Albums of 2010

in no particular order
From Ireland
Fight Like Apes - The Body Of Christ And The Legs Of Tina Turner
FLA return and deliver another 12 new cracking tracks
Villagers - Becoming a Jackal
what can I say, so much emotion so young so old.......
General Fiasco - Buildings
Love this trio of boys and this album will make you smile
From Scotland
The Xcerts - Scatterbrain
so in love with this band their songs always deliver
Steve Mason - Boys Outside
produced an album of fun and songs to make you move
The Phantom Band - The Wants
all tracks are good but I loved 'Into The Corn'
oh and they were excellent live when they supported FR in October.
Admiral Fallow
well I couldn't miss this band who were all over the scottish blogosphere if not the UK.
Then you start to listen and every song seems to be an ear worm making this an essential listen
England
Bombay Bicycle Club - Flaws
Jack Steadman and his crew decided to put outa laid back album, it followed on from the I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose but also laid new ground
it would be wonderful if they make it to SXSW in 2011.
Blood Red shoes - Fire like this
two of them make an astounding sound and again they pull it off live - love them so much.
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly - love Sam love this album
mystery jets serotonin
these boys can do no wrong
the Indelicates songs for swinging lovers
pay what you want - so good I am gald I paid a full price
cynical burning and so the cure for the common album
Foals Total Life Forever
nice album but unbelievable live
Sky Larkin - Kaleide
great people great music great performers
love anjelica Huston but not a bad song on the album and wonderful artwork (signed print framed on my wall) just an alround wow.
telekinesis telekinesis
every song is good and comes to life when played live
bear hands burning bush supper club
brooklyn band which has been on our radar since we saw them support ambulance LTD and this album lives up to all their promise
Beach fossils
guilty of tainting this with their dance driven live perfrmace- just loving this.

Music from 2010 I love

I had to pick music this week to play to distract me during oral surgery.
Without realizing what I was doing I think I picked some of the music I loved most this year by gut instinct. What albums were they?
The Phantom Band The Wants
Admiral Fallow Boots Met My Face
Blood Red Shoes Fire like this
Sky Larkin Kaleide
The National High Violet
These New Puritans Hidden

are there other albums I love? perhaps but when having 10 minutes to grab music to play to keep myself centered these were the ones............. nuff said.

concerts 2010

delta spirit in middle east upstairs
two nights in February
new songs small intimate oh so BLOODY great
wild beasts great scott
bands like this are so rare- love them to death
twilight sad middle east, bowery, wherever
boys can do no wrong disagree with me and lose a limb
Foals Paradise I danced until i thought I would drop- I love you boys
telekinesis- TT The bear's wow such talent- I know I freaked them out being older than dust but I still loved them went expecting a good show and saw a truly talented guy knock it out the park
Bear hands -Great Scott good good and better go see this band and love them
the futureheads -The Paradise boys you are the old guys now and you kick the new guys to the curb
villagers at arts at the armory was sublime dont believe me watch for yourself I videoed it all
gold motel TT The Bear's laid back beautiful bliss - how come someone in london told me to listen to this california band?
Beach fossils - Great Scott oh my god did I dance here, part of a night with warpaint, I loved these boys who have been painted as temperamental - funny they were sweet kids to me sweat sweat...
Simon Neil -Great Scott two of Biffy couldn't get a visa so Simon did a free acoustic set.
suprisingly this just took the best of Biffy and presented it on a platter - no desire to see the full show now
Blood red Shoes and Sky Larkin Great Scott two amazing bands one brilliant venue one very solid night
Johnny Flynn TT The Bear's one man one guitar one solid endearing performance

