Mirror! Mirror! / Ok Tokyo / The Vehicles / Your Biggest Fanclub @ The Rainbow Friday 28th March 2008

If music be the food of love tonight was a smorgasbord, four tasty nibbles guaranteed to make you dribble a bit, although that might just be my age. Up first Your Biggest Fanclub...who actually seemed to have a fairly healthy fanclub judging by the gaggle of young folk getting down at the front. They're a beguiling (yes, I've been reading the dictionary again) blend of indie riffs (witness the Bloc Party feel at the start of Lights Out and the Los Campesinos 'You Me Dancing' bit at the beginning of Paper Bags...although the band made it clear they wrote it first...so there) and metaltastic slabs of brain mashing guitar all played with enough energy to power a small town. They have a song called David Dickinson's Lover too...which sounds like Led Zep having a house party with the Arctic Monkey's. Consider me another fan for the club.

Next Hearing Aid faves and almost 444 Club regulars now (third time I think) The Vehicles, on the first night of their world tour! Of...er...the Rainbow and Cannock. Don't knock it, it's more than Guns N'Roses can manage these days. They played another great set tonight including brilliant versions of Trouble In Paradise, Bright Young Things and The Best Things Come to Those Who Wait. If they keep playing like that maybe the world tour ain't too far off after all...

Perhaps this tour might take them to (wait for it...can you see the link coming up...yep there it is...) Tokyo, which leads us neatly onto...Mirror! Mirror! No, I jest its Ok Tokyo, who were rather better than ok. I'd not heard any of their stuff before but it's a glorious mash up of electropop, funk rock, disco and rap...sort of reminded me of Sparks having sex with Outcast at an Eagles of Death Metal house party. If you love Men Women and Children (who doesn't?) then you'll lap up Ok Tokyo like a porn star in a bukkake movie...whatever one of them is.

Last up, and equally as jizz worthy, Mirror! Mirror! Channeling the spirits of Gang of Four, with lashings of The Rapture, a touch of Selfish Cunt and a fine dusting of Foals, its all mixed up into a unique blend of new wave disco rock that's guaranteed to move even the dead. The whole band gave it 110% (not mathematically possible I know, but then I failed maths 'O' level...twice...ha! That's what I call sticking it to 'the man') and, after just a few songs most of them were topless...phwoar! Lady Baron (who is reaching that difficult age in a women's life) certainly thought so. They put on a seriously impressive show and I've not seen so much audience boogieing in The Rainbow for many a moon...some brave soul even managed to go crowd surfing (no easy trick in the 'bow). Happily the band seem to be on some kind of gig orgy over the next few weeks and I'm confident that they'll return to Brum considerably more famousererer than they are now. Go get 'em boys!

PS: Kudos to the DJ's again tonight (Plastic Noise I think) who kept us in da mood between sets...extra kudos for playing Sparks' This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us and Concrete Schoolyard by J5.

Dodgy / Mark Morriss / Misty's Big Adventure / James Rea @ Birmingham Academy 2 Tuesday 25th March 2008

Coming hot on the heels of the recent CUD farewell, tonight saw a big hello to fellow 90's popsters Dodgy. But first, hot new thang James Rea (who I'm pretty sure played with Nigel Clark's band a few months back). It's impossible not to love our James. Brimming with enthusiasm, he's a bit like a modern day Ray Davis. In other words, a writer of well observed slices of English life that perfectly reflect his age, generation and experiences. He's being produced by Nigel, so the recorded stuff has a classy pop polish, but it's live that he shows his real promise. This boy can really rock out when he wants (good grief I've gone all 70's DJ again haven't I?). Anyway, go see. Fall in love. Buy his single. Give him a hug.

After a really new talent, a slightly older one, Misty's Big Adventure. I'm going to make a bold statement here. Misty's are one of my top 3 bands. In the world. Ever (don't ask what the other two are...that's far too hard, picking Misty's as one of them is easy). I love 'em as much now as I did some 10 years or so ago when I first saw them. In the years since I must've witnessed the full on Misty's experience 20 times...maybe more. Strangely tonight they seemed better than ever. Ye gods Britain, wake up. This is one of best bands we've ever had. People should be writing dissertations on Erotic Volvo, publishing great papers on the lyrics to 'I Can't Bring the Time Back'. Melvin Bragg should make a 7 part South Bank Show on them. Martin Scorsese should ditch the Stones and make movie about a Misty's gig. You get the picture right? The first track they played...the one about life being like a conveyor belt...genius. People start religions with less insight than this. I'm gushing now aren't I? I want to release a double album of Misty's greastest hits so the rest of the globe can catch up. How about it eh? Not sure how much that would cost...who cares...some things are more important than money!?!

Right...I've calmed down now. Just in time to catch Mark Morriss. Yes. That Mark Morriss (no, not Mark 'Return My Mac' Morrison...Mr Bluetones...that Mark Morriss). Flashback time. Edwards No8, 1994 (I think), one of the first Supergrass tours...The Bluetones supported and I fell in love with Slight Return. Ignore the fools (pity da fools in fact) who sneer at the days of Brit Pop. Sure there were some chancers, but it was a great time for British music and The Bluetones were right up there. Tonight Mark played alone with his geetar and, whilst there was no Slight Return, we did get a brilliant Marblehead Johnson plus a smattering of tracks from his upcoming solo album (and a special guest appearance as a Caretaker in disguise...you had to be there). The voice, as lovely as ever, seems stronger these days...to be expected I suppose after playing for the past 15 years or so. I'm glad to report that The Bluetones are still going strong too (you can catch them back in Brum in May).

Finally, Dodgy. Flashback again. The Hibernian in Stirchley. 1993 (I think). Dodgy and The Sordid Details. A truly awesome gig. I was lucky enough to catch one of the 90's finest a load more times over the following years, then Nigel jacked it in for some solo and personal stuff. I've been to see him since and, whilst he's put on some cracking shows, every time you couldn't help thinking that the band belonged 'tegetha'. Happily all concerned saw sense last year and, slightly delayed due to Andy's broken arm, tonight saw the results. Some songs in life really mean stuff to people. 'Making The Most Of' is one of them for me. In just a few notes I was a young...oh alright then...youngish chap again...on his way to Glasto with a homemade mix tape playing on a dodgy (literally) car stereo.

Drummer Mathew Priest is a chuffing powerhorse. For my money he was always the glue that held it all together and last night that was just as true. Nigel still has that voice and Andy still looks cool. Of course you've got the songs too. Pop (never a dirty word in my world) doesn't get any better. They played (almost) all the hits (wot no Lovebirds?) and, for a band who hadn't played together for a decade or so, they were surprisingly tight. What next? Who knows. A new album would be nice. Older, wiser, but with the same knack for a tune and great harmonies, it could be a classic. Bostin!

