Thursday 30 May 2013

The Stone Roses Film has arrived

Shane Meadows (This is England) has (as I'm sure you will already be aware!) directed a documentary about The Stone Roses.




'Made of Stone' will première today in the bands home-town of Manchester at the Victoria Warehouse.

When tickets were released back in April they sold out in one minute - that's one minute. Pretty impressive, right?

What is different about this music documentary, is, that it's created by an award winning Director but who, himself, is a massive fan of the band, in fact, Meadows has described The Stone Roses as his 'favourite band'.

The film covers the highs and lows of the bands time together, their rise to fame and success but most of all the come back - the band reunited and taking on touring all over again.

Like many other adoring fans I cannot wait to see this film, but unfortunately I'm gonna have to... not too long now though - the highly anticipated documentary will be at cinemas nationwide from 5th June. EEEEEEeeeeeeeee (that's me excited)




But just to get yourselves even more ready, why not watch the trailer - I have done so about 20 times already. I WANNA BE ADORED...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oMZkW0RjE4

Gig review: High House

Back in summer 2012 when I was working at a local radio station - Stafford Music Festival had taken place, ending, as it usually does with a day of live music outside Stafford Castle. At this event local unsigned band High House performed (unfortunately I was not there that day) , but many of my colleagues were and they were well and truly wowed. The next day everyone at the station was talking about them "you've gotta here High House, they're brilliant" and some of their songs were swiftly added to the stations music library.

I was a bit sceptical about whether they would be any good but decided I'd check them out, and I was pleasantly surprised - I went onto their Facebook page and had a listen to a couple of live sessions of their tracks 'Dreamer, Drifter' and 'Photographs' and was more than impressed.

There are quite a few indie/folk bands emerging, and after the success of Mumford and Sons - commercially and critically, that's no surprise. But unlike quite a few other bands that kinda sound the same and all merge into one, High House do like a couple of others (Of Monsters and Men for example) have their own distinct sound. I think this is mainly thanks to the uniqueness of lead singer Dan Croppers voice but I think without Laura's vocals it would feel like something was missing, the songs are just right with their voices entwined.

Since last summer, I have continued to listen to the band mainly via their Soundcloud page: https://soundcloud.com/high-house

and so I was incredibly pleased to find out I would finally have chance to see them live, when they once again took part in this year's Stafford Music Festival. They were scheduled in for 22nd May at the Gatehouse Theatre as part of the Folk and Blues night. Myself and a couple of others from XL-FM headed down early to have a chance to interview the band (you can hear my chat with Laura here: )



When they took to the Met Studio stage you could sense a real buzz in the audience (a sell out show!) the harmonies sounded even better live, and the musical talent of all members shone - guitars, drums, keys and so much more. They played old favourites and also debut some new material that showed further development and the maturity of the band. My ultimate moment of the evening though, came at the finale, when without any mics, electronics - they sang and played Fleetwood Mac's: Dreams - covers of songs can go either way, they can either destroy an original or interpret it so well that you forget it's a cover, luckily High House did the latter - beautifully making one of my favourite songs completely their own.








Monday 20 May 2013

Trouble Will Find Me

The National release their sixth album this week,

The first single, "Demons," was released on April 8, 2013. The second single, "Don't Swallow the Cap," was released on April 11, 2013. 

And

The first video from the new record can be seen here, 'The Sea of Love'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIWmRbHDhGw


Beautiful stuff.




More new Daft Punk joy

"Get Lucky" is pretty much the song of the summer, (still a non mover at number 1 in the charts) and I adore it, when you need to feel good, that song hits the spot. But, I am also really really really (that's...REALLY) liking this from the new album:

Instant Crush -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZk0acgfUTI

And we will never be alone again
Cause it doesn't happen everyday
Kinda counted on you being a friend
Kinda given up on giving away

Friday 17 May 2013

Covers.

Most of the time you can't beat the original of any song - how the artist wrote it, how the artist intended it to sound.

But I've always been interested in 'covers' I like to hear different peoples' interpretations of the lyrics, of the emotion, and how a song can be altered in so many ways.

This in mind, here's a few cute ones:

Laura Marling & Eddie Berman - Dancing in the Dark (Springsteen)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ul0aWaPAkak#

Bombay Bicycle Club feat Lucy Rose - Video Games (Lana Del Ray)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QvWVfUqTnM

The XX - Finally (Kings of Tomorrow)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FluOfEMEmWQ

Alex Turner - Strange (Patsy Cline)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6cgNMD5d9A

AND,

Daughter have done a gorgeous version of the song that is anywhere and everywhere - Daft Punk's 'Get Lucky':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5Cp55MvX54

Wednesday 15 May 2013

Motown, baby.

Har Mar Superstar has been seen as a bit of a 'joke' in some ways - how he presents himself and how he performs, yet, he's supported some amazing acts: The Strokes, Gossip and Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

However, he may be really proving that the 'joke' was on us after all. 

