tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21599241210340366992024-03-13T11:42:14.101-07:00Bite Yr LipIt's a zine that never was. Mostly about indiepop.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159924121034036699.post-58350539776274628032011-05-12T04:24:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:46:57.819-07:00My Favourite Piece of Plastic<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T2TktXmd8nI/TcvpN4Q0t1I/AAAAAAAAAGs/RFG_uFtmPig/s1600/dial.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 199px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605830585843234642" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T2TktXmd8nI/TcvpN4Q0t1I/AAAAAAAAAGs/RFG_uFtmPig/s200/dial.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>My job at the moment is really doing my head in so I was trawling through old emails looking for forgotten fun. I found this thing I wrote about 4 years ago. It may well have appeared on The Autumn Store's <a href="http://blog.theautumnstore.co.uk/">blog</a> some time back then, but I can't find it on there, so maybe not.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Anyway, here it is..<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>My Favourite Piece of Plastic</strong><br /><br />It’s the ‘Dialling Tone’ 7" by <a href="http://microsofa.net/mw/site.htm">Milky Wimpshake</a>. Many records I own have their special attractions – the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpT1t648sJ4">Helen Love</a> single with an Xmas message scratched into one side, the <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bandplanet.co.uk/forgottenbandplanet/cable/images/cable_freezetheatlantic.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bandplanet.co.uk/forgottenbandplanet/cable/cablediscography.htm&usg=__aQ6uRm1Xfv4GuPyy-Jq5LkQKbjg=&h=500&w=500&sz=54&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=iM5dlNGGH4kaVM:&tbnh=158&tbnw=161&ei=rsfLTZ-cHIHX8gP75qyhBA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dcable%2Betched%2Bvinyl%2B%2527freeze%2Bthe%2Batlantic%2527%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1297%26bih%3D639%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=172&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=56&ty=56">Cable</a> 7" with fish etched into the see-through vinyl, the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpWq4kjpA5g">Bearsuit</a> single which was "mummified", the one sided <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mp0GL2WGOo">Teen Anthems</a> 7" which I bought simply because of the title "I hate oasis (and I hate the Beatles)" which came with a photocopied wrap-round sleeve and hand written labels. I’ve got record of different sizes and weights, different colours, multicoloured, glittery vinyl hand numbered sleeves, hand made sleeves, one made of denim. And so on, but the Milky Wimpshake 7" takes the prize.<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Unusually for me I can’t actually remember where I got it from, I’d hazard a guess at <a href="http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2010/03/05/historic-tempest-records-to-shut-down-after-40-years-trading-in-birmingham-97319-25965009/">Tempest Records</a> in Birmingham, but there’s a chance it could have been from one of my trips to <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/3444399.stm">Andy’s Records</a> in Aberystwyth. Or even, given the date of release, possibly from Mike Lloyd’s in Wolverhampton.<br /><br /><br />I can still remember why I bought it though. I had heard of Milky Wimpshake because I owned a <a href="http://www.pukekos.org/2009/02/bette-davis-and-balconettes.html">Bette Davis and The Balconettes</a> 7" on <a href="http://www.indiepages.com/kickstand/slampt.html">Slampt</a>. At the time, I had few friends with any interest in DIY/Indie, and little access to underground gigs –being 15 and dwelling deeply in the suburbs- and, back in those days, I had no Internet access. For these reasons I frequently bought records simply because I had seen the name in a distro list, or as playing with another band, or being on the same label. Any tenuous association was worth risking my paper-round money, and more often than not it paid off.<br /><br /><br />The record came in a red paper wrap-round sleeve, which was inside a clear plastic sheath, the sleeve had black print on front and back, a bored looking executive on the front (who now I can’t help but think looks like George Dubya, even though the record was released before most of us would have known who he was), with a picture of the band sitting on a sofa on the back. Printed inside was the story about how Milky Wimpshake formed – Because Pete met a girl who’d changed her name by Deed Poll to Joey Ramone. An Insert gave the information about the record label. <a href="http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~mapy/">Ferric Mordant’s </a>tag line was "Round bits of plastic with music on" which I loved then and love now. It seems to me to be saying "what you hold in your hands is only an object, do not idolise it, do not pretend this represents something more than you yourself could achieve, records are made by people, PEOPLE LIKE YOU!"<br /><br /><br />Then we come to the songs, ‘Dialling Tone’ Itself remains one of my favourite songs to this day, easy to dance to, lyrics that are fun, knowing, and honest ("Your boyfriend seems so dull/He was probably born in hull" and "I wanna phone you when I come home drunk, Maybe I should become a monk/ Yea I know I’m your bit on the side, but I hope some day you’ll be all mine"). It always went on compilations I made and appeared whenever I DJ’d. Including the time I said I’d play a song specially for a girl if she turned up when I was DJing, and yea, I did fancy her, and maybe her boyfriend was from hull or somewhere, but it was never meant to mean anything, it was just meant to be an ace song to be enjoyed.<br /><br /><br />The B-side "True Love Will Find You In The End/Don’t Let Our Youth Go To Waste" is a Medley of a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ucN4DActxA">Daniel Johnston</a> song and a <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/252/340013.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.last.fm/music/Jonathan%2BRichman&usg=__fETM0hLaUz1fkxKiW2TK4zqNFy4=&h=360&w=252&sz=34&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=XW_z7cyrkp7xtM:&tbnh=157&tbnw=92&ei=SuDLTZTwI8HX8gO8wfygBA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Djonathan%2Brichman%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1313%26bih%3D639%26tbm%3Disch%26prmd%3Divnslo&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=297&page=1&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0&tx=27&ty=44">Jonathan Richman </a>Song. At the time I had no idea who Jonathan Richman was, but it was this version of his song that made me want to find out. The lyrics slay me every single time, and the one note guitar bit, it’s like a heart beating too fast because of what is happening, or what could happen, or what is being promised. "I could give you memories to rival Berlin in the ‘30s."<br /><br /><br />It’s my favourite piece of plastic, and I often take any opportunity to tell people that.<br /><br /><br />LINKS<br />The links above are not just to Wikipedia or homepages. Hopefully they're to stuff that you might find a little more interesting.<br /><br /><br />Dialling tone: <a href="http://www.microsofa.net/mw/dial.htm">http://www.microsofa.net/mw/dial.htm</a><br />True Love/Youth: <a href="http://www.microsofa.net/mw/truelove.htm">http://www.microsofa.net/mw/truelove.htm</a><br />Sleeve & Notes: <a href="http://www.microsofa.net/mw/diallingliners.jpg">http://www.microsofa.net/mw/diallingliners.jpg</a> </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>PS</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I tried to fix the spacing on this post but for some reason I can't get it to word. Sorry about that.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159924121034036699.post-85080317437078206952011-03-06T10:08:00.000-08:002011-03-06T10:40:35.923-08:00Sourpatch - Crushin'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rxQS54OA5xc/TXPTPFUUxrI/AAAAAAAAAGc/46fTxdbuYQs/s1600/sourpatch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rxQS54OA5xc/TXPTPFUUxrI/AAAAAAAAAGc/46fTxdbuYQs/s200/sourpatch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581036619321099954" border="0" /></a><br />I was worried when I got the record out of the sleeve. The vinyl seemed a little warped. Well actually it seemed alarmingly warped. Everything was okay when I got it on the turntable, though. It plays fiiiiiiiiine..<br /><br />The vinyl version of this album comes with a download code thingy for you youngsters and technophiles. The cover isn't in full colour -the CD version is, I think- but it does come with a lyrics insert doohickey, which is nice.<br /><br />I've already said over on <a href="http://www.anorakforum.com">Anorak</a> that each time I listen to this album I find my self thinking '<span style="font-style: italic;">ooh, this is my favourite song on the album</span>.' Then the next song starts and I think '..<span style="font-style: italic;">oh, no,</span> this<span style="font-style: italic;"> is my favourite song on the album</span>!' This continues til I have to flip the record over. then it's repeated ad infinitum. It makes me feel extra guilty/stoopid for getting so trashed on the Friday of <a href="http://londonpopfest.com/">Popfest</a> that I couldn't really take them in (though I do have vague recollections of possibly hug-ATTACKing one or more of them).<br /><br />So do they actually sound like?<br /><br />The interwebs will mention bands like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_Sailor">Go Sailor</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cub_%28band%29">Cub</a>, and '90's pop punk.' They're 2 guitars/bass/drums set up, several vocalists inc. some boy/girl stuff. At first I didn't really like the way the album was recorded (thought the vocals were too quiet), I'm not really sure how I came to that conclusion, cos within a day or so I had changed my mind.<br /><br />They're a lovely, joyful (in an often sombre way) sort of shambolic indiepoppunk. It's exactly the sort of thing that we should all love. It's bouncy without being vacuous, it's sweet without being saccharine, it's fun without being funny, it's whimsical without being affected, and it's pop music, but it's far from twee.<br /><br />They've got the album on CD and the 7" over at <a href="http://www.pebblerecords.co.uk/">Pebble Records</a>, for the album on vinyl I think you'll have to order it direct from <a href="http://hhbtm.com/">Happy Happy Birthday To Me</a>. What're you waiting for?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159924121034036699.post-41738162567403174502011-02-28T05:29:00.000-08:002011-02-28T06:40:27.084-08:00London Popfest 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-flMKoQFJADY/TWuykR1pC-I/AAAAAAAAAGU/u2BoIHfOQ_o/s1600/London-Popfest_1298033502.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-flMKoQFJADY/TWuykR1pC-I/AAAAAAAAAGU/u2BoIHfOQ_o/s200/London-Popfest_1298033502.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578748899761916898" border="0" /></a><br />Superfast, supercheap Virgin train to Euston, with free Wi-Fi... Wander to Camden and discover cheap veggie burger place is no more... Amble across the city (and The City) for a few hours (via <a href="http://www.secretsocietyofvegans.co.uk/vxshop/">V-Cross</a>, <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/images?q=st+john%27s+gate&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1024&bih=576">St John's Gate</a>)... Begin to realise my brand new £4.99 shoes are already totally fucked up... Walk up and down <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_Street">Cable Street</a> but am unable to find the red plaque (cos it's on Dock Street)... Meet up with Clare Pop, then head over to meet other pop types in Shepherds Bush... <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://gighit.com/media/gallery/2009/Feb/05/bush-ahall_300x300_crop_le.jpg&imgrefurl=http://gighit.com/venues/bush-hall/&usg=___GM3rtlnhuWMiGHISDbTsZK81mI=&h=300&w=300&sz=15&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=TrzyEdQNFkF_4M:&tbnh=142&tbnw=188&ei=M6ZrTZ3TKcuXhQfny8S_DQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbush%2Bhall%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D576%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=384&oei=M6ZrTZ3TKcuXhQfny8S_DQ&page=1&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:0&tx=77&ty=96">Bush Hall</a> has upsides (sounds, chandeliers, balcony) £3.80/can booze is one of the downsides... <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/images?q=tender+trap&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1024&bih=605">Tender Trap</a> are my highlight for the evening... Friday is for Thai Food at <a href="http://www.themiller.co.uk/">The Miller</a>, followed by '<a href="http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%27darkened+doorways%27+lucksmiths&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a">Darkened Doorways</a>' (lovely to share with others), then '<a href="http://www.strangepowersfilm.com/">Strange Powers</a>' (totally watchable, even as an unfan of Magnetic Fields)... Bored of the cold I buy a 1/2 price cardigan in H&M, Brixton... Comedy confusion in <a href="http://www.musicbarbrixton.com/">The Music Bar</a> where Ben is told his chicken burger has become a beef burger as chickenburgers aren't served so the menu must have a 'spelling mistake'... It's payday for me and <a href="http://www.windmillbrixton.co.uk/">The Windmill</a> has lots of beer and a merch desk... <a href="http://www.myspace.com/townbike">Town Bike</a> & <a href="http://www.myspace.com/sourpatchpop">Sourpatch</a> are top banana... Dancing til WAY past bedtime... Saturday is chinese buffet followed by <a href="http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/69/6987/Blue_Posts/Fitzrovia">Blue Posts</a>, had to force the first couple of pints down battling with hangover... Enter <a href="http://www.the100club.co.uk/">The 100 Club</a> to the opening notes of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pLjUsBnQv4">La Revolucion Sexual</a> played by <a href="http://tweegrrrlsclub.blogspot.com/">Twee Grrrls Club</a>, hangover symptoms disappear... Wait for <a href="http://www.everardrecords.com/humousexual/">Humousexual</a>... knackered guitar amp doesn't prevent a good number of terriblyexcited kids dancing, fists in the air to the likes of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IEvt9uxsmM">Oh Camberwell</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9q2t4gDpEU&feature=related">Batty Street</a>... Spend much of the day trying to avoid the eyes of people I went TOTALLY FANBOY over the night before, same with randoms I HUG-ATTACKED... Drink til it matters less... Go all FANBOY over <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGnpSxquoJA">Rob Price</a>... <a href="http://www.euxautres.com/">Eux Autres</a> nail their set... Think I may have accidentally sort of pulled a dude... Dance til late... Get called a 'cunt' by a Met Copper... Head across to <a href="http://www.thelexington.co.uk/">The Lexinton</a> for <a href="http://www.myspace.com/allfringenoknickers">All Fringe No Knickers</a> for more dancing to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxmZZBJQAKM&feature=related">Sultans of Ping</a>... Head east with a chatty taxi driver and a spare Swede... Early rise for Pop Quiz, Tony Wilson's Cock slaughter the competition... Head over to <a href="http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/restaurants/restaurant-1347.php">Bhel Poori House</a> for dangerous amounts of curry... Find the following grafitti:'I bet the chef wanks in the curry, I would. Imagine all those uptight indie girls (not women, for sure) necking the whack.'... Enjoy the nervous dancing of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/youngfuckband">Youngfuck</a>'s singer... Enjoy onstage banter of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/girlsnames">Girls Names</a>' singer... Make a girl cry... Don't manage to say goodbye to everyone... Realise at Euston that my train ticket is for Monday... New ticket for train leaving 30 mins after I thought, arriving 90 mins after I'd thought... Birmingham City FC win the Carling Cup, my train makes this common knowledge... Popfest 2011 ends.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159924121034036699.post-30387972635817538122011-02-12T10:38:00.000-08:002011-02-12T11:11:43.967-08:00Fever Fever<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sn8izRgC_68/TVbbTdx9JmI/AAAAAAAAAGM/CC5uzewPP9g/s1600/FeverFever.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 178px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sn8izRgC_68/TVbbTdx9JmI/AAAAAAAAAGM/CC5uzewPP9g/s200/FeverFever.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572882716375721570" /></a><br />So I lied, Lucksmiths next week.<br /><br />Last night I went to see <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thelovelyeggs">The Lovely Eggs</a> cos they are ace. Everyone knows The Lovely Eggs are ace. What I didn't know is that <a href="http://feverfever.co.uk/">Fever Fever</a> are also ace.<br /><br />I nearly saw Fever Fever some time last year when they played at the Victoria with The Lovely Eggs and <a href="http://hotpantsromance.blogspot.com/">Hotpants Romance</a>. I didn't actually manage to see Fever Fever, though. This is because living in Dudley is a fucking ballache and pretty much makes existence anti-fun. I checked out some video clip somewhere of Fever Fever and didn't get it.<br /><br />Last night I actually got to see Fever Fever and it was hella mega! As soon as they started I couldn't help but think of three sounds: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIByfkxAGbA&feature=channel">early-ish Mudhoney</a>, the first <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff7SREKlEBU">Help She Cant Swim</a> album, and the criminally underrated <a href="http://www.montanapete.com/records.html">Montana Pete</a>. I'm fairly sure no one else would say they can hear these bands in Fever Fever's sound, but I reckon I can, SO THERE.<br /><br />I was pretty surprised by how big a sound they manage to produce with just two guitars and drums, even when they go down to one guitar they still have a really impressive, chunky sound. I tried for ages to think of a better word but I couldn't. I will be winning no prizes for this post.<br /><br />I've been looking around online and I still can't find anything by Fever Fever that does justice to the live set I witnessed last night. I'd definitely go see them again, though. I've half a mind to go to the Flapper tonight to see them. In fact, if I weren't flat-piss broke, and if I hadn't rolled in at 5 this morning, I would be heading for the bus right now.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159924121034036699.post-88647099598843107722011-02-06T14:37:00.000-08:002011-02-08T04:12:18.477-08:00Okay, I'm Sorry. Next post is The Lucksmiths..<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__ax5v5b2ZTY/TVEzHKQDzHI/AAAAAAAAAGE/-F_jTPCLW2I/s1600/retrohonpo.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 138px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__ax5v5b2ZTY/TVEzHKQDzHI/AAAAAAAAAGE/-F_jTPCLW2I/s200/retrohonpo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571290412137827442" /></a><br />I wanted to post this week, but I knew I wouldn't be able to say the right things about the stuff I wanted to post about.<br /><br />So I figure a drunken post about something simple will do. RETRO HONPO are fucking mega. Here is some <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnG4ljDCyuo">PROOF</a>.<br /><br />I heard them cos The legendary <a href="http://www.bearos.co.uk/">Alan 'The Doc' Farme</a>r was DJing at<a href="http://blog.theautumnstore.co.uk/archives/385"> The Aumtun Store all-daye</a>r a couple of weeks ago. He sent some links to Dunc, Dunc posted them on <a href="http://anorakforum.com/">Anorak</a>.<br /><br />The moral of the story? Retro Honpo are immesurably fucking mega.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159924121034036699.post-65974793988801675722011-01-26T02:33:00.000-08:002011-01-26T02:54:30.534-08:00Standard Fare/One Happy Island<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__ax5v5b2ZTY/TT_9YcAEJrI/AAAAAAAAAFw/cYnYReQTtiE/s1600/sfohi.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 198px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__ax5v5b2ZTY/TT_9YcAEJrI/AAAAAAAAAFw/cYnYReQTtiE/s200/sfohi.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566446260728374962" /></a><br />Remember that <a href="http://www.facebook.com/standardfare">Standard Fare,</a>/<a href="http://www.onehappyislandmusic.com/">One Happy Island</a> record I mentioned the other day? Well that lovely, lovely slab of orange vinyl from <a href="http://www.heychuck.com/theespc/index.php">Thee SPC</a> has remained on my turntable since. The difference between this time and last is that I’ve been flipping it over, and over, and over.<br /><br />I didn’t know until I received the record that each band have recorded one of the other band’s songs and one original. I was dead excited when I got this record, which is why it superceded the Defiance, Ohio album, and I was right to be excited. Each band’s cover is brilliant, they’ve both managed to make a cover sound as though it could be one of their own songs. Neither band try to ape the style or sound of the other band, so what we’ve got here is basically a great original-sounding song by each band, just that they didn’t happen to write them.<br /><br />Standard Fare bash out another couple of their perfectly-crafted, slightly jerky power pop, and I’m always surprised that they manage to have such a big, full sound as a three-piece, how do they do that? The lyrics are the new one are great (as always) and the delivery is in Emma’s easily recognised, irresistible style.<br /><br />The One Happy Island side gives us more of their chaotic, yet tuneful indiepop. I’ve always like how their songs sound almost as though they were recorded in the kitchen while there was a party going on in the living room (and I’m not just saying that because of ‘<a href="http://www.normanrecords.com/vinyl/100904-one-happy-island-secret-party-that-the-other-party-doesnt-know-about">Secret Part That The Other Party Doesn’t Know About</a>’), and that they sound like they might just fall apart at any second.<br /><br />If you’ve any sympathy for indiepop in 2011, your life will certainly be enriched by this bloody great record.<br /><br />One question, what the hell is a ‘dixie cup’?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159924121034036699.post-55937002028772199982011-01-16T06:52:00.000-08:002011-01-26T02:59:41.383-08:00Defiance, Ohio<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__ax5v5b2ZTY/TT_-mLaXrGI/AAAAAAAAAF4/4Hi-KIvplso/s1600/defianceohio_midwesternminutes.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__ax5v5b2ZTY/TT_-mLaXrGI/AAAAAAAAAF4/4Hi-KIvplso/s200/defianceohio_midwesternminutes.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566447596305099874" /></a><br />I just got some new records* which meant I had to remove the record that's been king of the deck for two or three weeks now.<br /><br />That record is the most recent album by <a href="http://defianceohio.terrorware.com/">Defiance, Ohio</a>, 2010's <a href="http://defianceohio.terrorware.com/discography"><i>Midwestern</i> Minutes</a>. If you're at all familiar with Defiance, Ohio you will know that they inhabit that much-maligned land that is the genre known as folk punk. The punks whine that it isn't punk enough, others moan that 'they can't sing properly', and as ever, these miseries are missing the point entirely.<br /><br /><br />I don't remember how I first came to hear Defiance, Ohio, but it was in around 2005/06. The first song I heard was 'I don't want solidarity if it means holding hands with you' which nailed me with it's raucous pop-punk chorus and brilliant lyrics. Maybe I downloaded some more stuff (it's all free on their website), maybe I didn't. In the 2nd half of 2006 I did a runner from Nottingham, and in the brief period I was knocking about the West Midlands before going abroad Defiance, Ohio happened to be playing in Birmingham. What's more, is that my friend <a href="http://www.winstonecho.com/">Winston Echo</a> had been asked to support them. So not only did I get to see Defiance, Ohio, but I got to go not on my own. That night I bought the 2nd Defiance, Ohio album <i>The Great Depression</i> (which doesn't feature <i>I Don't want Solidarity..</i>.<br /><br />A couple of years later, I ordered a bunch of stuff from <a href="http://www.noidearecords.com/">No Idea Records</a>, amongst it was the first Defiance, Ohio album, <i>Share What Ya Got</i>. More great folk punk made living in the absolute middle of nowhere - surrounded by a peculiar combination of rich-ass holiday-makers, hoteliers, and dull-as-fuck fellow minimum wagers - slightly more sufferable. I dreamt of running away to the bright lights of Northampton to strong-arm Winston Echo into staring a folk punk band with me.<br /><br />Later still, I'm visiting a <a href="http://www.everardrecords.com/humousexual/">friend</a> in London and we decide to go to the <a href="http://www.allagesrecords.com/">punk rock record shop</a> as part of a weekend of whim-based adventures (newly-discovered comic book shop, chinese buffet, bag of coffee from swanky coffee shop, <a href="http://www.eustontap.com/">Euston Tap</a>, falafel fail, falafel win, pub club, Boris Karloff's house), and I see that there's a brand-spanking new Defiance, Ohio album. I was vaguely aware that they'd released another album since <i>The Great Depression</i>, and I also knew this wasn't it. So I skipped their third album (I'll get it one day) and went straight to <i>Midwestern Minutes</i>.<br /><br />In my cold little room at the back of a decrepit terraced house - only metres from the home of a young J.R.R. Tolkien - in a hinterland between work and work, marked by Xmas and New Year, I put on my new Defiance, Ohio record. I knew what to expect, and I basically got it.<br /><br />The new album was and is very much in the same vein as the other two records I have of theirs. However, there was something about this album that really did something for me. Keys to locks, striking chords, brain kissing, heart warming, smile-wrenching. All that shit.<br /><br />I didn't even turn the record over for at least the first half-dozen plays. There's a song on there about a <i>rosy picture of the end times</i>, which just gives me some kind of hope. Perhaps not true hope, I don't think I'm really capable of that kind of belief, but hope in the knowledge that other people are at least dissatisfied with everything as it stands and yearn for something else (and perhaps are relying on forces bigger than ourselves, or any groups or societies).<br /><br />Of course, this sort of thing is a not uncommon theme for Defiance, Ohio. For instance:<br /><br /><i>fuck this city, and fuck this filthy air/ let’s build a-frames in the woods and just live there/ we’ll all eat berries and build fires every night and forget this mistake we call modern life.</i><br /><br />Or how about:<br /><br /><i>are you angry? are you searching for a better way to live? are you waiting? have you been waiting too long? what holds us back and how to burn the bridges of a culture that taught us to hate and fear and live like cogs in a machine and not like lovers friends and kin.</i>). I think I lost my train of thought..<br /><br />Anyway, this album is the same, but different. I think that's exactly what we (or at least, I) want from a band we already love, isn't it? Something that isn't just a repetition of their previous output, but also, doesn't become something new entirely and thought it may still be a great record, not what you wanted from the band, and loses the reason you loved them in the first place? Go on, call me reactionary.<br /><br />I'm not really sure why I started writing, but I'm just about done, now. <br /><br /><br /><br />* The Standard Fare/One Happy Island split on Thee SPC, and The first Hang Over Lounge EP.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159924121034036699.post-80743951468994815492010-03-10T08:07:00.001-08:002010-03-10T08:47:09.590-08:00The Art Form UnknownOkay, well, I've abandoned that stupid 00's round-up idea cos my brain won;t work like that, and really, well, who cares?<br /><br />So, I was wondering around the internet and I thought that it makes more sense to put people on to things that I'm consuming nowdays. In a weird way though, I can tie it in with an appreciation of yesteryear. What am I on about><br /><br /><a href="http://www.asaurus.org/records/about.html">Asaurus Records</a> is BACK on the scene. People out there may not be familiar with Asaurus, and I can honestly say that I don't know how/when/where I came across them but it must've been around 2004-5 I suppose.<br /><br />Asaurus was (and, I suppose is again) a CDr label that put out some amazing stuff, and stuff that you may well be familiar with, even if yr not familiar with the label. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/capstanshafts">Capstan Shafts</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/colinclary">Colin Clary</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/themathletes">Mathletes</a>, <a href="http://www.ugrad.physics.mcgill.ca/~ddd/">The Diskettes</a>, <a href="http://softabuse.com/artists/pants_yell.html">Pants Yell!</a>, and <a href="http://www.redponyclock.com">Red Pony Clock</a> all did stuff on Asaurus before they label when on hiatus a couple of years back.<br /><br />I'm not sure what Asaurus has lined up for the future, but you can bet it'll be good stuff. It's a good idea to keep an eye on their new <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/asaurusrecords?v=info">Facebook Group</a>, as that seems to be where the updates are at for the moment, rather than the website.<br /><br />So, it's because of the announcement of Asaurus's hiatus that I was lead to the MySpace of a band that up until now I thought had only ever done 2 songs (both on Asaurus compilations), but it turns out that <a href="http://www.myspace.com/artformunknown">The Art Form Unknown</a> (AKA The Artist Formerly Unknown) have LOADS of stuff recorded, if not available to the public. I'd love to get my grubby mits on those tapes and put them in my ears.<br /><br />Neither of the 2 songs that got me all hot & bothered about The Art Form Unknown are available on their Myspace, the details of the compilation they were on is listed below.<br /><br />Okay, so, what was I talking about? Basically, remember these two things: The Art Form Unknown, and Asaurus Records. Woo!<br /><br />V/A / CLOUDS AND BALLOONS<br />DETAILS: ASA035 / CDR / $3<br />RELEASED: July 13th, 2004<br />DESCRIPTION: Pop compilation of enormous proportions. Originally released by Me No Know Records. <br />TRACKLISTING: <strong>The Artist Formerly Unknown (feat. Emilliene) – How Are You?</strong> / The Broken Hearts Club – Abbotsford and Flemington / The Arcade Fire – No Cars Go / Elliott the Letter Ostrich – Jethro’s Stolen Wheels / The Galactic Heroes – Tweedles / Melamine – A Dock Rat Now / Professor Pez – Never Got It / Paper Tiger – Mars in May / The Measles – Rebekah Elmaloglou / The French Horns – 45 / Bad Flirt – Boxing Astoria / Awesome Animal Ambulance – Operation Kitty / Seasick Crocodile – Treetop Love / This Bank Holiday – He Prefers the Movie Novelization / Sinkcharmer – Nothing To Me / Teradactyl – 110% / The 32-bit Handhelds – Woodchuck to Grey Squirrel / The Escargo-go’s – The Life of a Total Square / The Fresas – The Dance / The Solvents – Dancing on my Debts / Big Game Hunting – Ready or Not / The Operators – What the Mailman doesn’t Bring / Sarah Plain and Tall – Winter Song / The Protean Self – Tag, I’m it <br /><br /><br /><br />V/A / FOR WHOM THE CASIO TOLLS<br />DETAILS: ASA034 / CDR / $4<br />RELEASED: September 16th, 2004<br />DESCRIPTION: The challenge: Record a song using only battery-powered kiddie keyboards and your voice. Millions tried, but only seventeen survived. This is their story. <br />TRACKLISTING: Patterns in Paris - I Spy / <strong>The Art Form Unknown - Values Monetary </strong>/ The I Love Ryans - Witch Dr / The New Sound of My Bossa Nova - A Story / Colin Clary - Remember in November / Megamoog - Goodbye / New Grenada - Lightning Parade / Elliott the Letter Ostrich - Kennedy Wears a Colostomy Bag... / Seiss - If We Are Holding Hands How Can I Touch Myself? / The Original Beekeepers - Nina / Dentist Dispense - All Girls are Lesbians / The Bad Spellers - White Day / The Goslings - Panopticon / Super Famicom - Wishes Dangling on Dead Desires / This Bank Holiday - She's Spiritual, But Not Religious / Andrew Octopus - Soapbubble Revolution / Young Model - Battle for C64 (Atari Sucks) <br /><br /><br /><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159924121034036699.post-13579293360296056942010-02-04T00:45:00.001-08:002010-02-12T04:23:42.278-08:002001Okay, so I've been super-lame at this. I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">will blog</span> maybe once or twice about records of the past decade, then on to exciting interviews. Okay?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>2001</strong><br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><br /><strong>Murry the Hump, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mj</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hibbett</span>, Gag Airport Girl, Max Tundra <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Schaumgummi</span></strong><br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><br /><strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">MJ</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hibbett</span>: Oi, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hibbett</span>!</strong><br /><br /><br /><br />2001 has a lot to answer for. Yea, yea I remember where I was when I heard about [i]The Attacks[/i] (I had just baked a vegan chocolate cake, one of my very first attempts, and not one of my more successful), but I also remember the first time I saw <a href="http://www.mjhibbett.net/"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">MJ</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hibbett</span></a> live. It was in August at <a href="http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2008/05/09/moseley-s-jug-of-ale-to-be-demolished-97319-20885229/">The Jug of Ale</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moseley">Moseley</a>. I went along because I had the <a href="http://mjhibbett.tripod.com/releases/workisafourletterword.htm">Work is A Four Letter Word</a> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">ep</span> and maybe someone local I liked was playing (Could it have been <a href="http://www.sparklemotion.co.uk/effortless/">The Regulars</a>?). So I went a long and was AGOG and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hibbett's</span> solo set. I don't think I had ever before seen anyone play that way. And rarely since have I seen a singer-songwriter who is not completely caught up in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">themself</span> and all <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">muso</span>-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">ish</span>. I joined in singing songs I didn't know ('Oi, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hibbett</span>!' Etc.) and bought The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">Validators</span> first album and three 7" singles for the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">pincely</span> sum of 8 quid - Mark said it was because he was moving house, though even if he hadn't been <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">he'd've</span> probably done some sort of deal just because I showed interest.<br /><br /><br /><br />All those records were played A LOT for the rest of the year, and of course they aer still played regularly today.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Arab Strap: I'll tell you a story about that later</strong><br /><strong>Murry The Hump: My Dealer drive a three-wheeler</strong><br /><br /><br /><br />I know I went to see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Strap_(band)">Arab Strap</a> as well as <a href="http://www.murrythehump.co.uk/">Murry The Hump</a> at <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2002/feb/12/fiachragibbons">Ronnie Scott's</a> on <a href="http://www.broadstreet.co.uk/">Broad Street</a> (it was the only excuse to go to Broad Street, it is now a lap-dancing place called <a href="http://www.therocketclub.com/">The Rocket Club</a>). I spent a lot <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">of</span> time listening to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_for_Sadness">'Mad for Sadness'</a>. I'll let you in to a secret; when I was a teenager, I thought you had to choose which band you liked Arab Strap or <a href="http://www.belleandsebastian.com/">Belle & Sebastian</a>. I was - and some would argue, still am - a <a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2009/3/24/1237906734712/A-house-near-Hungerford-t-001.jpg">cock</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br />The Murry The Hump album, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Songs-Ignorance-Murry-Hump/dp/B00005BHZY">'Songs of Ignorance' </a>was a bit of a disappointment to me, but it still had some great songs: Booze & Cigarettes, The House That Used to be a Ship, Vodka & Wine.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Gag: Girls are dancing, they are good at it. Boys are dancing.. with their mates.</strong><br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><br />I had never heard anything like <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gag's</span> album <a href="http://www.flitwickrecords.co.uk/wp-content/images/discog-10.JPG">'When People Start Slapping Meat on Marble'</a>, nor had I ever heard of a record label giving away all of their releases for free, as <a href="http://www.flitwickrecords.co.uk/"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">Flitwick</span> Records</a> did. I wrote a review for the zine I dd back then and seem to recall likening one song to Jack Frost sneaking into your garden to piss down the drain. I think maybe Gag were reasonably well known 10 years earlier, but I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">didn'</span>t know anyone who knew 'em, still don't. That album doesn't seem to be available anymore, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">but you</span> can download other stuff by them from the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">Flitwick</span> Records website.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-error">ballboy</span>: Licensing laws mean nothing to us</strong><br /><br /><br /><br />I'd been introduced to <a href="http://www.ballboymusic.com/news/"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" class="blsp-spelling-error">ballboy</span></a> through <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Peel">John Peel's </a>show and instantly became smitten. The three <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" class="blsp-spelling-error">EPs</span> as collected on <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Club-Anthems-2001-First-Three/dp/B00005QJGQ">Club Anthems 2001</a> were played repeatedly on my stereo. One of my favourite ever moments in pop is still from their <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_27" class="blsp-spelling-error">Brum</span> gig of 2001. The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_28" class="blsp-spelling-error">soundman</span> had called time on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_29" class="blsp-spelling-error">ballboy's</span> set (as it was a Sunday, this was at only 10:30), and Gordon couldn't convince the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_30" class="blsp-spelling-error">soundguy</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_31" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">to let</span> them do one more song, so he started playing 'They hang flags from cranes upon my wedding day' anyway. The mic went off, the lights went out, Gordon carried on playing (he was using an acoustic guitar), stood forward, right at the edge of the stage, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_32" class="blsp-spelling-error">with</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_33" class="blsp-spelling-error">the only</span> lights coming from the drinks fridges behind the bar. I swear the <a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/place?sourceid=navclient&rlz=1T4SNCA_enGB259GB266&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=flapper+and+firkin+birmingham&fb=1&gl=uk&hq=flapper+and+firkin&hnear=birmingham&cid=4445842157596474050">Flapper & Firkin</a> held it's collective breath the the duration of the song.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Max Tundra: 'I'm not sure if this is meant to be experimental or something'</strong><br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><br />I had never heard of <a href="http://www.maxtundra.com/">Max Tundra </a>when I saw him supporting <a href="http://www.wiiija.com/artists/brassy/biog.htm">Brassy</a> in at the (original) <a href="http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/11/29/1112928_85dd4cd2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1112928&usg=__xw6TzjWXTfr1nVRs5XM7z9GrchU=&h=480&w=640&sz=82&hl=en&start=5&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=0y5sgpsTTORpSM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dlittle%2Bcivic%2Bwolverhampton%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4SNCA_enGB259GB266%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1">Little Civic</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolverhampton">Wolverhampton</a>. I remember being confused and impressed by his set and later in the evening asked him if he had any records I could buy. It was quite a short but confusing conversation from what I recall. It took me a while to get round to picking up the album, and I think I bit off a bit more then I could chew, but listened to it repeatedly looking for something. I still do that, and I've <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_34" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">never been</span> sure what it is I'm looking for.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_35" class="blsp-spelling-error">Schaumgummi</span>: Tina Turner Marshmallow</strong><br /><br /><br /><br />I don't remember when it came out or when I bought the records, but I spent a lot of 2001 being obsessed by <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_36" class="blsp-spelling-error">Schaumgummi</span>. Seriously people, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCjXH3j0GPY"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_37" class="blsp-spelling-error">Schaumgummi</span></a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159924121034036699.post-88507376814483782172010-01-06T01:39:00.000-08:002010-01-06T03:17:40.843-08:00My stereo circa 2000This is meant to be a look back, not at what I consider to be the best <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">records</span>/bands of each year, but of the contemporary bands that I was listening to most at the time. I've been a bit flexible, but mostly the bands were around at the time and had released records in the year being written about or a few months earlier. So, although I don't <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">necessarily</span> listen to these bands any more, it's what was on my stereo then. I'm sure I'm guilty of revisionism, that's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">inevitable</span>, but I've tried to recall what was important to me back then.<br /><br /><strong>2000 - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Quickspace</span>, Life Without buildings, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Idlewild</span>, Marine Research, Chicks On Speed</strong><br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Quickspace</span>: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Pre</span>-Steps, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Pre</span>-Blair, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Pre</span>-Who Wants To Be A Millionaire..</strong><br />Although <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quickspace"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Quckspace</span></a> had been around since the mid-90's (having formed from the ashes of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thfaithhealers">Th' Faith Healers</a>). I first heard them in a John Peel Session in late '99 (I think). I was completely hooked and there was little chance that,if you were within earshot of me for the next 12 months that I wouldn't have tried to play some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">quickspace</span> to you (in those days I had a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Walkman</span> with me at all times). <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Death_of_Quickspace">The Death of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Quickspace</span></a></em> and <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precious_Falling">Precious Falling</a></em> were never far from my stereo and songs such as <em><a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Quickspace/_/Quickspace%2BHappy%2BSong%2B%25232"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Quickspace</span> Happy Song #2</a></em> and <em><a href="http://homepage.univie.ac.at/~prillih3/healers/pictures/flatmoon.jpg">Semtex</a></em> made it on to every mix tape I made for a couple of years. sadly, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Quickspace</span> just seemed to melt and disappear in the early 00's.