HOMEGROWN GIG WHITBY COMMUNITY COLLEGE - REVIEW

What a great effort that the bands from WCC put into this event to raise money for Whitby Now - there is no way I could let the occasion pass without a review.

I can remember how worried little big Jack Wilson was a few weeks ago that nobody would buy tickets, the kids would all want to drink so wouldn't come etc etc. Pish pash posh - they sold 130 tickets and raised £300 for Whitby Now.

It was very weird indeed walking back into my old school hall, (there were 3 Whitby Now committee members, 3 Yabbadabbado's and one random Radiographer in our gang) and I knew we had made a mistake in our choice of seats straight away as we were sat on a table at the back of the hall but directly in front of the stage and we looked exactly like the judges from X-factor. My sister cruelly insisted that I be Sharon Osbourne as I have short hair, and she be Danii Minogue because she has long hair but in my head I was Cheryl Cole.(oh shut up!)

Mark was Simon Cowell obviously , you can clearly see the resemblance, and Yabba James ,Yabba Dave and Yabba Pete were the 3 Louis'. Thankfully, even though some of the participants were as young as 14 years old - it was clear that these bands were going to make it past the audition stages. That is not to say I won't be making some constructive criticism so if you can't take it bands - look away now.

High Tide kicked off the show with their usual silky hot chocolate with extra cream on type vocals and acoustic guitar. I am used to seeing Liam and Jack in smaller more intimate environs and I did sense that they were perhaps not as comfortable as they usually are. Liam didn't introduce the audience to any of the songs and made that essential connection between act and audience all that harder for them to achieve. And of course, there is no reason why Jack couldn't introduce a song as well. OK, they felt like they could squeeze an extra song in by cutting back on the chat but I would rather hear 3 songs and get the best out of them than 5 where I found I was actually only listening properly to 3. But having said that, I love listening to these guys. They work so well together and sound like peaches and cream, Simon and Garfunkel, Fred and Ginger, vodka and red bull - you get the picture. The highlight of their set for me was their own tune Gothenberg - sublime.

Next up were The Committee and it was the first time that any of the Whitby Now/Yabba's gang had had the pleasure. I will try not to gush - but oooooh, they were good. They are a five piece band and boy did that make a difference. They were storming. It said in the programme that they describe themselves as a mixture of the Kooks and Razorlight but I didn't think so. The lead singers voice was a bit deeper and more mature than either of those. ha ha. Really. They started with one of their own tracks and while I can't remember what it was called - I can remember how well crafted it was and how good it sounded. Next came a cover of On Call by The Kings of Leon and I have to admit a bias here as they are my current fave band/obsession and then an equally brilliant version of Caroline by The Quo - which got the audience whooping and clapping in unison.

I was a little disappointed that the Ukelady boys had cancelled but it didn't really affect the dynamics of the evening and another duo,
The Dapper, took to the stage. It was their first ever performance and to be honest it was a little rough around the edges but as a first time effort it wasn't bad at all. Their enthusiasm certainly made up for their lack of experience and Dom and Francis really looked like they were enjoying themselves so first time nerves can't have been too severe and they relaxed even more when one of their teachers joined them to sing 'Valerie'. She must have been a popular teacher as the crowd were very appreciative.I hope The Dapper are already planning their next gig as you can only learn through experience.

If I can offer a word of advise to all the two-somes that were on tonight - if you want to make a BIG impact - big up! Join together - become a bigger band and a bigger sound. Especially if you dream of filling stadiums one day. You have to be exceptionally good to fill a big space and entertain a big audience when there are only two of you. I felt that The Dapper looked immediately more comfortable when Teach joined them and I think they will benefit by getting more band members.

