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The Udigowa Contract
108 Plays23 days ago
Giles and Steve discover more tracks from the past, but they don't look back in anger. In fact, some might say that they just roll with it and have a supersonic time.
There's an exclusive track from friend of the show Vom Vorton, who has a crush on a drummer. The Electric Sound of Joy ignores Steve's attempt to start a fight, PLUS a brand new Johnny Domino tune!
Featuring:
- Unpopular opinions about music and cinema
- Tidy minute keeping
- Vintage Australian drama
- 4 tracks! Camping! Poetry!
This Are Johnny Domino podcast - because maybe it's gonna be the one that saves you.
Vote for This Are Johnny Domino as your Listeners' Choice at the British Podcast Awards (voting closes 8th September 2025)
Related audiovisual material can be enjoyed on our blog.
Visit the Johnny Domino website
Connect with Johnny Domino on Facebook and Instagram
Podcast artwork by Giles Woodward
Edited by Steve Woodward at PodcastingEditor.com
Recommended
Transcript
Guess the Song with Opening Lyrics
00:00:00
Speaker
There are a lot of songs that start with the words for once in my life. Can you guess which one this is? For once in my life, I've got something to say. um want to say it now.
00:00:11
Speaker
For now is today. ah love has been given, so why not enjoy? So let's all grab and let's all enjoy. If the kids are united, then we'll never be divided.
00:00:21
Speaker
If the kids are united, then we'll never be divided. Just take a look around you. What do you see? Kids with feelings like you and me. Understand him. He'll understand you.
00:00:35
Speaker
For you are him is you.
Introduction of Hosts and Podcast
00:00:38
Speaker
is you
00:01:04
Speaker
Hello and welcome to this episode of the This Are Johnny Domino podcast. My name is Steve. And I am Giles. And on the podcast we talk about songs that we wrote and recorded many, many decades ago.
00:01:20
Speaker
also talk about various bits and bobs of music that we are vaguely interested in. We do. And that is it. And that is what we're doing. Hello. And we're brothers. Yeah. But, you know, we're still doing a bit of music ah now and again, aren't we? We are.
00:01:35
Speaker
Every now and again, yes. It's not just all old stuff, you know. We're still alive. We're still kicking. still kicking. Just about. Just about.
Discussion on Sham69 and Oasis
00:01:45
Speaker
That was a nice little bit of pub rock philosophy that you just did at the start of the podcast.
00:01:51
Speaker
Yes. you know who it was? oh I do know. The name of the artist has just fallen out of my head. It was Sham69, Steve. Sham69. Yeah. The Kids United. The Kids you United.
00:02:06
Speaker
I think it's called If the Kids... What's it called? Yeah. I believe it is called, If the Kids Are United. Indeed. And in such song, they are espousing the philosophical idea of monism, positing that reality is fundamentally unified, suggesting that the perceived separation between self and others, or between mind and matter, is false and an illusion, and that a fundamental oneness exists.
00:02:35
Speaker
for you are him and he is you. That's nice. Was there a lot of of monism going off in the ah in the audience is of Sham 69 gigs, do you reckon?
00:02:48
Speaker
I think there was loads going down all the time. Also, I think it's better than Oasis, right? Oh, is this your link? It's better than Oasis. To current musical mores. I like it better than Oasis.
00:03:00
Speaker
I'd go and see Sham 69 at Heaton Park. you know, with everybody singing along. Yeah. So if the kids united, ah really would. I don't think I'd bother going to see Oasis though.
00:03:13
Speaker
What? I know that's an unpopular opinion, isn't it? Sorry. yeah I don't think it's an unpopular opinion with listeners to this podcast. Maybe. I think there was some kind of mass national hallucination going on when Oasis came out.
00:03:27
Speaker
I think people were just but desperate for something and they kind of grabbed onto it. You're desperate for something. And I still maintain the first album has got some good songs on it.
00:03:38
Speaker
Yeah. But when the second album came out, I convinced myself that it was a work of genius, right? Mm-hmm. And it's shit. Now you've convinced yourself otherwise.
00:03:50
Speaker
Well, i've listen I've listened to it with with fresh ears, and it's just lazy, and it' it's moribund, and it's turgid, and it's unoriginal and uninspired. Oof.
00:04:01
Speaker
know what I mean? It is. It just is. This music means a lot to a lot of people, man. I know it does. I don't think they're listening to this podcast. and They might be. that Well, they're not now. They're going to turn it off. Well, um I do apologise. You know, everyone is entitled to their opinions about music. Absolutely. That's what we're about. That's what we're about, man.
00:04:21
Speaker
yeah but Yeah, but as I say, I personally feel like i I was under the influence of some kind of hallucination because I just thought What's the Story Morning Glory was brilliant. ah still may As I say, I still maintain there are some fantastic songs on Definitely Maybe.
