Trawling through an old hard drive the other week I came across some gig photos that I took years and years ago with the cheapest digital camera in the world. Unsurprisingly most of the shots looked like a dog's dinner but occasionally one or two wouldn't turn out half bad, like the shot above from Gallows Bar Academy gig waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in 2007. Now that was a gig. Remember this one?
Sparks meets Steve Harley in a lock up garage just on the outskirts on Brighton, that's as good a description as I can come up for White Witches' new song taken from their even newer album Heironymus Anonymous, available to order right here right now. If the lead singer sounds familiar you may remember him from his days in the legendary Pink Grease. Here's a little reminder...awesome stuff.
It's Monday! Er...hurrah! Here's a nice little earworm that's currently going round and round in what's left of my brain. I don't know a huge amount about Mattiel but this track's got a lovely 60s-ish feel, shades of Nancy Sinatra at her Bang Bang best perhaps? Enjoy!
With a set that promises 19...count 'em...19!!!!...new songs...a new bass amp and a band that's "clean shaven (everywhere)"...ahem...The Day Ends play live this Saturday at The Station in Kings Heath. And it's only bloody free too! Get in there.
Here's an oldie but a goody to get you in the mood.
Me? At a real live gig? Yep, that actually happened. In fact I even managed a freebie jazz gig (Ric Yarborough) at The Symphony Hall on Friday evening too. Niiiiiiiiiiiice.
It was all thanks to a brief return trip to my old home city of Brumingham and blimey...hasn't the place changed. The new/old library (depending on your age) has gone and is being replaced by one of the most boring building ever constructed but Grand Central (aka New Street) is a vast improvement though and generally, two and a half years after I was last there, Brum looked/seemed like a city on the up.
Speaking of being on the up tonight Pete Williams and band were better than ever with a set that mixed old favourites with tantalising slices of musical magic from the new album (due out in June apparently). As I've pretty much given up reviewing gigs for now I didn't bother taking any notes but one track in particular, which may have been called Twice Around the Bend, stood out as an absolute belter.
I've long since given up trying to figure out how/why some artists end up playing stadiums whilst others are lucky to fill a small toilet cubical (not that The Rep Studio falls into that category, au contraire, it's a decent sized venue that seemed to be pretty much sold out this evening) but if anyone deserves a big break I can't think of a better bloke than Pete Williams to get it.
PS: You can watch a vid of one of the set's highlights right here.
Attention Midlands based friends, the wonderful Mr Pete Williams is playing at The Rep Studio this Saturday evening April 14th and unveiling new songs - like this little beauty - from his forthcoming album. Tickets are a mere £15 right here right now but best get in quick!
Currently reading a fine biog of Sparks, Talent Is An Asset, which prompted me to go snuffling about the darkest corners of the internet...that'll be You Tube then...for some early footage of the band. I found this little clip. If you thought Ron Mael looked scary during their mid 70's prime cop a load of his look here. Quite what the German public made of a man with a Hitler moustache, long curly hair and eye liner glaring at them through the TV screen I'd love to know. Freeze the vid at 27 seconds in for the full effect.
Wild Beasts may be dead and buried but if you like a little nuts in a nutcracker high voiced tropically tinged loveliness cop a listen to Love Gotten by BOKITO. It's enough to make you think summer's just around the corner...that's a hint if you're reading this 'mother nature'...I think we've all had enough of your Beasts From The Easts, Pests From The Wests and Complete And Utter Bastards From the Norths to last us a lifetime don't you?
Chuffed to see that Snooky Fest is back on Saturday July 14th for a second year after a hugely impressive debut and early bird tickets are on sale right now for a frankly bargaintastic £15. The line up's still to be announced but a top notch and varied bill's pretty much 100% guaranteed. Here's a quick highlight from last year's Snooky Fest...
And don't forget that Snooky Fest exists to raise money to help 18-40 year olds with any form of physical illness in Dawlish and Devon so it's a ruddy great cause too! Get in there.
