29th Nov - Jay and Holly's Engagement Party. The Constitutional. Chippenham.

Well that was quite a night in many ways. 

Firstly, some disappointing band news. When the drummer was recruited to the band a while back, he was informed he would be joining a band of MEN who could rock n roll old school style. And yep, they looked the part with their hats and tatts, so he joined. However, to say the drummer is devastated to find last night the band putting their gig shirts on the radiator to make them nice, warm and cuddly before going to the stage, as ‘its chilly in the room’, is a massive understatement. The drummer is now making enquiries if he can join Westlife as they are made of sterner stuff. 

Anyway, to business. We first met Jay and Holly in the summer at an outdoor gig on a sunny afternoon. What is now a favourite band story, at this summer gig, Jay who had been hard ‘on it’ all day, asked our bass player ‘if had ever seen the Peakies before’ only minutes after finishing our set. See blog…..https://peakyblindershome.com/home/blog/25th-may-somerset-arms-semington

Anyway, business cards were swapped, resulting in the honour of sharing the love at their engagement party in Chippenham. 

We love gigs like last night. Not a Scooby do of what was happening….. 

We thought we were Queen at the beginning of the show due to the excessive stage lighting....

At some point, we turned into a girl band (most of the band fitted right in. See paragraph 1.) ……. 

Who is this woman, what is she doing, was she invited? We have no idea.………… 

Auntie Jean (apologies if the name is wrong, but it was definitely an Auntie) had a drum lesson.....and so it went on like this throughout the evening. But all this beautiful chaos was brought to a fine conclusion with the Peaky 'Son of a Bitch' sing-a-long dance-a-long, closing anthem. 

Thanks Holly. Thanks Jay. Congratulations on this first celebration. You have our number for weddings, christenings, 18th’’s, 21st’s etc. 

Much love, The PB’s. 

P.s. – What nice staff and security at The Constitutional in Chippers. We are sure live music brings the best out of people. BIG THANKS.

Evening All 

First time out to Players in Westbury for the PB’s. 

Good news, they put us up on the dance floor and under more flashing lights than Blackpool could dream of. 

The bad news, we were on the dance floor so where did the dancing take place? We could not really tell due to the tsunami of neon. However, from what we understand the creative folk of Westbury found a space and danced totally uninhibited in the darkness totally butt naked (well, mostly true but I did I make up the last bit) 

Not really bad news, but certainly a hindrance, but our singing Steve is very sensitive to the change in seasons and since the clocks have changed has been all of a dither and the wet weather of late has brought on a tickly chest. Bless. His voice just about held out to the end but now convalesces with a Night Nurse (…..called Betty) 

So, we get a couple of weeks off before our next private party, but we might slip in a cheeky pub gig in a couple of weeks if all the rock’n’ roll stars align. Watch this space. 

Till the next time. 

Love PB’s.

Halloween Bash - Stand Up to Cancer - Melksham 26th Oct 2019 

Sometimes you could think that there is only bad news going around in the world, but you don’t have to look that hard to realise there is actually a lot more good stuff going on. People doing good things for all the rights reasons and for no personal advantage 

The Peakies met two such people last night. Let us introduce to you @Mikayla May Ayliffe and @Kayleigh Gullis. This dynamic duo has now set up a series of charity Stand Up to Cancer events over the past year or so, and it was our privilege to play their 2019 Halloween bash in Melksham last night. 

Not known to the band at the time of the booking, we have discovered a secret love for makeup and dressing up and we have already been asking around to see if we can star in a local Panto and offering discount rates if Steve can play a particularly busty Widow Twanky 

Anyway, back to business, after the drummer regained concentration and came back down to earth from dizzying heights following a raffle win of coasters and placemats, we did what we do. As per a blog of a couple of weeks ago, we have found when it’s a rockin’ a bit of Tina Turner always goes down very nicely, so never rehearsed, its almost free jazz improvisation…..its Proud Mary…… 

GREAT NIGHT. BUT most importantly of all, the collective efforts of all involved yesterday tallied a very impressive for Stand Up to Cancer…… 

SO 3 CHEERS FOR Mikayla and Kayleigh, Hip Hip Hurrah, Hip Hip Hurrah, Hip Hip Hurrah

21 Sept 2019 - SAUVE

I guess you could say last night was a typical gig when the Peakies were just taking care of business. A few old songs, a few new ones (well one, Nancy’s These Boots Are Made for Walking) and a few songs with mistakes in. It’s what we do. 

