Blog - L M Cooke

Bringing in the May

30/4/2018

Today is Walpurgisnacht, or May eve. Tomorrow comes the May. Beltane fires will burn in Edinburgh; 'Obby osses will parade in Padstow. In Birmingham, someone may remark upon the rain.

There appears to be something of a dearth of traditional festival celebrations in the second city and immediate surrounds. It's a tad depressing, really. All I'm asking for is a big bonfire, a bit of May blossom and a ruckus on the village green. Instead, I shall settle for a candle lit to ward away the evil spirits (that whiskey isn't getting back out until the weekend!).

The herald of May means, of course, that April is all but done. It was pretty wet, except for one freakishly warm week. In this month I presented what will probably turn out to be the last of my local history talks on 'Prostitution in Victorian Lichfield' - unless, of course, there is any demand for a more general, shorter version, which might be attactive to, say, steampunks, for example. I also went to see the band Marillion. They've been around for some time - since the early 80's at least - and I went to accompany a friend rather than out of my own choice. But you know what? They were a blimming good live act. Singer Steve Hogarth's voice is just too big to be contained on a recording. Live music is often much better recorded music for this very reason - less clinical, more energetic. Get out and see a live act or two, and see if you agree! (Some music with my Beltane bonfire & village green ruckus would also be much appreciated...).

Marillion - yes, the name does come from Tolkein's 'Silmarillion'.

Walpurgisnacht Moon - today's painting attempt

Marillion again - view from the gods (no soup, though)* *Soup of the Gods - This is Jinsy

Spring has sprung and March has marched...

1/4/2018

March has been and March has gone, and now it is officially Spring. Little lambsies leapeth, birdlets build nests and hares wonder what they are supposed to do in April if they aren't allowed to be mad any more.
March saw my first music gig of the year, at the Shrewsbury Steampunk Spectacular Shindig. The event also gave me opportunity to see a number of acts I'd never seen before. This was a first gig for David Brinkworth and the Pit, (with a style David described as 'Chas 'n' Dave meets Tom Waits), and very fine it was, too. Lady Violet Hugh's songs are of course legendary, and I have to confess that I've had her 'Ladygarden' on my mind all week. And Captain of the Lost Waves (plus Muzwell the Mute) proved to be an excellent musician, singer and entertainer, and all round top bloke. Of course, we mustn't forget the most excellent magicianatrix, Sylvia Sceptre, who entertained the crowds in between sets with her sleight of hand and magic arts.
I also received some airplay courtesy of Australian podcast Cogwebs and Strange, and made a new video in March to celebrate the everlasting snow. And I did a bit more painting!
What will April bring....?

February: in like a lion, out like a penguin

4/3/2018

February is over, and March has started with Siberian winds, sub-zero temperatures and blizzards from the Atlantic courtesy of Storm Emma. Meteorological Spring may have started on 1 March, but I think we can expect to wait until the Equinox for things to get properly Spring-y.

So what happened in February, you ask? Lots, I reply!

In 'The Horde's Engine Room - Episode III', The Horde from The New Jacobin Club did a nice review of 'Airships & Automata', a collection including my short story 'Tommy's Game', which was singled out for particular praise. Plus LM Cooke music got a bit of outro-time, too!
I also got a bit of air-play for some LM Cooke music on the #GASP and The Slab radio shows.
With Great Jabberwocky I, I created a cult (as you do). Feel free to join The Cult of the One Fang, and partake of the wisdom and general benevolence. The One Fang has also reviewed The Wattingers latest CD, 'Bad Day at Growler's Rock' in this month.
Gig-wise, I got to see Ash Mandrake at The Tower of Song, Birmingham; plus Victor and the Bully, Damh the Bard and Spriggan Mist at the Enchanted Market, Bracknell.
I also visited Avebury, a village encompassed by the world's largest prehistoric stone circle. This was the first time I've been to Avebury - but I'll be back (hotel already booked for later in the year...)
And I even managed a meet-up with the West Midlands Steampunk Assembly, on a charity shop crawl through Stourbridge and Halesowen.

Pictoral evidence of the above is below. March will see the first LM Cooke music gigs of the year - assuming that the snow finally goes, and these bloody penguins head off back to Antartica...

Ash Mandrake

Victor and the Bully

Damh the Bard

Spriggan Mist

Avebury

Avebury

Where did January go?

4/2/2018

Although hexmas seems as if it was only five minutes ago, it is, in fact, February. It's astounding. Time is fleeting (madness takes its toll).
Here, then, is a brief update for Jan, and a look forward to Feb...