Memories

This week I took a trip down memory lane amongst other things.
In 1986 Stan Ridgway who used to be in Wall Of Voodoo who created a perfect pop song in Mexican Radio put out an album called The Big Heat. Amongst other tracks, a track Camouflage hot both US and UK charts with its timeless if slightly corny epic story.
I went to see Stan play Queens Hall in July. When we turned up there were about 30 of us in a venue that easily fit 200 if not more.
When a gig is chronically under attended it really show who are stars and who are duds.
Stan shone like the Sun. He looked out and said Lets Have a Party.
So started a phenomenal night,there was no audience and band there was a throng of happy people partying with a band in our midst dancing on the stage, off stage wherever. We exhorted for songs, songs from Wall Of Voodoo were played, songs from the Big Heat and more.
My memory is dusty of exact details BUT one memory remains burnt into my brain, this was one of the best gigs I went to, where I left beaming and just so happy to have been there.
Not surprisingly ever since I have had a soft spot for Stan.
So when we saw he was playing Johnny D's on Tuesday the 14th we decided to go.
The venue is pathetic with a horrible setup only good for dinner theater and lousy sight lines for most and they are out to frag as much as they can from your wallet with their overpriced repugnant food.
Then there was the audience, a more pathetic bunch of stereotypical jokes would have been difficult to find. Sat next to us was a complete loser who came wearing a pseudo cowboy Hat which he never took off, way to go you arrogant rude idiot blocking people's view. Same self loser shouted out multiple times during the show trying to elevate himself beyond his valuelessness and his yelling yeehaw a number of times made me want to strangle him until no breath was left, he was and is a blight on humanity, oh and he brought his guitar to be autographed- way to go loser.
There was a guy with a DSLR camera who used his flash incessantly and posed in stupid unnecessary stances, I just wanted to give him a name of a camera course.
The two guys in their 60s in the front taking shaky videos on their point and shoots for the whole show and being absurdly blatant too.
And I may not be David Bailey but if you are taking photos from 20-30 feet away moving your camera six inches closer by shooting by extending your arms as far as you can is pathetic, unless of course this is the only way you can focus on the screen - god help me.
But through all this Stan played Neon Mirage chatted with humor and intelligence and created a good show.
But to the point as we left we caught Stan outside and I asked him the burning question.
whether the gig that meant so much to me- did he remember that gig, the unasked question - was that gig special or was it all in my mind.
He said he remembered it and that it had been a fun night and asked if I had been there it was a very nice moment, so here in all its silliness is my thoughts and recollections.
I went home with a big grin on my face and felt validated despite the audience, so music can truly be special at all times.

September update

So we started with Marina And the Diamonds and Young the Giant on September 1st.
Young The Giant show promise but are still green but as support bands go were listenable - a nice change.
Marina what can I say? Hype hype and more hype,she is naive and I quite frankly do not buy into the hype. quite enjoyable but I can't say I would rush back to see her.

Now on the 7th we went to see Telekinesis and Somebody still loves You Boris Yeltsin. Wow Telekinesis kick it live, the main guy, Michale is a powerhouse and the poor drums don't stand a chance.
You should love this band and you should have been there. Video will go on youtube when we get a moment to spare, same with pictures on flickr. The other bands not so much.
For the 8th Hey Rosetta surprised us and many at the Middle East Downstairs by putting on a very sweet show, I suggest you go see them when they come back, I know I will.
22-20s had a bit of feedback but put on a solid enjoyable show (videos to follow).
Hot Hot Heat? well now I feel old, Steve Bays is a prima donna, no support bands were allowed in the only place for bands to hang out - nasty move. Then he spends most of his time trying to sing to young females, I was too old for that and I felt an annoyance at the front of the stage. But not as bad as Natalie Portman's shaved head who actually moved folks they wanted to the front- asses. Not sure why the dynamics worked as they did but I just couldn't love this band or their show but it was amusing, support bands 2 - headliner 0 for the past two shows.

We get to relax tonight and let out our chinchillas before we start a six night run of concerts.

September Bands- my thoughts

Just wanted to write a quick note about September, that way when 'other' blogs post their Sept thoughts I wont seem bitter when mine is completely different.
September 1st the Paradise reopens and Boston gets to see how Marina and the Diamonds balance actual songs with hype. But a chance to see her in a small venue - not to be missed.
September 7th Telekinesis plays TT the Bears, we have been playing their first album to death and are looking to see this transfer to the flesh. Somebody still Loves you Boris Yeltsin is the headliner and their new album holds up.
On the 8th Hot Hot Heat and 22-20s play Middle East Downstairs, 22-20s are a bold bluesy rock band with some class tracks, we keep bumping into this band and they keep us smiling. Hot Hot Heat are a fun solid band and will entertain.
On the 10th The Charlatans play Royale, if of course there are no injuries, everyone knows their class tunes and the Royale is still relatively intimate.
On the 11th we are heading down to Providence to see Surfer Blood and the Drums, two very buzzy bands play Jerkys- again a good chance to see bands down and dirty.
On the 12th we will be seeing turbo Fruits, (be your own Pet minus Jemina pearl) at middle east upstairs.
Biffy Clyro, scottish rockers extraodinaire make it to Great Scott, electric live it will be a thrill to see them at such a small venue.
The 15th we travel to Londonderry, NH and back in time to see The alarm play the Tupelo Music Hall, a bit of a twee fun but these gigs are fun.
On the 22nd The Boxer Rebellion play Middle East Upstairs with The augustines- Pela's reincarnation as support.
The Boxer Rebellion were a huge hit at SXSW2010 and I look forward to seeing a more intimate performance here.
No not over yet
Klaxons return to Boston on Sept 24th and we will get to hear the new album, its not Great Scott but The Paradise can be just as much fun.
Sept 28th we see Best Coast recently lauded as NME's hope for the best new band around play with the just as loved Male Bonding also playing at Middle East Downstairs- who in their sane mind would miss this?
And last but in no mean least we get Foals and Esben and The witch playing The Paradise on Sept 29th. I love love love seeing Foals play live and seem to have been waiting with bated breath since they came off stage two years ago in Boston.
So a busy month but so MANY MANY great bands.

