MALCOLM MIDDLETON @ NIGHT & DAY 6 APRIL 2008

After seeing Malcolm before (here and here) knew what to expect but forgot just how good this would be. Malcolm claimed that the evening would be "indifferent" but he was just plain wrong.

Performing seated with acoustic guitar accompanied by Stevie on double bass and Jenny on violin/backing vocals (no fancy equipment changes here), he played songs from all four albums, a B-side or two plus several new ones. Including "Red Travelling Socks" (Bright-Eyes-meets-Billy-Bragg?) that he claims "should mark a new turn in my career"

I much prefer this setting for Malcolm's songs that the polished full-band production on parts of A Brighter Beat and Into The Woods. And the final songs played solo - especially Choir and Devil and The Angel were just heart-breakingly good. For someone so self-deprecating and almost at unease with the notion of performing, he puts on a bloody good show.

And managed to pick up a copy of the web/gig only release Live At The Bush Hall and get it signed too.
All in all an excellent evening - suitably aided by Night and Day's new Polish beer of choice Tyskie

The set-list (with a couple of omissions and guesses at titles for new songs):

A Brighter Beat
Fuck It I Love You
Week Off
Follow Robin Down
Blue Plastic Bags
We're All Going To Die
Pick Me Up
Shadows
The Loneliest Night Of My Life Came Calling
Point of Life
Toasting The Bad Times?
Stay
Red Travelling Socks
Somebody Loves You

------
Total Belief
(another one here?)

Choir
The Devil and The Angel

Several acoustic demos available to download from Malcolm's website here - you're life will be better for it.

A NEW HEART

Malcolm Middleton
Into The Woods [BUY]

DEVIL AND THE ANGEL

Malcolm Middleton

Live At The Bush Hall [BUY]

Support was from De Rosa who performed as a two-piece (guitar/vocals plus electric piano) - definitely worth investigating.

HATTONRIGG PIT DISASTER
De Rosa

Mend [BUY]

SEE THE BIG MAN CRY

I'm not a sentimental type but recent events amongst family and friends (involving family pets, turning 40 and themed cakes) have caused grown men and women to start blubbing publicly. And it's difficult not to be moved.

And the bloggers seem to be joining in too. First DominoRally posts Jim Reeves' "Old Tige" and then Moistworks posts "See The Big Man Cry" by Charlie Louvin. Spoken word personal histories, death and family pets: all great topics to bring a lump to the throat.

So here are my contributions to songs sentimental and teary - all guaranteed to start me claiming "I've just got something in the corner of my eye..."

The emotional damage this wreaked on a nine year child listening to the charts in 1974 still lingers.

SEASONS IN THE SUN

Terry Jacks [BUY]

As uplifting as it is moving and sentimental - nothing short of genius (and don't even mention the fact that Clarence was blind)

PATCHES

Clarence Carter [BUY]

First heard this recently on St Etienne's Songs For Mario's Cafe . A children's choir AND a woman crying. Thank god I didn't hear it when I was nine....

THE MUSIC BOX
Ruth Copeland [BUY]

SPRING CLEANING

"Do you really need to keep that?" is a question I have been asked all my life; and the answer is invariably "yes". Hence the notion of The Archive. It's more that just a record and CD collection; it's a justification for keeping all the shit I've accumulated.

Gig t-shirts come into this category. Some last for years, some only a couple of washes. And then there are the red T-shirts. Red is just not my colour. My pale, pasty skin (too much time spend indoors) looks EVEN MORE washed-out in red. Mrs A has had to veto any more red clothes. But what to do with all the red gig t-shirts? Especially when spring cleaning?

Well the answer is obvious. Take then out of the draw. Re-fold them. And put them away again. Because yes I really do need to keep them.

JUNKIE'S PROMISE

Sonic Youth

Washing Machine [BUY]

THE LONELY

British Sea Power
The Decline of British Sea Power [BUY]

MISTY'S BIG ADVENTURE @ MANCHESTER ACADEMY 2, 1 MARCH 2008

The hardest working band touring the UK at the moment? Back in Manchester but alas without dancer-cheerleader-mascot Volvo who went out for a pizza after a recent gig and never came back (I did see a woman nearly in tears at the news).

The usual bag of tricks from the band; added to tonight's repetoire was playing all their singles in chronological order. Nice touch - but "Dog Like You" should have been a single. And threw in a few new songs too like "The Start of the Century", "the Rainbow and The Cloud" and "Television's (?) People". One new song was described as "indie jazz" - luckily it wasn't.

