Michelle Dee Page 1

Michelle Dee is a hugely talented writer who's contributions to thisisUll.com include Humber Mouth reviews, music, theatre and art reviews, opinions and many poems. Michelle is also a contributor to www.thisistheWorld.com Michelles contributions are listed below.. Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5. For the index by Author to all Michelle's work Contributions click here.

Music News - Book Now For The Best Beards Ever By Michelle Dee
	When you've got forty-two years between you, of being in bands and playing original music, it comes as a surprise to find yourself in a covers band. This is exactly what happened to four of Hulls' talented and popular musicians. Last year three of Hull's top bands called it a day. After losing Neil and Knocker (the latter now playing bass for Read more...

People - Interview With Adrian Davis Writer Of The Slide Musical By Michelle Dee Photos By Paul Wright
	Where did the idea of the story come from, when did you start writing it, how long, and what considerations did you make during the writing process? I came up with the idea of writing a musical in 2000. I scribbled out a few notes relating to various stories. Having listened to my well used Carry on up the Charts album I began to take notes with a view Read more...

People - An Interview With The Five O'Clock Heroes By Michelle Dee People Gallery By Julia Grant
	Mich: Where does the name Five O'Clock Heroes come from? Ant: It comes from a Jam song Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero? A reviewer once referred to it as the weakest Jam single. Jules: Are you big fans of The Jam then? Ant: Musically I don't think they influence us, how we play or how we sound, but maybe on the bus we'll listen Read more...

People - The Scarlet Lights Theatre Company By Michelle Dee
	The group of students that would, in time, share a stage as the Scarlet Lights Theatre Company, first shared corridors and common rooms inside Hull College. Most of the young actors were studying for a B.A. in Performing Arts, except Louisa, who was taking an HND. Helen is the newest member of the group and the girls were immediately drawn Read more...

Music Reviews - Tuesday 3rd July 07 - Classic Rock Music Night At The Wellington Pub, Russell Street By Michelle Dee
	After a hard day at the office, I sallied forth to Wellington Pub , home to the ever-successful Stripped nights run by Pat Gradwell on Thursdays, and to a little known Classic Rock Night on Tuesday evenings. We were in the special pub last Tuesday about eight o' clock when a group of chaps came up to us and said, "Hey you'll have to move, it's our music night." "Music night!" Read more...

Music Reviews - Monday 2nd July Amy Macdonald at The Lamp Hull By Michelle Dee
	Monday night I went to see Amy Macdonald www.myspace.com/amymacdonald at the lamp in Hull. She came recommended to me by a good friend but I hadn't actually heard anything by the Glaswegian singer/songwriter signed to Melodramatic Records. Now I can't stop singing the gloriously catchy Mr. Rock & Roll her new single out Read more...

Music Reviews - Thursday 13th September - Hull Explosion - The Talks and The Favours At The Welly Club By Michelle Dee
	Much anticipated by local media, laudable attempts by BBC Look North to promote The Favours and The Talks recently, via coverage of Grassroots, and Favours interview plus live performance of their new single, Islands the night before the Hull leg, should have made this one of the hottest tickets for months. As it was, the Hull date Read more...

Music Reviews - Saturday 17th March 07 - Turismo and The Johnsons at Yo-Yo at The Welly Club By Michelle Dee Turismo Photos by Rob Cranmer, Johnsons Photos by Gareth Jones
	Down the front, groups of regulars from Tuesday's Sesh night dance to the Johnsons' opening number. Among friends, I take my place stopping to greet DJ Priya and her right hand man Kristian. It is St. Patrick's Day so I'm not sure what kind of crowd we're likely to get. As it is the room quickly starts filling from the back and what was an open space before the Read more...

Music Reviews - Wednesday 17th October 07 - TopGun At The Adelphi Club By Michelle Dee
	It was a strange night in Adelphi, when I saw these two crazy ass mofos do their DJ thang, it was another crazy night when I saw TopGun the band. They took to the stage in giant sumo suits and proceeded to play electro fuzz stoner pop. They kicked the proverbial posterior. The crowd lapped up their hapless madcap routines and shambolic stage show. Read more...