<br /><br /><strong>Life Without Buildings: Do we need order?</strong><br /><a href="http://www.lifewithoutbuildings.com/">Life Without Buildings</a> were another band that I fell deeply in love with at this time. So much so that I was even the first person to start a site dedicated to the band (other than the official site). I first heard them in session for Steve <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Lamacq</span> and found Sue Tompkins' voice <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">irresistible</span>. I loved the jittery-stumbling guitar sounds that everyone compared to <a href="http://www.gangoffour.co.uk/">Gang of Four</a> - something I didn't understand at the time and still can't see today. 4 singles, 1 album and one <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">posthumous</span> live album is all they left behind.<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">iDLEWiLD</span> - A flight of stairs falling down a flight of stairs</strong><br />Half way through 2000<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idlewild_(band)"> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">idlewild</span></a> released <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/100_Broken_Windows">100 broken windows</a></em>. At the time I wasn't that impressed by the album, though i think it's aged pretty well. At this point they'd lost the youthful <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">exuberance</span> that excited me so much about the band. This is why, even after this record came out you'd still have found me listening to the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0abBO6Le2yE">singles</a> that preceded that album (the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9It2ccuTr2Q&feature=PlayList&p=AA0BE7EA12E652DE&index=8">b-sides</a> were <a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Idlewild/_/This+Is+Worse">consistently</a> brilliant). The previous album, <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hope_Is_Important">Hope is Important</a></em> was short and patchy. Their first CD release, <em><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/fa/IdlewildCaptain.jpg/200px-IdlewildCaptain.jpg">Captain</a></em>, was to me a revelation. Urgent, chaotic, poems with beautiful pop sensibilities. It seems hard to imagine today that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">idlewild</span> could have been young and exciting considering the awful <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">dadrock</span> folk shite they've become famous for over the last 23 albums they've put out. I still recommend anything from <em>100 broken windows</em> and back though. <em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5_-IPd69vQ">Self-healer</a></em> was my introduction to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">idlewild</span>, and to say that it was down hill from there is an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">exaggeration</span>, but not much of one.<br /><br /><strong>Marine Research: Robert <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Llewelyn</span> likes Marine Research!</strong><br />Another band that I first heard in '99 (and again due to John Peel). It took me a while to track down a copy of the album (eventually in <a href="http://www.reddingtonsrarerecords.co.uk/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Reddington's</span></a>, Birmingham when it was still on <a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?sourceid=navclient&rlz=1T4SUNA_enGB221GB222&q=cherry%20street%20birmingham&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl">Cherry Street</a>) <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">because</span> in these days I couldn't order stuff online and I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">didn'</span>t know anyone who'd heard of <a href="http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~queenb/">Marine Research</a>. It seems almost unbelievable today that there was a time when I didn't know who <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelia_Fletcher">Amelia Fletcher</a> was. I think this was may have been my first contemporary <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">indiepop</span> purchase (now I think of it, that's not at all true, but I still consider this album to be a watershed for me).<br />The keyboard player, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathy_Rogers">Cathy</a> was a presenter of Channel 4's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrapheap_Challenge"><em>Scrapheap Challenge</em></a> along with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Llewellyn">Robert <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Llewelyn</span></a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kryten_(Red_Dwarf)"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Kryten</span></a> from <a href="http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/news/index.cfm"><em>Red Dwarf</em></a>).<br /><br /><strong>Chicks On Speed: She brushes her teeth 5 times per day</strong><br />I heard <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgLtqiyHdHQ"><em>For All The Boys In The World</em> </a>(again, John Peel) and had to buy the album. I had no idea what to make of it but played it again and again and AGAIN. Even in 2002 the guy next to me in halls threatened to throw my stereo out of the window if I didn't stop playing this record. According to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">interwebs</span> the record is considered to epitomise <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Electroclash</span>. Or something.<br /><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">Honourable</span> Mentions</strong>: <a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Peeps+Into+Fairyland">Peeps Into Fairyland</a>, <a href="http://www.teenanthems.com/index.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">Supercute</span></a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/drumjesuscouldnt">Jesus Couldn't Drum</a>, <a href="http://www.montanapete.com/">Montana Pete</a>, <a href="http://www.discogs.com/Solanki-Buzz-Or-Howl-Under-The-Influence-Of-Leeds-6/release/2039861"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">Solanki</span></a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6xHYuuYdoM"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">Soulwax</span></a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_Teasers">Add n to (x), Country Teasers</a><br /><br />Coming soon: 2001..<br /><br />PS<br />Does anyone actually use any of these links? They take me fucking ages to sort out.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159924121034036699.post-78355660796825655062009-12-20T00:31:00.000-08:002009-12-20T00:55:32.381-08:00Interview: Incredible Weapons<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__ax5v5b2ZTY/Sy3mfAHTu2I/AAAAAAAAAE8/QgH2YuHuwrY/s1600-h/incweaps.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 245px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417239347077561186" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__ax5v5b2ZTY/Sy3mfAHTu2I/AAAAAAAAAE8/QgH2YuHuwrY/s320/incweaps.gif" /></a><br /><div>Mr Danny G took the time to answer some questions about his bloody briliant breezy, summer-scented powerpop band <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.incredibleweapons.com">Increadible Weapons</a>. They're not super-famous yet but they ARE great, <a href="http://www.indiepages.com/">Indiepages.com</a> decided to class the demo submitted by Danny for a review as a "proper" release cos it was just so darn good. You should do yrself a favour and get his tunes in yr ears by going right down to <a href="http://www.incredibleweapons.com/">http://www.incredibleweapons.com/</a>. If you ask nicely, Danny will send you a disc too, bless.<br />(Again, all linkies added by me, so if they're all to cock that's my fauly, not Mr Danny G's)<br /><br /><strong>Bite Yr Lip: How long have you been making music as incredible weapons (and please tell us about what came before)?</strong><br /><br />Danny G: Well Incredible Weapons played one festival and made the EP last summer; since then we've played a couple more times with all new jams and I've done some acoustic shows too. Before wuz a pop group outta Winchester called the Go Waves followed by an excellent 'lost weekend' bringing us right back up to the Weaps.<br /><br /><strong>BYL: Do you play live often? What’s Andover like for being pop performer?</strong><br /><br />DG: This year I've done two acoustic shows and two rock shows. Only this weekend my drummer was saying he wants to do at least a show a fortnight until our bass player moves to Austria in the summer. We've got literally nothing booked though... maybe I should get off my arse?<br /><br />Andover's the new rock'n'roll<br /><br /><strong>BYL: Do you record yrself at home? Do you play all of the instruments?<br /></strong><br />DG: Yes, recording and full-volume rehearsing happens at home. There's a lot of space out here.<br /><br />I'm a hack on the traps and bass but I'll lay down guides if the band aren't about. Keys too. I love playing all of them but I'm kinda inconsistent... like I'll have a tidy little hip-hop groove going on the drums then have no idea where to put my hands for a fill so I just throw them at the drums and see what happens. This means playback with the band is often accompanied by a generous round of guffaws.<br /><strong><br />BYL: How did the EP come about and where’s it available, how do we get one?</strong><br /><br />DG: The EP is the first five songs I finished when I decided I could get back into finishing stuff off (see 'lost weekend') which is why it's a little all over the place. 'Asking For Trouble' is from the un-finished Appletown EP and 'Solipsister' is in it's second version . The first had completely different words & flow and the cutest BV's by my friend June from Tokyo. These are sadly missing from the EP versh. I want to record an orchestra on my four-track for a new 'Pure '82'.<br /><br /><strong>BYL: The record as a whole could be described as power-pop, what stuff goes in yr ears to make that stuff come out?</strong><br /><br />DG: My alarm clock every day is an Abba mixtape.<br /><br /><strong>BYL: Are you making more recordings/planning any other releases?</strong><br /><br />DG: I record all the time but that's cause I'm an ideas man. I always love the freshest brain-scrapings most. It's terrible really; I've so many half-baked recording that'll never see the light of day. BUT... there are plans - we're gonna try recording the live set at home and see if it's good enough for backing tracks for something. I'm also thinking super-limited tape and a 7" this year. I may also release a mixtape as I am deeply besotted with a number of tunes I've found this year.