Having spent much of this year away or recording, I am pleased to be able to announce a return to the club stages in January 2009 with two UK shows already confirmed and more to follow.

Jan 26th : Ravenswood East Grinstead supporting Ben Glover

Jan 28th : Green Note, Camden Town headline

I will be joined for these shows by my new musical partner, Roger Styles, who will be assisting me with my music and playing some of his own as part of the live set.  Feel free to check Rodger's work out at his myspace page.

I have also decided to follow in the footsteps of many esteemed colleagues and contemporaries into the world of house concerts and private parties.

I am told that these are particularly rewarding evenings for both audiences and the artists; no people talking business at the bar, no squeaky tables, over amplified fruit machines or under-powered PA systems, no nominated drivers, rushing off for the baby sitter or the missing last bus home  - just you, me 'n Roger and the music.

If anyone is interested in this idea for their community of music lovers please contact us and we will see what we can do next year.

I am told that as a general rule of thumb 30 - 50 people would be the minimum / maximum to make this work in someone's home. We are flexible on the door price but the further we have to travel the more the number of attendees will be an issue.

We are also setting up a forum on the web site through which people in the same geographical area can collaborate on a date.

Hope to be meeting some more of you next year!

Love

Caroline x

Sat October11th

THE HOBGOBLIN, STAINES

Sunday October12th from 7:30P

Most disappointed but how do they sell 20,000 tickets in 20 minutes - there must be something dodgy going on with all these ticket touts. All 150,000 tickets for the whole all of the UK tour sold in two and an half hours. Even the Depeche Mode one off show in the UK sold out in 30 minutes and I was hoping to go to that as well. Not having much luck with tickets at the moment, especially gigs at the O2. The O2 is so near where I live compared to Wembley that it is a great place for concerts and the sound system is fab! But getting tickets is a nightmare. Anyway, there is a free New Orleans Festival at the end of October, which I am going to for free music and food - hopefully most of it is free. You know, there is a credit crunch on, not that you would think it by all the people out there buying tickets for a concert at £45 each (or even double that if you buy your tickets on ebay)!

Gareth Dickson had already started when I went in- the reason I didn't know he was playing from outside is that he has the quietest yet most excellent finger plucking on a guitar that I have heard in a long time. Really low lyrics on some of the songs but what really showed his skill was the ancient song that was originally written for the harp. He had a good repartee with the audience as well and was apologising in advance in case he screwed up and we wouldn't let him back in the country...definitely don't think that is ever going to be a problem for him.

Juana Molina was up fairly quick afterwards and what can I say about her music except WOW!  There is not many tunes that can transport me to a different place and she has some of the most hypnotic music that I have heard in a while.  The looping, re-looping and re-looping yet again of her sublime voice and some of the instruments creates something magical.

The keyboards and synth create a dark ambient vibe that is superbly complimented by the the subtle drumming and bass guitar...and best of all is that almost all of her tunes are deliciously long.  The bonus of seeing her live is that you get to hear the beginning of the loops which aren't always done on the cd.  The fact that she sings in Spanish is no factor at all even if I don't understand a word- such a sweet yet strong voice that is just captivating.

On my way up to heaven (yeah presumptious!) these are the tunes that I want playing...not only because they are that good but I want the angels to be hypnotized by them so that they will drop me down to earth for another go!

The encore had something of note as well- it looked like they were going to play the shell game with the  three cups they had on the table.  What they did play was a type of persussion game that was great to watch and very well timed- not something you would want as a drinking game!

There is a YouTube below for you one-clickers but do check out her official site and the page for the new album where you can get a free download of Un Dia.

Un Dia

And I'm sorry to say I have been holding out on y'all a little. So here it is - a synopsis of the last week, with a focus on my Thursday and Friday...

The other week I wrote about my most recent Vedic astrology phone reading on Sunday and some of the predictions that I was given.

One of the main things I was interested in, is if I was EVER gonna get a job again any time soon. Now, in my post about the reading, I wrote: "Josie thinks I should be offered a job pretty imminently". Imminently was my interpretation of what she actually said - which was, "I won't be surprised if you get a job this week".