Cut Off Your Hands / Sunset Cinema Club / William / Mayday @ The Yardbird Wednesday March 19th 2008

Finally got round to seeing a gig at The Yardbird (for Birminghamites it's the place next to 'Paradise' Forum...for anyone else...well, it's the place next to 'Paradise' Forum...what...did you expect it to move or something?). Anyway, it was a night put on by local promoters This Is Tomorrow, who put on one of THE gigs of 2007, The Foals at The Sunflower Lounge. Good work chaps. Early arrivers (we got there at 7.45pm ish) get a free shot of Sambuca. Huzzah! Late arrivers get a kick in the crotch and are forced to drink wee (no, that's a joke).

First up, Mayday, who I've had the pleasure of seeing a few times before. They've got a clutch of really strong tracks, the utter highlight of which is Somewhere They'll Meet (not the best version on their My Space page but a worthy single if anybody gave a toss about such things anymore). I like the tight new wavey guitar bits and 'spect due to the keyboards. Let's hear it for keyboards...yeah..

Next, William (the band). I'd love to report that they were crap 'cos then I could just write William, It Was Really Nothing...but they were really rather good. Bugger. Five Minute Wonder in particular was a stonker. Talking Heads meets early Supergrass meets Televison in CBGB's c. 1979. The fact that it was released in 2006 and tonight was the first time I'd heard it just goes to reinforce what a shocking state the 'music industry' is in. How many more hidden gems are there out there. Frickin' thousands no doubt and yet 99.9% of the population still listen to .01% of the total recorded output of the world (NB: these figures may not be statistically 99.9864% accurate). Rant over. Punky americana heart and soul music for people with above average ears.

After missing Sunset Cinema Club for years, here I am seeing them for the second time in a month or so. Jolly glad I am too. Twitchy pop rock with some genius call/response vocal stuff between each band member and a darn funky undercurrent that really sets them apart. Check out Sunday Best (I still love the cheeky Girls on Film reference). See? It's all funky, then a bit rocky, then all funky/rocky/indie-ish. It's eneough to make me stain my Sunday best...there was no need for that really was there? They've got a song called 7-eleven too. I used to work in a 7-eleven in Brighton, serving prostitutes family sized boxes of Durex at 2am. Happy days.

Last up Cut Off Your Hands, who played in the barfly a few weeks back to a shamefully small crowd. Shame on you...and me...for not going. Oh the shame. They came all the way from New Zealand too. Hang thy heads. Anyway, did you miss anything? Yes. 'Fraid so. Powerpop gold, that even got my old knees twitching, screaming guitars and emotionally charged vocals, they're well worth catching live. Still Fond is a particular highlight, with that kind of Summer time feel (check out the Beach Boy style harmonies) that makes you want to drive down a country lane in an open topped Morris Minor...but that's probably just me again.

Note on the venue, as it was my first time...quite impressed really. Getting a good view ain't the easiest thing in the world. Good choice of ciders (not cheap, as you'd expect for a central Brum venue, but far better than the watery muck the Academy serve), speedy service, the loos didn't stink of piss and, given the strange layout (an L-shaped affair) the sound weren't too bad either (although I believe they're planning to beef that up soon as well). It seems that this is a hot bed of Jazz/Hip Hop loveliness so I'll have to get back here soon for a different style of gig. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings beckons in April. Hurrah! What, you don't have a ticket? It's sold out...sorry...I did warn you...

The Indigos / My Device / The Joe Fox Band / Strangetime The Rainbow Friday 14th March 2008

Welcome once more to Kamikaze's! club 444...surely the only thing in the world that isn't going up in price? Budget schmudget. We're all going to hell in a handcart. Ha! Happily Strangetime or StRANGEtIME to do it all proper like, would make a rather good soundtrack to our journey bowelwards. Lead StRANGE Kate Finch posses the greatest yelp since Lene Lovich informed us that her lucky number was one...or was it two...? Ahhh t'was all so long ago. There's a hint of Hazel O'Connor in there and, for younger readers, a bit of Be Your Own Pet and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs too. I really enjoyed their set, in particular a short spikey little ditty that may have been called 'Why Do You Bother'...which I'm thinking of adopting as my theme tune. I loved the fact that, when they were told they only had time for one more track, they cunningly melted one into another so they could squeeze two in. That shows a band that wants to get places. Bravo.

Next up The Joe Fox Band, fronted by Joe Fox, brother of page 3 stunna Sam. No, I'm making shit up now. He isn't. Well I don't think he is. She wasn't there. Maybe they'd had a row? Anyway, the music, driving foot to the floor rock with a heavy dose of -abilly (that's rockabilly then), Mr Fox has a belter of a voice that, in places, recalls the lungtastic Mr Noddy of Slade. It all works best on the belters like Cold Sweats and Shake Your Death Rattle too...I kept wanting them all to have giant quiffs though (have a listen and see what I mean). We want quiffs. There aren't enough quiffs in music...apart from Quiff Richard obviously (see what I did there...?). And Jimmy Quiff. (I'll stop now).

Signed to the ultra cool Shifty Disco label, My Device (pictured) sound like two slightly drunk blokes having an arguement about The Ramones and XTC...in a cupboard. Which is a good thing, obviously. I'm particularly liking Fountain Of Youth and Rusty Trombone. Listening again there's a bit of Captain Beefheart/Zappa-ish nuttyness in there too. They're the perfect Artrocker band, clever (without being pretentious), a bit off the wall and all in all really rather darned fine. All together now, who's your favourite Mexican...'Super Tonio!'

Last up, grunge rocksters The Indigos. Melding Nirvana and QOTSA riffs with post punk social commentry (and a dash of psych for good measure) the put on a impressively energetic closing set. The New Wave-y 'In The Red' (with that really catchy guitar bit) and the Mark E. Smith meets Kurt Cobain track 'Play' in particular stood out. They're playing London's Met Bar (oooh swanky) on the 20th March and it seems they did a mini tour of the Czech Republic last year. You don't get many bands touring the Czech Republic do you? Come to think of it I've never heard of a band from the Czech Republic either...apart from Chubby Czech-er (see you thought the Quiff stuff was a fluke eh?).

Ciao.

