Happy Sunny Friday !

this remix is sounding good in the sunshine...

(Tame Impala and Kayne)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsVERuZncaU&feature=youtu.be

and let's be honest, anything that makes use of Disney brings love.

Old Monkeys

Orchestra or some strings always make live performances that little more beautiful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74f3hXBn1K8

Arctic Monkeys - Mardy Bum (Glasto 2013)

Still sad I didn't get to go to Glastonbury. Next years dates are already in the diary!

Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party (And others..) have shiny new tracks.

Bloc Party - Ratchet.

Ratchet? W.T.F. A cool, catchy number. despite the strange song title.

https://soundcloud.com/blocparty/ratchet-1

Franz Ferdinand - Right Action

It feels like Franz Ferdinand arrived in 2004 and then had disappeared in a puff of indie smoke a year later. Back with a vengeance here though. Not as strong as the Arctic Monkeys newbie but definitely something that will make you remember them for good again. 

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

Scott and Charlene's Wedding - Lesbian Wife

Possibly the worst band name ever? Or so bad it becomes great? I can't make up my mind. Anyway these boys from Oz not only love a bit of Kylie & Jason, but guitars too..

http://vimeo.com/69010421

Money - Hold Me Forever

Truly elegant stuff from the northern lot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6lPO_rSGjY

Cheers Pete.

So Friday came (21st June) and I was all ready to see Mr Pete Doherty at the Underground in Stoke.

I'd been listening to the Libertines, Babyshambles and his solo stuff all week, which had been really getting me in the mood for seeing him live and for a bit of partying... the sun was shining as we made our way up Hanley - few (many..) drinks down and we were feeling the love entirely. Then....




He didn't turn up. No explanation, just an announcement at 10.30pm, 2 hours after we'd arrived at the venue. Little bit annoying.

Anyway, I'm hoping he will make it up to me some time.

For anyone who has had the chance to see him on this little tour or is due to see him with Babyshambles in the autumn, but especially those that have been stood up by him - close your eyes and listen to one of his greatest songs, well one of my ultimate favourites. I guess I still love him, eh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lc2lchixWM

They're back - Arctic Monkeys release their new single:

Released straight to iTunes on June 18th - Arctic Monkey: Do I Wanna Know? comes from their forthcoming fifth album

Quite a few people have been saying it sounds a tad Black Keys-esque and I can see where they're coming from, when the intro begins you wouldn't be wrong to think it could be a song off the Brothers album.

A great stomping return from the band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpOSxM0rNPM

Girl Power.

I loved the Spice Girls, I STILL love the Spice Girls (Mel C was always my favourite just in case you were wondering)..

Now, girl power is stronger than ever in music, with new female artists emerging all the time and gaining wide success critically and commercially.

Here's some new stuff that again shows 'sisters are doin' it for themselves':

This girl from New Zealand is only 16, with some serious attitude in her voice and words. After the first listen to this song, I played it consecutively 10 times. Must be good...

Lorde - Royals 
https://soundcloud.com/lordemusic/royals/s-TufDW

Some Rn'B love from :

Phlo Finister - Coca Cola Classic
https://soundcloud.com/night-beach-records/phlo-finister-coca-cola

Solange Knowles, is so cool it actually hurts a little, here's her latest:

Solange Knowles ft. Kendrick Lamar - Looks Good with Trouble

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LA3vIH34Ry8

Named after Radioheads' third album: Kid A bring us:
KID A - BB Bleu
https://soundcloud.com/technicolour-music/bb-bleu/s-Sw4wV

and

M.I.A is BACK

I'm not sure this is gonna be a proper favourite of mine, but, here it is:

MIA - Bring The Noise
https://soundcloud.com/miauk/bring-the-noize


x

3 little treats..

Childhood - Solemn Skies

Formed at Nottingham Uni back in 2011, these four lads could be the 'next big' Indie band, having already toured with Palma Violets, things are looking good.
Dreamy:

https://soundcloud.com/childhoodmusic/solemn-skies


Gaz Coombes - One Of These Days

Supergrass were a really decent indie band, listening to their music - it oozes youth and fun but Mr Coombes has grown up quite a bit since those days and this is clear from the sound of his solo stuff too -  this track is the latest release from his album 'Here come the bombs' and it is gorgeous.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmCepx8Ti_M

Junip - Your Life Your Call

Swedish band Junip is a trio including José González. This song is from the self-titled album which was released about month ago. Moody folky, soul with a synth undercurrent. 

https://soundcloud.com/junip/junip-your-life-your-call

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.

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.