Friday, January 30, 2009

Coachella 2009



The lineup for Coachella 2009 is a little disappointing... I have seen most of the headlining bands over the couple of years - Morrissey, Weller, Franz, Conor Oberst, The Cure, My Bloody Valentine, Thievery Corporation and even McCartney for god sake...

Saturday is the worst day, headlined by the dreadful Killers (who I have had the misfortune to see on a couple of previous occasions), the dull TV on the Radio (what do people see in this band?) and guaranteed no-show Amy Winehouse... At least Glasvegas are playing Saturday, plus Fleet Foxes and maybe check out Band of Horses...

Throbbing Gristle should be interesting on Sunday...

Thursday, January 29, 2009

The day I lined up for America's got talent...



I am now officially a US citizen... Me and 6117 other people...

It was at the convention center in downtown LA and I accidently got in line for America's Got Talent for 5 minutes (insert your own punchline here) until I realized everyone was:

a) dressed like a freak
b) carrying a musical instrument
c) both the above...

After realizing my mistake I joined another huge mass of people across the street but I arrived just at the right time because I was dead center for the citizenship ceremony...

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America."

Barack Obama (2009)

RIP John Martyn

The British folk/blues legend was 60. His best loved CD 'Solid Air' was released in 1973. The title track was a tribute to his friend Nick Drake...

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

The Rhone Occuptation at Silverlake Lounge...

I like Silverlake Lounge - unlike almost every other venue in LA the set times are advertized and adhered to... This meant I was able to avoid the distinctly average Satellite Crush (did they use the Emo name generator?) who I had the misfortune to see at Detroit Bar a while back...

Ballerina Black (don't get me started...) were ok - lot's of Peter Hook basslines and an average singer. Unfortunately, like so many bands who cite Joy Division as an influence they looked and sounded more like a goth band. This bugs me... JD were not (and should never be confused with) anything to do with goth... As for initials BB - change the name, the hair and the image...

The Rhone Occupation were very cool - always good to see a band a second time who impressed you first time out and I wasn't disappointed... I described them as being too much like Radiohead before but besides one song that sounds like 'Exit Music (for a film)' they really don't - singer Jacob Summers has a similar register to Thom Yorke (without all the affectations) but that's about it. Some of the more up-tempo songs have an early REM about them and when TRO slow things down there is some Sigur Ros in the guitar textures... Good band...

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

RIP Alo Conlon

The landlord who turned Camden pub 'The Dublin Castle' into one of Londons favorite indie venues has died age 73...

My old band Hunkydory played there 10 times and it was the venue of what we thought would be our final gig, on 20th July 1998...

Emotional Rescue...

Ever had problems thinking of a band name for your new project? Try the The Emo Band Name Generator! I particularly like the 'You are:' dropdown...

My Emo band is 'Physical Immaculate Satellite' - what's yours?

Friday, January 23, 2009

Reasons to be cheerful...

The excellent Andy Serkis has signed up to portray singer Ian Dury in a forthcoming biopic. Dury, who died in 2000 aged 57, was an important figure in the 70's London pub rock scene which pre-emted punk and new wave... He suffered from polio at an early age and was a champion for rights for the disabled.

Serkis is no stranger to music biographies, having played the legendary Martin Hannett in the Factory Records story 24 Hour Party People.

Serkis as Martin Hannett: