World of no...

Lucky Soul - Camden Color Bar

2006-04-10T03:59:00.000-07:00

Managed to catch London band - Lucky Soul for the third time this year at the Color Bar in Camden.
I first discoverd the London based 5 piece while browsing a gig listing last year.There was a link to their My space page so I checked out their tunes.
I was impressed with the 60's glittery pop aspect of the bands music,hearing comparisons to Blondie and Saint Etienne amongst others.

I ended up not watching the show in question but still kept track of what the band were up to,catching my debut LS performance in a clothes shop on Carnaby Street where the band played an instore to celebrate the release of their debut single "My brittle heart".
The single received great reviews,including making "Single of the week" in UK broadsheet - The Guardian.Unfortunatly it slipped under the radar of the general public so the magic of Lucky Soul was lost to millions...
I watched the band play a short acoustic set a week or so ago so I was ready for another burst of female fronted pop last thursday.
The band were playing in a basement bar that seemd to fit their music nicely.
It was a great show with all the LS favourites being played.
Click on the link to check out their website

Lucky Soul

Here's one of their tracks to download....

Add your light to mine baby

Be your own pet - Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes

2006-04-09T11:02:00.000-07:00

US band Be your own pet played an intimate show last night at London's Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes.
The Nashville four piece brought chaos to the world of ten pin bowling as they performed a blistering set,comprised of tracks from their self titled debut album.
The stage was only about a foot high which created bedlam as the audience spilled on to it due to good natured moshing.
It was actually hard to see the band for the majority of their performance as audience members outnumbered them at least two to one onstage.
During the onstage chaos bass player Nathan's microphone landed on the floor and subsequently disappeared.This led to a break in the set as BYOP's front woman Jemina pleaded for it's return.Unfortunatly it never showed up,casting a dark cloud on the preceedings.
The band's set was quickly over but they returned for a triumphant version of their single "Damn damn leash"
Be your own pet are a "Must see" live act as their onstage energy knocks you for six.Jemina is a human whirlwind and rarely stops for breath.
The band are playing again in London at the ULU on the 21st of April which I'll hopefully attend.

Magic Numbers - Star Hill Charlottesville MP3's

2006-03-24T09:27:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to my poorly updated blog!
Took a trip to SXSW in Austin Texas last week,stopping off in Fort Worth to see two of my favourite bands - Dr Dog and The Magic Numbers supporting the shite that is Clap your hands say yeah.
It was my first visit to Fort Worth and the people there were incredibly friendly.
The venue opened about an hour later than advertised so people mingled outside talking about the bands on the bill.
I had persuaded a few locals that they were going to enjoy The Numbers and they didn't let me down.
Romeo had a few mic problems but otherwise it was a great set.
The Numbers played to a couple of thousand people at their last London show so it was interesting seeing them play to a small audience again with only a handful of people knowing the songs.
I ran into a few new converts after the show on their way to buy Numbers T shirts so the band won at least some of their audience over!
I came across a recording today of the bands show from tuesday night online.
It sounds like a great evening,with a lot of new numbers being played and a new opener in the shape of "Try".
You can listen to it here

Sugababes cover Hard Fi

2006-03-09T06:48:00.000-08:00

Still on the promotional trail,The Sugababes popped in to the Radio 1 studios for an appearance on the Jo Whiley show.
They played an acoustic version of their new single and as a special treat a cover of Hard Fi's "Living for the weekend" which you can download here

Sugababes - HMV London

2006-03-08T03:37:00.000-08:00

Fans of the UK pop band Sugababes were shocked last year by the departure of founder member Mutya Buena.
Mutya left to "look after her child" and was replaced by new member Amelle Berrabah.
Various magazines and online sites viewed the move as a sign that that band were finished,even though they succesfully replaced a band member after their first album.
Sugagbabes latest album "Taller in more ways" has just been re-released with several of the songs now featuring Amelle's vocals instead of Mutya.

The three girls have recently hit the road for a series of promotional appearances including the short acoustic set I watched them perform at the HMV store on London's Oxford Street last monday.
Keisha,Heidi and Amelle were joined by a guitarist and percussion player and ran through several of their hits "Including "Freak like me","Hole in the head","Push the button" and their new single "Red dress".

Starting the set with "Freak..." was a bold move as Amelle sung the first few lines.I was pleasantly suprised as she sounded great and the girls worked really well as a unit.
I enjoyed the set so much that I'm now trying to pick up cheap tickets on ebay for their forthcoming London date.
Here's a low quality mp3 of "Freak".It cuts out just before the end of the song but it's worth a listen to hear how the new line up sounds.

Freak

Fancy the new Morrissey album?

2006-03-08T03:34:00.000-08:00

well do you ???

Tilly and the wall

2006-03-05T02:12:00.000-08:00

I'm finally back after a long time!
I've either been too busy or too lazy to post anything.I've just updated my photo website though so anyone interested can see what I've been doing.
Browse away here.
One of the bands I've seen lately are Tilly and the wall from the US.
The band came across to the UK to play six London shows in fairly intimate venues.
Their debut full length album "Wild like children" has been out Stateside since 2004 but was only released over here a couple of weeks ago.

I downloaded "Wild.." a couple of months ago so I was eagerly awaiting the bands trip to our shores.Catching the video for their single "Reckless" on MTV 2 wetted my appetite even more as it showed Tilly in all their tap dancing glory!
You see,Tilly's set up is slightly different to your average band.Rather than having a drummer one of the female band members tap dances the rhythms with the other two girls in the band helping out with a few stomps every so often!

I'm sure it reads as a "Wacky" nightmare but it works a treat.I loved the band live so much that I watched them four times in London,cancelling trips up North for Magic Numbers shows that I had already forked out cash for tickets and travel.If you've read this blog for a while you would know of my love for the Numbers so it was a big sacrifice.(I have seen them four times already this year mind you!)
The fabulous five didn't disappoint on each date with audiences loving each set.
Their was certainly a "buzz" around London about the band and their last show at Camden Barfly brought the house down.
The bands onstage enjoyment is so infectious that you can't help having a good time.
I chatted briefly to members of the band and they all came across as really nice people,who were more than amazed at the reaction their shows were getting.
I bought "Wild" on the day it was released over here and am now looking forward to the US release of their new album in May which is a "Must buy" on import for me.
Here's the track Nights of the living dead from "Wild" so you can hear what all the fuss is about!
This was the number that the band usually closd their set with.

Lovebites - Islington Bar Academy

2006-02-08T20:24:00.000-08:00

My pop side got the better of me last month and dragged me down to see top twenty female teen punkers Lovebites at Bar Academy in Islington.
Bar Academy's a fairly small venue so it was fairly packed with what seemed to be mostly the girls Mums and Dads and extended family.
I really liked Lovebites first single and raved about it here so I was interested in whether the girls could cut it live.
They walked on stage at the very early time of 8.30pm and proceeded to impress.I picked up an album sampler last year so I knew four of the tracks.
In addition they covered The Primitives "Crash" so that was something else to sing along to!
I was out of the venue by 9.15 so it was a fairly short but enjoyable set.
I'm sure Lovebites wont change the face of music but they certainly brought a smile to my face.

Here's a track from the Girl's forthcoming album Dancing with The Lovebites

XFM Exposure - Camden Barfly

2006-01-31T01:54:00.000-08:00

Two Saturdays ago I spent several hours at possibly my favourite venue - Camden Barfly watching numerous up and coming bands play as part of London radio station XFM's "Exposure" sessions.
The event was being filmed for their website and recorded for future broadcast.
Bands playing included The Young Knives,Jamie T,Pure Reason Revolution,The Long Blondes,65 Days Of Static,The Pistolas,Larrikin Love andThe Holloways.
The stand out band for me on the day were The Long Blondes.I've been listening to their singles for a while now so was keen to see them live.They remind me of several post punk bands including The Au Pairs and Girls at their best.They also sound like they have a tiny bit of Sleeper in them at times..
Hitting the stage at around 6pm they certainly perked me up after a couple of fairly average indie bands.The group had a bit of trouble with over excited teens crowd surfing and invading the stage due to a lack of security but a threat of the band leaving the stage calmed the excitement down a bit.
I'm watching the band again fairly soon so it should be a good night.

The next band that I enjoyed on the bill were Pure Reason Revolution who were fairly dance based....

Jamie T confused me!
A one man bass playing Arctic Monkeys.Hs songs had the audience going wild,singing along and shrieking.I felt I was missing something but I'm not that bothered in finding out what it is!

The Young Knives were very enjoyable,although fairly similiar to many an indie act treading the boards at the moment.They had a good image though and reminded me of a 60's variety show featuring Ken Dodd and Ronnie Barker looks wise.

The Mystery Jets headlined the evening,prompting me to leave after a couple of songs are I really disliked everything they did.

Still a great way to spend a saturday though...

Jacqueline Taïeb - 7am

2006-01-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

Heard a great female fronted trashy track from 60's French songstress Jacqueline Taieb yesterday on the "Freak Zone" on BBC six music yesterday.
"7am" had me charging to my computer,searching soulseek for any of her material.
Jacqueline's albums are fairly hard to get in the UK though I spotted one on the French version of Amazon.Managed to grab two albums from Soulseek though so I was happy.

7 am

Arctic Monkeys cover Girls Aloud!

2006-01-19T10:55:00.000-08:00

Hottest band on the planet - The Arctic Monkeys popped into the radio 1 studios today to play a couple of tracks.
They paid tribute to the UK's finest girl group - Girls Aloud by covering one of their recent hits "Love machine".
I was a bit wary of the Monkeys due to the hype surrounding them.I wasn't a fan of their "Dancefloor" single either.I've changed my mind a bit recently though as I've had their album for a couple of weeks and it's certainly growing on me.
I'm sure I'll catch them live somewhere during festival season...

Love machine

Editors - KCRW session

2006-01-18T03:29:00.000-08:00

Excellent US radio station KCRW came up trumps again booking UK band Editors for one of their acclaimed sessions.
If you've read this blog before I'm sure you'll know that I've seen Editors several times.I'm not certain if I'll see them at their forthcoming London show in the next few weeks as I've got a lot on.If not I'll catch them at their just announced Brixton show in May.
Here's the session anyway...

KCRW session

KT Tunstall - Liverpool MP3's

2006-01-15T11:41:00.000-08:00

After her stripped down gig on thursday evening wee Scots rocker KT Tunstall got things back to normal by playing a full band show in Liverpool last night.
The set list was as follows...