Wasting Charlie have come on leaps and bounds since I first saw them at Whitby Now 2007. They performed at one of our fundraisers at The Resolution earlier in the year and we advised them to take a few tips from the older acts that were on the same bill that night and try and add some movement to their act and try and look like they were enjoying themselves more. They certainly took note and at Evies Gig they took it to another level and it was heartening to see that they are still dancing around. OK, they got caught up in the leads at one point and had to be entangled but that was a small price to pay for a less static performance. Although perhaps a happy medium needs to be found. Too much movement sometimes leads to slightly slopping playing.(take note The Committee - you need to move around more. Become more engaged with the music you are playing and the audience you are playing it to.) My favourite song from Wasting Charlies set was Molly's Chambers by the Kings of Leon but I can't seem to help myself and am seeking professional help. I used to like Wasting Charlie's own track, Head in the Sand but I don't think they did that. It had a really distinctive sound that showed off Joe's unusual vocals to a great advantage so I would advise them to try and recapture some of that sound because it set them apart from the rest!

Finishing the evening was the beautifully clad
The Scarlett Alliance, Sam seems to like stripes, and Jack seems to really really love red. He was a symphony in red and black but rather disappointingly ditched the hat with feather after the first song. It was hard to believe that this was only The Scarlett Alliance's 2nd gig - their confidence was impressive. Their sound didn't seem to fill the school hall like it had at their gig at The Resolution and again I can't help wondering if they couldn't expand the band further. I know The White Stripes were a twosome but it isn't for everyone. My favourite from this set was Blue Skies, ( I have been humming it to myself ever since) but I felt that this could have been even better if it had been speeded up a bit. One more thing would be to have a look at the set list. Try not to have too many slow songs together, and mix it up. Keep the attention of the audience at all time.

I have to say though, all those points I have made are little things and didn't mean that the evening itself was not a triumph - because it was. I was on a high for about 2 hours afterwards and I know my friends were too. Mark was so excited he said 2 naughty words in his thank you speech and earned himself 100 lines and a detention.

There was so much to enjoy and I suppose the most exciting bit is the enormous potential that all these young musicians possess and how it can only be to Whitbys' benefit.

x jean
PS Remember this is only my opinion, I could be talking a load of b******s so if you were at the gig - please feel free to chime in and tell me so.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? ONE WAY PATH

One Way Path were a band formed during the Golden Age of The Stakesby Arms, known locally as The Starms. They were contemporaries of such acts as Jon The Dog, precursors of Panda Lasagne. 2002 to 2003ish.

Ben Quinn was the singer and guitarist, and I think he wrote most of the material. Luzio Loveday played drums, although he now plays bass in Utoxator (the band, not the midlands town. Different spelling.) Damien Whitehead played bass, but he now lives in Brighton and is extremely difficult to contact.

They self released one CD, and it was rather splendid. Here are two selected tracks for your delectation of one of Whitby's obscure lost treasures. Listen and enjoy, and then petition for a reunion.

MASS PRODUCTION




SITTING SHADOWS

FIVE X NINE ON TELEVISION

Have a look at this stunning video, and then tell me honestly if its not worth a fiver to see fiveXnine play a televised set? Jean out of Whitby Now thinks its visually and soundally amazing!

The truth of the matter is that they've got to sell 50 tickets at £5 each by 15th of October. The actual gig is on November 2nd.

If you want to support a local band that's absolutely on fire at the moment, click the top one of the Popwatch links.

falling hard


More details to follow soon. Stay tuned, and contact the band even if you can't make the gig to tell them how cool this video is, or just for a chat. They're right nice lads.

WOMAN LOSES CUSHION ON PROSPECT HILL

NOW WITH SONGS YOU CAN LISTEN TO AS WELL! CRIKEY, WHATEVER NEXT?

Hurrah! After a few false starts, here's the Panda Lasagne interview in a form everybody should be able to access.

Some magnificent songs from The Res acoustic gig will be uploaded and posted tomorrow. Sorry there's no visuals, but if it helps we were sat around a little wooden table at The Bridge Inn next to the pool table.

The music in the background is Mark Liddell playing to an empty gazebo in the rain.






And now, as if that's not enough, here are some songs recorded live at the acoustic do a bit back. Lay back and enjoy a pandasonic assault on your lugholes in a distinctly unplugged fashion.

And while you're at it, why not enjoy a bag of Planter's Peanuts, the ones with the Mr Peanut logo?

And kids, don't start sentences with the word 'and'. Its grammatically incorrect so I'm told.

Under Gazebo and Umbrella (ella, ella etc), Ruswarp Feels the Love of Whitby Now

The Bridge Inn, Ruswarp, 2.9.08, Whitby Now Fundraiser

One day, the young amongst our number are going to look back on nights like this one with a wistful fondness, recalling a sense of community perhaps lost, a sense of fun perhaps forgotten, a sense of promise and excitement perhaps faded. Yes you will, you cynical little bleeders.

So you got to hear great live music, in Ruswarp of all places, and they let you eat sausages and smoke fags, the former being for free.

High Tide were as impressive as they were a fortnight ago. Drummerless this time, Paul Whittaker added variety to the sound with his West Coast guitar. I want to hear them with a full band - just as an experiment, mind; you wouldn't want them ending up sounding like the Eagles or anything. Gothenburg is still the hit (pending), but there was further original material on show, and hopes are high for more to come. They're young, good looking, popular, and if they're not having vastly more fun than I did at their age, then they're fucking idiots.

Yabbadabbadoo are still your ultimate jukebox band for a cracking night out, running the gamut of pop to punk and back again, with no noticeable detours. In their current formation, they have little ambition beyond entertaining an audience, and they are all the better for it. Best track of the night was, of all things, Chasing Cars. What James Wales remembers, when he sings this corny song, is that it is supposed to be both moving and humorous, in equal measure. If only a zillion karaoke crooners could treat it to even half as good a performance.










Chris the Poet, late and flustered,
Took the stage and sniffed the air.
"Hot dogs," he pondered, "sauce and mustard,
Could there be a poem there?"
Black of shoe, brown of jacket,
He stood and shook his auburn hair*.
"Shall I?" he thought. "Oh no, fuck it.
The subject's boring and all I'd end up doing is rhyming it, in some sort of ridiculous contrivance, with, for example, 'Claire'. Which wouldn't be fair."
(*artistic license)

So he didn't. (Actually he didn't even eat any sausages. For all I know he might be a vegetarian. He's never said one way or the other.) Instead he did a couple of old favourites - including the full, unreleased version of Country Song, which got a previously half-interested audience on-side, primed, moistened, and ready for...

Panda Lasagne. Stars. On form, such as you wouldn't believe. Highlight was the newly-comprehensible Swim. Excitement, intensity, razor-sharp smartness and frantic silliness. Luke Pearson joined for Housewives' Choice.

I'd go on about it, but it's pointless trying to describe what's happening when people are absolutely at the top of their game. Except to say that you, the audience, need to go and see them, like now. Nothing lasts forever, said the reviewer, sternly.

Then the rains came. Mark Liddell and Paul Whittaker attempted to restrict their set to one song, thus saving themselves from electrocution. But ML found himself unable to stop, and an epic medley ensued, aided by various Yabbadabbadoos, which traced a non-chronological history of rock 'n' roll interspersed with hideous cracklings from saturated amplifiers and live microphones, each one of which seemed to signal certain death for the pub-rock maestros. But like Gloria Gaynor, they survived, and I for one salute them.

GO GREEN. HAVE AN ACOUSTIC NIGHT.

WHITBY NOW FUNDRAISER: AUGUST 19TH AT THE RESOLUTION
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The trouble with these things is they start too early. I turned up just a tad after nine, and I'd already missed JAMES WALES out of Yabbadabbadoo doing his solo set. He said he'd done some of his own songs as well, which I for one endorse wholeheartedly. If somebody could review his set for Poppitywatch I'd be most grateful. Even if James reviewed it himself, I'd be most grateful because it would be slightly subversive and a bit unusual to have someone reviewing their own gig. Especially if they were a bit disappointed in the choice of songs.
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As we walked in JON HORNE was belting hell out of his electric guitar doing a rough around the edges version of Picture This in a most unDebbieHarryesque way. The song was all the better for it. Sometimes songs need to be pulled apart, put in a bucket and given a good shaking up, before being tipped out and kicked round the stage.

