Shindig! Issue 151

Howdy Shindiggers,

Now that we’ve reached 151 issues, you’re going to have to wait another 49 until our next major celebration. I do hope you enjoyed the stories, memories and back slapping.

This time around, we’re back on terra firma. We called on Nederbiet obsessive and Ugly Things founder and editor Mike Stax to write about The Hague’s dirtiest ’60s rebels Q65, Martin Ruddock considers the impact of Gene Clark’s costly 50-year-old classic No Other, Andy Lewis charts the rise and fall of London’s biggest ’90s mod hopefuls The Clique, and I pose 20 questions to the truly unique Labi Siffre. Elsewhere, American pop maverick Kelley Stoltz, progressive folk-rock hopefuls Wally, mixed-race pop sensations Blue Mink, and the moody psychedelic textures of La Luz round things out.

I think one thing that 150 issues has taught me is not to underestimate your audience. Shindiggers like many different things, and it’s our job to cover it all. From our veteran readers, who hobbled around London in stack heels, seeing all of the “head” bands; the next generation, brought up on punk, who then looked back to the previous decade; and subsequent eras of music obsessives who have traversed indie music, the garage and subsequent revival(s) to readers under the age of 30, whose musical experiences and discoveries have been informed by the easy accessibility of the digital age – have I left anyone out? – we are here to serve you all. I’ll say it again, Shindig! should be viewed as your favourite record shop with that cool owner who suggests “If you like that, you should check this out.” As those shopkeepers do, we’re learning more each day and discovering new finds, picking up exciting rumours, and trying to break the odd boundary. Let’s do it!

Yours,

Jon ‘Mojo’ Mills

Editor-In-Chief