Adored - April 2012 rehearsal

Yeah!

I've been watching a lot of old Roses footage since the sad passing of Gary 'Mani' Mountfield. The Made of Stone documentary, Blackpool Live, the Snub TV footage from the Hacienda, the Other Side of Midnight performance of Waterfall, reunion shows from Parr Hall, Heaton Park, Coachella and Madison Square Garden, old interviews where the Roses are ice cold cool and TV appearances where they look like the perfect band. All glorious stuff.

One video has stood out in particular in the last week. It's footage of the reformed Roses, filmed in Super 8 style on a mobile phone by Shane Meadows on his first visit to the band's rehearsal studio on 18th April 2012. Meadows credits the moment as when he realised how best to film the Roses intimate working relationship.

The 5-minutes of black and white footage begins with Reni already in an effortlessly playful groove on his drums, while Mani finishes tuning his bass. Reni's eyes are closed, lost in the music as the camera cuts to Mani who begins the iconic riff of I Wanna Be Adored. 

Ian Brown, hair looking good, camouflage jacket, mumbles sounds into his mic. Mani stops and then restarts his magnificent rumble. Squire walks into the background and picks up a guitar. Reni keeps his groove going, funk jazz fusion beats over the Adored bassline.   

Before long Squire is sprinkling magical nuggets, causing Mani to grin beautifully. Brown shakes a tambourine. Squire, with impeccable, yet, messy hair, is now seated, coaxing some feedback, wearing a cool pair of Nike trainers and a stylish over-shirt. Brown smiles. Like the rest of us, he can only really watch on and marvel. Maybe he was thinking 'why the hell did we leave it so long?' ... Me too, Ian, me too! To Brown's credit, he lets this beautiful jam flow on. 

Squire plays with some effects; reverb, delay and echo, moving with ease up and down the neck of his guitar. Reni is beaming, at one with his drums, Mani is locked into the bass riff, Ian Brown stands and looks on in awe.

At 4-minutes in, Meadows focuses on Reni and the way he moves around his kit is astonishing. I can't help but think this guy hasn't recorded enough beats in his lifetime. There must be some old jams from the Second Coming sessions gathering dust in vaults. And what other footage from the rehearsals does Meadows have stashed away? I'd love to get access and go digging!

Then we cut to Mani's bass, the camera moves up to capture him in the zone, lips pursed and then he lets out a beautiful 'yeah'. God it makes me smile and brings happy tears to my eyes.

Meadows moves round and Reni starts showing off for Mani, looking him in the eyes as he adds some more moves to his grooves, shaking his head, laughing with Mani who never strays from his classic bass riff. Squire is still busy coaxing and conjuring gorgeous psychedelic gems from his guitar.

The footage ends, aptly, from behind Mani, his view of the room and the band he loved so much. The rogue Rose who anchored everything, allowing the exceptional Reni and Squire to do their thing. What a band! 

Enjoy this footage. 

Rest in Peace Mani. Forever Adored.

A beautiful tribute by John Squire 

All I Have To Do Is Dream

 

Trust me #109
All I Have To Do Is Dream by The Everly Brothers

My Mum joined her church community choir earlier this year. This is different from the Sunday Morning Service choir, the focus is on pop songs, rather than hymns. 

A few months back, I was working from my local coffee shop and decided to pop round to my Mum's flat (close to the church) to see her. I was a little early, and as I knew choir was on until 2.30pm, I thought I would surprise my Mum and meet her at the church.

The main doors to the church were open, so I walked in to the sound of The Everly Brothers All I Have To Do Is Dream echoing from the back room and through the main hall. 

What a song.

Whenever I want you, all I have to do is dream

Dream, dream, dream

Dream

The Everly Brothers encapsulate the feeling of longing and lusting after someone out of reach in real life, but not in dreams. A feeling I'm sure that everyone reading this has felt before. How many hours, days, weeks and months (particularly as a teenager!) have I spent dreaming and fantasising about girls out of reach?!

But enough about this. Back to the church! 

