TEESSIDE fanzine PDF - #18

Featuring interviews with loads of great local acts including: Amelia Coburn, Be Quiet. Shout Loud!, Grim Lizard, Jim Riggall, The Inklings, Demon Summer, Hot Rockets, Marines and plenty more.

We’ve also got a superb feature on recent local online gig streams - Jodie Nicholson, Joe Ramsey, Kaitlyn Kempen (Komparrison) and Michael McCluskey (Nice Guy).

If that’s not enough there’s columns and a number of bands reflecting on their time playing up here in sunny Teesside.

Download #18 (and previous editions) below:

www.pointblankteesside.com
 
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Really enjoyed reading the fanzine - Obviously I love the fanzine format - the Q and A interviews, everyone has their say without the middle man putting words into their mouths. And the way you just pitch into every item with such verve and enthusiasm.
Really interesting to hear how the artists have enjoyed their lockdown live gig streams. I watched some of Michael McCluskey last weekend from the Georgian - really enjoyed it. He was a new one for me. No gigs then but the live streams can be an opportunity to reach out to a new audience. I can well imagine the nerves of performing to a little screen rather than a crowd.
There is a great Town Hall memory from Bazza - on how he stood up Ray Davies at the stage door. I wonder if anyone else reading this was at that gig in 1984.
Oh and talking of Bazza - am going to check out his recommendation of Martin Newell - The Greatest Living Englishman - but am fascinated by the mention of Martin Newell breaking off from recording for a 3 month poetry residency in Middlesbrough - I wonder where, why and how? Does anyone know.
Great fanzine this Point Blank Teesside - fantastic for the area. Appreciated by the musicians and audience alike. It really makes you feel like you belong to a scene with a quality fanzine to chronicle things.
 
Martin Newell has done some decent stuff either solo or as I remember him with the Cleaners From Venus. Giles Smith the (now)writer/journalist wrote a very funny book on his time with The Cleaners From Venus. Its called Lost In Music. You can get used copies on Amazon dirt cheap. Here is an extract from a review in the Independent.

Lost in Music captures perfectly the illogicality, the unreason, the sheer stupidity of dreaming about being in a band, of yearning to be Sting, of wanting other pop stars as your friends. Smith usefully lists the steps that brought the Cleaners to a recording contract. Here they are for you to cut out 'n' keep:

"1) You send your music to a former member of the Damned.

2) He plays it to a 24-year-old Scotsman in a cheap suit.

3) The Scotsman flies to Cannes and gets drunk.

4) A German woman picks up the tape in Cannes and flies with it back to Hamburg.

5) The German woman plays it to a Beatles fan at RCA Germany.

6) A major record company awards you a three-album contract."
 
Cheers Rob.. always good to hear when someone enjoys and appreciates the effort out in.

There are plenty of music fans out there in Teesside, it’s just about promotion.

Regarding the book ‘Lost in Music’ I was recommended this by a teacher when I was in college and loved it. I was unable to find any of Martin Newell’s music at the time but since getting Spotify I’ve enjoyed it. The album mentioned by Bazza is a great bit of pop and well worth listening to 👍
 
I wonder where he was poet in residence, exactly. I cannot recall coming across him at the time.
Some great interviews in this issue PB. Nice to hear from Julie Grant who is experiencing a real renaissance - I well remember Julie recording at Studio 64 when I was part of the music collective that operated from there on Corporation Road. And great you have given recognition to Oliver Terry on his handing over the keys to Music Lounge - end of an era after being such a brilliant platform for local up and coming music makers over the past few years.
 
Had a great time interviewing Julie whilst listening to her LP. Fantastic woman and some great songs / ideas.

Yeah, sad about Musiclounge as I had some great nights in there and was a proper DIY haunt. Oil’s a decent guy and the place was worthy of a tribute.

There’s a few relatively unknown up and coming local acts in the edition too, same as the one I’m currently working on. Great to give time and exposure to some of these young bands.
 
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