SING YE FROM THE HILLSIDES @ TAN HILL INN 29-31 AUGUST 2008

Sing Ye From The Hillsides, Britain's smallest festival, was always going to be different but in addition to the bands and the advertised activities (see here), there was still a few extra surprises. Who would have expected being able to fly a Harris Hawk, wonder which yurt Mark Ronson would be sleeping in, and or discussing how to repel a siege of journalists and Arctic Monkeys fans?

DAY ONE: FRIDAY

Arriving at Friday lunchtime at Tan Hill Inn, it was only proper to enjoy a few pints of Black Sheep bitter with a baguette and chips before putting up tents. Exchanging tickets for wristbands mid-afternoon, with the first bands not on until 8pm what else was there to do but head by in to the pub to enjoy a bottle or two of British Ale Power specially brewed for the weekend by the Dent Brewery?

The music on Friday started with The Witch and The Robot. I'd seen them before supporting BSP at the Brudenell in Leeds and the memories weren't that positive. Second viewing didn't change that opinion. The three piece plus drum machine (malfunctioning tonight) are joined on stage by plastic snakes, feather boas, helium ballons, a papier-mache headed stage 'dancer', projected images (more of papier-mache head man running around the Lake District alternating with 'prose-poetry' - I'm being kind) and an entourage of more dancers wearing paper chemical suits and masks inviting the audience to write on their bodies with felt pens. So you can imagine what the music is like: a messy collision of too many ideas. They finish with song 'More Mackerel than Mineral' and this sums it up really.

The next band were completely new to me: Silvery. They are a four-piece who look like a blend of two-parts 90s indie band to one-part 60s Carnaby Street. But they sound like an update of 70s Sparks - fairground keyboards, jittery rhythms, falsetto vocals, and great fun. Very English eccentric, very arty glam rock that deserves a listen even if that description sends shivers down your spine.

British Sea Power had advertised tonight's set (the first of three over the weekend) as 'gentle': so guitarist Noble advised the crowd that they could go "double nuts" tomorrow night. However this wasn't the quiet, acoustic evening this might suggest.

The set featured lots of little played songs and old favourites all kicking off A Wooden Horse. Great to hear Childhood Memories and The Lonely live (it's been a long time for both) and Tugboat (from Rough Trade's Stop Me If You Heard This One Before compilation) was magnificent.

The crowd and the band both seemed a bit cautious in the first half of the set - it was going to be a long weekend and some sensible pacing was required. But by the end of the main part of the set, a trio of songs (Larsen B, Favours in the Beetroot Fields and A Lovely Day Tomorrow) sent everyone wild. And then the crowd-suring (band and audience) started. The final song was an extended Lately/Rock in A that took in all sorts of extras and detours - I caught a snatch of Out of My Mind and Dope and Speed but everything else flew past - it was glorious.

The Setlist:

What better way to cool down than a few more beers and to indulge in further discussion of the day's main festival gossip: that tomorrow night Sing Ye From The Hillsides would be the location for James (Simian Mobile Disco) Ford's stag-do with members of The Klaxons and Arctic Monkeys (probably performing a secret set) and Mark Ronson in attendance. Ronson would be flying in by helicopter. And probably be bringing Lily Allen. Eh?!

Part Two to follow ...

ALBERT'S EYES
THE LONELY
British Sea Power
[BUY] or [BUY]

TUGBOAT
Galaxie 500
Today [BUY]

PS A big THANK YOU to Ms N for providing us with a gift to take for the band/the weekend/the hell of it. Of course what else could it be but a cake. Of antarctic coastal ice-shelf Larsen B. With Great Skuas on.

A Lovely Day Tomorrow ...

Well I said here that I wasn't going to any festivals ...

But tomorrow is the start of Sing Ye From The Hillsides! a three day British Sea Power-curated festival for 200 people at Tan Hill Inn, Britain's highest pub (and see here for last year's report of BSP at Tan Hill Inn. And at least it's not November this year).

Entertainment for the weekend includes husky racing, duck-herding, a pub quiz, a tug of war and an attempt to record the loudest ever human voice. Plus the following instructions:

For all the brave folk coming to the Tan Hill Inn, we invite you all to bring along the following:
1) A Book – For a lucky dip book exchange
2) Mix CD – To be played on Tan Hill stereo, and for a lucky dip Mix CD exchange
3) Piece of wood – For the bonfire
4) Firework – For Hamilton's firework display
5) Cushion – The barn will be a makeshift cinema during the daytime so make yourself comfortable.
6) Card/Board Games – If you so wish
7) Special outfit, which you think embodies BSP – For drunken catwalk competition

So bags are packed, outfits chosen, and the weather outlook (see here) is looking good.

A LOVELY DAY TOMORROW
British Sea Power allied with The Ecstasy of Saint Theresa
And While We Kept On Drinking EP [BUY]

THE HIDDEN CAMERAS @ RUBY LOUNGE 24 AUGUST 2008

I've been conditioned to expect gigs these days to be curfewed, particularly at Manchester Academy venues. So I'm used to a 11pm finish. Tonight The Hidden Cameras played Club Brenda's Alternative Mardi Gras Extravaganza with doors opening at 10.30pm, first act at 11.15pm and the whole shebang finishing at 3am. Nothing a large pot of coffee before going out couldn't solve.

Now We Got Tickets is a great service, easy to use and reasonable fees. But come on. An on-screen confirmation and a print-at-home email message is NOT the same as a ticket stub!

Ruby Lounge was HEAVING. Busiest I have seen it. And it makes much more sense as a club rather than solely a live music venue; lots of corners and alcoves and sections, plenty of space to spread out.

