PHC NEWS
'...I have booked this band four times now, once for a beer festival in Malvern in 2017 and three times at an outdoor festival, CwmFest in rural Hereforshire in 2017, 2018 and 2019...'
Ralph T - CwmFest Organiser
I Wanna Play Some Guitar !
We are sitting around drinking red wine and shooting the sh*t when suddenly Susie says she wants to play some guitar...
And of course in ten minutes she's already playing...
||: G5 / / / | Em7 / / / | C5add9 / / / | Dsus4 / / / :||
The Gig at Dusty's
Last night was the usual mix of highs and lows.
I was pretty exhausted due to being awakened by my mother at 5.20 AM. Then after later taking her shopping and a few hours teaching the long drive to High Wycombe through the Cotswolds and Oxford. Stopped off in Burford for a bite to eat at Hunters Cakery, which I’d certainly recommend if you’re ever in the locality.
The gig was at a sports centre in Holmer Green. The other act (who were actually very good - excellent acoustic guitar playing with a novel harmonic approach) who have played at Dusty’s a few times in the past did the time-honoured ‘can we play through your PA pretty please’ thing. This meant putting my PA engineering hat on for an hour or so to get their sound working. After some teething issues that finally went well and the audience absolutely loved them.
So that puts us freakin’ newbies on the spot !
We started with some of our less noisy material and worked up to the more raucous performative blues tunes ending with JJ Cale’s ‘Tulsa Time’ with Susie singing the lead vocal. They loved it, insisting on an encore. We of course obliged playing our version of the Stones classic ‘Honky Tonk Women’, complete with authentic ‘Keef’ style G tuning. The famed ‘Dusty’ (a twenty five year plus veteran at running the eponymous local blues club) was effusive in his praise - so a job well done.
Psychedelic Hearts Club’s first contact with the UK blues scene a success !
Driving home was another story - it started well enough driving through rural Buckinghamshire. Who knew Beaconsfield was such a pretty town ? Then things started to go steadily sideways - the M25 South was closed resulting in us driving aimlessly around Surrey for around forty minutes with me trying to follow Susie’s Subaru XV in heavy aggressive traffic. Finally lost sight of her and struck out on my own only to pull up behind her thirty minutes later as we got to the A3 turnoff for Guildford !
So everything one can expect from live gigs, highs, lows, exhaustion, new places, schlepping heavy kit, lot’s of driving, night time road closures, navigation issues, fun, camaraderie, meeting cool people, late to bed etc.
Rest in Power Rick
Rest in power my former brother in arms, drummer with The Cherubims Rick Martinez...
Alan Young of Serious Child
Great to catch up with fellow singer songwriter and Serious Child frontman Alan Young at Cowdray…
We first met when Psychedelic Hearts Club were running Petfringe open mic nights at The Black Horse in Byworth back in 2017...
An Authentic Taste of America
After gig hang at The Beefy Boys, Hereford
Susie & I like to occasionally indulge ourselves at one of the best eateries in Hereford...
The Beefy Boys are a local business that despite the potential for franchising globally, are staying local with only two outlets (the other is in Ludlow in Shropshire)...
RIP James Honeyman Scott
James Honeyman Scott’s grave at St Peter's Pipe Cum Lyde Church
Jimmy and I both grew up in and around Hereford in the 1970's.
I first met him, when he was twelve, through my friend and band buddy James Little. I know this sounds as if I am bigging up the dead, but honestly even back then Jimmy had something special about his playing...
We were not friends, more friendly rivals. I saw him on and off but didn't have that much contact with him. Back then he was just plain Jimmy Scott, a kinda shy and retiring dude.
In 1978/9 I was doing a gig in Hereford with Stagefright, a Birmingham-based band I was playing guitar with at the time. We happened to bump into him and I told him to come to the gig and jam with us later that evening, but he never showed...
Fast forward to the early '80s and I'm working in Bangkok, Thailand. I'm reading Guitar Player magazine in the head one day. I'm reading an article about some dude from Hereford called 'James Honeyman Scott' who's playing with a happening new band - The Pretenders. It took a moment to connect the dots and to realise this was Jimmy and that his talent had been recognised internationally...
In February 1982 The Pretenders came to Thailand to play at Thammasat University in Bangkok. This gig was organised through local promoters Nite Spot/WEA International, a company I would later write and produce records for.
I caught up with Jimmy backstage after the gig, where he struggled with the Marshall amp he was given to use. He entered the room with his head back, swigging from a bottle of Jack Daniels. We had a brief conversation and I remember he ruffled my hair. It was a brief catch up, I think he had to leave for an after-gig party.
Three months later we heard the news, Jimmy had died in London from cocaine intolerance on June 16th, 1982...
