Nº 4: Wedgley Snipes
The founder of South London Review of Hand Dryers talks the Boots reduced section, career predictions for his favourite musician, his guide to self-publishing, and much more.
Our fourth guest, the distinguished Wedgley Snipes, has landed. Read on to find out what he’s into, and if you’re new here, hit subscribe for secret recommendations every Monday and Wednesday.
Howdy. I’m Wedgley Snipes and as far back as I can remember I always wanted to disappoint my parents. That’s why moved to London, got a job in a café and began producing zines in my spare time. Super Wedge Press is the name, hand dryers/street photography is the game. Go and buy my collaborative humour zine South London Review of Hand Dryers! Go and buy the latest edition of my street photography zine series! Don’t go to that thing, go to that other thing! It’s no surprise that when gals at GStS heard me shouting those things on the street they said “hey friend, why don’t you shut the fuck down for a minute and put that energy into our newsletter instead” Charming – how could I say no?
☞ THE OXYMORON AT THE ROYAL OAK PUB: Classic case of ‘you wouldn’t know it was there unless you read about it in a newsletter’. I’ve been barred twice and hosted a zine launch party in between. Not that the landlord ever remembers me. He once lit a cigarette for me using a blowtorch (wait for it) inside the pub. I defy anyone to leave this boozer without a semi-decent anecdote. twitter.com/oxymoronse
☞ BOOTS REDUCED SECTION: Boots what are you playing at lads. £1 for a three teared chicken combo sandwich? 50p for snack sized sushi. Hold up, 50p for a MAINS sized sushi. Boots, mate, it’s only 11am – why are you already whacking reduced stickers on everything? I type as if I’m concerned, but I’m really not. Either I stop being poor or the manic reduction of meal deal items continues. There is no alternative.
☞ FISH ISLAND: Where the streets are literally named after fish. With sexless new builds going up all around the place it’s safe/sad to say this area of East London is slated to loose it’s anarchic spirit. Which is a shame, as I live there. I’d recommend getting yourself into one of the many warehouse parties/jams before it’s too late. Tell ‘em Wedgley sent ya’. google.com/maps
☞ SWEETINGS: Stole this one from Anthony Bourdain (RIP), the Don Dada of recommendations. Sweetings Fish Bar is (besides, like, a totes adorable name) a genuine institution/madhouse. I’d recommend getting there when they open at 11:30am. Order smoked eel + welsh rarebit and wait for the City Boys to come roaring in. Last time I was there I saw a particularly loud Gilet order 10 pints of Black Velvet (Guinness + champagne), which came served in a bucket. Who’s says money can’t buy you taste? sweetingsrestaurant.com
☞ SELF PUBLISH BE OKAY WITH THAT: Are people too afraid to publish your work? Do the cultural gatekeepers refuse to leave the key under the mat? No bother, as self-publishing is always an option (often, the best option). Here are some resources for taking printed matters into your own hands:
☞ MY STRUGGLE: If you’ve got a spare 365 days, I’d heartily recommend the entirety of Karl Ove Knausgaard’s My Struggle series. Zadie Smith put it best when she likened the experience of reading the book to ‘having memories downloaded into your brain.’ As such, I possess a more than vague feeling of having grown up in rural Norway, leaving my wife, moving to Sweden, and being the most addicted to smoking that anyone has ever, ever, ever been.
☞ STREATHAM SOUL CLUB AT THE WHITE LION: Big old pub with an unbelievably loud sound system. Like, unbelievably loud sound system. Lovers rock, rare groove and soul (duh) draw a loyal crowd that’s older than you’re probably used to. Bit of a sweatbox though, so leave any sheepskin coats at home.
☞ PREDICTION: Pitbull, AKA MR Worldwide, will have a major stylistic resurgence/career revival that includes a musical rebirth à la nu-disco era Kylie AND a scene stealing performance in some Oscar bait.
☞ SEAN GUNBY: Who is Sean Gunby? Is he prolific youtuber? Window cleaner? Stockbroker? Profane interviewer? He’s all these things and more. I came across his workout videos during lockdown and became openly obsessed. He basically does on the spot interviews with people in these outdoor gyms around America. He asks the same 10 or so questions but gets such a range of insightful answers that touch on diet, money, race, philosophy and the incarnation system in America. Given the sheer volume he uploads the vids are pretty hit and miss. Still, required viewing.
☞ DID YOU KNOW: That when they hang wine glasses up behind the bar that the glasses are actually asleep? That’s right – wine glasses sleep upside down, just like bats.
☞ LISTENING TO: Computer Game, George Clinton. You’d be wrong if you thought this song had anything to do with computers (or games for that matter). I’m not sure George Clinton had ever even used a computer before he wrote a song/concept album dedicated to them. He puts on a spooky Dracula voice at the beginning and lists looney toons characters at the end. Required listening.
☠︎ HATES: People who work too hard, people that don’t work hard enough, the overly earnest.
See you Monday, when our next guest will be revealing their secrets. ☞