But gigs are never the same. 

We don’t know where these people come from, but a lady in a lovely pair of sparking heels joined us at the mics for Walking on Sunshine. A fella who we thought would absolutely bomb did a very fine job indeed of accompanying us through Suspicious Minds and despite losing to the All Blacks that day, a chap in a South Africa shirt did some fine dancing throughout with his partner. 

However, the highlight in many ways was that friend of friend ,Jackie, who has had a tough time of late and hasn’t been for a night out in quite a while, admitted  to being a big Tina Turner fan, leading to an impromptu Proud Mary. We all felt much the better for it.

Live music and live audiences at their best.  (And if you weren't with us last night, you can join the last chorus of the last song in a sing along to the vid below. The words are very easy to pick up)

We sincerely thank you all in making the effort on getting out and joining us in making the good times. 

Big Love. The PB’s.

13th Sept - Steeple Langford Beer & Cider (and Gin) Fest 

A bit self-indulgent, but when we strike it up and slip into gear and the sound is great on stage, it can raise a hair on the back of your neck whilst you play. At Steeple Langford we were 45 minutes in and still all our hairs were well on their ends. So were we knocking it out the park or was it was because it bloody freezing? Well it a bit of the first and a lot of the latter. 

As we are slaves to rock n roll we don't carry a fine selection of woollens from C&A in a range of autumnal colours in the band van. So what do you do? You play each song faster and louder so to generate heat. 

So whilst we cracked on with it , we're glad to report the groovin' people of Steeple Langford also clicked that by clapping and dancing self-preservation was assured. 

A fine night. BIG thanks for having us at your 20th festival. 

Im also sure when they closed the door of the stage area the lights went off. Mmmmmm,

EVENING,

We’ve mentioned this before, but our extensive Peaky Blinder research proves there is a deep and strong ley line of rock n roll goodness in Mother Earth surfacing in Semington running east towards Bradford on Avon. 

We tapped into the good times Saturday on the tea-time shift in the fine and welcoming Somerset Arms at Semington. Our 3rd trip out to the beautiful people of this fine village and filled their garden shed with the usual PB nonsense. It’s worth a mention that due to holidays and a lack of PB rehearsal time it wasn’t the most razor-sharp performance we’ve ever knocked out, but the dancing public of Semington are a forgiving bunch and will do their fine dancing throughout, pretending not to notice the occasional bum note, dropped beat or missed line. We salute you. 

We then got on the PB tour bus and did a road trip of 5 miles to Bradford on Avon for a Sunday outing at the Rising Sun. 

Due to space issues on stage, guitar shredding, harmonica tooting, melodious singing ‘2 Guns Begbie’ did most of the set in cubicle #1 of the Ladies. 

We also introduce to you a new member of the band. BIG BAD Peter Pillar. He has quite an on-stage presence and he’s a right bugger to get on the tour bus, but we love him all the same. Check him out in the video!!!!!! 

And finally, we met the thinking man’s Simon Cowell. 

The pop Svengali of Bradford on Avon. 

Blah blah blah…anyway he’s known to us and you as Rodney. 

Anyway, the wise man that he is, who probably doesn’t know a F sharp from a C major, but does know when the good times are a rollin’ took vids of the all locals dancing (not of the band) and digging the very fine night that we all had, so he can share their good times at a later date. We thought that was a very cool thing to do and captured the good vibes of a very fine evening at The Rising Sun. Well done ALL of us. Great great night. 

Next bank holiday Xmas eve. Hopefully see you before then.

As we were packing down last night a chap walked over and told us that we were….. 

Remarkably below average or remarkably stupendous? We’re opting for the latter.

Elvis. Presley or Costello? We do ‘em all. 

Man with an impressive belt buckle but more notable for his fine dancing on tables. More please.

Amstel was drank by bass and guitar#1. Low alcohol lager by driving guitar #2. Bitter then cider by drummer. Water and cider by singer. Guitar#1 moved onto Baileys post gig. His favourite colour is pink.

Rockin and a rollin’ is what we do. We chuck in all the mistakes on purpose otherwise we would be too good and would need to charge more. 

Known fact. No sentences about rock n roll start with the letter K. 

A good night had by all with all the usual dancing and singing. 

Brilliant bar staff who helped unload your car of gear as well as ensuring you never went thirsty all evening. Quite superb. Other pubs please follow this best practice.

Lisa added some glamour to the band. We need glamour. Simon get yer coat. 

End of the list I wish I never started.

See you all again in 2020. 

The Peaky Blinders

29th June Greyhound Better than Glasto. Official.

As per our FaceBook post earlier in the week……. 

What begins with G and is the place to be so to see some quality live music in the South West tonight??? 
Yep - The Greyhound. 
Dont watch some miserable Manc badly singing in a field down the road on TV. 
Watch a cheerful chap who can sing in a pub down the road live. 

And that is By Order of the peaky Blinders 

Well, don’t say we told you so, rumour has it we were at least as twice as cheerful and at least twice as good than Gallagher rehashing the 90’s at Pilton. 

We can also add the beer was cheaper, the toilet queues shorter and you got your own bed at nighttime. Its was a winner all round to be at The Greyhound last night. 

We are not going to wax lyrical about the fun times at The Greyhound last night, but just quote the King and say that all of us were........

“Taking Care of Business”. 

News update; Steve is now sponsored by the ultimate rock’n’roll cobbler themselves, Crocs, and will be wearing a variety of colours at our summer shows. Pop by and chat Crocs with Steve and Si anytime.

25th May - Somerset Arms, Semington

It was  our second time out at the fine Somerset Arms in Semington. We reckon it must lay along ancient ley-lines which generate doses of seriously good vibes. As is sometimes the case, their annual Cider Fest isn’t competing with Glasto, but its probably more fun and we’d play here and not on the Pyramid Stage if we were given the choice. 

Guitar Todd got in the mood and bought himself a very expensive guitar stand made of of hay and Steve now has a designated stool to accommodate his one tambourine. 

So usual Peaky Blinder nonsense done under the stars on a very fine early summer evening in Semington.  Lovely. It was. Lovely. Thanks to all who made it so much fun.   

Before we sign off; 

Who played bass for Oasis? 

Could you pick out Led Zep’s bass player in a line up? 

No. Of course not. That’s the lonely life of playing something with only 4 strings. Obscurity guaranteed. 

However, even with this already very low level of expectation, being asked post gig by a big geezer who was taking videos of the band just moments earlier “they’re good, have you ever seen them before” did surprise our bass player somewhat. 

He was a very needy clingy child who always cried when loosing sight of mummy. So this affront triggered a strong reaction and he has now burnt his bass and starts guitar lessons tomorrow first thing.

27th April - The Longs Arm, Steeple Ashton

When we were asked to play The Longs Arms,  Steeple Ashton,  Spring Fete 2019, we thought how wonderful. 

Such a pretty village with its 15th century church and its Tuscan style market cross, we were expecting a traditional affair, with a tombola and maybe a few rounds of bingo. Singer Steve had practiced his bingo calling, legs 11, meal for two 69 and all that. But how wrong we were. 

It was a truly wild affair, and I don’t mean leaving the crusts on the cucumber sandwiches or putting the milk in first when making a cup of tea. 

Get some very fine cider on board (in quantity) plug in, turn it up to 10 and crack on. We had a whole lot of fun. The PB style Green Day sound check ended up being the starting gun and we were off, rattling through what we do and ended up our closing anthem / singalong S.O.B. 

Generous amounts of dancing and singing along is the norm at a PB gig, but it is never ever assumed and always very very gratefully received and appreciated. It would be pointless without you. BIG love from the Peaky Blinders to the Longs Arms and the crowd for looking after us so well.

SUAVE 13th April – The Annual PB Caption Competition

We had a few bumps in the road to navigate along the way to rockabilly nirvana last night. 