Bit later than advertised, with a brief intro from MC The Divine David, The Hidden Cameras took to the stage. This is the first time I'd seen the band live. And I realised it was also the first time I'd actually seen what they look like. And they are a rum bunch.


In the seven piece (drums, bass, guitar, two keyboards, violin and cello) there several players who look like standard N. American indie-rock band members. Then there is Maggie the keyboard player who with vintage cotton-print dress, immaculate red hair and glossy lipstick looks like she belongs in a 1950s set drama like Madmen. Then the other keyboard player and the drummer appear to be Central Casting extras for a low-budget frat college comedy wearing between them a towelling headband, oversize baseball hat and a t-shirt with day-glo aliens on it.

Then there is band-leader Joel.

Joel was getting shouts before he even took to the stage. And you can see why. But rather than the romantic indie-gospel troubadour I was expecting he looks like a US military marine on R&R: denim jeans, tight grey t-shirt, severe cropped hair and even more severe cheek-bones. And when he sang, even on a slower number like Awoo, he appeared to be in pain: mouth contorted, neck muscles straining.

The set started slowly with two new (or new to me) songs in the first three but then things quickly picked up pace. Hidden Camera songs are big on melody and range from floaty to frenetic but live they add fierce too: lots of on-stage screaming and leaping about as well as Joel's pained facial contortions. The whole thing is infectious and jubilant. And it all peaked with the encores, first an exceptional Ban Marriage with the crowd singing, leaping and still shouting for Joel, and then synchronised dance movements to Breathe On It. "Gay church folk music" doesn't get any better.

The Set List:
[new song]
Follow These Eyes
[new song: Hypnotise?]
Awoo
Death Of A Tune
Heji
B-Boy
Day Is Dawning
Learning The Lie
Hump From Bending
A Miracle
In The Union of Wine
Smells Like Happiness
Music Is My Boyfriend
----
Ban Marriage
Breathe On It

HUMP FROM BENDING
LEARNING THE LIE
The Hidden Cameras
Awoo [BUY]

BAN MARRIAGE
The Hidden Cameras
The Smell Of Our Own [BUY]

Before we start, if we start ...

Well I finally joined Rough Trade's The Album Club after at least 12 months' of saying I would.

Basically this is a subscription service where for £12 a month RT send you their pick of the month ("The Album") together with listening notes ("The Fold") to this album plus their 9 other picks. And if you don't like The Album (they do like the definitive article) you can post it back to swap for one of the other records of the month. It's available either for CDs or digital download. And you can cancel at anytime.

Clearly this is genius. What a simple idea and as they say "it couldn't be easier to discover and own the very best new music". So I joined at the beginning of the month and then had THREE WEEKS to kill until delivery time.

The first delivery was due Friday just gone but arrived 24 hours later. Just to add to the sense of anticipation. There's new Ballboy and James Yorkston albums due in the next few weeks (both essential purchases in my book) - could these be The Album??

With eager fingers I carefully opened the jiffy bag to find ... Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve.
Eh?

Reaching for The Fold I find that this album ("3rdmynd") is a compilation of ultra-limited vinyl releases by a mystery duo who turn out to be Richard Norris of The Grid and Erol Alkan. (The Grid they had that single "Swamp Thing" didn't they? About the same time as "Cotton-Eyed Joe" ...).

Hmmm. Dance producer and a DJ. Given my listening time is finite and I have no interest in dancing, particularly to repetitive beats, I avoid most dance music and anything that refers to 'beats per minute'. My preference is for music that follows two rough templates, either
a) verse-chorus-verse-feedback; or
b) maudlin introspection-chorus-maudlin introspection-repeat maudlin introspection to fade.

So with a sense of disappointment I started listening, reluctantly, to "3rdmynd". Well blow me. It ain't dance music. It's mighty, mighty fine music. Me and my prejudice.

Here's what RT say:


I don't know exactly what Beyond The Wizzard's Sleeve have done. These tracks are not mash-ups. They are not updatings or remixes of old tracks. They appear to have found obscure psych tracks and lovingly enhanced them. That's the best way to describe it. It feels like fans playing homage.

It starts with Before We Start, If We Start which is takes a spoken word extract, loops it, speeds it up and then crashes it headfirst into feedback. This is just the beginning of the inventiveness. The music that follows is timeless and it soars and it uplifts. Truly mindbending psychedelia. And in Winter in June it blends 60s pop innocence and charm with Percy Thrower's gardening tips. 4 and 1/2 minutes where I just grinned like an idiot.

BUBBLE BURST
WINTER IN JUNE
Beyond The Wizard's Sleeve
3rdmynd [BUY]

The Album Club [JOIN]

The Fold also includes three recommendations from BTWS of records that influenced them and then the other nine recommendations. These can be streamed on the website for subscribers and, of course, all ordered for the standard price of £12.

And I thought joining might be a way to save money. It's going to cost me a fortune. But if the first CD is anything to go by, it's going to be glorious.

TONIGHT IN MANCHESTER: The Pictish Trail and 'Kwaing Creasite'

Well who could ‘Kwaing Creasite’ be?

Best value night out in Manchester to be had: Johnny Lynch aka The Pictish Trail promoting his debut album Secret Sound with support from KC, "some of The Earlies" and Sophie's Pigeons.

All at the Deaf Institute for £5 face value. [BUY TICKETS]

And to think: my 20 minutes of indecision about whether £32.50 was worth paying to see Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (doh! of course it was) cost me tickets for the November gig. Don't let apathy or indecision get in your way of attending tonight's gig.

COD LIVER OIL
SECRET SOUND #4

King Creoste & The Pictish Trail

[BUY]

RANK AMATEUR

Well I jokingly call my record collecting "archiving": keeping an ordered collection of all the music and associated items I own. The catch being it's not very ordered.

But then I saw this film about Paul Mawhinney and Record-Rama and realise that the term doesn't even come close compared to what he has done. This short film is astonishing, inspiring and deeply moving; and a sad metaphor for the possible fate of the recorded music industry ... Click on 'The Archive' below to view.


The Archive from Sean Dunne on Vimeo.

NEW MARK MULCAHY SONG!

Well sort of. Laura from the As Far As We Know forum took some video footage of the Mark Mulcahy gig at the Elevens, Northampton MA on 8/8/08. And posted it on You Tube.

Given the difference between traffic in AFAWK (the MM and Miracle Legion forum) and You Tube, this was a good move. The song is "Home in a Basket". Concentrate on the music rather than the cinematography ...



For the set list from the gig you'll have to visit the forum. Now all we have to do is wait for the new album? And a UK tour too please.

I HAVE PATIENCE
Mark Mulcahy
In Pursuit of Your Happiness [BUY]

FROM THE VINYL RACK ... "My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts" by David Byrne and Brian Eno

Released in 1981 (recorded 1979-80), this album was re-released on CD in the mid-90s and then a digitially re-mastered and expanded version was released on CD and digitally in 2006. But to me, this album is for listening to on vinyl. It is one of the records which for the life of me I cannot remember where or when I bought it (I've got a nagging feeling it might have been a large high street retailer like HMV ...) but it feels like I've always had a copy.

I started buying Talking Heads albums seriously and devotedly in around 82-83, so I guess I must have bought this about the same time. This was one of those records where I would say "you've GOT to listen to this" before playing someone a track. And I'd either get the raised eyebrows/sympathetic smile/pained expression or the "what the hell is this/this is brilliant" response. I went through a period that lasted several years where The Jezebel Spirit was an essential component of any compilation tape.

Well to read more about the extraordinary making of the record or how pioneering and influential it has been, read on to the next paragraph. But really what you should do is listen to the music. The record is an astonishing collision of East and West, of African funk and dub with electronic experimentation, with a magpie approach to sampled voices. It is always refreshing and fresh and inspiring to listen to.

So if you want the critical analysis: David Byrne talks about the making of the record here as part of the for site set up for the remaster release (here) with essays by David Toop and Paul Morley and plenty of other material.

And earlier this year there was a "will-they-won't-they" couple of months when it was suggested that Byrne and Eno were working together and might even tour together. And possibly even playing MLITBOG material?! Well here's the official announcement:

David Byrne and Brian Eno have paired up for their first record together as co-writers since the highly influential and critically acclaimed 1981 release My Life in the Bush of Ghosts. Due out August 18, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today is the culmination of a year's worth of writing, recording, and travel between New York and London. The album will be self-released and made available as a stream and digital download for purchase exclusively through everythingthathappens.com.

Everything That Happens... was conceptualized during a visit to Brian Eno's studio after the two reconnected upon Nonesuch Records' re-release of Bush of Ghosts. Byrne explains, "I recall Brian mentioning that he had a lot of largely instrumental tracks he'd accumulated, and since, in his words, he 'hates writing words,' I suggested I have a go at writing some words, and tunes over a few of them, and we see what happens." Thus the two began exchanging vocal and instrumental tracks, and the transatlantic collaboration began.Everything That Happens... is less a collage than the duo's previous effort of some 27 years ago and more a collection of songs... this latest recording almost exclusively features Byrne's lyrics and voice alongside Eno's various electronic tracks. "When we started this work, we started to think we were making something like electronic gospel: a music where singing was the central event, but whose sonic landscapes were not the type normally associated with that way of singing," says Eno. "This thought tapped into my long love affair with gospel music, which, curiously, was inadvertently initiated by David and Talking Heads."

With a Byrne tour, David Byrne, Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno scheduled in support of the release of Everything That Happens from the fall of `08 through early `09 in the U.S., Australasia in early '09, and Europe in March 09, the focus will be on these new songs as well as Byrne's previous collaborations with Eno including some Talking Heads albums (many of which were produced by Eno). "The live shows will maybe try to draw a line linking this new material with what we did 30 years ago," explains Byrne, "a little bit anyway."

That "a little bit anyway" is telling. On the first listen to the single track available free from the ETHWHT site, this is a more straightforward collaboration, more akin to late-period Talking Heads that MLITBOG. Maybe live something special might happen ...?

THE JEZEBEL SPIRIT
MEA CULPA
MOUNTAIN OF NEEDLES
My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts [BUY]

TONIGHT IN MANCHESTER: Gossamer Albatross and Lucy & the Caterpillar

Free gig tonight at Abode in Chorlton (3 miles from city centre) from the folks at Mushaboom! Here's what they say:

Mushaboom hosts what will surely be one of our most magical nights yet with...

GOSSAMER ALBATROSS - Like a teenage Beirut..but from Hereford. Unmissable."The strings could easily have been gathered between the fingers of Owen Pallet, the words delivered from the mouth of Zach Condon. Something really special." cutandpasteandtwist.com

LUCY & THE CATERPILLAR - Drawing comparisons to Regina Spektor and Vashti Bunyan, and backed by the likes of Radio 1's Huw Stephens, Lucy is one to watch...And now you can thanks to Mushaboom! Unmissable too!