00:04:36
Speaker
like Like, for example? but Slide Away, Supersonic, Columbia. Beautiful. you know all cracking songs they're all cracking songs I think they went downhill when they got rid the old the drummer Tony Tony I miss Tony the drumming got too proficient it got too good it got too good I agree I agree Bloody, bloody... Champagne. Sub-anova. Sub-anova. Oh, yes. so Horrible. Yeah.
00:05:06
Speaker
Cheese and onion. That one, that was a good one as well. All right. Anyway, let's get a girl off that subject. Yes. ultimately Ultimately, a society gets the art it deserves, doesn't it, Steve? Let's face it. Yes.
00:05:18
Speaker
But what have you been anyway?
Pavement Documentary Review
00:05:20
Speaker
oh Well, most recently, I went to see the film Pavements. Oh, there's a band that we both agree on.
00:05:28
Speaker
Well, there is, yeah. And I'm sure there's lots of people who hate them and they are entitled to their opinion. um The film was really, well, it was a lot funnier than I was expecting it to be, but it was every bit as peculiar as I was expecting it to be because it's it's sort of a documentary about them reforming and doing some gigs. So like from day one of rehearsing to the first few gigs,
00:05:56
Speaker
But it's also the story of pavement running alongside that. ah And there's also the story of a Broadway show, jukebox musical using pavement songs.
00:06:11
Speaker
And there's also a fictional biopic, which is being made at the same time. Cool. So it's quite arty. Yeah.
00:06:22
Speaker
It was really peculiar. It was very peculiar. But, you know, it it works. And, you know, you watch it and you think, wow, people were great, weren't they? Yeah. Any standout songs on there, you thought, after watching the film?
00:06:37
Speaker
You know what? it's It's odd. They don't tend to play that many songs. Yeah. I mean, there was a there was like a horrible... from the broadway musical there was like a horrible ensemble where they're all just saying different pavement song titles and kind of looking at the audience and saying them very emotively and singing really declamatorily yeah and it was just odd but it was it was a very very entertaining film okay i recommend yeah where can we watch it
00:07:10
Speaker
I think it's streaming. It's on a site called Mubi, M-U-B-I, and it will probably be on it'll probably be on DVD and Blu-ray and all that kind of stuff as well at some point.
00:07:23
Speaker
Yeah, sounds good. yeah The other film i watched the other week, I watched him the latest Final Destination
Final Destination Film Analysis
00:07:29
Speaker
film. Oh, yeah? Was that any good? Is it as good as the other ones? No, it's not.
00:07:34
Speaker
It's not. It's not funny. It's not as funny as the other ones. It's very serious, and they kind of – went too much into the plot and explaining the whole thing about death and all this kind of thing. oh well But Final Destination 3 is my favourite.
00:07:49
Speaker
Number 3. We love them, don't Alpha Safety Horror is the thing. yeah Well, I, this Thursday, I decided to venture out of my hole and go and watch Von Vorten at The Grove in the old Snenton Market in the fair city of Nottingham.
00:08:07
Speaker
And what a fine minstrel he is. And here at Castle Domino, we've known his work for quite some time, haven't we, really? a lot of love for Von Voughten in Domino Towers, definitely.
00:08:20
Speaker
We did many, many gigs with Lard Pony because they were very, very nice people. ah That is Von Voughten's band at the time was Lard Pony. So, Mr Vorton,
Von Vorton Gig Review
00:08:30
Speaker
nice to see you.
00:08:31
Speaker
to see you too. And you've just done a set at The Grove, Nottingham. How did it go? It was fantastic. It was probably my one of my favourites that I've played. I think The Grove is like a no venue that I've played at probably ever has got a better onstage sound and like being able to hear exactly what you're doing is such like a confidence boost.
00:08:50
Speaker
right Obviously we knew you from back in the really olden days with Lardpony, right? Back in Derby. And we did some gigs with you. Johnny Domino did some gigs with you, I'm pretty sure. Yeah, you played my birthday at one point and no one came.
00:09:03
Speaker
It's great. Yay! That's the best kind.
00:09:21
Speaker
My heart beats in complex time got polyrhythms on my mind The doctor says that it will pass Have I been listening to too much jazz?
00:09:32
Speaker
There's a lack of iron in my blood Some heavy metal might do me good I swallowed pills along with doubt But the double kick made me pass out Am I riding through storm?
00:09:46
Speaker
Cause my heartbeat feels like thunder I'm falling apart from the stress and the pressure I'm under.
