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Impressions & Legends of Rocklands (for Costa del Thames guide)
L.A. musician, Heath -
"Stephen Heath is like a young Willie Nelson in a punk rock band. This is the CD I should have been waiting on the edge of my seat for. It blew me away.It fell out of the sky and into my ears from the gods of rock."
no fi magazine.com
http://www.myspace.com/heathrockscom -
Some feedback from HEATH on London's South East X (May 007)
"What is this place? I send a random e-mail trying to get a show, and people offer to help by forwarding to others who book me a show in a small bar in south London? And then when I show up to play, the local crowd stands directly in front of the stage, claps and yells, and then give me money for the free demos I'm handing out? This place is my favorite place EVER!
My name is Stephen Heath, and my band is called HEATH!, and we are me. That is to say, I'm a solo solo act about half the time. That was my first experience with the south London music scene two and a half years ago, and has caused me to come back twice.
I consider myself something of an expat local at this point. I stay in Brockley, I play the Fox and Firkin, Bird's Nest, Moonbow Jake's. Everyone I've met have been so helpful and into it I've just been blown away from start to finish.
The reaction I get from those across the river is, " Oooh, you don't want to go to New Cross...Lewisham? I wouldn't walk around there...etc". Well, for my money, I'm ready to move! Here's a little trip diary of my current tour so far....
Day 1 - Arrive, feeling good slept on plane, given a 20 minute grilling at customs, head to Brockley, head to Fox and Firkin see who's there and have a beer
Day2 - A little tired, walking past the DLR ( who knew David Lee Roth would have a train named after him here!?!?!) I hear someone yell "HEATH!" and see Shawn and Wilf, stalwart fans of the band. This seems to happen every few days. I like it!
Day 3 - starting to crash, memory blurring, who am I kidding, I'm no good at this.
As the beers and shows flow, I go from a rooftop gig (at The Music Complex, SE8) for FHI promo as part of the Rocklands Party (New Cross and Deptford, May 5thhttp://www.myspace.com/nxpromotions) to my second show of the day at The Fox (SE13) for Foxfest ( 2Bob, Blue Light District, Kooba Radio, Blue n Orange Studios) and play possibly my loudest show ever. I mean the crowd...I couldn't hear a thing over their singing. Totally mental. Nick from Honeycube puts me up for two night so that I'm in staggering distance of a sleeping surface ( he lives behind the Fox). Next I open day two of Foxfest w/ a mellow set, and go crazy watching the amazing line up for the rest of the day. Carl Two Bob is the man. http://www.myspace.com/twobobmusic
Now I'm settling in. General routine, head to the Lewisham or Brockley internet caf in the a.m., back home for tea, back out to The Fox, maybe down to Maggie's Cafe (SE13) to learn the difference between Chav speak, Rude Boy, Posh lingo and geezer talk. Safe innit.
Had a lovely show at the Bird's Nest, a cozy venue where you can still rock the house. Semi (Birds Nest), Kevin and Nathan (Fruit Machine Blues)make you feel right at home. http://www.myspace.com/deptfordbirdsnest
Played the Monty (Montague Arms (SE15) for those not in the know) and felt I should'a been singing sea shanty's. Had a show at the Amersham Arms (SE14) , and then played a party...twenty people in a living room singing along to every word! This does NOT happen to me in the states.
There seems to be a generosity around here that I haven't found anywhere else. I don't know what it comes from, and it certainly goes against the rough South London thing you hear about.
The only real down side I've experienced is the lack luster water pressure in UK showers. Really. As a long hair, it's a tough racket trying to rinse with a light dribble out of the shower. It's enough to make me shave my head.
The other tough aspect is the indoor smoking. Not a smoker, and hanging in a room with a bunch of smokers sucks. You haven't been able to smoke indoors in LA for years now, so it's a bit rough to get used to. But whatever, I'll breathe when I'm dead...wait, that's not right.
As I said, this is my third time over, and I plan on coming back and continuing my Docklands, Rocklands, South London residency. From Caffy (Music Tourist Board) to Ceri (Tuesday Heartbreak), Mark (William, The Blue Light Disrict, Utrophia) to Phil (The Blue Light Distruct), Carl (2bob) to Cube, Ken to Manny, Kooba Radio to Queera, 6 String/Paradise Bar (now the Royal Albert pub SE14), and too many more to mention, this place makes my year. "
Photos from HEATH'S MAY 007 TOUR at flickr.com
Last edited by musictouristboard, 29/7/2007, 7:38
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14/5/2007, 21:22
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musictouristboard
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Re: Impressions & Legends of Rocklands (for Costa del Thames guide)
Somebody once remarked that people will one day come to New Cross because of Metro Riots, they were in the vanguard of putting South East London on the international music map.
Their debut album is out Summer 007, a punky blues explosion of major league proportions, and deservedly earning praise for it. The band are natural stars. "The Metro Riots album is pure gold, But i wouldnt let them round my house for Tea" (Rhys Ifans)
Rhys Ifans, incidentally, used to live in Sanford Co-Op (SE14) and is a fan of New Cross and Deptford.
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22/6/2007, 11:26
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musictouristboard
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Fast Forward to Nov 007
Artful No.3 got loads of results, including the first mention of Costa del Thames in the press. Music Tourist Board's aim to get London's lower east side recognised as a place to visit, (c'mon make jobs for the community!) continues...
Don Letts was in New Cross and Deptford a few times. The legend's Speakers Corner events at The Albany Theatre being an amazing show. He is on the Rocklands vibe, rah!
Next week, Guardians Of The Ancient Wisdom, whose Earwax Radio Session was a highlight of Artful, appear with Donn Letts at the Punk & Politics event in Ladbroke Grove. The week after that, Metro Riots come home to New Cross!
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12/11/2007, 15:59
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