I’m a sucker for the high lonesome sound of a steel guitar, and the news that Ben Keith has passed away is very sad. So many of my favourite Neil Young albums have Ben’s signature sound – Tonight’s The Night,  On The Beach, American Stars n’ Bars. I last saw him providing sterling musical service to Mr. Young at the Big Day Out 2009 (above, in sonic splendour, Ben stage left).

RIP, Grandpa Green.

In recent years the Pirates sailed on, impressing old and new listeners alike with their high-powered brand of rhythm and blues. Appearances become more scarce as the gentlemen grew older, but a fair amount of the old fire and skill was always in evidence. Unfeasibly loud and forceful, for a bunch of old fellas!

In the last ten years or so, Mick had stints as a sideman with Van Morrison, Paul McCartney and Bryan Ferry.. plus his share of health problems, which have, sadly, now taken their toll.

And it IS sad, because the Pirates meant a lot to me and always will. I first saw them in that 70s renaissance (at Hudderfield Polytechnic, supported by a Cambridge new wave band called The Push, and a Pakistani escapologist!) and many times since then. An understated kind of guitar genius: Paul Burlison and Wilko Johnson rolled into one, more dextrous than either and do you know what? I never ever worked out how Mick Green did what he did.

I’m just happy I saw him do it. RIP, Mick.

After the jump, a Pirates gig review I wrote for Blues in Britain..

The Pirates – Dingwalls, Camden Lock, 17th February 2000

The burly figure of Mick Green hefts his Telecaster Custom and leans into the opening bars of ‘Peter Gunn’ and suddenly I’m 18 again. For those of us present at the second coming of THE original British rockers in the late 70′s, a chance to see them in fine form once more was too good to be missed. Frank Farley and Johnny Spence complete the classic line up: September’s last Pirates blast at the Grey Horse in Kingston was supposed to be the end, but here are our heroes back again, one more time, rocking as hard as they ever have.

Mick grins at Frank, cues in the old set-opener ‘Please Don’t Touch’, and immediately everyone in the room is bouncing up and down. All that’s missing is the illuminated galleon at the back of the stage and the pirate clothes! Johnny’s shifty second-hand car dealer attitude and solid bass playing light up the room; he’s singing loud and clear. Frank keeps the pace going; you just know he’s thinking ‘How many more times can we do this?’ but the Dingwalls crowd neither mind nor care, this is original British rock and roll heaven.

And all the old favourites just keep coming. An impossible breakneck pace on ‘Gibson Martin Fender’, a thumping ‘Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee’, a faithful version of ‘Going Back Home’. “Written with Wilko, is he here?” says Mick. ‘Do The Dog’ was done as a mid-set breather. “Johnny wants to do this one” says Mick, before the less-than-politically-correct lads-on-the-pull “Four To The Bar”. “This could be a bit iffy…” precedes a sturdy version of ‘Don’t Munchen It’. “Didn’t need a break 20 years ago” remarks Johnny as the Pirates go off for a half-time livener…..

Certain elements of the crowd have been baying for ‘Lonesome Train’ all night, and the Pirates kick off the second half with that delightful tune, and a reminiscence about their youthful days, listening to Johnny Burnette records that ex-merchant seaman Frank brought back from his travels. “Who’s actually seen Johnny Kidd on stage?” shouts Mick, answered in the affirmative by a guy who “looks about eighteen!”. Mick pockets his guitar pick and does his Paul Burlison impression on “Honey Hush”, followed with another favourite “Tear It Up”. The Pirates are chatty and so obviously at home, it’s lovely to see. It’s all becoming a bit of a blur, there’s a tear in my eye…..I know I heard fine versions of “I Can Tell” and “Sweet Love On My Mind” and “You Don’t Own Me” too.

All too soon our three heroes are drawing the set to a close, with a belting ‘Milk Cow Blues’ and the anthemic “All In It Together”, and of course a blazing “Johnny B. Goode” as the encore. There’s a genuine emotional connection between band and audience, the likes of which you just don’t see these days. Sure, Johnny forgets a few words, but the rhythm is so sound and solid and, well, just plain sweaty, and Mick is still the finest rhythm guitar player on the planet.

Was this the last ever Pirates gig? If they ever turn out again, beg, borrow or steal a ticket, you won’t regret it. The Pirates, a national treasure. To steal a quip from Pete Townshend, “Guys, don’t grow old gracefully, it wouldn’t suit you”.

Pirates photo: Yukiko Akagawa

How many roads must a man walk down? Plug in your postcode and Bob Dylan will tell you.

Update: and now Bob sings Christmas songs!

Nice, unplugged.. pretty good plugged in too.

Here’s one for Steven: RIP.

(Norman the Durham miner was on strike at the time: his plea that night went unheard.. symbolic, remembering what followed.)

I thought it was about time for a catch-up, and an announcement. First up, the best music that has been piped through the ship’s tannoy over the last few months, and because it’s so good, will probably still be on the autochanger at the end of the year.

The return of the Super Furry Animals, following a couple of solo projects from Gruff Rhys and Cian Ciaran, has delighted these old ears. I loved 2003′s Phantom Power, but the recent Dark Days/Light Years could be even stronger, if not their best yet. Wit, invention, a sense of fun, tight pop songs with fuzzy psych edges, every one a winner.

Don’t take my word for it., officially download the motorik Krautrock-meets-the-daffodils ‘Inaugural Trams’ here, then run out and grab the CD. There’s lovely, isnit.

Some cracking bands coming out of Australia these days. I covered Adelaide’s Leader Cheetah in the previous post, but there’s more. How about An Horse? The best of the lot might just be The Drones.. their ‘Havilah’ album is a grower (get a free download from it here).

The Phantom Band have been elusive in the past, but seem now to have settled on a name that describes their previous shifty nature. Any road up, their ‘Checkmate Savage’ album is very nifty: diverse, dark, fulfilling. The band’s Andy Wake: “The Phantom Band are the most self-destructive, directionless, negative collection of argumentative individuals I know, who go out of their way to mess up anything that might be working in their favour. As Walt Disney once said, “we have met the enemy and he is us.” – well, Andy, if you’re all pulling in different directions, it came together nicely on tape. Thanks for the music, it’s wonderful. They’re on Chemikal Underground, and they fit right in.. fans of Mogwai and Arab Strap will have checked out this band before now. And so should you. Hell, it’s been out since January.

From last year.. I’m still enjoying The Airborne Toxic Event and their self titled debut. Don’t listen to Pitchfork – TATE might not be the second coming but it’s hard to name a more consistently enjoyable record from 2008. Which I neglected to listen to last year: more fool me.

Here they are on Letterman – the grizzled old smirker himself pops up at the end but I think he’s had fun..

And finally, Cyril..  I’ll shortly be putting together a series of ten articles entitled ‘Looking Back’ – unless I (or you?) can think of a better title. I’m going to write about ten records released in my life time, I went out and bought them pretty much on the day, and they changed my life and musical direction. The first one will be from 1973.. stay tuned. Yes, I am that old.

Plus – this blog will change appearance shortly. I’m going to get a bit radical. Fear not.

Update: A victory of sorts. Other folks say how unworkable it is. More MPs say ‘No’. Stay tuned.