00:10:10
Speaker
concerned over my health hiding the answers from myself writing ghost notes to let you know i think i might match your tempo trying to find the words but nothing sticks trying to catch your eye but nothing clicks left mute by your crescendo and once again i head home solo am i riding through storm my heartbeat
00:10:40
Speaker
I can barely move and I feel like a long distance runner Am I falling apart from the stress and the pressure I'm under Or do just have a crush on a drummer
00:11:10
Speaker
Is there really something wrong or is it natural, wonder To have that pounding in my chest feeling like a machine gun Am I falling apart from the stress and the pressure I'm under
00:11:35
Speaker
There you go. That's lovely. Yeah, that is a as yet unreleased song. So we're very happy to have it. Thanks, Tom, for sending it to me. Lovely stuff.
00:11:46
Speaker
And he's still writing stuff and he's still performing and he's still kicking out the jams. It's there's plenty of online but there's plenty of stuff online to hear he's got big, big old back that I've been diving into. i'm particularly fond of his first album hide and Seek.
00:12:05
Speaker
two thousand and eleven 2011. Yeah. Got some really good tracks on it. I like the song Operating and Becoming Nutritious, which has got a really nice female vocal. And if he wants to do that one live, i' I'll happily volunteer to do the female bit for him if he wants.
00:12:19
Speaker
Beautiful. And also the album Special Equations, 2013, Commodore Memories. It's a moving song about playing on your computer when you're supposed to be asleep when you're a kid, and it's got very glacial backing music. so Nice. Love that.
00:12:35
Speaker
Hushed. It is. It's very hushed. Like he's under the sheets. Yeah, it's all good. Oh, a meta horse as well, obviously. Very good song. In which he writes a song about writing a song about meeting a horse.
00:12:49
Speaker
Which is good. Very Von Voughten. Steve! Yes, my friend. you know what we're doing? Making a podcast? In the face of certain doom.
00:13:10
Speaker
We're making a podcast in the face of certain doom.
50th Episode Celebration Reflections
00:13:15
Speaker
We are this our Johnny Domino. We're making a podcast and we're playing our skill tunes.
00:13:23
Speaker
This is this our Johnny Domino. We're brothers, we wear glasses. We've got medical conditions.
00:13:34
Speaker
We've both been alive for a while.
00:13:40
Speaker
We're making a podcast in the face of certain dew. It's time for this on Johnny Domino. Oh, something like that. Anyway. Episode 50. It's episode 50.
00:13:55
Speaker
Good Lord. It's our half century. We raise our bat. We salute the crowd and then probably get bowled out next ball. But yeah, we'd we've done it for 50 episodes.
00:14:09
Speaker
You know, and we did sort of think about what could we do? What could we do to mark the occasion of doing 50 episodes of a podcast? Because i think it's a bit of an achievement. It is an achievement.
00:14:20
Speaker
However, in a very, very Johnny Domino way, we haven't really thought of anything that we could do. We did think of some things. We thought maybe we'd play some clips, but then we thought no.
00:14:30
Speaker
Then we thought we might read some transcripts, but we didn't do that. And then we thought maybe we'd get some messages from well-wishers. Didn't really have any. ah But met maybe at 100. 100.
00:14:43
Speaker
We will do some of these things. We'll see, eh? I think I'd like messages congratulating us on our 51st episode. So if any people out there listening to the podcast want to send us a message to commemorate the 51st episode of This Our Johnny Domino, then please do send them to us.
00:15:04
Speaker
ah Or pick a number that you would like to celebrate, and we'll keep them on file. And if we get to, like, 72, we'll read your message out. We will. We can't go back, though. I'm not going to insert them into old episodes. So anything from 51 onwards, then you can bag it by just recording something. Okay. Okay, right. What are we going to play now?
00:15:27
Speaker
Well, following last episode, when we talked to Antonio, one of possibly two Italian Johnny Domino fans from back in the day. Count them.
00:15:39
Speaker
We can count them on one hand. or two hands if you want to do one finger each hand. Sorry, this is getting all a bit weird. We were talking about our first album, Rabbit Themes, which he bought from a record shop in Italy. He did. And he saw the cover, he thought, I'll have a bit of that.
00:15:55
Speaker
And we didn't know how that happened, did we? We didn't know how that happened, but we found out since... Hello there, Steve. Hello there, Giles. This is Rob, or Frankie, or whatever my name is today.
00:16:07
Speaker
Longtime friend and lover of all things Johnny Domino.
Johnny Domino's Italian Record Shop Story
00:16:10
Speaker
Shaped. Just been listening to you the latest episode of the podcast where you're pondering the mystery of how a copy of your first album, Rabbit Themes, ended up in an Italian record shop in 1999. Initially, i was puzzled as well, but luckily for us, back in those days, the three of us that ran the label, Artists Against Success, that's me, Mark Hibbert and Mr Whittaker, we had monthly board meetings in the pub and all of those were documented in great detail and published to the old website for full transparency, probably because Mark thought, in 26 years' time, they're going to be making a documentary about us and these minutes are going to be obviously absolutely crucial. But, you know, documentary, podcast, whatever, here we are. Anyway, so having done some investigation, I can furnish you all with the following facts.