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Also Jon treated us to Whole Wide World by the mighty Wreckless Eric, a songwriter of no mean talent. Anyone who pens lines like 'I could be lying on that sun soaked beach with her / Caressing her warm brown skin / And then in a year, or maybe not quite / We'll be sharing the same next of kin' is more than qualified to butter parsnips in my kitchen.

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Which brings us to Jon's own songs. No compromises. Heartfelt and raw. I could describe their thoughtful lyrical twists and turns, the two intertwining storylines running through Jack London, or the conjouring up of the fear of IRA bombings in 1969, but instead I thought you might like to judge for yourselves. Click on the song titles below to magically hear the tunes coming out of your computer speakers (as long as you've got the volume turned up a bit).

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AMERICAN WHISKEY LIVE

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JACK LONDON LIVE

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I have to admit that I've never been a massive Beatles fan. I mean they've written some pretty good songs, but so have a lot of other people. How many times do we have to hear bloody Imagine? I also have to admit that I'd never been a huge HIGH TIDE fan either, until tonight.

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Somehow, like one of those distance runners in the Olympics that suddenly manages to find a sprint finish from somewhere to take the Gold, High Tide stormed the finishing line with flying colours. I don't know what they did differently, but there was an edge to their performance. I think they enjoyed it too.

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Not too many Beatles songs, and more of their own. They did Gothenberg of course, but also one called something like Two Of Us. Immaculately played, superbly sung and really affecting. I believe they were giving us something of themselves, and it was very satisfying to see.

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Someone mentioned that Liam's somewhat longer hair now looks a bit like Noel Fielding's off The Mighty Boosh. Apparently its a cult comedy show with a zany, surreal element that all the young people are 'into' these days. Give me Sid James in a Carry On Up The Khyber on a rainy afternoon anyday. That'll do me thank you Squire.

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MARK OUT OF FRAGILE was without his chum and co-cospirator, who is known as Sally Ann Out Of Fragile. Apparently she lives on a farm and a bridge across a river had been washed away so she was stuck there, and may indeed be still there now, destined to dwell amongst the beasts of the field and to live off mangold wurzels for the rest of her life.

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Mark did a short solo set, the highlight of which, for me at least, was a display of slide guitar playing of the highest order. The highest order!

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As well as doing a short set, Mark also wore shorts. He had a shortcake biscuit immediately after he came offstage, and then proceeded to drink shorts all evening. He is obsessed by all things short and is the head of the Whitby branch of the Ronnie Corbett Appreciation Society.

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I've never seen The DTs, but I've had them at regular intervals ever since I started doing this flaming blog. LEAFY AND JAMIE out of the aforementioned DTs treated us to a set of songs, with Leafy standing at the mic and dancing about whilst Jamie sat down and played the guitar.

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All the songs were expertly rendered covers, but Leafy threw an unusual one in the mix to catch us out and open our consciousnesses up to a new dimension, man. It was a Hip Hop song. She wanted the lyrics to come over because it meant a lot to her, in fact I'm sure she said it was one of her all time favourites. Can't remember the title, but the word suicide was featured. Gulp!

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I asked why they exclusively did covers. Leafy said their own songs were too personal. The campaigne continues.

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Marvellously brash and dedicated to profitless chicanery, PANDA LASAGNE donned acoustic guitars in true Folk Week style. Except for the bass player, who donned a throbbing electric mutha of a bass with 2000 volts going through it and sparks flying from the pickups. Well, you're allowed to bend the rules a bit, aren't you?

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The Pandas were amazing. They probably felt a bit uncomfortable, but it added a palpable edge of uncertainty to the event. The song lyrics were clearer than ever and the solos were offbeat and quirky. I take my hat off to them, much as you have to do when going into Rosie's, but thats a different issue. They pulled it off and they made my night.

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The one about James' Dad was particularly good. More serious tunes would not go amiss.

