the concert hall

The Smoke

British group The Smoke are a band that deserved far better than was given them. They emerged in 1966, during the height of the swinging London scene, with some of the most cheerful and original sounding music around. Liberally peppered with references to marijuana, their records were banned on British radio (something that would ensure success today!). As a result, they only had moderate popularity in Germany, and were entirely unknown in the US. What a shame. The collection "It's Smoke Time" on the Repertoire label is a great slice of lite-psychedelia; a round-trip ticket to a legendary time and place.

The Action

Quite simply, The Action is the greatest mod band of all time. Many people (Paul Weller, especially) would dispute that, giving the title to the Small Faces, but - as good as The SF could be (but seldom was), The Action was far better. In 1965, a group of five buddies got together and recorded an amazing single called "In my Lonely Room" (b/w "Land of a Thousand Dances"). It sold reasonably well and was hugely popular with the mods of North London, where they lived. Whenever The Action would perform, the local mods would give them a scooter escort to and from the venue. They caught the attention of George Martin, the man who first signed the Beatles. However, despite local popularity and great demos, Martin was unable to promote them properly and they never got the chance to break out of merely playing clubs for a living.

The Action faded into obscurity, but the music remains, and what great music it is. The compilation titled "Ultimate Action" (Edsel Records) amply demonstrates how good they were and what a shame it is that they never got the break they deserved. Vocalist Reggie King had one of the best voices of the '60s - a little like Scott Walker, but with a gritty, urban edge and complete control. Tunes were complex but catchy and totally danceable. "Never Ever", "Twenty-fourth Hour" and "Shadows and Reflections" are great Mod anthems; "In My Lonely Room" is simply amazing. If you have any appreciation for the Small Faces, The (early) Who, The Kinks or even The Jam, you owe it to yourself to discover The Action. Just don't be surprised if The Action makes the rest of them sound like shite.

John's Children

John's Children are one of those bands that far more is said about than is reflected in their output or financial success. They were wildly popular in Britain during their lifespan of 1966-68. They were more famous for their on and off-stage antics than for their music which, it must be said, could be quite interesting. Their sound relied heavily upon lead singer Andy Ellison's sneering voice and psychedelic lyrics. They also incorporated classical influences, and unusual time signatures and chord structures.

But their stage presence (enhanced by wearing matching white outfits) was truly out of control. The bassist rubbed chains against the strings to get the sound he wanted; the drummer flailed away with rather imprecise abandon. They used experimental amplifiers that were the loudest available at the time. Their mannerisms were so uncontrolled and destructive that they were banned from many stages as well as hotels. Their big break was due, when The Who's manager, Andrew "Loog" Oldham hired them to open for his band during a tour of Germany. However, John's Children got the audience so stirred up with their first performance that a riot followed and The Who was unwilling to take the stage. Such an expensive mistake is seldom made twice by promoters, and John's Children had nowhere to go but to pieces. Their music has been assembled into an intriguing collection called "Smashed Blocked!" that largely captures their manic energy and fierce individualism.