00:16:55
Speaker
ah We took delivery of the Rabbit-themed CDs from the manufacturer sometime around the 10th of December 1998, and we held the official Johnny Domino signing ceremony at the Flowerpot Pub in Derby on January the 6th, 1999.
00:17:09
Speaker
ninety ninety nine And I forwarded you some photographs of that, so you can put those on your Insta account. And we appear to be smoking cigars inside a pub, which is ah mind-blowing.
00:17:20
Speaker
Anyway, as to how one of the CDs ended up in Italy, well, at this point in the label's history, we had a genuine UK distribution deal with a company called Shellshock, who would sell the albums into all the shops. Our sales contact there was Linda, the singer from Prolapse, or one of the singers from Prolapse.
00:17:36
Speaker
And I've got a very strong memory of talking to her on the phone about this album because she really liked it and she was absolutely amazed that you were from Ilkeston because that's where she was also from. Anyway, back to the minutes. And the Shellshock sales statement from February 1999 stated that in the first month, AAS 016 Johnny Domino Rabbit Themes sold 71 copies. And if you want to edit that bit in the podcast to say nearly 100, here's me saying nearly 100 Then two months later, in the April minutes, and the statement said we were awaiting our payment from Shellshock for the sales, but they in turn had said that they were going to send us the cheque, but they were waiting to get their money from Pinnacle for all the overseas sales. So that, my friends, is what you podcast types refer to as the smoking gun.
00:18:23
Speaker
but Essentially that Shellshock had a wider European distribution deal with Pinnacle, and and that's how it gunon got itself all the way to Italy, I believe. God bless our tidy minute keeping. And as the Artists Against Success Company song goes, it's being bloody organised that makes us rock.
00:18:40
Speaker
Back to you guys in the studio. Thanks, Rob. Slash Frankie. I think we need to listen to the Artists Against the Success Company song next episode.
00:18:51
Speaker
Yes, they could be on the Derby scene. Yeah, I want to hear that. Anyway, it's nice to know how these things happen. And between 70 and 100 copies of the Rabbit Themes CD were sold, which is which is delightful.
00:19:06
Speaker
Very nice.
Playing 'The Udigawa Contract' and Influences
00:19:08
Speaker
So shall we ever listen to one of the songs from the said Rabbit Themes album? I think we should. so we're going to play a song called The Udigawa Contract, which has got an interesting name, which maybe we'll talk about after the song.
00:19:45
Speaker
I'm smoking choking on my little pipe I keep sucking with all my might I got my goggles on I'm watching my hair grow you don't exist, like the world is slow
00:20:03
Speaker
I phoned a crap band with my dealer
00:20:20
Speaker
Dragging my body to work every day Mortgage my lifetime for cash This is a dirty place I have said before We are surrounded by the lies It's in the street written in the lies
00:21:18
Speaker
You're hearing voices Don't worry, they're just thoughts Take a step in reverse Take pause, take a look Before you mess it up We choose not to choose No one can beat us We choose not to choose No one has seen us
00:21:59
Speaker
We're cheers not to chew We're for a bucket of bread We're cheers not to chew We're for a one that's sick of
00:22:27
Speaker
I'm smoking choking on my little pipe I mortgage my lifetime for cash I got my goggles on This is a dirty place I have set before How much does it take to make you happy?
00:22:44
Speaker
How much does it take to make you cry? How much does it take to keep you happy?
00:23:09
Speaker
If we choose not to chew, no one can hate us. If we choose not to chew, no one has seen us.
00:23:49
Speaker
That's Johnny Domino with their non-hit song, The Udi Gower Contract. Can you give us some tasting notes for the Udi Gower Contract, Steve? There's a hint of Sparks, possibly.
00:24:02
Speaker
Maybe even a hint of Roxy Music. And I'd just like to say both Sparks and Roxy Music are not my favourite bands. and Okay. I don't normally like Roxy Music or Sparks.
00:24:13
Speaker
Oh. but But I do like that, John. Oh. Anyway, I think that's what it is. it just sounds a bit like that. couple of things I like about that nerdy stuff, right? Because obviously that was recorded on a four track.
00:24:25
Speaker
So I think we recorded the drum track, the drum machine, and then me and you went to Dick's farm and we set up in his kitchen. yeah i think I bounced the bass guitar and the drums onto one track.
00:24:38
Speaker
And then me and Mark played keyboards at the same time. Don't know who was doing what. One of is playing piano. One of us is doing the like a Moogie type sound. And then we did all the vocals in one mic.
00:24:51
Speaker
You and Jim are singing the verses and choruses into one mic and me and Mark are in the background going, who, who, who, who. Yeah, yeah. That's the hardcore four track recording.