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Two Panda Lasagne tracks were recorded on the night, and they're corkers. I'm saving them though as an interview with the lads is due to appear soon. I'll put them with that. Stand by your beds!

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MARK LIDDELL had regaled us with an effortless version of the curry eater's lament Ring Of Fire earlier in the evening, and it was left to him to round the proceedings off with Pearl And Dean style adverts for various businesses in Whitby. Popwatch takes a dim view of the commercialisation of popular culture, and I can tell you if any Popwatch contributors dare try it on, they're dead meat.

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Speaking of meat, Lander's Butchers of Baxtergate offer a full range of beef and pork at competetive prices. Lander's, your local purveyor of fine meats.

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Thanks to Jean again for the wonderful photos. Unfortunately I was unable to use the ones of Leafy and Jamie because they were hidden behind mic stands and music stands. Either they're very shy, or Jean cocked it up a bit. I wouldn't like to say really.

Sorry about any exclamation marks Jon!

Tuesday 19th August - Whitby Now Fundraiser

Whitby Now are planning another of their popular fundraisers which will take place at The Resolution on Tuesday 19th August. At our most recent fundraisers we have put on fairly loud rock based bands and we felt it was time to change the tempo a little and appeal to another audience and another branch of the musical talent tree of Whitby. So we are showcasing some of our acoustic acts which we think will go down particularly well as it is also Folk week and we think passing visitors will also like what they hear. So our line-up consists of


Fragile - Mark and Sally are both singer songwriters who both play various instruments and perform all their own material. They have a very lyrical sound and you can often hear echoes of the people they say have influenced them, such as , J.J.Cale, Joni Mitchell, Mahalia Jackson, Yes, Emilou Harris and Mark Knopfler.
This is Mark and Sally at last years' Whitby Now. Aren't they tiny?


James Wales - James is stepping out of his Yabbadabbado shoes to do a completely solo acoustic set. He says he is shaking in those aforementioned shoes but feels it is important to continue challenging himself with new goals. He will be performing a mixture of his own and other peoples material.

This is James having a fag break outside the Spa Pavilion last week during our Regatta fun.


High Tide - Liam Dudman and Jack Hogarth are already, despite their extreme youth, a very popular duo. The play both their own material alongside some lovely mellow tunes from the likes of Damien Rice, The Beatles and Eric Clapton. Their sound is very simple with just one guitar and 2 vocals but it works very well.

Ain't this just a delightful shot of our fresh faced duo?


Jon Horne - Jon is a singer songwriter who oozes joie de vivre. He loves what he does and that really comes over in his performance. He has some new songs on his myspace if you would care to check them out. He is as daft a brush and doesn't care who knows it.
This is a picture of Jon at last years Whitby Now - which he really really really loved. Did he tell you that?


Leafy and Jamie. Alethea Estill and Jamie Boyce are also venturing into new territory. They both play for a band called The D.T.'s but put this acoustic act together to perform at the Spa over the Regatta weekend when Whitby Now went Unplugged for the occasion. The liked it so much - they agreed to do it again.

This is how much fun Alethea (but you can call me Leafy!) had. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!


Panda Lasagne - James, Mike and Sean are one of the liveliest acts on the Whitby scene and we weren't sure what to expect when we asked them to also go "unplugged" at the Regatta event. Could such a vibrant act entertain all the grannies and children having their tea and cakes at the Spa? Indeed they could, and as always James had everyone laughing with his funny chat in between and even during songs. All you hard core Panda fans who can't believe that Panda Lasagne can do acoustic - come and see them at The Resolution on 19th when we have pinched their PA yet again.
This is James and Sean and some strangers fat head.


So please go along around 8 p.m. Admission is free, as always, and Whitby Now just ask that you buy a few raffle tickets and throw some coins into the tip bucket (silver/gold or paper money please.) so that they can raise some funds towards their November productions.
Disclaimer.
This is my first blog so excuse all errors. I have no idea what this is going to look like - but am glad I had a go.