GOD'S LITTLE ESKIMO - a one man band using a blend of layered vocals, acoustic guitar, glockenspiel and whatever else is at hand to create a warm, haunted world of harmonies, rhythms and loops...and yes he's unmissable!

Three unmissables AND free entry? How can you say 'no'?

TOM WAITS' GLITTER AND DOOM TOUR - A "NEAR MISS"

Tom Waits, Edinburgh 2008. Photo by Kenny Maths on Flickr

Well here was another 'near miss' during my holidays (see previous post): whilst I was holidaying in Wales, Tom Waits was playing two gigs in Edinburgh. Only 330 miles and a 6.5 hour drive away. And I didn't have a ticket. But I reckon that's about as near a miss to seeing him live I'll have for a LONG time.

Three things make a TW gig special. Firstly the rarity: his London gig 4 yrs ago was his first in the UK for 17 yrs. I did try to get tickets, failed, and then realised the futility of this: over 200,000 other people were trying at the same time. And harder than me. For only 2,500 or so tickets. Which brings us to the second thing: he only plays theatres, not enormous air hanger-sized arenas or even big festivals. And then third is he is such a consumate performer/entertainer, not just a great singer or songwriter. Read the broadsheet reviews here, here, here and here to get a flavour of this.

But if short on time, read this excellent account of the first night at Edinburgh by Song By Toad here including set-list and links to some more top photos. And there's also this and plenty more at the same location.

If like me you missed, well hopefully in another 4 or 17 years we'll get our chance. Until then there is always this:

We at NPR are exclusively webcasting and podcasting a concert from Tom Waits’ Glitter and Doom tour. The show was recorded July 5 at the historic Fox Theater in Atlanta, GA. Here’s the link to the page to stream the show: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92916923 And you can download the show via our All Songs Considered Live in Concert podcast, here: http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_detail.php?siteId=15842121 Enjoy!

HOIST THAT RAG

Real Gone [BUY]

EYEBALL KID
Mule Variations [BUY]

GOD'S AWAY ON BUSINESS
Blood Money [BUY]

BACK FROM HOLS!

Well back in the land of mobile phone reception and the interweb. Despite being miles from anywhere (except the beach, the Welsh mountains, waterfalls and wildlife etc) had some close misses with music-related events or locations.

Arriving in mid-Wales on Saturday, it took to Sunday to realise I was in close proximity to two music festivals. The first was Gŵyl Gardd Goll or the Lost Garden Festival near Caernarfon. More info here.

Not familiar with any of the artists other than Euros Childs and Sweet Baboo but read the blurb on the link above - sounds a superb event in an idyllic location. And only £8 for the day. One for next year maybe.

The other was in Borth only a mile or two from where I was staying: The Square Festival. 60 bands, 6 stages, 2 days said the poster, acts included Alabama 3, The Hot Puppies and The Crimea.

And then managed to drive past but not visit Andy's Records in Aberystwyth. From a moving vehicle it looked definitely worth a visit ...

So near-misses - but after all I WAS on holiday to spend time with my family (must remember this ...)

HI MEWN SOCASAU
Euros Childs
Chops [BUY]

HENRY A MATILDA SUPERMARKETSUPER
Euros Childs
Bore Da [BUY]

HYPO FULL OF LOVE (12 Step Plan)
Alabama 3
Exile On Coldharbour Lane [BUY]

BOTTLENECK AT CAPEL CURIG
Half Man Half Biscuit
Trouble Over Bridgewater [BUY]

CONTRAFLOW
The Fall
The New Real Fall LP [BUY]

A470 SONG
Soft-Hearted Scientists
Take Time To Wonder In A Whirling World [BUY]

SUMMER FUN

Escaping to the beach for a few weeks. No gigs, no internet, no blogging. And the point is?

Given the beach is in Wales and this is the Great British Summer, may be returning with trenchfoot.

Back soon.

SUMMER FUN
The Barracudas

Drop Out With The Barracudas [BUY]

MERCURY POISONING?

I really don't like awards and award ceremonies. And I particularly despise music awards. So what to make of British Sea Power being nominated for the Mercury Music Prize? Sorry - the Nationwide Mercury Music Prize (so good they had to sponsor it twice?).

The full short list is here. For the last couple of years, when I have bothered to pay the Mercurys any attention at short-list stage, there's always been a moment when I got excited about someone on that list and thought "now THEY would be a worthy winner" - see The Go! Team in 2005, Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan in 2006, The Young Knives in 2007 etc.

But nothing too interesting ever wins: the Mercurys (or any mainstream music awards) either appear to reward mediocrity and middle-of-the-road-ness (M People's 'Elegant Slumming' anyone?) or go for the 'popular-at-the-time-supposedly-alternative' option (Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys) .

Now wouldn't it be good to see this performed live at the awards ceremony as worthy winners?



Yes?! Well I don't think it is going to happen. There's some concern on the BSP forum that such awards = success = playing arenas = not being the band we loved in the first place. Well BSP are too interesting (read 'niche', 'cult') to play arenas or to win an award like this. And I don't think the short-list necessarily helps with acclaim, recognition or sales. What did it do for The Delgados and 'The Great Eastern' in 2000? Now THAT would have been a worthy winner ...

See what I mean?

Anyway to show my loyalty(?!) I think I will have a tenner on BSP at 12/1, publicly predict Laura Marling but fully accept that The Last Shadow Puppets have it sewn up.

