Hair: 'I Got Life'

The cast of 'Hair' on 'This Morning' today, performing 'I Got Life':

Would You Buy A Used Continent...?

You know how memory works, how a sight or a smell or a sound can transport you back in time? For me, last week it was Cushie Butterfield (see the post below) and tonight it is Buffy Sainte-Marie on the cover of the New Musical Express from 1976 (see the eBay advert).

I used to buy the NME in 1976 (along with the occasional Sounds and Melody Maker, but mainly the eNeMEy) but I don't recall Buffy being on the cover which suggests that this was before I discovered her on a BBC2 programme about her songs. When I talk about discovering Buffy I usually say it was in 1975 or 1976, so this cover helps me identify it as 1976. I suspect the interview coincided with the release of 'Sweet America'.

I might not remember the cover or the article, but I do remember the headline, 'Would You Buy A Used Continent From This Woman?' and that's what caused my non-LSD-induced flashback. Perhaps reading the article made me want to watch the BBC2 programme? Who knows? But I *like* the photo.

Should I bid?

Me Bad with Election Fever and Love for Cushie B.

My overseas readers might not have noticed, but I've been conspicuously silent about the General Election in the UK. I haven't tweeted, updated Facebook or blogged about the election but I can't let this historic election pass with no comment in the Plastic Bag.

Thursday was polling day and I voted at about 8.30am on my way to the station to get the train to work. I always vote in the morning on my way to work rather than in the evening on my way home from work (on the basis that I might not bother if I'm tired after work). Of course, it doesn't take a genius to work out who I would vote for - I'm a Geordie and we have long memories.

Imagine my delight when the results started coming through on Thursday evening and the first few results were from Sunderland and environs - southerners, of course, to a Geordie, and a traditional footballing enemy, but sufficiently northern to say 'yah-boo sucks' to the extreme southerners nearer the Equator, y'know, Birmingham and places like that. Then it went quiet for ages before results started dribbling in.

So, we've had an election and now we face the aftermath of the election. And the last month was riddled with election fever that I couldn't join in with, so what did I do? I stimulated the economy of course, in my own small way. I seem to have bought a seemingly endless string of theatre tickets but not many gigs, more books to add the pile I have yet to read, DVDs and music. In other words, I seem to have reduced my living space at the expense of having more *things* in the house. Even digital downloads take up space, y'know. And today I added to it with the new albums from The New Pornographers and Adam Lambert (yes, some indie pop with some glitter-smashed pop).

I can just about walk from the kitchen to the bedroom without knocking over piles of books and CDs (ok, a slight exaggeration there) but will my addiction end with the election fever? New books include 'American Gods' by Neil Gaiman (well, if he's going to be Mr Amanda Palmer I ought to see what he's about), 'Block Buster', a biography of The Sweet by Dave Thompson, and 'Storage Stories' by Jim Bob (autographed, of course). New DVDs include the boxset of the second series of 'Rhoda' with Valerie Harper (imported from America since Amazon UK doesn't stock it). Hard copy CDs include Evelyn Evelyn and Jason Webley's records along with Alice Cooper's rather splendid 'Billion Dollar Babies' (my original 12" album is long gone). Download albums include Bronski Beat's 'The Age Of Consent', Jim Bob's 'Goffam' and three Malcolm McLaren albums as well as the pop noted above and a range of other stuff.

I also have another addiction to confess - I'm doing so well at listing my sins I might as well get it all off my chest. I have fallen in love with Cushie Butterfield and, as you must know, she's a big lass (with no falsies in sight). But my love is unrequited. I can't find a decent YouTube version of the song to post and neither can I find the right image. In my head I have a very clear picture of what she looks like but can I find it online? No.

When we went to see 'Oh What A Lovely War' last week the Geordie soldiers sang the start of the verse to 'Cushie Butterfield' and the song imploded my mind, bringing back memories from years ago when the song was used to advertise a beer in the late '60s or early '70s (either Newcastle Brown Ale or the Federation Brewery, I can't remember) and I just had to have the song. I found several versions online, none particularly good (there's a disgracefully trite one by erstwhile Geordie boy Sting who has surrendered his heritage for mullah if that song is anything to go by) and downloaded the least awful.

