The snow is almost gone now

The snow has been dreadful, getting anywhere has been a pain and now it's gone we just have ice. I keep falling over.... At least I don't have anywhere to be today.

I have started planning the trip to Primavera 2010 after some exciting first confirmations. Pixies, Pavement, Wilco and Low (playing The Great Destroyer) mean that even if the other bands are crappy, there is enough good sound to get me through. The Fall, Panda Bear and a few other decent bands are also confirmed as good back-ups should no brilliant bands be on at the time they are.

This year has been a good one, I'm sure you can tell.
Low in Eindhoven
Primavera 09 (Neil Young!)
Spiritualized - Ladies & Gentlemen... Live
21st in Paris
too much to list.

Sad news that Vic Chesnutt has passed. RIP.

57: Poor Mark Hughes

I know this was previously a post having a go at the guy, but we'd just lost and I was annoyed. Sacking him was harsh, especially seen as we won today and have recently beat Chelsea well. Mancini better be good after this nonsense.

Forget numbers, this is words.

I'm sick of not having a computer. I get paid from my new job in a couple of weeks but I can't afford to spend all that on a computer because then I will have no money left to buy anyone gifts and stupid stuff lihe that. I've been skint for so long that I'v only left the house for work and slept the rest of the time. This is exactly like last winter but without the good bits arn't as good and the bad bits arn't as bad. Does that make it better? I dunno.

I've been watching tennis and football a lot, that's mildly good I guess. City never win anymore, in fact the last time they won was against West Ham and we've played some mega shit teams since then.

I am looking forward to going to London, although I obviously can't afford it, gotta try and forget that...

No good music has come out this year really, maybe a few albumks here and there but it's been pretty dry. The best thing is Spiritualized re-releasing an album from 1997. £125 is a lot for a special edition though.

Next year will be good for music, starting in January with RGC and then moving onwards with some new stuff from Spiritualized, Mogwai, Sigur Ros and maybe even Low? Who knows. There's also reunions from Pavement and Chapterhouse to look forward too and a tour from the mighty KISS.

There are some noises that At The Drive-In are getting back together next year, and they're mostly coming from the band themselves. Cave In are back too. So, interesting times in 2010.......

55: It rains, it pours...

Hey Ya. It's been raining outside for about 3 days now, maybe that Noah story wasn't so far-fetched after all... Hell, maybe I should build an Arc! Whilst I do it I can listen to Arc buy Neil Young. What a noise that was.

Anyway... I went to see a great band from Baltimore play at Tiger Lounge the other night. They are called Thank You and are on Thrill Jockey along with Tortoise, Pit Er Pat and loads of other bands. I'm sure you can imagine what they're like just from me telling you that. Check them out here...
www.myspace.com/wethankyou

Also... Mew (the danish band, not the pokemen) are playing tonight in Manchester and I really wanna go so I guess I will! Also, Yo La Tengo tomorrow. Yo La Tengo is a sell-out but I think I've scored a ticket on ebay. My sister has guest list, I dont.... I'm not bitter.

I've been having a drink tonight whilst listening to Bob Marley. This wasn't to celebrate anyone trying to blow up important British buildings, just to celebrate it having been a year since I saw someone who was no good.

It's almost been a year since those Low christmas shows, they were great things and I enjoyed acting like a child again and getting caught up in the season to be jolly. Maybe I will have to do a christmas show this year to make up for the fact there isn't a Low gig. Paul McCartney is doing a christmas show, he is a total prat these days though...

I am bored as you can tell. I should be in bed at this time but Curb Your Enthusiasm is on at half 2 and I missed it earlier. GO TO BED!

54: Love Gun! What an album cover.

My computer doesn't work anymore so I can't get online so much, which is annoying because I still have to wait a while til I start my new old job. Christmas at HMV was good last year so I will enjoy it I'm sure. I might even save some money to go on holiday soon.

I went to see Efterklang in Manchester on Saturday night (Halloween) and they were pretty boring. Sure, I like them, but that doesn't make them good live. Stick to the records I say, save your tenner for something better (Spectrum at Corsica Studios or Bob Mould/RGC at the Bloomsbury Ballroom maybe?).

At the moment I am reading Shakey, the Neil Young biography. I have literally had the book hanging around since first year of college without ever reading it so I thought it was a good time to do that. It's starting off a bit heavy. I don't know if I'm bothered about what his Grandparents were like, it is interesting though. The sooner I get to the electronic madness in the 80s the better. COMPUTER AGE!!

I've been reading the new issue of Mojo magazine too. Roger Waters is a great man and he is the cover star this month. He's planning to do a tour of The Wall! I won't start going on about that album again though. Bit of stuff about Spiritualized/Spacemen 3 too. And Kiss. I think I like Gene Simmons, he is shameless. Imagine Gene Simmons, J Spaceman and Roger Waters together in a band? They would be rubbish, regardless of previous triumphs.

This is a really long post today isn't it? Not over yet, not at all. I've been looking at this great little venue in London called the Battersea Barge. It's a Barge on the Thames and it floats around while you have a party or something. It's mainly for business meetings I think but hopefully one day I can get Pink Floyd to reunite and play there with the pig floating over the power station like it's 1977 and play Animals all the way through. Capacity is only about 60 though, forget about it.

Someone on the tv is swimming fully clothed, I imagine that would be hard. Jeans would get really heavy and slow you down a lot. Depends if you want to swim fast... Don't wear your clothes in a swimming race... you'll lose. It's the taking part that counts, of course, but you would just look stupid... Now they have nothing on... I think I should change the channel...

53: I can U can We can They can Can can Neu can

I don't know what that's all about. Anyway... I got a job at HMV so I will get to walk around trying to sell Yo La Tengo CDs to people who came to buy Kings Of Leon. I'm nice like that. I'd try and sell them records but they don't sell them anymore, THE SHAME! I don't start for 2 weeks so I have a lot of time to spend in my room being bored and telling you all about it.

Went to see Isis last night, they were ok but their new albums just arn't any good so it was annoying that they didn't play hardly anything old. Not even Celestial (The Tower).

More prog.

52: Wet socks

Never go to a house party and give away all your beer, no one will return the favour and you be wandering round for hours trying to find more. My fault obviously.

Also, don't go to house parties that plays loads of dodgy dub step and drum n bass or whatever.

New motto. More prog.

51: I'm Sick To Death Of This Chair

I'm sick of sitting in this chair all day, so I have a job interview in 2 hours. Hopefully I will get the job and will be able to get 30% off CDs and stuff. It's only temp til January though. There is a job developing photos too, but I don't think I'll even get an interview for that.

50: Gimme yer' money

Just a warning here, grumpy JT is at large in this post.

The fantastic PAVEMENT curated ATP Festival has now sold out, obviously, because a lot of people were glad to see Pavement back together and appreciate their taste in music enough to shell out hundreds of pounds to go. Well, now that sold out, I guess it is completely fair to add a Pavement gig in London for the week before the festival. So, if you bought tickets just to see Pavement at the festival, you may as well of just waited til the London show was announced. a good £100+ cheaper, too.

Yeah, that was always going to sell out too. Guess what? ANOTHER Pavement gig in London. And another. 3 shows in 3 days, then the big finale of ATP (and then maybe a few more shows later in the year, who knows? ATP probably do). So, if you love Pavement so much, you have plenty of chances to see their reunion here in the UK, just make sure you have enough money in the bank.

I like Pavement, although I definitely don't love them like a lot of people do. I'd rather see The Jesus And Mary Chain do their reunion again, I missed that one. Oh, and anyone planning on going to Primavera in May... Pavement yo play the Estrella Damm stage, yathink? Most probably. That will be nice though.

Just working on my Top 50 albums of the last 10 years. Hopefully that will not take too much longer.

49: Piece Of Crap

Just thought I'd get all my best photos together and get them developed to put in a bit of an album rather than just have then on my computer. The guy who did them is obviously an idiot because he has made almost all of them look terrible. £11 wasted I think. He's re-doing some of them as I type but they won't be any better. Apparently he is printing them in "canon settings" whatever the hell that means. I took the pictures on a Canon camera anyway. He is a fool and you'd do well to avoid him in future. His store is in Milnrow so you'll probably never pass by anyway. You probably don't know where the hell that is either. Near Manchester, I'll say.

Oh yeah, and they all have that tacky white border round them cutting off some of the photo. Black and White is Black and Green now.

48: Fuzzy Wuzzy

So, a lot of bad things are coming to my attention this week. For example; Smashing Pumpkins (or should I just say Billy Corgan) are insisting on releasing more new music. I liked some of the old stuff, but the latest stuff is terrible and the concert in Manchester last tiem round was one of the worst things I've ever been to. Lucky for me I only paid £5 off a desperate scalper when passing the Arena. Also, Wolfmother are back and touring and making people listen to their outrageously shit music once again. I will avoid that like the plague.

Something else bad is that Dean & Britta are playing in London next month. I love Luna, I love Galaxie 500 and I certainly like the Dean & Britta records. What I don't like is not being able to afford to make the trip down there and see their only UK show this year. I've never seen them or Luna so it would've been a real treat. Instead I shall save the very little money I do have so I can make a trip down in December instead. I also want a holiday some day soon.

Good news is that I saw Super Furry Animals in Bangor (Wales) this weekend. It was a great show but it was really weird going to see a band I last saw live in 1997 (12 years ago, I was young then...well... very young). Good times were had but I didn't get to hear much stuff off the first 2 albums. Bands don't seem to like playing stuff off their early albums these days. Got to move forward.

Anyway. With a bit of luck I will get to go see Yo La Tengo in Manchester next month and that will make up for some slight annoyances. I'll hopefully have a job by then too, so you wont have to put up with this shite all the time.

47: Still Floating In Space

Spiritualized @ Royal Festival Hall - 13th October 2009

Back from London and I'm still not back on earth. What a great long weekend. Great show on Sunday (Mudhoney) and the Spiritualized shows were 2 of the most fabulous, emotional shows I've ever seen, The lights, the choir, the strings, the horns and obviously the band. It was always going to be great but meeting everyone from the Spiritualized site was fantastic too, what a brilliant bunch of people to share the experience with. Talking to Doggen and Kevin again was a nice bonus too!

Also at the shows were Brian Ferry, Kate Moss, Nick McCabe, Kevin Shields and Bobby Gillespie. I felt very important obviously.

Here are a some more pictures of my time in London. I'm kind of lost as to what else to say so hopefully these will say more than what I can normally manage. All the photos were taken by me (apart from the group shot at the bottom) so I hope you enjoy and maybe even give some kind of feedback.

46: Packing again...

So, away I go again. Off to London for some shows.

I have a tough choice on Sunday.... Nick Cave or Mudhoney??? Nick Cave is £50 so Mudhoney is very appealing being £35 less expensive. Still, hard to choose............ Seen Nick Cave before so probably Mudhoney... maybe.

Maybe go see the Pixies tomorrow too, although I've seen them before and that is very expensive and sold out.

One certain thing is that I'll see Spiritualized perform the whole of Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space. I have been waiting for this since I got into that album. I remember listening to it years ago and not digging it but I'm talking like 10 years ago so I was pretty young. It's pretty much been my favourite album for the last 2 years along with Long Division by Low and 13 by Blur.

Anyway, I have a horrible headache and have to be up pretty early so I should go. I hope to come back from London hungover and married to someone from France or Norway. Only 1 is likely.

45: Here it comes

Here is an awesome (and previously rare) video of Spiritualized playing These Blues live with Kate Radley on bass. I think it was filmed at their show at the World Trade Centre all those years ago. I'm not sure though. It was opening for the banshees and it's a killer version of one of their best songs. Here you go...



Don't let it bring you down,
JT x

44: Pigs On The Wing

I can't stress how great Pink Floyd are. You already know Pink Floyd are brilliant... if you don't you have no right to be here. Apart from 'Momentary Lapse of Reason' and 'Ummagumma' they did no wrong. Yes, I like 'The Division Bell', it was by no means the best album of 1994 though. Usually Pink Floyd beat every other album released the same year. That year belonged to Blur, obviously. I like Pink Floyd so much that I even love the film version of 'The Wall'. Bob Geldof tried his best to ruin it but even he couldn't make it bad. That scene where the kids have bloaty faces and are walking into a meat mincer is one of cinemas best ever moments. To top off how good it is, you get to listen to The Wall the whole time!

Anyway, I was trying to listen to a record today but I couldn't decide which one. I think for a 21 year old with no job I have too many records. Definitely more records than I could afford to have bought. Where did they all come from? I didn't get given them (well, maybe 2 or 3)... I think I must've just spent all my money on records and holidays for the last 2 years. I by no means have the biggest record collection out of people I know, but they're normally older than me and have jobs to fund the habit.

43: Fuzzy Logic

I decided I had to make another post so that my last one wasn't the first thing people saw when coming on this blog. I'm not always that grumpy but I suppose I had good reasons.

Upcoming shows I will be at...

Mudhoney at Koko
Spiritualized at Royal Fesitval Hall
Super Furry Animals at Bangor University
Yo La Tengo at Manchester Academy 3
Saint Etienne at The Ritz
Grizzly Bear at Manchester Cathederal
Daniel Johnston at Manchester Town Hall
Malcolm Middleton at Bush Hall
SunnO))) at Salford Islington Mill

Currently listening to...
SunnO))) / Pan Logic - Ché

42: Groups of 3

Today I was sacked by Ticketmaster. So now I am unemployed. My clubnight has also died a slow death it seems, and I don't think that will be taken any further after last night. So. I have nothing to do anymore. I spent some of my last money in the world on buying Leonard Cohen's 'Live Songs' on LP.

I have nothing interesting to say to you really,. My lack of job/social life means my posts will most probably just be about the same things for the forseeable future.

My record player is making fucked up sounds, if that breaks I really am screwed. My computer and phone are on their last legs.

I'm really worried that people are totally happy with listening to Kings of Leon, Lady Gaga and The Killers. Even people that like good music seem to do nothing to support that. They mostly don't buy the albums or go places that play the music they heard about on pitchfork.

41: Just before it's October...

So, here in England we have 42 minutes to wait until it's October 2009. Because of this, I thought I'd squeeze in an update.

Today my 'Zak Sally's Fear Of Song' CD arrived. CDs are usually miles less exciting than a record, but this a great thing and I can't emphasize enough what a good idea it is that you buy it. The music is fantastic enough ut the package makes it well worth the dolla. Much better than a Battles album or something else you probably have in your colection... I'm still not sure about Battles. They're a bit... I dunno. This is nothing like Battles, anyway.

Next weekend I'm going to have a music heavy weekend in London. Making new songs, watching Mudhoney and Spiritualized and Spiritualized again. Hopefully there will be another gig too but I haven't managed to find one on Saturday yet. Not a good one anyway. Are Mudhoney still good? Were they ever? I will find out I suppose.

I am DJing tomorrow at Tiger Lounge, that's because it is my monthly night of mayhem and losing money.

