Nottingham City Pulse: Secret Affair and Neville Staples

Last weekend saw the new annual Nottingham music festival, City Pulse, return to various outdoor points around the city.  By the Nottinghams castle a marquee was erected for dancing whilst in the Forman Street, Trinity Square and Hockley areas, a bill of musicians was organised. The main arena however is in the Old Market Square which has a bill for all three days over the Ban Holiday. There has been some criticism of some of the performers laid on with perhaps, shall we be kind here and say their star has slightly faded. It’s all totally free though and brings a little vibrancy in Nottingham’s city centre for a few days. I eyed up the official programme to note that the Saturday night might be worth a visit with Secret Affair playing at 7p and the Neville Staples (of The Specials fame) Band appearing at 8.30pm.

Secret Affair

Secret Affair being the old modsters that they are played a fair few Tamla tunes in their hour-long set. The seven-piece band had a couple of handy horn players plus singer Ian Page who is also a talented trumpet player. He seems to have mellowed from the slightly precious, angry and precocious young mod that he could be at times back in the seventies. Between 7pm and 8pm the square already had a good crowd gathered. It’s sort of strange, seeing guys like this all of thirty years later, but I really like the fact that these sort of people are still around.

After a pint at The Cape Bar we returned for Neville Staples and the boys. with darkness descending and the Old Market Square bathed in a light show, the band took the stage sans their guitarist who was ’still on the motorway’ according to Nev – he didn’t want to keep us waiting though he mentioned.

The Neville Staples Band

The band blasted into a blistering rendition of ‘Monkey Man’ and the square was rocking with guys in Fred Perry’s and a few pork pie hats jumping around. That’s a lie – everyone was jumping around! The guitarist arrived after a few minutes as the set flowed through one ska classic after another, Toot’s and The Maytals ‘Pressure Drop’, ‘Simmer Down’ and plenty of Specials hits including ‘Ghost Town’, ‘Gangsters’, ‘A Message to You Rudy’ and many more. Neville found the time to harangue one poor observer down front who steadfastly refused to dance whilst looking on disapprovingly. ‘This is not The Specials’ mate – if you want to see The Specials come along tomorrow, it’s fifty quid a ticket!’ shouted Neville! It was all in good nature though. Neville is still the big daft laddie that he ever was. A lad just out for a good time playing the music he loves.

Pauline Black came out to good applause and sang three Selector hits. She looked cute in her rude girl outfit and bounced around the stage with lots of enthusiasm and style. She sang well too, staying on to finish the set with Neville and the band.

The set ended fairly abruptly after one call back – Neville had another gig somewhere that night plus a Specials gig the day after! A good night’s entertainment all completely free. Well done Nottingham, I look forward to the next one.

Mixu – It’s over

The Hibernian FC official site is now carrying the the news informing us that Mixu Paatelainen is no longer at the helm as Hibs’ manager. Mixu himself is quoted:

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as Manager of Hibernian Football Club. We have travelled a journey together and the Club will always hold a special place in my heart.

“However, there comes a time when a change of direction is best for both parties. I thank the Club and the players and coaching staff for their commitment and talent and I wish the supporters everything that they would wish themselves.”

It’s been very sad to see the way some Hibs fans had turned on the man. Whilst Mixu displayed several frailties in his managerial skills I felt there was little need for some of the bile and vitriol shown towards him. Mixu served the club extremely well as a player during two spells with the club when his whole-hearted displays endeared him to the Easter Road fans. His finest hour was undoubtedly his classic hat-trick against Hearts in the famous 6-2 victory a few winters back now. For me it’s not the latter that I necessarily judge him on, I remember how his selfless attitude towards the team brought on the younger players around him, when he was happy to share the knowledge and know-how of a long career with younger professionals trying to make their way in the game.

There is no doubt that Mixu was a very fine centre-forward whilst so far his managerial abilities have failed to materialise in the same way. I firmly believe that, given time, he is the kind of man and professional who will learn from his experience at Hibs and move forward again elsewhere. I genuinely hope so. For now it’s goodbye and good luck to the big Finn.

Thanks for the memories, Mixu.