'Cushie Butterfield' is a really great song by George Ridley - or Geordie Ridley - who lived a tragically short life in the middle of the 19th Century and who wrote the classic 'Blaydon Races' (I grew up only a few miles from Blaydon so it's special to me). The main pub in Blaydon shopping centre was called the Geordie Ridley in his honour with another pub at the end of Scotswood Road being called The Cushie Butterfield (it closed years ago). I consider that a desecration of Cushie's name and have no doubt that she was based on a real woman that Mr Ridley knew, a woman bursting out of her dress with voluptuousness (the line 'She's like a bag full of sawdust tied round with a string' says it all for me).

Ms Butterfield was from Gateshead (well, she would be, wouldn't she?) and the chorus to the song sums her up:

She's a big lass and a bonny lass and she likes her beer
And they call her Cushie Butterfield and I wish she was here

I need to do more research (and I *will* find a picture of her) but, for the time being, here are the words to this great song - there are versions of the lyrics in Geordie dialect but I'll give you the more standard English version. You don't mess with Cushie!

I's a broken-hearted keelman and I's over head in love
With a young lass in Gateshead and I call her my dove.
Her name's Cushie Butterfield and she sells yellow clay,
And her cousin is a muckman and they call him Tom Grey.

Chorus: She's a big lass and a bonny lass and she likes her beer
And they call her Cushie Butterfield and I wish she was here.

Her eyes is like two holes in a blanket burnt through
Her brows in a morning would spyen a young cow
And when t' hear her shouting Will you buy any clay?
Like a candyman's trumpet it steals my heart away

You'll oft see her down at Sandgate when the fresh herring come
She's like a bag full of sawdust tied round with a string
She wears big galoshes too and her stockings once was white
And her petticoat's lilac and her hat's never straight

When I axed her to marry me she started to laugh
Now none of your monkey tricks for I like ne such chaff
Then she started a blubbing and she roared like a bull
And the chaps on the quay says I's nought but a fool

She says the chap that gets her must work every day
And when he comes home at nights he must gang and seek clay
And when he's away seeking she'll make balls and sing
O well may the keel row that my laddie's in.

Don't you love Cushie?

Fay Weldon Plays Buffy

Fay Weldon was on Desert Island Discs this morning on BBC Radio 4 and her third song (out of the eight she is allowed) was 'Little Wheel Spin And Spin' by Buffy Sainte-Marie (the original version, not the updated version from Buffy's latest album, 'Running For The Drum'). I'm not an avid listener to the programme, but I wouldn't be surprised if this was the first time a Buffy record has been chosen (although I'm sure songs by Buffy have been chose, but performed by other people).

It's nice to hear Buffy on the radio, so well done Ms Weldon.

Amanda Palmer in 'Cabaret'

"There was a cabaret, and there was a Master-of-Ceremonies and there was a city called Berlin in a country called Germany. It was the end of the world...and I was dancing with Sally Bowles and we were both asleep..."

MEINE DAMEN UND HERREN, MES DAMES ET MONSIEURS, LADIES AND GENTELEMEN... THIS FALL, WE PRESENT TO YOU as THE MASTER OF CEREMONIES with The American Repertory Theater in Kander & Ebb's hit Broadway Musical

Now, this is something I'd like to see! I saw Amanda sing 'Mein Herr' with The Dresden Dolls at the Roundhouse a few years ago (and you can too on the DVD) and I have a recording of her singing the EmCee's 'I Don't Care Much', but I want to see this.

The musical director is Lance Horne who has worked with loads of people and who I saw with Alan Cumming at his 'I Bought A Blue Car Today' show in London last year. And, coincidentally, Amanda went to see the show on the same night as me and gave me a great big Amanda-Hug afterwards.

Choreography is by Steven Mitchell Wright of The Danger Ensemble who toured with Amanda on her 'Who Killed Amanda Palmer' gigs and it's directed by Steven Bogart who worked with Amanda last year. The 'official' information is on the American Repertory Theatre site, but Amanda says she's also agreed that she can use the theatre for various after-show ninja-style events. I *need* to book a trip to Boston in September...

Amanda sings 'Mein Herr' at The Roundhouse in 2006:

Belinda Carlisle at the Jazz Cafe

Last night we went to see Belinda Carlisle at the Jazz Cafe up in Camden, a small and rather odd venue for someone of Ms Carlisle's stature, but, after she cancelled a show at the Shaw Theatre a few years ago, I'd be happy to see her anywhere. Or so I thought.

Belinda came on shortly after 9pm, bedecked in black jumper and trousers, flawless skin and silky hair - she's always had good hair and cheekbones - and a great pop voice. She was backed by a small band of two acoustic guitars, piano and percussion, so no big guitar riffs or pounding drums tonight and, you know what? It worked. They made a great sound and just right for the confines of the Jazz Caff, removing the big '80s sound from the records and giving us a slightly stripped back version that amply demonstrated what great songs Belinda has in her back catalogue.

We were treated to a one and a half hours worth of greatest hits with Belinda singing virtually everything you could want her to, including a couple of Go-Gos classics ('Our Lips Are Sealed' and 'Vacation') and two songs from her latest French album. The rest were pure gold. 'Heaven Is A Place On Earth', 'La Luna', 'Circle In The Sand', 'Runaway Horses' and the rest. My favourites were 'Live Your Life Be Free', 'Summer Rain' and the mighty 'Big Scary Animal'.

Belinda has a great stage presence, not quite aloof, but far from gushing. I loved it when with a short 'Sshh' she shushed some rowdies at the back inbetween songs. Sparse of words but when she spoke she said something worth listening to, not just mouthing platitudes to the audience. She said she's on tour with the Go-Gos for one last time in America over the summer and invited us over. She played a great set and received a rapturous applause. I'd love to see her again, but a bigger venue would be better.

The problem with the Jazz Cafe is it's size and it's name - it's quite small and there's nothing to do downstairs while you wait except gradually get more confined to one spot as people pour in and the loudspeakers play the dullest ball-less "smooth jazz" you could ever want to miss. It's endless and relentless. For a venue that hosts more '80s nights than you can shake a stick at you'd think it would get some '80s music out to celebrate the gig of one of the brightest stars of the late '80s. But no. I was jazzed to within an inch of my sanity. And standing in a confined space with little space to even shuffle my feet made my back ache. Almost every time I've been there in the past we've sat upstairs in the restaurant balcony and when I go back it will be upstairs again or not at all.

Macy Gray - 'Beauty In The World'

This somehow passed me by, the latest single from Macy Gray that's been out for a couple of months now. The new album, 'The Sellout', is available in June 2010.

Elephant Parade in London

Last summer my unhealthy habit was for the Plinth, the sixth plinth in Trafalgar Square that was transformed into a public performance space. This year it is elephants.

This weekend, painted elephants have been dotted round central London to raise the profile of the danger to the Asian elephant and to seek our support to saving them. I have ridden several Asian elephants on their home turf in the last 20 years and anything that might save the elephant is good by me.

As the Elephant Parade blurb says:

Elephant Parade is a conservation campaign that shines a multi-coloured spotlight on the urgent crisis faced by the endangered Asian elephant. Brought to you by www.elephantfamily.org, the event sees over 250 brightly painted life-size elephants located over central London this summer.

Each decorated by a different artist or celebrity, the elephants brighten and beautify the city, enhancing every park, street corner and building they grace. Running from May to July 2010, this is London’s biggest outdoor art event on record. With an estimated audience of 25 million, we aim to raise £2 million for the Asian elephant and benefit 20 UK conservation charities.

All of our elephants are for sale by auction and every bid you place is a bid for habitat. Mini elephants are available at Selfridges, 80 Regent St, 36 Carnaby St and Greenwich Central Market or at the online shop. Happy elephant spotting!

