mrjonthehat

Click PLAY or PAUSE d:oP

2011-06-09T17:37:00.002+01:00

Click PLAY or PAUSE d:oD

Instruments I've built...

2011-06-09T17:23:00.007+01:00

The Electric Whamola:
The Tennis Racquet Banjo:
The Mandolin-Banjo:

The Electic Mandolin:
The Mountain Dulcimer:

If you would like information on making any of these instruments, please get in touch.

The Scottish Tennis Racquet Banjo

2010-09-01T13:48:00.005+01:00

For construction details visit
http://www.dennishavlena.com/ten-raq-banjo.htm

Two Videos d:oD

2010-05-02T14:17:00.002+01:00

The Socksational Band - 'SOCKS'

Hayseed Dixie - 'Bohemian Rhapsody (Live)'

Debbie Diver

2009-11-26T00:13:00.002Z

Debbie jumps out of a plane to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland !
To make a donation, contact mrjonthehat d:oD Thanks, and well done Debbie.

Mischief La-Bas Youtube Channel

2009-11-11T17:56:00.007Z

Mischief La-Bas now have a youtube channel with lots of clips that I helped create: Like the wonderful PROJECT X

CLICK HERE FOR THE CHANNEL

Some Stuff From Glasgow

2009-08-31T17:17:00.003+01:00

Ach...it defies description.

FOLKWIND - 'Urban Guerrilla' & 'Quark'

2009-06-21T17:45:00.001+01:00

Deano Does Download

2009-06-17T18:49:00.005+01:00

Deano, The Rock Dinosaur met up with friends from ANVIL and LAWNMOWER DETH - and enjoyed ZZ TOP, DRAGONFORCE and others...

Robb Reiner from ANVIL

Qualkast from LAWNMOWER DETH

More Pictures at photobucket.com :

Doctor Brü - 'Sanctuary' - The QUASIMODO epic !

2009-05-26T16:42:00.001+01:00

Kozmik + Mandolin X Absinthe = Taghairm

2009-05-24T09:47:00.001+01:00

Mischief La-Bas BUNNY BOYS - Hogmanay 1997/98

2009-05-03T23:11:00.001+01:00

Some Wickerman Mischief for May

2009-04-24T10:50:00.003+01:00

Above - our tribute to the Maypole Dance / Below - Kozmik and I play 'Corn Rigs'

Some Recent Video Work

2009-04-24T10:46:00.002+01:00

Whamola

2008-09-24T18:45:00.020+01:00

I saw Les Claypool play one with his Flying Frog Brigade :

I found the parts and built one myself following NAPOLEON XV's guidelines on youtube :

"Parts list: - Slab of oak / Steel shaft -- 5' to 6'x1"x1" / P-bass pickup (or whatever bass pickup makes you happy) / Output jack / 22 gauge wire / Bass tuning machine / Round, slim, threaded shaft (or bolt) with nuts / Screen door roller / Brass Wood screws (usually come with the brackets) / Support brackets / Finger board wood - 1"x ?" x 3' (in the video, I use 1"x1"x3' but I think one with less depth would work better).

Instructions: - 1) Cut the slab of oak to about 10". 2) Use a hand saw to put grooves for tuning machine, then chip out the wood as best as you can - (a router would do so much better of a job so borrow one if you can.). 3) Drill a hole the proper size for the tuning machine. 4) Screw the brackets into the handle and try to make them as even as possible. 5) Use a hacksaw and put a slit in the top of the steel shaft 1" down and ¾" wide - (make sure your roller fits). 6) Drill a hole through the shaft as straight as possible - (use a drill press if you have access to one) for the slim, threaded shaft (bolt) to fit through. 7) Make the bridge out of the excess oak from the handle - (use a triangle shape). It only needs to clear the pickups and fingerboard. 8) Apply glue to the fingerboard (after seeing the expansion of the gorilla glue, I advise you to try TiteBond II, as gorilla glue may throw off measurements). 9) Apply glue to the steel shaft. - (Put something between the clamps and the fingerboard, to keep it from indenting.) 10) Make a triangle of wood similar to bridge, and glue it to the fingerboard as the 'nut'. 11) Place the pickup near the bridge, (the magnets should hold it to the shaft), use a sharpie to mark the spots where holes need to be drilled. Drill the holes, then use metal screws rather then the pickup's screws, to secure it. 12) Use the hacksaw to open up a spot in the bottom of the shaft for the jack, use a method where you make the first 2 like this ___ then the next one like this / ...then use a pair of pliers and bend them so that they can be sawn. 13) Drill a hole big enough for the jack on the other side. Drill a hole at about a 45 degree angle in the bridge all the way through the first wall of the shaft. Tin your leads on to your pickup, solder some extensions and wrap them with electrical tape, feed the wires through and solder them right to the jack, (no pots!!). 14) Put the handle in the appropriate position, and feed the slim shaft (bolt) through, making sure to get the brass roller in the middle, then have some one help you hold up the string to the whamola and mark out a spot as close to the bridge as you can get without having to cut the string. 15) Drill a hole all the way through and feed the string through, string it up and have fun!" (NAPOLEONXV)

All I would add to that is this - I made my whamola out of a steel tube that had to be cut with a hacksaw and drilled with a power drill, using metalworking drill bits. A bench mounted drill is far safer than the method I used ! I'd also advise using metal for everything except the fingerboard, nut and bridge. By bolting the sections together, I was able to reposition them after my initial tests. I placed the lever further up the whamola body to bring it closer to the pulley wheel and it allows the lever to work under less strain. - ALWAYS CHECK YOUR WIRING WITH A TESTER TO AVOID ELECTRICAL SHOCK !! - Make sure the string / body / jack isn't live - and don't be afraid to experiment...there are no set dimensions or rules with this instrument. I have now added a tapered mahogany fingerboard (like you'd find on an upright bass), and am using a cheap 'D' string from a double bass, which has improved the tone and sustain - when it breaks, I may switch to an 'A' string...(mrjonthehat d:oD )

My Pics are here :

http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f289/mrjonthehat/whamola/

...and here's me trying it out for the first time...

T shirt

2008-05-30T18:09:00.001+01:00

Now screen printed in both white on black and 'embossed' on black d:oD

THE LIZARD

2008-04-17T13:36:00.000+01:00

Leggy Pee V Bruno G

2008-04-11T23:05:00.001+01:00

New & Improved MISCHIEF LA-BAS Website

2007-10-17T17:40:00.000+01:00

Please take a look at our updated website :

http://www.mischieflabas.co.uk

d:oP

Ta

theBLIMP : 'Go With The Speed Of Many Buffalo'

2007-05-10T23:14:00.000+01:00

theBLIMP 'Go With The Speed Of Many Buffalo'

|

New HAYSEED DIXIE myspace

2007-03-25T16:55:00.000+01:00

ROCKGRASS World Domination!

Spread The Word!
http://myspace.com/hsdx

HAYSEED DIXIE : 3 New Videos Exclusive

2007-03-06T23:48:00.000Z

From Album 'Weapons Of Grass Destruction' : Out 9th April (Cooking Vinyl)

Holidays In The Sun (Sex Pistols)

She Was Skinny When I Met Her :

I Don't Feel Like Dancing (Scissor Sisters)

On Tour In UK in April http://hayseed-dixie.com

'The Whangie Crow Project', 'JuraSICK Park' & 'FRANKLY ZAPPED'

2007-02-18T01:57:00.000Z

First a scary documentary, sort of ! d:oP Then an homage to the Spielberg film, and finally, our Frank Zappa tribute : All films starring movie legend Kozmik

The Whangie Crow Project

QUINN : 'Dangerous Toy'

2007-02-17T22:52:00.000Z

I can't remember exactly when I filmed this, you'll need to ask Louise & Bal, it's probably about five years ago...

SAHB 'Faith Healer' 1994

2007-02-17T15:02:00.001Z

WICKER MAN : Maypole Dance

2007-01-28T14:35:00.000Z

One of the funniest projects Mischief La-Bas have ever produced resulted in this version of the maypole dance from the 70s horror film THE WICKER MAN :

The clip below is the song (by Paul Giovanni) in Robin Hardy's film, with Walter Carr playing the School Teacher. Please compare our version with the original !

d:oP

SAHB : 1994 : St. Anthony

2007-01-27T06:22:00.000Z

A highlight from the Clyde 1 gig in Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow

Stevie Doherty keeps Alex's memory alive, alongside the original SAHBsters

I filmed this with SVHS gear from Cardonald College, I would love to find out who else has video of a great gig

d:oP

wmode="transparent" data="http://www.scotvid.com/flvideo/flvplayer.swf?file=http://www.scotvid.com/flvideo/83.flv&autoStart=false">

SAHB @ GLASGOW ABC

2007-01-19T11:45:00.000Z

Robyn Hitchcock : Classic Grand : Glasgow

2007-01-19T00:59:00.000Z

I haven't a clue why it was part of the 'Celtic Connections' festival, but tonight's gig by Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 (or Guinness 3 as they called themselves) : Scott McCaughey, Bill Rieflin, and Peter Buck (out of that R.E.M. mob)...was sheer psychedelic excellence.

Hitchcock is as mad as a spotty zebra wearing a sombrero, but the music was astounding, (highlights being 'GIVE IT TO THE SOFT BOYS' and covers of The Beatles' 'SHE SAID', and Syd Barrett's 'SEE EMILY PLAY')...No sign of Michael Stipe and Mick Mills (they appeared with the band in Oxford last week), but I was more than happy with a very lively set and I got some great pics...

For more pics :

http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f289/mrjonthehat/hitchy/

The Doug Anthony Allstars

2007-01-07T16:34:00.000Z

The Sadly missed genius of DAAS

At last, to be found on Youtube ! d:oD

SCUNNER : 'Bearing Gifts'

2006-12-21T22:15:00.000Z

SCUNNER : 'Bearing Gifts'

A wee clip from our set at Spirit : Glasgow : December 19th 2006

The track can be downloaded from :

http://www.myspace.com/scunnerscotland

HERE'S A FEW MORE SCUNNER VIDEOS :...

Rocket

Something Oblique

Zebra Grove

Hell's Bells

more on YOUTUBE

SAHB @ ABC

2006-12-15T22:16:00.000Z

The SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND featuring original '70s members Zal Cleminson, Ted and Hugh McKenna, Chris Glenn and featuring Max Maxwell on vocals played Glasgow's ABC on December 14th and were indeed sensational...

Surprise tracks 'The Tale Of The Giant Stone-eater' and 'Runaway' were fantastic, and Max's outfits (along with Chris's mask and Zal's trademark clown-face) added the glam theatricality the re-formed band have shyed away from in recent years...

Max managed to trash a mic-stand, two radio mics, a video-camera lens, and hit Zal with a plastic bottle, but it was a grand night, and it was great to hear a Glasgow crowd singing 'Vambo' and 'Delilah' again !

Tenacious D : Glasgow 11/12/06

2006-12-13T23:41:00.000Z

I love 'The D' : Tonight they went electric, through the faulty wiring of a home-made guitar...then they jammed in hell, together with Charlie Chaplin on bass, Col. Saunders on drums, and the anti-christ ("I always get mistaken for Jesus") on guitar.

A great gig !

Saxaboom !!!

Loads More Pictures Here :

http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f289/mrjonthehat/tweedle

Problematic Punk Party

2006-12-05T18:48:00.000Z

The 'Academy In The UK : 30 Years of Punk' festival at the Glasgow Carling Academy was a bit of a shambles, with poor sound quality, faulty microphones, unintentional feedback problems, lengthy stage set-ups and over-ran so badly that The Damned had their set cut to around 30 minutes (unlike headliners The Rezillos ! [why they were top of the bill I've no idea, cos they were local perhaps]).

Stars of the night were The Beat and The Damned, but both had sound problems, although they fared better than The Meteors, who sounded like they were playing inside a skip...such a shame, as what they played was brilliant... (excellent to see some classic Psychobilly, complete with flame-covered double bass).

GBH were noisy and gallus, but the crowd seemed bored...

Oh, and The Damned had excellent back-projections...clips from Nosferatu, Freaks...and The Producers ! ...and they played great versions of LOVE's "Alone Again Or" and Elton Motello's "Jetboy, Jetgirl", along with classics like "New Rose" and "Smash It Up"

d:oP

'Dirty Deeds' : Another HSDX V-Fest Clip

2006-12-03T03:08:00.000Z

Dean Dinosaur's Hayseed Dixie Rockumentary

2006-11-28T23:33:00.000Z

Hayseed Dixie : Edinburgh Liquid Rooms : Nov 06

2006-11-19T20:50:00.000Z

Pic by Geordie (taken in Manchester, featuring Deano the groupie Dinosaur!)

The best yet : Brilliant venue, great sound and wonderful playing and singing by the guys : near perfection when playing the likes of 'Paradise', 'I Didn't Wake Up This Morning' and 'Highway To Hell', which morphed into 'It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock & Roll)' Guest Reviewer Dean Dinosaur had a brilliant night, and joined the guys for the rest of the tour:

A Sold Out Show, Fantastic Sound, A Dinosaur & Great Fun in 'The Blind Beggar' Afterwards :

More Pics Here :

http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f289/mrjonthehat/liquidixie/

Hayseed Dixie 'War Pigs' : Barrowlands Nov '06

2006-11-19T20:36:00.001Z

Hayseed Dixie : Barrowlands : Nov '06

2006-11-19T20:36:00.000Z

The second of two great nights...only just recovered from Edinburgh
A brilliant, bouncy Barrowlands: Sprung floors, dancing and hundreds of bouncers !

More Pics Here :

http:/s49.photobucket.com/albums/f289/mrjonthehat/barraleyscotch//

Loopallu 2 : September in the Pool

2006-11-03T19:08:00.000Z

They laughed when I said we were going back to a festival in Ullapool in September, where last year the rain was horizontal and the mud was BLACK...They laughed when I suggested wearing stuck on 'Big Jakes' sideburns...and they laughed when I said I'd make three dozen tie-dye T Shirts for the 'Navy Seals' who'd been in touch on The Hayseed Dixie website...

...Well now it's my turn to laugh, 'cos it was fantastic...a lovely weekend of sillyness and Great music, hosted by The brilliant HAYSEED DIXIE

more pics here :

http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f289/mrjonthehat/loopy2/

Lordi : Glasgow : October 30th

2006-11-02T19:56:00.000Z

MONSTERS : EXPLOSIONS : EXPLODING BABIES : SNOW : FLAMES : CRUCIFIED CHEERLEADERS : SUPPORT BAND TURISAS PLAYING 'RA RA RASPUTIN' BATTLE-METAL STYLE : GRAVEYARD SET : TALKING SET : WINGS : AXES : SWORDS : LOUD ROCK MUSIC : BRILLIANT !!!

MORE PICS HERE :

http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f289/mrjonthehat/ohlordi/

Gogol Bordello : Glasgow Academy : Nov. 1st

2006-11-02T19:50:00.000Z

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT GIG :

MORE PICS HERE : d:oD >

http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f289/mrjonthehat/googolly/

SCUNNER : Jam For Oxes

2006-10-29T23:19:00.000Z

Of Course it would work...5 bands playing without a pause in proceedings...each new band coming on stage and taking over the last song in the set !
Actually...IT DID WORK !!! d:oP
Nobody was more surprised than me...I picked up the bass-line to Murnie's 'Spider Monkey', and we were away...
...a cracking SCUNNER set, with ROWAN from 'The Plimptons' on drums...
fun, and for charity...we should do it again some time

more pics here

http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f289/mrjonthehat/savetheoxes/

Kid Frog

2006-10-29T23:16:00.000Z

Hayseed Dixie @ V Fest

2006-09-08T18:13:00.000+01:00

V Fest :

2006-08-26T10:47:00.000+01:00

It would have been too easy to send MISCHIEF to the nearest V-Festival in Stafford, NAW ! We had to head to Chelmsford in Essex, taking a route that was single-lane in places...no fun !

Still, it was an opporchancity for THE SPIVS to do a bit of business...

Chris got married...

Priscilla and the ELVI cleaned up...

...and the kids enjoyed it...

V Fest : 2006

2006-08-24T00:40:00.000+01:00

These bad babies drink lager, straight from the bottle

I blame that Pikachu myself

Even though this Pikachu was pretty cool...

Later, we sent out CYBERSTEIN : He chased the VIPs at the back-stage party, but still couldn't blag a drink.

...Unlike Homer, who got a drink no problem !

I just was happy that we had VIP toilets !

HAYSEED DIXIE were the best band all weekend, but I did enjoy BECK's puppets...

The CHARLATANS always sound fantastic...

Rufus Wainwright was cool

And we witnessed a legendary gig by the SAW DOCTORS !

13 hours to get there, in a van with a speed limiter set at 62mph...was it worth it ?

Aye, but...

SCUNNER

2006-08-17T00:35:00.000+01:00

SCUNNER were nice enough to ask me to play some acoustic bass and banjo with them recently, promoting the album 'String Theory'...

They have a fantastic, unique sound, and a great sense of style.
I've really enjoyed the chance to be musical again...

Check out : http://www.myspace.com/scunnerscotland
Or: http://www.scunner.net

BLIMP : Jumpin' Thru The Park (At Night)

2006-08-17T00:31:00.000+01:00

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

Hayseed Dixie : Dundee

2006-07-25T00:51:00.002+01:00

A trip to Dundee to see Hayseed Dixie, straight after The Wickerman Festival seemed like a stupid idea, and it was (Debbie and I hadn't had a good night's sleep for five days, and we were shattered). But as soon as we arrived in Dundee, things picked up... We checked in to our hotel at the same time as Jake, Don Wayne and Dale (who wanted my shirt), the band went off to soundcheck, and we went for dinner (fantastic Sausages with Mash and Gravy)...oh, and there were penguins... Fat Sam's is a nightclub, complete with chrome and neon...a strange choice for a Hayseed Dixie gig perhaps...but we were reassured to see a couple of 'Outhousers' there, amid the strange melting pot of young and old rock fans, bikers and girls in cowboy hats...
Drinks in Fat Sam's were very dear ! £4 for a warm pint of Tennents in a plastic glass ! I was dismayed to discover that they didn't sell IRN BRU either...and the sound desk guy seemed to have found the only rock tape in his collection...Hendrix... still, the support band were good, and I could happily have heard a few more songs from them, as they were just getting into a nice bluesy groove when they finished their set (nice beer bottle percussion!) I think they may be coming to LOOPALLU ?
After a false start caused by a dodgy mandolin lead, Hayseed Dixie kicked off with Have A Drink On Me...the crowd seemed hesitant to come forward, giving us veterans a chance to dance, and take pictures.
As usual, three songs in to the set, and the crowd had been won over... this band spreads sheer joy, through great banter, song choice and sheer talent. It had been a while since I'd 'testified' and it seemed as if the heat in the venue, my lack of sleep, and tent-inflicted sore back were somehow swept away in the presence of my favourite band.
I have never been up so close to the band. The stage was tiny, and I was worried that my camera's flash might be too distracting for the guys, so I took a lot of pictures without a flash...forgetting to increase the shutter speed ! Cue a lot of blurred pics ! Bleh ! Anyway, I was pleased to be given the opportunity of studying Don Wayne's playing up-close...I have to accept that I will never be able to play this well...(nobody will, he's incredible!)
Highlights of the set were a rendition of The Tennessee Waltz (lost on this crowd ? Debbie and I stole a chance to dance together !), a superb Big Balls, and a surprise inclusion of I Wish I Was You...
The crowd got noisier and noisier, and I was annoyed by one woman's screaming during songs, I asked her to please wait until the song had ended...She took my complaint well, but still screamed ! Ho Hum !
Big Jake played brilliantly, and was admired by the girls near the front, ( the ladies like a sideburn apparently...to hold on to !)... one girl passed him her hat, (a good fit, surprisingly) He seemed amused by Debbie and me doing 'funny walks' to Walk This Way...
Dale, in his kilt, was a star, as usual...a cartoon character, who pleased the old Outhousers as well as the new fans...I won't reveal what was under his kilt (until after the Scottish leg of the tour finishes...)

Inverness punters be warned... You're in for a shock !

A very hot, sweaty gig, but an enjoyable one...

It was great to meet other fans, and I'm sorry that I didn't say hello to more people who have contacted me online...

If you make it to Inverness, please say 'Hello'

d:oD

SAHB @ Wickerman Fest.

2006-07-25T00:51:00.001+01:00

They are THE SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND... and at The Wickerman Festival, they were, indeed, SENSATIONAL ! There were always going to be folk who said that you couldn't have THE SENSATIONAL BAND without Alex Harvey (who died in 1982)...but here were the original band members, along with new frontman Max Maxwell, and THEY ROCKED !!!
It was a joy to watch the Wickerman crowd at the Woodward Stage grow and grow due to the sheer brilliance of this band, and genuinely warm to them, and their new singer...
Old favourites, such as Framed, Action Strasse and Faith Healer were belted out, with Zal Cleminson (in make-up and looking fighting fit), on guitar, and Chris Glen (a dead ringer for TV's Tom Urie) on bass clearly taking great pleasure from the crowd's wild applause...
...Zal in particular deserves praise for his solos. The man is a guitar god who should be studied by today's spotty teenagers (and there were more than a few in the crowd, stunned at the guy's talent, dexterity and stage presence)
Ted Mckenna on drums even took a solo, while his cousin Hugh provided impeccable keyboard playing...
This was a band that looked far removed from the same guys who played a couple of gigs as The Party Boys a few years back. The crowd sang along to Gang Bang and Boston Tea Party, and I felt that they should have been headlining the festival.
Max Maxwell, his confidence having grown immensely since the last time I saw him perform, won over the cynics, and his "I never done nothin' " appeals during Framed were well received, as were his onstage 'antics'...when he joined Zal and Chris for the 'line-up' dance section of Delilah, I was thrilled, and the crowd loved it...

Absolutely Brilliant !

T In The Park

2006-07-25T00:51:00.000+01:00

For yet another year the people at T In The Park had the good sense to allow ten of us from MISCHIEF LA-BAS to run about the site scaring people... Heavy Metal Roadies
Elvis Cleaning Co.
We also had backstage passes, which led to some great pictures !

The Strokes (above) and The Who (below)

Great fun (and not bad weather either)

Here's a wee video-clip of The Who too...

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

The Performers Campsite (or at least The Promoters Campsite where we were, was THE PLACE TO BE for after hours socialising and nonsense !

The Sulphur Children

2006-07-01T15:38:00.000+01:00

The Sulphur Children are a fantastic, festival favouring, forty fingered, funky folk family...(I wish I could add that they are from Fife, but it would be a lie !) They are Glasgow based, and are playing throughout the UK this summer.

What puts The Sulphur Children ahead of most of their contemporaries is a combination of sheer musical talent with brilliantly crafted songs. Guitarist Drew, and Miranda on Bass, achieve vocal and instrumental harmonies which most bands would kill for, and with the accompaniment of John on Bodhran, and Freya on the fiddle, The Sulphur Children can shift gear from heart-breaking tenderness to foot-stomping punky funkyness.

Comparisons are difficult (and perhaps redundant) when describing The Sulphur Children. It is clear that they acknowledge traditional roots, but they add an infectious, modern edge to the sound, with songs that are just damn well-written and played!

In the pre-download era 'Cold Heart' would have been a hit single.
It has a fantastic bass-line, a 'singalong' chorus and some lovely fiddle playing. To the band's credit, this song has become a real 'crowd-pleaser' when played at gigs. 'The Only Way Is Out' is a fragile, delicate, pretty song, which reminds me of early, psychedelic-era Fairport, (before they went all 'Hey Nonny' !), and 'Universal' admirably achieves the 'modern urban folksong' title, with an angst-ridden tenderness and a sense of despair at the state of the world today, that the James Blunts and David Grays out there would struggle to match.

Listen to The Sulphur Children at :

http://www.myspace.com/thesulphurchildren

Visit the Website :

http://www.thesulphurchildren

...Or see them live at Wickerman, and other festivals this summer.

Ani DiFranco

2006-06-17T16:51:00.000+01:00

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

Ani Is My Hero
It was about time I mentioned her here

Hayseed Dixie VideoClips Compilation

2006-05-03T10:44:00.000+01:00

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

HAYSEED DIXIE : Glasgow QM : 29th April

2006-05-01T01:34:00.000+01:00

The man in the picture below is a maniac ! He is Dale Reno. He is also the finest musician I have ever seen play...That's if you don't count his brother Don Wayne, who fortunately plays in the same band as 'Deacon' Dale.

The name of this band is

HAYSEED DIXIE

All pictures (c)mrjonthehat

A band that still sell their own T-shirts to dungaree and straw-hat wearing lads from Arran like the one above, and will gladly share a blether and a beer with anyone who offers...

A band who inspire otherwise normal people to follow them around the country, (and indeed, the world) for the sake of good drink, good times and good music !

Tonight HSDX played Glasgow's QM Union, and it was a sold-out, unforgettable experience

For Debbie and me, the evening began at prearranged rendezvous point "The Microchip", Glasgow's smallest pub allegedly, suggested by the fans who communicate through interweb OUTHOUSE http://hayseed-dixie.com This "outhouse" of The Chip bar has a stated capacity of 29...we managed 43 plus 2 barmaids ! and we sang a beautiful rendition of MOONSHINER'S DAUGHTER to the scared regulars.

Even though Hayseed Dixie have played Glasgow no less than half a dozen times in the last two years, tonight was to be the Glasgow debut of new / former bass player BIG JAKE (the T-shirts on sale depicted him as a man with a bag over his head!) I decided that he should be welcomed by well-wishers sporting his distinctive side-whiskers, so I cut up an old brown fake-fur cushion and leopardskin rug. The resulting sideburns were the epitome of coolness, as I'm sure my pictures prove.