But anyway, I'm gonna have a great time in London. Making music is good but me and Ric are lazy and forget what we've played by the time we've stopped playing it. Hopefully there will be some kind of recording this time. Can you wait? No? Well you better had be able to wait, it might take longer than a new Jesus and Mary Chain album.

Thanks everyone,
JT

40: Psych Sound Ensemble

Hello loyal readers. Today I got paid so I bought a couple of LPs. I got the Vivian Girls album and the Taken By Trees album. They are good. Vivian Girls is a bit short and samey but the songs are good so why should it matter that they sound the same? It never did Interpol any harm making the same songs over and over (apart from that last album, that was pretty poor). Taken By Trees is from Sweden and she makes some fantastic indian-inspired folk stuff kind of similar to Death Vessel except she doesn't just sound like a girl, she is one. There are some extra exotic sounds on there too. I love that second Death Vessel album, by the way. And the first, come to think of it.

So yeah. Check these bands and artists out before you leave me again...
Taken By Trees
Vivian Girls
Chad Van Gaalen
The Black Ships (this is Nick McCabe from The Verve and his new band.)

I don't care if you don't like The Verve, it is obvious they had one of the best guitarists of the 90s.

If you wanna hear something a bit more rockin' and are into your Sabbath, check out my pals The Freezing Fog HERE

Over and Out, Berlin x

39: is it 39? I can't remember. I'll know when I post it..

It's cold today so I just put on a jumper. I've been listening to Neurosis and Burzum and it doesn't make it any warmer but the sounds are good. The sky is totally pink and orange and weird outside, this is not a usual thing for Manchester and Rochdale etc...

Al just rang and said the big car park in town is shut off and the road is cleared and there are lots of police and naughty looking guys being told off. It's much more dramatic I'm sure but I'm no good at drama these days... Too lazy I guess.

archive.org is a fantastic website. I am listening to all sorts of live sets by great bands. Some songs on there that I'm still waiting to hear released, too... which is obviously a bonus.

I'm just going to check which cities have been on here this week so I can thank you, hang on....

... Shelton in Connecticut, that's a new one. I think a band I liked once came from Connecticut. Hot Rod Circuit maybe? I remember them... I liked being 15 a lot. Maybe they wern't from there. Wikipedia will know...

Yeah, they kinda moved there for a while. I am a fountain of knowledge today, arn't I?

Take care everyone.

38: All THE HITS are on the first side!

I feel sad when all the hits from an album are on the first side. I feel like people will overlook the 2nd side of the LP. This is something that worries me from day to day. Sometimes I have nightmares about it, other times it is just a daydream at work. Whatever, it's hard to deal with.

......Just think, some people could've overlooked some absolute gems.

...The hits arn't ALWAYS on the first side, though. Look at 'Songs of Leonard Cohen'; side 2 is basicly the 1966 hit parade for depressed single men.

Just make sure you listen to side 2 of Meddle by Pink Floyd.

37: Get well Leonard

Here is me with Leonard Cohen. Let's hope he is fine and well... EDIT: He is fine!

35: What's dub gotta do with it?

New sounds on the RGC myspace... HERE

Hope you are all well, I am very cold this evening. There is some total trash on the TV too.

For Steve...

34: Adebayor is feeling the love

So, apart from Adebayor deciding to kick someone in the face, City beating Arsenal was the best day of the football season. This weekend we have to play Man United though... Adebayor banned, Robinho, Tevez and Santa Cruz all injured... I'm not worried though. Maybe I'm a liar. Anyway......

Listening to the new Do Make Say Think record, stonkin' effort. Maybe better than their last. Hope to see them live again soon.

My heroes of the week are Adebayor and Kanye West. More villains on the telly please!

September 11th was the busiest day on this blog for a while. 8 visits from Brazil, 2 from Minneapolis and some from Paris, Hamburg and London. Japan took a day off. Thanks everyone! Back later with treats.

33: ATP NY

I totally forgot I was going to go to ATP in New York and now I've remembered it's too late. It's this weekend (I think) so I guess I'll have to go next time if I can afford it then. Primavera in December though... I think. I have no idea about the setup of that thing yet, seems a bit weird. Get a ticket for december and may for 100 euro though, nice deal.

Nothin' much else too say too day. Ta ra.

Hello Germany.

32: Primavera Sound / Kilkenny Arts / RGC photos

Hi. I am lazy when it comes to uploading my photos, even though I want you to see them. Here are some uploads for...

- Neil Young, Spiritualized, Spectrum and Jarvis Cocker at Primavera Sound Festival 2009
- Low at Kilkenny Arts Festival 2009
- Retribution Gospel Choir at The Deaf Institute in Manchester earlier this year.

see them HERE...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gargoylewaiting


Hope every single one of you is having a nice week. If anyone is ever in Manchester feel free to pop along to this...
www.myspace.com/onestepmore

JT x

31: Don't Let Our Youth Go To Waste

My night is starting it's 4th year of existence tomorrow. It's a bit weird to think I've been putting it on for so long. It's nice though, I guess. I wish I'd given it a better name; 'one step more and you die' is a rubbish name for a clubnight. It's not even the best Mono album. I need ideas to make it feel new and great again. New flyers and posters are the first place to start, I'm hoping to get some projections and more lights too. Then surely it will get busier again and be brilliant. Hopefully we'll get back on a saturday night soon too.

I just don't know.

Hello Duluth! Hope the music is coming along well and that you're Workin' Hard.

30: No one ever goes home with the barmaid

I have just heard that Malcolm Middleton is playing the Night & Day AGAIN! This is good news although it's a bit excessive don't you think? Anyway, it's part of John Peel night in October and will feature some other bands and Mark Radcliffe doing some DJ'ing. It's a Saturday night so maybe I won't leave early this time. Last time I was in the night & day watching this fella I gave my number to a barmaid... I still think about how much of a bad idea that was but it doesn't really matter. I have only given my number to a barmaid twice and there has never been any kind of response. So, despite it being a waste of time, at least there has never been any bad come of it.

Anyway, it's useless telling you these things.... I'll tell you that I got paid a terrible wage this week on account of work being dead and them letting me go home early a lot. I'll get a bad wage this week too because I've been far too busy being ill to even think about going to work.

Here is a link to a site which links people to this blog, it's cool and you should check it out...
http://www.modularlab.com

One Step More... at Tiger Lounge on Thursday.

And also, thank you to people in Stuttgart. You seem to really like this blog!

Thanks,
JT x

29: Thanks a million

So I haven't been around much recently... I'll try harder to be there for you, honest.

Went to Kilkenny (Ireland) to see Low as part of the Kilkenny Arts Festival. It was a great day full of sun in a nice little town and City won too, which was great news. Low's set was cut a little short by curfew but it didn't matter so much because they were simply fantastic. Got to check out the sound check too and they played Words from their first album which isn't likely to happen again soon I wouldn't expect.

They played...
$20
Shots and Ladders
In Silence
Dragonfly
Monkey
Little Arguement...
Shame
Amazing Grace
Like A Forest
Murderer
Violent Past
When I Go Deaf

Mick Turner (Dirty Three) supported which was another great performance. Adam from Stars Of The Lid did the sound so that was obviously top notch too. We all went and drank at a pub after the show and watch match of the day so I could see City beat Blackburn and Arsenal destroy Everton.

After Kilkenny we went to Dublin for a couple of nights. No shows were seen there but we did manage to meet plenty of other tourists in our hostel and get mugged for alcohol. A holiday isn't a holiday without getting mugged, yunno?

Here are pictures of where the show was etc...