All I Have To Do Is Dream is a hymn. And it was quite something hearing my Mum and her church community choir sing it. My Mum, by her own admission, isn't a great singer, but she loves the community choir. 

Released in April 1958, this incredible song is still finding an audience, still exuding life, still resonating ... still dreaming. Sometimes that is all we have to do. All we can do. 

When you talk about The Everly Brothers, you are primarily talking about harmony. Don and Phil Everly weren't just two brothers singing; they possessed an almost telepathic vocal bond.

All I Have to Do Is Dream is a masterclass in close-harmony singing .Phil's higher, softer voice weaves in and out of Don's lower, grounding tenor, their voices merging into a single, shimmering instrument. This technique set a new benchmark for duets and profoundly influenced everyone from The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel to the Beach Boys.

There's nothing complex about this song - just a straightforward, yearning narrative backed by a sparse, gentle arrangement with lyrics capturing a universal teenage feeling - the joy of fantasy and dreaming.

When I want you in my arms

When I want you and all your charms

Whenever I want you

All I have to do is dream

As an added bonus, the song even gets gee whizz into it, with the rather cheesy line 

Only trouble is, gee whizz

I'm dreaming my life away

This is a beautiful song and hopefully the Uddingston Parish Church Community Choir are performing it this evening and on Sunday.

All I Have To Do Is Dream is added to my Trust Me playlist; search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify or CLICK HERE. Check below for all previous blogs in my Trust Me series.

