PAUL HAIG DAY 2

A couple of days late.......sorry JC.........but here is my offering for Paul Haig Day 2.....

As part of the global phenomenon that is PHD2 I offer up this post to you all. I probably first heard Mr Haig on a Josef K track, probably on (where else?) the John Peel Show, but it was when he went solo that I properly tuned into his scottishwhiteboyfunkiness, with the 12 inch of Heaven Sent. After that our paths did not cross for many years until the emergence of the internet. Like many artists PH uses the net to communicate, share his music and maintain a profile. Like many 'consumers' I use the net to listen to lots of music, and then buy some of it.....just like the old days of listening to the radio and taping Peel/the Top 40.

The world of music blogging has made me buy much more music, and certainly more music beyond the usual fare pedalled by mainstream media and major record companies. Thus, like all of us supporting PHD2, I applaud JC's efforts, and thank Paul Haig and his management for taking part.

As the new 'digital economy' bill races through parliament, despite shelving other much more important bills (3 years of work on compulsory sex education for teenagers -out the window), it is more important than ever that we point out that by sharing music we love we are not criminals, but are actually the same 'customers/consumers' that have given thousands of pounds each to record companies for many years.

So....some free music from Mr Haig, bless his funky white boy soul...........

Paul Haig - Trip Out The Rider
Paul Haig - Relive

PG@O2

Another night out in search of inspiring live thrills took me to the O2 Arena on Sunday to catch Peter Gabriel and his 'New Blood' orchestra. Following the recent 'Scratch My Back' covers album the tour features no guitar or drums, just PG, piano and the orchestra (although I would count timpani as drums Peter!). Despite only buying a ticket a few days before the show I had a great seat near the front - how the hell does that happen?

The first half of the show was the new album played in its entirety, and was extremely fine. Opener 'Heroes' set my pulse racing as the sound built up and the visuals began to unfold. PG has always been a very visual artist and the video screens and lighting were deployed to great effect throughout the show. The whole of this section was great but my highlights were 'The Book Of Love' (see below) and the way the orchestra attacked Arcade Fire's 'My Body Is A Cage'.

After a 15 minute break PG returned promptly for part 2, this time with reworked versions of old material. The visuals continued to impress and the arrangements were magnificent, particularly the way the orchestra reworked the tribal drumming of 'Rhythm of the Heat' into something completely new but equally thrilling. I also loved 'Don't Give Up' - always magnificent and hugely moving tonight - both eyes were left moistened! PG missed a trick by not finishing with Biko, but despite this it was a great show, and hugely recommended should you have a chance to catch the next leg in North America.

For such a big venue, the brilliant sound and performances made this feel like a very intimate night. So, three gigs this year now, still on track for my one a month target, and April is looming.......

Peter Gabriel - The Book of Love

My New New Favourite Band 2

This year's gig going has now doubled! Following Hot Chip@Rock City I returned to Nottingham and this time visited the 'intimate' setting of the Bodega to see Danny & The Champions of The World, who were supporting Fionn Regan. I arrived to find the dreaded 'Sold Out' sign and had to use all my begging skills and blokey charm to get in. Let's hear it for kind bar manager Matt!

Anyway, D & CW are led by one of the guys who led the excellent Grand Drive, and continue not only the americana tinged sound of GD, but also the astonishingly great songwriting as well. Despite the tiny stage and short set they played up a storm, and have that effortless cool that bands get when they have been playing together for long enough to be tight, but are not yet bored of each other. D & CW have released a great album this year and I hope to see them again, playing a full set, later in the year.

Headline act Fionn Regan was backed by most of D & CW and although I didn't quite fall for his starey eyed Dylanisms he went down very well with the assembled mass.

Enjoy the track below and invest in one of the best albums of 2010.

Danny & The Champions of the World - Henry The Van

My Cultural Life

Prompted by the thought that my fiend Will may read this tonight I thought I should offer an update. Since the last post I have had a thrillingly cultural time. Saw Avatar in mighty 3d vision-o-rama and was both impressed and entertained, saw The Princess & The Frog in vintagely old-fashioned 2D animation stylee and enjoyed the songs immensely, and finally finished series 1 of True-Blood in TV shaped vampire-vision. I've read a couple of books, including The Northern Clemency, a wonderful saga of family life in 70s - 80s Sheffield, The Rapture - apocalyptic page-turning eco-hokum, and Blindness - more dystopian bleakness but in a more worthy and literary manner (except for the gang rape, murder and defecation bits that is).

Music wise I have at last been to a gig this year, taking in Hot Chip at Nottingham's Rock City. My first visit to Rock City was many moons ago, when I was a mere youth, and saw The Smiths on their first tour. The venue hasn't changed much although it probably passes fire safety regulations these days, and for the first time ever I watched a gig from the balcony. I had a good view of support Casio Kids - basic post-rave kiddy music but if I was in a band today I'd love to make that sort of noise. They look like they will fully enjoy the musical ride they are embarking on.

As for Hot Chip? Well, only one of them looks like he should be on a stage, but looks are of course deceptive and the HC noise is solid enough to detract from the limited visuals and lack of stage presence. They have a relatively simple template, but four albums in have enough tuneful bits to allow them to build a crowd-friendly set, and know a few tricks to get the joint jumping. With a decent frontman they could go much further but part of the appeal lies in the fact that they seem pretty ordinary. I suspect they will have a strong festival season, and I certainly had a good night.

And I managed to write a Hot Chip review without using the word 'boffin'!

Hot Chip - One Life Stand (Dusty Flower mix)

New Music Post

1 /24th of the year done and dusted and most of us are back in the same old groove, or rut, depending on your personal circumstances. Having a blog means a nagging guilt that it needs updating so a quicky post to do just that.

Mrs Kev has many lovely qualities, assets, skills and habits, and one such is her ability to take a hint when it comes to Birthday gifts. I can't afford to be too subtle so last year I made my hints quite obvious and as a result I received the gift I wanted, membership of the Rough Trade Album club. Each month sees a new album to download, chosen by the good (and presumably cool) young people at RT HQ. It's a good way to keep abreast of stuff I might not have heard about yet and so far the albums have been mighty fine.

November was Local Natives. Never heard of them but it turned out to be tuneful guitarry stuff, fitting nicely into the current vogueish US blogosphere bands.

December saw the arrival of Blackroc and their garage guitar meets hip-hop stuff, alongside a bonus album of instrumentals in case I want to rap along in the privacy of my own home. Not very festive but a welcome change from sleighbells.

January - These New Puritans and their very serious, important sounding record, Hidden. A black sleeve, orchestral flourishes, important sounding words, no smiling allowed. I always worry when young bands don't seem to be enjoying themselves in their art. If anyone reading this knows any New Puritans please remind them life is short and now that they have made the record, go and have some fun. I should add that after a few plays it does seem to be remarkably good and I think it may appear in a few best of 2010 lists in 50 weeks time. it reminds me of Portishead's last record in that it sounds very 'different' at first but gradually you can't imagine life without it.

So a track from each to celebrate the approach of February 13th when my next download will become available.

Enjoy

BLACKROC - COOCHIE
LOCAL NATIVES - SUN HANDS
THESE NEW PURITANS - WE WANT WAR

Hello 2010

Happy New Year everyone/anyone.

Well 2010 has dawned and resolution 1 - update blog every day, has gone out of the window. resolution 2 - go to one gig a month, is off to a reasonable start as i think i'm off to see midlake in a couple of weeks. resolution 3 - swear less, is holding up ok, but as predicted on this week's Contrast Podcast it is very hard not to swear at the radio/tv/newspaper when politicians appear. My ire is usually reserved for tories, but I always save some bile for the others as well. Labour politicians sucking up to the Queen and spending my tax money on next year's jubilee! I suggest mandelson should watch Battleship Potemkin and look at the events of 1917 for a few tips on how to treat a royal family. Still, she does have a lovely smile - when she can be bothered to do so.



Anyway, enough republican vitriol, time to write about smiley stuff. Santa was very generous this year with lots of new CDs and books, and much of december was spent downloading albums and tracks I'd missed, or purchasing others in the sales. I've also been in the attic so there is a huge pile of music to get through at the moment. thanks to my friend Wayne for the Dirty Projectors album, and to mother for a couple of the Kraftwerk reissues - astonishingly beautiful and strangely moving at times.

Tonight a bit of a revelation - at number 34 in my Festive 50 (see below) was John Grant. Tonight I found out that he is the same John Grant once of The Czars, giving me an excuse to post this song. the album is out on Bella Union later this year and will be in my 'essential purchase' file.

I promise to update more often so please come again!

John Grant (feat Midlake) - I Want To Go To Marz