So now here we are & it’s 2012…I trust y’all have had a good break and managed to get some sand in between your feets and the jandal sole. I’m sure it’s been summer somewhere but here in Wellington I’d agree with Mr Tom Scott when he wrote something along the lines of “I don’t mind the whole ’4 seasons in one day’ thing, but could at least ONE of them be summer?

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.

Hey hey it’s now officially December, the time when thoughts turn to barbeques, jandals, the beach, and, of course, the time when we all Pause and Remember the Birth of Santa! Yup that’s right folks, no matter how long it’s been in coming since last time, it never fails to catch us out with a myriad & one things ta do before festivities overtake us.

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’!

Hey yeah, uh huh…despite the Game and Cup etc That Cannot Be Mentioned’s best efforts to keep folks away from Don’s door, the place at Voodoo was packed to the (pan fried blackened) gills last week! So although we Sensitively and Empathetically (the “em” is very important, folks!) played along to all the folks enjoying their meals, we couldn’t help but Hit the Groove, thanks to the appreciative audience. Aided and abetted by several latecomers who not only cheered our good selves on, but bought lots of CDs as well. Thanks.

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.

Just a quick one-played our first gig since the Famous Fractured Wrist event, last Friday night (7th October) at Lembas. It was our 2nd ever gig there-what a place! The food is great, the ambience is at least as good. The acoustics of the place are really helped by the novel ceiling design-all this adds up to a Great Gig. Not to mention the people who: (a) operate the cafe and cook the food (and Gail also makes the most amazing mirrors, some of which are on display at the cafe-she is the Frida Carlo of mirror design), but also (b) the wonderful folks who make up our audience.

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…).

Just a quick note re the latest updates-check the “Upcoming” for recently added gigs-thanks for your patience, Mr DD Cliburn of Voodoo. Don’t forget to check out the gen-yoo-ine New Orleans gumbo while you’re there, folks! It’s the best in town!

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)!

And dat de troof! The late Billy Boy Fretmelt had his cast removed by Those In The Know (who also wielded a very scary sharp electrical instrument) last Thursday. And not a moment too soon cos as everyone except himself knew: THERE IS NOTHING TO WATCH ON TV and that’s all he could do week after week. Oh, and listen to music, which was a Good Thing. Let’s hear it once more for the 10 buck double cd of Western Swing c.1936 – 1946. My how those guys and gals could swing! That stuff is waaayy closer to the blues than western (and then Country and Western) music later became. Small wonder that, combined with the blues, rock n roll came from the US of A. One of the better exports! (that and the Ford Customline) (and electric guitars).

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.

Yup well there ya go-we’ve just had to cancel 4 (count ‘em!!) shows thanks to the Hon. Mr. Wood Esq. managing to fracture his wrist in the course of carrying out his Duty to Queen & Country (well, earning his daily bread really). Remember to USE THE STEPS next time, Mr Wood! As you can guess, playing guitar is not much fun with your fretboard hand & arm all wound up in a plaster cast.

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.

Well maybe not EVERYTHING…but quite a lot really. New website for a start, as I’m sure you’ve noticed. Also we have a whole bunch of new songs that we’ve been honing to perfection (well, perfection’s never been our strong point and for good reason-it’s all the imperfections in the weft & warp of this material that make it what it is. Otherwise you might be forgiven for thinking we’re Justin Bieber).

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…