The set-list:

Instrumental
The Long Conveyor Belt
She Fills The Spaces
How Did You Manage To Get Inside My Head?

Smart Guys Wear Ties
I'm Cool With A Capital C
Night Time Better Than Daytime
Hey Man
The Story of Love
Fashion Parade
The Start of The Century
Television's People
We Do! Do We? We Do!

A Dog Like You
Between You and Me
The Day The Kids Went Radioactive
Serious Thing
The Rainbow and The Cloud
Evil
Two Brains
Elevator Escalator Stairs
Never Stops Never Rests Never Sleeps
(and Crumpled Up Guy somewhere in second half)

WE DO! DO WE? WE DO!

The Black Hole [BUY]

FASHION PARADE

Fashion Parade single [BUY]

JIM JONES R.I.P.

Last week Jim Jones died of a heart attack at the age of 57 after many years of illness. Jim was guitarist with Pere Ubu, Home and Garden and many other Cleveland bands. I didn't know him, never met him and probably only saw him play once (Worlds in Collision tour 1993, London Marquee) but I feel strangely saddened at his death.

Read about his impact on the Cleveland scene and other musicians here. David Thomas of Pere Ubu is strongly against unauthorised posting of their material (see here) but I hope he doesnt't mind the following as a tribute to Jim.

FROM THE LIFE OF KING JOHN
Home and Garden
History and Geography [BUY]

"And now I get my fortunes told for free"

I've just started listening to the Robert Plant and Alison Krauss album "Raising Sand". It isn't bluegrass. And it isn't blues-rock. More like desert balladry. It reminds me a lot of Howe Gelb and Lisa Germano on the OP8 "Slush" album from 1997. It's only my first listen or so to Plant & Krauss but I'm not sure it will find a permanent place in the Archive.

But one song did stand out: their cover of the Allen Toussaint song "Fortune Teller".

Now I don't believe in seasonal postings. But let's make an exception and link this to Valentine's Day.

Several years ago now Mrs A and myself walked down the aisle after tying the knot to Benny Spellman singing "Fortune Teller". It was a register office naturally with us being atheists - and we don't have "our song" but this song was just too perfect not to be played. There are several versions about (notably The Who on Live From Leeds 1974) but nothing has topped the original Benny Spellman one to my mind. But the Plant & Krauss does come close.

So Happy Valentines Day Mrs A. I know it's only a blog post. But it's more than you got last year.

FORTUNE TELLER
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Raising Sand[BUY]

FORTUNE TELLER
Benny Spellman
Fortune Teller [BUY]

EAMON HAMILTON @ RUBY LOUNGE MANCHESTER 12 Feb 2008

One thing that is great about Brakes is hearing four musicians play short, sharp, fast and loud songs. With electrical instruments and amplification. So how was this going to work acoustically?

OK so obviously the electrical instruments, band and loudness were missing but what came through - mostly - was the quality of some of the songs. Given the brevity of some of Brakes songs (first single Pick Up The Phone clocked in at a mighty 24 seconds), it can be easy to dismiss them as a novelty. But listening to the songs played and sung by Eamon with just an acoustic guitar showed there is more to the songs than either noise or speed. The ones that worked tended to be the slowies and the "heartbreakers" (in Eamon's words) such as No Return or Fell In Love With A Girl. But even Spring Chicken and Heard About Your Band felt fresh, even lively, delivered acoustically. Some didn't fare so well including All Nite Disco Party despite audience participation (but to my mind this is their novelty song).

First time in Ruby Lounge. It is doesn't live up to the owner's own hype (see here). Worked well for three solo(ish) peformers and given small attendance (I reckon there was only 40-50 in) but would hate to see a band with a capacity crowd of 350 in. It's basically a spacious basement bar with a small, wide but shallow stage in one corner. The area immediately in front of the stage has two great supporting columns. So I guess you're OK if front and centre but further back or to the side could be a nightmare.

But I'm being picky. Great night despite low attendance. Three acts for £7 (shame about the exorbitant fees from See Tickets). First support was John Fairhurst. Played acoustic guitar and occasionally sang, accompanied by harmonica/spoons and bongos/tablas. Mixture of John Fahey-esque, almost trippy instrumentals and bluesy drawls. Couldn't help but imagine him being big on the festival circuit playing late night in a tent in the middle of nowhere.