00:25:03
Speaker
You know what? What i think we wanted, what we were trying to get to, but we didn't have the ability was like more of a football chant kind of thing. You reckon? Bit bit like sh Sham 69, do you know what I mean?
00:25:15
Speaker
Oh, you're bringing it back to Sham 69, aren't you? Yeah. We choose not to choose. We didn't quite do it too far enough, you know what mean? but Well, we weren't weren't those sort of boys, were we? No, not really. Yeah, we could we could have tried it. but maybe that's Maybe that's my problem with Oasis.
00:25:34
Speaker
I'm just not manly enough to like them. Perhaps. The lyrics, I think... don't know. I mean, the first time I've listened to it in ages. yeah It's like either you're inside or you're outside the system.
00:25:48
Speaker
My voice is like inside the system, as it were. Jim is outside the system. And either way, you're kind of screwed by the Udegawa contract, whatever that is.
00:26:03
Speaker
We, like many, many people in our generation, got really into watching Neighbours. Oh, we did. when it was on I think sometimes I would come home from school and watching at lunchtime and then also watch it again in the evening.
00:26:16
Speaker
We spent loads of It wasn't much on, let's be honest. And wasn't really very good, was it? It was rubbish. It was rubbish. But it was only thing on. And the Udegawa contract was mentioned quite a lot during 1986, 1985 of era of neighbours And it was Paul Robinson.
00:26:37
Speaker
Paul Robinson. The Robinson family, I think they had like a hotel leisure complex called Lassiter's. Is that right? That's right. And I think Paul Robinson with his, I'm not sure if he she was his wife, Gail, she had red hair.
00:26:53
Speaker
yeah So Paul and Gail looking after the Lassiter's complex, and there was a businessman called Mr. Udegawa. And frequently, Paul would say, I'm not doing the accent, Gail, have you seen the Udegawa contract?
00:27:07
Speaker
And it was a constantly returning question. Maybe I'm jumping the gun a bit. But Mr Utagawa hasn't actually said that the deal's off yet, has he? Oh, forget it.
00:27:19
Speaker
No, i could tell by the tone of his voice on the phone. Now, the Utagawa deal is shot to bits and he's flying back to Japan tonight. Oh, what now?
00:27:30
Speaker
Yes, hello. Oh, hello, Mr Utagawa. No, nothing, no, nothing important. It's OK.
00:27:41
Speaker
That's fantastic. No, really great. Look, I'll get working on it straight away and I'll have it to you by tonight. Yeah. Thank you for ringing Mr. Itigawa.
00:27:52
Speaker
Okay, goodbye. don't believe it. He's post-planning going back until tonight. He's going ahead with the contract after all. Congratulations. He's going to need an updated presentation to take back to Japan. Listen, we'll have lunch at the office. i I'll get something sent up from the kitchen. Sorry, you're going to have to count me out.
00:28:09
Speaker
Okay. I want to ring Dad's friends, check with the rest of the family, see if anybody's serving. Gail, please... Don't. Don't you dare tell me how important this contract is. Because as far as I'm concerned, you wouldn't know what important was if it walked up and spat in your Is that right?
00:28:25
Speaker
You are obsessed with business. The only reason you married me was to keep Mr. Udagoa happy. One day you might learn it it's people that matter, not profits. Gail, that's all been said before. People like your family and mine and all our friends around here, the ones we lie to every day.
00:28:40
Speaker
Well, off you go. You run along and play at being Mr. Business Executive. I'm going to stay here and try and find my father.
00:28:53
Speaker
because Paul was, and I think he still is, in the the second or third reboot of Neighbours, which is currently coming to an end. He is a businessman, yeah shady, bit of a Lothario.
00:29:08
Speaker
And then eventually he took up with the Alessi twins. Well, one of the Alessi twins. came to work They came to work at Lasseter's as well. And I probably had to ask them where the Udegawa contract was as well.
00:29:19
Speaker
Yeah. And did he say, don't it make you feel good? No, but I think it probably did make him feel good if he ever found it. obviously Because obviously it was Stephan Dennis, wasn't it? In his leather blues on, singing, don't it make you feel good? Yeah.
00:29:34
Speaker
Yes. Thank you for for reminding me of that. Yeah. But the main thing I got from that whole plot line was the fact that Paul needed to do some decent filing. Yeah, definitely. You know what, though?
Impact of Pre-internet Media on Creativity
00:29:46
Speaker
i think that song, and like it kind of took me back thinking about you know recording and stuff, and back in those days, in those pre-phone days and internet days, we just used to watch any old crap, and it just became part of our our language and our life.
00:30:04
Speaker
I'm just going to do an anti-advert now. The issue these days that people... get what they want too quickly. Skyglass, for example. Yeah. You just say a word, a title, a genre, and will play it for you straight away.
