So anyhoo it’s now actually the 2nd month of 2012 and the Heads are FINALLY doing something about it! Check out the Upcoming column to see the gigs as they appear…at the mo we are playing at the Bristol in March which may be our first of the year. It’ll be a bash to remember (at least, I hope I remember it). Really. New songs, new music, and hopefully one repaired Stratocaster.

Went to the Southern Cross last Friday to see Tom Rodwell (aka Storehouse) who played as fine a set of primitive blues/gospel/calypso as you’d hear anywhere. Just him & guitar, an amazingly tuned-in drummer, and a plywood box that he stomped on to keep time, a la early John Lee Hooker (alright, John Lee used bottle tops on the soles of his shoes, but you get the picture). It being a 7s night, there was us and about 30 other people in the audience interested in what he was doing. Mos’ DEF’ the rest of youse’s loss! Check him out on Google or whatever system you use on the World Wide Waste of Time.

And sadly: RIP

Mary Yandall; Hubert Sumlin; Ritchie Pickett; Blanket Man.

Plus I’m not even gon’ mention the election here (oops!) As a friend of mine points out, doesn’t matter who you vote for, it’s always a politician who gets elected.

But I WILL mention the several gigs we’ve played lately, including the Bent Horseshoe! What kinda craazy thinking is it to go way out past the Middle of Nowhere across to its outer edge, put up an old schoolhouse, call it a cafe and expect people to come? That, my friends, is what the aforementioned BH people have done, and you know what? It works!! We had a full house, great food, and great acoustics. Can’t go wrong in a setup like that. Thanks to all the staff, and all the great people who made the trek out there (the setting is GORGEOUS). If you go there, don’t forget to try the shepherd’s pie. Haven’t had anything like that since the last time my Mum made it. Which was a long time ago.

Plus gigs at Voodoo where the food is good but the payments are bad (I hopefully will be able to edit this soon) and Zaks, which is a VERY pleasant cafe and Zak himself is a jazz guitar player which made the jazz guitar players among us feel they needed to show off a bit.

Anyhoo, we may not get back to this rant page (“news”!! bwahaha!!) before Christmas, so ya’ll have a good one, please don’t overdo it (in front of the children) travel safely & we’ll see ya’ll somewhere next year fo’ sho’!

Turns out this band is a whole lot like Mike Mulligan’s Steam Shovel (if you haven’t read this wonderful literary piece de resistance, you better. And QUICK!). The more people who stop and watch us, the harder and faster we work! True.

Anyhoo we’re gonna be doing that all over again this Friday so, as they say, the fun never ends.

Next Saturday (29th October) we’ll be at the Bent Horseshoe at Tokomaru, enjoying the various bucolic splendours such a fine place has to offer.

See you at one of these in the next wee while.

Thanks one & all for another great gig. We’ll be back! (Next stop: Voodoo on Manners. Just don’t get smacked over by the buses…).

Also note we’re at the Bent Horseshoe in Tokomaru on the 29th of next month. The should be a Mighty. Fine. Gig. (as are they all…).

Lastly-finally got some new pics up in the gallery-about time too as we’re such a handsome bunch a guys! Many of these were taken at our last (sold out!!) appearance at the St James in Courtenay Place. Many thanks to all who came & made it such a memorable event. And to the erstwhile Tony P who went beyond the call of duty (& what we pay him) to ensure the sound quality was excellent. You are to us what a carrot is to a rabbit-a diamond (to bastardise Captain Beefheart somewhat)!

Anyhoo we will be gigging again!! YES WE WILL! Starting on Friday 7th October at Lembas and going on from there. Keep an eye on the “Upcoming” section of our web page. See yez at one of those.

So apologies to all those who were hanging out for another heapin’ helpin’ of the Wellington Heads’ view of the world & its discontents…the new songs were jus’ coming along nicely too. Still, it won’t take long to be back where we belong-apparently another 3 weeks according to those WACKY boys & girls at Wellington Hospital. And while we’re on that subject, Bill has absolutely no complaints regarding the help and treatment there. It’s all been great. Hasn’t stopped him coming over all “young and wristless” though. Watch this space.

Also a whole bunch of new venues to play at. We are very sad about some of the good ones that didn’t make it to the end…Ruby Lounge being the latest fatality here. We extend our sympathy to Laura and her compadres and thanks for the great gigs we both played there & attended in our much more responsible role as punters.

So take a look at where we’re playing, and come and check out the venues & the new songs. Spring is in the air (well, if you use your imagination…