[Ed. Note- I apologize for the late delivery of today’s post. It was caused by my taking forever to write this lengthy and exuberant post after a busy day.

While posting during the 3+ hour train ride last Sunday night from Brighton, I promised you a recap of the exhilarating day. That night I only had the energy and focus to post about the lengthy train ride.

Today, I bring you the 1st of ??? posts focusing on Brighton, Hope & Anchor- Sunday, November 26, 2023.

They say there is nothing that brings people together more than food and music…

Since I went for more than 12 hours Sunday with nothing to eat but some crisps and a cookie on the way back you know this post isn’t about food…

What a treat to meet BETH ARZY after these many years of listening to her perform in so many bands I love.

Downstairs in the bar she introduced me to LEE GRIMSHAW. He is the proprietor of SPINOUT NUGGETS, an indie music label that is home to the bands I have come to see as well as BETH’S main band – JETSTREAM PONY.

We had a bit of time to chat about her coming from California and having been in the UK these many years, her day job as an executive assistant in London and her partner, the incomparable songwriter BOBBY WRATTEN.

Then it was time to upstairs to listen to some indie music.

Although there were 6 artists on the bill, I only got to fully see the 3 bands I most wanted to experience. The painfully lengthy train ride wiped out opening act JACK CADE off my list.

[Ed. Note- rex is too embarrassed to tell you that he only heard bits of THE CLAIM and DANNY GEORGE WILSON because he was busy back down in the bar getting the trove of vinyl he purchased at the gig signed…]

I got to see THE HIGH SPAN (who I featured back on November 23 – the day we departed.)

THE TREASURES OF MEXICO were up next. BETH shared her cheat sheet setlist with me.

THE TREASURES OF MEXICO are comprised of MARK MATTHEWS (guitar/ vocals), BOB COLLINS (guitar), NICK RICE, (bass), RUSS BAXTER (drums) and BETH (vocals and percussion.)

Their performance was amazing.

Today you will be treated to a video of my favourite song on the LP – ‘Halo’. This video is courtesy of RAY COLLINS of COUNTRY MILE RECORDS (a post on RAY will appear soon)…

[Ed. Note- Listen carefully as Beth gives a shoutout to rex at the beginning of the song. ]

Now, I must confess I have breached the protocol of gwilliamrexunderground365 for the first time in 695 days by selecting a previously featured because I just featured it on October 16 at post 651.

However, in the spirit of giving, I am going to shamelessly make that up with a treat.

Years ago I asked BETH via email if she would list one song from each of the outfits she has recorded with during her illustrious indie career.

Not that it was a secret, but I never shared that list. I made a promise to myself that I would not share the list unless and until I got to experience a BETH ARZY band live.

With that ginormous ✔️, here is a SPOTIFY playlist I made entitled “Beth Arzy Is An Indie Legend”. I hope you enjoy as I have. Track 10 is shamelessly selected by rex…

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6qlPwMavQMeovHZS17kmHJ?si=wxUfVCsaRSWLELU_0fRVvA

PLAY 11/26 LOUD OR PERISH

11/29/2023