Music Reviews - Sunday 24th June 07 - The Sonic Hearts at Lamp Words and Pictures By Michelle Dee
	Just lately I've found myself down at the Lamp checking out the very different range of artists performing there. Tonight was a pleasant surprise; one new band The Sonic Hearts. Another reformed, with a new name in Kalels Cape and one with two new members and new songs, Red Night Strip. I'll start with Red Night Strip Read more...

Music Reviews - Monday 24th September 07 - Six Nation State and The Cherry Cobb Cartel At Lamp By Michelle Dee
	It's Tuesday evening and a host of text messages fill my phone begging my presence at this gig at that gig. My poor tortured synapses threaten to snap. I'm drowning under a sea of demands when one more text alerts me. This one of the personal nature addressed to me, and describes the feelings of utter pleasure their band would have on seeing me. Read more...

Music Reviews - Sunday 25th March 07 - The Horrors Plus Kreeps Club NME At The Welly Hull By Michelle Dee Photographs by Kate Langan
	Eerie spaced out keyboard intros, skull shaped guitar heads, electric skeleton double bass, flutes saxophones and a Theremin? These are just some of the elements that make up the demented sound of Kreeps. The five piece stateside act, create stylized theatrical rock with multi instrumentation that leaves you open mouthed in admiration. Read more...

Music Reviews - Thursday 8th March 07 - Franks E.P. Launch at The Adelphi with support From Lavellion By Michelle Dee Photos by Mo
	I came into Adelphi still shaking my hair from the rain on a rather damp Thursday evening. By the time I'd reached the bar I was shaking my thang to the cool metal outfit on stage. Theirs was a name I'd heard being bandied about on Myspaz and seen on a couple of flyers. I sat down with a pint of Deuchars and listened to the rowdy ear churning guitar and eye Read more...

Music Reviews - Saturday 15th December ThisisUll.com Christmas Bash At New Adelphi Club With Dirty Dreamers (featuring Dave Meilhan original Dreamers drummer) The Favours, Fifty Nine Violets with special acoustic sounds from Martin Clappison By Michelle Dee
	Hey everybody huge thanks and Merry Christmas to everyone who came to our gig last night and a bigger one if you happened to buy a teeshirt, CD or car-sticker. The turnout was good with a healthy mixed crowd of young fans and older heads, each one getting into the groove in their own way. Everyone seemed to have a great time. Read more...

Music Reviews - From Sleepers To Yo-Yo In Three Bottles Of Red (dis-ably assisted by Cilla) By Michelle Dee
	It was only supposed to be a quick drink down Newland. At the most a glass or two until the sun set over the railway bridge turning the terracotta road a fiery orange; a pleasant fiction indeed. In reality it was turning a trifle cold and clouding over, there might even have been a few drops of spring rain dotting the pavement as we turned the corner of Ella Street. Read more...

Music News - Purple Worm Records in Hull By Michelle Dee
	For too long Hull has stood in the shadow of other cities when it comes to getting our voice heard above the throng and clamour of other Northern towns. Through continuous Hull-bashing from the media we are overlooked, ignored and discounted as serious contenders, but the bands in the other cities are no better than ours. Read more...

Music News - Cross Genre Genius By Michelle Dee
	In a bare front room off Spring Bank, vibrant faces from places party in the dawning light. DJs from out of town and local have been spinning the plastic close to twelve hours. Among all those different styles, genres and personalities one two hour set stood out for me, shouting let me be heard. Dave has been spinning and mixing tunes for near Read more...

News - Thursday 30th March 06 - Hull Soundwalks Launch Event By Michelle Dee.
	On Thursday morning representatives from various community groups in Hull gathered at Arc, (Humber Centre for Excellence in the Built Environment) on Blanket Row. If you are not aware of this new construction, have a look across the main road almost opposite the King Billy statue in the old town. There you will see a wedge shaped building Read more...

News, Charity - Martin Hall Hiking To Help By Michelle Dee
	Nineteen year old Martin Hall from Hull is to climb Mt Snowdon this June to raise money for Cancer Research. The very active Martin (ex Kelvin Hall and Wyke College student) is now studying English and Film Studies at Hull University and in his spare time likes to get out in the country and walk for miles. Martin has set himself the challenge of climbing Read more...

News, Environment - Going Green at The Lawns In Cottingham By Michelle Dee
	When Gail Lewis, Esther Ratcliff and Erica Stephenson formed a committee during Freshers Week October 06, the three enterprising women took on the enormous task of changing the way today's students think. After seeing U.S. Universities' energy saving initiatives, Gail (4th year American Studies), Esther 4th year (English and Spanish) Read more...

Music Reviews, Galleries - Live Music - Friday 2nd February 07 - 59 Violets and Val Marshall at Barracuda Live Sessions By Michelle Dee
	Sometimes we get photos without a review but they are just too good to miss out on publishing so checkout this photo gallery of 59 Violets and Val Marshall Friday 2nd February 07 - at Barracuda Live Sessions By Michelle Dee Read more...

Music Reviews - 7th February 07 - Air Traffic and Snow Fight In The City Centre at The Lamp By Michelle Dee Photographs by Julia Grant
	It's cold, wet and windy there's sharks on the TV but there's two new bands at The Lamp in Hull. Sadly Ghosts cancelled last minute so that leaves us with the shimmering Indie sounds of Manchester's Snowfight In The City Centre and headliners Air Traffic, the piano soaked Indie band it's okay to like. The former a six piece from Manchester Read more...

Music News - Poles...Apart on All FM Week 4 By Michelle Dee
	After rushing from work like a loon I sit down Thursday (Feb 8th) to listen to Poles Apart on All Fm 96.9 www.allfm.org . Seconds later me and the rest of the listeners all jump out of chairs, spilling their drinks, with wild eyed panicked looks. Why all this commotion you ask? Well for a moment us listeners glued to laptops and radios all over the Read more...

Poetry - The Next Buzz By Michelle Dee
	I turn the corner there's a queue going right down the street. The occasional shriek as excited young girls, dream of men they might meet. My feet make no sound as I pass around people standing. Striding for the door I .. Read more...

Poetry - When Indie Rock and Metal Collide (Or the goose that laid the golden egg) By Michelle Dee
	Tables moved out of the way as GST play "Class A" Front man Dave wants his band's free beer, He'll get it later have no fear. The kids get a taste of the microphone Bellowing out "all that you know" Standing on speakers wearing Ray Ribeiro's cap Not cap in hand, they couldn't Read more...

Poetry - It's Good To Be Different By Michelle Dee
	It's good to be different, To stand out in a crowd It's okay to wear black And play music too loud It's fine to be boho Put beads in your hair Read more...

Album Reviews - There are Angels by Rivers By Michelle Dee
	Just seen Rivers (formerly The Rivers) opening this Tuesdays the Sesh at Linnet and Lark in Hull. First thing I notice is that each and every member bears a resemblance to somebody from our own crowd. Lead singer Jack Simpson reminds me of Begbie ex- Dirty Dreamers manager. The bass player, aptly enough, has a definite look Read more...

Music News - Poles ... Apart On All FM 96.9 By Michelle Dee
	As I predicted the Mog and Paul Heaton show Thursday nights on www.allfm.org had a name change from Move The Chair to The WHAT? to, Poles..Apart for this weeks edition - 1st Feb. The name change was inspired by the news that persons from Poland will be filling the Thursday night 7pm - 9pm slot at the end of the Read more...

Music Reviews - Saturday 17th February 07 - Five O'Clock Heroes at Yo-Yo, Hull By Michelle Dee Photographs by Julia Grant
	It is just before midnight. Upstairs in the Welly Club on a Saturday night, the crowd is buzzing with anticipation for the return of the Five O'Clock Heroes. New DJ Kristian has been warming the crowd up with some Sunshine Underground and Larrikin Love. The crowd moves forward en masse as the band takes to the stage. Lead singer Anthony Ellis, Read more...

Music News - Move The Chair To The WHAT? On All FM By Michelle Dee
	The radio show that Mog and Paul Heaton present on Manchester based community radio station All FM 96.9 has now got a name. As of last Thursday the popular music show will be known as, Move The Chair To The WHAT? The explanation for this title is better heard than written down so I'll leave it to Paul to explain from whence it came. Although, Read more...

Music News - Paul Heaton Co-Presenter For New Music Show On All FM By Michelle Dee
	It is well known that Paul Heaton (once resident in Hull) moved across the Pennines to Manchester. He and his band The Beautiful South have just returned to the U.K. after touring the U.S. promoting latest album Superbi. On his return he began working alongside friend Mog, a radio presenter with community radio station All fm. Read more...

Music Reviews - Thursday December 14th 06 - The Dirty Dreamers, The Johnsons and The Blueprints at New Adelphi Club By Michelle Dee and Rachel
	The unique scent and sounds of the Adelphi beckoned us for a hot date with The Dirty Dreamers and The Johnsons. When we arrived at the club openers The Blueprints had just started; hurrying in and after purchasing drinks we made our way down the front. First impressions of the out of town act from York were good. They seemed Read more...

Fiction - 100 Words Competition - Shipwreck By Michelle Dee

	I sat on a shipwreck, the proud bow pointing at the river slowly drifting by. Most of the ship had rotted away long since. I sat there wondering what lay ahead, what life had in store. The afternoon sun warmed the wood, until hot to touch. I sat longer. The water lapped against the vanishing timbers. I sat until the sun dipped the water; waves turned gold, the air turned cold. Read more...

Music Reviews - Friday 1st December 06 - Neville Staple with The Talks at The Welly Club By Michelle Dee Photographs by Kate Langan
	Over the last few months Hull band, The Talks have been making a name for themselves throughout the country. Now already in 2007 they have bookings from January to May. Tonight was my chance to see them on a big stage having previously only caught them at The Lamp and their summer debut at The Sesh, both being smaller venues. Read more...

Music Reviews - Sunday 3rd December 06 - Sounds of the City featuring Signe Tollefsen and Ade Webb at the Lamp Hull By Michelle Dee
	I'd been excited, ever since I heard that the acclaimed Dutch solo artist Signe Tollefsen was to return to play Hull. Fighting against the wind on a very blustery Sunday evening Jane and I welcomed the chance to sit down at one of the candlelit tables inside The Lamp. We bought a pleasing light Ale that went by the name of Clarks and listened to DJ Freeman Read more...

Saturday 21st October 06 - Razorlight, The Like and Boy Least Likely To at Hull Ice Arena By Michelle Dee
	Strangely he wasn't getting mobbed by screaming fans which I would have expected from all the publicity and hype surrounding the band. I glanced over to him he looked back, nothing was said, it was good. Inside the packed out arena after what seemed like an inordinately long wait, the first of the special guest's came on to fire everyone up. Read more...

Album Reviews - Liv Kristine Enter My Religion on (Road Runner Records) By Michelle Dee
	Since receiving this disc from www.manillapr.com it has lain on my desk at home on top of the ever growing pile of demos and promos. I have played it on a number of times in order to absorb what she and her music are about. I came up with synth led moody pop intermittently good. The first track Over the Moon was catchy enough for Read more...

Album Reviews - CrackTown - There Must And Shall Be Midgets (an appraisal) By Michelle Dee
	A consumer of CrackTown am I, with songs irrepressible and wry. You would be mistaken, for the thought they'd forsaken, here's the second album we cry. Music to bring you out of your gloom, an antidote by the shovel not a spoon. They might well be misfits, there must and shall be midgets, hark the piper, calls a different tune. When CrackTown recorded their first Read more...

Music, Band News- New Guitarist For The Johnsons By Michelle Dee
	Hull band, The Johnsons have parted company with Jon Paul guitarist for the last year. However in order to take advantage of the special buzz around the band at the moment they have very quickly brought in a Leeds based musician called Ben. Ben used to play bass with Room 3 around Blackburn, and also managed (for a few months) a Darwin band Read more...