MERCURY POISONING
Graham Parker & The Rumour
Squeezing out Sparks [BUY]

NO DANGER
The Delgados
The Great Eastern [BUY]

SWEET BABOO & THE VOLUNTARY BUTLER SCHEME @ THE DEAF INSTITUTE 14 JULY 2008

Well three quick observations:
1. There's me posting yesterday about having no gig tickets booked for July and August but then managed to fit this gig in at short notice.
2. The Deaf Institute is now my new favourite venue.
3. This was a bloody brilliant night.

The Deaf Institute is (literally) the building that housed Manchester's Deaf and Dumb Institute. Rescued and renovated by the lovely people who run Trof in the Northern Quarter, it now has three floors: basement bar, ground floor bar and cafe, and first floor Music Hall. The latter is a large high ceiled room with a high stage at one end and a huge alcove opposite it that has tiered wooden pews inside. On the stage left there is a bar down one side and an exit to a rooftop terrace; stage right more seating and a glass and steel balcony. The late Victorian building has period wallpaper on every level but feels light, airy and the contemporary bars and lighting give it a warm, bohemian feel. And the Music Hall has a fabulous and rather large mirror ball. It all felt decadent and welcoming at the same time. And on this night the sound was great too.

First up were Walton Hesse who were new to me. A six piece who play country-rock in a Jayhawks/early Wilco-style; the male vocal lead was very Jeff Tweedy at times (this is a good thing). And despite the checked shirts and facial hair to give that authentic Americana look they are, apparently, "local". More dates coming up in Manchester in August - definitely worth seeing.

Following a short tour of the Deaf Institute's three floors to admire the decor, it was back for more drinks and The Voluntary Butler Scheme. Saw him last here and since then he has supported Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong and confused their Smash Hits (sic) teen audience expecting ROCK with his kazoo- and ukelele-accompanied songs. Floppy of fringe and casual of demeanour, Rob Jones ("a sportsman's name" hence the convoluted 'band' name) is a talented multi-instrumentalist who loops live samples (e.g. tapping back of ukelele or tambourine) to create rhythm tracks he then plays keyboard or guitar over. It's very inventive and great fun to watch but he's got the tunes to back it up too. He included a cover of The Foundation's Build Me Up Buttercup (played for a Radio 2 session recently because they wanted something 'appropriate') and I felt that most of his songs were better.

And then Sweet Baboo. I tend to avoid anything "hotly tipped" as preposterous hype. And it was interesting to note appearances in the relatively small crowd (of about 80?) of radio DJs Marc Riley and Stuart Maconie (sessions ahoy?) plus also poet Simon Armitage(?!). Now good though Sweet Baboo was, he just ain't going to be the huge star this suggests - he's just too plain odd for mass acceptance.

SB performs solo, seated, with only an acoustic guitar. But he is as much an acoustic singer-songwriter as Daniel Johnston is. Or as much a blues singer as Tom Waits. He spins surreal tales involving rabbits, girls, drugs and going to town, mostly at a sedate tempo. As self-deprecating as The Voluntary Butler Scheme between songs, he is also very funny in reflecting on his own short-comings. He confessed to only knowing two covers and played both: 'I'm A Tiger' by Lulu (must get a copy of the original!) and 'True Love Will Find You In The End' by Daniel Johnston. The latter was heart-stoppingly beautiful - particularly with the mirrorball throwing light across him, the room and the audience. He then finshed with a song called 'Jonathan Richman' (a duet for one!) and then 'Tom Waits Rip Off' (a radio session version of this is on his MurdochSpace site).

Three acts in a beautiful setting for £5 (or £3 if you are on the mailing list - here - and get on the Cheapo List). Bargain.

Accompanied tonight by Ms L, I asked her what she made of our two surreal solo performers: although she enjoyed both she did confess "I prefer a lot going on". And we'll leave it there.

TABASCO SOLE
ALARM CLOCK
The Voluntary Butler Scheme [BUY]

TRUE LOVE WILL FIND YOU IN THE END
Daniel Johnston1990 [BUY]

THE GIGLESS SUMMER

Well summer is here in the UK at least for one sunny day. But I find myself without any tickets in hand for gigs in July or August (or September for that matter).

And despite the exceptionally good time had here last year, unlikely I'll be getting to any festivals this summer either. So a pretty bleak prospect. And not due to plenty of good things on.
So to make up for this, I'll construct my ideal summer festival circuit. If I had the cash and the time and no other commitments. All on the boutique side and all programmed by people who love music.

TRUCK FESTIVAL 19 & 20 July Steventon, South Oxfordshire

The grandaddy of the festivals here at 10 years old but still doing well what it always has: putting on great music on a small-scale (5,000 capacity) supported by local suppliers and with profits going to local charities. The site is a working farm with bands performing on the back of trucks and in cow sheds.

As usual, we will not be making a full line-up announcement: TRUCK is about discovering your new favourite band, and rediscovering those resident eccentrics on the fringes, whilst chewing a burger from the Rotary Club or an ice cream from the Vicar, before buying a few pints from those cross-dressing bar staff!
We can announce that The Lemonheads will be headlining! their set will include a start-to-finish rendition of the classic LP 'It's A Shame About Ray'

[BUY TICKETS]

CONFETTI
IT'S A SHAME ABOUT RAY

The Lemonheads
It's A Shame About Ray [BUY]

VELVET UNDERGROUND
The Television Personalities
My Dark Places [BUY]

SUSPENDED FROM CLASS
Camera Obscura
Underachievers Please Try Harder [BUY]