27: Fear Of Song

Listen to Zak Sally (Ex-Low/Dirty Three/Kid Dakota)'s new album Fear Of Song for free here...
http://www.lamano21.com/

You can also buy it from today and every copy is hand made/signed/numbered to great results. You can only buy it there so snap it up now. I love it!

26: In the real paper

Here I am on citylife.co.uk, it was in the paper too.
http://www.citylife.co.uk/clubs/features/14150_one_step_more_towards_club_success

Anyone near should come along.

I went to field day in London at the weekend. It featured Mogwai, Malcolm Middleton, The Horrors and Sian Alice Group.

It was a rubbish day. Sian Alice Group only had a 20 minute set so I missed them. Malcolm Middletons set was ruined by bad sound and the fact it was a rubbish day. The Horrors made it very clear they are a poor version of Pornography-era Cure / Jesus & Mary Chain. Mogwai were great as always but I couldn;t here them over the outrageous amount fo pricks speaking over them and generally being dicks. Oh well. Low / Mick Turner next week.

25: Berlin

I don't know if anyone agrees with me that Berlin by Lou Reed is a great starting point or slow-core and bands of that sort. So much of it sounds like it could fit in on a Luna, Bedhead or Low album. The way Alan from Low delivers songs on some of Lows stuff is similar to Lou's style on Berlin, too... Oh well, something to think about I'm sure..?

Finally bought a new pick-up for my bass so get redy for new noises.

I am in the paper on Friday. There is a picture of me and an interview about my clubnights 3rd birthday. You should check it out so you can see how stupid I am. It will probably be posted on the Manchester CityLife website too.

This week I have bought...
Sian Alice Group - 59.59 LP
Zak Sally - Why We Hide 7"
Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express LP
Lou Reed - Berlin LP


Spiritualized are re-releasing Ladies & Gentlemen... as a 3 disc set in August, that should be nice. Word on the street is that RGC are finishing their new album off too, great news.

Over and out,
JT x

24 - Fly

Hello. I today I bought the school of seven bels album on LP. I also managed to find a sealed copy of Loop's 'A Guided Eternity' on reord. £10. Bargain or what? Seems to be the going rate checking some sites but I reckon it's more than worth it. I also bought a 'blackbird, fly' camera. It takes 25mm so I guess I can see the results cheaper, easier and quicker than with my Holga. I'll let you know the results. I might take it to some shows.

Hope youa re all well... nearly finished that mix download for you all.

Twenty Three

Hello all, just booked my flights to Ireland for next month. Anyone know how long it will take me to get from Dublin Airport to the Kilkenny Arts Festival? Maybe I should do some research. Don't think we're going to Paris anymore, maybe Brussels? Maybe somewhere totally new.

Today I managed to track down a copy of Music Has The Right To Children by Boards Of Canada on 2LP. £12, not bad? Not bad at all.

I've got a lot of records I haven't listened to in ages, some I might not of played more than once. I'm going to have a night of listening I think. Gone by Mono probably deserves a go, it is a nice package afterall...... Then maybe.... Peter Gabriel 1.

Visitors... this month is a bit quiet, maybe it's my lack of posting that's doing that. Nice to see Sweden, Iceland and Norway taking notice though. Hello Northern Europe! In terms of America, hello Missouri, New York and Maryland.

Latvia, Thailand, New Zealand... The list is pleasing. thanks to everyone for visiting. Let's get up to 1000 hits? Link your friends and lovers.

I'm currently making a mix for you all to download. It's gonna feature some great sounds. All recordings will be from high quality bootlegs, I don't want to piss off any record companies...

Watch this space!

JT
X

22- Death Of A Party

Blur at Hyde Park was pretty much the same setlist as the other 2 shows I saw. They played Death Of A Party at the start of the 2nd encore on both dates though. Shame it didn't change but the shows were full of pricks but that is the norm at these huge gigs it seems. Anything over 30,000 is bound to be a bit weird and these were twice that.

Some news for you. I'm going to see Low next month in Ireland as part of the Kilkenny Arts Festival. The venue is an amazing cathedral (the same place Spiritualized played last year). Hopefully it will be as good as Eindhoven, not likely to be better than Dublin last time though. Paris '07 wasn't too shabby either....anyway...

Look out for the following tours coming up soon...
Yo La Tengo, Spiritualized, Saint Eitenne, Mark Kozelek, Daniel Johnston, Leonard Cohen... maybe Cave In??

Trip to Paris next month too. If you wanna see some strange open mic action maybe me and Ric will treat you.

21: Blur - Wolverhampton/Manchester

Here's the setlist from Blur's Wolverhampton and Manchester shows. Shame there was no change but I'm sure Hyde Park will bring something unexpected.

She's so high
girls and boys
tracy jacks
there's no other way
jubilee
badhead
beetlebum
out of time
trimm trab
coffee and tv
tender
country house
oily water
chemical world
sunday sunday
parklife
end of a century
to the end
this is a low
----------------
popscene
advert
song 2
-------------
For tomorrow
the universal

LOW live in Eindhoven download!

Here's a link to a recently surfaced bootleg from Low's amazing show in Eindhoven earlier this year. It really was one of the best shows I've ever seen and I suggest you give it a listen to hear for yourself what a fantastic performance it was. Features an orchestra and choir...

Part 1:
http://audio.omroep.nl/cz/cz/thema/20090518-20.mp3

Part 2:
http://audio.omroep.nl/cz/cz/thema/20090615-20.mp3



Saw Blur twice this week, btoh shows were outstanding, kind of hard to describe a Blur gig. Strange mix of people and very weird to see all 4 of them back on stage together. Hit after hit meant I got pretty squashed at both shows, looking forawrd to Hyde Park next week. Malcolm Middleton on Monday, too.

19: Covers

I've been thinking about cover versions a lot today. In between taking calls at work I have been thinking of all the best ones. Here are what I thought of...

Red House Painters - Silly Love Songs (Wings)
Low - Transmission (Joy Division)
Spectrum - War Sucks (Red Crayola)
Loop - Thief Of Fire (The Pop Group)
Luna - Jealous Guy (John Lennon)
Arab Strap - It's a Heartache (Bonnie Tyler)
The Jesus & Mary Chain - Tower Of Song (Leonard Cohen)
Pixies - Winterlong (Neil Young)
and finally, a nice surprising one for you...
Jimmy Eat World - Spangle (The Wedding Present)

Made that last one a bit smaller so I don't feel too stupid. It is good though.


Great weather in Manchester today, shame London gets all the Blur gigs...

18: The Power Of Negative Thinking

Hello everyone, how are you all? I see there's been more hits from Asia since my last post, keep it up! I'm hoping to get some hits from Norway and Iceland, where are you all? I know you have the internet.

Been listening to the new Malcolm Middleton album a lot this week. It's a good effort, lots of synth and slap bass in all the right parts as well as those miserable ballads we all love him for. The cover is pretty fantastic too, everyone wanted to see Malcie's face on the moon. I managed to score one of those lovely LPs limited to 500, you get a bonus 7" too with the last two tracks off the album. Down side to that is you have to change the speed on your deck to listen to those. I don't have a speed changer you see, manual all the way for me it seems. (Project Debut III, btw).

Been shopping for some other musical treats this week. Tracked down a 2LP copy of Sigur Ros's debut album 'Von' in a brilliant purple sleeve to match the CD version. It's been remasted and pressed on heavyweight 200g vinyl. Jealous? Don't be, go buy one yourself if you're that bothered.

Other purchases...
Luna - Romantica
Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass

Prepare yourselves for Blur specials pretty soon. All the info from Blur's shows in Manchester, London and Wolverhampton. Feel free to leave me any comments and more followers are always welcome! Here's a question for you...