Go on, I dare you, seek out and photograph as many elephants as you can and then post them on your Facebook page or your blog, or tweet them. The more elephants the better. I will be hunting elephants with my camera from now on...

Buffy Sainte-Marie Lifetime Achievement Award

Buffy Sainte-Marie has received yet another award, the latest is the Canadian Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement this past weekend in Ottawa. The award is Canada's foremost distinction for excellence in the performing arts. The group of distinguished past winners includes Bruce Cockburn, Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, Anne Murray, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen and Oscar Peterson.

Well done Buffy!

'Oh What A Lovely War' at Richmond Theatre

On Saturday afternoon we trekked out to Richmond in Surrey to see 'Oh What A Lovely War' at the delightfully charming Richmond Theatre, a play Chris wanted to see for some unknown reason. I've never seen the show before or managed to sit through the film from start to finish so I wasn't sure what to expect. When we went into the theatre the toffs were playing cricket on the Green opposite the theatre in what could have been an Edwardian pastoral scene, with locals wandering round the Green - all that was needed was crinoline, parasols and top hats rather than jeans.

It's a Northern Stage production and has some nice Geordie voices reflecting the massive death toll of Geordies in the First World War. The blurb about the show suggests it aims to parallel the current state of affairs in Afghanistan in terms of the stalemate in the country with neither side making much progress. That's a big challenge and I don't think the show really achieved it.

It's not so much a play with a linear narrative, it's more a series of set pieces with the small cast playing multiple parts, moving from music hall song and dance to comedy pieces with bits of social commentary thrown in for good measure (such as a speech by Emily Pankhurst in the second half). The stage was largely empty with musical instruments dotted around the stage as well as some ladders and planks of wood as props. Our host for the show was Gary Kitching who moved from the cheeky-chappy comedian of the first half to the grim General Haig of the second half very convincingly with a nice line in patter changing to unflinching earnestness as the General who threw so many lives away. The rest of the cast revolved around him, fast paced and light on their toes except for when there was a need for heavy boots. And there begins my problem with the show.

There was a lot of noise, lots of stomping of heavy boots on the wooden stage, lots of drums of various sizes, and the noise kept obscuring the words and songs. Clearly, they've performed the show in the same way in lots of venues around the country so perhaps there's something about Richmond that led to the drums and boots obscuring the actors voices but I found it rather irritating. The not-so-subtle use of drums to reflect the sound of gun-fire is fine but not when it means you can't hear what people are saying and that kept happening, or at least it did for me. The other annoyance was the rather impenetrable accents that erupted from the stage whenever the cast played French, German, Belgian, etc, people that meant I didn't quite catch what Johnny Foreigner was saying some of the time - it was too much effort to pay attention.

On the plus side, I liked the minimal costumes, with actors donning a hat to reflect that he or she was now a general or grabbing a parasol to depict a genteel Edwardian lady. I liked the projections against the brick back wall, the ticker-tape effect from the BBC news with the time section reflecting the year. I liked the minimal set and props and also liked some of the actors (particularly Gary Kitching). But, overall, it didn't really engage me and all too often I was wondering what would happen next rather than focus on what was happening now.

It did, however, evoke many thoughts about the First World War, the War to End All Wars. So, in that respect, it was very successful. I rejoiced to hear a rousing rendition of the chorus of 'Cushie Butterfield' at one point when some brave Geordies took enemy trenches and found themselves too far forward and were killed by 'friendly fire'. The sound of 'Cushie Butterfield' took me back to the late '60s or early '70s when it was used as the music to a beer advert (I think - if you know better, then please tell me). It also reminded me of my Granda who survived the war but lost an arm. And one of the final songs struck me as so true, about how, when the young soldiers returned home they wouldn't speak of the horror they lived through. My Granda never did.

Coming out of the theatre, the toffs were still playing cricket. How the world moves on and yet stands still. The train back home was full of rugby fans from Twickenham drinking from cans of beer, but I had 'Cushie Butterfield' in my head - more about her later...