I didn't convey exactly what she said because you know, I was lacking confidence. Not in Josie's prediction, just in myself. And it was a pretty definite statement. But guess what??

Yep! I FINALLY HAVE A NEW JOB!! Start Monday. Whoo hoo!! :)

I had my first interview with them on Tuesday afternoon. The fact this interview happened at all was amazing, since I'd somehow managed to include an old email address with my job application. Doh! Quite unforgivable for someone who's a geek. So they were trying to email me and getting a permanent bounce. Luckily for me, they actually bothered to pick up the phone and call me anyhow.

I was booked in for an hour, but when we looked up it was ten minutes short of two hours. I met with the company owner and their Business Development Manager. Things definitely felt positive, but I've been there before in recent times, so I wasn't gonna believe it just yet.

But in that session, they asked for my references and told me they wanted to see me for a second interview. As I was leaving, the guy who owns the company said: "I feel like we've all had a really great connection". Sounded a little like what you might say after a good first date! But... so far, so good.

Then I got the call about another day of temp work on Thursday. And then I had my morning saved by a very kind human being. The temp work was pretty much doing nothing all day and getting paid for it. Sweet!

Thursday night my friend L and I had tickets to a gig (awesome reggae band called the Black Seeds).

In the afternoon, I checked my emails to find out I'd been asked back in for a second interview on Friday. I said yes ofcourse. BUT I didn't have any suitable interview clothes with me... so after I finished doing nothing all day at 5pm, I hurried over to the big mall near L's work.

Once again, I said a couple of quick prayers - let me find something to wear for tomorrow's interview, let me find it quickly and make sure it goes with my black leather boots (the only footwear I had with me).

As many of you gals out there well know, shopping for something specific in a short timeframe isn't always easy. But I found a funky little black dress and some accessories within thirty minutes!

Unbeknownst to me, L had told a certain boy of our plans for the evening. The one who recently caused me some confusion. He kinda invited himself along. So the three of us had drinks, then dinner (which the boy went out of his way to pay for). Then t'was off to the gig. My word, I had no idea Kiwis could rock the reggae so well! I was a bliss zombie before the night was out - we crashed around 2am.

But good news about the state of confusion - I have no idea what this boy's motives are, but I've definitely decided he's not for me. He plays things way too coy which aint good for a straight shooter. I need things to be a little more upfront than that! So I'm just going to enjoy his friendship and that's all. [Relief!]

Friday morning I rocked up for my interview in my cute 'n' funky outfit and was pretty much offered the job straight up. This time I was in there for almost four hours - talking through some more of my experience, looking at some technical stuff and then they took me out to lunch! Its a very small business full of smart and friendly people. Think I'm gonna like it there.

The money is actually a little more than I wanted, and my first day on Monday will be a road trip to meet some clients a couple of hours out of town, tagging along with the Business Development Manager.

It will be different, working with only a handful of people instead of the large corporate world I've come from. But I think its definitely a good thing, and a much needed change from "same-same" experienced in large companies with so much corporate bullshit and red tape.

And then three for three - on hearing the good news, my parents decide to spring for dinner. Perhaps they're just glad that soon I'll be getting out of their hair?? ;)

So yay! I wanted to thank those of you who've been listening to me mope and complain here. New adventures await...

I knew that some of the audience looked familiar and wasn't surprised when they went on stage...it wasn't until I heard the lead sing his first note that it was the Gorgeous Colours who I caught a while back at a Phantom night. They have a really good sound and the lead has a wonderfully distinctive voice- deep and impelling with really adds to the vibe of the band. Don't think they have released anything new since I last heard them but their tunes are still great.

When they were on I noticed the lead singer from Bodies of Water, Meredith, out in the audience enjoying the tunes and she was joined by some of the other band members.  I know I have said this before but I think its great when the main act make the effort to actually see their support...and even better when they are visible bopping away to them!

Bodies of Water (Bodies of Jesus as they were christened by the forgetful Gorgeous Colours lead) came on shortly after with a slightly different setup than I was expecting- it had been a while since I had listened to their tunes and thought there was only four band members- turns out their former drummer left before the tour started so a new drummer and a lovely woman on guitar/violin.

I  can't remember the exact running order but all my favourites were there- Under the Pines, Gold Peach Tan And Grey, Doves Circle The Sky, We'll Forget This Sound. They really create excellent harmonies and a joyous sound much louder than the five members.  Sometimes the music itself is not as technical as other groups I listen to but there is just something about it that puts a smile on my face.

During the performance I have to say that my eyes were on the females- Meredith had on just a black leotard  (by god is she skinny!) and the guitarist/violinist Julie had this come hither look which was really hard to ignore.  They are damn nice people to boot- when I went up to get a cd it took about 20 mins...there were only two people ahead of me but they were having a good old chinwag and while I was waiting I had a good chat with the bassist Kyle.

Anyway, you can head over to Rcrd Lbl to download a couple of their tunes, Pitchfork for yet another or you can catch some of their tunes over at their Daytrotter session. If you like what you hear head over to Secretly Canadian and buy buy buy!

DJ SCOPE @ BAR903 (CUBA)
DATE: Fri Oct 10
WHERE: Eyre Square, Galway from 11.30pm
ADMISSION - Free
www.cuba.ie 091 565 991 www.choicecuts.ie

CHOICECUTS @ RiRa
DATE: Fri Oct 10
VENUE: Dame Court, Dublin 2 – www.rira.ie

DJ SCOPE @ Hogan’s Under The Stairs

DATE: Fri Oct 17
VENUE: Fade Street, Dublin 2 from 10pm til late
ADMISSION: Free!

DEAF2008 - CandyCollective presents : Sweettalk in association with Choice Cuts,
Steinski - www.Steinski.com (USA) and
Maser - www.maserart.com (Irl).
John Gilsenan - iwantdesign www.iwantdesign.com

DATE; Thu Oct 23
VENUE: Sugar Club, 8 Leeson Street, Dublin 2 7.30pm
ADMISSION: €12.00 [plus booking fee etc will make it €15]
Please log onto website www.candycollective.com for more details.
www.tickets.ie and on the door. email alex@choicecuts.ie

DAEDELUS (Ninja Tune) & Daddy Kev

DATE: Thu Oct 23
VENUE: Stress!!@Club De Burgo's, St Augustine Street Galway
ADMISSION: e12.50 Doors 10-10.30pm
www.myspace.com/stressahah in association with Choice Cuts

DEAF 2008 - Choice Cuts presents The Triple Header!
The Poets of Rhythm (Karl Hector & The Malcouns) - Now & Again Records
Daedelus (Ninja Tune)
Steinski (Illegal Art, Tommy Boy - Ableton Live)

DATE: Fri Oct 24
VENUE: Andrew's Lane Theatre, Andrew's Lane
DOORS: 8pm til late
ADMISSION: 22euro Tickets on sale from Village Wav Box Office, www.tickets.ie, www.ticketmaster.ie www.steinski.com www.ninjatune.net www.stonesthrow.com

DAEDELUS & Daddy Kev (Ninja Tune)

DATE: Sat Oct 24
VENUE: The Trinity Rooms, The Granary - Michael St, Limerick, Ireland
DOORS: 9pm – 2.30am
Tel: +353 (0) 61 411177 www.trinityrooms.ie www.ninjatune.net in association with Choice Cuts

STEINSKI (Ableton Set) Illegal Art

DATE: Sat Oct 25
VENUE: Eyre Square, Galway from 11.30pm
ADMISSION - Free
www.cuba.ie 091 565 991
in association with Choice Cuts

THE POETS OF RHYTHM (Guinness Jazz Festival 2008)
with BRIAN DEADY

DATE: Sat Oct 25
ADMISSION: 22.50 or 25 on the door
VENUE: The Pavilion, Carey’s Lane 021 427 6230 , Located just off Patrick Street, in Cork's Huguenot Quarter
www.pavilioncork.com www.tickets.ie www.corkjazzfestival.com
in association with Choice Cuts

SWEET CHARLES & LIVE BAND - As part of Cork Jazz Festival 2008
plus The Impressionists

DATE: Sun Oct 26
ADMISSION: €22.50 or €25 on the door
VENUE: The Pavilion, Carey’s Lane 021 427 6230, Located just off Patrick Street, in Cork's Huguenot Quarter
www.pavilioncork.com www.tickets.ie www.corkjazzfestival.com
in association with Choice Cuts

THE POETS OF RHYTHM (Karl Hector & The Malcouns) & SLAM
Strutt presents
DATE: Sun Oct 26
VENUE: Dolan’s Warehouse, Dock Road Limerick Tel - 061-314-483
DOORS: 9pm Admission
ADMISSION: €19
www.dolanspub.com in association with Choice Cuts

STEINSKI Illegal Art

DATE: Sun Oct 26
VENUE: Mickey Martin’s Augustinian Lane ,The Granary - Michael St, Limerick, Ireland.
ADMISSION: Free – music from 8pm
Tel: +353 (0) 61 415 490 www.trinityrooms.ie www.ninjatune.net in association with Choice Cuts

DAEDELUS & DADDY KEV

DATE: Sun Oct 26
VENUE: Cyprus Avenue, Caroline Street, Cork Doors 8pm Admission 15euro
PHONE: 021 4276165 www.cypressavenue.com
in association with Choice Cuts

HALLOWEEN BALL - FANCY DRESS

Marva Whitney (James Brown’s Soul Sister No.1) & Osaka Monaurail
A2DF DJ Scope OB JB The Deejay Soulman Pari
special spot prizes for best costume
DATE: Fri October 31
VENUE: Andrew's Lane Theatre, Andrew's Lane
ADMISSION: 22euro Tickets on sale from Village Wav Box Office 1890 2000 78
www.tickets.ie www.ticketmaster.ie

NOVEMBER

QOOL DJ MARV & DJ SCOPE (ButtaMilk & Choice Cuts)

DATE: Sat Nov 1
VENUE: Twisted Pepper, 54 Middle Abbey St, Dublin 1, Tel: (01) 8734800
ADMISSION: 12/10 Doors 10pm – 3am
www.choicecuts.ie www.buttamilk.net www.bodytonicmusic.com

GIANT PANDA (Tres Records, Los Angeles)

DATE: Thu Nov 6
VENUE: Eyre Square, Galway from 11.30pm
ADMISSION – Free www.cuba.ie 091 565 991 in association with Choice Cuts

GIANT PANDA (Tres Records, Los Angeles)

DATE: Sat Nov 8
VENUE: Twisted Pepper Launch Party / Stereotonic 5th Bday
STAGE Giant Panda + Support

CLUB: Fish Go Deep + Steve Egri
Twisted Pepper, 54 Middle Abbey St, Dublin 1, Tel: (01) 8734800

GASLAMP KILLER (Obey Records – Dublab) plus special guests..

DATE: Thursday 13th
VENUE; The Bierhaus, Henry St, Galway
ADMISSION - Free

GASLAMP KILLER (Obey Record – Dublab)

DATE: Fri Nov 14th
VENUE: Hogan’s Bar - Under The Stairs, Fade St, Dublin 2 10pm – late
ADMISSION: Free

GASLAMP KILLER (Obey Record – Dublab)

DATE: Sat Nov 14th
Kerrynini DJ’s & Heliopause
WHERE: Baker Place, Tait Square, Limerick
Door 9pm – 2am Admission 10euro
A Kerrynini Production in association with Choice Cuts

DECEMBER

HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE (Gorillaz, Honest Jon’s)

DATE: Wednesday 3rd December
VENUE: The Pavilion Cork Located just off Patrick Street, in Cork's Huguenot Quarter
DOORS: 8pm price – 17.50/20
www.pavilioncork.com www.tickets.ie www.corkjazzfestival.com
in association with Choice Cuts

HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE (Gorillaz, Honest Jon’s)

DATE: Friday 5th & Saturday 6th December
VENUE: The Sugar Club, Leeson Street Lower, Dublin 2
DOORS: 8pm – 11.30pm (plus access to late night club til 3am)
ADMISSION: 25euro
soulxmas@thesugarclub.com www.choicecuts.ie

ALI SHAHEED MOHAMMAD (A Tribe Called Quest)

