Get Hip

15/09/2026

Take No Heroes Only Inspiration:
40 years ago today one of my favourite bands played what was to be their last ever gig. The Redskins made their final live appearance on 15th September 1986 at Alabama Halle, Munchen in Germany.
The band opened their set with the Denzil Best tune 'Move' which was made famous by Miles Davis on his 'Birth Of The Cool' album before moving onto a new band tune the instrumental 'Let My Words Be Bullets'. Then for me the highlight of the set a cracking version of Billy Bragg's 'Levi Stubbs Tears' which for me outdoes the original. The first part of the bands set was broadcast on TV in Germany at the time (see video below).
My band The Che Men were later to cover the Redskins tunes 'Kick Over The Statues' on the Redskins tribute EP 'A Flame That Can't Be Dimmed' (2003), 'Keep On Keepin' On' from the Redskins tribute CD 'Reds Strike The Blues' (2005) and the unreleased Redskins song 'So It Goes' which appeared on our debut album 'Echoes Of The 30s' (2024). Redskins bassist Martin Hewes also made a guest appearance on our album playing bass on 'Jangling Man'.

Redskins final gig at the Alabama Halle, Munchen, Germany on 15th S...

11/09/2026

The Weekend Starts Here! and dropping in the post today was the 4th album from The Hurricanes 'Songs From The White Room'. Now The Hurricanes were the 2nd from last band to play at Get Hip and the most Mod influenced band we put on in nearly 9 years. Have to say that it was also one of my favourite nights at The Green Room. One band that I would of been re-booked in a flash had the night continued.
I'm so loving this album and it's onto it's 2nd play of the day. 12 original songs and it's hard to pick a fave at the moment as all dozen tunes are great. The album is CD only, no vinyl option as the band have put it out themselves. You'll also have to contact the band if you want a copy or pick it up from one of their gigs as it isn't listed on Discogs (at the moment).

09/09/2026

Todays Sounds: and it's a couple of new releases from the Heavy Soul Label, the latest single from Sharp Class 'Stuck On You' and a new comp highlighting some of the newer bands on the current mod scene - 'Scene 26'.
Have to say that I'm loving this comp. 7 of the bands are new to me but I've seen the other 3 acts (Cian Downing, The Hornets & Sharp Class) live a couple of times already but I'll be looking out to catch the other bands live after hearing the comp. On first listen the standout tracks for me were 'Behind Closed Doors' (The Hornets) their new album sounds great and I'll be picking that up once it's out on vinyl, 'Third Eye' by The Velvet Tuxedo whio were a new name to me and 'Flag Flying High' Cain Downing but there isn't a bad track on here and I can see this been just as important release for the scene as the 1st Countdown album was when I was a young mod.
It's good to see that HSR have kept the comp down to 10 tracks as I know some labels will try and cram as many tracks as they can onto an LP and the sound quality can suffer when that happens. No problem with that here as the songs sound great and nice & loud too.
As for the Sharp Class 45 'Stuck On You' it's up there for me with 'Ordinary People' as my favourite Sharp Class tune so far.

08/09/2026

Looks like a few North East bands will be getting a mention in the next 'The Modern Boys Are Here' book as I can spot the following mod bands in the list - Present Tense, The Singles, The Issue and The New Breed.
Out of those 4 bands I only missed out on seeing The New Breed live. I did enjoy Present Tense who I saw a few times, The Singles who I caught live twice the first time at a great gig supporting Makin' Time at Redcar Bowl and The issue who I caught live loads of times as most of the band came from Marton where I live and their bassist Craig was forever borrowing my bass amp. It's a shame that none of those bands ever released a record but I still have a few of their songs taken from demo tapes.

Greetings earthlings... Phew! We are now in the final stages of the next book, and looking at hopefully going to print early next month (October). Attached is a list of the 290-ish bands which will be featured in the ‘Bands A-Z Section’ of the book (covering the 1977-89 era). This is being split into a ‘Main Section’ and a ‘Bands In Brief’ section, so depending on the prominence of the band, there may be anything from a short paragraph or two, up to 3 or 4 pages for the bigger ones. Full discographies are also included (including demo tape details, where appropriate).
Many thanks to everyone who has helped so far. We would like to encourage members of any bands in this list, who we’ve not already been in contact with, to get in touch so we can send them a copy of the provisional entry to check through, before it goes to print.
Finally, please note that the way f’book is set up, ‘Pages’ are unable to initiate contact with 'individuals', so you would need to either DM us, or leave a comment first, before we are allowed to send you a direct message. (Or if you prefer to email, our address is listed in the ‘Contact info’ section of this page.) Cheers, Tim.