X

Duffy Glee Club Birmingham Tuesday March 11th 2008

Bit of a strange one this. I bought the tickets in January on the basis that Duffy was being heralded as the new Dusty (who I love)...Duffy...Dusty...Dusty...Duffy...we get it. Being a contrary bastard I'd decided not to listen to any tracks before the gig and not pay much attention to the whole Duffy thing so I could just judge the performance without any of da hype. Then the Glee Club...or the Duffy management (not sure who was to blame)...go and get on my tits a bit and put me in a duff mood. Why open a live music venue at 7.30pm but not put any form of live music on until 9.40-ish? Is there a shortage of really good local talent who would've loved the chance to play on this bill? Nope. Messrs Glee and Club had also (given the huge demand no doubt) decided to make this a standing gig. The stage ain't really set up for this. If you're at the front and in the middle it's great. If you're at the back you can at least see something, anywhere else it's a wee bit poor. As a sit down venue, as it is normally, it makes more sense. The whole Duffy show is probably better suited to a sit down environment too. Which, after a long 'old man' rant, brings us to the music. The girl can sing. That's for sure. The whole performance was pretty much note perfect. She's certainly got that 60's Motown vibe too. As for the new Dusty tag...well...no. Dusty always sounded a little bit edgy, like she'd just knocked back a shot or two and smoked a couple of Camels (don't be silly now), Duffy has more of a sweetness. No bad thing. Tracks like Mercy reminded me more of Carmel, there's a bit of Randy Crawford in there too. I'd love to see her in some dark and dingy jazz club somewhere, really letting her hair down, but I guess those days are long gone. Given that she's got a number 1 single and album, the future looks pretty good. I just hope the media, public and record company give her the room and support to develop long after the hype has died down (cue long rant about how the music biz is eating up artists and spitting them out after one album rather than letting them make dodgy prog rock concept albums before regaining their muse once more).

She's A Kamikaze Machine Barfly Birmingham Sunday 9th March 2008 early in the a.m.

Births are a messy affair. Blood. Sweat. Tears. Screaming. Pain. Tonight we witnessed the birth (or re-birth) of She's A Kamikaze Machine. And we had most of the above. I've a vested interest here as I know one of the band quite well. They'd played their first gig just a few hours before, so this is really early days but I liked what I heard...punk, spunk and a little bit drunk (well, I was anyway) they made an impressive, over too soon debut. And you can't say that about many births...

PS: Apologies for the dreadful picture quality...not sure what happened there...it might have been the Blackthorn...

Cud / Big Ice Gem Barfly Birmingham Saturday March 8th 2008

At the end of a gig-tastic week what better combination than the classic indie rock of local newbies Big Ice Gem and...er...the classic indie rock of old hands CUD. First up the aforementioned Big Ice Gem, who seem to be attracting a nice die hard local fanbase with a suite (yes...a suite) of foot tapping toons that blend 60's, 70's and 80's influences into a corking noughties hoedown (yes...hoedown...you're asking a lot of questions today aren't you?).

CUD are one of the few bands that I can remember where I was when I heard them for the first time - Brighton HMV...1991. The track was Through The Roof, a nutty flamenco tinged pop masterpiece with Carl's lush baritone-ish voice and typically odd CUD lyrics (who can forget their classic Prawn In Whitby?). Tonight was rumoured to be one of their last ever dates (after reforming in 2006 to promote a Greatest Hits) and, like the past two times I've seen them, it was a corker. It's a sin that this band never really got the fame and fortune they deserve. Carl has the kind of voice (and look nowadays) that belongs in Vegas (via Blackpool). They've got a rather brilliant 'new' guitarist too, who drives the whole thing along rather brilliantly. No Through The Roof tonight, but we did get a brilliant Rich and Strange (with that slightly slower start) and stonking cover of Tull's Living In The Past. Which, for a good hour or so, I was (The Baron sighs wistfully as he remembers his youth...then, being almost senile, he forgets what he was shuddering about and turns up the heating).

At the end of the night I saw Carl at the bar and couldn't resist a manly handshake, as well as posing THAT question, 'Is it the end for CUD?'

I'm afraid to report...exclusively to The Hearing Aid...live and direct from the horses mouth...that...yes...it is. Shame. Deep shame. Altogether now 'You FAB bastard! You FAB bastard! You FAB bastard....'

Einstellung / Kyte / Dead Fish / IO / Windscale The Rainbow Digbeth Friday 7th March 2008

Tonight Kamikaze's! 444 club took a turn for the more experimental, kicking off with Windscale. Not so much a band, more of an atmosphere. There didn't appear to be anyone on stage...but there was music...drone rock sound patchworks that made you feel a bit off your box. I do like feeling a bit off my box. As the music faded it was time to say hello to IO (nice link eh?). It says on their My Space page that you can use a number of words to describe them...post, metal, math and rock. So I will. IO are a post metal math rock time bomb. Just as you're settling down to some ambient guitar noodling they whack 7 shades of shit out of their instruments. It's like a war up there. Flailing limbs, mortar fire, Jeremy Bowen in a flack jacket, that women with the eye patch...guitars were invented for this kind of stuff. I think I'm going all metal in my old age...

After tending to the dead and dying, rather appropriately, Dead Fish took to the stage. Of all the bands on the bill Dead Fish were more my normal fare. Some nice funky basslines, blissed out drumming and that psychy kind of guitar playing. Halfway through their impressive set it struck me. They are the Post Rock Stone Roses. One of the men what records bands in the cupboard(hello Ashley)...the bands aren't in the cupboard, he is...agreed with me. So there we go. There are touches of classic Talk Talk in there too and, on standout track, Snobs, a healthy dash of the mighty Foals. All in all, my kind of Dead Fish...

Flying in, stage left, Kyte were on next. Musically I'm drawn towards Sigur Ros, delicate, textured music that sounds like it's made in another world. Kyte have a dreamlike quality, it makes you drift off a little, which is no bad thing in this live fast, pay later, 86 flavours of bagal culture that we seem to have made for ourselves. I keep wanting to resist saying the word ethereal, but it's a pretty unbeatable way to sum them up and, after a full on week, they and their music did me the power of good.

If Kyte took me to far away places, Einstellung brought me back down to earth with a crash. Several crashes. And a bang. A thump. A ruddy great clout. I think we can safely say that they're loud...but with the sheer force of volume comes melody, quite complex in places. It's like being spun around in a food processor whilst the ghosts of Hawkwind and various Krautrock superstars do their best to burst your eardrums and melt your brain into miso soup with a variety of musical weaponary. Again, as with IO, the band sucks you into false senses of security before spitting you out in a flob of noise. Despite being a mincing indie electro boy at heart, bands like Einstellung and the awesome Beestung Lips are dragging me over to the dark side. And, you know what, I quite like it.

An eclectic, quiet/loud, metal, drone rock, Krautrock, ethereal night of plenty then. Now, where did I leave my brain?

