Continuing the January 2025 review of the previous year, let’s take a look at the Top 9 photos I posted on Instagram. This time last year I posted the 2023 version, so why not keep the tradition up?
It’s a simple process to get your most liked photos from Insta as a grid of nine images. This snapshot shows the most liked (top left) to least (bottom right) of the year’s best performers.
Here’s a breakdown of what the images were:
Here’s me at Star Tours in Disneyland Paris, complete with X-Wing Pilot t-shirt.
A Christmas porttrait.
The Bad Brains album “Quickness” on vinyl.
A bottle of Higson’s Bitter Ale.
An album by the band Budgie, “Never Turn Your Back on a Friend”, on vinyl.
Vinyl copy of the classic “Home Invasion” album by Ice-T.
Last year’s 2023 Top 9!
Pinball machines I found in a Whitby arcade.
Ancient burial sites in Anglesey, North Wales.
That’s quite a diverse range of photos, and also fairly typical of what I post on Instagram: vinyl and beer.
Thanks for sharing these moments with me. If you like, you can follow me on Instagram: platinum_al.official.
As a teenaged skateboarder in the late 80’s, Boston hardcore legends Gang Green were definitely on my playlist. They appeared on a Thrasher Skate Rock tape, what more do you need to know?! Merging hardcore punk with a more metallic edge, Gang Green added a technicality and rock’n’roll, beer drinking party vibe to their unique take on crossover/thrash. It was mostly fun, though sometimes dumb, times – with a fast and crazy energy. Eventually finding a home on Roadrunner records in 1987, the albums Gang Green recorded for that label are collected here by Cherry Red Records.
Working through the discs chronologically, we’ll start with the first Roadrunner release, “You Got It”. Featuring what is possibly the worst album cover all time – the band in a sewer? Why is (vocalist/guitarist) Chris Doherty jumping through a fence? And where are his legs?! This atrocious shot always bothered me, so I’m delighted I get to bitch about it now (though it only appears as a small pic!). Music wise, “You Got It” is chock full of belters: the storming thrash of ‘We’ll Give it to You’ setting out Gang Green’s goods; ferocious hardcore with ‘LDSB’ and ‘Born to Rock’. There’s even a surprise social conscience (and mellow intro) on ‘Another Bomb’. Plus, bonus track ‘Skate to Hell’ is worth the price of admission alone.
If Roadrunner were relieved they’d done the right thing signing this bunch of unruly punks after that first record, ‘Older… Budweiser’ went even better. Armed this time with a great cover/title (thankfully), Gang Green delivered more of the same, but amped up even further. ‘Church of Fun’ bolts out of the gates; ‘Just One Bullet’ and ‘We Can Go’ show exactly how to meld hardcore and thrash into a furious, fun time. The rock’n’roll edge that began on the previous record becomes more prevalent, adding a distinct flavour to the band’s sound (see ‘Tear Down the Walls’). The humour misfires on ‘Bedroom of Doom’, but the does-what-it-says-on the-tin ‘Ballad’ is a nice attempt to branch out musically before closing time.
On disc three, we have the live album “Can’t LIVE Without It”, recorded at the Marquee Club in London in 1990. Most of the live tracks appear already on this compilation, but it’s a solid recording of an energetic, relentless show. There are a bunch of non-Roadrunner tracks which add value for money; plus, the inclusion of the “I81B4U” EP and ‘Living Loving Maid’ single, which is great news for obsessive nerds like me.
Finally, the compilation album “King of Bands” rounds out the collection. If you’ve not had enough of hearing some of these songs twice already, prepare to experience some of them yet again with this “greatest hits” set. Although, there are two new tracks and three from Gang Greens first album on Taang! Records for VFM. The two tracks – ‘Thunder’ and ‘Rub It In Your Face’ are OK, but not up to the standard of older material. Still, this last disc seals the lid on this barrel of good times very nicely.