Reverend Eastsider T Guitar
Simon goes full cowboy
Came accross Reverend guitars a couple of years back when a friend asked me to try one on his behalf at Andertons in Guildford before it was exported to Thailand.
At the time I was really impressed with the build quality and features at a price about half that of Fender equivalents.
The impromptu slow blues excerpt below was recorded using the Reverend Pete Anderson Eastsider T played through a Positive Grid Spark 40 amp.
Backing track (C) Jam Tracks Channel 2021
Really pleased with the Eastsider T - it's certainly not a Telecaster (despite it's looks). It has a distinct personality all of it's own...
The mid-range punch and note clarity (down to korina wood body ?) make this guitar a very powerful and practical live instrument...
Inn on the Beach with Planet 80
Susie, Simon and members of Planet 80
Susie & I had a great time playing at the Inn on the Beach on Hayling Island on Saturday 25th September.
The main act was an excellent 80's tribute act Planet 80. Not only good musicians with a well developed act, but also nice people who immediately offered to help us with our load in.
We were there from 1.00 PM - 7.00 PM, they had arrived at 9.00 AM and left at 2.00 AM the following morning ! This made us feel like real Rock & Rock lightweights, especially as we had to get home for a Waitrose home delivery !
Also have to mention that the Inn on the Beach is a really well run venue with great staff. In particular a shout out to manager Charlotte who looked after us and made us feel very welcome.
We look forward to playing this venue again soon...
Leytonstone Festival 2021
Susie, Simon and Leytonstone Festival 2021 organiser Andy Mirror
Simon toured all over London in the mid-seventies as a young actor/guitar player when he worked with the Mayday Theatre Company. He doesn't think he ever made it to Leytonstone though.
We had a great time playing a quick 30 minute set.
Good to finally meet Andy Mirror in person and our thanks to sound engineer engineer Neil.
Great reception from a very mixed audience who managed to get up and dance to our version of the R&R classic Johnny B. Goode..!
Gloucester Retro Fest 2021
We had a wonderful time playing at the Gloucester Retro Festival on Saturday 28th August - many thanks to everyone who made it a great day.
The money raised was in support of the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum. This is particulary important to Simon as his father John Tittley served with 8th Hussars at the Battle of Imjin River in Korea in 1951.
Really enjoyed meeting the Korean visitors to the festival - a lovely group of people we took an immediate liking to...
CwmFringe 2021
This was originally concieved as a warm up gig prior to playing at the Gloucester Retro Festival 2021. Basically we're playing for family and invited friends down on my sister's farm in Walterstone in Herefordshire.
We really enjoyed the vibe of the event and hope to repeat it next year prior to CwmFest 2022.
Appearance on BBC Radio Gloucestershire
We were asked to appear on BBC Radio Gloucestershire to publicise the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum fund raiser we were appearing in the following day as part of the Gloucester Retro festival 2021.
We really enjoyed singing live on air - and appreciated some great support from the BBC Radio Gloucestershire engineer/producer, DJ and staff.
Jamming with The Cinelli Brothers
Much fun sitting in on bass with the fabulous Cinelli Brothers at Coolham Live Music Club on Sunday 1st August, 2021 - first live gig we've attended since lockdown.
Great gig despite the bloody rain, very entertaining old school authentic blues !
New PHC track on BandCamp
'Is Love Really Possible Anymore' is now available on BandCamp...
PHC on lockdown
We've been able to spend a lot of time concentrating on music during lockdown - about to rehearse the second half of our set later today...
PHC Tracks Available on BandCamp
We're pleased to announce our music is now available on BandCamp...
PHC Release '2020 Vision'
'2020 Vision' is an original rock protest song written by singer/guitarist Simon Tittley & keyboardist Susie Wellings of West Sussex-based UK rock band Psychedelic Hearts Club. The song highlights the existential threat of climate change and the lack of concerted political action to confront this most vital issue.
This tune was written last year and was inspiried by Greta Thunburg, Vanessa Nakate and other far-sighted climate activists all over the world.
Mike Farris at CLMC
Coolham Live Music Club is one of England's best kept live music secrets and PHC are fans !
The quality of acts that appear at this tiny village hall venue is off the scale.
Mike Farris won us all over from the minute he arrived at the gig. An outgoing larger-than-life man, a unique charactor with an authentic soulful voice that celebrates his humble Tennessee gospel roots.
The last artist to impress Simon as much with a one man show was singer/songwriter Jimmy Webb.
The Cinelli Brothers at CLMC
This was a great night - the Cinelli Brothers at Coolham Live Music Club !
Straight ahead blues shuffles, that classic old school chicago guitar/blues harp front line, impassioned blues rock vocals - what's not to like ?
Then just as you think you know what they are about they play an old school jazz blues tune with real authentic vibe - great inspiring live music.