I was lucky to get a great spot to take pictures (and mpegs, which I'll add when edited), and told the girl next to me (an ACDC fan), that she was going to love HSDX.

After opening number DIRTY DEEDS, (I won the prediction bet), she turned to me and said "You're not wrong!"

I love and admire the way HSDX win a crowd over. It's a combination of good-naturedness, Rockgrass re-workings of well-loved songs, John (Barley Scotch) Wheeler's sermon-like praise of Drink, Women and Good Times... and most of all, it's the fact that these guys are incredibly good musicians. The QM quickly became a singing, shouting, cheering crowd of good ol' boys 'n' gals. It was brilliant to witness.

Big Jake had a lot to prove to us OUTHOUSERS, replacing the excellent Jason. I was pleased to see he favoured a semi-acoustic bass (my own weapon of choice), and without a doubt, the guy can play. He has an obvious rapport with the band, particularly Don Wayne, and although his solos were less flashy than Jason's, I was very happy to see another brilliant bass player in the band, I wondered at times if he was influenced by the great Brian (Violent Femmes) Ritchie.

Dale Reno, for me at least, is the ROCKgrassSTAR of this band. Brilliant to watch, a hillbilly Angus Young, with tattoos and eyeliner. Playing brilliantly on mandolin and guitar (and the left hand to Don Wayne's right, during their now legendary BANJO-TEST)

If you haven't seen this man play, your life is missing something !

The setlist was a dream for those of us who have followed the band in the past to motels in Inverness and rain-sodden campsites in Ullapool. Welcome returns to the set were the J. Geil's Band's CENTERFOLD, and brilliant love-song I WISH I WAS YOU...

I also was delighted to hear PARADISE, John Wheeler's favourite song, played when Don Wayne and Jake nipped out to the toilets (apparently to roll the Rockgrass version of a Jazz Woodbine.)

The crowd went crazy for Green Day's HOLIDAY, (the song the band refused to mime on Top Of The Pops), HIGHWAY TO HELL, WALK THIS WAY and, of course ACE OF SPADES, but the bluegrass side of the show, KIRBY HILL, MOONSHINER'S DAUGHTER and the obligatory DUELLING BANJOS was met with the kind of thunderous, genuine, loving applause I last saw when Tenacious D played this venue.

They didn't play HELL'S BELLS or BIG BOTTOM, but I'm certainly not complaining, because what we got was brilliant, with the band spurred on by the enthusiasm of the Glasgow punters.

Don Wayne and Jake traded licks as each tried to get the other to fingerpick faster. It was incredible to watch. The true result of playing every day in a band that loves to improvise.

Then came the highlight of the show. BIG BALLS, and Dale went walkabout...

His radio-mic-ed mandolin meant that he could join the crowd...

...and he ended up on the balcony !

Don Wayne couldn't help laughing, and I had to wonder if the rest of the band guessed Dale would head upstairs...

The applause was deafening, and John seemed genuinely lost for words. Glasgow loves this band, and the "Hayseed Dixie virgins" in the crowd were definitely conquered...

... which makes it very difficult for me to comment on the above picture. (Even though we first met these girls at the Renfrew Ferry gig last November.)

T-shirts, jackets and tickets were all signed by the band (who must have been knackered), another reason why this band are more loved than your average "thank you Glasgow, there will be no encores", straight on the bus band...

Conclusion : Quite Simply THE BEST HAYSEED DIXIE GIG YET ! ! !

They are back in June, to play Stonehaven ... Then LOOPALLU !

Above this post (I hope) is my video made up of clips from the night

Painful Creatures Promo

2006-04-22T07:50:00.002+01:00

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

BIG IN FALKIRK 29-30th April 2006

2006-04-22T00:42:00.000+01:00

It must be spring, cos here's a festival... ...and MISCHIEF LA-BAS are there...
...with two performance pieces each day...
...featuring a pack of 'Falkirk Bucks'

(part wallaby, part red squirrel !)

Scotland's largest "Street Arts" festival takes place in Falkirk next weekend, featuring the world premiere of Mischief La-Bas' touring show,MONTAGUE PLACE, and a guided, Mischief tour of The Falkirk Wheel....there's live bands, lots of performance art, fireworks and...

IT'S ALL FREE ! ! !

What Do Mischief La-Bas Do ?

2006-04-19T16:58:00.000+01:00

I've been asked many times "What's Mischief La-Bas?" Here's what Ian had to say:...
From "The List" 13-27 April, 2006
IAN SMITH "Happy Streets"

Ever been confronted in the street by a mime artist on stilts wearing a dreary orange wig? If so, it's time to revisit your prejudices about street theatre, says the artistic director of Glasgow-based theatre company Mischief La-Bas.

At some point in the past 15 years we may well have interfered with you. Perhaps you saw Christmas trees running down the street pursued by a crazed axeman. Perhaps the groundsmen at some major sporting event you were watching started a spontaneous disco routine and got chased off the pitch by large hotdogs. Maybe you noticed that a 45-foot flame-belching space rocket crashed overnight into Paddy's Market, or maybe you've had your shoes shined by the Elvis Cleaning Company. That's because my company, Mischief La-Bas deals in street art, public art, "mucking about". Mission statement: 'to gently warp the underlay of the fabric of society'. Emphasis on 'gently'. The opposite of terrorism, in fact. We seek to inspire, uplift and bemuse - to flag up possibilities. And so do a whole bunch of other people.

This kind of work can be far more powerful than conventional theatre or art, where a contract is struck with the audience when you buy a ticket or enter a venue. Even buskers cut a deal, establish a convention, seek a reward. This stuff just happens when you are least expecting it - in public places. 'They don't want money?' Nothing bewilders our society more than that. (Before you ask, festivals, councils, promoters etc. usually pay for it up front.)

As a punter confronted with an 8 foot Triffid outside the chip shop you have to make a decision. 'Do I go along with this, do I throw a beer can, or do I just walk away?' (Please don't throw the beer can.) I reckon most people are delighted to have the opportunity to let loose their imagination and play along. To pop their own bubble for a minute, in fact. Like the jolt when you see a running shoplifter, you're suddenly in the moment: alive.

And it's the same for the performers. You must dismiss your obvious vulnerability and become invincible. You cannot fail. Your co-star may turn out to be a dog pissing up your leg, and they will demand equal billing. Deal with it, now. There will be no backstage banter ('bit fidgety tonight, aren't they?'); rather, the real possibility of being chased down the street with torches and pitchforks. If you want to know how easy it is to disrupt reality, but how hard to find the courage, just try walking very, very slowly down the street.

As well as intimate, interactive stuff, there's the big scale outdoor or site-specific stuff where the public are invited to attend. Here, the surprise is what can be achieved in an unsuitable environment with an impromptu crowd. Talk about inclusiveness in the arts, this IS the public at large. All of it, ASBOs not withstanding. It is heartening that the National Theatre of Scotland, in seeking a ressurection of theatre, realised that the first step is to crawl out of the little black boxes. They too, are coming out to play.

I remember watching a show by a French company, when something resembling a large pink rhinoceros came hurtling down a wire from the Finnieston Crane. Somebody desperate for politics whined in my ear : "'What's it all mean?' and I was delighted to realise that it meant a large pink rhinoceros was hurtling down a wire from the Finnieston Crane. And that was fine. It reminded me that the streets actually belong to us. From then on, if I had an idea that was so ridiculous it shouldn't be happening, I would try my damnedest to make sure it did. Hence things like the one-off Space Rocket.

After watching imported large scale touring stuff for many years, in 2004 it was about time we joined the game. Big In Falkirk gave us the kick in the pants. They invited us to put in a proposal for European money through the INSITU promoters network, and our 'Painful Creatures' proposal was chosen as one of three from Europe to get support. They liked the fact I was introducing painters and sculptors to the field, literally. The Scottish Arts Council joined in and we suddenly became international.

We premiered in Falkirk then hit the continent. Fantastic! Burning 30-foot Wickermen in the grounds of French hospitals. It would tickle me to hear Falkirk bandied about at international conferences in the same breath as Barcelona and Aurillac as a major centre of exciting new work. But actually, it is. The open-mindedness and enthusiasm of The Big in Falkirk organisers (and punters) has paid off, and for a small, rainy country Scotland is punching above its weight.

This year Mischief La-Bas will be premiering another daft experiment, 'Montague Place', a full sized fake town square, which we intend to animate with cartoon choreography every 15 minutes. As our crew don't usually rehearse and are generally pretty unfit, ( Hey ! ? d:oO ) that's quite a challenge. In fact, it's ridiculous. So lets do it.

Big in Falkirk : Sat 29th-Sun 30th April

Elvis Cleaning Company

2006-04-06T18:01:00.002+01:00

(c) Mischief La-Bas 2006 (BBC Choice "Fool's Gold")

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

Mischief La-Bas "Spiv Traders"

2006-04-06T18:01:00.001+01:00

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

VIDEO : Mischief La-Bas : "The Last Round Up"

2006-03-21T20:17:00.000Z

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

Here is my first Video Upload to Blog

(hope it works)

Made by Mischief La-Bas for the BBC's Fool's Gold

(Used by Permission (c) Mischief La-Bas : Scotland)

VIOLENT FEMMES : London 26/2/06

2006-02-28T08:49:00.001Z

The Lovely Venue....Shame About The Staff....!

There aren't many bands that I would travel to see on an overnight bus for nine hours, surrounded by farting drunks, maddies and psychos......But its different when its THE FEMMES.

You may think you don't know them, but you will have heard

BLISTER IN THE SUN...

(Dum Dum Dum Dum. Dum Dum De Dum Dum)

I can't believe that it's nearly 6 years since I last saw them live (Glasgow Garage 7 April 2000)...With Guy Hoffman on drums...But now, at Shepherd's Bush, I was going to see BONKERS, BRILLIANT Victor DeLorenzo ! and the classic VIOLENT FEMMES Line-Up....I couldn't wait ! (That is to say, Ara, Siani and I chose to get a few more beers in, and miss most of MILK KAN's support set...Didn't like them...sorry, they could play, but couldn't convince me that their rootsy/cockney folkpunk was from the heart)

From the moment THE FEMMES walked on stage, I was grinning, and singing along, and so, it seemed were at least 90% of the other punters in this splendid venue.......That is until the Empire security staff decided to be a complete bunch of nasty, jobsworthy killjoys ...!

The Greek girl next to me was reduced to tears when her camera was confiscated, Smokers were barked at, and bouncers with torches waded in to the playful moshpit below me.

I decided that any pictures I took would have to be covert jobs, with my shitty, flashless mobile phone....

the pics suck as you can see !

Enough of the rant....THE FEMMES WERE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT !

Considering that they have now been together for at least 24 years, (Chrissie Hynde gave them their break after she saw them busking), they still sound and look like a trio of buskers; admittedly, the greatest buskers you are ever likely to see, who have just been joined by the Zappa-esque guitar genius of Eugene Chadbourne, and the magnificent Horns of Dilemma, (performing mandolin and bass duties as required, in tandem with some of the greatest avant-garde horn skwonking I have ever heard)

I have to admit I have forgotten the names of these guys, and that of the session percussionist, but they all shone throughout the show.

But the HEROES OF THE NIGHT were the incredible BRIAN RICHIE who played acoustic bass in a way I NEVER WILL ACHIEVE IN A BILLION YEARS ! ! and PERFORMANCE ART-DRUM GOD DeLorenzo!....He stands, eyes shut, at his single snare, cymbal and tranceaphone, and metamorphoses into a percussion cartoon character !

I worship Ritchie, who tackled upright bass (busker style), a midi-stick thang, a japanese flute, xylophone and CONCH SHELL in the course of the night, but I have to say that VICTOR DELORENZO's performance was the one that made me smile and applaud the most.

WHY DO WE NOT SEE OTHER DRUMMERS THIS TALENTED AND ENTERTAINING ?

The seated blob (below) is the legendary Eugene Chadbourne, an avant-garde maverick who has worked with such JT Hat faves as CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN and drummer JIMMY CARL BLACK. At The Empire, Eugene's greatest moment was THE ELECTRIC SPIDER !

I was struck by the feeling that lead singer and guitarist, Gordon Gano, is not the leader of THE VIOLENT FEMMES, despite his unquestionable songwriting skills...HE has to perform each night with THE GREATEST ACOUSTIC RHYTHM SECTION IN THE WORLD !

Gano has charisma though, and a unique, immediately identifiable vocal style, which can range from heartbreakingly tender to sneeringly sleazy in an instant, and he seemed to be loving every minute of the show. Highlights for me were a stomping "Country Death Song", an unexpected, but very welcome, "Children Of The Revolution" and an immaculate rendition of "Gone Daddy Gone" which was worth my bus torture many times over.

The Shepherd's Bush Crowd were true Stars too, in the face of security paranoia...

The dancers in the pit and us freaks on the balcony had a blast

I met a lot of lovely people and exchanged numbers with many of them...

...THEN CAME THE ICING ON THE CAKE...

Sometimes it pays to hang about outside a venue

Together with two Liverpudlians, who waited with us at the Stage Door

Ara, Siani and I met THE VIOLENT FEMMES ! ! !

Danny got his copy of "Blind Leading The Naked" signed (hope you get to see this mate d:oD)

AND WE ALL GOT PHOTYS AND AUTOGRAPHS ! !

I am still BUZZING & GRINNING !

CHEERS to ARA & DJmissPINK for looking after me !

GIG OF A LIFETIME ! ! !

and the tour manager shares my surname !

(he's a "thehat" too ! ... naw, If you want to know my last name, look it up!)

More Tromolo Nonsense

2006-02-28T08:49:00.000Z

Does ma bum look big in this? Naw, cos You're Fat !

A lot of fun being had promoting next Club Tromolo

Who Are These Beautiful Ladies ?

Wullie's Fantastic Poster

(Check oot ma yella suit!)

Club Tromolo ADVERT : Oran Mor : Thurs :16/2/06

2006-02-12T16:00:00.000Z

The Flyer Tells All ! READ IT ! !

Resident Tromolo pop-heroes QUINN

Other Cool Bands Like BLACK ABBATH

(cept probly not them, cos we are recovering from our triumphant gig in RGs last Friday)

The superb JAZZ BADGER

Tromolo Has Moved To ORAN MOR :

(The Big Church at the corner of Byres Rd. and Great Western Road)

Ara and I checked it out en route to the Pantry for a Partick Pie (£1.05 for the best pie in the world, as eaten by The Big Yin, and possibly FREE TO ME if they read this!), and we agreed that ORAN MOR Is Almost Too Beautiful A Venue For CLUB TROMOLO !

All of the beauty of the venue will doubtless though, be overshadowed by the beauty of...

... Landlady Doreen (Miss Whitby 1956)

Enter the world of illusion with Mystic Sparkle, who will be appearing together with some top acts..."Who ?" You ask...Well I haven't a clue, I never read the flyer at the top of this page either, cos I'm not on it !

SEE YOU AT THE BAR !

TROMOLO

Where the hip cats go!

Cherry's Gemstones

2006-02-07T14:29:00.000Z

Why Am I Mentioning A Band From Wellington, New Zealand ?

Cos I Was Asked...

And Because

I Think YOU Should Know About CHERRY'S GEMSTONES !

To do this, and to hear a band that remind me of X-Ray Spex, The Rezillos, The Breeders, Hazel O'Connor and even my hero, Patti Smith...(Listen to "Ruby Rewind"...the slow part,...then anything off "Easter"), YOU must GO TO MYSPACE...GO ON ! NOW ! and LISTEN ! A Two Piece Band That Can Rock (Hey, if The White Stripes can do it...!)

CHERRY'S GEMSTONES is really all about Cherry herself....She Can play, her influences are impeccable, and she has other creative outlets, such as the more ambient TWIN PEEKS group, and a ROCKY HORROR ROCKESTRA (that I HAVE to see !) If The Rocky Horror Picture Show taught us one thing, it's "DON'T DREAM IT, BE IT !", and Cherry appears to have followed that command !

Just LISTEN TO THAT VOICE ! ! That's what did it for me. Like The First Time I Heard Poly Styrene sing "Oh Bondage! Up Yours!" many years ago... The hairs stood up on the back of my neck when I heard RUBY REWIND and NEON GLOW. The songs are sung, and played with the essential feeling and attitude ! You have to respect that !

And you can't help noticing CHERRY LOOKS GREAT ! Great Clothes ! Great Make Up, A Great Hat & A FANTASTIC PAIR OF....

COWBOY BOOTS !

Drummer Chippi may or may not (The saga is hard to follow) have been replaced...

...with the fabulous looking drummer above (Greta ?)

So GET TAE myspace, READ and LISTEN, ADD THEM TO YOUR FRIENDS and TELL YOUR FRIENDS....Then We'll Get Scotland's Own Hobbit, AND ONE TIME MISCHIEF LA-BAS Performer BILLY BOYD, To Pull A Few Strings Amongst His NZ Pals...

AND GET CHERRY'S GEMSTONES TO PLAY SCOTLAND ! !

I eagerly await the March release of an E.P.

For more info : Visit myspace or NZmusic website

All Pics (c) Cherry's Gemstones

http://www.myspace.com/cherrysgemstones

BLIMP / QUINN : East Kilbride Arts Centre

2006-02-04T07:40:00.000Z

This is just a quick blog posted on the same foggy night that THE BLIMP and QUINN played East Kilbride : Pics are from my phone (easier to upload) : Better Ones will follow in a day or so...