Second support was The Voluntary Butler Scheme who had been playing with Eamon on several of these dates. VBS is one man - Rob Jones - with a very big fringe. Difficult to see his face through much of the playing because of his hair but also he moved between instruments fairly rapidly and had to concentrate fairly hard on this. For some songs he looped some percussion or guitar chords and then played guitar or keyboards over this. On one song he played kazoo and ukelele at the same time whilst beating a rhythm with his foot on a bass drum. Impressive stuff but the songs were pretty good too. Don't think anything has been officially released but bought the Tomatoes, Peppers, Garlic & Mushrooms CD-R 4 song EP of him at the end. It comes in a limited edition, hand-printed paper bag:

Songs reminded me of the playfulness of Aidan Smith, mixed with the bedroom romanticism of say Babybird or Momus (but not as artful). One to watch as they say.

Eamon's set:

Spring Chicken
Ring A Ding Ding
If I Should Die Tonight
"Don't Take Away My Space Man" (new song)
Heard About Your Band
You're So Pretty

No Return

Beatific Visions

Margherita

Pick Up The Phone

Cheney (three times)

"Thought, Thought Until It Had Been Thunk" (new song)
Fell In Love With A Girl
On Your Side
All Nite Disco Party
Hold Me In The River
What's In It For Me?
"Consumer Producer Chicken Egg" (new song)
Porcupine or Pineapple
NY Pie
Comma Comma Comma Fullstop

----

Take A Whiff Of Me (Leadbelly song)

HOLD ME IN THE RIVER
Brakes
The Beatific Visions [BUY]

TRADING THINGS IN

DYNAMITE
The Voluntary Butler Scheme

Tomatoes, Peppers, Garlic & Mushrooms EP [BUY]

PETE & THE PIRATES @ MANCHESTER ROADHOUSE 5 FEB 2008

First time I've ever had ticket number one? Pete & The Pirates played The Roadhouse tonight as part of UK tour in advance of their album coming out on 18 February. Having seen them at the End of The Road Festival and being very impressed (see here) hopes were high for tonight's gig in Manchester.

But probably the shortest set I've ever heard from a headlining band. It was good - don't get me wrong - but woefully too short. The new album is about 35 minutes long - and I think the set was shorter. Surely not right? And only one crappy photo because camera phone decided to have a hissy fit.

Early part of set was quite quiet (band and crowd) but definitely picked up. They've got some great songs (see all their singles). I've been struggling to think of a comparison band - always a mistake. The nearest I can get is The Undertones: nervy, clattery guitars; strong melodies but equally strong punkishness; very short; all about girls. But very English.

I thought the audience were really passive (surprisingly so) but maybe lack of familiarlity with the material? Appreciative but subdued. The band did get more into their stride but was over before they started - and no encores. All done by 10 pm - a good 30 minutes before the club night that was meant to be the reason for the 10.30pm curfew.

So next time: more of the same but longer.

The one that was written in Manchester apparently...
SHE BELONGS TO ME
Pete & the Pirates
Little Death [pre-order]

CLINIC IN SESSION BBC RADIO MERSEYSIDE 1 FEB 2008

This was a competition winners-only event at BBC Radio Merseyside's performance space. Well the performance space was more like an office foyer with bright lighting with some amps and musical instruments shoved at one end. The lack of an obvious stage, the harsh lighting and no bar meant that most people (about 50 or 60 or so in attendance) were milling around until someone (a BBC Radio Merseyside DJ) introduced Clinic playing their first hometown gig in over 10 years. Clinic entered in the usual surgeon's masks, olive green North Korean-leader-style suits plus mop-top wigs. They played a no-nonsense, tight 45 minute set with five new songs including FREE NOT FREE which is available to download free today.

There might not have been much atmosphere due to the 'venue' but it was an impressive performance with the new songs fitting in well with classics like Cement Mixer and The Second Line. Great appetiser for the April UK tour (dates here).

This was the set-list:

PET EUNUCH

CLINIC

Walking With Thee [BUY]

FREE NOT FREE

CLINIC

First single (available free from clinicvoot.org) from new album DO IT (due 8 April)

BRITISH SEA POWER @ MANCHESTER ACADEMY 2 27 JAN 08

Well after average (by BSP standards) show at Leeds was expecting more of tonight. In such a high state of excitement unfortunately that ended up drinking too much strong continental lager during the support slots. So blunted my critical faculties maybe - but I had a bloody good time.

Same set as has been played throughout this tour but from where I was (at the front, dead centre) felt much more energetic than Leeds - both band and crowd. Great performances of Lights Out For Darker Skies, Fear of Drowning and The Great Skua. Whether it was enjoyment or alcohol, ended up taking several photos with the camera phone.