Yeasayer / Everett Bar Academy Birmingham Wednesday March 5th 2008

After the trauma of getting into the MGMT gig, this was a doddle. As mentioned in my previous dissertation, Yeasayer are one of a holy triumvirate (is that the right word...damned if I know?) that also features MGMT and Vampire Weekend. So the fact that I was able to see two of these in just three days is something of a miracle. Praise be to the god of the Bar Academy...hallowed be thy drinks prices (£3.05 for a glass or red wine...yes, I know, I'm a ponce). Right, first up, local boys Everett, drafted in at the 11th hour to replace Ipso Facto. They seem like a really nice bunch and there's no certainly doubting the muscianship, great keyboards, soaring guitars and meaty drumming. I'm detecting hints of Keane and Coldplay, not my personal tastes, but if you're a fan of either band I'd say you'd love Everett 110%. On the last track they played they went a bit more Ben Folds Five and really kicked in, which I much preferred. Well worth catching live if you're a fan of the anthemic.

On to Yeasayer. For a while I wavered on whether I liked them. Generally when I do that I form a longer term affection for a band and this could well be the case here. Whereas MGMT have a fairly accessible sound, Yeasayer are a lot more...heyyyyayyyahhhhaheyyyyyyayayayayhhayy. You dig? There's a touch of Yothu Yindi in there somewhere. Performance wise, and vocally in places, I was getting a bit of the old Jethro Tulls. There's that fusion thing again. 2080 is a glorious track, especially when the chorus kicks in, it's like summoning up the spirits. Maybe there's a touch of native American in there too? Sunrise is a pure hippy anthem. I'm getting Midnight Oil now. Glorious. I want to strip naked and writhe around in the mud (no change there then). Then there's a vague Scissor Sistery-ness (something that MGMT shares), a disco-y, funky kind of undercurrent. Through all of this lead Yeasayer twists about on the stage like a thing possessed, channelling all these different influences...you half expect his head to start rotating at some points. So, do I love the band now? The man from the Hearing Aid he say Yea...sayer.

MGMT / Virgin Passages...not Virgin Passes Bar Academy Birmingham Monday March 3rd 2008

I ballsed up a bit here. I'd been meaning to get tickets for this gig a while back...but didn't. Then, all of a sudden, as if by magic, it sold out. Yes, I know gigs do that, but I was hopelessly unaware that MGMT were being played on 'the radio' and thought that they were a little more obscure. First stop, ebay. No joy. They had tickets for the Dublin gig at £30 a pop. Bit of a jaunt that. Next I tried Seatwave. Close, but no cigar. They enticed me with the promise of a ticket by listing the gig as available...then informed that that it had sold out. Thanks for that. There was only one thing for it. The...TOUTS. Yes, those dodgy geezers who hang around outside venues shouting 'buyorzelltckitsanyonegotanyspareticktstickskkkskkkskkskks'. So, I trudged down to the Academy, strode up to Mr Tout and asked for an MGMT ticket. He hadn't got any. He did have loads of Sum 41 tickets. They were very good he said. I won't get in to MGMT he said. It was sold out he said. I KNOW. THAT'S WHY I'M TALKING TO YOU. Anyway, not wanting to get beaten by a sold out gig, I lurked by the entrance of the Bar Academy like a Venus Ticket Trap. I waited. 10 minutes. 20 minutes. People went in. 30 minutes. More people go in. So near and yet so far. Perhaps I could pretend to be one of the band. Naaaah. Haven't really got the look. 40 minutes. Getting...cold now...losing...will to...live. 50 minutes. Body shutting down. Can't go...on...I'm going out now...I may be some time. 58 minutes and 12 seconds. Wait. I see two people. They're going up to the entrance. Man goes in his pocket. I see tickets. There's more than two. But there's only two people...agghhhhh...wait. I hurdle the barrier like a nutjob 'Spare tickets?' 'Errr....yes...we've got two' Oh deep joy. 'How much?' (this is where I'm expecting to get stung) 'Just the ticket price...£6'. Oh bless them. I was in.

First band on, Virgin Passes, were a gentle lot. I can't find their My Space page...or any site to do with them. They almost seem not to exist. Was I dreaming? Ahhh. They're called Virgin Passages. Right ho. That explains it then. I blame the cold. I'm not sure if tonight was the best audience for them. The gobby cow standing next to me was less than impressed. I was less than impressed with her, but there we go, live and let live eh? Musically they're like lying in a field of wheat on a summer's day, with the breeze blowing gently on your face, a huge blue sky above you and nothing on your mind but the wonder of nature.

On to the main event. The reason why I was so keen to see MGMT is that they are, right now, one of three classic bands (and I use that word wisely) from the streets of Noo Yawk. We have Vampire Weekend, Yeasayer and this lot. Why are they so good? Well, there's that whole (wanky word alert) fusion thing going on. All sorts of different styles. We're living in world with a rich cultural back catalogue and these three bands seem to be mining it particularly well. Of the three, Vampire Weekend are already big. Their Academy 2 gig sold out in about 6 seconds. MGMT are next. Current single Time To Pretend is being played to death. Quite right too. It's awesome. Arcade Fire with more wibbleness. Can they cut it live? Yep. Live it makes even more sense than on record. Their recorded sound is pretty 'fat' in places and, although I think there's only two of them in the official band, on stage there's 5 of 'em, plus loads of FX pedals and other gizmos. On stripped back tracks like Pieces of What they're just as good though (always a good sign). Shades of Bolan and Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud era Bowie. Time To Pretend adds nice little synthy touches, there's echoes of early Pink Floyd, Sparks...all kindsa great shit. Weekend Wars was truly historic on the night. Spine tingling. For most of the night the audience, a mix of thirty something musos and trendy young folk (with the exception of the gobby cow next to me) were still. Entranced perhaps. Set closer, Kids, saw some mild moshing as lead MGMT leant over the barriers like a new musical Christ to bless his followers. For a moment my head was lodged in his armpit. Can experiences get more holy than that? Exactly. Gig of the millenium. At least.

The Anomalies / Old School Tie / 360 / Prospect Lane The Hare & Hounds(!), Kings Heath Friday 29th February

It's Friday, so it must be Kami...oh...hang on...where's my scratching post...what's going on Toto...yes dear readers...tonight I am in Oz. Well, no, not really, the Hare & Hounds, which, for a Bearwoodian like me, is a long way from home (28 minutes on the number 11 bus to be precise). The reason for the departure from my regular haunt was the tempting prospect of Platform Promotions' Anomalies gig (more on them later), kicked off in fine style once more by Hearing Aid favourites, Prospect Lane. I've written about the Lane quite a bit before and tonight's set was packed full of all their best songs, plus a couple of newer tracks, Superman and Memory (I think...it could've been What I love About You...not sure...blame my memory...which is what it could've been...I'll get on now...right). Fickle was delivered with real bite (with lead Lane Michael leaping off the stage for an impromptu mosh), Ghosts had that great vocoder bit and, for me, the real surprise of the night was THAT Alice Deejay cover version...it actually seemed to work. Okay, I give in, I was wrong (you've beefed up the guitar though haven't you...go on...admit it...). The band are recording a new track at the mo and have album plans for the Summer. It's a delightful prospect (see, different venue but the quality of these reviews remains the same eh?).