Things that I did in January:

Counted birds for the RSPB Birdwatch
Wrote or adapted three new choons for use in the upcoming LM Cooke (music) gigs in March. This includes songs about the Pendle Witches, Carnivales, and a thieving get who gets what he deserves! Listen out for them soon.
Made a garden arbour
Made a brief foray into video for my song: Winter is a-coming in
Wrote two poems which were accepted into a forthcoming anthology!
Started broadcasting LIVE (instead of pre-recorded) on the #GASP radio show
Made crow & stag cushions

Here is some of the evidence...

And now it's February! Jolly shenanigans are certainly in store, including a visit to the Enchanted Market in Bracknell, deer stalking, and the Grand Footwear Purge of 2018. Size 5? Like boots? Follow me down this dark alley, I have just what you need.... (mwah ha ha ha....). I shall elucidate at the end of the month(ish). Maybe.

GASP - now on Wight Party Radio

20/3/2017

Yes, that's right. The GASP radio show - that's Gothic, Alternative, Steampunk and Progressive - moves to Wight Party Radio station from this Thursday night (23 March). We'll be on air every Thursday, 8-11pmUK time.

Just in case you need a bit of a recap, GASP is hosted by Steven C. Davis, with me as co-host, and we play a range of music, from the four that make up our acronym to others such as folk horror, space rock, acid folk and many more. And in between the music we chunter a bit about stuff. Often cheese. We like cheese.

What makes GASP a bit different is that you can not only join Steven and I by listening to the show, you can also join us in the facebook event that runs at the same time as the broadcast. Which means you get the chance to talk to us and to other listeners about the choons, share pictures or videos, and discuss your own favourite cheeses. You may even get chance to meet our mascot, The Nightpork (though watch your fingers if you do). It's just like meeting a group of your friends at a pub with a really good jukebox - all from the comfort of your own settee.

For out first show on Wight Party Radio, we are breaking out the special guests. We are joined by none other than Mr Dale Rowles, the singer/ bass player (one of them!) and main man for steampunk/ space/ stoner/ psychedelic band BB Blackdog. If that wasn't enough, Dale is also the man behind the Phoenix Alternative Festival that runs every August in Llanfyllin, Mid Wales (tickets currently available). If you only go to one music festival this year, Phoenix is a really good one to choose. AND Dale runs the record label Steampunk Records from which a number of UK and European steampunk artists sell CDs and merchandise. If you join us this Thursday, you'll hear tracks from artists on the Steampunk Records label, including The Wattingers, Lies of the Machine, Gurdybird, and of course, BB Blackdog - along with many more.

Tune in via Wight Party Radio website, or via Tune-in for three hours of music without advert or news breaks - from this Thursday! And while you're at it, you might want to check out our new promo for the show, featuring the legendary NightPork...

Of course, we would like to thank Midlands Metalheads radio for hosting GASP for the past few months. Midlands Metalheads is an expanding station with a lot of vision. Unfortunately, that takes a lot of behind the scenes work, over and above putting together and presenting the radio show itself. With our writing, music and other things (like the day job!) we simply didn't have enough time to do everything that the station needs. We wish Midlands Metalheads all the best in the future (and watch out for their new website coming soon!).

Raising Steam: Do yourself a good deed

6/3/2017

What, you may ask, is Raising Steam?

Raising Steam is, of course the festival that never was. It was scheduled to take place in Reading in September 2013, but unfortunately the universe conspired against it.

Of course, a little thing like that was never going to stop festival organiser, author and DJ Steven C. Davis.

Raising Steam was always intended to raise funds for Steven's favourite charity, New Futures Nepal. Having visited Nepal on several occasions, Steven has witnessed first hand some of the poverty and the difficulties that people there face. New Futures Nepal are of the same mind, aiming to empower disadvantaged children and adults in Nepal.

So Steven decided that if there wasn't going to be an actual festival to raise funds for the charity, then he would make sure there was a virtual one.

In 2014, the first Raising Steam download launched, containing 22 tracks for a paltry English fiver. It featured tracks from each of the artists who would have played at the festival - including two songs my former band, Crimson Clocks. It also included a downloadable PDF virtual-festival programme to tell you more about the acts, the charity, and the festival that never-was.

In 2016, Mr Davis did it again. The Raising Steam 2 download featured 20 tracks for the paltry fiver, plus, as before, bonus tracks and items (such as another Crimson Clocks track).
And now, in 2017, the third Raising Steam download/ virtual festival is upon us. This time it's a monstrous 27 tracks long, and includes two of my solo tunes. Poor Jenny has been out since October 2016, but Yellow Eyes is currently available only via the Raising Steam III download.