Other Side Of The World
Miniature Disasters
Under The Weather
Another Place To Fall
Universe & U
Girl & The Ghost
Black Horse & The Cherry Tree
Silent Sea
The Golden Age (Beck cover)
Dirty Water
False Alarm
Heal Over
Stoppin' The Love
Suddenly I See
One Day
Through The Dark

Thanks to Neil from the KT forums for the original upload of the mp3's which you can get here

KT Tunstall and The Magic Numbers

2006-01-13T10:41:00.000-08:00

KT Tunstall and The Magic Numbers - Not an ELP type supergroup but the two acts I had the privilege of seeing last night...

I saw the Magic Numbers playing live about 20 times in the second half of last year.I'd known they were playing a fairly intimate show to approximately 500 people at the Islington Academy as part of the "Carling New Kings" bill which also featured headliner Graham Coxon and opener - "Urban" act Kano,for a while so I was very keen to attend.
Admisssion to this exclusive show was gained by winning tickets from a variety of online competitions.
The first competition I entered was on Carling's site.You had to write in no more than 100 words why you thought the band you wanted to see should be crowned kings.I mailed them a pitiful poem which they didn't seem to realise was tounge in cheek.
I have no shame so I will reprint it here...

The Magic Numbers should be kings
For many reasons,all sort of things,
Michelles great smile,bass playing with her thumb
Sean's fine pounding on his bass drum
Romeo's guitar playing rocking out at all cost
And Angela's 'triffic backing on their hit "Forever lost"!

Sadly it didn't do the trick so I was still ticketless.I entered several other competitions,even signing up to Kano and Coxon's sites in the pathetic hope of winning!!
The day before the show I had given up seeing the band.My mood was brightened when I found out that wee Scot's rocker - KT Tunstall was playing a "secret" charity show in the just as intimate Underworld in Camden.The Underworld usually hosts shows by Punk,metal and ska bands and goth groups many years past their sell by date.
The last two shows I caught at the Underworld were reformed punk band Penetration and late 80's indie metal goths (back for the first time in 12 years!) Claytown Troupe.As the next band I may see there are 80's psychobilly's King Kurt next month you can imagine the rest of the bands that frequent the Underworlds stage!
I was obviously suprised that the wee Scot's rocker was gracing the Underworld with her presence but I was more than happy that she was as it would make up for missing the Numbers.

When yesterday dawned I was still itching to go to Islington even though I had a ticket for KT so I decided I would check out what was happening on the off chance I managed to gain entrance.
I hung about near the venue for a while around about 7pm,conscious of the fact that I would have to get to Camden to see KT or sell my ticket.I knew the Numbers were on at 9 but I had been given conflicting stage times for KT when I called the Underworld a couple of times (8pm and 9pm).
There were no people around with spare tickets so I bit the bullet and approached one of the main touts who was lurking in the vicinity.
He wanted £50 for a wristband,which was the means of entrance.I told him I would only pay £30 as that was all I thought the gig was worth.The numbers were only playing for 30 minutes so I didn't want to pay more.
£30 may seem a lot to some but the Numbers are playing huge venues on their tour next month so the chance of seeing them in a intimate setting is a rare occurrence now.
I explained to the tout that I'd have to go to Camden to sell my KT ticket so I'd be back with the money in about 20 minutes,which wasn't a problem.
I arrived in Camden at about 7.40pm.Doors were meant to open at 7 but no one was going in as yet.I found out about the KT show via an email from her website.There was no external advertising for the event so everyone there had tickets.
It was so bloody secret no one else knew about it!
After about 20 minutes I decided to give up.I asked one of the Underworld staff what time she was on and he told me she wouldn't be playing untill 10pm.
this was a result as with any luck I'd be able to watch both acts...

Back in Islington I approached the tout who now told me he wanted £50 again!
I told him no chance as it wasn't worth it.If he didn't want my money I'd go back and watch KT.He said he'd try and sort it out.Other touts were still telling me it was £50 or nothing but after about 5 minutes the guy I was dealing with sorted me out for £30.
I was in!
An additional piece of good news was the fact that on entrance you were given a card that got you a free pint of Carling Beer so that was £3 saved...

I got my pint and said hello to a few people I knew from previous Numbers shows.The band were due on soon so I looked around for a place to stand.The place was heaving but I managed to find a spot in the second row,right in the middle that was free.Looked like I'd be getting value for money.
The show was being filmed for UK TV station Channel 4 so presenter Edith Bowman filmed a couple of links before the Numbers took to the stage at about 8.50.
They were as good as I remembered them.Although the set was short they played all my favourites so I had a brilliant time and am looking forward to their forthcoming shows a lot more now.
I knew the show was getting filmed so I didn't take the camera I bought at the end of last year.I had my small one in my pocket though so managed to snap a few pictures without using the flash so I didn't piss anyone off.
The show was finished by 9.30 so I legged it out the venue and on to the tube in the hope of catching the wee Scots rockers set...

I got to the Underworld just before 10 and had time to get a drink and squeeze myself into a spot down the right hand side before she took to the stage.

KT was playing this set as a duo with her drummer boyfriend Luke backing her.Switching between acoustic and semi acoustic guitars,this combination really worked and could give the White Stripes cause to worry!
She's touring the States soon and this is the way she will be performing her songs
Her set was about 9 songs long and included a few suprises.
A new song "Ashes" sounded great with KT spitting out vitriolic lines,including the odd swear word or two.This will be appearing on her mini acoustic album,due out in a couple of months.

She brought a "special guest" on in the form of Donna from the band Amplifico who had played a few solo numbers as one of the support acts.The two girls sang their way through a cover of Beck's "Golden age".A few more numbers followed before the wee Scots rocker brought the rest of the band - Kenny Sam and Arnie on stage with her to help with vocals on B side "Dirty water".Unfortunatly there was only one microphone between the four of them so they had to sing in very close harmony...

The show was a great chance to see KT doing what she does best.Like the 'Numbers,the size of venues KT plays gets bigger each tour so I doubt I'll be lucky enough to see her performing as close up again.
I tried taking a few pictures but I was fairly far back,even after moving to a place in the middle half way through the set.I held up my camera as high as I could,closed my eyes and hoped for the best!
After a bit of zooming and cropping the results are slightly better than I expected though there is a lot of noise due to the amount of zooming.

I came across a great live recording of KT in Berlin on my online travels.
The set list is...

Another place to fall
Miniature disasters
Under the weather
Other side of the world
Black horse and the cherry tree
Universe and you
Stopping the love
Heal over
One day
Suddenly I see
I want you back

It's a radio recording and well worth listening to.
Get it Here

Magic Numbers - WXPN session

2006-01-11T10:04:00.000-08:00

UK band The Magic Numbers are playing a few select dates in the next few weeks.I'll be going along to at least three of the four shows but I'm unsure about one of them as there is a clash with a Go! Team show that I wouldn't mind seeing.
The Numbers are actually playing a fairly intimate London show tomorrow,however it's for competition winners only and I've been unlucky in that repect.
I'm meant to be seeing wee Scot's rocker and fellow Brits nominee - KT Tunstall play a "secret" show tomorrow night now anyway but I may pop along to see what's happening at the Numbers venue on the off chance of obtaining entrance...
The 'Numbers stormed the States towards the end of last year,recording a few radio sessions on the way.
Here's the set they did for Philadelphia station WXPN

WXPN session

Corinne Bailey Rae - KCRW session

2006-01-05T12:57:00.000-08:00

I raved a few weeks ago about the debut solo single from Leeds based singer Corinne Bailey Rae "Like a star".She's now travelled Stateside popping into the KCRW station to perform a live session.
You can listen to it here

We start fires - London Dublin Castle

2006-01-04T10:55:00.000-08:00

Got my 2006 gig going off to a start by heading down to Camden to watch rowdy pop punkers - We start fires play a headline show at the Dublin Castle.

Although I'd seen their name around last year my first exposure to the band was hearing their new single yesterday on the UK digital radio station - 6 music.I enjoyed what I heard and was itching to catch a live band so it was a no brainer...
There were three supports,each performing their own brand of awful,with two being noise for noise sakes,which didn't make pleasant listening.
The Dublin castle is an odd venue as it promotes a lot of small "out of town" bands who tend to bring friends and family along.This means that you can usually spot elderly Mums and Dads tapping their feet to hardcore punk or speed metal!
The atmosphere in the venue sometimes suffers from the "travelling fan" syndrome as it can be heaving for the second support band and near empty for the headliners.Luckily a sizeable audience stayed around for We start fires as they were celebrating the launch of their new single "Hot metal".The band played a good set,although it would have been more enjoyable if I knew their material.Hopefully I'll manage to grab their singles before the bands next London appearance.
I may be sounding old but the sound system at the Dublin Castle was far too loud so my ears were completely fucked this morning.I've problems with my right one anyway so this made things impossible!!
I'm even contemplating buying earplugs as I'm usually next to the left speaker for a lot of the smaller shows I attend.Sad but true!...

You can listen to snippets of four tracks from the band on their My space site

Bic Runga - Birds

2006-01-01T01:20:00.000-08:00

I ended 2005 on a musical high as I stumbled upon the fact that one of my favourite female singers - New Zealand's Bic Runga slipped an album entitled "Birds" out at the end of November without me realising!
In fairness to myself,it was only out in her native country as it's getting a more global release in a month or so.
I first came across Bic when I downloaded her second album "Beautiful collision".
It's a great collection of chilled tunes,including my favourite short song of all time "When I see you smile".
I've seen her live a few times.She's great but always comes across as a fairly fragile performer.
There are five tracks to listen to on Bic's website,this made me desperate to order the album,which I found on cd wow.
I was still itching to hear the whole thing though so I spent feverish hours before beginning my New Year celebrations,searching torrent sites and peer to peer programmes,eventually getting a result on soulseek!
The album was worth all the trouble and is certainly growing on me four plays later.Hopefully she'll be back in the UK this year playing some live dates to promote the album.
Here's a couple of tracks from "Birds"

Firstly the lead single in NZ,her tribute to world darts -

Winning arrow

"If I had you" has a bit of a 60's feel to it when it hits the chorus...

If I had you

A Christmas treat from A girl called Eddy...

2005-12-23T11:11:00.000-08:00

Here's a Christmas treat in the form of "The little boy that Santa Claus forgot" from A girl called Eddy.
Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous New Year
Update in 2006,if not before!...

The little boy that Santa Claus forgot

XFM Winter Wonderland,Nouvelle Vague,Guillemots and The Chalets!

2005-12-19T11:45:00.000-08:00

Had a fairly gig packed week recently starting with UK radio station - XFM's festive soire - Winter Wonderland over two days at Brixton Academy.
I was lucky to get tickets for this,especially the first show as it sold out in a couple of minutes as it featured the cream of new British indie bands.
Dead 60's were the first notable group on the bill.I had seen this ska influenced band supporting Morrisey last year and wasn't impressed.They were a wee bit better this time round though.

Editors were the band I had come to see and they didn't disappoint,looking completely at home on the Academy stage,a place I'm sure they will be headlining in 2006.
Maximo Park played a set comprising a run through of their album in the order it appears on the cd.It was a good set,full of energy but having the set list in that order meant they peaked too soon as their excellent singles feature in the first half of the record.

Staine's band Hard-Fi were on after Maximo.They didn't do much for me when I saw them at the Wireless Festival in the summer.They have a couple of good singles but spoil their set by playing a cringeworthy cover of The White Stripes "Seven nation army"
No change this time round either!
Kaiser Chiefs were the headline act for the evening.I had caught Ricky and the boys
playing on the NME stage at T in the park this year but this was a far more enjoyable experience,with the crowd going completely mental during every song.
Due to the number of bands playing,the show over ran by almost an hour,finishing at 12.30 but it was well worth it compared to the monday evening snoozefest that awaited me!!

I only bought a ticket for the monday due to the Go! Team playing.They were amazing but the rest of the evening was dull as dishwater as Athlete,Richard Ashcroft and Supergrass plodded through their hits so I'll swiftly move on...

I was looking forward to seeing Guillemots again at the Borderline last tuesday.What I didn't know was that I would be seeing another great band earlier in the day!
I'm registered with moblile phone company - T Mobile's "Street gigs" service.
Every so often they text you with the news that a popular band will be playing a "secret" show that day and you text back to get the details.Recent acts have included Magic Numbers,Editors and Hard Fi.
Tuesday's text announced the fact that French "Lounge punks" - Nouvelle Vague were playing a gig in a pub just off Brick Lane in London.
Nouvelle Vague have a variety of female singers who cover Punk and New Wave classics in a lounge style.Tracks from their debut actually appear on a couple of T Mobile commercials.
The other street gigs I've attended have been busy shows with the audience really up for the event but Nouvelle Vague only had about 50 - 60 people attending and it seemed a burden for most of the audience to leave the bar to watch the band!
As the service is text based I think there were fewer people as Nouvelle Vague appeal to an older audience,not so text crazy.
It was nice to see the band in an intimate setting as I had previously watched them perform at a sold out show at the Royal Festival Hall.They played most of the album but it would have been nice to have heard some of the other tracks they cover,especially their great version of Devo's Mongoloid
The bar threw everyone out as soon as the performance ended,however T Mobile were nice enough to put £500 behind a bar across the road so people could party for a while.Unfortunatly I had to go and meet up with my friend as were were watching Guillemots...

I enjoyed Guillemots far more than at their last show but I had to sit through some terrible support acts.

Guillemots came on to a packed Borderline.My friend and I had been stuck at the side but we managed to squeeze down the front by the time the band came on so I had a great view.
The set was similiar to their 93 feet East show but it was a more enjoyable experience as the band were in a great mood.
Highlight of the evening for me was their recent single Trains to Brazil a foot stomping drum pounding track that's one of my favourites of the year.
I believe the band are touring again in a couple of months so hopefully there will be another London show.

My final gig of the year was The Chalets at the Barfly...

This was the third time I'd seen this marvellous band and they get better with each performance.The gig was being filmed for XFM so it should appear online fairly soon.
The band had two support acts.I didn't catch the name of the first one but there were two brothers (twins?) singing in them and looked like a cross between The Beatles and The Proclaimers!
Magic Numbers support act - Misty's big adventure were next.Misty's aren't the most photogenic band having a singer who slightly resembles porn celebrity Ron Jeremy.They also have a "wacky" dancer who jumps about the stage for most of their set in a ridiculous costume,covered in hands.I hated them when I saw them supporting the Numbers numerous times but I can almost stomach them now (I did say almost though!)The Chalets were really up for the gig,with both girls - peepee and pony probably having consumed a few Magners Ciders (their favourite tipple) before performing.
As usual they interacted with the crowd a lot and decided to stage a dancing competition on stage.This was the cue for scores of teenage girls invading the performing area.Everyone was a winner as 10' singles were handed out with a few more getting chucked into the audience for good measure.
I wasn't meant to be seeing the band that night as I had won tickets to see The boy least likely to at the Rough Trade Christmas party.Unfortunatly I had to let one of my friends,who I was going with down as I just had to see The Chalets!
If your reading this and they are playing near you go along as they are a brilliant band to see live.I'm glad I've got a few weeks to recharge my gigging batteries before 2006 kicks off with shows from Bauhaus,Magic Numbers Go! Team and many more in the first two or three months.
I'll be updating again in a couple of days with a Christmas treat from "A girl called Eddy"...

Stars - London ULU

2005-12-11T02:06:00.000-08:00

My latest live music experience was seeing Stars play at the ULU in London last friday.
The band were promoting their "Set yourself on fire" album,one of my favourites of the year.

The band played a blinding set ,made up mostly from numbers from their latest release.
The audience were having a great time but I had what can only be described as a group of chain smoking,drunk,Essex harpies,shouting,shrieking and tunelessly bellowing the words to every song from "Fire" behind me!!
No one around them was impressed but a young guy had already had his head bitten off for complaining about them smoking a few feet from the stage so we just had to suffer them!
The band were joined by "Special guest star" - Russell from Bloc Party for one number...

Stars are a great male/female fronted band and the albums well worth a listen.If you can imagine "Frankie goes to Hollywood"'s Holly Johnson singing with Kirsty McColl to a current indie backing with keyboards your almost there...

Here's a track from "Fire"...

Your ex lover is dead

Absentee/Morning Runner - Camden Barfly

2005-12-11T01:36:00.000-08:00

Watched Absentee supporting Morning Runner at the Barfly in Camden last Thursday.
The first support,whose name escapes me,sounded like a cross between Hard Fi and The Dead 60's and had a lot of fans in the audience enjoying their set.

I'm sure Absentee's set was a bit of a come down for the majority of the audience.
Sandwiched between two fairly rowdy and uptempo bands,the melancholic sounds of Absentee were certainly a strange filling!
I think I enjoyed them more than the last time but the band seemed to be rushing through their set due to an unappreciative crowd.

I hadn't heard Morning Runner before so I didn't know what to expect.
They weren't really my cup of tea,just an average young indie band.They put a lot into their performance though and had the audience eating out of their hands.
During one song they dragged a loyal follower on stage to help sing a song which I was "lucky" enough to snap...

(Loyal follower!)

The Chalets - Mean Fiddler

2005-12-08T01:24:00.000-08:00

Last night's Chalets show at the Mean Fiddler in London was a top show!
Supporting hot indie band - The Cribs,the largely teenage audience were really rowdy and desperate to see the main band so they could have gone down like a lead balloon.
Luckily the crowd loved them and there was a lot of banter between band and audience.
The two girls from the Chalet's - Peepee and Pony are foul mouthed Dublin princesses and had teenage boys quickly knocking up rudimentary cardboard signs to declare their undying love!

The set consisted of songs from their debut album "Check in" and a couple of others.
I'll be seeing the band on a few occasions next year as they are wonderful live.
There's a live set available to listen to Here

Editors - Camden Barfly

2005-12-06T02:21:00.000-08:00

As expected,last nights Editors show at the extremely small Camden Barfly was one of my gig highlights of the year.
I managed to squeeze myself down the side,ending up in the front row at the end of the temporary security barrier.

First support Kubichek! were fairly decent but did come across as the poor man's Maximo Park.
I'm sure I'd watch them if they supported someone else mind you...

Next up were The Kooks.I'd seen their music videos a few times on "The Box" but they weren't really for me.They remind me of a band that would have featured on TFI Friday in the 90's.Kooks - the new Toploader!

Editors set was brilliant,even allowing for a few technical problems.
This was the 6th time I'd seen them since the summer as they are one of the best live bands around at the moment.I'm looking forward to their appearance at the XFM winter Wonderland show in Brixton on sunday and their NME show at the Astoria next year.

As you can see,I snapped a few pictures.I'm happy with them but standing at the side means you get the light,especially the horrible red one shining in most of the time.
I was standing next to a photographer for the NME so I'll be interested in seeing her shots if they appear.

Girls Aloud - The Christmas album

2005-12-05T08:31:00.000-08:00

As promised,here's the Girls Aloud Christmas album that came free with their new UK release "Chemistry" which hit the shops today.
The covers are fairly poor but the new songs are good,especially the Oasis tribute "Christmas round at ours"

here's the track listing...

I wish it could be Christmas everyday
I wanna kiss you so
Jingle bell rock
Not tonight Santa
White Christmas
Count the days
Christmas round at ours
Merry xmas everybody

Christmas album

Kelly Clarkson,Editors and cameras!!

2005-11-29T15:18:00.000-08:00

Odd,this is showing up as being posted in November when it's actually been posted today - Dec 5th! anyway.....

Not posted for a while as I'm suffering from very early mornings and late nights which leave me suffering from a lack of energy in the afternoon and early evening.
Anyway,went to see American Idol - Kelly Clarkson at the fairly small (for her) Koko in Camden last Tuesday.
The show was meant to open at 7 but I didn't get there until about 8.As it was,the venue had just opened and the line stretched all around the block.
I'm usually brilliant at managing to get near the front for shows but this was a no hoper as the place was ram packed so I finally settled about 10 rows back,stuck in a nook in the left hand side!
Their was no support and I had only been in a few minutes when Kelly and co popped up on stage.My view wasn't that bad from where I was standing but I had to suffer this really camp guy who shouted and shrieked all the way through the set,far more in awe of his own voice than the American Idol.
Kelly suprised me by being great live.I only started watching AI from series 2 and it's actually taken until this year for her to make any sort of impression on the UK in general.
I'm a sucker for female fronted rowdy pop.I don't actually care if a lot of autotune is used in the process (Ms Lohan and Ms Simpson) but it's great if the singer can cut it live.

Kelly's set covered both her albums alongside an Annie Lennox cover version.She laughed and chatted with fans all through the show,coming across as fairly decent.
My favourite moment was when she sang a full length version of the song "Beautiful disaster" (from both her albums) completely solo.This was obviously spoiled by idiot boy shrieking mind you!
I tried my best to take photos but from that distance they had to be cropped and blown up severly before you could even see who the person was.
When I bought my camera originally I ended up buying it from my local branch of Dixons.a bad move I hear UK readers shout,however I did think they might have known what they were selling.I explained I needed a compact camera that had the ability to take photos at gigs without using a flash.I was shown a few and ended up buying one of the Canon IXUS models.It was only through trial and error and reading up on digital cameras a bit more that I found out that my camera would never get me great photos as the ISO was too low.To shoot decent pictures without a flash in darker settings you need a high ISO,with my camera only going up to 400.
This was beginning to piss me off,the fact that I had been sold something that wasn't up for the job so I took it back to Dixons.The manager wasn't too happy but in the end I managed to get a decent fuji compact camera with an iso of 1600 so hopefully with a little bit of trial and error my pictures may improve.
I went to see Editors supporting Franz Ferdinand at Alexandra Palace in London that night.The place is a huge "enormodome" and a world away from the sort of venue I frequent.
The only reason I attended was due to the fact that I managed to get a £24 ticket for £6 from ebay so I couldn't pass up the chance.
1st support - The Rakes weren't too bad,the singer went too far with his Ian Curtis dancing mind you,but they entertained me while waiting for Editors.
I had decided not to stay for Franz Ferdinand as I hated the venue and it was the other side of London to me so I wouldn't get home till late and I was up early again the next day.I had seen Franz play a blinding set in the very intimate Scala earlier in the year so I knew that couldn't be bettered.
Editors were as good as always and more than worth the £6 admission!
I was in the third row on the left hand side for their performance but that was still a fair distance from the stage.I took a few pictures with my new camera but I hadn't even read the manual so they weren't up to much.
Off to see Editors again tonight playing their Levi sponsored show at the Barfly in Camden.It's a tiny venue that holds 200 so it should be a good night...

Magic Numbers - Crocodile Cafe Seattle 07.11.05 MP3's

2005-11-29T03:39:00.000-08:00

UK band - The Magic Numbers US tour is drawing to a close so hopefully they'll be back home to play a secret Christmas gig.
If not we'll just have to console ourselves by listening to their Seattle show from earlier this month that I found online today.
This is a landmark recording as the band debut the audience named "You never had it".The song is a mid paced number,with a similiar feel to B' side "Keep it in the pocket"
The gig has been recorded fairly low so you need to crank up the volume to really enjoy the show...
I'm uploading "You never had it" as the sample track so anyone desperate to hear the song can get it quickly.
The track list is...

The mule
Long legs
Don’t give up the fight
Forever lost
I see you you see me
Gone are the days
Hymn for her
You never had it
Love's a game
Love me like you
Crazy in love
Mornings eleven
Wheels on fire
The beard

Seattle 07.11.05

Sample track

You never had it

Guillemots - 93 Feet East

2005-11-29T00:13:00.000-08:00

Went to see one of 2006's "next big things" Guillemots at 93 Feet East in London last night.
One of my friends is a big fan and I'm going with her to see them in a couple of weeks at the Borderline.I had a bit of spare cash last night and decided to pop along myself on the spur of the moment.
I've only been to the bar part of the venue before so I entered via there.I went to the toilet and passed a couple of people chatting as I walked into the part where the band was playing.
It took me a couple of moments to realise that I had got in for nothing as one of the men chatting was a bouncer who was redirecting people to the entrance around the front of the venue.Result!!
There were three supports but all were fairly dull so they're not worth mentioning!
Guillemots are a strange band.They have a couple of really good "pop" songs under their belt but the majority of their material are fairly lengthy numbers.
It worked when the tracks had a good structure but I found my interest waning a bit when the numbers spun out into guitar "wig outs"

The band have signed a new record deal recently so with any luck their new bosses may try and gain "Complete control" and make them deliver perfect three minute songs!
Guillemots have a new single out in the UK on monday."Trains to Brazil" is a very good track that reminds me of a cross between The Bluetones and the Waterboys.
Their debut ep "I saw such things in my sleep" is currently going for about £25 on ebay so if you see one going cheap in your local record store grab a copy.

Tried taking some photo's again last night but the lighting was really dark and I still haven't got the hang of different shutter speeds so they are fairly ropey.I tried one with a flash but it took all the atmosphere away.

Here's a track from the "I saw such things in my sleep" ep

Made up love song

Girls Aloud - Chemistry

2005-11-28T10:30:00.000-08:00

The best girl group in the world - Girls Aloud release their third album in the UK in a weeks time.
Chemistry is a natural progression from their last long player,with the songwriters helping the girls to push the boundary's of pop even more.If you like the recent single "Biology" you will like this album.
I've played "Chemistry" a few times now and it unveils new hooks with every listen.
If you buy the album in the next few weeks there's an opportunity to get a free Girls Aloud Christmas album with it (I may put that up in full next week if I get my hands on it.)
Here's a couple of tracks from the album."Wild horses" is a typical GA up tempo track with an angelic opening."Whole lotta history" is a "Grease" type ballad that's my favourite at the moment,though that's bound to change soon...

Wild horses

Whole lotta history

Jenny Lewis - Rabbit fur coat

2005-11-26T14:30:00.000-08:00

No sooner had I finished moaning about having no great music to rave about when up pops the first solo album from ex child starlet and Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis.
Due out at the beginning of next year,"Rabbit fur coat" is a country tinged collection of songs,slightly more subdued than Rilo Kiley's last album "More adventurous".
I've listened to it a few times now and it's certainly a grower.There's a travelling Willbury's cover that I'm not warmimg to mind you.
I think Jenny is an excellent story teller when it comes to lyrics.The Rilo Kiley track "Does he love you?" is one of my favourite album tracks of the last few months.I've written about it previously here.
There's a track on "Rabbit fur coat" that has turned into my favourite track of the moment.
"You are what you love" is a great song with wonderful lyrics.
Have a listen...

You are what you love

Update soon....

2005-11-25T10:41:00.000-08:00

My weeks been dull as fuck so I've had nothing worth writing about.
I've not come across any brilliant music to pass on either.
I've got lots of gigs coming up soon though so there will be updates a plenty in the coming weeks.
And then it will be time for end of the year top 10's or whatever.
Have a good weekend,you never know I might update..

Lady Sovereign - Save the hoodie - Tainted love mix

2005-11-19T07:15:00.000-08:00

Asbo Queen - Lady Sovereign has a new single out at the moment.

Save the hoodie is a call to protect the juvenile delinquent's favourite article of clothing.
I saw "Sov" support The Go Team a month or so ago and she was entertaining but came across as a bit of a plastic "Gangsta"! (her real names probably Penelope and comes from a Sylvia Young stage school background).The last song she played was a great "Punk by numbers" track though,so I'd be interested in hearing her album when it appears.
There's a version of "Hoodie" online using the intro from Marlyn Manson's version of "Tainted love".Here it is for your downloading pleasure...

Save the hoodie - Tainted love mix

B*Witched vs Fleetwood Mac - C'Est La Vie, Everywhere

2005-11-18T17:29:00.000-08:00

Was browsing the wonderful Get your bootlegs out site and came across a glorious soundclash between Irish munchkins B*witched and ageing blues rockers Fleetwood Mac.
It's really just an excuse to mention the sadly forgotten B*witched on my blog.They could certainly teach the vocally challenged X Factor jokes - The Conway Sisters a thing or two anyway!

C'Est La Vie, Everywhere

The Chalets - Camden Barfly

2005-11-17T11:33:00.000-08:00

Popped along to see Irish band - The Chalets at the Barfly in London last night.
It's a fairly small venue,holding only a couple of hundred people.
Went down the front with one of my friends but were instantly pissed off as there were a bunch of screaming teens shouting their heads off!

First support - Audrey were playing but these kids were shouting and screaming at the top of their voices a couple of feet from the stage.I may come across as a miserable bugger and am guilty of chatting through supports myself but if you are only a couple of feet from a band they do merit a bit of respect.
Saying that,the band did nothing for me at all.The singer resembled Velma from Scooby Doo and her singing was fairly poor.Their set was as dull as dishwater to be honest.

Second band Sam I am were a more exciting prospect.Coming across as Duke Spirit fronted by a young Ruby Wax (!) they played an entertaining brand of rock and roll.
The rowdy teens seemed to be there for this band as they were getting into it.Due to the place getting busier they ended up getting penned in the middle of the front section so they weren't as irritating to me from a distance!
I've never seen a guitarist with so many pedals in front of him,although watching from close range he didn't seem to use them all.

There seemed to be a few professional photographers snapping away at the band so I think there is a bit of a "buzz" about them.I'd be interested in catching them again if they support someone in the next few weeks anyway.

I was looking forward to The Chalets as their debut album Check in has been a ipod favourite on my travels for many a week.Their music has quite an 80's influence,with an Irish B52's being an obvious comparison.Their music is still set firmly in this century though,with the album being a great collection of pop songs.
The band didn't let me down as they put on a top performance and were quite funny inbetween songs.

The band didn't play an encore which was a bit of a disappointment but I still got to hear all my favourites with "Theme from Chalets" being one of the highlights.
The band are back at the Barfly on the 15th of December.It's shaping up to be a busy month gig wise for me but I'm sure I'll manage to make it to the show.

Got a few good pictures last night so I was very happy.I can see me getting right into this photo stuff...

Here's "Theme from Chalets" from their album

Theme

Soon be Christmas...

2005-11-16T12:00:00.000-08:00

Soon be Christmas so here's Elton John and Joss Stone singing "Calling it Christmas".

It's taken from Elton's Christmas album that's only available in shitey Starbucks.

It's the only new track on the album so I'm saving you from having to go and spend money on pish coffee.

Some of the profits from the album go to charity so if you grab the track and your that way inclined you know what to do!...

World of no - Bringing Joy to the world and peace to all men...

Calling it Christmas

Bastard Pet Sounds!

2005-11-15T19:50:00.000-08:00

Came across the Bastard Pet Sounds site today.It hosts mp3's of "sound clashes" of all the tracks from the critically acclaimed Beach Boys album Pet Sounds .
I haven't listened to them all yet but I enjoyed the version of "Here today" which adds Dandy Warhols "You were the last high"into the mix.
Check it out...

Here today

Architecture in Helsinki - London Scala

2005-11-14T09:00:00.000-08:00

Went to see Architecture in Helsinki last night at the Scala in London.
The band were in town to promote their album In case we die and new single "Do the whirlwind".
I love the Scala as a venue and can usually manage to view the band up close,even at sell out shows like yesterday evening.
Semifinalists were the first support.I wasn't impressed.Not poppy enough to be pop and not arty enough to be arty they sort of fell into a middle ground and couldn't get out.They may be semifinalists but they'll never be winners!! (Nuff said!)

I've seen second support - Absentee five or six times lately.I certainly dont dislike them
but I couldn't sing you any of their songs and their numbers rarely ring a bell when I see them playing.There may come a day when I can,though as I'm sure I'll run into them a few times next year.

Hadn't seen "Architecture" before so was looking forward to them.I believe I saw eight people on stage at one point but it was hard to keep count as they flitted between instruments and various bits of percussion.
The show was a bit of a riot with singers rolling about the ground and causing a mic to blow at a later stage.

Most of the new album was played,with one of my favourites "It's five" starting the set.An extended "Do the whirlwind" closed the show,during which the band were joined onstage by a excited audience member who wanted to play a bit of percussion!The band didn't seem to mind at all so everybody went home happy!
I've recently purchased a new digital camera.My rather blurry "The boy least likely to" photos were my first attempt but I'm a lot happier with the way some of last nights turned out.Be prepared for some lengthy gig reviews with photos in the distant future!
Off to see Ireland's answer to the B52's - The chalets this week so may manage to snap them.I'm also showing my pop side by going to see Kelly Clarkson at a fairly small gig next week...

Here's my favourite track from the album...

It's 5!

Magic Numbers - KEXP session

2005-11-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

Here's another short session recorded by The Magic Numbers for the radio station KEXP on the 7th of November.
Beginning as a tiny 10-watt station back in 1972, KEXP has grown over the years into an innovative, influential cultural force in the Seattle community and beyond.
The tracks are...

Forever lost
Don't give up the fight
Love's a game
Love me like you
Gone are the days

KEXP mp3's

Magic Numbers - KCRW mp3's

2005-11-13T14:01:00.000-08:00

UK band The Magic Numbers are currently touring the USA,supporting Bright Eyes and playing some headlining shows.They have been winning over audiences everywhere with the 'Numbers
forum welcoming US members on a daily basis.
The band popped in to the KCRW studios in Los Angeles and performed a great set.
The Magic Numbers played...

Love is a game
Forever lost
I see you you see me
Love me like you
Crazy in love (Beyonce cover)
Anima sola
Don't give up the fight

KCRW mp3's

(Thanks to young Burke from the 'Numbers forum for purple Angela!.)

Roddy Frame - London Bloomsbury Theatre

2005-11-09T11:00:00.000-08:00

Went to see ex Aztec Camera frontman Roddy Frame playing at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London last week.
I'd seen him six times already this year so I was looking forward to it.It was a seated venue but I had a seat in the second row so it wasn't too bad.
He came on at eight thirty so it was a fairly early show.The majority of the set was the same as normal but he does have a few numbers he adds every so often.
Roddy plays solo these days,just him and his acoustic guitars.His set consists of a few tracks from Aztec Camera's debut album "High land hard rain",some choice numbers from later Aztec albums,a couple of tracks from "The North star" (his first solo album) and a few from his critically acclaimed solo album "Surf".
He's also added a couple of new tracks recently.
Here's mp3's of the two new songs which are taken from a live cd from Ronnie Scott's in London available at Roddy's gigs...

Rock god

Dry land

Corinne Bailey Rae - Like a star

2005-11-04T19:58:00.000-08:00

Was watching UK video channel "The Box" this evening and came across one of the most gorgeous songs I've heard in a while.
"Like a star"is the debut single from Leeds singer Corinne Bailey Rae.It's out in the UK on monday as a three track ep but I gave in and purchased a download of the lead track after I couldn't find it on any of the dodgy sites and peer to peer places I frequent.
I'm offering up the lead track as I'm sure the EP is worth a purchase if you love "Like a star".
To ease my guilt you could also pay 79p for the lead track from I tunes!

Corinne's website

Like a star

Ding dong! - KT Tunstall covers the White Stripes

2005-11-03T17:15:00.000-08:00

(KT as Meg)

Wee Scot's rocker - KT Tunstall covered the White Stripes "My doorbell" today on Radio 1's Colin and Edith show.

It's not a bad version so hopefully she may play it live again in the near future.
I saw KT at Shepherd's Bush Empire a couple of weeks ago,she put in a good performance but the audience were a bunch of boring bastards!!
The two excellent photos are by a guy called Claude who frequents KT's forum.Check out this website for some more stunning images...

More of Claude's KT photos

Here's the mp3...

My doorbell

Happy Halloween!

2005-10-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

Tonight's the night when the ghosts and ghouls come out to play!
Horror movies get viewed in their millions,Numerous fancy dress party's are attended and thousands of wee shites come knocking on your door hoping to get money,juice or sweeties from you!!
Luckily I'm at a gig in the evening so I wont have to disappoint the little angels when they ring my buzzer.
Heres the US single "Do they know it's Halloween" by North American Halloween Prevention Initiative Inc .It features numerous US indie "celebs" including members of Arcade Fire,Sonic Youth and Rilo Kiley,Beck,Feist and many more...

Do they know it's Halloween?

Lindsay Lohan - Confessions of a broken heart video

2005-10-30T14:45:00.000-08:00

Hollywood Teen temptress - Lindsay Lohan has a new single out in the US in a short while.
I've watched the video for "Confessions of a broken heart" a few times now and it's slightly odd.
The song comes from Ms Lohan's heart as it deals with the shortcomings of her father.
The video,directed by the singer herself tackles the subject head on as it shows Lindsay viewing her fathers mental and physical abuse of her mother in a front room that is actually set up in a shop window with various horrified shoppers looking in at the action.
The father is named in the video so there is no mistaking that it's meant to be Lyndsay's dad.I'm sure he wont be happy with the way he's been depicted.
Lindsay actually puts a lot of passion into the video and her "I love you" climax after the middle of the song is particularly heartfelt.There are also a couple of images at the end of the video showing Lindsay in tears that come across as real.
Her debut album was an enjoyable high energy pop classic but this next one may be coming from a darker place...

For your viewing pleasure...

Confessions of a broken heart

I was also able to rip a low quality audio version of the song.
It's a asf file and should play on Win amp and Windows media player

Audio version

The boy least likely to - London Water Rats

2005-10-28T18:05:00.000-07:00

Went to see UK band - The boy least likely to at the Water Rats Theatre in London last night.
I downloaded the album a few weeks ago and enjoyed it so was tempted to see them live.
I'm a bit skint at the moment so decided to catch them next time round.However I got a last minute phone call from a friend who had bought me a ticket so I ended up popping along to see them.
Their album The best party ever reminds me a bit of Badly drawn boy but live they come across as a mixture of Badly drawn boy,Magic Numbers,"Too rye ay" era Dexy's midnight runners and Belle and Sebastian.

The seven piece band came out fighting from the off,playing the first track from the album "Be gentle with me".The band are a lot more powerful live than on record and the frontman put a lot into his performance.
The show had a party atmosphere with a lot of the audience singing along very loudly to the songs,cakes getting thrown out into the audience,Bubbles blown crowd wise and exploding streamers going off during their last pre encore number.
I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for another small London date before the end of the year,f not I'm sure they will be around in 2006.

Here's the first track from their album...

Be gentle with me

Editors - Wedgewood Rooms - Portsmouth

2005-10-27T12:34:00.000-07:00

I've been to see UK band - Editors four times since the summer.
My first glimpse of them was at the Summer Sundae festival in Leicester.It's a very small gathering so I was able to walk to the front and viewed their set in the pissing rain.
I was very impressed with their music (though not the weather) so picked up their album the following week.
I then caught them at a couple of T Mobile street gigs in London.The first in a car park and the second on the roof of a art gallery in Camden.
Most recently I attended their sell out show at the Astoria in the centre of London.
Their music combines a lot of late 70's/early 80's influences including Joy Division,Echo and the Bunnymen and the Edge's guitar sound from early U2 albums.They still sound fresh though and the album has sold a lot of copies in the UK.
Here's a show from Portsmouth from this month...

Part 1

Part 2

Munich(Sample track)

Update soon....

2005-10-26T20:37:00.000-07:00

Getting my life back to normal after 10 Magic Numbers dates + various other gigs in a three week period.
More about that later...
Will update in a day or two,probably with mp3's of an Editors show from this month.

KT Tunstall - Teenage kicks

2005-10-16T18:22:00.000-07:00

Last thursday was "John Peel" day in the UK,with music venues up and down the country hosting gigs as part of a tribute to the late radio dj who died last year.
Wee Scot's rocker - KT Tunstall is currently playing a sold out UK tour and decided to use thursdays celebrations to pay tribute to the man himself by covering his favourite song - The Undertones "Teenage kicks" in her own solo style complete with "Wee bastard" pedal!
Someone from the KT Tunstall forum mailed me an mp3 of the song so I'm putting it up for all to hear...

Teenage kicks

The Magic begins....

2005-10-07T10:45:00.000-07:00

I went to the first date of several that I'm going to on the Magic Numbers tour a couple of days ago in Glasgow at the famous Barrowlands.
Got there about 7.30 after travelling from London and met up with a few people from the Magic Numbers messageboard and ended up in the second row.
Both supports were pretty dire,especially Misty's big adventure who stunk to high heaven,but to be fair to the second band I didn't really watch them.
The band were amazing as always,getting a terrific reaction from the Scottish crowd.
Chatted with people outside for a while after the show as my train back to Perth,where I was meant to be staying wasn't for an hour or so.I got the offer of a floor for the night in Glasgow so I decided to change my plans.
After waiting around for a while Michelle from the band came down to chat to Rhona,one of the girls from the board and invited us upstairs.
Hung out in the dressing room for an hour or so chatting to the band,crew and fellow fans.It was then decided to go back with the band to their hotel to carry on drinking in the bar.
So we jumped in Rhona's car and stayed in the bar till after 4!!
I woke up at 9 the next morning feeling a bit worse for wear and realised that I had left my bag with coach ticket,ipod etc in the hotel.Rhona phoned up and confirmed it was still there so I jumped in a cab picked the bag up and headed to the bus staion as I was slumming it on the way back home,using the Megabus (free journey - total cost 50p booking fee!!).
Bit of a vile 10 hour journey as I was feeling very rough and the poor air conditioning didn't help!

Here's an FM broadcast of the bands show from the Hulstred festival in Sweden from the 17th of June this year that I found online.

Part 1

Part 2

Sample track

CD Cover

Pop weekend - Robbie Williams live at London Astoria

2005-10-02T07:45:00.000-07:00

Found out on thursday night that Robbie Williams was playing a secret gig at the Astoria a couple of days later,with tickets going on sale on the friday at 8am.
I was near the Astoria at 9.30am so I decided to drop by to see if there were any tickets left.
There were stll hundreds as it was one per person so I bit the bullet and bought one,even at the costly price of £35!.
I'm not a huge fan of Mr Williams but I knew he'd probably put on a good show in a intimate (for him) venue.
Went along at about 7pm last night.The doors opened at 6.30 as it was an early gig as the Astoria has a club night starting at 10pm.
As a creature of habit I managed to end up in the third row from the front at the left hand side.
Robbie came on to great applause and started with a new song before moving into "Feel".The first two thirds of the set was made up with mostly new numbers as he was punting his new album but he played "Supreme" and also dropped "Angels" into his set fairly early on.
Although I was near the front I just wasn't feeling it.Robbie gave his all and was very appreciative and attentive to his audience but it wasn't doing anything for me.
I think it was a case of a couple of things,though he's been with several band members for a few years I didn't feel that he had any connection with his band,it was all about the audience,which is a good thing but it left parts of the performance fairly lifeless.The other thing,which is common with bigs gigs is although you've got your place near the front someone always comes along and tries to fit into somewhere where there is no space! That was happening around me a lot and was beginning to irritate me immensely.
As I said,I can't really knock Robbie is a performer,there was a section in the show that was a good idea.The first person in line for tickets (People camped overnight!) was given a card with a "1" on it.They obviously were at the front so Robbie told them that the person with the card would have a song dedicated to them and have it burned to a CD straight away.Unfortunately the first person in line was a guy called Brad!!Robbie still sung a few personal lines to him though,making his day!
My other problem was just as I was enjoying a song and beginning to get into it he'd play 3 new songs in a row.I did think halfway through - Can't wait till Wednesday when I see the Magic Numbers at Glasgow so I can really enjoy myself.
Things picked up in the last third though.The played a run of singles starting with his new one "Tripping" which came across excellent live.This also coincided with me ending up in the second row obtaining a much better view in the process.
A stunning version of one of my favourites "No regrets" came next which even had me singing along to the backing ad libs!"Rock DJ" followed by which time I was really enjoying myself.Robbie finished the set with a slower song that he debuted on CD UK this morning.
There was no encore and I was very pleased to hear one of my favourites - Gomez's "We haven't turned around" as the exit music.
I'm very glad I went though as I was able to experience the Robbie "Phenomena" from up close. As he's a multi millionare I'm sure Mr Williams wont mind me letting you hear his single for free!!

Tripping

Pop weekend - The return of Jo O'Meara

2005-10-02T00:33:00.000-07:00

I've got a lot of love for Jo O'Meara.
Former lead singer with manufactured pop kids S Club 7,Jo's voice stood out like a beacon of pop amongst the other dull tuneless wonders (meaning Tina and Hannah!)
After taking a year or so off due to wanting to get away from it all,a bad back and a passion for bingo and TV quiz channels,Jo has now returned with a new single and debut album.
The single "What hurts the most" isn't the best thing she's done.As a ballad it suffers from a lack of a killer middle 8 which Jo excells in.The albums a lot better with some uptempo tracks mixed in with the slower numbers.
I can only hope for great things for my favourite ex S Club member.
Here's one of the more uptempo tracks,sounding like a cross between S Club's "Reach" and "You can't hurry love"

It felt like love

Pop weekend - Lovebites

2005-10-01T17:18:00.000-07:00

Been too busy to update my blog this week but I'm making up for it by bringing you POP WEEKEND!
Starting with this excellent single from new girl band Lovebites.
Lovebites are a fairly rough looking bunch of teenagers brought together by a record company to offer us some rowdy pop punk.
Coming across as a mixture of Kenickie,Sham 69 and Lush,debut single "You broke my heart" (so I broke your nose) is two and a half minutes of pop noise that makes you want to jump about,shout along and tire yourself out!
A perfect pop single - Love it now,hate it in a fortnight!
(coming next the return of Jo O'Meara...)

You broke my heart

Echo and the Bunnymen Chart watch...

2005-09-26T19:26:00.000-07:00

Hitting the UK top 75 album charts with a bullet Echo and the Bunnymen's latest album "Siberia" ricocheted off a wall and ended up in the piss poor position of number 83!
Even an appearance on the Wright stuff couldn't help the album.
If there are any Bunnymen fans still haunting this blog after "Echo and the Bunnymen week" keep hanging around as I'll be sure to tell you if it limps into the top 75...

Magic Numbers - Camden Barfly mp3's

2005-09-25T13:00:00.000-07:00

I'm looking forward to the Magic Numbers UK tour which starts very soon so I was lucky to be pointed in the direction of a direct link to watch a video of their show from Amsterdam last week from the Numbers forum.
I also obtained mp3's from the bands Camden Barfly show in February of this year so here they are!...

Amsterdam show

The tracklisting for Camden is...

The mule
Forever lost
Long legs
I see you you see me
Don't give up the fight
Hymn for her
Love's a game
Love me like you
Morning's eleven

Part 1

Part 2

Duke Spirit

2005-09-23T11:30:00.000-07:00

Went to see UK band Duke Spirit play the last night of their NME sponsored pub tour last night at the Social in London.
The tour was organised to bring music to parts of England that don't normally get decent bands but they ended up finishing their tour in the extremely gig friendly capital.
The difference with this show compared to the others was that it was free to get in.
It wasn't widely advertised so their weren't that many people around when I got there at about 5.30 for an opening time of 6pm.It was a very early start as the band weren't due onstage untill after 9 with no support.I actually thought they would be playing earlier and had arranged to meet up with a friend to see another gig later that evening so I had to cancel my plans for my second show of the night.
The venue only holds 150 and they actually stopped letting people in at 6.30 so I'm glad I got there early.Spent a good evening chatting and drinking with a few people I met while waiting for the doors to open.
The venue is long and narrow and actually more suited for clubbing than live music.There is only room for about 8 people widthwise but I managed to end up in the second row.
The band were excellent,especially in such intimate surroundings with lead singer Liela giving her all as always!
The set comprised of favourites from Cuts across the land and some new tracks.
I'll certainly head along to their next London show.
Here's an acoustic version of "Lion rip" that the band recorded for Virgin radio...

Lion rip

Lost again...

2005-09-22T10:59:00.000-07:00

The first season 2 episode of Lost aired Stateside last night.
It's a brilliant opener,leading off from last season and ending on a cliffhanger.
Here's a musical treat for anyone who's seen it...

Make your own kind of music

Kate Bush - King of the mountain

2005-09-21T11:27:00.000-07:00

Out in just over a month,
on the radio today...

King of the mountain

The Strokes - Juicebox

2005-09-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

Found the new Strokes single "Juicebox" on the great MP3 blog Glass Danse .
It's worth checking out as there are lot of recent full albums arriving daily.
I'm not a huge Strokes fan but I do like a few of their tracks,especially "Reptillia".
This is sounding good after the first few listens anyway...

Juicebox

Bitten by a radioactive spider...

2005-09-20T13:21:00.000-07:00

Well it feels like that anyway!
Woke up monday morning with itchy right hand noticed a couple of insect bites on the bottom of it.Didn't think much about it for the rest of the day.It was a bit irritating during the night and I woke up to find that it was really irritating and had also swelled up,not balloon size but enough.
Went to doctors this morning and got penicillin so hopefully the sweling will vanish soon.
Haven't been able to cling to walls or spin a web any size yet but I live in hope...

Echo and the Bunnyman week - sad update

2005-09-19T13:26:00.000-07:00

The Bunnyman balloon has now been sadly deflated.
I've just spent a lengthy time looking over the UK Official top 75 and have come to the conclusion that the Bunnymen have plummeted out of the charts.
They couldn't hold on to that number 55 position for just one more week.
Lets hope the album does a wee bit better...

Rachel vs Adam

2005-09-18T09:50:00.000-07:00

Here's an amazing bootleg 0f Rachel Stevens new single,mixing it with various Adam and the Ants tracks.I did say on an earlier post that the single reminded me of the Ants.
I found the mix on Get your bootleg on It's always worth checking out for interesting takes on singles.

Ant said never again...

Echo and the Bunnymen week - The final day...

2005-09-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

All good things must come to an end and so the truly succesful Echo and the Bunnyman week closes with a show from Hamburg in 1999.
I'll probably update with details of their chart placing but for now,that's all folks...
In the future I will be uploading lengthy live shows as large files rather than single mp3's as it's easier to keep them alive at a later date.I will include a sample single mp3 though so you can listen to whether it's decent quality or shite that should be swerved!

Sample track

Hamburg '99 part 1

Hamburg '99 part 2

Echo and the Bunnymen - Saturday special!

2005-09-17T17:20:00.000-07:00

Echo and the Bunnymen week continues with a Berlin show from 1981.
I've had an overwhelming response from Bunnyman fans,with several asking me continue the Bunnymen special all through next week.Unfortunatly I have to say enough is enough.
I'll be bringing you another show tomorrow and of course all Bunnyfans will be on the edge of their seats as they wait to hear if Ian and the boys remain in the UK's top 55 or was this week the last time the band will bother the singles chart for another few years?
Anyway,here's the mp3's...

Berlin '81 1

Berlin '81 2

Berlin '81 3

Echo and the Bunnymen week continues..

2005-09-16T20:03:00.000-07:00

Echo and the Bunnymen week will continue tomorrow and sunday with more live shows.
The response from the Echo fans out there has been amazing.
No wonder the single managed to reach the lower 50's in the UK top 75 singles chart.
So put your weekend on hold and come back tomorrow for more Bunnymen tracks...

Echo and the Bunnymen week!...

2005-09-15T15:35:00.000-07:00

I was going to comment this week on the two gigs I went to on monday - Editors and Franz Ferdinand but have decided to go all out and celebrate Echo and the Bunnymen in a special 2 or 3 day event I'm calling Echo and the Bunnymen week.
Who cares if the NME thinks their time is up,it may be,who am I to say?
But I can offer you a few live shows to relive their glory years (or slightly later).
And maybe if your lucky,some more choice cuts from their new album.
Bunnymen fans spread the word,get those message boards buzzing because the best is yet to come...

Starting with a live show from the Primavera festival in 2002...

Primavera Festival Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Oh dear!

2005-09-14T13:15:00.000-07:00

It seems not everyone's a fan...

From this weeks NME...

Judge for yourself...

All because of you days

The return of LOST...

2005-09-13T18:22:00.000-07:00

My broadband connection will be going into overdrive soon as several US shows return to our (computer) screens.
"Lost","Medium","Desperate housewives","Joey" and"Alias" are all coming back in the next couple of weeks,with a new series of "24" not that far away.
"Lost","Medium" and "Alias" all ended on cliffhangers last season so I'm anxious to see where they are heading..
I'm currently enjoying a couple of new series "Prison break" and "Reunion" and I've seen a further couple of pilots of shows that I'll watch when they show up.
From the look of things I should be kept entertained over Winter,though I may venture out for a gig or two!
I use bittorrent to obtain my TV fix.There are lots of sites with the shows listed and a search on google for "Torrent" should bring up several.
Here's one to get you started...

Mininova

MP3 Links

2005-09-13T12:29:00.000-07:00

Will be going through all the dead MP3 links in the next couple of days starting with the Magic Numbers at T in the Park and uploading new file links.
Will update site soon with some more rubbish also..

Franz Ferdinand - You could have it so much better

2005-09-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple of tracks from the new Franz Ferdinand album.
You never know,if you come back tomorrow it may be a different two!!...

What you meant

I'm your villian

Rachel Stevens - I said never again...

