OK bands you know the score.....

the more hits your blog gets by the fans, the higher you go.....

So tweet it, Facebook it.....

and generally expose yourself.....

Now Mr Snuggles and me have been sitting with our heads down counting the hits on each bands blog to see who's got which place.  

So here it is.....

The Top Ten Blogged Band Chart .....

No 1 ..... Snippet aka Johnno Casson 

Snippet aka Johnno Casson is the quintessential English musician.  Prolific, diverse, entertaining, clever, wistful and whimsical (no more so on his recently released mini-album 'DIY' and the track 'Let's Talk About Us' on which he comments on his winkle - and he isn't introducing us to his pet mollusc Brian).  

No 2..... Lost Podenco 





When Ralph heard his man in Scotland Malcolm Parry was heading to Ibiza for a holiday he couldn't resist getting him to interview Liverpool born singer/songwriter Phil Dobie aka Lost Podenco who's been kenneled on 'The White Island' these last six years. 

No 3..... The Bedroom Hour

Ralph's sent his intrepid reporter Malcolm Parry out into the wilds - yes Bathgate no less - to bring you a live review of The Bedroom Hour, and this time he's come back with a corker.  The night was originally advertised as three bands, unfortunately the opening act from Fife - Calm As The Colour had to cancel, but never mind they still had Somerset's indie rockers The Darlingtons 

No 4..... Clockwork Noise

Ralph's nipped over the Irish Sea to check out Clockwork Noise as they've recently released an album 'Whethermachines' and it ticks all the boxes. Clockwork Noise are Blathnaid Healy on violins, cellos and vocals - Dylan Nolan on Bass and Vocals - Michael Fenton- Drums and Vocals - Robert Maguire on Lead Vocals and Guitars - Chris O' Connor- Vocals and Guitars.

No 5 ..... The Holy Orders

Now if a band releases a debut album with the word dog in it then it's only to be expected that Ralph will sit up and pay attention.  That's exactly the case with the recent release by Hull Alt/Punk rockers The Holy Orders who've recently released 'For The Ears Of Dogs To Come' on Coal Shed Records.  

No 6..... Burning Condors 

Looking for some down and dirty, bluesy and gritty, edgy rock 'n' roll?  The look no further than Burning Condors as they're producing just that in spades!

No 7..... Black Swans

What do you get when you put in five years hard graft to learn your craft and believe in what you're doing - the debut album 'The Life We Chose' by Liverpool band Black Swans of course.  It's recently been released along with the latest single 'Be There' to critical acclaim and looks like becoming one of the best 'breakthrough' albums of 2013.

No 8..... Jess Harwood

With a new EP out in May and some great gigs in the offing Jess Harwood is starting to make a real impact on the music scene.  Jess is a 20 year old singer-songwriter from Blackpool and has been writing and singing her own songs since her early teens. 

No 9..... Wullae Wright

Everybody likes to make a comparison about artistes and Ralph's old man is no exception. He heard Wullae Wright's 'Halo Effect' playing on my laptop and next thing he was wiping the dust of his collection of vinyl, dug out Led Zeppelin I and stuck it under my nose 

No 10..... Pumajaw

Ralph's man in Scotland has ventured over to the West Coast and on arriving at the venue, The Berkeley Suite in Glasgow, leaves the Scottish sunshine for a night of darkness.  A slick hideaway situated in between a few bars and restaurant's, the former 1940's ballroom was re-discovered and restored.  

Ralph's Top Ten Blogged Band Chart 21.7.13

OK bands you know the score.....

the more hits your blog gets by the fans, the higher you go.....

So tweet it, Facebook it.....

and generally expose yourself.....

Now Mr Snuggles and me have been sitting with our heads down counting the hits on each bands blog to see who's got which place.  

So here it is.....

The Top Ten Blogged Band Chart .....