As ever, all the artists have donated their work free of charge, and all proceeds go to New Futures Nepal. And there are some stonking artists on there. Nathaniel Johnstone. The Hare and The Moon. Valentine Wolfe. Feline and Strange. Napier's Bones, Heathen Strangefellow, Dark Sinfonia - basically, I could list them all, since they're all that good. But just take a look at the poster.

So why not treat yourself to some fabulous music for only a fiver, and sit back smug and contented in the knowledge that in treating yourself, you've done a good deed for charity! (And get the others while you're at it, if you haven't already...)

You owe it to yourself, you really do.

Join the Cult of GASP (Thursday branch)

13/2/2017

GASP host Steven C. Davis with show mascot, The Nightpork

Have you joined the Cult of GASP?
And if not, why not?
The Cult of GASP brings you new music juxtaposed with classic tracks from all eras. The Cult of GASP brings you the stately figure of the NightPork as figurehead for your worship.
The Cult of GASP requires you to regularly sacrifice cheese and raise your cup in celebration.

And now... the Cult of GASP moves back to its former Thursday slot, 8-11pmUK time. Once more you can join this most complete of cults, meet with fellow celebrants and howl in the coming of the weekend. The GASP radio show will see you through those darkest Thursday hours, ready to face the coming sun.

Join #GASP host Steven C. Davis. Join the Dread NightPork. Join me, #GASP co-host. And join your fellow listeners who will be describing their ritual cheese sacrifices on our regular Thursday facebook event. That's right, you no longer have to face this Thursday - nor any Thursday - alone.

Join us on Midlands Metalheads for the radio show broadcast. Join us on facebook to chat. Join us for cheese, wine and music, for what else is life about?
Join the NightPork.
Join us.
Join....

Monday's child carries a shuriken...

6/2/2017

Monday is normally blogging day because I don't have to work at a 'proper job' on a Monday (before anyone accuses me of being a jammy git, I do work full time at a 'proper job' - I just squash five days into four to give me an extra day for writing/ music etc).
Today I have had to go into work. It was horribly frosty on the way in. It was horribly rainy on the way home. It was basically horrible. Here is a short and silly poem to illustrate how bad a working Monday really is....

If Monday had an occupation,
A ninja would be the job.
Hear it giggle with elation
As a shuriken it lobs

A master of disguise
When it creeps up behind you.
Though you'll soon find out its there
When you feel its nunchaku...

...Bash you in the ear
And you'll soon call for your mama
When Monday shows its teeth
And draws its steel katana

Yes, Monday is a killer
Merciless and cruel
I ain't goin' to no work next Monday,
You can't make me, crazy fool!

With apologies to Mr T and any actual poets out there. Move over, Pam Ayres!

Wheely good times...

30/1/2017

The Wheel of the Dread Cookemobile. Spikes to be added.

For the first time in eight years, I appear to have gained a vehicle that does not depend on people-power in order to propel it. This, of course, may depend on your definition of 'people-power'. People almost certainly designed the engine, the drive shaft and all the other bits that make the wee beastie go, and it was almost certainly was not discovered roaming free on the plains of Birmingham before being broken to the steering column.
Yes, it's true, after being reliant on public transport for almost as long as I have lived in Birmingham, I now own a device that will allow me to leave it easier. Getting home from the garage today, AND going the long way round via the motorway, took around 30 minutes. Last Sunday, via two buses, it took over an hour and a half (the shorter distance is just over seven miles).

Of course, I now have to remember that I have said vehicle, and actually use it. My plans? Naturally, I aim to take the environment destroyer out to nice environments that I can't access by bus very easily. Early morning deer watching may soon be a thing. Birds at sunrise, forests, trees. Even the elusive robin may soon be mine. Though I doubt it. And I'll also hopefully be able to get to all those events that are three hours or more by public transport, and only 45 mins in the car. Be careful what you invite me to - as I may actually be able to get there!

Lock up your vehicles, the Dread Cookemobile is coming... (mwah ha ha ha...)

The horsemen are here

23/1/2017

I have my own personal horsemen. They are harbingers of doom - of my private apocalypse

Famine rides in as the last of the xmas rations is nommed. I may have to cook. Shield yourselves.
Pestilence follows soon behind. Yes, that's right, snot funny at all - the lurgy is returned and this time it means business.
War is next as I do battle with several centuries worth of cardboard boxes 'stored' in the garage. Centuries, weeks, they are very similar timescales. Which brings me on to my last horseman:
Death of time... someone has set the dogs on time. Someone has set it running faster, so fast it can never be stopped. The corpses of dead, desiccated hours litter its path. Seconds scream as they die minutely. Or secondly. Time is gone. Mourn its loss. Even list making cannot save you...

The harbingers of doom. They are here. Flee, you fools.

Or at the very least, make another list.

See you next time! *checks list*