INDIETRACKS 26 & 27 July Midland Railway, Butterly, Derbyshire
Well this is an indiepop festival. With indiepop. Lots of indiepop. Played on a train and in a station. If indiepop or trains are not your thing, avoid. However if they are ... plus there is lovely double CD available here from Make Do Or Mend Records: 45 songs for only £6 including postage. Bargain.
A Classic Education, Airport Girl, Allo, Darlin, Amida, Ballboy, The Bobby McGees, Brontosaurus Chorus, Cocoanut Groove, Colin Clary, The Colliding Lemons, Comet Gain, Darren Hayman, The Deirdres, Dirty Fingernails, Esiotrot, The Foster Kids, The Good Natured, Gregory Webster, Harvey Williams, Je Suis Animal, The Just Joans, The Kabeedies, KateGoes, The Kick Inside, Lardpony, Liechtenstein, Little Things, The Lodger, Los Campesinos!, The Mai 68s, The Manhattan Love Suicides, Marjit Vinjerui, Mexican Kids At Home, The Middle Ones, Milky Wimpshake, Mono Taxi, The Occasional Flickers, The Parallelograms, Pocketbooks, Punk TV, Red Pony Clock, The Retro Spankees, Roadside Poppies, Rory Hill, The Rosie Taylor Project, Shrag, Silence At Sea, Silverdrop, Slow Down Tallahassee, The Smittens, Socks & Shoes, Still Corners, The Starlets, St Christopher, Strawberry Story, Tortoise Shout!, TottieTown Bike, Voluntary Butler Scheme, Winston Echo, The Wave Pictures, The Wedding Present, The Zebras, Zoey Van Goey.
[BUY TICKETS]

DEATH TO LOS CAMPESINOS!
Los Campesinos!
Hold On Now ... Youngster [BUY]

CLASS OF 2000
Amida
Arts and Crafts EP [BUY]

HEY BOY YOU'RE OH SO SENSITIVE
The Just Joans
Hey Boy You're Oh So Sensitive EP [BUY]

OFF FESTIVAL 8 - 10 August Myslowice, Poland
A festival put together by musician Artur Rojek near his home town in Poland which blends local bands (Dick 4 Dick?! Kammerflimmer Kollektief?!) with some great alt-rock names. And very cheap tickets!
Mogwai, British Sea Power, Clinic, Of Montreal, Iron & Wine, Caribou, Hey, Izrael' 83, Leszek Możdżer z projektem Lutosphere, Waglewski Fisz Emade, Menomena, James Chance, Dat Politics, So So Modern, Singapore Sling, Kling Klang, Modified Toy Orchestra, Felix Kubin, Kammerflimmer Kollektief, Homo Twist, Budyń i Sprawcy Rzepaku, Dick 4 Dick, Lao Che, L.u.c & Rahim, Czesław Śpiewa, Kawałek Kulki, Transkapela, Afro Kolektyw, Baaba, Muchy, Reuber, Klangwart, Shofar, Karpaty Magiczne i The Band Of Endless Noise, The Poise Rite, Bajzel, Renton, Karol Schwarz All Stars, Plazmatikon, Polpo Motel, Jacaszek.
[BUY TICKETS]

HARVEST
Clinic
Visitations [BUY]

PASSING AFTERNOON
Iron & Wine

Our Endless Numbered Days [BUY]

HEAVYDALE
Kling Klang
The Esthetik of Destruction [BUY]

END OF THE ROAD FESTIVAL 12 - 14 September, Larmer Tree Gardens, North Dorset
Well you get the well-known headliners (Mercury Rev, Low, Conor Oberst, Tindersticks) plus some of my personal favourites (BSP, The Wave Pictures, Darren Hayman, The Mountain Goats. And I could go on) but what made EOTR last year for me was discovering new and unfamiliar bands. In a great setting. With peacocks. And The Somerset Cider Bus. In addition to the published line-up below there's a couple of additions worth seeing in The Local: The Pictish Trail and The Singing Adams.
A Hawk And A Hacksaw, Absentee, The Accidental, The Acorn, Akron/Family, American Music Club, Angelo Spencer, Baby Dee, Billy Childish, Bob Log III, Bon Iver, Bowerbirds, Brakes, British Sea Power, Calexico, Cate Le Bon, Cats in Paris, Christopher Rees, Congregation, Clare and the Reasons, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, Darren and Jack play Hefner songs, David Thomas Broughton, Dead Meadow, Devon Sproule, Dirty Three, El Guincho, FM Belfast, Friska Viljor, The Gentle Good, Gossamer Albatross, Hey Negrita, House of Brothers, Hush The Many, Jason Molina, Jeffrey Lewis, Kelley Stoltz, Kimya Dawson, Kurt Wagner (Lambchop), Laura Marling, Lets Wrestle, Liz Green, Lonely Ghosts, Low, Mercury Rev, Micah P Hinson, The Mountain Goats, Mumford And Sons, Noah And The Whale, Over the Wall, Pete And The Pirates, Peter And The Wolf, Pyramids, Revenge of Shinobi, Richard Hawley, Robyn Hitchcock, Screaming Tea Party, Seabear, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Sons of Noel and Adrian. Sun Kil Moon/Mark Kozelek, The Sylvias, Thinguma*JigSaw, Threatmantics, Tindersticks, Two Gallants, The Wave Pictures, Woodpigeon, Zombie Zombie
[BUY TICKETS]

PEACOCKS
The Mountain Goats
Tallahassee [BUY]

OWL WALTZ
Seabear
The Ghost That Carried Us [BUY]

EVERYTHING BEGINS
Kelley Stoltz
Circular Sounds [BUY]

And it's not quite a festival but special mention must be given to A Day At The Races on Saturday 2 August here in Manchester. Line up here and tickets here.

