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!