<br /><br /><strong>BYL: What’s great pop music that we should check out sometime soon?</strong><br /><br />DG: Some pop songs (go on <a href="http://hypem.com/">hypemachine</a> then buy it when you love it!/have cash - delete as appropriate)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/wavves">Wavves</a> - So Bored<br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/sexierkids">Sexy Kids</a> - Sisters are Forever<br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/janewoody">Jane Woody</a> - Tiny Ants (myspace only?)<br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/mazesmazesmazes">Mazes</a> - Bowie Knives<br /><a href="http://anne.bacheley.free.fr/">Anne Bacheley</a> - Drive in the Dark (maybe email her?)<br /><a href="http://kaninerecords.com/jean-on-jean">Jean on Jean</a> - Tonight<br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/ohsees">The Oh Sees</a> - Carol Ann<br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/younggovernor">Young Governor</a> - Virginia Creeper<br /><a href="http://www.owentromans.co.uk/">Owen Tromans and the Elders</a> - Crew of the Raven (from the forthcoming Fall of Acre LP)<br /><br />Thanks Ray, peace out!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159924121034036699.post-85817853453602960012009-12-03T13:24:00.002-08:002009-12-12T03:48:43.536-08:00Paul Stapleton Interview<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__ax5v5b2ZTY/SyODApHYZQI/AAAAAAAAAEs/vKwWtCW7-Jw/s1600-h/pulstapletonpic.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 188px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 251px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414315224089519362" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__ax5v5b2ZTY/SyODApHYZQI/AAAAAAAAAEs/vKwWtCW7-Jw/s320/pulstapletonpic.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Do you like comics? I like comics. I still can't get into those super-hero ones that rule the roost and have hundreds of tons of crappy plastic models made in their honour, snapped up by goths, schoolkids and schoolkid-goths the world over. Anyway, Mr Paul Stapleton draws comics that are a reflection of the society we live in and the ingenious ways we devise to annoy and amuse one another. I suppose I like his stuff because I recognise what he writes/draws about from my own experience, and also cos he has a fun drawing style. He takes the piss out of everyone, including you, me, and him. Also, his band <a href="http://www.scip.org.uk/ab/menu.htm">Anal Beard</a> were responsible for “The worst record in the history of music" by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fracture_(fanzine)">Fracture</a> zine. Aces!<br />(All links added by me.)<br /><br /><strong>Bite Yr Lip: I first came across yr drawings on your band's (anal beard) record sleeves. Now you've got 6 books out, how did you get from there to here?</strong><br /><br />Paul Stapleton: I've been drawing comic strips in one form or another since 1992, although for years the only person that ever saw them was my friend Richard who I drew them with (often sitting on the roof of his parents' house on sunny evenings). Towards the end of the 90's I did a handful of zine comics, which I sold at gigs and a couple of comic shops. They were pretty rudimentary, and quite ugly in places, but it got the ball rolling.<br /><br />By the time we were releasing Anal Beard records I felt confident enough to put something in a slightly more public place, and we all thought that photo sleeves were dull anyway, so there was that.<br /><br />And a bit more recently, I was on a walk with my brother Matthew and we had for some reason decided to take pens and paper with us, so had a bit of a picnic and a drawing session. I did what became the first story in <a href="http://www.worldofbeardandpog.co.uk/Scribbles/divs.html">Divs and Defects</a> and he suggested I did another full comic, so that baking hot July afternoon in Minehead turned out to be quite cataclysmic.<br /><br />It's been loads of fun though, although I am sometimes aware of how much of a solitary exercise it all is! I went through a phase of going to a local cafe and drawing there while nursing one can of something grim, but felt like a bit of a blowhard. In Brighton, there's plenty of would-be artists sitting in a cafe with their pens and paper praying that someone will come and ask them what they're working on. So now I sit in the garden.<br /><br />In the 6 years since Divs and Defects came out, there's been another five books. The most popular has been <a href="http://www.worldofbeardandpog.co.uk/Scribbles/chav.html">Chav</a>, which is still selling like hotcakes but the most recent (<a href="http://www.worldofbeardandpog.co.uk/Scribbles/index.html">Facebook - the Comicbook</a>) is coming close. That was exciting in itself, as it was the first book to be printed in full colour.<br /><br />And most recently of all (I think I'm answering far more than you asked here, but never mind!), I'm working on a set that doesn't have a name yet, but is aimed at being a newspaper strip. It's odd having to fit stories and gags into three panels instead of having an infinite amount of space at your disposal, but probably a good discipline to learn.<br /><br /><strong>BYL: And am I right in thinking you are/are in Pog? What other musicy things do you do then? </strong><br /><br />PS: I am. <a href="http://www.worldofbeardandpog.co.uk/pogwash/index.html">Pog</a> ran alongside Anal Beard for a couple of years, and was the kind of music that I tend to write when left to my own devices. For quite a while it was just me and an acoustic guitar sliming out punk folk, but now it’s grown to a very agreeable four piece. It takes up most of the evenings I'm not drawing, and I love it, although it also gives me plenty to moan and worry about.<br /><br /><strong>BYL: Can you tell me about how you draw your comics? Am I right in thinking you hand draw and colour with some sort of alien robot technology?</strong><br /><br />PS: Spot on! As far as the drawing goes, it's as low-tech as you can possibly get - just a couple of art pens and a stack of whatever paper I can borrow (I always forget to stock up). Everything is drawn by hand, and recently I've been using watercolour, but colouring is nearly always done in Photoshop. That said, most of the comic strips are in black and white anyway.<br /><br /><strong>BYL: Often people in the background or incidental characters are wearing shirts/badges by bands such as </strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pastels"><strong>The Pastels</strong></a><strong> and </strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talulah_Gosh"><strong>Talulah Gosh</strong></a><strong>. Are you much of a pop fan then?</strong><br /><br />Oh god yes! When I'm stuck for a T Shirt, I just look at the CD shelf and take whatever I see first. And seeing as I'm a sucker for hairslide and lollipop indie pop, it tends to be something that was released on either <a href="http://home.clara.net/koogy/sarah/">Sarah</a>, <a href="http://www.twee.net/labels/fiftythird.html">53rd and 3rd</a> or <a href="http://www.twee.net/labels/fiftythird.html">Rough Trade</a> Records. Although another method which I really should start doing more is giving someone a T shirt sporting the name of a local band. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/oilyrag">Oily Rag</a> bought five copies of <a href="http://www.worldofbeardandpog.co.uk/Scribbles/bethnal.html">Mr Bethnal and Mr Ongar</a> between them when I did that! I'd like to think I was less cynically enterprising than that, but experience has proved otherwise.<br /><br /><strong>BYL: Where's the best place to get your comics from then?</strong><br /><br />PS: Pog gigs, but they tend to be very closely guarded secrets. The website (<a href="http://www.worldofbeardandpog.co.uk/Scribbles/index.html">http://www.worldofbeardandpog.co.uk/Scribbles/index.html</a>) is a good place too, and you can read some pages from each book before you take the plunge. Otherwise, if you ever happen to be in Brighton, <a href="http://www.davescomics.co.uk/">David's Comics</a> or the <a href="http://www.punkerbunker.co.uk/music.php">Punker Bunker</a> won't give you a blank look should you mention my name, but they might choke on their morning bagels and point you towards <a href="http://www.punkerbunker.co.uk/music.php">Bill Watterson</a> instead.<br /><br /><strong>BYL: Who do you recommend we check out comics by then?</strong><br /><br />There are three comics that I would say were an influence, and they were all newspaper strips. <a href="http://www.theauthenticperishers.co.uk/">The Perishers</a>, a long-standing strip in the Daily Mirror, was still running when I was growing up, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Dodd">Maurice Dodd</a>'s beautifully rendered London backdrops and the novel use of polyptychs (where a single background is split across panels which the characters walk across) always kept the strip a source of visual wonder. It’s not published anymore, but you can pick up the collections in charity shops and so on, and there are a few online to look at. The second was <a href="http://www.dilbert.com/strips/">Dilbert</a>, which by contrast was really primitive looking, but just so purely funny, insane and spot-on - I think it’s fallen into a bit of a white-collar rut now, but the first few collections are marvellous.<br /><br />Out of all the daily strips though, nothing touches <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_and_Hobbes/">Calvin and Hobbes</a> for sheer warmth, compassion and big-hearted laughs. Even more admirable is that Bill Watterson never allowed his creation to be merchandised, in the end killing off the strip, rather than taking the <a href="http://www.garfield.com/">Garfield</a> route and making a lot of money in the process.<br /><br />I guess as I was growing up the only place to really find comics were in the daily papers. As I discovered the weird and expansive world of graphic novels though, I realised how boundless the format was. So if you're ever in a comic store, I'd recommend the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preacher_(comics)">Preacher</a> books, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellblazer">Hell Blazer</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Walking_Dead">the Walking Dead</a>, anything by <a href="http://www.peterbagge.com/">Peter Bagge</a> or <a href="http://www.redmeat.com/redmeat/">Max Cannon</a>, and most of all <a href="http://www.edbrubaker.com/books/lowlife.html">A Complete Lowlife</a>, which was by <a href="http://www.edbrubaker.com/">Ed Brubaker</a> who is best known for his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman">Batman</a> strips.<br /><br />Most of what I like are about alienated geeks who work in book shops, but more recently I came across <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tale_of_One_Bad_Rat">The Tale of One Bad Rat</a>, which is achingly good. And last weekend I finally got round to reading <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchmen">the Watchmen</a>, which is every bit as epic as I was told it would be.