Anyone else sick of waiting for the new Mew album?

17: 11 Countries in 2 days

Thanks to everyone from all over the place that have been reading my blog. Got my first hit from Thailand which I find exciting, maybe you can spread the good word whoever you are. Hope you enjoyed your visit. Greece, Romania and Portugal are new ones for me too, so thanks to the people there for reading.

EDIT: Hello Argentina and Columbia!

Also had a hit from Vermont today. I have my suspects...

Just been loading up an old russian camera with some expired film, I'm not sure if either work but mixing them together could be interesting? Not sure I want to waste money getting it developed but I should probably take a risk. Who gets anywhere without taking a risk?

Hoping to sort out some more trips for concerts soon. Looks like I might visit Brussels again soon, I can't get enough of the Delirium Cafe and getting mugged, obviously.

Trip to Ireland for the Kilkenny Festival of Arts too I think. Not certain about who's appearing yet apart from 1 band. Malcolm Middleton (Arab Strap) and Jason Pierce (Spiritualized) are rumoured though.

Anyone logging on around the US should remember to check out the Meat Puppets/Retribution Gospel Choir tour. Meat Puppets are that band that Nirvana covered a bit. Not The Vaselines or David Bowie though... You knew that already... surely...?

Support quality music...
www.subpop.com
www.killrockstars.com
www.flemisheye.com
www.piccadillyrecords.co.uk
www.roughtrade.co.uk

RIP Jeff Hanson

16: Post-Primavera dread

Hello all, I am back from a week in Barcelona for the Primavera Sound festival and general pissing around. Whilst I was there, Barcelona beat Manchester United in the Champions League final, so that was an added bonus. One of the best nights I've ever had, in fact.

So... Primavera? So much to talk about really. First off I want to start with what a dreadful waste of time it was Wavves even showing up. He basicly just acted like a twat and played really bad renditions of songs that were just ok to start with... Youtube and Pitchfork can tell you all about that. Mind you, I don't think Pitchfork are much better.

Spiritualized? OK. What a set, the light show and freak outs were blistering. They drew a big crowd too and for the most part it was a good crowd to be in (unlike Jarvis, more on that later). The setlist was pretty much the same as the last couple of tours for A&E, still, they were tight and this line-up has really taken it's live show up a scale since its first outings. Setlist and picture...

Amazing Grace / You Lie You Cheat
Shine A Light
Cheapster
Soul On Fire
Walkin With Jesus
I Think I'm In Love
Ladies & Gentlemen...
Lay Back In The Sun
Take Your Time
Come Together
Take Me To The Other Side




The New Year... Mostly stuff off their latest album (The New Year), they played in the Auditori on the last day of the festival to a fantastic crowd in a fantastic venue. The sound and lighting was a particular highlight on top of what was a brilliant performance. Kinda made me wish I'd seen Bedhead but it's not like it matters too much when they're so good doing this show. No setlist to share for these, although they definitely played Folios (started with this), The Company I Get, The Door Opens, Wages Of Sleep and The Idea Of You (ended with this).

Jarvis Cocker seemed to be having a nice time wandering round the festival site checking out the sounds before his set on the main stage. He seemed in a strange but entertaining mood (what's new there?). Mostly stuff from his new album Further Complications but that didn't matter for me, he jived away and was full of that energy he always had. Shame the crowd were pretty unresponsive to his set, I assume it's because of the amount of new material played which most of them wont have heard yet. Setlist and photo...

Pilchard
Angela
Further Complications
Fat Children
Slush
Big Julie
Leftovers
Dont Let Him Waste Your Time
I Never Said I Was Deep
Home Wrecker
Fuckin' Song
Black Magic
Discosong




Neil Young's headline show was an obvious highlight. A mix of expected and unexpected hits made for a hugely enjoyable evening. I had to leave for a few songs before I pissed myself but at least I didn't miss too much. I could still see him whilst I was at the strange urinals anyhow... Do you really want to know about my pissing habits? No. Anyway... Yeah, Neil seemed in a surprisingly good mood. Wavign a Barca flag, interacting with the crowd and actually seeming really happy to be there. His enjoyment seemed to catch on with the crowd even when he was playing less well known material. Ended with a great Beatles cover. Here's a setlist and a picture...

Mansion On The Hill
Hey Hey, My My
Are You Ready For The Country
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Pocahontas
Spirit Road
Cortez The Killer
Cinnamon Girl
Mother Earth
Needle & The Damage Done
Unknown Legend
Heart Of Gold
Old Man
Down By The River
Get Behind The Wheel
Rockin' In The Free World
A Day In The Life




This is hard work isn't it? The Jesus Lizard put on an energetic and great performance on the ATP stage. SunnO))) played well but the album choice still isn't the best for me, same with a lot of other people I think. Aphex Twin just served to prove to me why everyone is on drugs when they go to see him. Sitting there with nothing but beer in your system doesn't really work, maybe that's just me though. Saint Etienne were a whole load of fun on the RockDelux stage. Nothing better than a bit of cheesy indie-dance by the beach to get a party going, yunno?

Spectrum played an awesome set full of Spacemen 3 hits as well as his best work like How You Satisfy Me. Also played a pretty good Red Crayola cover (War Sucks) from their new EP, War Sucks. Finishing with the space-rock/shoegaze masterpiece Suicide, you realise why S3 were so important and why Sonic continues to be. Don't make me choose between Spectrum and Spiritualized's S3 renditions..

Chad VanGaalen opened the RockDelux stage on the last day of the festival playing most of his album 'Soft Airplane'. The crowd went mad for Willow Tree but I have to say I think Bare Feet On Wet Griptape was the best song of the set. Nice way to start the day, a good mix of chilled out folk and poppy indie. Again, helps to be able to look out of the sea and drink beer in the sun whilst watching.

Sonic Youth were the biggest disappointment of the festival... The set just seemed to plod along at the same pace not really going anywhere. The old hits seemed to be lost in all the new stuff and it didn't really work at all at that time of night after a world beating set from Neil Young. I came away wondering if people go to see Sonic Youth purely so they can say they have seen them? I enjoyed them at the Daydream Nation shows in London, shame they didn't grab me this time because I do quite like the new album and the last 2 were great.

Bloc Party played so dreadfully it doesn't need discussing...

Yo La Tengo were the surprise package of the festival for me. Just chilling out before MBV, I knew they would be good but they really took me by surprise. I don't have a setlist or any idea what they played because I only had one album before seeing their show. Needless to say, I have bought 4 more since getting back. Great show and I hope they play again soon.


Deerhunter and Marnie Stern put on good shows, nice to just sit back and listen after some pretty tiring days and nights.

My Bloody Valentine? I don't think you need to wonder what they were like. Played the same setlist they've been touring and it was pretty good despite me having seen it before. Watch out for that noise at the end... Youtube will help you out if you honestly, really, actually don't know what I'm talking about.

I have missed lots out, expect some more stuff about this later. Thanks to everyone reading and enjoying. Really appreciated!

15: Time to dig out my travellin' socks...

Hello everyone, my computer is sort of back from the dead but I have lost about 11,000 songs unless I can get them off my iPod onto my computer. I think that is possible though.

Still, I have a lost a lot of good stuff. All my photos have gone but I think I managed to back up most of them before the trojans took them. Time will tell...

So yeah, better late than never here is the Retribution Gospel Choir setlist...