07/09/2026

2 years ago today and The Hurricanes were at Get Hip which I think was the bands first ever gig on Teesside?
Reminds me that I really need to pick up the bands new album.

All set and ready to go! Here Comes The Storm! 😎

26/08/2026

Todays listening comes from the FAB label with the 'Mark Two' album from Mark Le Gallez and 'Happy Today' by The Mark Three.

26/08/2026

I'm looking forward to this album featuring 10 of the newest Mod influenced bands around which is out in September. I've already caught 3 of the acts (The Hornets, Cian Downing & Sharp Class) live a couple of times each.

OUT SEPTEMBER!!
pre-orders now at www.heavysoul45s.co.uk expected end of September
‘Mods Mayday ‘79’, ‘The Countdown Collection’, ‘The Beat Generation & The Angry Young Men’. Each Mod Revival has a key album that brings an underground scene into the public domain. ‘Scene 26’ is the next logical step in showcasing the raw energy that Mod brings to music – established Heavy Soul Records acts SHARP CLASS, THE HORNETS and CIAN DOWNING rub shoulders with many first time on vinyl band including THE XLNTS with a new anthem and THE KOPPERS, SCARLETT FEVER and SOUTH STREET keeping the Mod Revival sound going with VELVET TUXEDO bringing a 60s edge to proceedings before MODERN SYNDICATE and THE LAST ORDERS show how diverse the Mod sound is.
Volume Two coming soon too….
SIDE A
THE XLNTS – The New Generation
SHARP CLASS – Alive
THE KOPPERS – In The Country
SOUTH STREET – Forget The Lot
SCARLETT FEVER – Many Faces
SIDE B
THE HORNETS – Behind Closed Doors
THE VELVET TUXEDO – Third Eye
CIAN DOWNING – Flag Flying High
MODERN SYNDICATE – Death Of A Supermodel
THE LAST ORDERS – There She Goes Again

23/08/2026

Myself Sue & Graham will be off to Sunny Saltburn today for some Soul Sounds. Been to all of the Soul Sundaes so far and have enjoyed it everytime.
There's quite a few Sunday afternoon do's popping up in the area now with Sunday School Soul at The Chapel in Middlesbrough and 60s Mod sounds at The Potting Shed in Northallerton been my other faves.

19/08/2026

Midweek Sounds: and it's the latest album from Haircut 100 'Boxing The Compass'. Now I wasn't that much of a fan of the band back in the day bar the odd song but I did quite like Nick Heyward's solo albums. But I have to say that I'm loving this album, there's some funk & soul mixed in with some indie too. Nice to see a tribute to The Jetset's lead singer Melvyn Taub in the sleeve notes.
I met Nick Heyward a few years back at the 100 Club where he guested with Clem Burke's band The Tearaways. Have to say that he's a really nice bloke and we ended up having a good chat about the music of Edward Ball, Nick having played bass on Ed's single 'Mill Hill Self Hate Club' which my band The Che Men covered.

16/08/2026

Sunday Sounds: Typical isn't it, you end up working in the baking heat all week and when it comes to your day off the sun has been replaced by rain. I could of done with some rain on my post round this week just to cool me down. Anyway, the wet weather gives me a chance to catch up on some recent musical buys.
3 45s - one new one with 'Dirty River' by The Sinclairs which is out on the Spinout Nuggets label, The Sinclairs been Rat Scabies & Billy Shinbone and on this single they are joined by Emily Breeze. Also picked up 2 oldies from the so called '79 mod revival - 'Your Side Of Heaven' by Back To Zero and 'Jimmy' by the Purple Hearts. Both singles came out on Fiction records.
Also picked up 2 CDs, a comp by Geno Washington featuring the Piccadilly & Pye recordings best of which is the b-side 'I've Been Hurt By Love' which is a Geno original and one that I used to play out a lot when DJing. The other CD is by The Mystery Lights, I'm sure I have this one already but can't find it in my collection but I was reminded of it when I heard 'What Happens When You Turn The Devil Down' while watching The Sentinels on TV the other day. Oh, and I also finally managed to pick up Nick Swift's book on The Housemartins at a decent price. Not sure the gig guide is right though? As I thought that The Housemartins played The Dovecot in Stockton more than once.