In the 1980's Music Collectives proliferated, but the Diggers in Coventry were experimenting with prototypes much earlier, and the Hobo Workshop in 74 - 5 was partly inspired by reading about it in the Broadgate Gnome.
Here is a review of a Tribal Rock gig at the University of Warwick in 1971 - followed by some of the earlier background, as supplied by members of the Broadgate Gnome recently.
UNIVERSITY: WEDNESDAY 2nd Dec - From the Broadgate Gnome
The fate of the TRIBAL ROCK CO-OPERATIVE'S free show at the Airport Lounge of Roots Hall, Warwick University seemed in jeopardy when, almost, at the last minute, Student Union Officials realised that the room was double booked. The Golden Screw - A Rock Opera, was due to be held and in fact was. Tribal Rock agreed to operate around the Opera by starting 6pm and hoped to work all the groups in, some before and some after. the Opera.
However, on the night, the Rock Opera rehearsal lasted until 5.30pm so it was impossible to get anything going before the Rock Opera. However, the audience (which was starting to grow) recieved a special treat with ROY BUTTERFIELD and NEOL DAVIES (both shortley to be JOHN GRAVENOR'S new band) began working out with members of ROGUE, the Univeristy based outfit. Neol and Roys brilliant twin guitars were just beginning to go places when it was time for the Golden Screw.
The Golden Screw lived up to it's name, involving Such Stuff! A theatre group and Hard Grind, a pop group, it managed to bore and even nauseate quite a number of people who had paid their two and six (an admission fee hastily pegged down from 4/- when the double booking error was realised.
However the crowd got their money's worth when Indian Summer (My Space!) came on to get things going shortly after 10.O Clock, which they did remarkably well. Thus started an extremely magnificient set, which set the mood for the night with some very good vibes.
After the audience heartily expressed appreciation for Indian Summer, on came Rogue whose peaceful electric jazz was a beautiful contrast. Then came WHISTLER with what was the best set I've ever seen them do. It's a shame. It's a shame they are having percussion problems. The gig was brought to a close with ASGARD (who like Whistler) could only do a short gig because of time hassles but a very professionla set. The other groups present that were unable to perform took it all in good heart...
At the time of going to press, the venue for the next monthly Tribal Rock Concert is not known, but it thought that it might include SKUNK, a five piece band from the Tribal Rock Co-operative South. Should be worth seeing whenever it is.
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PLOUGH - FRI 27TH NOV. (Also from the Broadgate Gnome)
Due to Wandering John's inavailablility for the Plough Gig, Sphincta put ELF on ( which comprises three members of the five piece outfit known as ROGUE. We will be seeing a lot of them in the future.
They got into some really good things in the jazz idiom, although spoiled for me by some check shirted, loud-mouth, that did nothing but verbal all through the whole set. Their brilliant syncopations seemed to go over the heads of the majority of the audience, who, nevertheless, were glad that there was a group on and not just records, as is usual for the last minute on non arrival of the groups.
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Digger Lesley writes, Its a shame but of the Gnomists currently in communication here , none had anything to do with this gig. Them having done a bunk by then , leaving the rest in the lurch ( No I just joking I dont think anyone noticed)
Except for myself that is . But I was only a joyful attendee, albeit with a bit of blurred memory. But, Roy and Neol wow! How could I miss it. I would have been at the front. OOPs Goosebumps Oh and I do hope that it wasnt the time that I was so out of it that I insisted on getting onstage and singing!!!!. Or one of the more regular instances of me draping meself around a band member.
Oh how everyone of these gets the memory juices flowing and the years drop away . I have Indian Summers myspace playing right now,
Perhaps we could get someone from that side of things into the loop. Its a shame that the few from that time that I bump into from time to time ar a bit iffy about computers and such. But I would love be reminded of what they played. I struggling with the names of the people that we used to visit in the residential block whenever there was a gig on at Warwick.
The Plough gig was a bit of a weird thing. I think a lot of people were still expecting Wandering John and words were had,. I have always thought it was Ra Ho Tep that did that gig. (was this a bit of Sphincta double dealing? wouldnt surprise me)
I was quite pleased I couldnt dance as I had my ankle strapped up,(another story) and it was probablthat I was there as reluctant representative,,,,.sympathy factor,,,its taken thirty odd years for the penny to drop ,,duh
I am told Tim James is going to be about soon perhaps he can .shed some light,,in fact I might just pop to his site now for a lurk on ELF
But keep the memories coming.
ooo feel a bit of a blab coming on
Posted by: BroadgateGnome | 01/20/2007 at 04:55 PM