Previous Trust Me blogs

1. Something On Your Mind by Karen Dalton

1A. Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells

2. I Am, I Said  by Neil Diamond

3. Where's The Playground Susie?   by Glen Campbell

4. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lighfoot

5. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon

6. Gone With The Wind Is My Love by Rita and the Tiaras

7. In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans

8. The Music Box by Ruth Copeland

9. The Ship Song by Nick Cave

10. Sometimes by James

11. I Walk The Earth by King Biscuit Time

12. Didn't Know What I Was In For by Better Oblivion Community Centre

13. When My Boy Walks Down The Street by The Magnetic Fields

14. The Man Don't Give A F**k by Super Furry Animals

15. All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser

16. Are You Lookin' by The Tymes

17. A Real Hero by College & Electric Youth

18. Feelings Gone by Callum Easter

19. Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground

20. Did I Say by Teenage Fanclub

21. Don't Look Back by Teenage Fanclub

22. Your Love Is The Place Where I Come From by Teenage Fanclub

23. Belfast by Orbital

24. Clouds by The Jayhawks

25. Dreaming Of You by The Coral

26. Everlasting Love by Love Affair

27. Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke

28. Teenage Kicks by The Undertones

29. Shaky Ground by Sneeze

29. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells

30. I Can Feel Your Love by Felice Taylor

31. The State We're In by The Chemical Brothers w/ Beth Orton

32. Sunshine After The Rain by Ellie Greenwich

33. Losing My Edge by LCD Soundsystem

34. Mondo 77 by Looper

35. Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton

36. Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats

37. How High by The Charlatans

38. I Can't Let Go by Evie Sands

39. Pop Song 89 by R.E.M.

40. Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective

41. There She Goes by The Las

42. We're Going To Be Friends by White Stripes

43. Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo

44. Sister Rena by Lomond Campbell

45. Revolution by The Beatles

46. Lazarus by The Boo Radleys

47. Wrote For Luck by Happy Mondays

48. American Trilogy by The Delgados

49. Loser by Beck 

50. Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy

51. Comedy by Shack

52. Take The Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven

53. Freakscene by Dinosaur Jr

54. Thank You For Being You by The Pastels

55. I Think I'm In Love by Spiritualized

56. Chestnut Mare by The Byrds

57. Cannonball by The Breeders

58. Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan

59. You Make Me Weak At The Knees by Electrelane

60. Lucky by Radiohead

61. Strange Currencies by R.E.M.

61. I Am The Cosmos by Chris Bell

62. Like A Ship (Without A Sail) by Pastor TL Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir

63. Nothing But A Heartache by The Flirtations

64. Made of Stone by The Stone Roses

65. Tonight In Belfast by Orbital, David Holmes, DJ Helen and Mike Garry

66. Anything by Adrianne Lenker

67. I Hold Something In My Hand by Bill Ryder-Jones

68. I Meant Every Word by Burnett Sisters

69. Dream Baby Dream by Suicide

70. Stove by The Lemonheads

71. Red Lady by Phil Cordell

72. Little Fluffy Clouds by The Orb

73. I Can Do It With A Broken Heart by Taylor Swift

74. Turnin' My Heartbeat Up by The M.V.P.'s

75. Razzle Dazzle Rose by Camera Obscura

76. Such Great Heights by The Postal Service

77. The Rat by The Walkmen

78. My God Has A Telephone by Aaron Frazer

79. Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack

80. Sweet and Tender Romance by The McKinleys

81. Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros

82. 69 Police by David Holmes

83. Hey Lisa by David Holmes

84. I Am A Rock by Simon & Garfunkel

85. Kung Fu by Ash

86. Kids by MGMT

87. Slight Return by The Bluetones

88. Give Peace A Chance by John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band

89. Cut Your Hair by Pavement

90. Race for the Prize by The Flaming Lips

91. Waitin' for a Superman by The Flaming Lips

92. Acquiesce by Oasis

93. This Is Music by The Verve

94. Lone Swordsman by Daniel Avery

95. Sparky's Dream by Teenage Fanclub

96. Common People by Pulp

97. Let Our Love Grow Higher by Eula Cooper

98. Regret by New Order

99. Keep On Keepin' On by Nolan Porter

100. Sit Down by James (Live at G-Mex) by James

101. Never Lose Your Sense Of Wonder by Yeti

102. Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over by The Charlatans

103. Life Is Sweet by The Chemical Brothers 

104. How Can I Tell You (To Love Me More) by Brooke Coombe

105-107. Wigan Casino - Three Before Eight - Time Will Pass You By by Tobi Legend, Long After Tonight Is All Over by Jimmy Radcliffe, I'm On My Way by Dean Parrish

108. Cobra by Geese

The Charlatans - Barrowland Ballroom - Dec 25

Last night The Charlatans played the famous Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom for the 17th time. By my reckoning, I think I've caught them 10/11 times out of 16. Pretty good going. They should really just book an annual night/weekender given their affinity with the venue, Glasgow and Scotland.

It's a home from home, like a cup final of a gig for band and audience who share and display genuine affection for each other.

The Charlatans played with, and generated, incredibly energy, lifting the crowd, who in turn, lifted the band to even higher heights.

Tim Burgess was like a kid in a sweet shop on a trolley dash. The happiest guy in Glasgow, a smile so wide and bright that The Charlatans probably didn't need a light show. He was beaming throughout, radiating pure positive vibes.

I first caught The Charlatans live in April 1994 when they played The Tramway as part of Radio 1 Sound City in Glasgow. Tim Burgess was mesmerising, dancing about the stage, looking super cool. The next day I queued in the rain to meet the band at Tower Records to get loads of CD's and records signed. 

I have no idea how many times I've seen the band or Tim play since. God, it's been over 31-years. I'd hazard a guess at between 50-60. The Charlatans and Tim are frequent visitors to Glasgow and were regulars at T in the Park. 

Riding in on the back of We Are Love, their 14th album, Tim had announced that the band would be playing a 2.5 hour set (with a short 10-minute break) with no support. Fans were encouraged to make sure they were in promptly for the band taking to the stage at 8.10pm. 

There was a small squad of us. Me, Lynn and our friends Robbie, Clare, Joe, Emma and Susie. I bumped into many more friends from down the years in the venue. Great to see my friend Gerry with his son Liam, he wasn't the only Dad introducing the next generation to The Charlatans last night - good to see.

Kingdom of Ours is a slow burner - an opener to allow the band to find their groove, which develops as the song goes on. Then Tim took his jacket off and Weirdo had the place bouncing. It  never stopped! That hammond sound! Beats and bass and then the piercing guitar - sublime!

For the Girls is a real favourite from the new album, super melodic and soulful. North Country Boy was euphoric. Many a Day a Heartache flowed effortlessly and by this point I had ventured from underneath the glitter ball to 3 rows from the front by Tony on keyboards.