00:30:20
Speaker
Yeah. What are the advantages of having, you know, to actually search for stuff, know, Instead of just having what you want immediately. I think there are big advantages, right?
00:30:32
Speaker
Having to blindly wander around and just stumble across stuff, being forced to consume stuff that you don't even like or are not even interested in. Yeah, yeah. So there you go. That's why we're playing you a song that you don't like.
00:30:48
Speaker
But I think it was like there's something good about just like forcing yourself to just have what is, you you know, is being foisted upon you. yeah So here's the anti-advert. Don't get Skyglass.
00:30:59
Speaker
Yeah. right No matter what Richard Osman says. Right. Don't fucking get Skyglass. Just turn on the telly and watch whatever shit's on there. Right. And figure something out about it.
00:31:12
Speaker
Hi, I'm Giles and and I don't listen to their podcasts. I think they're very silly boys. Recently, I've been outside. I've been outside.
Camping Tales in Derbyshire
00:31:26
Speaker
We do sound like shut-ins, don't we, talking about this music that we made back in the day. But yes, you occasionally go outside. what did you How did you go outside, and what did you enjoy about outside? there you go.
00:31:38
Speaker
Well, ah what I'd like to say is that camping on your own in Derbyshire midweek in July is perhaps the finest thing a person can do.
00:31:49
Speaker
It was a bit like being in a Magnus Mills book, if you've ever read a Magnus Mills book. Yes. Yeah. there only There were only two other patrons on the camping field overlooking the valley, which was ah had a lovely view of cows on a hill.
00:32:02
Speaker
Yeah. A man with a broken tent was camping on his own and playing music that was ah pretty objectionable and quite loud as well, wearing a baseball cap backwards.
00:32:17
Speaker
And there was an incredibly white, middle-class, middle-aged couple who, from Suffolk on a tour on their way to Lincoln. And it's probably going to end up in trouble when the couple goes up to the single man and starts to complain about the music.
00:32:36
Speaker
And he sits there with his tiny little stereo and his ginger beard and his baseball cap listening to Blink 182. But what will the hapless narrator do? Will he get involved?
00:32:48
Speaker
Which side will he take? Which side would you take? Will he indeed attempt to remain neutral as unspeakable horrors are enacted on the field at night in front of him?
00:33:02
Speaker
Well, what did you do? What did you do? What would you do? i'd i'd go inside the tent and just ignore it. Yeah, that's that's a fair clue to what I did. But the couple from Suffolk asked me what I was doing up there on my own. Because it was literally like ah an empty campsite, a wild campsite.
00:33:20
Speaker
You know, it had a little shed for a toilet. And there was only me and these other the three people opposite corners of the campsite, which is a very nice campsite. And they asked me what I was doing. Like, what are you doing up here on your own? You know, why would you be on your own in a little tent camping?
00:33:38
Speaker
are you a bird watcher you know they were trying to rationalize it and i just said i like to walk and think looks like we got ourselves a thinker yeah i know they were nice though they were nice did they ask the red-haired man red-bearded man in baseball camp did they ask him what he was doing there because he was on his own as well things got a bit ugly but i'm not going to get into that oh On the 90s Derby scene, I just want to be seen.
00:34:09
Speaker
On the 90s Derby scene, where have you been? On the 90s Derby scene, I just want to be seen. What musical cuisine, Stephen Jive are you going to serve today?
00:34:24
Speaker
And this has a link to what you were just talking about in a way because... What, camping? No, there was possibly a moment in which violence could have been enacted on somebody from what we're going to talk about.
00:34:37
Speaker
ah right. Okay. We'll so well ah save that for a minute. We're going to save it for a minute. This is a band from the Derby scene in the 90s, which I think I was particularly fond of, actually.
00:34:49
Speaker
And I've grown more and more fond of a band called The Electric Sound of Joy. And they actually did record a Peel session on the 25th of November, 1997.
00:35:00
Speaker
Not from Derby. Not from Derby. Okay, thank you. But they were on the Derby scene, played in Derby with us a couple of times, I believe. yes right And the field session is on YouTube.
00:35:13
Speaker
And I think I've contributed a fair chunk of their 1.6k views
Electric Sound of Joy and Derby's Music Scene
00:35:18
Speaker
on YouTube. excellent I've listened to this quite a lot. And this is a song called Play Away, which is a reworking of the famous theme tune by Mr. Brian Kant.
00:35:29
Speaker
If you know, you know.
00:35:47
Speaker
if it gets cloudy, you're all alone Play away, play away, play away And if it gets lonely, pick up the phone Play away, play away, play away, play away You want it to be, it just has to be, you know it all play.
00:36:08
Speaker
You want it to be, it just has to be, you know it all play. You want it to be, just has to be, you know it all play.
00:36:19
Speaker
You want it to be, it just has to be, you know it all play.
00:37:17
Speaker
Well, if it gets crowded, get on your own Play away, play away, play away And if it gets lonely, pick up the phone Play away, play away, play away Play away You want it to be, it just stops to be You know it all Play away You want it to be, it just stops to be You know it all Play away You want it to be, it just starts to be, you know it all play out.
00:37:51
Speaker
You're not machine, you make it to be, you know it all.
00:38:58
Speaker
you're still at home play away play away play away and if it gets lonely pick up the phone play away play away play away you want it to be just starts to be you know it play away you're not a machine you make
00:39:25
Speaker
you
00:40:48
Speaker
There you go. the electric side. Compelling is to play away. An instruction that is as relevant now as it was back when you were four years old, perhaps.
00:40:59
Speaker
Possibly. ah That's nice, to that. I can't remember particularly liking them that much when we did gigs with them. I think it was more of a sense of competition that perhaps contributed to that feeling.
00:41:13
Speaker
There is definitely something of the late period Johnny Domino ah recording. I say late period like 2000, 2004, which possibly we absorbed through doing a couple gigs with them.
00:41:27
Speaker
Looking at the record, both gigs were at a venue called The Loft in Derby. Mm-hmm. First one was in August of 1997, the 18th of August of 1997. And then in March of 88, on the 18th of March, something about 18, weird, we were supporting, both of us, the Delgados.
00:41:45
Speaker
Oh, they were a good band. So that was a pretty good gig, yeah? do I don't really know much about the Electric Sound of Joy. Have you got any memories of them? going back to people potentially getting their teeth knocked out.
00:41:58
Speaker
I don't think it was the first gig we played with them. It had to be the second one, but I surely wouldn't have done this the first time I met them. Whenever it was, they were sound checking before us,
00:42:11
Speaker
And if you remember at the loft, there was the stage and there was an immediate exit from it. and So you could basically be on the stage and then exit the building immediately.
00:42:21
Speaker
And they were sound checking. And one of them, I think maybe guitar got thrown on the ground and one of their member, walked out of the building obviously the door was open and we happened to be standing there probably waiting to do our sound check mumbling about how long they were taking to do their sound check and i stopped my head in the door and said can i raise a practical question and they went yeah i said are we going to do stonehenge tonight oh you're a bit of a wag aren't you what you're a bit of a wag oh my god
00:42:56
Speaker
But yeah, what a tossa we were probably getting a bit impatient because it's, you know, it's that thing, isn't it? When you wait, when you're waiting for another band to sound check and they take you for ages. ah they they They had loads of instruments as well.
00:43:09
Speaker
oh yeah. You can tell that. They were a good band, but there were definitely some similarities there between us and them. I mean, they were quite RC, I think. Definitely. And we were quite RC. Their bass player was all right.
00:43:20
Speaker
yeah Yeah. The bass player was pretty nice. And they had a weird lead singer. There you further comparisons. Okay. And they had fairly, and you know, nondescript guitarists and keyboard players.
00:43:31
Speaker
So, you know, du look they were a lot like Johnny Domino in that respect, think. Okay, that's a nice little subliminal diss you just did there. Bass players, aren't they nice? That's because they've got nothing fucking worthwhile to do. Oh, well, you know, if that's how you want to see it. Yeah, absolutely. yeah It is quite astonishing that I remained fully of tooth throughout these early gigs. We were quite cocky.
00:43:57
Speaker
I'm sure they don't remember that. And if this episode actually finds that its way to one of them, it would be nice if it did. All I would say to them is, I really like your stuff.
00:44:07
Speaker
And if you're doing anything now, um but I'd really like to hear it. I think we both would actually. Yeah. Despite what Steve's attitude is, you know. And if you're not doing your own stuff, make a podcast, you know. I'd listen to it, definitely. Electric Sound of Joy podcast. I would definitely listen to that.
00:44:26
Speaker
Well, the lead singer is a fine artist. Well. I found that out. another comparison there you go comparison yeah right hurrah for the electric sound of joy the this our johnny domino podcast it's got bungos i've got a poem um for this poem steve could you bring it in some nice atmospheric bird song countryside sound like kind of about halfway through like a sound of country type thing okay
Poetry Reading: 'Why Not a River?'
00:44:59
Speaker
It's good, right? Okay. I've got two hands. Rest in peace, Viv Savage. Okay, I don't know what this poem's about, but it's called Why Not a River? The weird kid looked at me as if Pokemon Go is like totally normal.
00:45:14
Speaker
They're painting faces on the high street. They say it's cute. People pass the barbers and chip shop. Man in high-vis talking on his phone. Belongs in the street like I don't.