Workin' Hard
White Wolf
What She Turned Into
Breaker
For Her Blood
Hideaway
They Knew You Well
Your Bird
Easy Prey
Poor Man's Memory
Kids
Electric Guitar
Take Your Time
----------------
Destroyer

The new stuff sounded good, more out and out rock n roll than the old stuff. The version of Poor Man's Daughter was mind expanding stuff and Destroyer was always going to be a treat. I had a video of Easy Prey, might still have it somewhere... Also some pictures with Ste and Eric but I'll spare them any shame by not posting them. That and I look stupid on them.


Jarvis Cocker played a good show at Rough Trade for his album release. All songs were new, here is the setlist (roughly) in order.

Further Complications
Leftovers
Hold Still
Caucasian Blues
I Never Said I Was Deep
Homewrecker!
Slush
Angela

Short but sweet. According to what he wrote on my record, "It's Official". What he means I don't know, but one thing that is official is that he's still the coolest man to come out of Sheffield.


Expect updates about Primavera when I return a week tomorrow. Spain will be sunny and I will come back with a sexy tan... I'll try and post some RGC photos before I leave on Wednesday. Enjoy your Bank Holiday, England! Enjoy your week, ROW! x

14: So, sorry for the delay?

Long time no speak. My computer has given up on me... I was trying to listen to Silly Love Songs by Wings and all of a sudden I have trojan horses grazing all over the fucking thing.

RGC in Manchester was a great show! Hope some of you caught them on this tour. On Saturday I went to see Jarvis Cocker in London, got to meet him, what a great guy he is!

Obviously, this is very brief and doesn't tell you too much, all the photos and stuff I had are saved on my broken computer, a virus scan has been working its way through all that for about 5 hours and still hasn't stopped. I'll update again as soon as I can and let y'all know the fakts about the gigz.

Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona next week, look forward to that!

(Hi Steve!)

13: Unlucky for some?

The weekend is here unless you work weekends, I don't at the moment.

I've been checking my stats and there's a lot of people reading, particularly you Australians this week. Seems a shame there's only 1 follower and so many readers... maybe you don't want people to know you're reading! Don't worry, I can't see you or anything, just a little dot on a map telling me how many people in that city have been on here.

I'm listening to Deja Vu by CSNY, it's good Saturday afternoon music. The calm before the storm or something.

Hoping to have some new interviews to share soon. Like I said, there is a Retribution Gospel Choir gig on Tuesday in Manchester so i will get back to you about that. Can't make it to the London show on Wednesday anymore (poor me), Graham Coxon is playing The Lexington too that night so make your choice! The Lexington is a great little venue, saw The Thermals there a few months back. RGC is at Water Rats, so, not too far from each other if you wanna dart between?

If you go to any gig ever, please remember not to talk all the way through it.

If you're a youtube user, there is a fantastic Low show from The Knitting Factory up on there, all pro-shot from the Curtain Hits The Cast you... enjoy!

12: This week

Hello! Sorry I've been slack this last few days, I've started a new job so I just go to bed if I'm not there...

Quick mention to Kadman. I got sent their album (sing to me slower) last week... Finally... someone wants my opinion! It's a good record, especially considering what little they probably had to work with. It's minimal but melodic, great low-fi and acoustic with clear influence from the likes of Mark Kozelek, Alan Sparhawk, Leonard Cohen and even some hints of early Death Cab For Cutie. There's a lot of positives to take from this record, but at times the drums let it down and sound very programmed. Still, great little album!

Thursday night is One Step More... at Tiger Lounge so you can hear me play lots of great tunes from the sorts of bands I'm talking about on here. If you're not in Manchester don't worry, I'll play Wish You Were Here just for you.

Sunday is Manchester City vs Manchester United, that's nothing to do with music so I wont get too serious about that just yet... blue side for me, by the way.

Tuesday is Retribution Gospel Choir in Manchester, that's a week away so trust I will write again before then! Should be a good one, especially now I've assured my entry. Expect pictures, setlist and maybe even videos (high class entertainment!). Wet your appetite for RGC goodness by checking out some videos on youtube, there's some new tracks on there!


Here's my weekends playlist...
Swans - White Light...
Red House Painters - Songs For A Blue Guitar
The new Mars Volta single
Arab Strap - Philophobia
Blur - CD Single Box Set
Saint Etienne - Foxbase Alpha

11: Interview: MALCOLM MIDDLETON

In preperation for his new album release, I thought I'd dig up a short old Interview from Christmas 2007 where I interviewed Malcolm about 'A Brighter Beat', Arab Strap, the dreaded Xmas number 1 spot he was going for, and what was still to come... This interview was also for cowandfield.co.uk, but like the LOW interview (below), you can't get it on there at the moment, so here it is.

The new single “We're All Going To Die” is now one of the top contenders for the Christmas number 1. How much of that was down to you or was it just a bit of a laugh?
Some asked if I wanted to hold it back for the Christmas stuff and I just said 'aye, let's do it for a laugh'. It kinda just snowballed from there and William Hill started putting odds on it. It would be funny to get it, but it'd not be funny too. I don't really mind.

A Brighter Beat is considerably more upbeat than your first two solo efforts, was this a conscious decision or was it more of a natural progression?
It was both. The first one was so bleak and depressing that it makes me cringe a bit, the second album was a bit like me wearing a mask. I was covering the same themes but through more upbeat tunes so it was a bit less painful for people to listen to. Brighter Beat continued that but I just wanted better production, it's not really about having a brighter beat, it's about not having a brighter beat and not having a good mentality. I think I've done that now so I can;t really go any further with it.

Looking back at your first album, what do you think?
I'm glad people like it because it's honest... but like I said, it tends to make me cringe a bit these days.

Is there any plans for an Arab Strap DVD from the farewell tour or something similar?
We didn't really think about it until it came to the last night of the tour and we thought 'we should've filmed this'. We did record a lot of the concerts so maybe you'll hear some of that some day, we're not really a DVD band I don't think.

I remember setting off to the last Arab Strap gig in Manchester before (stupidly) changing my mind, as a result I never got to catch you guys live
I've done that before too. I had a ticket for Nirvana but went to some shit house party in Falkirk instead. That's what happens, you should always go to the concert, you'll regret it.

Any chance of a reformation?
It's a bit early for that. Never say never. If we went back to it it'd have to be because we enjoyed it, at the moment we're both doing our solo stuff so we're kept pretty busy.

Your new album Sleight of Heart is out in February, are there plans to tour that?
That's the plan yeah but it'll just be an acoustic tour with maybe 2 or 3 others to help out.

Has it been hard to adjust to touring as a full band doing electric shows after your last 2 albums which were pretty stripped down and acoustic?
It's hard because I hate doing it when things are missing like the strings and stuff. You've just gotta make sense of it as it is.

You've had to travel up from London this morning from a Radio session, what was that like for you?
Just a bit shit yunno, 6 hours in a van. We didn't get here til about 6:30

What's the tour been like in comparison to the tour earlier in the year?
It's been good. I was expecting all this Christmas shit to of brought a lot of people here to hear one song but it's been alright, a lot of people seem to know the songs and stuff. I've enjoyed it.

How do you go about sorting the setlists for the shows? Do you vary them a lot or do you tend to stick to the same songs?
We tend to play the stuff we're most comfortable with, we've had to rehearse stuff a bit differently for this tour like Cold Winter and King of Bring but we left them out anyway tonight. I've done King of Bring pretty much every gig since it was released so I decided it needed a rest.