Just in time for one of my very favourite Charlatans songs, the absolute banger that is Oh! Vanity. The band didn't let up, rolling out the extended groove of Let The Good Times Be Never Ending,  the powerful Blackened Blue Eyes and then .... Then. Modern(ish) day psychedelia, still sounding super fresh and vital.

No wonder the band needed a 10-minute break to compose themselves! 

10-minutes (on the dot) later, The Charlatans returned and started their second set of the night by jamming the intro to Forever, dedicated to Mani. This glorious song has a menacing groove, before breaking into a beautiful piano led section that ends with Tim declaring.

I know my star, I know my star

Is a brighter star, brighter star

Forever be in my arms

Gorgeous! 

The Charlatans were in full flight, new singles We Are Love and Deeper & Deeper sound like set staples, Tellin' Stories was gorgeous - the perfect winter warmer, Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over was spine tingling perfection, with Ride's Loz Colbert joining on percussion. Toothache was a deep, down n dirty groove, Soul Saver sounded like it could save lost souls and last night The Charlatans may well have managed that with their performance. Smiles all round. Life affirming stuff. A stunning trilogy from their eponymous album.

New song Appetite sounded even better live than on record, especially when Mark's guitar kicks in. In the Tall Grass was a welcome deeper cut, before Tim and co eased into top gear with a spellbinding One To Another - epic, powerful, groovey ... arms in the air on stage and off. The groove at the end was one you wanted to keep on going.

But ... as it ended, we were straight into another groove as The Only One I Know was teasingly started before the place exploded again. Wow! Hearing the Barrowland Ballroom sing the chorus of everyone has been burned before, everybody knows the pain was incredible. Like a mass choir, it was like our hymn. The Barrowland is our church.

Tim touched upon the audience response several times through the show - off the scale ... the best venue ... the best crowd ... the best city. 

Closing with a sublime Get On It, with another extended jam at the end, Loz Colbert gelled effortlessly with the rest of the band. Martin Blunt in shades, holding the groove throughout the set, Pete Salisbury on drums - driving things on, Tony on hammond and keys - not to mention his stunning backing vocals and Mark Collins on lead guitar.

BOOM an encore of Now Everything was followed by Tremelo Song (one of my real favourites from last night - from an extended list!) and then Sproston Green. The long intro started slow, almost delightfully sticky and sludgey, before becoming beautifully sugar sweet as the band stirred it up and found the mix.

This one knows, she comes and goes

And when she goes, she goes

What a night! Thank you to The Charlatans for giving me so many of them down the years, likewise to the Barrowland Ballroom and to all the fans who grace it. I am still buzzing!

Albums of the year 2025

2025 was a year where reunions, anniversaries and nostalgia threatened to cast a shadow over new music and breaking artists ... it didn't though. 

The year also saw artists (recording, releasing and touring at all levels) speak out to highlight how difficult it was to make it all financially viable and sustainable and for the importance of small and independent venues throughout the country.

• Credit to Myles Smith for making an impassioned speech while accepting his Rising Star award at The Brit Awards in March.

"To the biggest venues in the country and around the world - if artists selling out your arenas and your stadiums started in grassroots venues, what are you doing to keep them alive? Stick with artists. Moments, they fade, but careers last forever."

• Credit to Coldplay for donating 10% of earnings from their UK tour to the Music Venture Trust to support small venues. 
• And to Sam Fender who donated his £25,000 prize for winning the Mercury to the MVT. Well played to both. They have set a bar for others to follow.
• And (of course) to Glasgow - a city blessed with so many small venues, the places I predominantly go to experience music - The Old Hairdressers, Mono, Stereo, McChuills, upstairs in The Doublet ... Saint Luke's and The Barrowland tend to be as big as I usually go.

The cost of everything has gone up. Musicians, roadies, sound engineers, lighting operators, merch managers, bus drivers ... all need to be paid. Then there are food and hotel costs. Touring isn't cheap. 

A few musicians I know said that their hometown shows tend to help them break even on touring smaller venues in the UK and Europe. Merchandise is a saviour. Never feel guilty about buying a t-shirt! Although the cost of gig going has risen!

So, as always, there are challenges. And as always, there is creativity - new bands and artists breaking through, artists who can't stop writing and recording and veteran artists finding a new generation of fans falling for them. 

Back to my albums of the 2025 though. Albums that need to be toured, artists that need venues of all sizes to take them (ideally) to places that want them to play. Whether that is to 200 people or 13,000. 

Here are my 6 favourite albums of the year, plus a further 11 that I have enjoyed. As always, I'm sure other end of year lists will send me off to check albums I might have missed over the course of the year. 

I've also created a playlist with one song from each album - check it HERE

2025 - 6 favourite albums

Snocaps by Snocaps

Twin sisters Allison and Katie Crutchfield are twin sisters who decided to form a new band to get back to working together like they did in their teens (they were 15 when their first band The Ackleys played their first show) and early twenties (P.S. Eliot). 

Katie now records as Grammy nominated Waxahatachee and her Tigers Blood album was one of my albums of 2024. Allison records with her band Swearin' who I need to check out.

Backed by a cracking band including MJ Lenderman on guitar, this is gorgeous alt country indie guitar pop, 13 songs in 33 minutes - sunshine inducing and spine tingling harmonies, warm guitar sounds, sublime heart string pulling slide ... this is fresh and pure, this is the twins, Lenderman and producer Brad Cooks, with all 4 playing a variety of instruments. This is currently my favourite album of 2025.

Playlist - Heathcliff is one of my favourite songs of 2025.

Getting Killed by Geese

Geese exploded in 2025. They were everywhere. Getting Killed is actually their third album in four years. Singer Cameron Winter also released his acclaimed (and highly recommended) Heavy Metal album late in 2024. He seems to be a prolific songwriter. We'll see if he can keep that up while he is on a constant tour for the next year. Expressive, eclectic, emotive and exciting - a brilliant album.

Playlist - Cobra (see blog)

In Limerence by Jacob Alon

What a gorgeous album. Alon's voice is beautiful and the textures on In Limerence are sublime. This is an album full of warmth, sounding familiar, yet distinctive. Alon has you hanging on every word, every finger picked riff. You're almost waiting to hear a pin drop. Enthralling, I found myself getting sucked in. 

Playlist - I Couldn't Feed Her

Waves by Frank Popp Ensemble

I fell for this album back in April. I described its eclectic nature as being like a mixtape - a vibrant blend of northern soul, psychedelia and garage rock, embellished with strings and drenched in reverb. Cool!

Playlist - Heartbreak (In A Really Good Way)

The Cords by The Cords

Strong debut album by teenage sisters Eva and Grace, first blogged on HERE in January 2024. The Cords have gained huge support among the Glasgow indie community and have bagged a great record label in Slumberland. I look forward to seeing and hearing what they do next. Raw guitars, a beautiful voice with a natural knack for melodies and cool playful and primitive beats - joyful. 

Playlist - When You Said Goodbye

Unclouded by Melody's Echo Chamber

This early December release really won me over, resulting in my having a top 6 favourite albums rather than a top 5! 

I had heard a couple of songs on 6Music in advance of the album, so I was waiting for it. And Unclouded didn't disappoint. Cinematic strings, dreamy and seductive vocals, super cool beats (drummer Malcolm Catto who plays with DJ Shadow and The Heliocentrics) and a gorgeous feel throughout. Melody describes her rhythm section as 'masters of the velvet groove'. Absolutely! Sadly there is only a London date in her scheduled European April tour.

Playlist - The House That Doesn't Exist

11 more albums I have enjoyed through 2025

Anxious by Nell Smith

Posthumous release by a young singer songwriter who was bursting with creative ideas. A lovely album, tinged with sadness and thoughts of wondering what she could have gone on to do.

Playlist - Billions of People

We Are Love by The Charlatans

Keepin' on keepin' on. The band that keeps giving. A very organic and Autumnal (season and in band lifespan) album. Producer Blood Orange captures the band beautifully. Their Oran Mor launch show was a delight. Roll on the Barrowland end of year show!

Playlist - Deeper and Deeper

Love Chant by The Lemonheads

A new album, an autobiography and seemingly a new Townes Van Zandt covers album on the way. Now managed by Alan McGee, Evan Dando seems to have a structure and guidance to support his creative nature. I love Evan Dando! It sounds like he had fun recording this album with Juliana Hatfield and J Mascis guesting. Garage guitar pop forever!

Playlist - Cell Phone Blues

Double Infinity by Big Thief

A gorgeous album. Whether hushed and sparse, or lovingly layered. A special band.

Playlist - All Night All Day 

Pinball Wanderer by Andy Bell

Andy Bell has it all going on. Before he embarked on rehearsals and then a mammoth tour with Oasis, he released Pinball Wandered (great title!) at the end of February. Bell has been releasing a steady stream of albums under his own name and his alter ego GLOK for more electronic ventures. In addition to recording a touring with a reformed Ride, Bell pretty much has the creative musicians life nailed! This is dreamy, trancey, psychedelic pop. Lovely!

Playlist - I'm In Love w/ Dot Allison

Idlewild by Idlewild

A supremely confident and consistent album by a band who have always played by their own rules. 

Playlist - End With Sunrise

Loner by Barry Can't Swim

Scottish producer who is consistently producing euphoric electronic music with delightful pop melodies and hooks.

Playlist - All My Friends

Bleeds by Wednesday

Another album I got into through 6Music. I wish I had gone to see them at Tuts earlier in the year. I love their sound - raw, soulful and cool.

Playlist - Phish Pepsi

The Life of a Showgirl by Taylor Swift

Probably my most listened to album courtesy of our youngest daughter Rosie. Funny, loving, biting and enjoyable pop music. 

Playlist - Opalite

It's A Beautiful Place by Water From Your Eyes

An album I discovered via Spotify algorithms kicking in. I love it. The album has experimental jams and then gems like Playing Classics.

Playlist - Playing Classics

41 Longfield Street Late 80's by Kieran Hebden and William Tyler

This album is really dreamy and chilled and it soundtracked a drive home from an overnight in Anstruther. My youngest daughter Rosie slept in the passenger seat as I drove West towards the sunset. The perfect soundtrack.

Playlist - If I Had A Boat

Never Ending Mixtape part 105

Futuristic Retro Champions

Welcome to part 105 of my Never Ending Mixtape!

I started this blog/playlist/mixtape back in October 2016 with the simple intention of creating a playlist that I would add songs to on a regular basis and then blog about the latest additions every month.

There would be no thought to the structure of the playlist, unlike the mixtapes and CD's I would make in my younger days. I'd just add songs when I felt like it, depending on what I was listening to.

As a result, my Never Ending Mixtape jumps from 4,651 to 4,718 with the addition of Lanasana's Priestess and Flight-Time by Donald Byrd. I heard the former at the wonderful Somethin's Cookin' night in Uddingston aong with loads of other cracking soul tunes.

You'll find a few of the additions listed below. 

Search for Everything Flows Never Ending Mixtape on Spotify or CLICK HERE

Recent discoveries

I Happen To Love You by The Electric Prunes

Survival Car by Fountains of Wayne

Patterns by Laura Marling

Lansana's Priestess by Donald Byrd

New releases

Togetherness Is All I'm After by The Lemonheads

Deeper and Deeper by The Charlatans

For the Girls by The Charlatans

Dopamine by Robyn

Alcohol by Kerr Mercer

Heathcliff by Snocaps

Cherry Hard Candy by Snocaps

Angel Wings by Snocaps

Phish Pepsi by Wednesday

You Never Give Me Your Money (Take 36) by The Beatles

Old favourites

Lay This Burden Down by Mary Love

Chelsea Girl by Simple Minds

It's Up To You by Ben Kweller

Is It A Dream by Miaoux Miaoux

Kitten With A Loaded Gun by Futuristic Retro Champions

Classic Line-Up by The Pastels

Hands of Time by Groove Armada

Snocaps