Next up, 360, a band I've seen just the once at last year's Moseley Festival. It's brilliant to see a really class ska / reggae band live and 360 are a simply perfect party band. They're all great musicians (special mention must go out to Delroy's trumpet playing...some awesome solo's there...) and just seem to be having as much of a good time as the audience (who nearly skanked the place to pieces). Check out This Time and Crazy Lady from their My Space, wind it up nice and loud, do that running on the spot thing and I guarantee you'll feel better...go on then...see! In the words of our Norman (Jay...not Wisdom)...Good Times.

After a right old skank, Old School Tie were the perfect follow up. A melting pot of dubby, Afro tinged rhythms that break out into giant walls of sound before shattering into a million pieces. That's what I say and I'm sticking with it. In places they sort of reminded me a little of a more organic, less vocal SOAD. The way they do that quiet/loud thing, you just settle into the groove then they smack you round the head with ruddy great slab of noise. And I do love a ruddy great slab of noise. There's a fair bit of sonic soundscape noodling too...it's a potent mix and I'd love to see them in some field in the middle of nowhere just as the sun sets with a nice glass of red and some 'erb (oh...and a motherhumpingly huge PA too).

Talk of motherhumping brings us nicely onto The Anomalies. When I first heard the band earlier this year I was smitten. People I've played them to have been just as smitten. That sets the bar pretty high when it comes to the live show and I wasn't sure how it would all work. Well, it does. Motherhumpingly well. I try to limit the use of the word 'awesome' but they were. Kicking off with some stunning beatboxing from Crowe (outkilling Killa Kella) The Anomalies join those rare list of bands that pull off something really surprising, really well. I've seen a few over the years, all in quite small venues, all of whom went on to enjoy mucho success (Freak Power, The Go Team, Scissor Sisters) and whilst The Anomalies are operating in the much harsher world of Hip Hop I can't see how they can fail. There's so much to love I could bang on for hours, but the female vocals added by Lo are a touch of genius (check out Employee Of The Month), the interplay between Murf and Goldseal is the best I've seen and Mayhem's scratching is right on the nail. Oh...the freestyling too. Shit. That was impressive. Seriously impressive. I've seen a lot of rappers ask the audience for a subject to rap about....that's a rappers favourite trick. I've never seen rappers ask the audience to throw stuff on stage, then rap about it before it hits the floor. How the hell? Are these guys packing some kind of Pentium brains, capable of processing stuff in a millisecond? Who knows. One thing's for sure...and I've rarely been quite so sure...The Anomalies are destined for great things. Tonight was the last night of their tour, but it can't be long before they're back out on the road. Whatever you do, don't miss 'em.

PS: At the end of the gig we wanted to buy a CD and found one of the band who said he'd go and get them after he'd helped pack away the equipment...would we mind waiting? No probs we said. It took a few minutes then he came over with two CD's, apologised for making us wait and gave them to us for free to make up for it. Stuff like that that means a lot to me. An awesome band AND bloody nice people too. It don't get any better...

(Kings) Heads Up

Birmingham seems to be all of a buzz with new and newish venues at the mo. The Island Bar, the Sound Bar, the 'all new' Que Club, talk of the owners of the Barfly buying the Sanctuary and rumours of a long delayed move for the Academy to the site of the old Dome...

I can now add another one to the list...The Kings Head, Bearwood. Yes...Bearwood! Many moons ago I remember some drunk bloke on a bus telling me that The Kings Head used to have gigs in its basement (not sure if they did, or if he'd just been sniffing Jif). At the time The Kings Head was a bit...okay...a lot...run down. It had been renamed Q or something equally dismal and seemed to be aiming for the sort of clientele who think Diamond White is a bit posh. Then it closed down for months and was heading for a bad case of the arsonitus. Instead someone decided to spent £1.5million turning it into a 'gastro' pub. Why am I telling you all this? Well, it seems that Mr Drunk Bloke On The Bus was sort of right. There is a music venue there, upstairs though, and it looks...well, judge for yourself...pretty pucka eh? Strangely, although it's due to open in early March, there's no sign of a line up yet. It would be bloody brilliant to get the kind of eclectic line up that the Hare & Hounds seems to attract...but who knows what their policy going to be. I'll keep you posted...or if you know more than me you can keep me posted instead.

PS: After writing this I stumbled on Brumbeat, a site that mentions the Kings Head as a venue in the 1960's. It's a fascinating snapshot of 'swinging Brum' and highlights just how many great venues we've lost over the years...well worth a look. Jimi Hendix and Englebert Humperdinck on the same bill at the Odeon, New Street anyone? (this actually happened in 1967...jeez).

PPS: I couldn't get a picture of the venue on here 'cos the Kings Head site is all in Flash and stuff...whatever the hell Flash is...hence the picture of Flash Gordon...obviously...

XX Teens / The Courtesy Group / Magnifikatz / Betty & the ID Rainbow Digbeth Friday 22nd February 2008

WooooWoooo WooooWoooo WooooWooWooWoo...that, for the less nerdy amongst us, was the Dr Who theme tune, for tonight Kamikaze! takes us on a mind bending trip through time, space...and the back passage of The Rainbow (don't worry , all will become clear, either that or this will be the most irrelevant intro to a gig review that I've ever written...and that's saying something n'est ce pas?). What's that? The TARDIS has landed (see, I told you it would be okay)...let's open the doors and see who's there. Aha...it's Betty & the ID (not I.D...ID...as in the ego and the...). I'd not seen Betty before. Not sure which one she is, but they're a damn fine garage rock combo, with hints of Stereolab in places and psych pop noodlings in others. Vale Onslow (presumably named after that motorbike shop which was run by the same bloke for about 100 years...no seriously...he was 103 when he died) in particular blends all kinds of good stuff that makes you want to buy a vintage British motorbike, sniff magic markers and razz it down to Brighton to mash up a few Teds.

Oooh quick, here comes a Dalek, let's hop back in the TARDIS and see what else we can find (see, this ain't getting at all tiresome is it?). Hold on...we're coming in to land again. Out we get...oohh we've left the 60's behind and now we're in the 50's...best behive yourself...(seriously, I don't get paid for this you know....). Look, it's those Magnifikatz...hell yeah. Furious straight down the line rockabilly complete with bequiffed lead singer Nate and backing from the fellow Katz that's as solid as a 54 Coupe De Ville. Nice moves too, oodles of energy and muchos knee trembling. Wrap your ears around Lonesome Train (a cover of the Johnny Burnette Trio classic unless I'm very much mistaken...ha...that's got you hasn't it?) and you can just taste the rootbeer.

