For anyone who saw our 2011 shows in Liverpool, you know what a struggle they were. I began that tour with a cold that had turned into a crippling laryngitis. No voice. We’d traveled some 6,000 miles, and I could not sing. We muddled through, and after a couple of shows, (only one would I classify as ‘terrible’ [laughs]) we got back on track.

Cousins Terri and Wendy grabbing a 'selfie' as we tuned up for our first show of the tour on the Cavern's classic "Front Stage"

All this to say, these shows were a triumph and a payback for the metaphorical blood we’d spilled on the Cavern stage in ’11. It was also a great way to kick off the tour; both Ron “Doc” Morse  and Barbara Anderson-Jones, relative new-comers to the band, really stepped up and gave the rest of us a run for our money. It felt so good to connect with these great crowds. We were elated and thankful.

Our second show of the day. This time on the Cavern Club's "Back Stage"

Two shows that day at the Cavern: the first one in that classic looks-like-a-wine-cellar “Front Stage”, and the second in the larger, more-equipped “Back Stage”. In between, we enjoyed a magnificent performance from The Fast Camels a band  out of Glasgow, Scotland (psychedelic, progressive, garage-rock-heavy).

The Fast Camels from Scotland

members of the Fast Camels cheer us on

Later that night I even came back to the Cavern to see the Lannie Flowers Band out of Texas. They’ve been good friends of ours for a couple of years now—shared stages with them in L.A., S.F., and Fresno. Great folks. Great and rockin’ band.

Lannie Flowers Band

This review from Liverpool Sight and Sound, and the two private blogs I’ve re-posted below were a great encouragement to us on the road.
It made it feel that it was worthwhile to have dragged my friends, who spent their time and money [and often had to do some heavy convincing of the folks at their 'day jobs'], 5,000 miles to go on this big, crazy tour.
Thank you to Liverpool Sight and Sound,  Minty and the Beeb, and Sister Bluebird for the kind words!

from Liverpool Sight and Sound :

Blake Jones & The Trike Shop, Gig Review. International Pop Overthrow 2015. The Cavern, Liverpool.

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

The title of Lords of the back stage at The Cavern of this year’s International Pop Overthrow might be fought over with the same ferocity as men would have squabbled, bickered and fought over the throne of England in the days when such things mattered, arguably though one of the main contenders would surely be the inventive and insanely talented Blake Jones & The Trike Shop.

Certainly the best name of a band to feature at the 13^th annual I.P.O. in Liverpool, the music is strangely addictive also, a smorgasbord of delight that lingers in the ether and in the mind long after the day has folded into history; the day may never be captured again but the freshness of the music on offer by this terrific group will somehow remain floating in the memory ether.

The spectre and ghostly shape of a Theremin cast its long shadow over the stage and to some may have looked like a dusty relic more attuned to the sound of the Progressive than the sounds of California power pop but the audience were soon to be enamoured by this musical nectar, an instrument that always seems to be in the hands of Heath Robinson when not played with concentration and skill.

With songs titles such as Even Van Helsing (Needs a Piece of Cake Every Now & Then), Ross Used to Play Us His Frank Zappa Records/Cold Pepsi and Crutouns and Every Train Stop and lively, almost as surreal as could be expected, version of The Beatles song I am the Walrus, the set was one of tremendous, energetic and animated pleasure. It offered everything in search of a smile and the added bonus of Maxi Dunn joining the band for a while on stage did much to make the smile broad and the cheering from fellow I.P.O. stable mates The Fast Camels only ensured that this really was a gig to remember.

Some sets are memorable for the songs, some for the display and others for what you learn about your hopefully increasing range of music compatibility, rarely do you get an afternoon in which all three are combined and delivered with such overwhelming heart. A terrific set by one of the quirkiest, supremely enjoyable acts of this year’s I.P.O.

Blake Jones & The Trike Shop will be performing at Zanzibar on Friday 22^nd May.