FROM THE VINYL RACK ... "Mister Heartbreak" by Laurie Anderson

Well I've never worked in a record shop. And I will never own a record shop. But I do own a record shop rack to keep my vinyl in. (Mrs A can barely bring herself to mention its existence she thinks it is so tragic).


The vinyl that I still own is quite selective though. In the early 90s I sold out huge chunks of my record collection to 'upgrade' it CD. What I kept was what was important to me (The Smiths, Pixies, Pere Ubu) or to Mrs A (her Kent Northern Soul albums - more of this on a future occasion) or the stuff I wasn't sure I wanted to 'upgrade'. So I'm left with an odd selection of loved and overlooked - most of it, almost exclusively, from the 80s.

Part of my justification (not that it's needed) for having a rack is that it's easy to access this part of The Archive. Well hasn't happened much to date. But here's where I start digging out old favourites or unfortunate mistakes.

First up is Laurie Anderson's Mister Heartbreak - her second album from 1984.

Now Big Science is an essential purchase in my book; and I swiftly replaced my vinyl copies of this and Home of the Brave. But Mister Heartbreak languished in the 'vinyl-only' pile. I remembered an over-reliance of of-the-moment early 80s synthesisers and a really annoying duet with Peter Gabriel.

Well listening to it today, the duet with Gabriel I still find annoying but there is plenty to admire and enjoy. And I forgot what a fantastic collection of musicians are on the record (Nile Rodgers, Bill Laswell, Anton Fier, Adrian Belew). Here's what All Music says:

Probably the most pop-accessible of Laurie Anderson's recorded work, Mister Heartbreak features a number of stunning luminaries on the cutting edge of popular music at the time. Striking guitar work by King Crimson guitarist Adrian Belew permeates this disc — notably on "Sharkey's Day" — punchy and angular. The production and bass work from Bill Laswell is superb. Peter Gabriel — at the time still coming off the buzz of his departure from Genesis — is featured in a duet with Anderson on "Excellent Birds." There is a heavy reliance on early-'80s synthesizers which would normally be very off-putting, but here they are executed well. Nowhere does the music slip into irreparable '80s cliché; it is still an entertaining listen. Lyrics are typical of Anderson' work — complex, literate, provocative, difficult to fully comprehend. Haunting "Gravity's Angel" borrows imagery from Thomas Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow. Spoken word delivery on "Sharkey's Night" is given by the legendary William S. Burroughs. This is a very satisfying listen and a great intro for those unfamiliar with Anderson's work.

I'd still say start with Home of the Brave or Big Science ...

BLUE LAGOON
SHARKEY'S NIGHT

Laurie Anderson

Mister Hearbreak [BUY]

Here's My Hello From Where The Filthy Flowers Grow

I first came across Thomas Function on the Obscure Sound blog and on the strength of hearing a couple of songs bought the album Celebration. It's great. As simple as that.

It's good sometimes to hear music without any prior knowledge/reference points/baggage. It turns out they (a four-piece band rather than a person) are from Alabama, signed to a label based in California, with an album recorded in Ohio at the legendary Suma studios. But that doesn't tell you about the music.

After a few listens I'm still hearing different bands, from different decades. There's some alt-roots-rock (Filthy Flowers could - almost - be Green on Red); there's stomping punky garage rock (Can't Say No), there's late 70s power-pop meets new wave (Swimming Through a Sea of Broken Glass) and in the yelping, nasal whine of vocalist Joshua Macero I hear both Violent Femmes AND the Buzzcocks at different times. So a refreshing breathe of old air. But still sounding fresh. Highly, highly recommended.

I think Can't Say No could be on a end of year compilation or two ...

CAN'T SAY NO

2012 BLUES

FILTHY FLOWERS

Thomas Function

Celebration [BUY]

MBV AT ROLLERCOASTER 1992

My Bloody Valentine play Manchester Apollo tonight as their comeback tour continues. I'm not there tonight but I did see them as part of the Rollercoaster tour at Brixton Academy in 1992.

At the time this created quite a stir: The Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine and Dinosaur Jr, three of the loudest bands around at that time, plus young upstarts Blur sharing a bill on equal footing. And the running order of the bands would be drawn each night. Well that's what they said. When Jesus and Mary Chain came on last and a huge lighting rig descended no-one was in doubt about who was headlining. JAMC and Dinosaur Jr can be pretty terrifyingly LOUD at the best of times. But MBV was something else.

I seem to remember the band emerged from four plastic pods - just like in Spinal Tap. I might have this wrong, memory has failed me many times before. But what I have no doubt about was the noise. Now this wasn't just loud. I watched MBV from the very back of the Academy under the overhang from the first floor. And my diaphragm was vibrating painfully. All my internal organs were being shaken up by the waves of sound hitting me. And I was at the back.

This seems to be borne out by reports of their recent London gigs with ear-protectors given out on the way in (here and here). The mystique of MBV is about more than noise but if you are going tonight, I'd advise body protection as well as ear protection.

SOON
OFF YOUR FACE

My Bloody Valentine
Glider EP [BUY]

KILL SURF CITY

HEAD

The Jesus and Mary Chain

Barbed Wire Kisses [BUY]

FREAK SCENE

JUST LIKE HEAVEN
Dinosaur Jr.

Fossils [BUY]

Also tonight The Fall plus John Cooper Clarke and Bobby Peru at Manchester Academy. Spoilt for choice! Tickets here.

BRITISH SEA POWER @ MORECAMBE DOME 18 JUNE 2008

A one-off British Sea Power gig sandwiched after 50+ date US tour and before Festival summer appearances PLUS happening in the North West of England PLUS on my birthday EQUALLED a road-trip from Manchester to sunny Morecambe.

