Peter and the Wolf (and double bass)

Last night I went to Korova for some gigging action. Strawhouses and The Laze were on first, but I missed them because I was drinking Jack Daniel's and coke. If you can't do that on a Saturday night, when can you do it?
Seal Cub Clubbing Club (SCCC) are local heroes, and not bad at all. They are halfway between a watered-down Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and a watered-down Mars Volta, from the Wirral. They're also proof that all the good band names have been taken. The album is out NOW, apparently.
The crowd thinned for Peter and the Wolf, which always seems to happen when the headliners play after the local heroes. There's something charming about them, and any band who goes to the trouble of bringing a double bass deserve more than a few moments of my time. They just need more hooks. I saw them in July at the Everyword Festival, and I completely forgot to tell you about it. But that's ok, I can tell you now. It was a Nabokov Present: Tense event, which involved the band spending a week writing a few songs on knife crime (the chosen topic), then performing them at the Everyman Theatre. There was also some short plays and a video. They just plugged in, played, went away. It didn't involve excessive soundchecks or endless fiddling with FX pedals. All unsigned showcase gigs should be like this. Be honest, most bands don't even have three good songs. Why drag it out longer than necessary?
I forgot to take my camera (to Korova or the Everyman). So no pictures of the light fixtures or floor tiles :(

Recording shopping in Liverpool

Saturday shopping has never been a hobby of mine, but I spent some time browsing record shops this morning. Liverpool city centre is fairly hectic most days, but Saturdays are packed out with teenage girls struggling with Primark bags.
My boyfriend and I went to Zavvi, where I snapped this picture of the dance section:

It's like an eerie vision of the future, where everything has been packaged into separate compartments (Ibiza chillout, summer dance, funky house etc), but everyone is impossibly attractive because they're made out of plastic. And the content is all the same. Zavvi is not my kind of shop, but the boyfriend did find re-pressings of The Cars' Greatest Hits and The Art of Noise, for £2 each. Although we're usually eco-conscious to the point of being eco-bores, he asked for a plastic bag (well, we need something to put the rubbish in). It was hilariously large, and pictured here with the Norton Complete Shakespeare for scale:

And that Norton Shakespeare is BIG. We also browsed Probe Records, but left empty handed. In Hairy Records I picked out Roxy Music's Music For Your Pleasure, and the boyfriend selected a Stock, Aitken and Waterman compilation called The Hit Factory (of course). When I was sticking it onto the turntable at home, two press releases fell out:

The text is the same, but one is double spaced. Are they the former property of a SAW completist who bought them? Or was it a promo copy? They're dated 14 October 1987, but the record was released 12 October 1987. Nice to know that Stylus Music had the marketing campaign was well planned. As press releases go, it's a good one as it's full of facts. And there's no purple prose, unless you count the badly punned title of "Stylus score spectacular coup with SAW collection". The 12" had a dealer price of £4.17, and RRP of £5.99, while the CD dealer price was £8.34, RRP £11.99. The TV advertising campaign had a £500,000 budget, and there's even a Telex number at the bottom. The past really is a foreign country. I don't really to keep them, but don't want to chuck them in the recycling (yawn, eco-bore). If you want me to post you these pieces of SAW history (you know you do), email me at takeittothechorus@gmail.com.

The end of Korova

Korova is one of my favourite Liverpool music venues. They attract the smaller touring bands I want to see, like Holy Fuck and Free Blood, and the decor is crazy-sexy-cool. OK, sometimes the indier-than-thou atmosphere is a bit irritating. It also took me months to figure out where the handriers are in the toilets. (Under the mirrors.)
Unfortunately, the Korova Group have gone into administration. Even The Daily Mirror's 3am Girls have something to say. However, when they describe Korova as the Arctic Monkeys' favourite Liverpool bar, they actually mean the band went there once to take photos for the debut album sleeve. Apart from Korova, a joint investment with the Ladytron boys, there are eight bars and restaurants affected. Three are on the Albert Dock: Babycream (a bar/restaurant for clubbers who've slipped into the next demographic), Circo (a circus-themed bar for suits) and the New Raven (an Irish-American pretend pub). Over-ambitious brand expansive, or the credit crunch?
If an investor takes over Korova, would they really want to run it as the tripartite business it currently is? Managing a bar, canteen and gig venue on one premises is a lot. Especially as it's in that area of Liverpool city centre which heaves with chain bars advertising drink-til-you-puke offers. There's more money to be made from stag and hen parties downing two-for-one shooters than arty student-types sipping San Miguel.
I fear that whatever becomes of Korova, it won't involve so many free/cheap gigs. And then where will young bands get a start in this city? Korova's downstairs venue is free to hire and has a decent PA. Taking that away would be a massive blow to the DIY music scene. It's a sad day for Liverpool and for "culture". Also, the mini Lambananas have been taken away! Sniff.

The Ting Tings vs Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong

I remember a time, not so long ago, when The Tings Tings were easily confused with Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong. Both have similar-sounding names, and both were amongst the crop of ones to watch in 2008 in just about every music publication and blog. The year's not out, but who is clambering to the top of the indie heirarchy? And who needs to book an appointment with a careers advisor?
Let's find out, in The Tings Tings vs Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong!

And who are the winners? Why, it's...

...of course. Sorry, Joe Lean (or is it Joe Beaumont? Or Joe Van Moyland?)
(PS: Sorry for the size of the table, Blogger doesn't have an insert table option. Probably as not many bloggers want to insert a table comparing indie bands.)

Riot on the radio

Just as the original Cavern became a subterranean car park, another reminder of Liverpool's musical heritage is being destroyed:

Yes! It's that building from the Dead 60s 2005 album, 'The Dead 60s'!

I'm not sad to see it go, because it's been ugly and useless for years. And it overshadows Lime Street Station. But how poignant: The Dead 60s announced their split earlier this year, and now the key visual image to their debut album is slowly being dismantled. I never really liked them, and I'm not just saying that to be cool. When they first emerged, I used to confuse them with The Ordinary Boys. But The Dead 60s failed to reach the dizzying heights of Celebrity Big Brother. Although Riot Radio was something of an indie disco standard for a while, the band have one of those sad stories... they churned away for years before getting a deal with Deltasonic, sold a few CDs then recorded a second album in New York. But that second album was never released, and they have to find proper jobs. Plus they were due to play The Other Stage at Glastonbury in 2005, but it was hit by lightning (source: Wikipedia). It's all a bit tragi-comic.

Mathew Street festival

The bank holiday weekend featured a big shindig in Liverpool's calendar: the Mathew Street festival. Mathew Street being the location of the Cavern. And it really is spelt with one T, ok?
The festival was cancelled last year due to those omnipresent health and safety fears (read: fears that people would get drunk and climb onto scaffolding). But it returned this year with six outdoor stages, including the Brit Pop stage.
I imagined a few bands plugging through Beatles covers, but no, it enveloped the entire city centre. Call me a misanthrope, but it just looked like a big excuse to roam the streets while drinking cans of premium lager. Most of the bands were tribute acts, including Amy Wynehouse, Fake That and Kaiser Thiefs.
I saw some of local heroes Blue Ruby up on the new band stage, and they were no better or worse than the hundreds of other local heroes up and down the UK. Here's a picture of the available merchandise. I'm sure you'll agree it's tasteful and reasonably priced.

I know it's all a bit of japery and I sound miserable, but I live in the city centre. And free, outdoor events usually bring out the people who stagger around clutching Bargain Booze carrier bags, pissing on my doorstep and setting off fireworks.

My life in songs

I've been in Edinburgh, for the festival. Of course! If you don't do the fringe, you're a nobody. In the art world. Here is some grafitti I saw outside a pub:

Here's my favourite songs of the past week. Because I don't have an iPod or Last FM account to document what I've been listening to, this list is fairly arbitrary. But it is compiled with love. Love!
10 So What by Pink
I liked it last week, and just as my interest began to wane, the video popped up all over the internets.
9 5 Years Time by Noah and the Whale
I tried to resist this twee little tune, but it managed to snare me.
8 The World Should Revolve Around Me by Little Jackie
Good song. Selfish sentiment.
7 Spiralling by Keane
That song they wrote Gwen Stefani was good. And this new single is even better. What's happening to me? Am I becoming the sort of person who takes a collapsible chair to gigs?
6 Into The Galaxy by Midnight Juggernauts
Better than Damon Albarn's contribution to the BBC's Olympic coverage.
5 Daddy's Gone by Glasvegas
They're even better than Jesus and Mary Chain.
4 Just Like Honey by Jesus and Mary Chain
Wait, not quite.
3 Red and Purple by The Dodos
Discovered this during a MySpace trawl. You'll like it, I promise.
2 Sleepyhead by Passion Pit
When my friend told me in the pub that I should listen to Passion Pit because they are VERY GOOD, I thought it was just one of those things you say in the pub. Then I listened to their MySpace songs, and discovered they really are very good.
1 Progulka by Zemfira
Zemfira is a post-Soviet pop icon. My boyfriend lived in Russia for a while, and tells me that Zemfira's popularity is of Dima Bilan proportions. Compared to more familiar pop princesses, she is startling. She doesn't talk about her private life, barely smiles and is self-consciously androgynous. Like Annie Lennox or KD Lang, but able to shift a million more units. She even found time between being a pop superstar to study for a philosophy degree at Moscow University. Progulka (translation: 'Walk', from her 2005 album Vendetta) is an incredible song. Unfortunately for Zemfira, it's the only Zemfira song I like. Her sixth album is imminent, so maybe I'll enjoy that. I can't even describe how excited it makes me... video is here. Make your own mind up.

Goodbye, The Hits

The Hits has morphed into 4Music, and it was with a slight regret that I said goodbye.
Long ago my boyfriend renamed The Hits as The Shits on the Freeview EPG. Oh, how we chuckled. Because it was true... The Hits seemed to play about five videos per hour between adverts. And always the same kinds of videos (Rihanna, Timbaland, any commercial dance), going round and round and round. But it was always there, and the sort of channel that was good to switch on while doing the ironing or cleaning. Oh shush, we all need to do the cleaning.
I hoped to say goodbye to The Hits, but when I switched on before 7pm for the big launch last Friday. But it had already disappeared! So unless somebody tells me I'll never know what the final video was. But who cares? 4Music is the future. From now on every video will be introduced by squawking and gurning Camden types, dressed by Beyond Retro. The playlist will focus on bands featuring boys in skinny jeans, strumming guitars. The schedule will fill up with repeats of reality TV shows and Friends. It'll be just like E4! I'm joking. Sort of.
It will be televised musical fun. But I really don't like being told all the time why each video/band is amazing. Especially by someone like George "Mr Charisma" Lamb. Just be quiet and let me make up my own mind. Unless it's Steve Lamacq or Huw Stephens. They know what they're talking about, and I can even forgive Steve for shilling for the Pigeon Detectives.

Weekending in Somerset

I spent the weekend at a wedding in Somerset, and I think a good time was had by all. I had a good time, at least. Due to a lack of funds and available rooms, I camped behind a pub that was also hosting a beer festival. The Wurzels were headlining, and the real ale was flowing.
I also thought you might like to know my top ten tunes from last week:
10. My Drive Thru by NERD, Santogold and Julian Casablancas
Hipster trio take the money and run. It's basically an advert for Converse, and sounds like a less good Beck, Prince and MIA.
9. When I Grow Up by the Pussycat Dolls
I can't decide whether I despise this or rather like it.
8. Last Train to Transcentral by the KLF
For some reason I NEEDED to listen to the KLF, so went back to the future (1990) for one of their less loved "other" singles.
7. Reinforcements by Sparks
I've been flicking through my vinyl a lot, and re-discovered this camp pop gem.
6. The Things That Dreams Are Made Of by The Human League
Re-discovered from another vinyl flick.
5. Come Into My World by Kylie Minogue
X doesn't do it for me. Sorry, Kylie. But this is amazing. Especially the Michel Gondry video.
4. Over the Ice by The Field
After watching The Field at Field Day last weekend, I re-discovered this track. It's like Steve Reich goes commercial.
3. ICA Lappis by Action Biker
I've said it before - absolutely lovely.
2. So What by Pink
New single, which leaked early and rapidly around the internets. And it's brilliant. Pink's been responsible for some utter crap (God is a DJ etc) but this divorce kiss-off is utterly brilliant.
1. Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush
Ended up here through a daisy chain because The Field sampled Kate's Cloudbusting. (I love Kate Bush so much that we're on first name terms.) Spent a bit of time comparing the original Wuthering Heights vocal with the re-recorded one, and generally thinking "argh, this is amazing! And she was only 19! Take that, Adele/Kate Nash!"

And, for a post-script, here are some wedding snaps:

Trendspotting: shiny short shorts

I've noticed a trend in the music videos of 2008. Teeny-weeny shiny, shiny shorts and bikini tops! Is this thanks to American Apparel? It's a budget-conscious way for stylists to inject some so-called glamour.
In the video for Because The Night, Cascada catches the attention of a buff rocker (I know he's a rocker because of his leather jacket, and his friend is holding some drumsticks). Obviously, her shiny bikini top and pants plus black corset combo helped.

Cheryl Tweedycole favours the shiny boob tube in Will.I.Am's Heartbreaker. The hoodie makes it really urban, no?

The lame (as in la-may, I can't figure out how to add accents in HTML) invasion continues in Blackout Crew's Put A Donk On It, a choon so terrible it makes me whimper a little. The dancers are the physical manifestation of 'techno'.

According to Vogue, three is enough for a trend. But I'm even more thorough than Vogue, so here is Camille, pretending to hula hoop in the video for Money Note. She's gone for the shiny shorts over black leggings, which I would call a 'just in case' look.
There's more lame (LA-MAY!) out in pop world, I just know it. I think I've spied more in videos I didn't care to remember, such as Mariah Carey. It all looks so sexy and glamorous up on screen. But it's that American Apparel vision of sexy, which doesn't actually exist. One spin through the washing machine and that stuff is ruined. I love how it's described as 'swimwear' on their website, with the caution that 'exposure to salt water and chlorine not recommended'.

Field Day

I went to Field Day on Saturday, but I haven't told you about it yet. I know, I know, I'm making a loser sign against my forehead as I'm typing.
It wasn't the post-apocalyptic wasteland the Drowned in Sound message boards had me fearing: I queued about 10 minutes for the toilets and the cans of Red Stripe were plentiful. But it was cold and raining all damn day. And full of braying East London types. You know the sort, who turn up just to be "seen" and apparently spend their days putting together outfits. It's difficult to hate on the scenesters though, because it's just a phase. They'll grow out of it.
Jeffrey Lewis and his cartoons were good, as were The Field. The main stage was too quiet during Laura Marling and Of Montreal, and there was an excellent brass band hidden amongst the trees. Overall? A nice day out.
My friends kindly let me stay with them in Bow afterwards, and filled me up with Pimms. So maybe East London isn't so bad.

Current obsession - Action Biker

I was on one of my regular YouTube daisy chains when I found Stockholm lovely Action Biker. My starting point was When I Grow Up by the Pussycat Dolls (did Britney Spears not make the final edit?) and somehow ended up with luscious electro loveliness. Action Biker is Sarah Nyberg Pergament, and she sings like Francoise Hardy, makes beautiful lo-fi electronica and looks like she stepped from a street style webiste. She also performs with Kevin Wright as The Dreamers. She is proof that Sweden is a wondrous paradise, along with Dala horses, IKEA, The Knife and so on.
Below is the video for ICA Lappis, which not only looks amazing but is also a song about shopping in the Swedish equivalent of Spar. There's also a live video on YouTube where she sings on stage while making brownies. Performance baking = winner.

Three hours in Nottingham

Yesterday, I went to Nottingham for a job interview. Strolling around the medieval streets and people watching in a very sunny Market Square made me think 'yeah! I could live here!' The reality is that it rains in Nottingham as much anywhere else in the UK, and I don't know anybody who lives there. Nottingham has a good gig scene, but it felt a bit too small. Don't get offended Nottingham, it's just that I'm ready for a big, big city.
By reflex, I went into Select A Disc. Since when has it been so expensive in there? Everything I wanted on vinyl (Cut Copy, Hercules & Love Affair, Holy Fuck) was about £20. I left with a copy of The Stool Pigeon, Moscow by the recently defunct This Et Al (a 2005 limited edition release) and a Dragonette vinyl which mysteriously had 'freeparty@dragonette.com' stamped on the label. It was a bit embarrassing to hand over the total spend of 50p to the chap working there, with 'FREE JAZZ' emblazoned across his t-shirt. But I couldn't leave empty handed after browsing every record while waiting for my train.
Back home in Liverpool, I discovered the Dragonette seven inch is the divine I Get Around. Shame Dragonette only sold about a wheelbarrow full of records when they were trying to make it big in the '07, but I spied on their website that they have an Australian tour this September. So perhaps they're selling records somewhere in the world. I haven't spun This Et Al yet. Shame they never made it big outside of Leeds, as I always had a soft spot for their angular post-rocking antics. At least they had their integrity.