2005-09-09T20:00:00.000-07:00

Starting with "Ant music" style drumming and a punky "1234",Rachel Stevens "I said never again" comes across as the last (only?) great pop record of the summer.
Very catchy,with an album that's meant to be equally as good waiting in the wings Ms Stevens is finally coming of age.
Jo's still my favourite S Clubber though...

I said never again...

Echo and the Bunnymen - Glasgow Locarno 1983

2005-09-05T19:35:00.000-07:00

Still enjoying the new Echo and the Bunnymen album so thought I'd stick up this radio broadcast from 1983.It's a good set including the rarely played "Simple stuff" and a faster,lyrically changed "The killing moon".

Over the wall

Heads will roll

Silver

Simple stuff

A promise

Porcupine

All that jazz

Rescue

The killing moon

Villiers Terrace

The cutter

Never stop

Do it clean

Do it clean (PART 2)

Magic Numbers - There is a light that never goes out

2005-09-04T19:25:00.000-07:00

My love for the Magic Numbers is no secret to anyone that's read this blog.
I've decided to see them several times on their October tour,visiting Wales,Scotland and England.
During the 80's and early 90's I ventured thousands of miles, following groups around the country,enjoying the music and friendship of several other like minded people who had a passion for music and travel.I generally got to these gigs through hitchiking until my life took a different turn and nailed it on the head.
The Numbers are the first band in almost 15 years that have made me want to do this again.
I wont be hitchiking but due to amazing offers from a couple of coach operators I can travel hundreds of miles for as little as £1,if not free!

The band popped into the Radio 2 studios yesterday for Dermot O'leary's show and played three acoustic numbers,the highlight being a stunning cover of The Smiths "There is a light that never goes out" .
Thanks to people from the Magic Numbers forum for the mp3's and the elusive Diane who stumbled across this site and offered me her photos for the glorious images.

There is a light that never goes out

Forever lost

Love's a game

Dr Dog

2005-09-02T09:25:00.000-07:00

Off to see US "Lo-Fi"'ers Dr Dog in London two or three times over the next week.
They may be the perfect medicine as I've been feeling a little ruff lately!
Picked up their first UK release Easybeat after hearing them name checked on 6 music.
It wasn't quite what I was expecting and some of it's slightly hard work.
Opener "The world may never know" is like a Beatles album track with sleepy harmony's and has a bit of a Bowie "TVC15" feel about it.
"The pretender" falls into their more bluesy territory with shrieking opening vocals that I'm not as much a fan off.Third track "Oh no" reminds me of the Kings of Leon Jamming with the Alessi Brothers or Andrew Gold."Title track "Easy beat"follows in the same vein.
"Dutchman" falls is a slower melancholic number and doesn't do much for me.
"Fools life" moves into a slightly wierder territory with a some odd shouting harmony's dominating sections of the song and a jazz wig out solo towards the end.
"Say something"brings us back to the feeling of the opener.
"Today" is more of the same along with closer "Wake up" giving us a decent trio of tuneful harmony driven songs to finish the album
It's not my favourite album of the year but I'm looking forward to them live,especially as it's in small venues and costs no more than £6 to get in.
Here's two tracks from the album...

The world may never know

Oh no

September already!

2005-09-01T14:03:00.000-07:00

Not long now...

Fringe Theatre rant...

2005-08-31T19:52:00.000-07:00

About 7 years ago I acted in a play that was making it's debut on the London Fringe circuit.
It was an enjoyable role in a drama with a bit of comedy.
About 10 days ago I was Checking the website of my local Fringe Theatre and noticed the play was running again in a couple of months.It was a different company and director that were working on the piece which hadn't been performed in the years in between.
I found the details of the company and emailed them,saying that I had previously been in the play and would be interested in reprising the part if it hadn't been cast yet.I had also contacted the writer of the play as we still keep in touch and he said he would tell the company I was interested...
I received no acknowledgment of my email until today,10 days later.
A woman who runs the company called to say that although both male parts had been cast before my email arrived,the person who was playing the other part had dropped out and was I interested?
I initially thought that it was nice of her to call until I realised she only did as she was in trouble.
Had this not have happened I would still be waiting on a acknowledgement.
As I had set my sights on going to several gigs in October,due to not hearing about the play I decided to not take things further with the company.
Am I asking for too much when I expected a email a couple of days after I sent mine saying "Thanks but the production is now cast"?
This is the problem with Fringe Theatre in London in general.
Most shows operate on a profit share basis,which generally means you wont see much,if anything if the cast is larger than four people.
You usually work for 6 - 8 weeks for nothing then have to hastle on a daily basis to get the £20 owed to you from the company you have worked for.
I was lucky with the first Fringe show I did after leaving Drama School as we were paid on the final night of the production.All the others I have done have been fairly problematic and has usually resulted in cast members (not just me) falling out with producers and directors.
I did a lot of Fringe shows when I moved to London for the first 3 years but have cut down since and very rarely work for nothing now.
Rant over!

You Boy!

2005-08-31T13:05:00.000-07:00

Sad to hear that Michael Sheard,best known for playing Mr Bronson in BBC's Grange Hill has died.
Feared by children all over the UK in the 80's,Bronson ruled the school with a rod of steel!
And of course he was in Star Wars...

BBC News report

Echo and the Bunnymen - Siberia

2005-08-30T12:08:00.000-07:00

The new Echo and the Bunnymen album Siberia was released in Japan this week.Due out in the UK mid September,opener "Stormy weather" shows a return to form as it's a classic Bunnymen single.The rest of the albums fares reasonably well,especially second track "All because of you days" and "Of a life"
I caught up with the band for the first time in a few years at a couple of festivals this summer.They played a good retrospective set but I don't remember hearing any of this album live.The Bunnymen are touring the UK soon and I may pop along to Shepherds Bush Empire for a set hopefully combining the best of this album with some "greatest hits".

Stormy weather

Who can turn the world on with her smile?

2005-08-29T07:43:00.000-07:00

One of the most iconic images in US TV history comes from the opening credits of the Mary Tyler Moore show.
The clip of Mary Richards throwing her hat in the air is so legendary that there was even a statue built of it that resides at Seventh Street in downtown Minneapolis in the exact spot where Mary Richards threw her hat in the air during the opening sequence of each episode.

The MTM show was a highlight of TV comedy in the 70's and I remember watching it a lot when I was a child.The show spawned a couple of sequels "Rhoda",currently showing on the Paramount channel in the UK and the more drama orientated "Lou Grant".

The first two seasons are now available on DVD in the US.I have season 1 and will be sticking season 2 on my Christmas list!

My main memory of this show is Sonny Curtis's theme tune "Love is all around.It's a true classic,with various acts covering it,including Joan Jett and Husker Du.I play it myself when busking and am always pleased when people recognise it.

TV Credits mpeg (small file)

Theme tune MP3

Album of the century - A girl called Eddy - A girl called Eddy

2005-08-28T10:55:00.000-07:00

Last summer I was browsing Popbitch and came across someone praising the debut album from "A girl called Eddy".
I downloaded a copy and gave it a couple of listens but it didn't do anything for me so I put it to one side and forgot about it.I kept hearing good things about the album online and went back to it to see what I was missing.
After five or six plays I was completely hooked as the melancholic songs and lush 60's production washed over me.
"A girl called Eddy" is the name American singer Erin Moran goes under.Sharing a name with the girl who played Joanie Cunningham in US show "Happy days",her debut album features lyrics more suited for a depressing indie movie than a upbeat sitcom.
Sounding like a cross between Dusty Springfield and Chrissie Hynde "Eddy" voice gives the album the appeal of a timeless classic.The cd package resembles an old vinyl 12"with wear marks on the sleeve giving it a mock vintage look.
Most of the albums tracks deal with break up situations and losing people around you making it a late night bottle of wine album.
Ex Pulp man Richard Hawley has done an amazing job producing the various songs.Some of the numbers featured on a previous mini album.Hawley brings out the power and emotion of the songs that hadn't been captured before.
I've seen "Eddy" play a few times live,usually stripped down affairs.Although good live the songs suffer slightly when they lose the album arrangements.
Favourite tracks on the album are "Girls can really tear you up inside","People used to dream about the future" and my favourite track "The long goodbye".
I've previously offered friends their money back if they bought the album played it 6 times and didn't like it.I can't do that for everyone who stumbles onto this blog but I can say it will be money well spent!
I've uploaded "The long goodbye" as an album taster.It's slightly more uptempo than most of the album so keep that in mind.I've also uploaded a stripped down version of "people used to dream about the future" from The session Eddy did for Tom Robinson on BBC 6 music

The long goodbye

People used to dream about the future - BBC session version

MP3 Links

2005-08-28T10:47:00.000-07:00

I've uploaded all the dead mp3's so all the links should be working again.
Click on a few,you might find something you like...

Great lost albums - Hey! Elastica - In on the off beat

2005-08-20T07:30:00.000-07:00

I'm all for sharing live shows,sessions and single tracks as tasters for albums here but I wont generally post links to readily available full albums (unless I get my hands on someting special very early),however I do feel it is my musical duty to bring you albums either not yet available on cd or never released as their record companies booted the act before they lost them more money.
One of the albums that has never made it to cd is "In on the off beat" from 80's Scottish pop cadets - Hey Elastica.
Hey Elastica sprung out of the Edinburgh indie dance scene around about 1983.
NME darlings for a few weeks,they released a couple of singles before releasing their debut (and only) album for Virgin records.
Sounding (to their ears) like a Scottish B52's "in on the off beat" is a nice uptempo summer 80's album. This album may also hit the right note with fans of Scottish band Sons and Daughters .
Doubtful we'll ever see it released on cd though...

This town

Heaven (should've been here)

Party games

Sex with your dancing partner

Cafe des bruit

My kinda guy

Perfect couple

Polaroid picture zoo

Barbarella

That town

Twist that town

They're back!...

2005-08-19T06:45:00.000-07:00

Russian rock chicks Tatu have returned from their pop wilderness with a vengeance !
The uncensored video for their new single "All about us" features rough sex and a gunshot to the head which is certainly enough to whip the tabloids into a frenzy.
The singles not bad as it's very similiar to the pop material on their last album.
I remember seeing them miming at an instore at a London record shop,jumping up and down and ignoring the fact that they should be miming to their songs!
Thanks to Popjustice for the original link
The video's 35mb but worth seeing...