Finally Meeting the legendary Dave Pegg
My first pro band was a four piece pop rock group called Stagefright who were based in the West Midlands in the late seventies.
Our drummer Mark Payne was a massive Fairport Convention fan and he idolised both drummer Dave Mattocks and bass player Dave Pegg.
A pleasure to finally meet Dave Pegg after all these years - a gentle humble man.
Simon's old Fairports friend
Simon first met Fairport Convention violinist Ric Sanders when he was a drama student in Birmingham in the 1970's. Ric later worked with Lee jones and Simon on Lee's 'Songs From The 13th Hour' album.
He originally was introduced by a very old friend and bandmate of Simon's, James Little AKA 'Energi' from punk band Spizz Energi. They had an eighties hit with punk anthem 'Calling Captain Kirk'.
PHC really enjoyed the Fairports' show at the lovely old Theatre Royal in Winchester.
Meeting an Inspiration
Kirk Fletcher has always been an inspiration as a guitar player.
In December 2019 I had been teaching a student some material from Kirk's TrueFire TrueHeart Blues Rhythm Guitar course and casually checked Kirk's web site for information on live dates in the hope of seeing him play live during 2020. I was surprised to find out that he was appearing a few weeks later in London on a Sunday in January and at some place called Coolham Live Music Club on the Saturday before.
I Googled 'Coolham' and was amazed to find it was 20 minutes drive away from PHC HQ in Sussex !
Long story short got some tix and went to the show orgainsed by blues enthusiasts in Sussex. Hung out with Kirk after the gig, lovely guy and a great blues guitar stylist.
CwmFest 2019
We had a lot of fun making a return appearance to CwmFest 2019...
We played a largly new blues rock set...
Great to see family and friends. The new bar hang out area was excellent and should become a regular feature at the festival...
Eywas Harold Festival of Arts
We had a great time playing at The Temple Bar as part of the Eywas Harold Festival of Arts on Monday 27th May, 2019...
We ended up kicking off at around 3.00 PM and and sadly were not joined as originally planned by James A Little (formerly Energi of 80's punk band Spizz Energi and former head of Sony Publishing UK) who couldn't in the end make it due to family commitments...
Hope to see you all again in 2021...
Eywas Harold Arts Festival web site
Arts Festival Appearance
We're very pleased to be making a return appearance at this Herefordshire Arts Festival, playing at The Temple Bar in Eywas Harold on Monday 27th May, 2019...
We will be kicking off at around 2.30 PM and we will have a special guest. James A Little, formerly Energi of 80's punk band Spizz Energi and former head of Sony Publishing UK, will be dropping in to accompany us on a few tunes on bass...
Eywas Harold Arts Festival web site
Pedal Board TLC
Pedal boards can get very scuzzy if left out in a studio or rehearsal space. I have been using mine for the past few years with Psychedelic Hearts Club and it desperately needed cleaning and rewiring.
Spent a couple of hours on it today cleaning each pedal in turn and then redoing the signal path and power supply wiring.
Looks and sounds a lot better now ! Will try using it again in stereo with my Yerasov GTA-15s on Psychedelic Hearts Club gigs and use my Roland Blues Cube Artist set up for teaching...
Larry Coryell RIP
Jazz guitarist Lee Jones, Larry Coryell and Simon Tittley
I first became aware of Larry Coryell and The Eleventh House when I was 18 or 19 years old and getting into the jazz fusion of John McLaughlin and Mahavishnu Orchestra.
I later really got into Larry's playing listening to his 'Spaces Revisited' album which also featured guitarist Bireli Lagrene, (former Mahavishnu Orchestra) drummer Billy Cobham and the amazing Richard Bona on bass. I really enjoyed the guitar interplay between Larry and Bireli. At the time I was producing an album with jazz guitarist Lee Jones and I suggested he listened to this album as a source of possible inspiration.
Later while working on Lee's second album 'Songs from the 13th Hour' we were looking for a guitar player to duet with Lee on a track that was probably inspired by 'Spaces Revisited'. We approached Larry and he was happy to be featured on Lee's album.
Larry visited UK in late 2016 and played a couple of nights at London's Pizza Express. Lee & I attended the gig and hung out with Larry afterwards. He was very complimentary about Lee's playing and writing.
Around this was time (and having recently turned 60) I was contemplating a return to live music. I'd spent the previous 5 years working an annual 72 show theatre reading gig on guitar & bass, (working with the brilliant Music Director Rab Handleigh).
Larry was incredibly supportive and told me to go for it. His encouragement in part lead to the formation of the Psychedelic Hearts Club...
Lee & I were both very sad to hear of Larry Coryell's sudden passing in February of 2017. A hugely important and influential musician and a nice man - RIP Larry.
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