‘Remaining Act of Resistance – A Evening of Music To Bear in mind Simon Holliday
Friday 6 December 2024 on the Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth, with all proceeds going to The LifeHouse
From a musical standpoint, that is gonna be a fully cracking gig! Noisy guitars a-plenty and nice tunes and that indefinable, underground essence of us towards the remainder of the world. There’ll simply be one particular person lacking. There solely in spirit.
Musician & songwriter Simon Holliday died on 15 March 2024 and this celebration of his life and music options most, if not all, of the bands he was part of through the years.
Though he was from Portsmouth initially he lived in North London for a few years and was part of the noisy, messy scene that included the Too Pure label bands within the early 1990’s.
His band The Unbelievers contributed a monitor to the very first Too Pure launch – a reside compilation album known as Now Thats Disgusting Music – Dwell At The Sausage Machine, which featured Mega Metropolis 4, Snuff, Silverfish and th’ Religion Healers. It was earlier than the label signed PJ Harvey.
After that he performed bass in Artwork Journey & The Static Sound who sound like the best cult band you’ve by no means heard of. Or I’d by no means heard of, regardless of the actual fact LTW reviewed them in 2017.
…their knack for societal commentary, righteous anger and political rage pulls from a broader musical palette than simply ‘70s punk. With a blistering stage presence that manages to be each confrontational and inclusive, the band’s recorded efforts aren’t any much less spectacular, and definitely no much less instant. (c) Sarah Lay for LTW
There’s a large again catalogue to take a look at on Bandcamp and I can’t wait to see them reside on 6 December.
I solely met Simon a pair instances in recent times when he returned to Portsmouth and fashioned the Milton Underground Resistance with Steve Duffield, Pete Hutchinson and later Matt Loten. Their first album, confusingly known as ‘Demo‘ I reviewed right here. I adored his songs, as you possibly can inform. And his vocals.
“It’s a bit Syd Barrett, a bit Peter Perrett however is simply so good (Tries to think about an analogy that’s not the previous -a voice like honey dripping off a spoon…)”. It was a bit embarrassing after I met him after writing that. However like most large skills on the periphery of success as a musician he appeared only a nice bloke, a bit shy, however captivated with his band, in that Pompey custom of self-deprecation.
A later launch, beneath the identify Microwave Wankers was Si and pals at their most Lo-Fi. The EP was ‘recorded on a cellphone’. I reviewed it right here – and was very happy when Simon permitted. “Thanks for the improbable overview each nail hit on the top.”
It was a shock when Simon handed – as detailed on this overview of his pals and bandmates The Wonky Folks who went forward and performed a charity gig 24 hours after information of his loss of life broke.
The Pompey storage scene from The Delicate Mannered Janitors onwards has all the time had quite a lot of bands made up from the identical pool of musicians and the Milton Underground Resistance / The Wonky Folks are the easiest of the lot, and this ‘closing’ efficiency beneath the Resistance identify shall be emotional however quite a lot of enjoyable. There could be cock-ups and banter however the songs are priceless and traditional.
A full supporting forged on the sixth embody Simons nieces who’re the band Skinny Lady Weight-reduction plan (taking part in a DJ set), and Southsea band The Elephant Cage in addition to bunch of reprobates known as Thee Jake Legs (who embody numerous members of the Delicate Mannered Janitors and Thee Lonely Hearts)
My head’s stuffed with metropolis noise / However, I nonetheless hear your voice…
Tickets from Right here – lets pack the place – solely a tenner.
Shambotic / Previous Unhealthy Habits have right this moment made the next out there once more to obtain at a knockdown value.
Milton Underground Resistance – Demo
Microwave Wankers EP
All phrases Ged Babey
I used to be late getting this piece collectively so if any of Simons household, pals and former band-mates need to add to this piece to pay tribute to the person and the artist, message me on Fb or depart a remark. xx (GB)
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