Charity Box - The First Half

I told you about Dawn Amber Harvey's Charity Box a few weeks ago and it happened tonight. I was here. Well, I was there for the first half before the effects of a long day set in and I disappeared at a break in the proceedings.

It's quite a feat to draw together some of the names of alternative cabaret for an innovative event to raise money to continue a masters degree. That in itself deserves a round of applause for being brave enough to even try, let alone pull it off. Also worth mention is that I had a pint of Guinness for, I think, the first time this year. Well done me.

Our hostess for the evening was Eve Ferrett who sang some songs and delivered some patter and got us all singing along to the chorus of 'Crazy Horses' by The Osmonds (luckily I knew the words). We had Dexter Clark telling us about his glamourous celebrity friends and their hairstyles and the glitter-face of Marcus Reeves singing his new single, 'Black Tears', available to download on Monday. We had Sharia Law singing songs to the audience and singing the first few lines of 'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town' to me and saying I looked like Santa (yay! mission accomplished early!).

We also had the very tall Jonny Woo singing 'Dressed As A Girl' and inviting the audience on stage with him (I, obviously, declined). I liked this electro-ditty and look what I've found courtesy of YouTube:



Congratulations to Dawn for pulling all this together. And congratulations for getting on stage in a blue wig (to match her red hair) to join in Jonny's backing dance troupe! How dd I miss that photo opportunity? If you like innovation and a daring attempt to fundraise, you can put a few pounds in the coffer by clicking here.

Dawn Amber Harvey's Charity Box

Calling all you London socialites that scour the listings mags to see what trendy things might be happening. Have you noticed Dawn Amber Harvey's Charity Box on 1 November at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern?

Mx Harvey has decided to put on an evening of music, cabaret and comedy to raise money to continue her further education doing odd-themed essays and projects and bothering us all on Facebook and Twitter with her cat porn (please note how I avoided saying pussy, which would have been inappropriate). The last time I attended an Amber Harvey Production event I got splattered with tranny-blood so I've learned my lesson.

She has an array of artistes signed up to provide the entertainment including Al Pillay, Mzz Kimberley, Marcus Reeves and Dexter Clark and others so it should be fun. It's ages since I've been to the RVT so I may as well pay a visit and line Mx Harvey's coffers with silver (I wonder how many words of an essay the entrance fee will buy?).

If you're at a loss for what to do that night you could do worse that turn up for the show - it's only £6 to get in after all. And I'm sure she'll play a classic SLADE track for those of a certain age...

Tom Tom Club - 'Downtown Rockers'

Those bouncy people at Tom Tom Club released a new EP/LP a few weeks back called 'Downtown Rockers' and now there's a video. You must watch it since it is black 'n' white fab with some truly antique video clips of people like Debbie Harry and more of your New York '70s favourites. Personally, I just love the way they sing 'rockerz' with a 'z' rather than an 's'.

Chris names the bands from the New York underground scene in the late '60s and '70s while Tina and Victoria sing the chorus of 'Downtown rockerz, I remember you, Downtoen rockers, I will still love you' with the rest of the band with a spikey guitar riff and drums thumping away. He starts with 'The Velvet Underground, The Modern Lovers, The New York Dolls, Patti Smith...' and moves on to The Ramones, Blondie and everyone you could wish for. He even name-checks The Shirts (I still have their single 'Tell Me Your Plans'). The last name is (appropriately) Talking Heads.

Chris is quoted somewhere as saying that this song is their version of the books that everyone seems to be writing these days about the downtown music scene in the '70s. Immortalise their names (if that's needed) in song rather than print and it's lovely to hear some of the names in the list that risk falling by the wayside. A fitting tribute.

I can't think of Tina and Chris without recalling their show at the Great Eastern Hotel years ago when I caught Tina's warm CBGB knickers when she threw them into the crowd (she was wearing others underneath). Earlier in the evening it was lovely to wander round with Chris and Dawn and marvel at the City media kids pretending to be CBGB punks for the evening (and getting it so wrong) and then, out of the blue, there were Tina and Chris walking up to give Dawn a big hug. They're nice people.

Anyway, watch the video, download the album and enjoy!