And foliage even appeared for the encores:



The advertised running times all went to pot with These New Puritans coming on first. They were a bit flustered, having only arrived "ten minutes ago". Didn't appear to affect their performance but I do think they appear to have forgotten to unpack some songs. Lots of Mark E Smith-style shouting over pounding synth and drums - sounded good initially but didn't go anywhere really.

The Vanguard then came on for the second slot. Lots of local support so got a better reception and played a good set. Liked some of the early songs but by the end of the set familiarity had set in a bit for me. Worth seeing again though.

The BSP set-list:

Lights Out For Darker Skies

Fear of Drowning

Remember Me
Canvey Island

Down On The Ground

How Will I Ever Find My Way Home?

Blackout

Waving Flags

The Great Skua

Please Stand Up

Atom

Favours in the Beetroot Fields

Open The Door

No Lucifer

A Trip Out

The Spirit of St Louis
-----

True Adventures

Carrion

Rock in A

DOWN ON THE GROUND

British Sea Power

Do You Like Rock Music? [BUY]

WHEN I'M FIFTY OR THEREABOUTS...

...I'd like to make a video like this. I'm starting to practise the walk now but growing the 'tache may prove a bit trickier....




I haven't got that long to get it right so better start sooner rather than later.

One of the songs of 2008?

DIG LAZARUS DIG!
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Single released 18 February
[pre-order here or here]

BRITISH SEA POWER @ LEEDS IRISH CENTRE 23 JAN 2008

Two word review: "Missing Woody". There's no such thing as a bad BSP gig in my book - and this was far from a bad gig - but it was, well, tame. With drummer Woody injured, Tom from Electric Soft Parade/Brakes was taking his place with a week's notice or so. So all credit due for filling in at such short notice but it just wasn't the same.


The first three songs - including Remember Me - just came and went without making an impact. Should have been a barnstorming opening but felt a bit under-powered. In part a quiet crowd. Things did pick up - songs that worked well on this night were Waving Flags and The Great Skua - and Abi on violin and Phil on cornet/keyboards definitely were adding something. But overall a bit more drive and bite was needed.



Noble went crowd-surfing during the encores. Phil (in Heath-Ledger-as-the-Joker-makeup tribute?) leapt off the highest speaker stack and I think fell flat on the floor. He was certainly down a long time with a circle of anxious faces peering at him. Noble helped him up and off but all I could see was a woman's open-mouthed horror-struck face watching proceedings whilst holding his next-size-up-from-cornet-but-not-a-tuba brass instrument. At end of gig there was blood on the floor at this spot. Hope he is OK for the rest of the tour...


Irish Centre was a 800 capacity ballroom with 'lounge' area slightly raised above the ballroom area. High ceiled, wide square area before the large-ish stage. Worked well as a gig venue. Support was from Make Model, six-piece from Glasgow. I'd heard comparisons made to The Delgados but there were much more to the 'twee' side of things. Played well but nothing really stood out for me.

Expecting more of BSP on Sunday in Manchester....


The set list:
Lights Out For Darker Skies

Atom

Remember Me
Canvey Island

Down On The Ground
How Will I Ever Find My Way Home?
Blackout
Waving Flags
The Great Skua
Please Stand Up
Fear of Drowning
Favours In The Beetroot Fields
Spirit of St Louis
Open The Door
A Trip Out
No Lucifer
----
True Adventures

Carrion

Rock in A

HOW TO DO AN IN-STORE APPEARANCE

Well if you are going to have to do it this is the way to do it. At Manchester's Zavvi* today, British Sea Power performed a live set then signed copies of the new single Waving Flags released today. Sometimes these affairs can be a bit soulless, a bit embarrassing. However BSP showed how it should be done by treating the instore as a gig.



In the basement of the store there is a small raised stage which meant BSP could play proper amplified set. So approx 200 queued in the (soulless) shopping centre before being 'escorted' by security staff down to the basement area and then got just short of 40 minutes of BSP live. Not some half-hearted acoustic strum-along but a full-on if short-in-duration set. They played:

Atom
Lights Out For Darker Skies
No Lucifer
Down On The Ground
Waving Flags
The Spirit of St Louis/Scottish Wildlife Experience/Rock in A

And then they signed stuff:

Waving Flags 7" single cover

Sticker that comes with Waving Flags CD single

*See here for Pop Justice 'briefing' on Zavvi