Palmdale- Hollywood meets Boston

So TT's got Boston Rock Queen when Kay Hanley visited on 8/16 the shame is she brought her pals, both audience and bands.
The Future Everybody opened, locals with little talent, not offensive but not good.
Then the worst piece of crap I have seen onstage since Pants Yell! or The Luxury came on- Triple Cobra.
Sporting white jumpsuits, well apart from one member wearing a white lace 'wedding dress' hiked up to show the crotch area.
Marry that to the fancy shaped guitars (lets get the star shaped one), the attempt to out Spinal Tap Spinal Tap, the lack of songs, the lack of talent and the lack of a decent vocal well perhaps you can guess my opinion.
Kay and Linus put on a fun show though they still lack a huge bank of songs, Kay however did lash out at a loser who had been videoing Kay the whole night. The funnier part is the woman actually just changed to another of her video cameras to finish the night.
The audience was a bit weird too, we walked out with night blindness from all the flash photography. Now I suffer a lot of bad lighting but the lighting that night was good, a nice mellow orange yellow light to flatter Kay as she ages, there was no excuse for all the flash usage. and how many hundreds of pictures of Kay's face does one person really need?
Give me my new indie bands breaking in, the vibe is so much sweeter and decent.

Asimilation? perhaps not LOL

Driving in to see Warpaint and Beach Fossils, I was stuck in traffic hell because of mr retard Mayor Tom Menino who closes down one lane of Soldiers Field Rd to allow retarded idiots go see oldies at the hatchshell. Spending 40 minutes to drive two miles and having retarded pieces of shit cut you off right left and center made me want to kill certain Bostonians so much that either I am a real Bostonian cause all of us react like this or I am a uptight UK Baitch who hates to see wise ass Bostonian push their luck- Oh Well!
On the other side, it was a nice relaxed time catching the sound checks, we also ended up in a chat with the Beach Fossils Drummer and new guitarist which was fun.
Beach Fossils were on first and promptly blew everyone away with a gazillion ton of reverb and a sound haze that had everyone dancing in the hot humid space.
Again I started to feel more acclimated, such a sweet energetic gig and they were so well received.
Javelin came on and though I enjoyed them a bit, after about 20 minutes all I really wanted was them to stop.
As Warpaint set up, all both Peter and I could think was wow their bass player is a bit weird, just seems a bit in the deep end, last to set up and did not seem very grounded.
When Warpaint started, the music took over and so did the reverb, the joke of the evening was Great Scott probably used their whole month's reverb allowance in one hot humid evening.
Warpaint has great sings and every single one of the girls take vocals for at least one song and guess what none of them suck they all harmonise and really hit the spot.
They sang Billie Holliday as an encore and it was stunning.
Some songs were a trifle overlong but this is a band I would go see again in a heartbeat and recommend others to do the same.
On a side note there must be the idea Warpaint are going to be big, traveling with them was Parker, the sound guy that also does The Cribs and Franz Ferdinand big shoes looking after these ladies.

Assimilation?

Recently I have been starting to appreciate a wider range of American bands.
Gold Motel, so dreamily perfect with bluesy tendency without any annoying tendencies and a wonderfully mellow laid back acoustic concert at TT's reinforced this.
Twin sister- from Brooklyn/Long Island starting to grow on me, live too shy and not forthcoming but such growing promise.
Then we have a wonderful trilogy of Beach Fossils, Warpaint and Best Coast. Warm fuzzy summer tones with reverb shimmering in the background, this fails to fall into teh normal American meh category and fixates itself into my brain.
The question is am I becoming American or is the US actually producing a bumper crop of class acts to embrace into our bosom and support as best we can.
Yesterday I was asked to provide music (about seven hours) for my work summer outing, my first though add the Gold Motel, Best Coast, Beach Fossils, First Aid Kit and Villagers album mix and let the chill out zone start. I am creating a mix but I find these artists are making a substantial contribution. This amuses me and makes me hope that as the hopelessly clueless here this musical perfection they will inquire and perhaps learn one never knows.

Grammatics split..sob

Double bad news to wake up to, no mercury nomination for The Twilight Sad (actually this is more criminal than sad) and the fact Grammatics are splitting.
In a sea of music at SXSW this year the Grammatics shone with originality and beauty making me smile so deeply I could not believe it.
Sad sad sad..........

long time no post- LightSpeed champion & Bear In Heaven Live

ok I need to get busy and post about the music I have been seeing and loving etc.

Fo example last Tuesday everything collided in Boston.
So Cow played Great Scott, thought he was fun when he played O'Brien's and would have been there if he had played ANY other night but I wasnt going to miss other bands for him.
Then We are Scientist played the Middle East downstairs, which would be fun if Bear In Heaven hadnt been playing next door. Then the kicker set in they announced LightSpeed Champion as the support as well as an unknown band Rewards.
If you don't adore Dev AKA Lightspeed Champion I don't want to talk to you. He is self effacing a musical genius and a real funny genuine guy. So we had to go- then to our delight we find Rewards is Dev and his mate Aaron - oh rapture two sets from Dev after SOOOOOOOO very very long.
so after this delight and despite the trio of assholes who were so very very verbal during his show we ran over to TT's.
There we caught the last song from Twin Sister, if you don't know them its easily remedied as NYCtaper has two live sets and their own website has two eps free to download. Interesting and wish we had seen more but wouldn't have missed a second of Dev.
Then Bear In Heaven came on. They seem to be part of this new laid back musical trend. I would place them alongside Local Natives but I think I preferred them. Though with less buzz the atmosphere was so much cooler that was easier.
So one night four bands, two performances from Dev and ending up being pretty laid back. Oh and EVERY band was American and I still loved the night so habits can be broken.

sxsw last

thurs
middleman
slow club
grammatics
the crooke
codeine velvet club
columbian band
chew lips
band at pure volume
first aid kit
laurel collective
scanners
Goldheart Assembly
the chapman family
broken records
we say party you say die


friday
grammatics
colin macintyre
halves
butterfly explosion
villagers
autumn owls
strait laces
dark room notes
dirty epics
the minutes
st deluxe
broken records
johnny flynn
The Ghost of a Thousand
The Golden Filter at Emo's Jr 603 Red River St
The Candle Thieves at St David's Historic Sanctuary 301 E 8th St
The Gin Riots at Wave 408 E 6th St
The Boxer Rebellion at Maggie Mae's Rooftop 323 E 6th St
Trembling Bells at St David's Bethell Hall 301 E 8th St
Everything Everything at Latitude 30 512 San Jacinto St
the drums


saturday
the invisible
everything everything
viva city
ten bears
scars on 45
fyfe dangerfield
Vadoinmessico
Alvarez Kings at BD Riley's 204 E 6th St
cate le bon latitude
casiokids
Smoke Fairies at The Ale House 310 E 6th St (Alley Entrance)
wave pictures
Slow Club at Latitude 30 512 San Jacinto St


details, pics and mucho video tocome

wed 17th sxsw 2010

belfast rocks

strait laces
and so I watched you from afar
fighting with wire
general fiasco
1 song broken records
mighty stef
broadcast 2000
gloria cycles
autumn owls
the coronas
dark room notes
villagers
get cape wear cape fly
general fiasco

SXSW Tuesday 16th March

as usual just the bare bones until I have more time

started by seeing
strait laces @ tech mashup at Rusty spurs,
uk party at latitude
viva city
stricken city
unicorn kid
one night only
fenech soler
onward as they say...........