Video

MP3

The Psychedelic Furs - Wireless Festival 2005 MP3's

2005-08-18T08:30:00.000-07:00

Went to see The Psychedelic Furs at the Wireless Festival in London a few weeks ago.
Watched them playing a headline set at Shepherd's Bush Empire the previous evening,the first time I had seen them in over 24 years,my previous Furs experience being at Edinburgh Tiffany's during the "Talk talk talk" tour.
The band were on great form both nights,especially at SBE where they had the audience in the palm of their hands when they played tracks from their debut album.
The Wireless show was a very rainy event,with the Furs playing outdoors,late afternoon to a fairly sparse audience.As it was a friday most of their original fans would still have been at work during their set.
They still gave their all mind you,delivering a eight song set of their "greatest hits" including "Pretty in pink" and what is possibly my favourite 80's track "Love my way".
Any fan of the band should read Dave Thompson's Psychedelic Furs: Beautiful Chaos
available from HMV for £4.99!

Here's a slightly rough audience recording anyway...

Into you like a train

Mr Jones

President Gas

Love my way

Dumb waiters

Heartbreak beat

Heaven

Pretty in pink

Face it tiger - you just hit the jackpot!

2005-08-17T09:25:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of late 60's/ early 70's Spider-man comics.
Written by Stan Lee and with art mostly by John Romita these Marvel comics are are perfect slice of vintage America.
Romita's depiction of women was always visually stunning,especially his depictions of the two girls in Spider-man's life - Gwen Stacey and Mary Jane Watson.
Mary Jane Watson was mentioned for several issues before her actual appearance.Peter Parker (Spidey's secret ID) is living with his decrepit Aunt May at the time.May keeps trying to get Peter to meet MJ a relation of her neighbour.MJ is painted out to be a bit dull and dowdy and basically a minger until she shows up at Peter's door uttering the words "Face it tiger - you just hit the jackpot".
Romita's MJ was a swinging 60's icon to comic readers and has managed to survive as Peter's girlfriend/wife to the present day.Not such good news for the delectable Gwen Stacey mind you as she was left dangling from Spidey's web with a broken neck when the Green Goblin threw her off a bridge.She did come back later as a clone though (Don't ask!)
The MJ "Tiger" image is one of my favourite comic images ever.I own it as a T shirt,statue and a clock (though I'm too ashamed to wear theT!!)

Doing "Teen Spirit" his way...

2005-08-16T15:30:00.000-07:00

Paul Anka - swinging O.A.P. and writer of the classic "My way" has a new album Rock swings out now.
It features swing versions of various modern rock "classics" including "Eye of the tiger","Jump","Everybody hurts","Black hole sun" and "Love cats".
It was hearing his version of "Smells like teen spirit" that made me seek out the album today and it's very good for what it is.
I know there have been a few albums of this nature over the years,I own the "Lounge - a - Palooza" one which also features "Black hole sun" done by fellow O.A.P's Steve and Eydie but this is different as it's done by one of the "Masters"
"Teen spirit"is due as a single in the UK in a few weeks but if you can't wait to hear it...

Teen spirit

And due to popular demand...

Everybody hurts

Emiliana Torrini - T on the Fringe - Live at the Liquid Rooms Edinburgh 11th Aug 2005

2005-08-12T08:30:00.000-07:00

Off to see Emiliana Torrini play at Summer Sundae in Leicester today.
Haven't seen her live before but I've been a fan for a few years after hearing "Unemployed in Summertime" on the London "Indie" radio station XFM.
Here's her T on the fringe show anyway.

Intro

Today

Snow

Chat

Lifesaver

Chat

Honeymoon child

Chat

Sunny road

Tuna

At least it was

Heartstopper

Next time around

Thinking out loud

Chat

Unemployed in summertime

Serenade

Fisherman's woman

Nothing brings me down

The Delgados - All you need is hate

2005-08-11T20:05:00.000-07:00

I was listening to the UK digital station 6 music yesterday when I had one of those "I wonder what that is?" moments.
When the dj came back he said it was The Delgados but I didn't catch the title.
The only Delgados track I had was a rip of their version of ELO's Mr Blue Sky which they did for John Peel.
I was out record shopping today,buying early copies of the new albums from Robert Post and Dr Dog amongst others,when I chanced upon the Delgados "Hate" album for £2!
I was more than pleased when I realised that track 2 "All you need is hate" was the track I had previously heard.

Told you my life was dull!...

All you need is hate

Missy Higgins - Live in The USA July 16th, 2005 MP3's

2005-08-09T21:52:00.000-07:00

Off to see OZ wonderkid Missy Higgins in October at St James Church in London.
It's a great intimate setting,where I've previously seen Bic Runga supporting Aqualung.
Mind you your bum gets a bit sore sitting on church pews for ages.
I've been to a few Missy gigs and she's always been a great live act.
Her album "The sound of white" was released in the UK a few weeks ago but she hasn't taken off yet.Her next single "Scar" comes out soon so that may turn things around.
Here's Missy from last month anyway...

Intro

Nightminds

Sound of white

Ten days

Scar

This is how it goes

Sugar cane

The cactus that found the beat

The special two

Sugababes - Push the button

2005-08-09T20:50:00.000-07:00

Pop music has been a bit stale lately.
Girls Aloud are the only real pop band with an edge still making waves in the UK.
Rachel Stevens recent singles have been struggling to make the top 10 and although her new album is meant to have a couple of killer pop hits on it she may not get the chance to release for much longer if her next single flops.
Hitting the airwaves like a runaway train this morning,The Sugababes new single premiered after a false start when the DJ played their next single by mistake!
"Push the button" is a tremendously catchy pop song that has had me pushing the repeat button for the last half hour.Let's hope the new albums just as good...

Push the button (or click the link...)

Magic Numbers - T in the park 2005 MP3's

2005-08-08T20:30:00.000-07:00

One of my "gigs of the year".
Viewed from a front row position I couldn't see how mental the crowd were going until I saw clips on TV.
Check out the audience response between the songs...

Thanks to Tea with Tufty for the MP3's...

Long legs

Don't give up the fight

Forever lost

I see you you see me

Love is a game

Love me like you

Mornings eleven

The beard

Magic Numbers - Crazy in love

2005-08-03T13:23:00.000-07:00

Nuff said!!

Crazy in love

Rilo Kiley - Does he love you?

2005-08-02T04:16:00.000-07:00

One of my most played tracks of the moment is Rilo Kiley's "Does he love you?"
Taken from their recent "More adventurous" album which has spawned the singles "It's a hit" and "Portions for foxes",it's an album track with a big build...
Although I had heard their singles,Rilo Kiley had slightly slipped under my musical radar until I caught them in a fairly empty tent at the Wireless Festival in London.
The Wireless festival was meant to be London's new shiny festival,scheduled over four days headlined by Keane,New Order,Basement Jaxx and Kasabian.
Having the first two days clashing with the Glastonbury Festival was a big mistake,leaving 1000's of unsold tickets.This resulted in a river of competitons and giveaways,meaning anyone who wanted to go could go free!
I obtained tickets for four of the dates and showed up for two.
The day I watched Rilo Kiley was the day New Order headlined.
I only showed up to see The Psychedelic Furs as I watched their headline show the previous night and thought it was amazing.After a rainsoaked set I seeked refuge in a tent just as Rilo Kiley were starting.
I caught up with their back catalogue over the next few days and was sad to hear they were playing London the following week as I couldn't afford a ticket.
My hopes to see them were also dashed when they were scheduled against The Magic Numbers at T in the Park the following week.
I'll certainly catch them next time round...
I've obtained a few live recordings from recent shows and Rilo Kiley always end their set with "Does he love you".
It's not an instant song and will take a few listens to get under your skin but it will be worth it...

Rilo Kiley - Does he love you?

What's up Doc?

2005-08-01T22:10:00.000-07:00

I think my favourite film of all time is the Barbra Streisand/Ryan O'Neal screwball comedy "What's up Doc?"
I first came across it inthe early 70's,knowing nothing of Miss Streisand's "Gay Icon" status.
I believe my introduction was through a UK children's show called "Screen test".
This BBC1 teatime quiz was hosted by Michael Rodd.points were awarded to the children competing when they answered correctly questions on the latest movies.
Two of the films I remember being shown countless times were "Bugsy Malone",where the questions always related to the car chase and "What's up Doc?,also with it's extended car chase through San Francisco.The question was usually something like "How many cars drove into the river?"
I'm not sure if I went to see the film at the cinema at the time,if I did it would have probably been as part of a double bill,which were always popular in the early 70's,teamed with "Munster go home,"King Kong and Godzilla","Thunderball" or something of that nature.
I certainly saw it several times on TV,owned the video and now the DVD.
I love it as though it's two leads give good performances,the brilliant ensemble cast make the whole thing special.
Madeline Khan stuns in her debut performance as Eunice,the fiance from Hell but every performance in this movie deserves a medal if not an Oscar...
I travel up to Scotland on the train from time to time and usually watch a movie on my portable DVD player.
"Doc" is always one of my first choices,gaining me glances from my fellow passengers as I try to stifle a laugh every so often!
"Doc" is the perfect film to watch on a dreary day,so cheer yourself up and buy a copy...

What's up Doc?

Katie Melua

2005-08-01T11:53:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of female musicians/singer songwriters etc.I think it's because I spent years watching and listening to angry young men playing rowdy Punk/New Wave,Rock,Psychobilly,Grebo,Goth and every other genre of music.So I needed a change!
I do still go to see the odd male fronted band that I enjoy though.I ventured into the heart of London last week to see 80's yesterday's men - Spear of destiny at Islington Academy.A show that was fanfared on their poor deluded website as their "big" London show.Unfortunatly it was in the smaller venue,no bigger than the average tiny pub.
The band were decent enough though and I caught up with a girl I hadn't seen in 20 years so that was an enjoyable suprise.
I'm off to see The Magic Numbers on friday playing a small gig in London.
I've seen them a few times recently and they can do no wrong in my eyes (for the moment)...
I had the pleasure of seeing Katie Melua perform an acoustic set a couple of years ago at the Enterprise in Camden.It was the week her first single entered the UK charts in the top 10 so I was catching her at the right time.I've seen her a couple of times since and she's always performed well.
Her album "Call off the search" was on my ipod for a while when it came out but I do find it a bit bland now.
The first UK play of her new single "Nine million bicycles" was on Radio 2's Terry Wogan show this morning.I'm not a Terry fan,I usually listen to irritating Christian O' Connel on XFM at that time in the morning but I managed to grab a radio rip.
I've heard it a few times now and it's a nice slice of mellow Melua.It sounds a bit like a cross between "Chardonnay" from Cerys Matthews "Cockahoop" album crossed with the Eastern feel of Nancy Sinatra's "You only live twice". It's taken from her new album "Piece by piece...

Nine million bicycles

World of no

2005-07-31T18:07:00.000-07:00

31st July 2005

World of no will cover various parts of my hum drum,yet exciting life.
Gig reviews,movie reviews,life as a actor/musician and general tales of woe...
The occasional mp3 will also show up from time to time if you are lucky!