No 1..... Clockwork Noise

Ralph's nipped over the Irish Sea to check out Clockwork Noise as they've recently released an album 'Whethermachines' and it ticks all the boxes. Clockwork Noise are Blathnaid Healy on violins, cellos and vocals - Dylan Nolan on Bass and Vocals - Michael Fenton- Drums and Vocals - Robert Maguire on Lead Vocals and Guitars - Chris O' Connor- Vocals and Guitars.

No 2 ..... Snippet aka Johnno Casson 

Snippet aka Johnno Casson is the quintessential English musician.  Prolific, diverse, entertaining, clever, wistful and whimsical (no more so on his recently released mini-album 'DIY' and the track 'Let's Talk About Us' on which he comments on his winkle - and he isn't introducing us to his pet mollusc Brian).  

No 3..... The Bedroom Hour

Ralph's sent his intrepid reporter Malcolm Parry out into the wilds - yes Bathgate no less - to bring you a live review of The Bedroom Hour, and this time he's come back with a corker.  The night was originally advertised as three bands, unfortunately the opening act from Fife - Calm As The Colour had to cancel, but never mind they still had Somerset's indie rockers The Darlingtons 

No 4..... Lost Podenco 





When Ralph heard his man in Scotland Malcolm Parry was heading to Ibiza for a holiday he couldn't resist getting him to interview Liverpool born singer/songwriter Phil Dobie aka Lost Podenco who's been kenneled on 'The White Island' these last six years. 

No 5 ..... Burning Condors 

Looking for some down and dirty, bluesy and gritty, edgy rock 'n' roll?  The look no further than Burning Condors as they're producing just that in spades!

No 6..... Black Swans

What do you get when you put in five years hard graft to learn your craft and believe in what you're doing - the debut album 'The Life We Chose' by Liverpool band Black Swans of course.  It's recently been released along with the latest single 'Be There' to critical acclaim and looks like becoming one of the best 'breakthrough' albums of 2013.

No 7..... Jess Harwood

With a new EP out in May and some great gigs in the offing Jess Harwood is starting to make a real impact on the music scene.  Jess is a 20 year old singer-songwriter from Blackpool and has been writing and singing her own songs since her early teens. 

No 8..... Wullae Wright

Everybody likes to make a comparison about artistes and Ralph's old man is no exception. He heard Wullae Wright's 'Halo Effect' playing on my laptop and next thing he was wiping the dust of his collection of vinyl, dug out Led Zeppelin I and stuck it under my nose 

No 9..... Martin Stephenson and The Daintees

Martin Stephenson has been one of the UK’s best-loved musicians for 30 years.  The new album 'California Star' sees him reunited once more with The Daintees, the band he’s intermittently fronted through a string of albums - and hundreds of gigs - since his teens in the North East.  Always popular on the circuit, his 'must see' live performances are an exuberant tour-de-force combining heart-in-your-mouth intimacy with playful humour and warm self-deprecation.

No 10..... Dennis McCalmont

Third and last, but by no means least in Ralph's Irish Trilogy is singer/songwriter Dennis McCalmont.  Music has been stirring in the veins of Mayoman (I'm more of a Salad Cream fan) Dennis McCalmont since he was a lad, but it began to course faster as soon as he heard Paul Kossoff's fiery guitar solo on Free's 'All Right Now'.

Lost Podenco aka Phil Dobie

When Ralph heard his man in Scotland Malcolm Parry was heading to Ibiza for a holiday he couldn't resist getting him to interview Liverpool born singer/songwriter Phil Dobie aka Lost Podenco who's been kenneled on 'The White Island' these last six years. 




Kennel I hear you say, well the official definition is - Po_den’ço: (sp.) Ibizan hound; intelligent, active and engaging by nature (something like myself), though somewhat independent and stubborn at times (yep me too); unruly, they will resist punitive training methods (I think I may be Spanish); they do not make good kennel dogs and have a strong prey drive, therefore cannot be trusted off the leash unless in a safely enclosed area (paws up to that too).

So I'll let Malc take up the story ...

The very talented and perfectionist Liverpool born singer/songwriter Lost Podenco ( Phil Dobie ) has been very kind in showing us around his home of 6 years, Ibiza.  He came over with just 2 guitars, a suitcase and is now a successful music teacher at a local school.

His plan for the day was to show us the mysterious beach of Atlantis just across from the huge, spiritual and mesmerizing spectacle of Es Vedre.  He hasn't actually been to this beach before and is armed only with a few cryptic Facebook directions from friends.  Though we enjoyed the day and walking, after nearly two hours we were very sceptical of him leading us to Atlantis. This Podenco was well and truly lost!

Previous to that fateful day I'd arranged to meet him in the gorgeous location of Maritina Beach on the east coast of the island at the hippy bar 'Chirincana'. Luckily for us he has been here before, so we manage to have a fun and informative chat over a beer to the chilled out vibes floating out from the bar.

We chat about how I first came to his music through me following Ade Harris @blogibiza. He tells me how much of a perfectionist and over critical he his about his music.  Recording all the parts with over dubs.  The following week he plans to start work on his upcoming album 'Military Spec Melodies' but only with the limited time due to his day job.  He's currently looking for people to collaborate with and he would love to produce pieces of music like the recent King Creosote - John Hopkins album 'Diamond Mine' (Ralph had that for his pick in last years SAY Award).





As an aside...as Ralph's typing this up he's trying to set up a collaboration through Twitter with Ambrose Chappel and Wullae Wright...blog writing doesn't get any more 'live' than this!

@LostPodenco @fruitbatwalton @wullaewright yer man.
— Ambrose Chappel (@ambrose_chappel) July 15, 2013

@ambrose_chappel @fruitbatwalton @LostPodenco haha here I am. What have I missed? :) W
— Wullae Wright (@wullaewright) July 15, 2013

Malc: What's your name , where do you come from? 
Lost: Philip Edward Dobie just near Penny Lane in Liverpool.

Malc: How did you end up in Ibiza? 
Lost: I started looking for jobs in England and then decided to look further abroad, and everything fell into place, It was meant to be! He goes on to say “ I was a narrow minded indie snob and this island has made a fool of me”

Malc: How much do you actually get to play live on the island? 
Lost: Not much at all.  A couple of times before only as a guitarist in another project, not as Lost Podenco.  I am confirmed to play the White Island Music Festival first week of September -  all the effect pedals will be coming out, testing the patience of the electronic fraternity.

Malc: No plans for an E.P? 
Lost: I'm going straight for the album. Recording in next 6 weeks, hopefully a single before the album. It'll be available digital and would love to release a limited vinyl version with me growing up listening to records.  I'll invent some silly label to release it myself like 'Wirral Records'

Malc: Why the name Lost Podenco? 
Lost: I have had many a night coming back on the dark roads of Ibiza where the Ibizan Hound dog ( podenco ) walks out into the road playing chicken with me, it embodies Ibiza and I was a little bit lost (some would argue he still is) when I arrived on the island.

Malc : If you could right a 'Sonnet ' or a 'Bittersweet Symphony' ? 
Lost: Bittersweet symphony.

Malc: Dream band to support? 
Lost: I'll pass and come back to this one later (taking his time to get this one right, (but finally decides on) Bob Dylan – Free Trade Hall 1966 tour when he went electric. (Though doing my research Dylan first went electric at The Newport Folk festival in '65) but he goes on to say “When everyone was calling him 'Judas' and I would have to play an acoustic set to steal Bob's thunder” he says laughing.

Malc: Any other Ibizan artists we should check out? 
Lost: Superlogic who loves the ambient John Hopkins stuff and who I hope to collaborate with in the coming weeks.

Malc: Lennon or McCartney? 
Lost: Lennon

Malc: The Coral or Cast? 
Lost: Cast

Malc: Liverpool Academy or The Cavern Club? 
Lost: I haven't played the Academy so...

Though he may not be Getting a call from The White Island tour guides offering him a job any time soon, maybe like the podenco he can't be trusted off the leash, but with a solid job and a promising musical side-line ahead this Lost  Podenco is certainly not lost.