TOP FIVES READY FOR AMOEBA MUSIC, JIM MORRISON'S CADILLAC NIGHT, BLACK PANTHERS TRIBUTE + DEVLIN HITS CAMDEN

BACK in the UK doesn’t quite have the same ring as Back in the USSR, and much less romanticism, but, sadly, that’s where I am.

So I promise this is my last mention of my Californian musical trail, which until now had pretty much failed. Yes I saw Earth, Wind & Fire, and though I couldn’t tell which were the original members, they were reasonably fun. Shame about the atrocious dancing from certain sections of the crowd. I also managed to stay in the Cadillac Hotel in LA, where I hear Jim Morrison once jammed and Charlie Chaplain used to live. No trace of that history now, just pleasant rooms and grimy beach surroundings.

But the highlight of the trip must have been visiting Amoeba Music in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district. Occupying a former bowling alley, it is said to be the world’s largest independent music store and it’s massive.

I spent hours trawling through the records and found a lovely rare recording of songs by my LA psychedelia heroes, Love.

It felt just like being in a giant version of High Fidelity, or maybe Empire Records. Now where's my top five list....?








• Speaking of Haight-Ashbury, the band of the same name support The Vaselines at Scala (September 22).

• Here’s a good one – Tongues on Fire: a tribute to the Black Panthers takes place at the Barbican on Saturday (September 11). Described as a “unique musical tribute to the cultural influence of 1960s African-American radicals the Black Panthers”, The Roots, The Last Poets and Doctor L are among the talent on the bill.

• Recent Record of the Week appearance, Dagenham MC Devlin’s making two appearances in Camden in October. He supports Example at Koko (October 12) and headlines Underworld (October 28). I only hope he brings Giggs along.

ENGLEBERT HUMPERDINCK, EARTH, WIND & FIRE, REALLY? + I AM KLOOT AND AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT'S UNION VISITS

ENGLEBERT Humperdinck. Earth, Wind & Fire. What are these words? Who are these people and why are they even on this page? 

As much as I’ve looked out for the next big thing in San Francisco, I haven’t been near a radio, I’m staying in a flat without a TV and with people who don’t like guitars/electro, or any music I like. 

So this is all I’ve got so far. Apparently 74-year-old lego haired Humperdinck – once famous for his version of Release Me (your parents/grandparents may know it) is still alive and singing in the wine country of Sonoma, California, early next month – I know, I saw his name in shiny lights as we drove past. 

Also, I’ve been talked into seeing veteran disco kings Earth, Wind & Fire in a vineyard somewhere – think I might slip away and check for young blood among the grapes.

• They’ve been nominated for this year’s Mercury Prize and now they’re off trying to seal the deal by playing fave venue, Islington’s Union Chapel (Sept 29). Then again, I Am Kloot may not even want the
ill-fated award, which has been known to dampen an act’s career (see Speech Debelle).
• Last year the Camden Crawl won best digital campaign at BT’s Digital Music Awards. The awards are looming again (Camden Roundhouse, Sept 30) and we’re hoping the crawl will continue its winning streak. As I’m yet to get hold of an iPhone, I can’t nominate for new category Best Music App so instead I’m trying to guess who will top Camden rapper Akala’s 2009 performance this year.
• Former Record of the Week contenders Airborne Toxic Event play an acoustic show at the Union Chapel (Oct 3). Their single Sometime Around Midnight is timeless. One not to miss.