00:45:25
Speaker
The bus runs by on biogas and makes fresh air.
00:45:30
Speaker
The barista looks at me. She thinks I'm qualified at ordering coffee. I paid on my phone and I made the right noises. As children crowd the face painter, he turns them to a sparkly army.
00:45:45
Speaker
They belong in the street like I don't. The traffic flows by and begs the question, why not a river? The people walking down the high street are too detailed.
00:45:57
Speaker
They've been certified as totally normal. I drink my coffee and fail to ignore them and my mouth burns. But I go back for more. I belong in the street. The traffic flows by and begs the question, why not a river?
00:46:15
Speaker
Very nice. You're quite good at writing stuff, Dan, aren't you? been practicing ah you've been practicing you're a good little boy but you've been practicing i've got a pencil and a little book when you're going to get your pen license though it's going to be a while the problem is only i can read this stuff it's bit scrawly I think we're about at the end of the podcast and it's been really good to talk to you today, Steve. And thanks to Von Voughten for letting us play his stuff. Hold on a minute there, Missy.
00:46:49
Speaker
On the last episode, we talked about the PRF monthly tribute series and the fact that the artist being covered and written about for the month of July was Jonathan Richmond and we were going to do one.
00:47:04
Speaker
And at time of recording, We finished our entry this very morning. And the fact is, this will be coming out on the last day of July. So shall we listen to it now?
New Song 'Be More Jonathan' for Tribute Series
00:47:15
Speaker
Shall we slip it in? Slip one in at the last minute. Yeah. So this is a song which is not a cover of Jonathan Richmond song. And it's called Be More Jonathan.
00:47:45
Speaker
I am just a slob I'm wearing dirty jeans in the coffee shop It's a modern world And I'm a modern man
00:48:01
Speaker
Oh won't you tell me how can be more Jonathan I don't know how he does it he's a songwriting bona fide genius he's a real human being he's not pretending he's not fake at all if i could be more like him that's what i want to be
00:48:56
Speaker
Well, my parents had told me, said I could be what I wanted to be And you know that they meant well But they were lying to me
00:49:13
Speaker
Oh, won't you tell me, how can I be more Jonathan?
00:49:21
Speaker
You know he's so confused
00:49:25
Speaker
He's like little dinosaur. He's on an astral plane. You can't talk to the dude.
00:49:37
Speaker
He's going bust, bust, bust. He's dancing, dancing, dancing in the lesbian bar.
00:50:36
Speaker
Look at the sky and the insects. You know he's talking to me. But I'm just a slob.
00:50:46
Speaker
He told me how to be free. Oh, won't you tell me how can I be more Jonathan?
00:51:04
Speaker
So that was Be More Jonathan by Johnny Domino. That was our song for the PRF Monthly Tribute Series July 2025 edition. Very good. Should it be called Be More Johnny by Jonathan Domino?
00:51:19
Speaker
Oh, now you're getting confusing, man. I'm getting Johnny's and Jonathan's. So next episode, we might talk a little bit more about the songs that are on the Jonathan Richmond album on Bandcamp, on the PRF Tribute Series.
00:51:33
Speaker
And talk about whatever the artist is for August. I also want to talk about going to the vinyl night at the local pub. Because that's been fun.
00:51:45
Speaker
have you been taking some shit to scramble their brains? You have to take some records, don't you? Anyway, um ah you know what? There's a whole culture there that we're going to talk about next episode. Definitely.
00:51:59
Speaker
Oh, that's leaving the audience on the edge of their seat. Thank you for listening to the This Our Johnny Domino podcast. We hope that you are enjoying it. If you are enjoying it... more thing. Hold on. Just hold on. Just want to mention things to listen to after you finish this podcast.
00:52:17
Speaker
Things that I've been listening to recently. I'm not going to go on about it long. The song Billy Toppy by Men I Trust. It's a very good song. Go away and listen to it. It's propulsive. It's pop song.
00:52:29
Speaker
It's got the correct influences. And the band, This Is Lorelei, which is the guy out of Water From My Eyes, right? And he's got a song called Perfect Hand, which is amazing.
00:52:42
Speaker
Right. Yeah, there you go. Thanks for listening, everybody. We'll see you next time. If you've enjoyed the podcast, please do tell your friends, tell your neighbours, tell your mother, tell your wife, tell yeah dog tell your dog, tell your children.
00:52:58
Speaker
Just let people know and make them listen to it. Thank you very much. Oh, and remember to vote for us in the British Podcast Awards thing. I'll put the link on the show notes. Anyway, right. Bye-bye, everybody. Bye-bye.
00:53:08
Speaker
Rest in peace, Ozzy. What? ah oh yeah good good yeah good that's good way to end what what what he died he's dead what hate to break it to you man what okay now no i did know i did know actually all i'm gonna stop the recording now