The history of Gang Green proves to be a fascinating tale. Predating Jackass by some years, the party hard doctrine of the band remains resolutely in place. Some of the lyrics are juvenile at best, out right sexist at worst (‘Cum In You’, oh dear); but if you can forgive that, the attitude and fun remains infectious. Yes, it’s all about partying and beer, but the music is still great. Not as metal as COC, or as punk as Circle Jerks, Gang Green added a rockin’ flare to their brand of crossover and brought the party home.
A great compilation featuring tons of interviews, info and photos, “We’ll Give It To You” is a comprehensive guide to beer-soaked thrash punk. It’s time to get out on your skateboard, rock out to Gang Green, and celebrate with a few beers. Afterward, that is. Ever Metal wants you to take care: don’t drink & skate.
Three years. It’s been nearly three years since the last Bring Your Own Vinyl Night at the Queen’s Head in Mold, north Wales. The pandemic put this event on hold for quite a while, but finally it was time for a triumphant return to the decks.
Let’s recap the concept: each participant gets a 15 minute slot to play whatever vinyl they like. That’s it. Very simple. And good fun. Have a few beers, chat about music, discover something new to listen to.
Here’s my ;playlist from the night:
Sweet Apple – Wish You Could Stay (A Little Longer)
I wanted to start my set up with this gorgeous, uplifting track by Sweet Apple. J Mascis (of Dinosaur Jr) is in the band, and Mark Lanegan guests on co-vocals. A sublime piece of melodic, alt rock pop. First song on their album “The Golden Age of Glitter”.
The Four Horsemen – Nobody Said It Was Easy
And then on to some early 90’s southern rock, courtesy of the Four Horsemen. This band were signed to Def American and produced by Rick Rubin. If you dig AC/DC tinged Skynyrd and ZZ Top, their wax is worth investing in. I have the album, but this was the 7 inch single version of this song.
Clutch – D.C. Sound Attack!
A stand out track from the “Earth Rocker” album by Clutch, a band I am somewhat obsessed with. I love this song, it’s energetic rock’n’roll with a funky riff – the instrumental is so good I could actually groove to it. D.C. Sound Attack!!!
Social Distortion – Dear Lover
What a band. The opening track from Social D’s “White Light White Heat White Trash” album, this is full of Mike Ness’s heartfelt angst in a pounding, mid paced punk rock’n’roller.
The Beatnix – Stairway to Heaven
The Beatnix are a Beatles cover band. Here, they’ve covered Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” in an early 60’s Beatles style. It’s actually really good and sounds authentic. I think this song raised a few eyebrows, starting off resembling an old Fab Four track but including the unmistakable lyrics. On the other side, there’s an Elvis impersonator called Neil Pepper, covering the same song – a great single, you need a copy.
I had a really enjoyable evening for Vinyl Night, in fact I’m sure everyone did! Thanks to Halcyon Dreams and VOD Music in Mold for hosting and organising everything. Hope to see you all again soon!
Happy New Year, readers! And welcome back to Platinum Al’s Virtual Hot Tub – the web’s number one virtual location for soaking in warm, relaxing waters and enjoying my virtual adventures.
What a year 2019 has been. I’ve been to Comic Cons; written album reviews for Ever Metal; indulged in another traditional Halloween Horror Fest – and finally managed to get to a few gigs. Food and drinks reviews, as well as toy and tat blogs, have also made a comeback.
But what have been the most popular and widely read blogs in the last year? Let’s rewind the clocks and take a look, with a good ol’ countdown from ten to the number one spot…
At last! Some Halloween Horror Fest love, with my final set of reviews breaking into the Top 10. A first for my horror movie reviews, as far as I remember. A triple bill of The Wolf Man, Little Shop of Horrors and Lust for a Vampire.
Miracle of miracles – an item from my Tat collection rockets into the most popular blogs for the first time ever! Perhaps the saucy nature of the Jo Guest strip pen is to blame…
Only a couple of views more than Part 1, but Part 2 takes the crown for the most popular blog this year!
It’s great to see a variety of different topics be successful this year. Comic conventions, food and skateboards always fare well, but I’m very happy to see Star Wars toys and a bit of tat break through for the first time.I’ll endeavour to deliver more in 2020 – who knows what we’ll see?