How does the writing process differ from when you were in Arab Strap? Is it easier for you to do it alone or harder?
Well the main difference is that in Arab Strap I wrote the music and Aidan wrote the lyrics, whereas now I have to do both. Doing my own stuff is more natural for me because I have my own influences. Arab Strap was sometimes hard work because I'd write a song I liked and Aidan would just say 'that's shit'. But that's why Arab Strap worked, just that chemistry between us, a bit of compromise and fighting in the studio. With my own stuff I get total freedom. Some of my own stuff was originally for Arab Strap, the song Devil and The Angel was originally for Philophobia and fight like the night I've had knocking around for about10 years.

Have you taken your solo stuff more seriously since the split from Arab Strap?
I've always taken it seriously. I never wanted it to be a side project because to me that was all of me rather than with Arab Strap it was just half of me because Aidan was there. So, I've always taken it seriously. Sometimes too seriously which is why I miss Arab Strap.

10: Interview: LOW

2 years ago, prior to the release of their latest album 'Drums & Guns', I had the pleasure of interviewing slowcore/low-fi legends Low. Since the interview they HAVE released Destroyer (via Retribution Gospel Choir's self-titled debut) and played Union Chapel once again. You'll see what I mean later... This interview was originally for cowandfield.co.uk but the site is down at the moment so I've decided to post it here! Enjoy...


The new album 'drums & guns' was originally planned to be called 'the violent path'. Was there any reason for the sudden change of heart after already announcing that it would be titled 'the violent path'?
Alan: Drums and Guns was actually the first title we came up with for the new record, we thought about it as we were doing the record and started to come with other ideas...
Mimi: I don't think you're right, the violent path was the first name we came up with
Alan: Oh yeah yeah, that was the potential name for the album then we heard this old Irish folk song “johnny a' hardly new yeee” (In full irish meets pirate accent) and the chorus was like “drums and guns and drums and guns”
Mimi: Yeah, then we though 'well that's a cool name'. We didn't know if the music would be appropriate at first for the name.
Alan: We gave it some thought and decided it was more fitting to what the record was like that 'the violent path'. Errr, We'll use that for something else I think.

[matt joins]

It's the second album you've recorded with Dave Fridman (Alan corrects by saying 'grammy award winning producer dave fridman'), did the process differ the that of when you recorded the great destroyer?
Alan: We approached it very different for sure. Usually in the past we'd record the songs like an extension of how we play them live, with the drums, bass and guitar, so we tried to use some different methods and do different things to what we usually did, whilst still being Low. We approached the great destroyer in a more traditional fashion, but this time having worked with him already we knew we could go in and he could help us with what we were trying to do.

Zak left the band in 2005, was it hard for you (Matt) to come in and learn the older material to play live as well as writing new material with the band?
Matt: Learning the old stuff came pretty easy as I was already familiar with most of the catalogue, and the new stuff kind of similarly went well as I'd played with Alan in the past, so rehearsals went smoothly.
Mimi: Then we just beat him [group laughter]
Alan: It's always a struggle, we're not always on the same page but we tackle things at the same pace and with similar vision. I enjoyed the process of revisiting the old stuff, I think that in itself might of influenced the new record. We weren't necessarily running away from the old style but we looked at things and thought 'yeah, maybe we do do this, but lets see what chances we can take and what changes we can make'

You did a radio 6 session and interview yesterday, the presenter more or less openly admitted he didn't know an awful lot about you and what sort of thing you did, what did you make of that?
Alan: I think he handled that pretty well. There's nothing worse than when you have an interview with a presenter who knows nothing about you, but even worse when they pretend to know stuff they don't. He was honest about it and we had a talk with him before and after it so it wasn't so bad. You could tell he had listened to the new record and paid attention.
Mimi: It's so hard in that profession, you have so much music to get through and stuff to organise, so yeah, he didn't do badly.
Alan: I don't think we've ever been offended by a presenter not knowing much about us, it's to be assumed generally.

Am I right in saying this is the first show of the tour?
Mimi: Yeah I guess, it's a pretty short trip and this is the first show.
Alan: Yeah this is the first one on this record, it's not out yet but I guess the point of this short trip is to present the new material and to talk with people like you.

So will there be a good mix of new and old material at these shows? Are you planning on mainly previewing the new album or playing a mix of the older stuff and just dropping a few new tracks in there?
Alan: We're pretty much on the new record.
Mimi: Yeah, we play a lot of the new record.
Alan: We'll probably play most of the new one, but we'll have to do about half of the set older material too.

Will you be playing the new or old version of Murderer on this tour?
Alan: I know a lot of people who like the ay we've always done it live so i think we'll probably just keep doing doing it that way

I was wondering if there's any particular reason that the 2nd tracks of the last 4 records (including the new one) have been the names of places. Whitetail, Canada, California, and Belarus.
Alan: We should of had Missouri 2nd on Secret Name too, could've got a run going.
Mimi: Yeah
Alan: That's actually the first we've heard of it... actually... wait wait wait...Completely deliberate. Yes, yes, if you were to take out a globe and plot those places on it, they would create a 3 dimensional algorithm that we believe is the key to cold fusion... Yeah, that's a good one, very observant.

Makes a change from the Mormon questions?
Mimi: Yeah, we need more questions like that one.
Alan: Now you're putting pressure on us.

On the making of Trust dvd, there's a list of tracks being worked on and Belarus was listed. Was it recorded, unused and then reworked for use on the new record?
Alan: Yeah it's a track we've had kicking around for a while, it was a possible song for trust.

Was it more low-fi back then?
Mimi: Well there was no drum machines
Alan: Yeah and there was a lot more guitar. It's a very very basic song, there's just a couple of things happening, it's almost a 'no-song'. Very simple but a nice track.

Any plans to record the track destroyer?
Alan: It was a track we were working on the great destroyer, we still kick it around a bit. It's one of those songs that's really great live, at the right moment, but if it's not the right moment and especially if you're trying to record it, it just seem doesn't work.

Are the venues on the tour handpicked? Or do the promoters tend to pick where you play?
Alan: We try and get the booking agent to ask the promoter to find somewhere interesting sometimes you're left to what's on offer, we really loved playing union chapel, but they don't do gigs there anymore?

Left a bad impression?
Alan: Oh yeah yeah, all those rowdy Low fans causing a riot, spitting on the floor and stuff. No, that was a really nice venue, I'd love to play there again one day.

Does it frustrate you when the crowd speak through the music when you're playing? I know it annoys me.
Alan: It's kinda a crap-shoot but you realise that some shows are noisy and some aren't.
Mimi: You can't let it get to you, we realised pretty early on that it happened.
Alan: Yeah, if you let it get to you it can destroy you for no reason. Some of the stuff we do it has to be silent for you to hear though, I tend to play louder and with less dynamics if people are speaking loud. They can please themselves really, it's their money.

Are there any plans to reissue the older albums like I could live in hope and long division? They're pretty hard to get hold of this side of the pond.
Alan: Well, the label that owns them aren't traditionally very helpful with allowing people to reissue old records. It's good you mentioned that though cause I forgot we really have to speak to someone about that, they weren't very well distributed outside of the US. We really have to speak to someone about it.

You've covered artists like Pink Floyd and Neil Young? Are these major influences on the music you're still making?
Alan: We've been listening to a lot of Jamaican music over the last couple of years, it's really interesting just to hear the way they make music.

Well I've started to go over the amount of time I was told I had and I've just about got through the questions so I'll let you go and set up and stuff, thanks for the interview
Matt: Thank you very much
Mimi: You're welcome
Alan: Ermm, Cheeerio

9: Did you miss these?