Unfortunately it wasn't sunny. It was pouring with rain. And it was very windy on the promenade. However did manage find some shelter in Sam's Fish Bar for a spot of warmth and a large plate of good ol' British sustenance before the gig:

First visit to Morecambe and boy does it need it regeneration. I thought it would be 'quaint', 'neglected', all faded grandeur and hidden charms. Nope, it was just a dump. A depressed seaside town that could have been Hastings or Rhyl or Blackpool.

So Morecambe Dome. Well if you look at the venue's listing (here) this is clearly a case of a "credible" band playing an 'ironic' venue. Surely. Or maybe being so close the Lake District the Dome was a source of early inspiration for the band growing up. Childhood Memories anyone?

And guess what? It is a DOME. From the outside it is definitely a faded/neglected relic (from the 70s?) looking suspiciously like a roller-disco. Inside it is slightly better. Mainly because it is dark and beer is available to buy. There is a stage formed at one 'side' of the Dome with a level floor in front, tiered seating at the opposite side, and then a bar to one side. The ceiling of the Dome is transparent plastic that appears to be filled with corrugated cardboard. Capacity of about 800-1000 at a guess.

BSP were on at 9.30pm and played a pretty similar set to those on UK dates in January mixing lots from new album Do You Like Rock Music? with some older songs. Competent but a little lack-lustre in terms of atmsophere; not helped by a fairly sparse crowd. Did pick up towards the end but overall enjoyable rather than exceptional.

Only surprises were finishing with Lately/Rock in A and also a rendition of Happy Birthday Ronald played apparently for Yan's Dad who was 84 last week. But come on people! We know whose birthday it was today don't we?

During Rock in A, Noble went walkabout over the heads of the crowd (fairly brave given the large gaps) and took the air raid siren with him. Not sure if this was the intended rock 'n' roll pose he was aiming for:

Set-list:

Atom

Lights Out For Darker Skies
Waving Flags
Down on the Ground
Blackout
Happy Birthday Ronald
Remember Me
Canvey Island
The Great Skua
Larsen B
A Trip Out
No Lucifer
The Spirit of St Louis
Carrion
Lately/Rock in A

LIGHTS OUT FOR DARKER SKIES
A TRIP OUT

British Sea Power
Do You Like Rock Music? [BUY]

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
British Sea Power
Childhood Memories single [SEEK]

I would write about support band Djune but it would be a waste of effort beyond saying I hated them: competent musicians but bland songs. Third-rate metal played by indie rock kids. Except when they brought on the acoustic guitar (then it was third rate stadium rock played by etc. etc.). And then they MURDERED New Order's Blue Monday. And they had dire banter. Get the picture? All of which means they will be huge this time next year.

Finally thanks to Mr P for the driving, the ticket and arranging the sing-song.

LEONARD COHEN @ MANCHESTER OPERA HOUSE 17 JUNE 2008

Managed at short-notice and unexpectedly to get a ticket for this gig. Leonard Cohen is not one of the artists I'd previously list in my most admired or favourites but great to get a ticket for these sell-out theatre shows in Manchester (rest of summer tour is stadia or festivals) and even better to see a legendary artist and understand why he is a legend.

Leonard was backed by a nine-piece band - three singers, keyboards, drums, bass, saxophone/'instrument of wind' and two guitarists - all suited and booted in black (good to see a drummer with a tie and waistcoat). They were clearly exceptional musicians but their role was to provide a subtle backdrop to his voice and to the lyrics. Some of Leonard's backing music, particularly on latter career albums, does tend towards the muzak/smooth end of the spectrum; and this was reproduced (with class) here. But purposely to foreground Leonard's rich voice and those distinctive lyrics. Dressed in a charcoal grey suit and with a brimmed hat, he appeared humbled by the rapturous reception he met - his entrance, after an absence from the UK of 15 years, was of course met with a standing ovation.


The revelation that followed (to me) was then what a performer he is and just how funny he is. In a set that lasted three hours (including a "fifteen to seventeen minute" break), he was witty, self-deprecating and humble in his banter, and truly delivered his songs. Most were performed with his body tensed, slightly hunched, knees bent and cupping his hands around the microphone intently. Despite his years, the voice was captivating.

Obviously he was playing to a crowd on his side - standing ovations at every stage exit/entrance, shouts of encouragement and love throughout - but he appeared genuinely moved by this. To me the highlights were when he kept it simple like Tower of Song: just him, a drum machine, some swirls on the Hammond B3 and the three backing singers. I overheard conversations in the interval about memories of seeing him "in Croydon in 1972". This was another performance that people will be remembering in 36 years' time. Worth going out of your way to see on his summer travels if you have deep pockets.

Set-list:

Dance Me To the End of Love

The Future

Ain't No Cure For Love
Bird on a Wire
Everybody Knows
In My Secret Life
Who By Fire
Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye
Anthem
- interval -
Tower of Song
Susanne
The Gypsy's Wife
Boogie Street
Halleujah
Democracy
I'm Your Man
A Thousand Kisses Deep
Take This Waltz

-----
So Long, Marianne
First We Take Manhattan
That Don't Make It Junk
If It Be Your Will
Closing Time
I Tried To Leave You

FAMOUS BLUE RAINCOAT
Leonard Cohen
Songs of Love and Hate [BUY]

AIN'T NO CURE FOR LOVE
Leonard Cohen
I'm Your Man [BUY]

DEMOCRACY
Leonard Cohen
The Future [BUY]