Speedometer
+ Doggett Brothers
Saturday 11 February : 8pm
£7.00 adv : £9.00 door
DJ’ Easily Dunn and the Dinch in the cafe/bar.
Since 1998, in the days before The Meters or BGP re-issues formed the soundtrack to ‘Come Dine With Me’, and way before Amy and Mark’s collaborations shaped daytime radio, Speedometer went out and played funk. Not acid-jazz, no crossovers, and definitely no fancy dress costumes.
The first Speedometer 45, Soul Safari/Two Beat Beast, was one of the earliest releases on the infamous Soul Fire label. Opting for a more ‘home-grown’ approach to recorded output, a number of further releases were made on the Norwich-based Kennel Klub label. The first two studio LPs, ‘This is Speedometer’ vols 1 and 2, were released on the Blow it Hard label, in 2003 and 2005, respectively.
Both albums went down a storm, giving Speedometer exposure around the globe, leading to a visit to Japan in 2005. Speedometer took a limited edition and self-produced album, ‘Digging Deeper’ to Japan, containing a mix of unreleased and pre-’This is Speedometer’ material. An after-show party at a lounge-bar-cum-record shop inspired studio album no.3, ‘Four Flights Up’. On their return from Japan, and in the run-up to the release of ‘Four Flights Up’, Freestyle records released an alternative version of ‘Digging Deeper’ (some different tracks, different artwork, vinyl).
‘Four Flights Up’ got its release in 2007 on Freestyle in the UK (and P-Vine in Japan), and featured collaborations with the mighty Robert Moore. Speedometer still gigged hard, notching up appearances all over Europe, and prompting the recording of ‘Soul Grooving – Live’.
‘The Shakedown’ is Speedometer’s 5th album release, and is the most ambitious yet. Featuring appearances from Myles Sanko, Natasha Watts, The Stillouettes, long-time James Brown collaborator, Martha High, members of The Perceptions (John Willmott, Gary Crockett, Snowboy) and spawning singles remixed by DJ Format, The Shakedown opened Speedometer to far wider audiences than ever before, without compromise to the product.
2011 saw a reissue/repackage of ‘This Is Speedometer’ vols 1 and 2 on Freestyle records, a compilation of Speedometer tracks new and old (‘Speedometer Gold’ on P-Vine), sell-out shows in Nagoya, Yokohama and Tokyo with Billy Wooten, visits to France (St.Paul Soul Jazz) and Spain.
2012 – The title track from The Shakedown, ‘The Shakedown (Say Yeah)’ is now available as a lovely 45, courtesy of Freestyle records. It also features ‘Dragging Me Down’ on the flip.
Feb 2012 sees a UK mini tour , Norwich Arts Centre, Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds and finally Ronnie Scotts , London where they will be joined (on the last four dates ) by Martha High, who they will also be recording with later this year.
Speedometer are: Leigh Gracie (guitar), Rich Hindes (bass), Chris Starmer (drums), Andy Fairclough (organ/keys), Simon Jarret (sax), Matt McKay (saxes/flute), Neil Penny (trumpet), Matt Wilding (percussion), and Ria Currie and Myles Sanko (vocals).
