The winds of change
The winds of change, unhindered, have been busily blowing the sands of time through the normally efficient mechanism of that venerable organ Blyth Power, and in the process their insidious seepings have silted up some of the works and caused stoppages and malfunctions of a nature both baffling and obscure. I am referring, of course, to the antique Georgian Atari which for so many years has dealt with the mailing list, and which towards the end of last year suffered a terminal malfunction and refused point blank to continue in harness. This has caused a delay in our outpourings but finally, thanks to the machinations of Dr McBacchus and his tireless efforts to brainwash the new PC, we are able to present you with the new all-singing, all-dancing Blyth mailout, in its revised and exciting format, with a nicely printed address on the envelope and a new layout which we hope will delight and entertain you through the declining months of winter and into the new hope of spring. Sadly Dr Mc B. has been unable to eradicate the pretentious fool who writes the thing, but there are one or two alterations that have come about as a result of his work. There has been a degree of tippy-tapping on the keyboards involved in the upgrading of the system to its new user-friendly mode, and we would be grateful if any mistakes spotted on the address labels could be brought to our attention. In particular those in German speaking countries, whose umlauts were transformed by the old machine into a bizarre congress of binary twaddle. We tried to sort it all out, but we are mere mortals. The integration of both UK and continental addresses onto one new Euro-programme may have caused some membership numbers to change, but do not despair. All it means is an improvement in our bureaucracy, and a lessening of the workload for those tireless minions at the band HQ. In real terms you're still here, we're still here, and all is well with the world. Unless, of course, your membership was due to expire at the end of 1998 (check your envelopes), in which case please get in touch and renew within the next couple of months, as the new contraption has a will of iron, a steely resolve, and an automatic function that will delete your address unless it's updated. This includes even the party faithful, whose membership we normally update as a matter of course. The whole thing is getting too large to do painstakingly by hand, and the typing pool are rebelling again. We'd like you all to stay in touch, so please do renew as soon as possible. Thanks. Thanks also to all those who sent their best wishes, and for the many Christmas cards and presents. They were much appreciated and have all been eaten, worn, read, or simply gazed upon in wonder. Thanks also for the continuing flow of stamps, donations and jolly good ideas, all of which go into the fighting fund and will help to ensure that the next fifteen years are as devoid of dull moments as the last. On a final note, before plunging into the maelstrom of Blythish activity, we are proud to launch our latest new green appeal. Packaging. You know the stuff - it comes wrapped around the CDs and records, and can be reused if you pass it back to us. Bring it along to a gig, or bundle it up in brown paper and post it back. Our new efficiency drive has located local suppliers whose prices are modest in the extreme (sorry Wiltons of London - but it's only cardboard) but every bit helps, and we are anxious to save the planet. Twice if needs be.
That band called Blyth Power
So what on earth has happened to the band? Well, to put it simply, the last line up split up back in August, and the next one is in the process of being put together. Rather than change horses mid-stream, as it were, Joseph - who now insists on being referred to as 'The Dear Leader' - decided to bide his time and take a break from the relentless touring schedule that had taken its toll of the band's morale, and has put off recruiting new members until later this year. In the meantime he has been playing sporadic solo dates, partially to keep his hand in (he claims to actually like being a musician), and partially to try and get a foot in the door of the folk scene, which has always been reluctant to admit the band in the past, encumbered as they were by drums and electronic gadgetry. But we like having a band. We also like the people who have supported the band, and who continue to do so, and we know that they like Blyth Power being a band too, so besides the ongoing solo plans, there are a couple of projects in the pipeline which we hope will meet with approval.