His newest stuff is taking us back to a smooth cool Motown groove....

Lady, you shot me:
https://soundcloud.com/dragontoaclown/lady-you-shot-me-har-mar-superstar


*Drought* *SOS*

I'm going through the worst kind of drought ever, EVER (okay so a may be exaggerating a little, or a lot) but I am currently experiencing a live music drought. I am SO thirsty.

There is no time or place or moment I feel happier then when I am watching a band or artist perform live, it could be in someones' living room, a working mans' club or Wembley Stadium - It just makes everything feel right. In fact, the last time I witnessed any live music was a cover band performing at a friends wedding - they were good, and it really made the day for me (after witnessing all the lovely love stuff, of course.)

But, (apart from the wedding) the last time I went to watch a band was all the way back in February. I actually feel sad and ashamed, but mainly sad, that it's been that long. HELP.

The problem is with other social things and work (always gets in the way of fun doesn't it?) I just haven't had the opportunity to go to any gigs. I must change this...so,

I am going to see an unsigned band - High House next week (phew) in Stafford,

then hoping to follow that up with Swim Deep on 31st May (B'ham) and The Strypes at the end of June (Wolverhampton)

If it's been a while since you've seen any live music, get to it, nothing is greater, check out local venues, little pubs etc you'll find some right gems along the way. 

Time to get booking. x

Monday 13 May 2013

a quick newbie for ya:

this took a few listens for me to make up my mind, but now I like like like it.

Glass Animals - Black Mambo




here's the link to their LIVE dates, just in case you fancy checking 'em out. I know I will. 

Friday 10 May 2013

Pete and Paris.

This clip of Pete Doherty (Babyshambles) performing in a bar in Paris has found it's way onto Youtube.

J'adore Paris (that's about the extent of my French vocab used right there..) and..

I have a weird relationship with Pete Doherty, weird in the sense that an ACTUAL relationship doesn't exist, obviously, but I half fancy him despite him always looking, well, a bit of a sweaty mess.



When The Libertines were at their peak, I really had a massive crush on him, but even now, those feelings still linger on a little. Anyway, putting my maybe bad taste in men aside.. anything Pete seems to do musically is right - Libertines, Babyshambles, solo stuff etc - I can't seem to fault pretty much any of it.

And now he's dabbling in a bit of reggae it seems, this might be the next Babyshambles single. From the footage here, I already think it is a good'un:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR9y2iEM5Ys


Thursday 9 May 2013

A bit of this, and a bit of that.

Here's a mix of some nice new stuff, hopefully you'll hear summat you like here:

Folk/hip-hop/classical all combined from this violinist
Emily Wells - Passenger
https://soundcloud.com/emilywells/passenger

Chapel Club - Good Together
https://soundcloud.com/chapelclub/08-good-together-2

Kelis - Jerk Ribs
https://soundcloud.com/kelis/jerk-ribs

Waxahatchee - Brother Bryan
https://soundcloud.com/don-giovanni-records/waxahatchee-brother-bryan

A bit... Swim Deep/Peace, (drawing on from likes of Dinosaur Jnr)... it's all about dreamy indie grunge at the moment, TRENDY kidzzz
Splashh - All I wanna do
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UUNArMF_vDI#!

MR MS - Hurricane
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sj684zcmzw

Wolf Alice - Bros
https://soundcloud.com/wolfalice/bros

Polica - Tiff
https://soundcloud.com/polica/tiff

Jagwa Ma

YOU. NEED. THIS. SONG. IN. YOUR. LIFE.

Since finding it about a week a go, a day has not passed without me listening to it
https://soundcloud.com/jagwar-ma/man-i-need-white-label-version

Is there another being before this?
Is there another life?
Is there another …? Are you willing to die?

‘Cause I’m about to submerge the ocean
And resurrect the sky
And I’m about to recognize all of your body

But all you say to me is what you wanna see
You’re not the man I need, that’s what you said to me
You’re not the man I need, you’re not the man I need
Well, let me show you baby just all the man I can be


https://soundcloud.com/jagwar-ma/man-i-need-white-label-version

chilled out dance LOVE

Here's some 'dance' tracks - I'm using inverted commas, because really it's difficult to properly categorise these songs, they draw on influences and sounds from all over the place, like a lot of new music, they don't fit neatly into a typical genre box. I like things a bit messy. Neat is a bit boring, right?

This is looking like it could be number one, maybe? If it can tackle the mammoth giant that is Daft Punk's 'Get Lucky'..
Chris Malinchak- So Good to Me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVcG9lpZV24

Gorgon City - Intentions:

https://soundcloud.com/gorgon-city/sets/intentions?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=twitter


Close - My Way:

https://soundcloud.com/getting-closer/my-way-feat-joe-dukie