SXSW 2010

SXSW - fun? yes but wow does it take a lot of organization.
First we listen to all British/irish bands, there are exceptions (First Aid Kit and Bang Bang Eche who we would still like to see despite them not being British)
We figure out who we really like, who might be good.
You then figure out the parties with biggest bang for the buck, arriving late at Filter won't get you much of a position/view etc. Also take into account if you can see them swing by your town AFTER SXSW.
Take into account the buzzability of a band, sorry but I will see Fanfarlo, Frightened Rabbit and The XX in Boston at their own shows. Calculate who is doing multiple shows allowing you to see them perhaps not when they are opposite another band, are they doing the day stage, the second chance stages (we saw Mumford and Sons at the Hilton at 6pm last year).
We also like to maximize our chances of seeing multiple new bands too.

First call we want to see
Alvarez Kings Autumn Owls Banjo Or Freakout Beans On Toast Broken Records CHEW LiPS Colin MacIntyre aka Mull Histroical Society Dark Room Notes Everybody Was In The French Resistance ... Now Everything Everything Fyfe Dangerfield General Fiasco Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly Gloria Cycles Goldheart Assembly Grammatics Johnny Flynn Kasms Laurel Collective Lo-Star Muchuu Munch Munch My Tiger My Timing Scanners Scars on 45 Slow Club Standard Fare Straight Lines Strait Laces Stricken City Ten Bears The Boxer Rebellion The Candle Thieves The Chapman Family The Coronas The Crookes The Golden Filter The Wave Pictures
and may see
Allo Darlin And So I Watch You From Afar Angry Vs The Bear Athlete Band of Skulls Blue Roses Butterfly Explosion Cate Le Bon Chris T-T Clock Opera Codeine Velvet Club Cosmo Jarvis Dirty Epics Doll and The Kicks erik hassle Exlovers Fenech-Soler Helen Boulding Katie V Let's Wrestle Lovvers Malachai Male Bonding Marina & The Diamonds Middleman One Night Only Smoke Fairies Smokey Angle Shades The Blue Aeroplanes The Gin Riots The Higher State The Invisible The Law The Lovely Eggs The Members The Mighty Stef The Walls Tommy Reilly Toy Horses Vadoinmessico Villagers Wave Machines We Were Promised Jetpacks

note we also have to watch for cancellations. Oh well no sleep until SXSW, where we are planning to see LOTS of music

Emperor's New Clothes

Sometimes I get cowed as my music taste does not even remotely adhere to what certain hypesters adore.
For example I have seen these bands live and don't see any value
Vampire Weekend
HEALTH
Surfer Blood
Freelance Whales
Passion Pit

Your Vegas Middle East Upstairs Jan 16th 2010

We saw Your Vegas way back when they supported The Bravery, which of course we were not there to see but to see Switches (dearly departed). Your Vegas a bunch of lads from Leeds who have settled in New York provided a interesting set both nights and made us decide to keep them on our radar.
So when they hit Boston in January we made the effort to go see them. They seem to have a hard time getting their own followers rather than offcasts from their support slots. As a old time British duran fan, I have to admit the tubby aging Duranies with their closed musical taste just become an embarrassment and liability. I may have started there but I feel I have moved on, miles and miles........
Your Vegas do play as if they are in a stadium but there songs are fun ranging from some songs with rousing guitar, bass and drum rhythms to the slower ballads.
They are in the progress of recording a new album and I wish them luck, this show was a mix of old and new and all are pretty good songs. My favorite new band? no but a band I will keep an eye on and support where possible.

Your Vegas Aurora Middle East Upstairs Boston Jan 16th


Your Vegas Troubled Time Middle East Upstairs Boston Jan 16th


Your Vegas Gospel Middle East Upstairs Boston Jan 16th

The Yummy Fur Market Hotel Brooklyn

I have been going to gigs for a long time, no please don't ask, but this must be the most disgusting run down calamity of a shack masquerading as a venue. When you see teh lead singer of the first band openly swap dope and start to smoke it in his bong right in front of you that just about sets the tone of the night.
The first three bands, the suprisers, german measles and macdonalds were catastrophic and the reason I proclaim to hate american music.
Bishop Allan, a band a couple of my friends have been suggesting, in contrast seemed beautifully talented. Their set breezed by and though if headlining you wont find me lined up as a support they were glorious.
OK, the yummy fur, I call your bluff guys most of you exhorting they had been waiting fourteen years- BS!, especially in the USA with the worst radio sites on the planet. In the 2000s the internet has the capacity to save US music fans but back then they just died.
Its good to actually be able to see Paul,, but otherwise its just like a dated form of the 1990s. fun but definitely more hype than substance. But saying that I did enjoy the music.