BUT firstly – it’s the annual PB caption competition 

Answers on the ‘leave a comment’ link at the bottom of the web page. 

THE PRIZE – A drive in the Peaky Bus with the band (you will need to do the driving) around the Westbury ring road on a wet Tuesday in November. Unloading of band gear optional. 

So why the above? 

Moments prior to doing what we do, getting the singing and dancing underway in order to celebrate Shelley at Suave’s birthday, Steve was unwell and in quarantine. However, after strong medication and dubious other substances he left his sick bed to deliver a blinder. 

Unfortunately bass slappin’ Si got hold of the medication and without water nor food , and having the constitution of a weak school girl with asthma he lost his mind. 

But despite all this and a generous dose of feedback in set one, it was a great night. Maybe it was vol au vents delivered to the band mid set (we’re a very posh band). 

Happy birthday Shelley and thanks once again for Suave for looking after us so well. The Peaky Blinders.

BIG Trouble in the Space Time Continuum 

If you ever need to set your watch, or find yourself running late for a plane and need an accurate time source, you come to a Peaky Blinder show as at 09:15 GMT we start a rockin’. Not 09:14, not 09:16, 09:15. It has always been this way. 

That’s until you are in a showdown with a big corporate bad-boy conglomerate.   

As Weatherspoon’s sell very cheap beer, brewed by very young one armed orphans in Bangladesh, The Prestbury are using the magnetic pull of live music to drag people from these establishments and into a local live venue with a 9 o’ clock sharp fiesta of Saturday night happiness. 

So if you stayed in a Wetherspoons on diet of cheese and onion and Fosters looking at the sad flashing lights of a fruit machine, did you…… 

 - See the Peaky Blinder unveiling of a Costello classic done PB stylie?….NO! 

 - Witness a revamped Bruce number and a new Imelda May work, still in progress (i.e. we cocked it up)?....NO! 

 - 2 Guns’ new shoes?....NO! 

 - C C Rider done with such energy and pace it made the Duracell bunny look like it needed Viagra?......NO? 

 - 2 sets of such music goodness you had to join the dancing throng?......NO! 

 - See Todd avoid all the hard work packing down at the end of the night?.----NO! 

 - I could go on, but you get the idea 

So as the Peaky Blinders were entered onto the Wiltshire version of Sunset Boulevard, the Prestbury Sports Bar wall of fame, I strongly suggest get down to your local music venue for 09:00 so the natural order of things can be restored and we can start at 09:15. 

(Photos by the great @PhotosByPaul.photography with photos from last night to follow) 

At the third beep it will be 09:15 A-Wop-bop-a-loo-lop a-lop-bam-boo exactly 

A Touch of Class 

Last night was how you do it. 

ONE – Band fed and watered pre-gig , on a reduction of juice de tomato avec beans, a pomme-de-terre with its vetements on, a jus of piccalilli, onions in their thousands soaked in malt wine vinegar, some artisan blue cheese from Stilton served with some top fermented hops in water, decanted into a glass marked Carlsberg. 

TWO – The audience made a serious effort. Gents in black tie, looking like Bond in his autumn years and women looking like they walked off the set of ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ 

And THREE – The band got a billing in the programme….’Music to dance to supplied by The Peaky Blinders Band, a rockabilly band with an extensive repertoire’ 

So with this mood of sophistication and refined high culture, we knocked out a belter set of dinner jazz, no tune less than 12 minutes, long bass solos and some scat singing from Steve 

DID WE HELL, WE PUSHED THE PEDAL TO THE METAL AND KNOCKED IT OUT THE PARK and all followed in dancing goodness and swinging happiness. This audience was so classy they even clapped in time. 

A top evening, thoroughly enjoyed by band and we reckon the audience too. A lady came up as we were leaving and said “thank you so much, the music was wonderful.” Nothing more to add yer honour.

WARNING - 18+ only. Look at Todd's eyes and his thigh ticklers too long you will have nightmares for at least a month. You have been warned. 18+ only.

New Year, BIG changes with the Peaky Blinders. 

Time stands still for no man. So as we kick off 2019 gig heaven we thought we would really shake things up. We threw everything at it this time. 

So we are very proud to announce……….. that Steve has bought a new pair of shoes.

Despite only a couple of full practices we thought we knocked it out the park, all due to Steve’s new shoes. They are sparkly and everything and we reckon they lifted the band performance at Jill's 50th in Westbury

There is an alternative theory that the one-man band that is, “Brian-2Guns-Begbie-you hum it and I’ll play it better-Hastie”, has come back to the PB’s after a year in the wilderness. We are not too sure where he has been, but he does have dirty knees, however he’s very welcome back to the PB family. 

So with Bri alongside Todd geetar goovin’ and singin’, Steve in his new shoes delivering his heaven sent vocals and Si and Andy making them all look good and doing all the hard work, we think we have something rather special for 2019. 

So please come along and check us out in 2019. We’d love to see you. 

BUT A FINAL HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JILL.

And that is by order of the Peaky Blinders.

The End of Year Peaky Blinder Xmas Quiz 

As we have a foot in the 1950’s we do love a parlour game. This Xmas, it’s the classic 20 questions……….. 

1. Which of the founding Peaky Blinders played their final gig with us last night? 
2. Who shares a name with Jason Donavan? 
3. But doesn’t share a name with Kylie Minogue? 
4. Which of the chaps in the PB’s can recognise the drummer’s wife and isn’t a retard? 
5. Did he agree that last night was one of those gigs when all falls into place and it’s simply a joy to play and we cooked on gas all the way? 
6. Was he happy that Steve is over his bronchitis and his pipes were on cracking form last night? 
7. If you are going to bow out he would want to do it on a night like last night when the band had nothing but the best of times? 
8. Does he think the drummer wished he never started a list of 20? 
9. This person does think the drummer is the most talented member of the band? 
10. Saying that, this person knows all the intros? 
11. He knows all the keys? 
12. He knows all the formats? 
13. He knows all the outros? 
14. Who will Todd miss most at the beginning of each song? 
15. Who is the rock in the band and knows what is going on when waters get choppy due to drunken sailors? 
16. Whose birthday is it today? 
17. Whose birthday wasn’t it yesterday? 
18. Nearly at 20, errrr, his name doesn’t rhyme with orange (because nothing rhymes with orange.) 
19. He and the rest of the band cannot say enough what a blast 2018 has been and massive massive thanks to all who came and joined us and we sincerely wish you all a Merry Christmas and a fantastic 2019 
20. Despite all of this, its time for this guy to say farewell to the PB’s. Who will the remaining 4 PB’s miss very much? 

JASE THE ACE

We’ll be seeing you soon in some shape of form in 2019. Love, The Peaky Blinders.

!!!AMAZING PEAKY BLINDER BAND OFFER !!!

We always forget to mention if your birthday falls on the weekend of the 8th December and you book the Spencer Club, we will sing you Happy Birthday and that is 100% GUARANTEED and FREE OF CHARGE!!!!

Last night it was friend of the band James (well it was all Sue’s hard work really) who cashed in on this unbelievable PB Offer. 

If fair to say James, nor the assembled crowd, didn’t look as smug as the people in the Spencer Club poster, but we’d wager that this smug bunch couldn’t dance as well the James collective. 

As the band are all well past last nights 40th year milestone, we look at these types of event more like children’s parties and a distant memory, so always good to see how the young’uns are still do’in  it. 

So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMES, and by the time you are 50, we’ll be retirement age and hence expect the volume to be lower and the pace slower, should you wish to take us up again on our aforementioned AMAZING Peaky Blinder Band Offer. 

(Quick note; Spencer Club. Great venue. Great stage + flashy lights = Happy Band) 

(Final quick Note – Steve has viral bronchitis. Ouch!!! We’ll struggle on in the meantime and normal service will be resumed as soon as is humanly possible. And that’s a PB promise) 

(Final final quick note - The drummer went to confession this morning asking for forgiveness for causing the lady an unplanned backwards roll across the dance floor due to chair shenanigans. (You had to be there). God said “No”.

The Sports Bar at Warminster is, errrrrr, a sports bar in Warminster which does music every Saturday. It's these fine people, which despite neighbours insisting on noise level checks and curfews, carry on regardless and keep live music, errrrrr, live. The PB’s SALUTE YOU. 

So what happened last night? Well, the band were totally cookin’ but singer Steve struggles and croaks on with his nasty chest infection. But instead of us blabbing on as we have a tendency to do on these blogs, let me handover to………. 

Charles Drought, the Shakespeare of Warminster, (who also took the following photos) provided this rather insightful PB synopsis; 

A pleasure rather than a precision covers band which sits on the intersection between skiffle, the 21st century and psychobilly. 

In addition the mighty @PhotosByPaul.photography (whose excellent photos will be uploaded once he has finished applying his magic dust to last night’s picture) popped onto facebook late last night and stated; 

 If you have ever wanted to know what Billy Ocean's Red Light Spells Danger sounds like done to a rockerbilly beat then you need to see Peaky Blinders Band - these guys are fantastic 👍😁 

Nuff said. 

Love to All. The Peaky Blinders.

URGENT APPEAL 

MISSING 1 

Last night in the Conservative Club, Westbury, singer Steve lost his voice and would like it back as soon as possible, preferably before Saturday as we are playing at the Prestbury Sports Bar in Warminster. His voice kept pulling at the leash all night and Steve was just able to hang onto it, but a generous dollop of Suspicious Minds and the voice broke free never to be seen again that night. However being the man that he is, he pushed on to finish line, gave it all he had and led us all out with a rousing SOB. The man in a genuine star.

MISSING 2 

No one knows what happened to bass player Simon, he just went walk about mid-second set, but Big Bad Brenda the Double Bass Player from Birmingham was able to step in and carry the whole band until Simon returned. Check the video for a masterclass in slapping the big cello. 

And here is the moment when Simon returned back to earth and reality. Not a clue where he’s been for 30minutes . Bless. 

Despite all of the shenanigans of last night, and it wasn’t an easy one for the band, we still took care of business. Thanks to the many who came and jumped on board for the ride. It would all be pointless without you. 

And that is By Order of the Peaky Blinders.

The Peaky Blinders are not a political band but we could not help but notice that Theresa May has had a very rough week and Westminster has got itself into a right kafuffle over BREXIT. 

What Theresa needs to do is the follow the example of these 3 fine ladies and DANCE! Before the end of the first bar of the first song, till the last note of the last, they jived, charlestoned, and rock and rolled. And if you lead they will follow. 

The Bikers from the back led a percussion masterclass in tambourine playing, the gents delivered harmonious baritone in various tunes and the dance collective was worthy of the Royal Ballet. 

If the Westminster bubble had been with the fine people of The Somerset Arms last night, they wouldn’t have been getting angry on ‘Preston on Sunday’ , they would be telling the country dancing to live music is in the national interest, make supporting your local boozer a law and be getting the Maybot to dance lessons with the Gillingham 3. 

So last night? The biggest of gigs, nope. The best lighting, nope (they just turned ‘em off). The best acoustics, nope (just tucked in the corner). One of our most fun gigs ever, YEP. 

One last thing; On behalf of the NHS….DANCE wisely as over indulgence can lead to extreme tiredness. 

Final final thing …….yet another Somerset Arms in Wiltshire we have played recently?!?!? Makes the Northern Island custom union issue look trivial

Here is a photo of the band, post gig, taking drinks with the her Duchess ,aka Caroline and some of her hounds, in the library.

Unfortunately bass player Simon's fat little bass slappin' fingers look more like sausages to a dog and hence he took a nip seconds after this shot. 

The Duke, aka Nick took a flyover mid-gig in his microlite and showered the masses with love and a lot of roast potatoes, food and drink finery.

This adhoc private social gathering was certainly one of the best pop-up venues we've played.  They're talking about doing it again. Yes we would like to do it again. BIG thanks to Nick and Caroline for inviting us along to this inaugural event. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. 

Update# Simon has been on rabies shots since the bite incident and despite occasional barking and weeing on lampposts, we are expecting him to make a full recovery