Bury (Lancashire): 1977 St. Joseph's Junior School Football Team Photo

Gosh, this is a picture that takes me back, to early or mid-1977, I think.  It was sent to me on Facebook by Henry (top right above) who I think probably got it from an 'Old Bury' Facebook site.  

Think it was from some kind of Bury School Cup competition when we, St. Joseph's, dominated another Catholic school team from Bury, Holly Mount (from up Greenmount) and somehow ended up getting beaten 2-0.  Still can't figure out how this happened to this day.

The game was played on the Bury Grammar School pitch, somewhere behind St. Gabriel's secondary school, and somebody reminded me a couple of years ago, that we were 1-0 or 2-0 down, when I had a long shot which, according to him, went through the caretaker's house window (can remember it going in the garden, not through the window, if my memory serves me right).

Amorok Live at Warsaw Prog Days 10th February 2018

Still find myself reflecting on Warsaw Prog Days a week after the event took place, that's how good it was.

Like all the other bands on the bill (Here on Earth; Gallileus; Colin Bass and Friends; and Coogans Bluff - what a varied line-up), I really enjoyed Amorok.  Guess that the haunting 'Anonymous', which Amorok came on with, and 'Nuke' with Colin Bass on vocals were my two favourite tunes of the set.

At one point, I felt almost hypnotised by Amorok as the drummer, bassist, and (female) bongo player worked in perfect unison together, while the keyboards and lead guitar glided softly over this.  In this sense, Amorok reminded me a bit of early Santana at times.

Of course, the genius behind Amorok is the multi-instrumentalist Michal Wojtas.

Mruczek

In Eastern Poland, Mruczek returned from the fields feeling hungry, so I guess that he'd had a non-profitable night with the mice.

GOLD Live at Warsaw Hydrozagadka 16th February 2018

Over the past 15 years, I've seen Warsaw develop into a great place for gigs.  Never known so many gigs in February though, and last night it was the turn of Dutch band, GOLD.

In a really short space of time, I've come to really like GOLD, female vocalist Milena Eva's voice reminds me a bit of Debbie Harry.

Really like how her serene and yet intense voice blends in with the kind of crashing guitar sounds.
 

'Shapeless' was always going to be my favourite tune of the night, it's just so beautifully melodic.

Also really liked 'White Noise', think that this tune has a great kind of marching feel to it.

OMD Live at Warsaw Progresja 11th February 2018

Went to this for pure nostalgia, have always kind of fondly associated OMD with my late 1970s/early 1980s secondary school years.  Also went to this for 'Joan of Arc' and 'Maid of Orleans', far and away my favourite two OMD tunes.

Was absolutely knackered for this gig as I'd been at the Warsaw Prog Days event at the Progresja till the early hours of the morning 'the night before'.

Colin Bass and Friends Live at Warsaw Prog Days 10th February 2018

As expected, I really enjoyed the set by Colin Bass and his friends (including some of the members of Amorok and Maciej Meller, touring member of Riverside).

The song that really caught my ear during the set was one about Santiago de Compostela.  Before this song, Colin explained that some time recently, he'd done the walking pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela and had enjoyed listening to the stories of the walkers and pilgrims that he'd met on his journey.

Would love to do the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage one day myself.

Gallileous Live at Warsaw Prog Days 10th February 2018

Going up to the Progresja on the tram early Saturday evening, I was thinking that out of all the bands I was going to see that night, Gallileous might not be my kind of thing.  But as things turned out, I really enjoyed their set, their kind of retro thing.

Enjoyed the band's first two tunes, 'Eaten By The Universe' and 'Sonic Boom', the most.  Also really liked the pounding drums and strong female vocalist.