Guide to Beached

Hi everyone

I've put together a Beached list: all the bands, their mySpace and Facebook sites and the number of fans online, so you can separate the wheat from the chaff and know when to go grab a pizza.

Don't miss tonight, where last year there was a big band, this year, there are lots of bands.

It's on mySpace here: http://groups.myspace.com/scarboroughandcoastmusic and Facebook here: http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8587508982.

Truck stage list to follow on those pages later today.

I would have posted it all up here, but I'm not sure a pile of data would have been appreciated, so take a look and hope it helps.

See you on the beach :-)

J

PANZER MISSION TERMINATED

I suppose the writing was on the wall when Panzer Attack failed to turn up for their much (at least by me) anticipated acoustic set at Music in the Basement at Whitby Coliseum.

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Also it would have given me the chance to talk tea with them, a subject dear to my heart. A few weeks ago I donated a selection of teabags, which I elaborately coded and sent by post to their Glaisdale HQ, with the intention of doing a tea review, perhaps with a bit of musical chit chat thrown into the pot for good measure.

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Sadly it was not to be, as the following missive arrived by electronic mail like a bolt out of the blue moorland sky.

Alright mate, just letting you know that we've broken up so we won't be able to finish that tea review unfortunately!

Basically none of us can be bothered with it any more and we all have other stuff to do with our little lives. But this is the official, public, reason for the split...

Unfortunately, Panzer Attack are no more. Guitarist Shepton, after a nasty bout of tea poisoning, decided he could no longer handle the rock and left to start a hippie commune in southern Belarus.

Upon hearing this news, Leeds reverted back to his natural form: a bear. The confused and angry young Leeds could no longer fulfil his duty as bassist, so he was set loose by the remaining members of the band into the wilderness of southern Belarus. It is not yet clear if this was a coincidence or not but it has been reported that an entire hippie commune in the area was in fact mauled by a shaven baby bear.

Due to "Tax Issues", Swell has declared himself bankrupt and fled to South Africa, he says of the situation "Aye it's alright like, got blacklisted from me own country though.........it's shite anyway.......aye..........Broken Britain I say.........(trails off into incoherent rant)".

It has recently come to light that guitarist Josh has been collecting all the royalties from the band's platinum record sales on the sly and has spent it all on Salmon, Venison and Veal. He is currently suffering with gout which has prevented his solo tour "The Mighty World Of Josh (He Who is Master of All, Especially Table Football)" from going ahead as planned.

Kate is said to be doing just fine, despite recent allegations of her trying to comandeer the HMS Endeavour and house it within the world's largest bottle.

The End.xx

Cheers, Shepton x

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Sounds pretty final to me, but lets watch the flames light up the night sky and see if anything emerges fom the ashes.

In the meantime, put the kettle on, will you?

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HOW TO MAKE AN ORIGAMI MORRISSEY

STEP ONE: Take a square piece of paper and fold it in half both horizontally, vertically and down both diagonals. It should end up looking like this, a bit like the Union Jack flag that they have at the Olympic Games.

STEP TWO: Carefully bring all four corners together, and let the folds guide you. You should end up with a neat diamond shape as shown. Flatten it and ensure the creases are good and sharp. Now for the tricky bit...

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STEP THREE: Grasping one of the loose corners, pull it up and out and let the edges come together as shown. Flatten the shape and ensure all the creases are sharp. Turn it over and repeat this manouvre.

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STEP FOUR: Take hold of the two pointed ends and draw them out to a 40 degree angle making one backfold in each. Overbend the apex to a third of its length, then turn the piece over. You are now ready to shape the head.

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Perform the three stage reverse Takeshi fold (invented in the 16th century by the great origami folder Takeshi Kitano), but don't forget the reflexed back half crimp at the centre section, or the quiff will come out lop sided.

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Next form the microphone by stipple flanging the quarter edged spinule at the tapered left shank and spendle it to the demicrease with a half clinched girdle cleat.

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Hey Presto! Doesn't he look great? Your Morrissey is now complete and can take pride of place stuck to your fridge with a well chosen magnet.