OK, I'm biased, I know these bands well, and was well up for making the car journey to EK...but this was an excellent night of music, in the grand setting of the Arts Centre theatre. The Locals were friendly, and the heckles polite..."Do the one about the buffalo ! " : noted!

THE BLIMP

Hammond Dreggs (Geddit?)

Bleached Oot Bruvs

Fuelled by beer, electric soup laced with diamond white, and a Tunnocks Caramel Log, THE BLIMP quickly won over those who hadn't sampled their Clydeside Rawkfunk sound before; Ray's Hammond sounded fantastic in the space, and "Jumpin' Through The Park" was a pure belter, as was "Rizla" with it's stoned "Thank you Barrowlands, there will be no encore" ending..."Kwallity!" as the local beside me put it...

QUINN

Tables with candles, and seated punters created a cosy atmosphere for QUINN. A screen displaying atmospheric visuals provided ambience. The crowd was soon captivated by first number "Astronauts", and the songs from new album "LUSS" which followed. Louise sang and played with impressive confidence, and the rest of the band were all given their opportunity to shine. Charlie and Robert's keyboard playing switched from Electronica, to Jazz, Trip-Hop, and even Glam Rock.

A percussion break, with great use of cowbells, was my personal favourite section of an excellent set, and the layer upon layer crescendo of "The World Is Upside Down", with Robert's incredible trumpet playing, gained the band genuine, warm applause and praise.

A Ghostly Louise

Too Much Pale Foundation

Spongebob's On The Telly Behind Yous !

An impressive night then, from two top bands, and a great indication of what Club Tromolo has in store on Feb 16th

for more, see links !

good pics will appear ere soon...honest!

PAINFUL CREATURES 04

2006-02-02T16:24:00.000Z

PAINFUL CREATURES was MISCHIEF LA-BAS' touring, outdoor show in 2004 :

Pictures (c) Mischief La-Bas
Employing the talents of the Glasgow based MISCHIEF core group, as well as established performers from throughout Europe, Painful Creatures premiered at BIG IN FALKIRK, and toured the UK...Then the show was taken to Europe, with TV coverage in Sotteville, France and Graz, Austria. In each place we visited, local performers added to our "Unfairground" and more than 100,000 people entered our world as spectators.

Alex Rigg, creator of THE WICKERMAN FESTIVAL's centrepiece, added fire to the procedings with a spectacular finale, complete with BURNING MARTYR, choreographed to Ronan Breslin's superb music.

At Mischief HQ (WASPS Studios) Glasgow, we built a vast number of props and sets for the performance...This Galleon, complete with sails and figurehead was lured by a siren, and occasionally crashed into a tree!

Artistic Director, Ian Smith, devised the show, around the theme of PAIN: His sketches were brought to life by the skills of the creative team and performers such as Empress Stah Powers

Stah is more used to hanging upside down, in clubs such as London's TORTURE GARDEN

In PAINFUL CREATURES, Stah was Medusa, contained in a room full of mirrors !

Other gruesome sites that greeted those brave enough to enter the UNFAIRGROUND included the martyr Saint Sebastian; tied to a tree and pierced with arrows, a grizly crime scene, (featuring the Psychobilly sounds of SurfGarageRock&Rollers THE STAGGERS), a military checkpoint; where torture produced confessions, and a field containing 100 bleached heads on 100 wooden stakes !

Guiding the wary spectators, were the sinister, whip-cracking carnies; tarot cards determined who would survive the ordeal !

If you want to see more, there are pictures, reviews and video clips at the link below:

http://www.mischieflabas.co.uk/painfulcreatures/index.html

LOOPALLU FEST 23/24 Sept. 2006

2006-02-01T16:42:00.001Z

*DATES JUST ANNOUNCED*

HAYSEED DIXIE'S LOOPALLU FESTIVAL

ULLAPOOL : 23 / 24 September 2006

contact jaunty hat for ticket / accommodation details

Hayseed Dixie At Glasgow Garage

2006-02-01T16:42:00.000Z

Not Just A Hayseed Dixie Gig

It was a WEEKEND OF ROCKGRASS !

Jan 28th AND 29th @ The Garage !

Saturday we had The Maryhillbillies as support. Great Name, but YAWN!

Sunday we had ELVIS !!

What a band the HSDX are, I won't bore you with my thoughts...
YOU SHOULD'VE BEEN THERE !
The Reno Bros. played better than before, and the crowd were amazed !
Jason played BASS SOLOS ! !
After Saturday's gig, we all trooped across to the Celtic Connections Club in The Holiday Inn. It was full, so Hayseed Dixie chose not to play, and instead sat in the bar, and drank and jammed with us locals...THE BAR STAFF REFUSED TO TURN OFF MTV THOUGH ! !

A BRILLIANT, DRUNKEN, DEBAUCHED NIGHT !

SUNDAY WAS HANGOVER DAY !

The Crowd In The Garage Seemed Slightly Less Psychotic Than The Saturday-nighters

I took these photos (waddayathink ?)

An unrehearsed version of A Hard Day's Night was a definite highlight, to a slick, funny and highly entertaining set...

and...John shaved his head....(for Dumbarton F.C.!)

"Baldy, baldy ! Baldy, baldy!"

"There Are Four Things A Song Can Be About:

DRINKING, KILLING, CHEATING & HELL ! !"

(Barley Scotch)

Wickerman Fest 21/22 July 2006

2006-01-24T20:55:00.000Z

The Best Kept Secret In Scottish Music !

VOTED ONE OF THE WORLD'S BEST FESTIVALS !

WICKERMAN !

I'm Only Telling You, Cos You Had The Good Taste To Read My Blog!
Three Stages / Four Tents / Loads Of Top Music / Lovely People / A Fantastic BarBonkers Brilliant Bands Like ANTIPRODUCT
For The Hippies....Steve Hillage!
For The Punks...MARKY R.A.M.O.N.E. !!!

Plus : Reggae / Trance / Ska / Folk / Weird Mad Stuff !

There's Something For Everyone, except yer typical TinthePark Punter !

http://www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk

TICKETS NOW ON SALE !

SCOTLANDS ALTERNATIVE MUSIC FESTIVAL

Featuring : Marky Ramone / AntiProduct / Steve Hillage

Loads Of Other Top Acts...

and mischief la-bas

HAYSEED DIXIE / LOOPALLU FEST.

2006-01-11T16:18:00.000Z

They Call It ROCKGRASS !

(pics : Jaunty and Hayseed-Dixie.com) You will LOVE this band !

I guarantee it. It doesn't matter what your taste in music is, you will dance, and you will applaud, and you will agree that there is no other band like Hayseed Dixie.

First of all, they CAN PLAY ! ! Oh Boy ! The sons (Don Wayne and Deacon Dale Reno), of the man who wrote "Duelling Banjos" (Yup! That song from that film...more of which later), on Banjo and Mandolin, a fantastic Bass player (Jason) and one of the greatest, funniest frontmen, (John, aka Barley Scotch), who is a hot fiddle and guitar player, as well as one of the finest singers I ever heard.

Second thing about this band is that they love the music they play...Covering RAWK classics, in a bluegrass (OR ROCKGRASS, if you will) style may sound cheesy...But SHUT UP AND LISTEN ! ! In many, many cases, these versions ROCK MORE than the originals ! (Green Day's "Holiday" and J Geils Band's "Centerfold" spring to mind)....

and what else, they are a great bunch of hard drinking, fun loving, friendly guys, who seem thrilled to be on the road to superstardom...

Inverness, Raigmore Motel

OK, I liked the idea from the start, when I heard they were at The Renfrew Ferry, back in 2004. Me, Debbie and Kozmik went down, got drunk and danced about down the front like idiots. We all agreed that the show had been amazing.

A few months later, Hayseed Dixie returned to Glasgow, and sold out The Garage, we followed them up to Inverness, to a tiny motel, which was "stowed" as we say up there ...

Check Out That Setlist (and the keys, musos!)

Deacon Dale had soon established himself as a star (This band's Angus Young !) An incredibly talented, FAST mandolin player, who could take over guitar duties when Barley played fiddle. This man is a born entertainer, and Rock Star !

The sets got longer, and better, I saw them play TinthePark, Cambridge Folk Fest, and caught them on the radio and even TopOfThePops ! One of the hardest working bands in showbusiness (On at T on same day as James Brown, and winning over those lucky enough to catch their brief, tent-bound set). I knew they could top the main stage, we talked about Scottish Festivals (Wicker Man) and the Loopallu idea was mentioned...