What Folk Music is continuing to do next
Firstly, though, the folk-singing ploy, which Joseph has been enjoying immensely, and which he has every intention of continuing once Blyth Power reconvenes. His avaricious agent has been booking him into folk clubs and arts centres, to play to the uninitiated, and this we hope will stimulate the folk scene's interest in the band later in the year. He started off touring Germany with the mighty Whisky Priests in October, confounding their followers with the chords A,D and E, and coming back to England with a degree of confidence bordering on the complacent. His best chum, at the moment, is a little guitar tuner, which lies at his feet, plugged between the guitar and the DI box, winking up at him with its LED display like a little two aspect colour light signal. Red means 'Stop, you're out of tune'. Green means 'Proceed with graceful elan'. Once, onstage at the Adelphi in Hull, he had a double amber, which really threw a spanner in the works, until he realised there was a temporary speed restriction and proceeded with caution. The only device that The Dear Leader claims to love more than this machine is the headset microphone he tried out, and which is to become a full-time part of his establishment in the green of the Spring. The demo CD, 'Death Went to Bed', has been well received by promoters and the press, although there aren't many left for sale. Those who haven't yet ordered it, or bootlegged it, are advised to book early while supplies last, as it won't be re-pressed. Forthcoming solo dates are listed overleaf, but of particular note are the dates in Reading on February 18th, with the young master Williams, and Doncaster on May 7th with Martin Carthy. Let's have a full show of orange vests in Doncaster, and see just how folky we can really be. Wob and Joseph played together in Dorchester before Christmas, and at Maggie's party in Hull in January. Both occasions ended in chaotic unrehearsed sets of Blyth Power's greatest hits. They'll probably do it again in Reading. No refunds on the night. Joseph claims his chief goal as a guitarist is to impersonate every Blyth axeman ever. So far he can just about do Neil.
Wicked People ITA
And so it came to pass that in the spring of 1998 Sue, an old friend and a long term supporter of the band, asked if we would play her at wedding the following May. And lo! We were honoured, and proud to be asked, but alas - some of the band couldn't make the date as there were anarchist drums and pipes to play, for it was to take place upon the workers day, the first of May, for which hooray, and garlands gay bedeck our parade etc.etc. But those shifty characters that were also in the band at the time hit upon a plan. We will ask Jessie and Bambi to learn the first album, and we will do the wedding with them. And so it came to pass. And The Dear Leader looked upon it and he saw that it was good, and so when he finally lost his marbles and sacked everybody last year, he hit upon this jolly scheme: "Jessie Adams and Bambi have been intimates of our humble band for a dozen years or more. Let us take Sue's wedding bash out on the road, even as our own band, and let us call it 'Blyth Power', for we like the name well, and indeed it is meet and good." And so they did. April sees the start of the Wicked Women Rolling Roadshow, featuring Blyth Power and Eastfield ITA. Sharing equipment, transport and stringfellows, we will be coming to a Blyth showroom near you with an all new live performance of 'Wicked Women, Wicked Men and Wicket Keepers'. Joseph is dead keen to be reunited with songs he hasn't played for ten years, and even keener to hear them played on a six stringed guitar. The line up will be: The Dear Leader, drums and vocals; Annie, keyboards and vocals; Jessie Adams, guitar, being an ace laugh and probably crooning a bit here and there, and Bambi, who will play bass and safeguard our immortal souls. Bambi is no stranger to Blyth Power recordings - his is the voice on the Barman ordering 'The court will rise'. Both the chaps are trainspotters of some seniority. Thus plan A. This line-up will play as and when mutually agreeable, and will give Joseph a chance to keep his hand in with a drumkit while he's recruiting locally for a band to start working towards the next new CD.
Blythstorming
Yes, those rumours are true. Not content with one band on the loose, The Dear Leader has also enlisted the aid of Barnstormer, who will be learning 'The Barman' album, for an occasional performance, and ultimately (we hope) a recording along the lines of 'Live Skull'. This is a longer term plan, and more details will be forthcoming in the fullness of time. Now then, who's up for 'Alnwick'………
What Can We Flog You Next
The eagle-eyed amongst you will note that there are no new items for sale on the order form this time round. Apologies to those awaiting the arrival of mouse mats and mugs, but they will be along soon, featuring stunning artwork by Mr Maden. We're still comparing supplier's samples, but we didn't want to delay this already overdue mailout any longer. Look out for an Ixion based T-shirt in April as well. Does anyone besides the Frogmeister want them black? Answers on a postcard please….. We have dropped the price of the remaining vinyl by £1 (such munificence) in line with our decision to depreciate its value in our accounts. The taxman was most sympathetic. Even they seem to know that no one buys records anymore, so sorry to all those crusty beggars out there who still dream of round shiny black things. You'll have to make do with Pontefract cakes. Yeeuuuchhh! Plans are afoot to release audio/video footage of the last gig at the Duchess in Leeds. We're still collecting tapes in an effort to produce the best possible end product. Anyone out there with recordings please get in touch.
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