Ian D. Hall

on the larger "Back Stage" of the Cavern Club

from the blog: “Minty and the Beeb”

and from the blog: “Sister Bluebird”

thank you Sister Bluebird for this pic of the band on the 'front stage'

with David Summers our long and true pal

On our previous two trips to Liverpool, our pal David Summers of Lancaster, UK had given us a walking tour of Liverpool,
and now, of course, it’s a tradition that must be upheld! We started of in the early-morning-almost-drizzle, up through the Dingle, the Empress Pub, Ringo’s two nearby childhood homes, up through Toxteth, over to the Anglican cathedral, then up Hope St.: The Liverpool Institute (where Paul & George went to school), next door Liverpool Art College (where John went to school), further up the street to Ye Cracke (student hang-out/pub), further on to the Philharmonic Pub (much fancier, had a nice lunch, and once again ran into our Texan friends from the Lannie Flowers band), and then to the Catholic Cathedral. At this point we parted ways. David had to get back to his Lancaster Life, Lauri and I wanted to walk around the city center a bit, Ron & John went looking for a guitar case, and Neptune and Barbara headed back for the peace of the Pineapple.

it started off drizzling but happy

in front of the Empress in the Dingle

y'know, if yer cute...you get first turn...

I do not know why I find this amazingly comedic....maybe you can explain....inside the most wondrous, gigantic Anglican Cathedral....

We spent some time speaking to Russ in “Vinyl …Revival”? “Vinyl Revolution”?…He liked that I knew something of the mod-revival bands and ska groups –they had a single by “Squire” which I remember we played with in London on our last tour.

Our show tonight was at “The Thirsty Scholar”. There were a lot of unanswered questions: “Would there be a drum set?” was one of the largest in our minds–right behind “Guitar amps?”….Luckily, like all things on this tour it seemed, everything was more than alright.
Thanks to Tuesday Tony—the host of what *usually* is an open mic night [Tuesdays at this particular place], thanks to the bands playing with us for letting us use their gear–shout out to local hard-rockers The Hidden!!, and thanks to Neptune for doing all the cross-continental communication that made this gig (and the one on the next night) possible. BIG thanks.

The Thirsty Scholar was a club underneath a bridge. Had to think of Billy Goats Gruff..trip trap trip trap…

It was a time to meet up with friends. Awesome to see Andrew Hickey! Awesome to see Lucy Moon!

Lucy Moon was a great pal to us all (and even helped guide us under the bridge to this venue). And it was wonderful over the next two days/gigs to hang out with/converse with Andrew, one of our longest-running UK supporters. This man does everything from write well-thought-out editorials about the Beach Boys and their current touring bands, to run for local office. Dang, if he was running in California, I’d have to put my every-ounce-o’-strength into making him one of my representatives. Plus, he writes some good books. Buy ‘em here! click click.

Earl's Court...isn't that the name of a famous Led Zeppelin bootleg?

Most of us were pretty wiped out by now, in need of a little rest. We’d just played last night and finished a first week of travel and 5 shows so far. Plus, being away from home in exciting new surroundings, we were definitely not leading a temperate life-style full of healthful rest. Lauri and I, being amongst the most stubborn and willful creatures, still heeded the crazy voice in our heads “You’re in London. It’s not *that* late. You should go bop around!”–so we did. We saw that St. James Park, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Cathedral….all that stuff was just a tube station or two away. We set off.

Lauri knocked, but when they saw who was at the door, they decided to pretend they weren't at home.

One of the Hounds of the Baskervilles, but this one seems a bit more like a Scooby Doo

Lauri, John, Ron, and I started our day by getting to 221B Baker Street–home of the illustrious Sherlock Holmes. There is, of course, a museum, and a nice one, all set up as a reproduction of his living quarters with a sort of trophy room of his adventures at the very top.

Next, we headed down the street a few steps and entered Regents Park. Fantastic, these lovely parks in the middle of the city.

Then, a cab ride over to the Natural History Museum:

Next, Lauri took off to some likely shopping areas, while John, Ron, and I continued on our rock n’ roll pilgrim’s road; we were off for Golder’s Green, a likely bus stop connection to Muswell Hill, the area where the Davie’s brothers grew up and The Kinks came to be.

So, of course we ask all around for the “Archway Tavern” [where cover for the Kinks' "Muswell Hillbillies" was shot]. A couple people knew where it was…but it’s not in ‘Muswell Hill’, it’s down the bottom of the hill by the “Archway” tube station…. and, it turns out that it’s closed for renovation. Oh well, we still needed a picture.

Keeping with The Kinks' theme: a sign we kept seeing in the London underground.

and of course, the most important life-lesson to be found on a London sign: