Cubelog

Last week I enjoyed one of the best nights out at the Cube for a long time - the “Cube Cola all spirits night”. This was the ‘first’ Cube Cola birthday party - though, slightly confusingly, not their first year - it was, according to the exquisitely James-Vickery-designed programme, “celebrating almost 4 years on the path to food science enlightenment”. The Cube Cola project is by Kate Rich and Kayle Brandon . . .

. . . and is based around providing a viable alternative to branded cola, manufactured from scratch. There is more info here, and here. The evening also celebrated many other home-spun products: food stuffs . . .

. . . some presented quite straightforwardly and deliciously, others with a bit more attached ( notably Jelena Stanovnik’s extremely good pie-chart Chocolate cake, which marks out the proportions of recorded religions in the UK as part of the ‘Life In The UK’ project by Jelena, Kate and Rasha Shaheen - who I’d previously seen give their presentation at Spike Island and Blackout at Shambala ); and also some clothes - in the form of some very versatile garments by Sylvia Zidek, including her specially designed trousers that level the pissing-field to make dignified street-urination as easy for women as men.

Kush DJ’ed infectious afro-beat in the bar . . .

. . . and Suffolk band The Pancakes played on their home-made instruments in the auditorium . . .

. . . creating a very warm village fête type feel, though with their casual references to murder, along with a live on-stage demonstration of the aforementioned feminist piss-pants, it was all kept just on the right side of too cosy.

There was a healthy crowd despite stiff competition from a sort-of homecoming gig by The Goxxip ( Cube associates Local Kid memorably brought them over here before they blew up in the mainstream ) and everything just seemed to fall into place to make a perfect entertaining and thought provoking evening that I couldn’t quiet imagine happening anywhere else . . . thank The Cube !

Later in the week, and probably because it was mid-week, the tribute night for Anthony H Wilson, wasn’t so well attended. Possibly just as well as the promised Karaoke Orchestra couldn’t make it, and my proposed contribution ( a compilation of YouTube clips transferred to DVD ) wasn’t ready too . . . not unlike the various mythologically-behind-schedule-Peter-Saville-moments chronicalled in ‘24 hour Party People‘, which we did get to screen from the DVD with Tony Wilson’s commentary ( a great idea from Hog ), after showing some performances recorded in the Haçienda from the FAC71 vhs I bought second-hand as a young teenager.

Having searched around the net for bits and pieces the pretty obvious parallels in attitude, and more than occasional ineptitude, between the Cube and the Manchester music scene Tony Wilson was so associated with, seem even more blatant to me, and hopefully we’ll schedule another more party friendly, and suitably irreverent celebration night later in the year . . .

. . . meanwhile here’s links to a little gem I uncovered that was made for Channel 4 in the 80’s [ it’s split into 7 parts ] . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyk5FwrbcgQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffeORmsUKL0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VnGxoz5RZk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laD5czT58gk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93qAiUIFysE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FveqO3T-2to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An013JKUgcY

. . . which, if nothing else ( presuming you’ve seen 24hr Party People ), should draw attention at just how good Paddy Considine was at playing Rob Gretton !

Last night was Cabaret night at The Cube, and possibly because of the association with the current ladyfest, it was full to the rafters.

I didn’t catch it all but did see a spellbinding performance from Rasha Shaheen . . .

As instructed in an earlier post I, and a friend, donned our fanciest hats in the hope of getting a free paradise punch . . .

. . . but must say poor Mr Paradise himself, and his punchlines, seemed to be struggling with an unreceptive audience on stage somewhat, as he presented alongside Zulieka . . .

. . . many of which, rather bizarrely I would venture, would not exactly be classed as classically lady-friendly material . . !

Anyway much fun was had - documented not just by me ( and hopefully / most probably by the aforementioned Richie ), but also the tuxedoed Paul Albrecht of the Cube Orchestra . . . a mixture for your delight and perusal follows below . . .

May brought us Zuleika Zeigfield’s second ever Cube Cabaret, a cheeky tip of the hat to the great days of the Ol’ British Musichall, with a dash of striptease for good measure. As ever the Hosts looked simply divine

being seasoned pro’s our repetoire was both witty and well informed, as you can see HERE (turn your head sideways though). All the pics (bar one) were taken by Professional photographer Robert Babylon by the way. Robert has quite a reputation so it was an honour having him there to document the night. And Meg Paradise took all the video footage, thanks honey.
What a show we had! A medium sized, highly vocal and very appreciative audience not only had Bristol’s favourite Dandy Stanley Forbes
but a whole plethora of acts to wet their appetite, including special guests (a bit more on that later popfans). Stanley’s band seemed to be made up of celebs, Fran Cotton being one and I think Sigmund Freud another. Anyhow if you want to see them in action clip HERE
Mr. Alexander Thomas was next with his Thereminovox.
Though some thought they’d stumbled upon a seance his mastery and skill over his instrument was admirable and quiet quiet moving.
A quick costume change by yours truly:
and then Manchester’s Queen of Burlesque Bella Besame showed us her mastery of the art of Striptease

To see some of the actioN click HERE.

A short break and then our special guests A HAWK AND A HACKSAW FEATURING THE HUN HANGAR ENSEMBLE!

Unbelievably good, sensational even. My thanks to them and Mark Slater and Chiz who phoned me up asking if The Cabaret Gang would like them to play as a warm up before their tour. The audience asked for more so I got them to chant in Hungarian More! (forgotten what it was now) and they blessed us with one more fine fine tune. Click on the links above and you’ll get a taste.
A quick break and a quick costume change:
and then we had our final 3 acts. the crazy and insane Ziegfield players Tunesmith and raconteur Benjamin Weatherhill
And then to finish the night off Bella Besame blessed us with some fine old fashioned Striptease

WOW. What a night, and yet, and yet there was more because in the Bar I Am The Mighty Jungulator’s Matt was spinning showtunes (YES showtunes), to which punters and staff alike strutted their stuff
Matt is one of the maddest looking (and loveliest) people around so I wasn’t that surprised, I wonder if Tricky is also into the hits of Doris Day……………………..

Thanks to everyone who came, worked and performed, The Cabaret Gang love you.

Ciao For Now, Richie Paradise

And some more sketches and a photo or two from

[sub]ps. can we have a Cabaret Category?[/sub]