<br /><br /><strong>BYL: According to yr website, although you're willing to consider commissions for non-profit organisations etc you'll not deal with organisations that use animal experiments. I like this! So only to take this on a slight tangent, what's good in our sandwiches?</strong><br /><br />PS: Yeah - the way I put that it makes it sound as if I'm fighting off commissions like they were being gatling cannoned into my inbox. The truth is though that such offers are few and far between. However, I think it’s important to distinguish between different types of charity, although I suppose it’s all down to personal polemic and experience. I find it distasteful that the <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4SNCA_enGB259GB266&q=british+heart+foundation+wiki&meta=&aq=f&oq=">British Heart Foundation</a> have a roughly 10% stake in <a href="http://www.safermedicines.org/">vivisection</a>, but then I've never relied on heart surgery or associated technology to save my life. It seems churlish to complain about <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4SNCA_enGB259GB266&q=cancer+research&meta=&aq=f&oq=">Cancer Research</a> to someone who's just lost a family member to cancer, but suffice to say, I wouldn't feel comfortable doing anything for those organisations.<br /><br /><strong>BYL: And what's the best thing to do with tofu?</strong><br /><br />PS: The best thing for me to do with tofu is leave it in the hands of someone who might know a collander from a wok.<br /><br /><strong>BYL: And finally, did your cat really manage to delete the layout for "I must rise above these divs and defects" by trampling over your keyboard? That's terrible luck!</strong><br /><br />PS: Not quite! But there were times it seemed dangerously close. I'm sure the keys CTRL ALT and DELETE have magnetic qualities. She once managed to rip the power plug out the wall while I was mid-save, which did something very nasty to the file, amounting to about fifteen hours work going down the shitter, and a much-maligned cat coming very close to being donated to the British Heart Foundation.<br /><br />I think I'm now about 4 months away from forgiving her.<br /><br /><strong>BYL: Thankyou mr paul!</strong><br /><br />PS: You're very welcome! Thankyou too - it’s always nice to be asked to bang on about oneself after all.<br /><br /><br /><strong>BYL Addendum: </strong>This interview was done AGES back. Since then it seems that Paul has started (and abandoned?) an online daily comic strip called <a href="http://latchkeycomic.blogspot.com/">Latchkey</a>.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159924121034036699.post-87669812287201860352009-12-03T13:24:00.001-08:002009-12-12T04:17:51.714-08:00Claire's Cake Recipe<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__ax5v5b2ZTY/SyODZpOd5wI/AAAAAAAAAE0/n6ZS7yXhEUo/s1600-h/clairesrecipe.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 222px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414315653615970050" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__ax5v5b2ZTY/SyODZpOd5wI/AAAAAAAAAE0/n6ZS7yXhEUo/s320/clairesrecipe.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__ax5v5b2ZTY/SyNpdMg-rcI/AAAAAAAAAEk/MRZiALKleYE/s1600-h/clairesrecipe.jpg"></a><br />Okay. So Claire from <a href="http://www.attagrrl.co.uk/">ATTA girl</a> was kind enough to donate a recipe to go in the zine. This is not a real zine, boo hoo etc. The recipe is still here though. Enjoy, people.<br />(click on the pic to enlarge, init.) </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159924121034036699.post-46571722543085699852009-12-03T13:24:00.000-08:002009-12-05T05:40:25.998-08:00The Carrots<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__ax5v5b2ZTY/SxpikI7VLBI/AAAAAAAAAEc/oR99n4JWOlI/s1600-h/thecarrotspic.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411746275250220050" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__ax5v5b2ZTY/SxpikI7VLBI/AAAAAAAAAEc/oR99n4JWOlI/s320/thecarrotspic.jpg" /></a><br /><div>[Okay, so this is obviously OLD.. and the photo is properly thieved from <a href="http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Music/Blogs/index.html/objID461514/blogID/">here</a>.]<br /></div><br /><div><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/thecarrots">The Carrots</a> are a super-ace band from Austin, Texas in the U!S!of!A! They are made up of girls and boys and they play brilliant 60's-style motown-y type stuff. Perhaps unsurprisingly they put out records on the ultra-cool label and sponsors of this year's Indietracks festival, <a href="http://www.elefant.com/">Elefant Records</a>.<br /><br />The questions preceded by "PAG" were donated by Peter who co-hosts the Atta Girl all female-vocals clubnight (<a href="http://www.attagrrl.co.uk/">http://www.attagrrl.co.uk/</a>)<br /><br />These questions were kindly answered via the profoundly passé yet ultimately usefull medium of MySpace by The Carrots' Bass player, one Christopher Lyons, thanks Chris!<br /><br /><strong>Bite Yr Lip:</strong> I NEED to know, how many of you are really really in the band? and is it the same number of people that are usually on stage?<br /><br /><strong>Chris:</strong> Oh, brother! Currently there are only four people who are really, really in the band: Veronica, Shelley, Chef and Chris. We have a “band friend” who has been playing guitar with us on all of our latest recordings but probably wouldn’t consider himself to be really in the band. His name is Jason and he wrote “I Tried to Call You” which we have covered for a long time. The original line-up was Veronica, Chef, Chris, Stephanie, Erin and Jennifer. Erin left last summer to concentrate on her other bands. Stephanie moved to Los Angeles but still went on tour with us last year. Jennifer just quit because she is moving to New York and is also going to concentrate on her other band. We picked up Shelley to replace Erin and we also temporarily had a girl named Lace replacing Stephanie, but she has also moved on. It is so confusing. On stage there has been almost every combination of the above people.<br /><br /><strong>BYL:</strong> From seeing the tour documentary on myspace/vimeo it looks like you got to play some unusual places with different styled bands. Are gigs on the US DIY scene usually eclectic? How were you received by crowds when playing after noisy punk bands?<br /><br /><strong>C:</strong> Yeah, since we are pretty much unknown our shows turned out to be pretty strange at times. We played with all kinds of bands. Surprisingly, the more punk or hardcore the show the more people liked us. The crusty punks are skeptical of us at first but by the third song they are dancing. I think it’s just the novelty of it that is appealing. When we play with bands that are more similar to us the reaction is usually less positive. That can happen in bigger U.S. cities. People are less jaded at weird shows in small towns.<br /><br /><strong>BYL:</strong> How is it being based in Austin? I mean, it's famous for music but does that make it harder to do stuff with all the other try-hards and industry people clambering about the place, or is it actually quite nice?<br /><br /><strong>C:</strong> Austin is a great town, overall. There are aspects to it like you described but the alternative is to not have a thriving music scene and not have any opportunities whatsoever. I lived here when this town was like that. It was impossible to get a show at a club and there were no labels or places to record or anything at all for a young band. Now that stuff exists, which is great. Of course, there are also thousands of shitty bands now. Maybe there were always this many bad bands but I feel like when it was harder to be a band in town only the better quality bands persevered. Austin used to be completely isolated. Bands hardly toured here because it was so out of the way. That and the lack of internet back in the day produced a unique mutant strain of music with a lot of regional character. Now bands here sound just like bands everywhere else. Including us! Ack.<br /><br /><strong>BYL:</strong> Are you excited about coming to the uk? It usually rains but that’s not allowed at indietracks so dress appropriately! have any of you been? are you planning to be proper tourists and get yr photo taken with a bobby?<br /><br /><strong>C:</strong> We are excited about coming to the UK but we aren’t coming this summer! As I mentioned before, our keyboard player Jennifer has just left the band and we are not going to be able to tour without her just yet. We are instead just trying to finish up a record instead. Veronica will be in the UK this summer along with former members Erin and Stephanie in their other band, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/finallypunk">Finally Punk</a>. Look out for them and go to their shows. Give them small paintings and poems of your own creation to bring back to us.<br /><br /><strong>BYL:</strong> Are you planning to play anywhere else in the UK?<br /><br /><strong>C:</strong> We would like to play Nottingham Forest, Buckingham Palace, Stonehenge, The White Cliffs of Dover, London Bridge (if it hasn’t fallen down) and a Moor.<br /><br /><strong>BYL:</strong> What’s on yr little root veg stereos right about now?<br /><br /><strong>C:</strong> I like the <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thestrangeboys">Strange Boys</a> (also from Austin) and the <a href="http://www.myspace.com/viviangirlsnyc">Vivian Girls</a>.<br /><br /><strong>PAG</strong>: Where did the name come from?<br /><br /><strong>C:</strong> We had a vote. Originally we just informally called ourselves “girl-group.” As in, hey do you want to be in a girl-group band with me? What time are we having girl-group practice? This went on for a long time until we realized that was an impractical name and we had to actually think of one. I think we all wrote potential band names on a sheet of paper until we had like 50 or so and then just started passing it around crossing names off. When it got down to around ten we voted. I remember one candidate that just lost was “Snow Girls.” I’ve forgotten the rest. The Carrots just seemed like a cute word when written and it fit in with other girl-group type names like “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cookies">The Cookies</a>” or “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chiffons">The Chiffons</a>.” C’s are big.<br /><br /><strong>PAG</strong>: You're obviously influenced by many a 60s girl group. me and my friend are always arguing about who the greatest 60s girl group were, what do you think?<br /><br /><strong>C:</strong> I’d say the big three for us are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shangri-Las">the Shangri-La’s</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ronettes">the Ronettes</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crystals">the Crystals</a>. We started out covering all of those bands. Who’s your favorite?<br /><br /><strong>PAG</strong>: It's a bit obvious, but I would say the Shangri-Las, I've always loved a bit of melodrama.<br /><br /><strong>PAG</strong>: how did the deal with elefant come about? as far as i know there are currently no other american acts on the label.<br /><br /><strong>C:</strong> Just like this interview, actually, from a Myspace message. They just wrote us out of the blue and we had nothing else going on so we took them up on their offer. They have been pretty great to us in terms of just letting us do our thing but it is also difficult due to the language barrier and the distance. It can take a long time to communicate.<br /><br /><strong>PAG</strong>: Do you know of any other 60s girl group influenced bands about at the moment? i just discovered <a href="http://www.thepepperpots.com/now/home.php">the pepper pots</a>, a spanish girl group playing 60s inspired ska, they're a bit special.<br /><br /><strong>C:</strong> I’d like to hear them because I love old ska. That sounds great. Unfortunately, I think there is a girl-group revival of sorts happening . I only say unfortunately because they are probably all better than us! I don’t even think we sound like a girl-group anymore. More like some dreadful indie-pop nightmare. I don’t think anyone in the band even likes how we sound but that is just the sound that comes out when we all get together. I would much rather sound like “Skinhead Moonstomp” or something. Oh, well.<br /><br /><br />If you find yrself on the interwebs, lost at a crossroads, i can highly recomend heading towards <a href="http://vimeo.com/3362097">the Carrots' tour diary on Vimeo.com</a>.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159924121034036699.post-14718618681230198712009-12-03T13:19:00.000-08:002009-12-03T13:24:10.498-08:00Ask a stupid questionI think that maybe I included this in a perzine I did a little while ago -<a href="http://wemakezines.ning.com/photo/grate-apes/prev?context=user">Optical Devices #1</a>- but as I don't have have a copy myself, I see no harm in reproducing it here....<br /><br />I do these stupid surveys online. They’re generally based around consumer products, but sometimes they’re about party politics. I generally just wade through zombie-like to pick up my 50p at the end. I’ve got over a tenner in the account now. Anyway, the majority of the questions are multiple choice, but the other day one asking about how often and how I buy music ended with.. <br /><br />“finally, what does music mean to you?”<br /><br />I answered quickly and copied and pasted it onto my desktop. It’s a bit daft and unfocussed and contradictory. But I think I sort of got a bit of my point across, if only in a way I understand.<br /><br />“Enjoyment of anything is essentially radical in and of itself. To know that the world is being destroyed by power-crazed politicians, cancerous corporations, and the militantly ignorant majority of the populace; to know that people will gladly kick away a ladder once they’ve reached the top and then shit on those struggling behind. To be aware of these things and be happy in SPITE of the facts is revolutionary.<br /><br />Independent music strives to break chinks into walls of mundanity and the cynical world of corporately engineered (or influenced) entertainment.<br /><br />A world filled with people who create, share, and enjoy. A world without rules, a world that exists purely for love and fun. A beautiful escape from skin creams and shiny cars, real-estate, foreign policy, hierarchy and competition for the sake of it.<br /><br />This is for fun, and that’s really all anything should be for.”<br />Pop music strikes chinks into the wall and I bask in the light.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159924121034036699.post-70425804579181048512009-11-27T06:24:00.000-08:002009-11-27T09:08:05.331-08:00Interview: The Icicles<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__ax5v5b2ZTY/SxAGluD7V6I/AAAAAAAAAEU/AFBi3G6kYUc/s1600/iciclespic.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__ax5v5b2ZTY/SxAGluD7V6I/AAAAAAAAAEU/AFBi3G6kYUc/s320/iciclespic.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408830397561395106" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.theicicles.com">The Icicles</a> are four girls and a boy hailing from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Rapids,_Michigan">Grand Rapids</a>, Michigan. they make sugary, sunshine indiepop which has been released on various labels including <a href="http://www.microindie.com/">Microindie</a>, <a href="http://www.microindie.com/di/">Drive-in</a>, and <a href="http://www.totalgaylordrecords.com/">Total Gaylord</a>. They've also played with all yr favourite pop bands such as <a href="http://www.thelucksmiths.com.au/">The Lucksmiths</a>, <a href="http://salteens.com/">The Salteens</a>, <a href="http://www.aislersset.com/">The Aislers Set</a>, <a href="http://www.bunnygrunt.com/">Bunnygrunt</a>, and <a href="http://www.smittens.com/">The Smittens</a>! They headlined the first ever <a href="http://www.indietracks.co.uk/Pages/whatisit.html#ct07">Indietacks Christmas Twee</a> show AND the <a href="http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=46197543&albumID=1210198&imageID=18689160">2nd</a> ever offical indiepop gig at the <a href="http://www.bar-island.co.uk/">Island bar</a>, Birmingham*.<br /><br />That photo up there is by <a href="http://www.artofo.com/index.html">Karen Dee Organ</a> and is totally stolen from <a href="http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.theicicles.com/images/pic3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.theicicles.com/pages/photos.html&usg=__DFwCmzKBnvqJVxOaQFbCMuHcx7s=&h=2150&w=1434&sz=1171&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=30D_TU3PNa1ZbM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=100&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthe%2Bicicles%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4SNCA_enGB259GB266%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1">here</a>.<br /><br />I stumbled across them one day a few years back when I browsing <a href="http://www.indiepages.com">Indiepages.com</a> when I probably should have been writing essays or something. It was definitely productice procrastination.<br /><br />Gretchen , who guitars and sings with The icicles, was kind enough to answer some questions.<br /><br /><strong>Bir Yr Lip</strong>: So far as I can tell, you always wear matching clothes for yr gigs. Who’s in charge of the styling? Who makes the garments?<br /><br /><strong>Gretchen</strong>: Joleen is our fashionista. We all (mostly) try to sew, and thankfully Joleen is here to help us when we really f**k it up. She is a brilliant designer. Check out her clothing line at www.flutterfashion.com.<br /><br /><strong>BYL</strong>: Back in 2007 you came over to the uk, but so far as I’m aware yr records have never officially been available over here. How did the tour come about and how were the turn outs compared to what you expected?<br /><br /><strong>G</strong>: Stuart from <a href="http://www.indietracks.co.uk/">Indietracks</a> invited us to play the festival. We thought playing on a train platform would be amazing - which it totally was! That's really how the tour came together. We figured since we were going to be in England, we might as well play Scandinavia (it seemed like a good idea at the time). It was a fantastic adventure!<br /><br /> We were very amazed by the turnout. It was top ace! People knew our music and even sang the words (in several clubs). <br /><br /><strong>BYL</strong>: It’s been a while since you came over, and a while since you put out a record, how much longer do you think the people of these lands will have to wait for more icicles action?<br /><br /><strong>G</strong>: We're working on a new album at present. We would love, love, love to venture back across the pond. Hopefully in the near future.<br /><br /><strong>BYL</strong>: I know you’ve got some veggies/vegans in the band, what was touring Europe like for those guys? I remember reading that The Wailers had a nightmare and cancelled their tour, I hope things have improved for visitors since the 60’s.. <br /><br /><strong>G</strong>: It was easier than being a veggie on tour in US of A. We ate alot of Marks & Spencer sandwiches (which were quite delicious). The food was fantastico.<br /><br /><strong>BYL</strong>: When you played Christmas twee in 2007 someone came onstage to chat up Joleen mid-song. Do these sorts of things happen often- stage invasions from suitors? Stalkers? Crazy rock n roll tour madness?<br /><br /><strong>G</strong>: We've had a fair share of stalkers, Russian kissers, folks with boundary issues and middle age trade show bump & grinders. But overall, the audiences have been wonderful.<br /><br /><strong>BYL</strong>: How do you manage yr day jobs with all your pop commitments?<br /><br /><strong>G</strong>: 6 hours of sleep a night.<br /><br /><strong>BYL</strong>: What’s Grand Rapids like to live in, how’s the pop music over there?<br /><br /><strong>G</strong>: G-Raps is a growing, hopeful metropolis. There isn't a big pop scene here yet, but a few great bands do come through. People like Creed.<br /><br /><strong>BYL</strong>: I heard one of the icicles is less of a pop fan and more of a “rocker” (<a href="http://www.gvsu.edu/cms3/assets/A29DA48F-E6CD-4F35-837316459C8C6362/2008spring/Icicles.pdf">Grand Valley Magazine 2008</a>). I’d love to hear more about this background of ROCK!<br /><br /><strong>G</strong>: Rebecca is our rocker. She's got a Black Sabbathesque band. She always really loved and played rock n roll. Pop music is a new musical genre that she is learning to appreciate (with twists of rock added where ever possible).<br /><br /><strong>BYL</strong>: Lastly, the first thing I heard by you guys was the Lovescopes Theme somewhere on the internets, could you please tell me where that comes from? Have I got myself all in a twist on this one?<br /><br /><strong>G</strong>: The Lovescopes were a band that never was. They had lyrics, merchandise, and a fanzine but they never really played (so the legend goes). We never heard any of their songs and never saw them perform. But they are big legends here in G-Raps. There was some sort of bad break up (so the legend goes). It's all very mysterious. <br /><br />> rock on,<br />> gretchen<br />> <br />> <a href="http://www.theicicles.com">www.theicicles.com</a><br /><br />*This is a stupid insider thing but I'll share. I booked a gig for The Icicles back in 2007 upstiars at The Island bar, which at the time was shiny and new and exciting. As there seemed to be very few venues suitable for indiepop gigs I was dead excited that I'd managed to get a good line-up (icicles/validators/winston echo) at a new venue. the Dunc from <a href="http://www.theautumnstore.co.uk/">The Autumn Store</a> booked a gig AFTER I did but for a date BEFORE mine, which I think I'm right in saying featured <a href="http://www.myspace.com/lovetheloves">The Loves</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/theschoolband">The School</a>, and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/theschoolband">Richard Burke</a>. So his was the OFFICIALLY the first. the big bumhead.<br /><strong></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2159924121034036699.post-4899324553663964682009-11-27T06:19:00.000-08:002009-11-27T06:24:16.314-08:00Intro/ContentsHey!<br /><br />Well, the zine was all written and just waiting to be printed up. I can;t get my shit together well enough to get it printed, so I've decided to start this blog and put up a diferent article each week or so.<br /><br />Interview: <strong>The Icicles</strong><br /><strong>Ask A Stupid Question</strong><br />Interview: <strong>The Carrots</strong><br /><strong>Claire's cake recipe</strong> <br />Interview: <strong>Paul Stapleton</strong><br />Interview: <strong>Incredible Weapons</strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1