My thanks to all my readers over the last year – I appreciate every single view, like and comment. I wish you all a healthy and prosperous 2020.
The indoor market in Chester has had a confident resurgence in recent times. Still the home of many familiar local traders and stalls, the market has now grown to accommodate a whole new and vibrant concept.
A number of excellent eateries have sprung up, offering food of a wide variety of styles. To compliment this, That Beer Place has also established itself as a central attraction for beer lovers.
I wanted to write a brief appreciation of That Beer Place – and spread the word if possible – for a fantastic enterprise that deserves success.
There’s a huge selection of beer to choose from, both on tap and in bottles or cans. Whether traditional or unusual, local or from a far flung locale, there’s so much variety that there’s sure to be a drink to suit all tastes.
Staff are helpful and able to advise, if the magnitude of choice threatens to confound. There are vegan, gluten free and more options; plus cider, gin, wine and non-alcoholic beverages too. It’s easy and fun to experiment and discover a new favourite. I’ve been doing it for a while…
Whilst never raucous, there’s definitely a buzz about That Beer Place that makes it a great place to visit. It’s friendly and welcoming, with a cool vibe that makes it a crucial part of the revamped market.
Good luck to That Beer Place and Chester Market too (not forgetting another favourite, Death by Tacos!) – make sure you pay them a visit next time you’re in town.
Finally, months later, I made it to another Bring Your Own Vinyl Night. It’s been far too long, but it was great to be back. A few beers, some great food, and awesome music always makes for an entertaining evening.
Hosted by Halcyon Dreams in the Queen’s Head pub in Mold, North Wales, Bring Your Own Vinyl Night is an opportunity to be a DJ for a night. Each person has a 15 minute slot to play whatever they like, vinyl only.
It’s never an easy task, narrowing down my collection to just a handful of songs to play. I didn’t go for a theme this time, just a few tracks that I thought worthy of sharing.
Here’s what I unleashed:
Betty Davis – If I’m in Luck I Might Get Picked Up
I decided to start the set with this funk-rock hybrid from cult soul singer and one time Mrs Miles Davis: the amazing Betty Davis. I’d heard about Betty’s work on the grapevine; after checking this album out online I knew I had to track a vinyl copy down. “If I’m in Luck…” is a raunchy number powered by hard rock guitar riffs and a phenomenally funky beat. Highly recommended!
Iggy and the Stooges – Gimme Danger
My favourite track on the third Stooges record, “Gimme Danger” is a timeless classic. The “Raw Power” album that housed it apparently fared badly on initial release, but blossomed with a cult following in later years. Every home should have a copy of this fantastic record. “Gimme Danger” lures the listener into a false sense of security with an unusually melodic guitar part, yet still weaves a web of debauchery and chaos.
The Cult – Lucifer
The Cult have been one of my favourite bands over the years, going right back to my teens with the “Love” and “Electric” albums. They’re still delivering quality music, with the album “Choice of Weapon” (from which “Lucifer” is taken) being a highlight. There’s a huge, epic riff driving this song – one of those tracks that I usually have to have on repeat, ‘cos just one play ain’t enough.
The Donnas – Who Invited You
In 2002, The Donnas released one of the best rock’n’nroll albums in years with “Spend the Night”, an energetic blend of AC/DC style hard rock and Ramones punk. Sadly it was released in the CD age, so I don’t own a vinyl copy. But I did hunt down the 7″ single of “Who Invited You” so that I can enjoy at least one magnificent song from the album on vinyl. Re-issue, somebody, please!
And that, ladies and gentlemen, was that – for me at least. There were plenty of other great songs played throughout the evening which you can check out via the Halcyon Dreams links below.
In all, a thoroughly enjoyable evening – sharing the wonder of music and vinyl in a great pub. I mustn’t leave it so long till my next Vinyl Night visit.
With thanks to Halcyon Dreams and VOD Music – well done guys!
It’s been a long time since I wrote a food blog. However, I’ve dragged myself out of self imposed food critic retirement, to plug a new local eaterie that I’ve become a huge fan of. That establishment is Death by Tacos, in Chester market.