Right, onwards, back to the TARDIS let's set the date for the '70's. Ooooo, bit of a bumpy landing...oh bugger we've just landed on The Courtesy Group...sorry. They seem okay though, which is a good job because I love The Courtesy Group. The last time I saw them (18 months or so ago) they seemed to have a bit of a Fall kinda tinge. Now there's a nice shade of Captain Beefheart in there too. That's not to say that they sound anything like anyone or anything else. Lead singer Al is one of the most engaging frontmen in music, not just locally but anywhere. And, in guitarist Hidehiko, they've got themselves a seriously impressive musician. Preferring to spend most of his time in amongst the audience Al is as much a poet as he is a singer (in fact he has a spoken word alter ego 'Godfrey Salter and his invisible Ducks'...I once saw him scare the bejesus out of an audience at The Glee Club...brilliant). I've still yet to get grips with all of his lyrics but it makes you feel like someones taken the top off your head and mixed up your brain with a big wooden spoon. Which is, believe it or not, a very, very good thing.

Right ho, off we go again, back into the bloody TARDIS...let's set the dial for the 80's...or is it the 70's...or maybe the 90's...or the whatever the hell this decade is called. Here we are, but who's outside, oooh they look a bit scary...it's the XX Teens...not the Xerox Teens anymore...'cos Xerox didn't like them copying the name...oh the irony. The lead singer is as deadpan as they come, carefully intoning his words whilst the rest of the band make a foot twitchingly fine new wave / art rock racket all around him (the synthy bits are pretty Radiophonic Workshop in places too...just listen to For Brian Haw). Curiously the lead Teen reminded me a bit of Bob Dylan back in the early 60's...but a Bob Dylan that had hopped in our TARDIS and landed in New York in 1978...and had sex with The Ramones...and Talking Heads...at the same time. But that's probably just me. If you don't know the name XX Teens, you soon will. New single, and set highlight, 'How To Reduce The Chances Of Being a Terror Victim'...the bastard son of 'Wear Sunscreen' and 'Thou Shalt Always Kill '...is set to be one of the most naggingly catchy tunes of the year (loved the drumming bit on stage last night), hopefully giving XX Teens the exposure they deserve. So there we go. I can finally ditch the tossing TARDIS...what's that K9...you're going to do what to me with that sonic screwdriver...AAAAAGGGHHHH!!!

Elle S'appelle / Go Faster>>> / Sunset Cinema Club Barfly Birmingham Tuesday 19th February 2008

It was ball shrinkingly cold, which could explain the lack of a crowd for what was, in my humble opinion, one of the hottest gigs of the year so far. After all both Elle S'appelle and Go Faster>>> have been tipped for great things and local boys Sunset Cinema Club are darn fine. We got to the venue at around 7.30 (knowing it was going to be an early start) and seemed to be the only people there. Happily the folk in charge had moved the gig to the 'back room' and a steady flow of hardy explorers (those of us who had braved the sub zero temperatures) enjoyed an intimate show with three cracking (I've gone all Wallace there...I'm tired...it's been a long life) bands. First off Sunset Cinema Club. I don't think I've seen them before, certainly not in the days of the 'Aid...and I'm fairly sure I'd remember them as they were a gloriously shouty, twitchy, power pop treat. They've been compared to The Pixies and I can see the link, but they've got a funkier edge...shades of early A Certain Ratio perhaps. Sunday Best is a brilliant track, bloody brilliant...I particularly liked the cheeky wink to Duran Duran's Girls on Film at the start. Nice. It's great to see a band that obviously enjoy performing as much as I enjoyed watching them. The three voices worked really well together too. With Jonny Foreigner (a band with a similar feel) starting to really break into a wider audience, SCC should, could and will be next. Cos I say so. There, I got through the whole review without mentioning the fact that they're named after an old porn cinema...nothing wrong with that, I like old porn...not granny porn...that's just wrong...oh dear...I'll stop there...

Next up, with added >>>...Go Faster>>>from Liverpool>>>which is Capital of Culture 2008>>>after beating Birmingham...I forgive them. Brilliantly blending the classic pop of bands like Bis, XTC and The Inspirals with shades of Maths rock superstars in waiting, Foals, Go Faster>>>thrashed about on stage with enough energy to bring me out in a sweat (which, considering the cold, was some achievement). On She Starts Monday I actually thought the drummer was going to drum right through the floor into the earth's core itself. Fast, furious stuff. Again, as with SCC, the vocal interplay was spot on. It's so hard to get this right, but Go Faster>>>go for broke and...er...strike it rich (mixed metaphors...I love 'em). The in between song banter was class too...from Kerry Katona porn to melting Heather Mills' leg and on to obscure references from Only Fools and Horses (Garrrry?)...now that's a set and half.

Finally, Elle S'appelle, who, quite rightly have been tipped for big, big things by people with taste. One catchy tune after another, sweetness and light one minute, achingly honest lyrics and heart ripping vocals the next...Andy and Lucy's voices just work so well together. A few years back I saw an equally special band called Dogs Die In Hot Cars (RIP), and Elle S'appelle have a similar strength. Let's hope that this time the people of Britain wake up and stop buying one fucking X factor single after another AAAAAAAGGGHHH! These are proper tunes you can listen to again and again and find new bits in, clever little chord changes, fruity keyboard flourishes. Just take a listen to Little Flame, She Sells Sea Shells, Mariappa....just gorgeous pop loveliness. Je suis d'amore.

Gig of the year so far.

Late Of The Pier / Video Nasties / Slagsmalsklubben Bar Academy Saturday 16th February 2008

You might recall me banging on about Late of the Pier, late last year (oooh a rhyme already...cool) so I was looking forward to tonight's gig. Suffice to say it was rammed, right from the outset, with a healthy crowd of arms in air young folk going seven shades of mental for...bear with me here...let me get this right...Slagsmalsklubben (there's a little circle thing over the second a...but I can't do that...unless someone knows how...answers on a piece of plywood please). I must admit that I've never heard of Slagsmalsklubben before, but they're a real treat, a smorgasbord of Euro disco, Kraftwerk and Jean Michel Jarre all played by a row of 'mad for it' Swedes waving their hands in the air, like they just don't care. Sure, some of the music sounds like it could be the soundtrack to Super Mario Goes Clubbing (or should that be Klubben?) but it all made sense to me last night...enough to make me buy a CD (that and the fact that I didn't fancy trying to spell their name without some reference material).

Next up, Video Nasties...oooh scary. Actually, they weren't. I think they're Swedish too, but based in the UK. Musically they're a little bit punk, a little bit rock, a little bit indie...there's a strong hint of The Strokes here and there too (cop a load of Stereo). It was a nice bit of rough after the sweetness of the Slagsmalsklubben set, played with plenty of oooomph and jizz, and I found myself jigging up and down in a manner that us sad middle aged men have perfected (this'll be you in a few years pop kids ha!)