John ~~~~(Barley Scotch)

THE LOOPALLU FEST. 2005

Billed as "Hayseed Dixie's First Annual Little Fest In The West", the Loopallu was hard-core, drunken festival going at its most extreme. The lads played The Renfrew Ferry, Glasgow, on Wednesday 21st September, (and were kind enough to welcome Debbie and me backstage afterwards for a few bevvys), Edinburgh on Thursday night, and then we all headed north, to the beautiful town of Ullapool, on the north west coast ! IN SEPTEMBER ! IN TENTS ! IN THE WIND AND RAIN !!

But it was FANTASTIC !!

Don Wayne and Deacon Reno prove they are brothers, by playing Duelling Banjos together (Quote "If you've got a young Burt Reynolds, without the moustache, you don't go for the fat guy")

Lead Mandolin

Jason and Don Wayne

The entire population of Ullapool, plus a thousand or more visitors got extremely drunk, and danced, and generally fell about in the mud, and had an incredible time, and there was a power cut, and still we sat, in the dark, in the pub, in the afternoon...and The Undertones, and Shooglenifty were brilliant...

crowd lovin it

me in crowd

and HAYSEED DIXIE became my favourite band...

They play Glasgow Garage - Jan 28th and 29th

http://www.hayseed-dixie.com

Mischief Travel Pics

2006-01-10T12:02:00.001Z

Life On The Road... Paul O'Grady Finds Buying Drink For Glen & Me Hilarious !

Being Scotland's busiest touring Performance Art company means that the members of MISCHIEF LA-BAS have seen more Travel Lodges, and have slept through more cooked breakfasts than most people...here a few memories...

Bexhill On Sea - Next Week : Boney M !

With Elvis, in Glasgow

Hotdogs And Mustard in Winchester

Kevin Kelly's Giant Head, in Brighton

Elvi at The North Pole !

Roadies at T In The Park

Dolores' Wedding at V Fest

The Brooklyn Wise Guys Buy A Dream Cottage in Devon

Velvet Goldmine Premiere (They haven't spotted the crates of Stella!)

Caracas, Venezuela : Guests Of The Ambassador

DJ Linda Blair At Tromolo

2006-01-10T12:02:00.000Z

Club Tromolo is a monthly club night, touring round Glasgow, which features LIVE MUSIC, TOP DJs, PERFORMANCE, COMEDY, and even POETRY !

Regular acts, such as resident band QUINN, mc Mr FRANK PERCY, JAZZ BADGER and The GOVAN SEER draw large crowds who drink, dance and discuss diverse decadent developments....d'uh!

Club Tromolo was happy to welcome TRhe Exorcist's Linda Blair as guest DJ. "You Spin Me Round" was a dancefloor filler.

For More On Club Tromolo, click below...

http://www.myspace.com/clubtromolo

Quinn : TOP BAND

2006-01-07T18:28:00.000Z

QUINN are a Glasgow based group, playing the lovely music of Mrs. Louise Cooke (nee Quinn). They are resident at CLUB TROMOLO, and have travelled as far west as New Orleans, and as far east as The Balkans (East Kilbride). An Essential Hub to the musical wheel in Glasgow, QUINN have connections to everybody from THE AMPHETAMEANIES and BELLE & SEBASTIAN, to FRANZ FERDINAND and MOGWAI...

Three Glam Stars Hit The Town...prob'ly ended up in Sleazys!

Mr. & Mrs. Cooke

Please Can I Have Your Autograph ?

I could post lots of pictures of Bal and Louise and their brilliant band QUINN, but much funnier to post a link, and put up some pics of them looking silly!
http://www.myspace.com/abandcalledquinn

The D

2006-01-06T23:25:00.000Z

Live At The QM

JB (That's Mr. Jack Black to you pal !

The D signed ma geetar !

Tenacious D don't really need my support

If you haven't seen or heard Jaybles and Kage, then go to link below, ask for Lee, and tell him I sent you...

http://www.tenaciousd.com

Rockyscot

2006-01-06T18:34:00.000Z

ROCKYSCOT is an online website resource for fans of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in Scotland, although it covers events worldwide. Primarily concerned with the provision of shadowcast DR. SCOTT'S EXTRA FORKS for public screenings of the film, the website also provides a picture and resource site, as well as a noticeboard and chatroom.

Columbia gets a piggyback from Eddie's Teddy

Eddie Sucks

I have supported and contributed to the excellent Rockyscot site for umpteen and a half years. It is well worth checking out, especially by those peeps who have never seen The RHPS as it should be seen, with a SHADOWCAST, such as Dr. Scott's Extra Forks, and with audience PARTICI......pation!

http://www.rockyscot.com

Black ABBAth

2006-01-06T13:06:00.001Z

Gimme, gimme, gimme some RAWK after midnight !

I was sick and tired of everything, when I called you last night from Glasgow.....

Signed Tour Jacket

LIVE IN TOKYO (or maybe Paisley)

Black ABBAth have performed at Glasgow Green, The Halt. Club Tromolo and Budokan, Japan

Abba Songs In A Sabbath Style

(so we owe royalties to both ! Eeek!)

Why Are There No Pictures Of MEEEE ! ?

2006-01-06T13:06:00.000Z

Kozmik & Me On Our Home Planet

No, I'm Not Wearing Eyeliner !

As Glen Dickson, With Glamorous Escort

Dr. Bru & A Cyderman

Frankie Savaloy, Kozmik & Jaunty Hat Promote Casino Royale Club

Posing Git (TM)

That's My Arm !

2006-01-03T21:09:00.000Z

Q: That'll Be A Tattoo Of A Scary / Smiley Fishey ?

A: Yes d:op

Q: How Can You Take A Picture Of Your Own Upper Arm ?

A: Apparently With A Camera Phone Thingy !

Some More Mischief Manifestations (Seasonal !)

2006-01-02T21:24:00.000Z

The January Sales Prove Popular With Mischief's Dreary Shoppers

They're Behind You!...(yawn!)

Dim Kings And A Camel

Dancing About Like Idiots In Front Of 25000 People

2006-01-01T17:14:00.000Z

Some Idiots Are On The Stage !

The View From The Stage !

We Survived George Square ! Happy New Year Folks !

The punters seemed to enjoy it, and it was a laugh, and we were actually quite professional! Hope to get pictures of us from crowd POV...

KOZMIK EATEN BY TRICERATOPS !

2005-12-27T17:33:00.004Z

Kozmik Should Have Known It Was A Dundee United Fan!

C.R.A.P. Fishermen in Northern Ireland

2005-12-27T17:33:00.003Z

The Lads, (Frank has had all the luck AGAIN !)

I am about to hook a large dog.........fish

Kozmik has trouble with his flies

A couple of the members of the Castlemilk Rod Angling Partnership (CRAP) tried our hands around Bangor, in Northern Ireland. Thanks for a lovely welcome to the locals who told us to get out of the fountains and the boating pond!

Further Pictures at:...http://www.mischieflabas.co.uk

THE SULPHUR CHILDREN

2005-12-27T17:33:00.002Z

Please Take A Look At The Fine Site Of Miranda's Excellent Band...http://www.thesulphurchildren.com

The Blimp Advert

2005-12-27T17:33:00.001Z

In my humble opinion, The BLIMP are THE BEST BAND IN GLASGOW, which, by a process of simple logic, makes them THE BEST BAND IN THE UK, and possibly THE GREATEST BAND IN THE UNIVERSE ! ?

WHY DO I RATE THE BLIMP SO HIGHLY ?

They Rock, They Are Funny, They Are Original, They Are Tight, AND THEY PLAY FROM THE F***ING HEART ! (to misquote Bill Hicks!)

Songs such as JUMPING THROUGH THE PARK (at night), THE SHANGHAI (aka Evil Popeye), GO WITH THE SPEED OF MANY BUFFALO and RIZLA are instant classics.

Damn Fine On CDs "SQUARE GO" and "THE CORE SESSIONS", THE BLIMP are best served live, with a cocktail of Electric Soup, laced wi' Diamond White !

Check Oot "Bad Bitch Dog Don't Bite" Here

http://www.theblimp.rocks.it

THE BLIMP HAVE A DVD SINGLE OUT

Wicker Man Festival 2005 (pics at last!)

2005-12-27T17:33:00.000Z

That Alex Rigg has made a lovely Wicker Man, hope noone burns it!

Here, Pal, I think yer wicker man's oan fire!

The Brilliant ANTIPRODUCT

Here's JP playing Bhorann (SP?) note pot plant, pot beer (Cannabia) and sheet music

John Patterson With Honking Pal

The Sulphur Children (With Miranda and JP)

Sing Along Now... "Bungee Jumping People Die..."

Dougie Walker and Chief

Mad Cow

Oh Deer ! (Geddit?)

Have a Free Choc Ice & We Will Take Off Our Clothes

Hello, We Punk Types Love Cheese McCoy's Crisps

I'm Nigel Buckland... Bow Down Before Me Pagans!

Hello, can we get a 38 bus tae Queen's Park fae here ?

The World's Best Sniffer Dog Walks By Nelson !

FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR!

The "other" jon the hat

2005-12-27T03:48:00.000Z

Things you should check before you start a blog....

I guess that ANYONE ELSE WITH SAME (Nick)name IS HIGH ON THE LIST !!!!

Just realised that there are other "Jon The Hats" out there ! Scary stuff !

Seasons greets anyhoo...

Bring It On...Hogmanay

2005-12-22T23:25:00.000Z

If you've ever been to Glasgow, you may have seen the bunch of wasters that our Unsolicited Advisors resemble...On Hogmanay, we shall make them dance to The Village People classic YMCA, along with...

...Two Emotional Security Men !

Our second gig of the night involves these Rollers Fans:... safety in numbers!!

Heading up to Inverness to get the car, and see the folks, then back down to Glasgow for Hogmanay...

Somehow, eight of us Mischief types are on the main stage, in Glasgow's George Square, doing two insane dance pieces, which we actually REHEARSED for an hour today!

(1) YMCA

(2) Shangalang by The Bay City Rollers

Cue Bottles, Bags of Chips and anything else handy flying in our direction, still, it pays the bills, and should be a laugh if we survive...

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band

2005-12-19T20:22:00.000Z

So You've Never Heard Of Them ! ?

STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND GO LISTEN...

http://www.wunnerful.com/sahb

or for current band...

http://www.vambostillrool.com

Then Send Me A Note To Thank Me...

The Greatest Scottish Export Since TUNNOCKS and IRN BRU

Rock / Glam / Punk / Cabaret /GENIUS

IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS ALEX...

Three Decades on

VAMBO STILL ROOLZ OK

Max (becoming a star), alongside a legend

Chris, Max and Zal

The Sensational Zal Cleminson
Devil make-up, beard and shades!!
Here are some of the pics that my crap wee phone took of the SAHB show at Glasgow's Garage last Friday night...great gig, and MAX redeemed himself after his previous Glasgow show! First time I saw Zal play in his clown make-up live ! (First time since 70s anybody?)

The only low point of the night was the last minute dropping of THE BLIMP as support!! SEND COMPLAINTS TO CLP Promotions (SERIOUSLY!!!)

A Few More Manifestations

2005-12-09T20:10:00.000Z

Busy! From putting old live footage onto DVD : (Franz Ferdinand's Alex playing guitar for Louise (Quinn) Cooke's short-lived group MIKA, and old Doug Anthony All-Stars stuff), to sending Mischief crews to everywhere from Jersey to Newcastle to The Balmoral Hotel Edinburgh, and the low point of my career so far...Singing with BOBBY DAVRO !

Here a few more pics... Cossacks at T In The Park and Big Ned Babies...

A Weekend Tour

2005-11-24T20:28:00.000Z

Away on a tour this weekend, six of us in London, at The Grosvenor Hotel, and then four of us in Manchester, (at The Arndale, I reckon)...Mischief La Bas very busy at the moment, with other gigs on in Clydebank, Perth, Glasgow and Edinburgh...Packing today was a nightmare !http://www.mischieflabas.co.uk Enjoy these pics...

2005-11-24T20:25:00.000Z

OK, I look the same as normal, but it is a good likeness of Nicolette

2005-11-20T16:52:00.000Z

Just back from Leeds
well, we were trying very hard to be "from the future", and bounce about on our anti-gravity device (trampolene) in a convincing MATRIX style, but a few of the punters weren't having it, nice chili though and the two hotels in Leeds, the Bewley and The Queens were nice... ho hum, back in Glesca the noo...

Check oot the giant, Ned eating GIANT PIKACHU ! ! (cheers for this pic Jen) and a NEMI pic, which is probably copyright controlled, but wtf...

2005-11-16T22:33:00.000Z

A self portrait...minus tattoo

What to add?

2005-11-16T22:25:00.000Z

A day of running about, getting gear for gigs...got a squad heading to Canary Wharf, London tomorrow to be Paparazzi and Elvis Cleaning Co. Less than 24 hr. notice too! Me on gig in Edinburgh, at some nightclub...
Cold tonight, intit?

Dark, Wet and Windy in Glasgow, (and that's just me!)

2005-11-14T19:27:00.000Z

Ok, It's Monday night, and Glasgow is in the grip of a cold, rainy storm, so my plan of dinner with Debbie is ootrawindae ! On the net, to try and get some pics of Joel Gray (Grey?) in the film Cabaret, in order to provide a costume for a Mischief La-Bas gig next week...

Photo on the left of me (Dressed in White!!!!!) with PVC Jen at Glasgow's Cathouse

Great NEMI in today's METRO b.t.w.

2005-11-12T22:09:00.000Z

that's jon the hat

Saturday Night at Jon The Hat's

2005-11-12T21:20:00.000Z

Half past nine on a wet saturday night:

Having turned down a free ticket to see THE BLOODHOUND GANG at the Glasgow Garage (Why? Was a second hand offer, an afterthought to original offer to Debbie), I stayed home and wrote this nonsense! Failed to run a wee DOS emulator that would let me play old games, and gave up the notion of filing an online tax return...

Ho Hum!

mrjonthehat

Click PLAY or PAUSE d:oP

Instruments I've built...

The Scottish Tennis Racquet Banjo

Two Videos d:oD

Debbie Diver

Mischief La-Bas Youtube Channel

Some Stuff From Glasgow

FOLKWIND - 'Urban Guerrilla' & 'Quark'

Deano Does Download

Doctor Brü - 'Sanctuary' - The QUASIMODO epic !

Kozmik + Mandolin X Absinthe = Taghairm

Mischief La-Bas BUNNY BOYS - Hogmanay 1997/98

Some Wickerman Mischief for May

Some Recent Video Work

Whamola

T shirt

THE LIZARD

Leggy Pee V Bruno G

New & Improved MISCHIEF LA-BAS Website

theBLIMP : 'Go With The Speed Of Many Buffalo'

New HAYSEED DIXIE myspace

HAYSEED DIXIE : 3 New Videos *Exclusive*

'The Whangie Crow Project', 'JuraSICK Park' & 'FRANKLY ZAPPED'

QUINN : 'Dangerous Toy'

SAHB 'Faith Healer' 1994

WICKER MAN : Maypole Dance

SAHB : 1994 : St. Anthony

SAHB @ GLASGOW ABC

Robyn Hitchcock : Classic Grand : Glasgow

The Doug Anthony Allstars

SCUNNER : 'Bearing Gifts'

SAHB @ ABC

Tenacious D : Glasgow 11/12/06

Problematic Punk Party

'Dirty Deeds' : Another HSDX V-Fest Clip

Dean Dinosaur's Hayseed Dixie Rockumentary

Hayseed Dixie : Edinburgh Liquid Rooms : Nov 06

Hayseed Dixie 'War Pigs' : Barrowlands Nov '06

Hayseed Dixie : Barrowlands : Nov '06

Loopallu 2 : September in the Pool

Lordi : Glasgow : October 30th

Gogol Bordello : Glasgow Academy : Nov. 1st

SCUNNER : Jam For Oxes

Kid Frog

Hayseed Dixie @ V Fest

V Fest :

V Fest : 2006

SCUNNER

BLIMP : Jumpin' Thru The Park (At Night)

Hayseed Dixie : Dundee

SAHB @ Wickerman Fest.

T In The Park

The Sulphur Children

Ani DiFranco

Hayseed Dixie VideoClips Compilation

HAYSEED DIXIE : Glasgow QM : 29th April

Painful Creatures Promo

BIG IN FALKIRK 29-30th April 2006

What Do Mischief La-Bas Do ?

Elvis Cleaning Company

Mischief La-Bas "Spiv Traders"

VIDEO : Mischief La-Bas : "The Last Round Up"

VIOLENT FEMMES : London 26/2/06

More Tromolo Nonsense

Club Tromolo ADVERT : Oran Mor : Thurs :16/2/06

Cherry's Gemstones

BLIMP / QUINN : East Kilbride Arts Centre

PAINFUL CREATURES 04

LOOPALLU FEST 23/24 Sept. 2006

Hayseed Dixie At Glasgow Garage

Wickerman Fest 21/22 July 2006

HAYSEED DIXIE / LOOPALLU FEST.

Mischief Travel Pics

DJ Linda Blair At Tromolo

Quinn : *TOP BAND*

The D

Rockyscot

Black ABBAth

Why Are There No Pictures Of MEEEE ! ?

HAYSEED DIXIE : 3 New Videos Exclusive

Quinn : TOP BAND