Anyone who knows me, or has read previous blogs, will know I’m a big fan of Mexican food. So it’s no surprise that I love DBT.
On offer is authentic Mexican fare: freshly made, soft corn tortillas filled with a choice of various fillings and mouth watering dressings. So far I’ve tried the chicken and the chorizo, and I’m working my way through the menu. Both dishes were fabuloso!
There are also some amazing sounding sides available, like brisket loaded tortilla chips, that I want to try. Plus with some groovy cocktails and beers, this is Mexican food heaven.
Sitting in Death by Tacos, I was right at home: a couple of skateboards on the walls and classic tunes (Black Sabbath and Smashing Pumpkins were on the playlist on my last visit!). Plus the staff are friendly and helpful, making the whole experience a real joy. Oh, I got a sticker and a badge too, wahey!
My chicken tacos
My chorizo tacos
Decks
Sticker and badge
Chester market has been revamped over recent months, and now features various places to eat and drink that are worth investigating. On Friday evenings they’re open till 9pm, and there’s a real relaxed and fun vibe that I can recommend.
Death by Tacos is worth your time to experience, trust me. Great food, cool surroundings, what more could you want?
PS: this review ain’t going on Trip Advisor, ‘cos everyone knows Trip Advisor is for FOOLS.
January is a bloody miserable month, so it was nice to have an event to look forward to. The event in question was Bring Your Own Vinyl Night – the first one I’d been able to attend (for various reasons) for quite some time.
There was a loose Scottish theme for those who chose to indulge, with it being Burns Night. Personally I didn’t bother as I had other plans for my setlist.
As it’s been a while, here’s a recap on what Vinyl Night is all about:
Organised by the awesome chaps from Halcyon Dreams and VOD Music, Bring Your Own Vinyl Night is held in The Queen’s Head, a dependable boozer in Mold. Aspiring DJs can play a fifteen minute set of any songs they choose, but the format must be vinyl.
Here’s the selection I made:
1968 – Devilswine
This is the opening track from the superb debut album by 1968, “Ballads of the Godless”. That behemoth of a record was one of my favourites of 2018 – a stoner rock classic in the making. The song is a heavy, riff fuelled monster with a groove that will make your head nod. Psychedelic biker rock, retro metal, fuzzed up grunge; call it what you will – these Chester lads know how to rock.
Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind – Dream
I’ve long been a fan of Jim Jones’ previous bands like Thee Hypnotics and Jim Jones Revue, so I swiped a copy of this latest musical venture as soon as I could. The album “Supernatural” is amazing, full of swampy, bluesy rock’n’roll that’s part Stooges, part Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. “Dream” is also the opening track, and it’s lethal. HIghly recommended.
1968
Jim Jones
The Incredible Bongo Band – Bongo Rock
This is a 7″ single that I was lucky to pick up for a few pence in a charity shop. I really need the album too. This is early seventies funky soul-pop and extremely groovy. It will make you want to wear a polo neck jumper and huge flares whilst sporting a gaucho moustache, Beastie Boys style. The Incredible Bongo Band are an integral part of the story of how Cliff Richard invented hip-hop. If you don’t believe me, Google it.
RL Burnside – Goin’ Down South
My final track was another opener, this time from RL Burnside’s amazing “A Ass Pocket of Whiskey” LP. When I first heard this heavy blues stomper on a CD compilation, I knew it had to be mine one day. An infectious collaboration with The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, this was recorded in the nineties but sounds timeless.
Bongo
RLB
In retrospect, it seems that my set inadvertently did have a theme after all – though I swear that the suggestive images of ladies on record covers was purely incidental.
With thanks to Halcyon Dreams and VOD Music, hope to see you all again soon.
It’s been a while since I last attended Bring Your Own Vinyl Night, and boy did I miss it. It was great to be back in the Queen’s Head pub in Mold with the chaps from Halcyon Dreams and VOD Music to spin some records.