That left the main event, Late Of The Pier, a band responsible for one of THE records of the noughties, 'Bathroom Gurgle'. Given the style of music, the fact that the gig was sold out and the general yoofulness of the audience I knew it was going to get sweaty, but I can't stand being at the back of gigs...or the middle...there's just no atmosphere...so I threw myself into the whole thing and pogoed along like someone's dad. The pop kids didn't seem to mind, bless 'em. Anyway, the music. It's a glorious retelling of the 80's by people who probably weren't even born until the very end of the decade. In my humble opinion the 80's were bleeping brilliant, not in an ironic 'ooooh look at that hair, what were we thinking' kind of way either. It really was the last great era of pop, with a level of experimentation and sheer insanity that we'll never see again. Adam Ant, Boy George, Madonna (when she was American), Jacko (before he was a crackpot), Prince (before he was a squiggle), Sal Solo, Marc Almond, Thomas Dolby, Heaven 17, The Human League, Duran Duran, Billy MacKenzie, Yello, Joy Division/New Order, The Smiths, ABC...I'm going off on one, but you get the picture. Well, for my money Late Of The Pier, have that same spirit of experimentation that makes clever pop special. 'Bathroom Gurgle' is undoubtedly their 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. Several songs in one, vocal acrobatics, different movements, wibbly bits...genius. Why the hell it wasn't number one for the whole of 2007 I'll never know. 'Space and the Woods' is pure Tubeway Army, with that brilliant dirty synth sound. And forthcoming single 'The Bears Are Coming' has Bow Wow Wow bits of drumming mixed with mental Dolby-esque 'She Blinded Me With Science' style theramin-ish wig outs. By the end of the set I was a sweaty mess...inside and out...but happy that I'd just witnessed one of the first big bands of 2009 (it seems to take a year or so for the really good bands to cross over - witness Gallows, Foals, The Gossip etc...unless you've been on X Factor that's just the way it goes)...and one of the best bands of the 80's too. Which is some achievement.

NB: In a nod to the old skool (and 'cos I didn't want my new camera to end up inside a 15 year old boys rectum...'cos of the moshing...nothing sexual...pervert) I took my trusty 3.2 megapixel beast instead and thrust it in the air for a few desperate shots. Amazingly one or two came out! I also have a fine collection of heads, so if you ever need closeups of someone's head I'm your man.

Hype Hype Baby

Ever keen to remain at the cutting edge of the global music blogging thingy I've added another widget to go with the stunning video wall and Pig Radio link. It's for The Hype Machine...possibly my favourite music website (apart from this one obviously...this is gold dust eh? Well sawdust then...oh christ...alright...just dust...). For the uninitiated The Hype Machine is an MP3 blog aggregator that's been around for ages. It sends lots of little robots out into the web to listen to all of the MP3's that people with far more time than me upload onto their music blogs and sticks them all on one ruddy great big site. Then you can go onto The Hype Machine, type in the name of your favourite artiste...let's say Chico....and voila, it brings up all of the Chico tracks for you. If you have some sneaky recording software you can then record them and bring down the record industry, rip off artists and generally be a very naughty boy/girl/transexual. Hurrah!

Anyway, this widget thingy is supposed to keep updating itself with the latest tracks that have been uploaded. So when you've had enough of me you can vanish off and listen to all kinds of weird and wonderful shit. Might I suggest you also check out (if you haven't already fallen in love with it) the Hercules & Love Affair track, 'Blind', featuring the lovely Anthony (without the Johnsons), 'Elvis' by These New Puritans is pretty ace too (ace? ace? what am I, 12? Jeez...jeez?...what am I 16? Oh deary me....that's more like it....72).

Lucky that my breasts...

...are small and humble, so you don't confuse them with mountains. Now that's a lyric eh? After several years of not hearing Shakira's mighty opus I can't escape it...or her...not that I'd want to of course. That nice Mr Branson has given all of his loyal Virgin Media customers free "Music On Demand" for the whole of February so we can watch oodles of music videos for free, instead of forking out 75p a pop. That includes the lovely Shakira writhing around in mud and wiggling her hips and things...

Now the NME, which is swiftly becoming a musical version of Heat (as opposed to this site which is swiftly becoming a version of Dirty Old Men Monthly), informs us that Shakira has just sold one of her bra's for £1,500 to raise money for charidee. In a vague effort to make all of this perving even vaguely music related, nay cultural even, have a butchers at the Spanish version of the Whenever, Wherever video or Suerte as she calls it. Bless.

This Love Affair / Liner / The Lionhearts / Fix Monday / News Street Adventure The Rainbow, Digbeth Friday 8th February 2008

Greetings. Welcome once more to the fully Sharia compliant Hearing Aid Kamikaze! review. We've got a lot to get through this week...5...count 'em...5 bands for a mere £4. Now that's value...and value it was...a damn fine night kicked off by the frankly brilliant New Street Adventure. One of the things that ticks me off with some bands is the paucity of their lyrics (yes, paucity...I've come over all Jane Austin...she didn't mind) but the Adventure have some crackers. Tales of rugby playing toss bags, chavvy girls, late nights on the town...all observed with a nice street poet kinda wit. I really like the lead singers voice too...reminds me a bit of the dude from Flamboyant Bella. The band have a Jam-ish kind of quality (not the fruit based conserve, the Mod lot...oh you got that...sorry), tight, energetic perfomers with a real flair for classic pop songs. They do quiet, reflective stuff just as well...check out Runaround. Colour me impressed (that means I was really impressed...really, really impressed...zigazig ahhh...).

The trouble with starting off a night so strongly is that a lot of the bands can then seem a little bit of a let down. Happily we had a fix for that...Fix Monday in fact (clever link eh? I'm a professional...don't try this at home...it could all go horribly wrong). Fix Monday are special, life affirming even. They've got some lovely vocal dynamics going on in the band (have a listen to I Change for example), the best moment by far though was when the band came off the stage and performed an acapella track. I love stuff like that. It's hairs on the back of the neck time. Despite a few chatterers (why go to gigs and talk?do you not understand the concept...you go to a gig to LISTEN to the bands....aaaaggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh) and a DJ with twitchy fingers it was a truly great moment.

Two down, next up The Lionhearts all the way from Cardiff. Could we keep up the standards set by the first two bands...oh yes. There's a touch of The View about The Lionhearts but, for my money at least, this lot are a hell of a lot stronger. Yellow Star Cafe in particular is just such a great track...simple, but catchy as hell. They've got a nice folky feel but with an oomph that drives along the music at just the right pace. There's a mandolin too...why do so many bands ignore the huge range of instruments available and just stick to guitar, drum, bass? More mandolins...more strings...more brass...do something different like The Lionhearts and the musical landscape would be a much richer place.

I've seen Liner before...back in October 2007...anal? Moi? Anyway, if we were giving awards for the most energetic perfomance of the night Liner would win hands down. Lead Liner Alex had that kind of Kevin Rowland kind of intensity that Dexy's had back in the day. The bit where he span round and landed on his knees towards the end of the set would've crippled most frontmen. As I recalled last time they've got some really strong songs and Diamonds stood out once more as being one of the best. I'm delighted to report that this track has been picked to feature in the new Sharon Stone movie "Whoops don't look up my crotch"...no, that's not right..."The Year of Getting to Know Us". So clearly the good folk of Hollywood read The Hearing Aid too...hi ya fellas...need any writers? I won't go on strike...promise. I'll even make the tea. And fetch you mountains of coke...call me...we'll do lunch. Er...right...Liner then. Hollywood beckons and, all joking aside, I would love this track to be picked up by US radio (and I think it could well be). Will Liner be the next big band to come out of Brum? Watch this space.

Finally, and the fifth band of the night (that's value etc etc), This Love Affair. I recognise this lot...but not the name....hmmm...hold on...ahhhh right...they were The Brite Lights last time I saw them. I sense ambition with this lot. They're going right for the U2 epic stadium rock crown, knocking over that bloke who thinks he's a hedge...(oh the Edge...right...that makes a lot more sense). Listen to Turn The Page. There...see what I mean. They hit the spot too. I'd love to see them on a really big stage with a massive PA behind 'em. That's their natural territory. Bono-issimo.

Kudos to the Budos

Ahhhh the funk. You can't beat a bit of the funk. I'm no funk soothsayer but I'm sensing a bit of a revival (before anyone says anything, yes I'm sure the funk never went away, but it's been a bit quiet of late...maybe it had a cold...albeit a funky one). Blame/thank Mark Ronson in part for his use of the Dap-Kings for much of Amy's Back to Black album perhaps. Whatever the reason, the funk is once more alive and well, not only in Birmingham's very own Anyone For Shark? but also, it seems, in a thriving New York based scene. Home to the aforementioned Dap-Kings and Miss Sharon Jones, appearing soon at The Yardbird(April 13th I think) - yet another cool looking local venue that I've not yet been to - and the frankly awesome Daptone Records, I've also come across these dudes...the Budos Band. Check out their My Space tracks. Damn that's some funky shit...

Kate Goes / Vix n'the Kix / Bom & His Magic Drumstick / Anyone For Shark? / The Sugarfoot Stomp DJ's Rainbow Digbeth Friday 1st February 2008

Ner ner. Ner ner. Ner ner ner ner. Ner ner ner ner ner ner nerrrrrr nerrrrrr. Shark anyone? (yes that was my attempt at trying to write the theme tune to Jaws...obvious really). Welcome once more fellow travellers to the grave to another episode in the continuing adventures of Kamikaze! and bien venue (I think that's French for something) to Anyone For Shark? Well, yes please, me for one. Anyone For Shark are a flesh rippingly awesome blues funk collective, a killer Bees if you like (the band the Bees, not the honey producing furry critters...although the lead singer was sporting a little facial fuzz...maybe he really is a bee in disguise?). Hot damn these guys are funky when they get in the groove - listen to Onepoundsfifty on their MySpace page. Awesome. The talent we've got in our fair city never ceases to amaze me, and AFS are right up there with the very best. Gigbeth organisers are you listening? Anyone For Shark? on the main stage...headlining...on the opening night...no excuses. Not for the last time this evening I found myself prising open the old wallet to buy a CD...

Next up Bom & His Magic Drumstick (check out his MySpace page...genius). They say there's a fine line between madness and genius. Bom takes this line and twists it into strange animal shapes, like those balloon modelling people. Then he brings these animals to life in a weird, never ending scary tale that continues at every gig he does. I saw him a few years back and remember that he divided the audience into two camps - those who love the eccentricity of it all and those who find keep muttering 'What the fuck?' to themsleves and he did the same tonight. Suffice to say I fell into the former camp. The vision of Hilary Clinton's smile spreading so wide that her head splits open revealing a giant arachnid with laser beam eyes that does battle with a huge mad mouse will stay with me for ever...

After the madness of King Bom, we were treated to the magnificence of Queen Vix and her Kix. Regular readers will know how much I love this band - great vocals, classy pop with a grungy underbelly and lashings of glamour - and last night's set was another fine performance with, I think I'm right in saying, two new tracks - Hero and Radio. It's good to hear some new stuff - now we need the album. What's that? They've done one? It's coming out in the spring. Oh deep joy. They're gigging a fair bit over the next few weeks so you can get yourself a Vix and Kix fix too.

Finally Kate Goes. Fittingly tonight Kate went over the Rainbow ('cos it was at the Rainbow Pub...clever eh?). If you've not seen them before (what have you been doing darlings?) at each gig Kate (the lead singer's called Kate) and the band 'go' somewhere by dressing up in home made costumes. A sort of musical Mr Benn...or Miss Benn in this case. I was lucky enough to see and be entranced by their first ever gig (I think) at the Jug of Ale a while back. From the very few lines of Heartbeat I knew they were special and lo...they are. Finally the rest of the world is catching up and they've just done a Radio One session with someone called Huw Stevens (whatever happened to Dave Lee Travis?). It's hard to describe what they sound like, but imagine the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band taking over Sesame Street and you might be close. Capable of sounding as sweet as an angel or as kick ass as Amanda from the Dresden Dolls (bits of the vocal and keyboard stuff reminded me of the Dolls in places) Kate is a lyrical genuis. If the only song she'd ever written was Heartbeat that would be enough...but she keeps writing the stuff. It's deceptively simple but then some of the best music ever written is just that. From here on in Kate Goes wherever she and the rest of the band want...

.

I keep forgetting to mention the DJ's who play at Kamikaze! every week...which is most naughty of me. This weeks lot, The Sugarfoot Stomp DJ's, were one of the best we've had so far too. A million miles away from indie disco, and a gloriously refreshing change, they specialise in an altogether classier era...the 1920's - 1960's. Your Doris Day's and Edith Piaf's, Big Bands and exotica...that kinda thing. Respect due for playing the Mohammed Rafi track from Ghost World too (it's on their My Space page) - Bollywood meets Gene Krupa...simply divine (may I recommend a bit of Patti Plinko and her boy next time as well...not strictly 1920's - 1960's but darn fine...). You can catch them at The Bulls Head in Moseley on Thursday 28th February...or hopefully at Kamikaze! again soon (that's a hint by the way). Until the next time then...altogether now...'We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when...'