This weeks playlist and discoveries:

John Cale - Music For A New Society
Chad vanGaalen - Soft Airplane
Crippled Black Phoenix - 200 Tons Of Bad Luck
The Cure - Disintergration
Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones
Sun Kil Moon - April
Sonic Youth - The Eternal (advance)
Isis - Wavering Radiant
Mark Kozelek - Find Me, Ruben Olivares
Manic Street Preachers - Journal For Plague Lovers (advance)

8: Low in Eindhoven

I went to a gig back in January at Catherinakerk in Eindhoven. That gig was Low. Unfortunately, I have no pictres from the gig because I got mugged in Brussels en-route back to Manchester. It's a shame, there were some great ones! The show was outstanding, even though there was nothing from the first 4 albums it was amazing. The best time I've seen them was probably Nottingham in 2007, but this is a close 2nd. The renditions of The Lamb and Violent Past were far and away the best things I have seen them do, and even Monkey was a highlight! Lighting perfect, the catherdral beautiful, the sound great... everything. We ended up at a place called the tipsy duck afterwards... they served pints at least. Here is the full set list...

7: I went to some gigs

6: 22nd April 2009

Hello. I've not been upto much since last post. This morning I got a ticket to see Blur at Wolverhampton Civic Hall, so that should be nice. Smaller than the July shows by a long way.

Today I have listened to 2 albums that are coming out shortly. Both by survivors of the 90s brit-pop era...

Jarvis Cocker - Further Complications
Engineered by Steve Albini and songs by Jarvis Cocker, you wouldn't doubt this was going to be good would you? It's a bit of a strange one, not as many ballads are his first solo album. A lot of dirty rock n roll guitars on this one, some along the lines of 'Get Ready For Love' Nick Cave. The guitar sound even touches on Shellac on the first track, maybe that's down to Albini... The tracks are good, not as good as a lot of Pulp's 90s output obviously, but good anyhow. I've only given it a couple of listens so far but early signs are promising, a lot of tracks you wouldn't mind hearing if you were out drinking some fine Belgian beer.

Graham Coxon - The Spinning Top
If you're wanting 'Freakin' Out' and 'Standing On My Own Again' you'd do well not to bother picking this up. I like it a lot, he revisits a lot of the areas covered on some of his earlier work. Very acoustic for the most part, some noisy guitar work here and there but nothing too drastic. Great album to sit back and relax to. It apparently tells a story throughout, it's no The Wall, though. Country, Folk, Pop, Americana and Lo-Fi moments making up a very rewarding listen. Like I said though, don't expect feel good songs of the summer here.

Check your local independant retailer (unless HMV bought them all out) for more details on release dates and formats because I'm feeling very lazy at the moment.

5: Jason Pierce

Once, I met J Spaceman from Spiritualized. We had a beer or 3 and talked about Gospel, Denver and crowds in Manchester. This was taken around the same time...

I had a picture with him too but I looked too stupid to post that here.

4: Trail of Dead and Earth

Hello, as promised I am here telling you about the stuff I've seen this week. First up was ...Trail of Dead at Manchester Academy 3 followed by that aftershow I was doing. The show was brilliant, the new songs really came to life live and the old stuff was as good as ever. The one complaint was that they played some stuff a bit too fast, but that was only really a problem during 'Will You Smile Again?' because the verses sounded a bit weird. Brilliant show though and a good setlist. Shame they didn't play 'Fields Of Coal' off the new album. Someone stage dived and landed on my neck, that really hurt (and still does). Jason went into the crowd for Caterwaul which was probably the best song of the night, he also broke his snare drum which turned into a bit of an episode. Here's the setlist...

Giants Causeway / Far Pavillions
Isis Unveiled
It Was There That I Saw You
Homage
Bells of Creation
Will You Smile Again?
Relative Ways
Clair de Lune
Totally Natural
Another Morning Stoner
Caterwaul
--------------
Mistakes & Regrets
Richter Scale Madness

The aftershow was messy due to lots of free drink, brilliant fun though. Jason and Conrad spun some good grooves; Michael Jackson, House of Pain and Stevie Wonder to name a few. The highlight for me was when I played Invisible Touch by Genesis though, that was the song to be beaten and it wasn't. Here's a picture...

Next up, Earth at Islington Mill. For me, this was much better than the first time I saw them (on the Hibernaculum tour). The sound was spot on, the venue is great, the crowd were good and the lighting was pleasant. I'm not sure about the setlist, it was all new style Earth, none of the early noise efforts. I can't really think how to describe an Earth gig, you have to experience it for yourself to understand it I guess. One thing is for sure, it was fantastic. Here is a photo of Dylan Carson...


There you go, thanks for reading post number 4.

3: Things to come

There's a few gigs coming up that I'm going to so keep your eyes on the blog if you wanna hear about them. I'm particularly looking forward to the Blur shows, Primavera festival and Spiritualized performing Ladies & Gentlemen... Let me know if you're heading to any of these shows, I highly recommend you try and get to Retribution Gospel Choir because they don't tour an awful lot, only their 2nd trip to the UK.

16th April - ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
Academy 3, Manchester. I'm doing the aftershow for this too.

18th April - Earth
Islington Mill, Manchester

11th May - Grails ***CANCELLED***

12th May - Retribution Gospel Choir
The Deaf Institute (Trof), Manchester

28th-30th May - Primavera Sound Festival
w/ Neil Young, Sonic Youth, Spiritualized, Jarvis Cocker, Saint Etienne, SunnO))), Spectrum, My Bloody Valentine, Bloc Party, The New Year, Aphex Twin, Dan Deacon, Crystal Stilts, The Jesus Lizard, Lightning Bolt, Wavves, Shellac and more...
Parc Del Forum, Barcelona

21st June - The Thermals
Ruby Lounge, Manchester

26th June - Blur
MEN Arena, Manchester

29th June - Malcolm Middleton
Night & Day, Manchester

3rd July - Blur
Hyde Park, London

12th October - Spiritualized
performing Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
Royal Festival Hall, London


In the meantime, listen to this...

Codeine - The White Birch (Sub Pop, 1994)

New discovery for me, this one. I heard the track 'Vacancy' a couple of years back but totally forgot to follow up on it until a couple of weeks ago when I was having a browse through the Sub Pop catalogue. Brilliant slow-core/low-fi album, on the same wave-length as Spiderland by Slint and Pygmalion by Slowdive. Be sure to give it a listen.

2

Alan Sparhawk from Low. Taken by me in Dublin, 2008.

1

I suppose a good place to start this blog is to recommend some albums for you to listen to. So here it goes...

The New Year - The New Year (2008, Touch & Go Records)

I had this album recommended to me by a customer whilst I was working at HMV over christmas, I'd mentioned I was already interested because it was on Touch & Go and some of the members were in Bedhead (great band, check them out). This is their 3rd album, I haven't tracked down the first 2 yet but I definitely will after hearing this. As well as bringing forward the sound developed by Bedhead, there are rather large doses of Low and The Sea & Cake thrown in. You may think this all sounds a bit depressing, but it's a really nice listen. 'Folios' is a great opener and 'The Idea Of You' is probably the best closing track on an album last year. Looking forward to seeing these in Barcelona next month!

Retribution Gospel Choir - Retribution Gospel Choir (2008, Aural Exploits)

Fantastic stoner-pop-rock featuring Steve and Alan from Low. If you're not a fan of Low don't let it put you off, this could still be well up your street. Great hooks and riffs with catchy choruses as well as some exploration into psych-rock. I find it hard to find any faults with this album, especially as a debut! Some people complain the drums are a bit busy but I think Eric does a great job on it. Steve didn't actually feature as bass player on this recording, that role was occupied by former Low bassist Matt Livingston. Highly recommended if you're into Dead Meadow, Pavement, Luna and even Journey!

I'll post some more later, I smell food burning...