If you’ve missed previous episodes (where HAVE you been?), it works like this: Each person gets a fifteen minute set to play whatever songs they like, but only on vinyl. Simple as that. Throw in some beer and some music based chat and you’re in for a great time.
As it was getting close to Record Store Day, Tom from Halcyon Dreams pitched a challenge for us would-be DJs: our set had to be comprised of artists who would be releasing music on the day.
No problem, I thought. Here’s how my set went:
Killing Joke – The Wait
To begin, a thunderously loud track from the first Killing Joke album. A riff so mighty that Metallica covered it for their $5.98 EP, this tune also has an incessant tribal beat under the choppy punk guitar. A great song from an essential album, in my opinion. I’ve been a fan of KJ for a long time and they’re still turning out screaming punk/metal/industrial noise to this day.
Johnny Cash – Folsom Prison Blues
Well you can’t go wrong with a bit of Johnny Cash, although I was surprised that this track really seemed to go down well with the pub crowd. Regular readers will know how big a fan of Johnny Cash I am, he’s just unbeatable. This classic song was taken from an old compilation I picked up at a record fair, crammed full of great tunes. I’m glad to say this song seemed very popular!
L7 – Everglade
Another crushing riff, this time from the “Bricks Are Heavy” album from all-girl punk rock grungers L7. My favourite song from that album, and one of my favourite bands from that era. I saw the band live a couple of years ago at Download fest, they were amazing. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that girls can’t rock – L7 were the best band of the day.
The Members – Sound of the Suburbs
And finally, an old punk rock classic on 45rpm courtesy of the Members. This track also seemed popular! I only have the 7 inch single of this song, so I could do with tracking down some more records by them. Great fun.
So that wraps up another Bring Your Own Vinyl Night, and what a great night it was! My mixing skills need some sharpening up, but I really enjoyed myself. Well done Tom and Colin, looking forward to another bash soon. I know those guys are very busy, but the Vinyl Nights are always a treat. See you soon!
It was a hard slog of a shopping trip, but luckily there was a safe haven awaiting us. Despite the crowds outside, a warm welcome would be found at Piccolino; a chance to recharge and enjoy some great food.
I’ve been to Piccolino before, but not for a while, so this lunchtime treat was very satisfying. The staff were very helpful and we immediately felt relaxed. All four of our party – including a six year old with fussy tastes – were looked after very well.
Here’s a brief over view of the food I enjoyed.
As it was lunchtime, we didn’t bother with starters as such, but ordered some garlic bread to share. This Pane All’Aglio was served with tomato and basil – essentially a tomato sauce – and was delicious. Especially popular with our youngest member.
For my lunch proper, I ordered Fusilli Puttanesca Con Pollo – a pasta dish, with chicken, tomato, olives, chilli, anchovies and capers. I was looking forward to this dish, and I wasn’t disappointed – it was superb. Not just any old thrown together pasta meal, this was exquisite. I was very impressed, even better than expected.
Mrs Platinum Al ordered a pasta dish also – Farfalle Al Salmone (probably just because it had my name in it). Joking aside, this was also very good – I had a sneaky try to confirm. I would happily order this meal myself on my next visit, if not for the fact that my Fusilli Puttanesca Con Pollo was so damn fine.
The little ‘un had a cheese and tomato pizza – that’s a Margherita to us professionals – and she destroyed it. The pizza proved very popular indeed.
I’d had a cheeky beer (Moretti La Rossa – excellent), and decided to splash out on a dessert. This was not a mistake, no sir.
I was tempted by some ice cream, and made a radical choice. Despite not being much of a fan of coffee, I chose the Affogato – Amaretto, espresso and vanilla ice cream. This was presented more like a cocktail than a pudding, with the ice cream covered in Amaretto and a shot of espresso to pour over the top. This was an amazing dessert – I still have dreams about it now!
A fabulous time was had by all of our party at Piccolino. The food was divine and service perfect. To top it all, our little girl had a great experience and we’d happily return for more family fun.
Food Quest Test
Food: Enormous choice and delicious
Drink: Plenty to choose from, need to try more next time!
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