S9E465 - The Roxy London WC2 with Johnny Iguana
When Chicago blues pianist, singer and songwriter Johnny Iguana (The Claudettes) discovered bands like Minutemen and Husker Du as a teen in Philadelphia, it opened up a world of musical possibilities he's STILL unpacking. He eventually came into possession of The Roxy London WC2 - a live album of recordings taken from various punk bands that played at The Roxy club in Covent Garden, London between January and April 1977 - and the raw, unfettered performances of bands like Wire, Buzzcocks and X-Ray Spex captivated him like nothing else at the time.
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Songs discussed in this episode: (Stage patter, The Roxy London 1977) - Johnny Moped (Paul Halford); Touch You Back - The Claudettes; Oh Bondage Up Yours! (Live at The Roxy London 1977) - X-Ray Spex; I Love Living In The City (Live from The Decline of Western Civilization) - Fear; I'm On Fire (Live from Urgh! A Music War) - Chelsea; Tom Sawyer (Piano version) - Ian Hanson Piano; Viet Nam - Minutemen; Big Boss Man - Jimmy Reed; Show Me The Way (Live) - Peter Frampton; Turn The Page - The Streets; Runaway (Live at The Roxy London 1977) - Slaughter & the Dogs; Action - Oh My God; Boston Babies - GBH; Boston Babies - UK Subs; Boston Babies (Live at The Roxy London 1977) - Slaughter & the Dogs; Freedom (Live at The Roxy London 1977) - The Unwanted; Dot Dash, Lowdown, 1.2.X.U. (Live at The Roxy London 1977) - Wire; Gary Gilmore's Eyes, Bored Teenagers (Live at The Roxy London 1977) - The Adverts; Hard Loving Man (Live at The Roxy London 1977) - Johnny Moped; Don't Need It, Waiting For The Man (Velvet Underground Cover), 15 (Live at The Roxy London 1977) - Eater; Oh Bondage Up Yours! (Live at The Roxy London 1977) - X-Ray Spex; Dreaming - Poly Styrene; Everybody's Happy Nowadays, Breakdown, Love Battery (Live at The Roxy London 1977), Why Can't I Touch It? - Buzzcocks; Evidently Chickentown, Health Fanatic (Live from Urgh! A Music War) - John Cooper Clarke; (You Are My) Whole World - The Claudettes
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Garage Glamour
Six albums into their lauded career, the Claudettes continue to put a fascinating spin on American roots music with their 2026 Pravda Records album GARAGE GLAMOUR. Blues and R&B are laced with punk spirit and film-noir moods to create the band's singular glitzy-yet-gritty sound. The Claudettes have earned worldwide acclaim with their recordings and concerts full of heart, musicianship and theatrical flair. Force-of-nature vocalist Rachel Williams (who dominates the stage like a glam-rock rebirth of Annie Lennox) and renowned pianist/songwriter Johnny Iguana join the mighty rhythm section of Zach Verdoorn (bass, guitar, vocals) and Liz Ele (drums). Outside the Claudettes, Iguana has toured with Junior Wells and Otis Rush, played on many Grammy-nominated albums and recorded with Buddy Guy, Derek Trucks, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Johnny Winter and more. Johnny is also composer of the score for the Emmy-winning smash FX/Hulu series "The Bear" and has released two solo albums on iconic blues/jazz label Delmark Records.