DATE: Saturday 6th December
VENUE: Twisted Pepper, 54 Middle Abbey St, Dublin 1, Tel: (01) 8734800
ADMISSION: 20euro Doors 10pm – 3am
www.choicecuts.ie www.buttamilk.net www.bodytonicmusic.com

HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE (Gorillaz, Honest Jon’s)

DATE: Sunday 7th December
VENUE: The Trinity Rooms, The Granary - Michael St, Limerick, Ireland.
Tel: +353 (0) 61 411177 www.trinityrooms.ie www.ninjatune.net
in association with Choice Cuts

SWEET CHARLES & Live Band(James Brown’s Bandleader for 20 years!)

DATE: Thursday11TH, Friday 12TH Saturday, 13TH December
VENUE: The Sugar Club, Leeson Street Lower, Dublin 2
DOORS: 8pm – 11.30pm (plus access to late night club til 3am
ADMISSION: 25euro
Friday 12th December – SOLD OUT
soulxmas@thesugarclub.com www.choicecuts.ie

THE SWEET VANDALS (Funkorama, Unique)

DATE: Thu Dec 18th, Fri Dec 19th
vENUE: The Sugar Club, Leeson Street Lower, Dublin 2
DOORS: 8pm – 11.30pm (plus access to late night club til 3am
soulxmas@thesugarclub.com www.choicecuts.ie
TICKETS €25 AVAILABLE FROM WWW.TICKETMASTER.IE AND WWW.TICKETS.IE FOR GROUP BOOKINGS OF 20 OR MORE PLEASE MAIL soulxmas@thesugarclub.com
Now accepting table bookings, plus extra food options.

FEBRUARY

CANDI STATON
DATE: Thursday Feb 12th
VENUE: Whelan’s Live Venue, Wexford Street, Dublin 8
ADMISSION: 30euro Doors 8pm support tba.
The Village Wax Box Office
www.tickets.ie www.ticketmaster.ie sound cellar & road records

CANDI STATON
DATE: Friday Feb 13th
VENUE: The Pavilion, Carey’s Lane 021 427 6230, Located just off Patrick Street, in Cork's Huguenot Quarter

Support tbc..Admission tbc

www.pavilioncork.com www.tickets.ie www.corkjazzfestival.com
in association with Choice Cuts

Staton grew up in gospel music. As a teenager she sang with the Jewel Gospel Trio in the 1950s and toured with Sam Cooke, Mahalia Jackson and the Staple Singers. In 1969, she made the leap into secular music with a string of Top Ten hits for Capitol Records such as “Stand By Your Man” and the Grammy-nominated “In the Ghetto.” She then moved to Warner Bros. Records where she enjoyed disco smashes such as “Victim,” “When You Wake Up Tomorrow” and the 1976 million-seller “Young Hearts Run Free.” In 1983, her first gospel album “Make Me An Instrument” peaked at 7 on the Billboard gospel charts and garnered her third Grammy Award nomination. Various remixes of Staton’s gospel song “You Got the Love” have hit the Top Ten of the British pop charts in 1991, 1997 and 1996. The song has sold 3 million copies worldwide and been featured in the finale episode of HBO’s “Sex in the City” TV series.

Below are some extracts from students postings.

"My 'friends' in halls had horrific experiences like being the only English person in an entire block... so they clearly dont consider mixing up anyone so you can easily be completely isolated. At best you can expect to get a 'pod' bathroom and study room not fit for a sub-marine in a soul-less building with soul-less people who are either anti-social or school bullies. Hideous. "

"At Nottingham Trent you are no more than a number, an insignificant unit to make profit from - whether its via the terrible rip-off halls (of which there aren't even enough for %60 1st years), the uni shops, the courses (over subscribed)."

"The finance department need to keep a record of tuition fees paid and unpaid. Accomodation need to keep a record of students living in halls and the timetabling department clashes with lectures and labs! "

"For someone who doesnt drink this city SUCKS. For those who do its GREAT. It pretty much only has pubs and clubs and a cinema and shopping. Its very limited for interesting things to do. I discovered the whole city centre in under a day. "

"There are plenty of societies to join, but again I found them to be pretty dull. "

"Well I chose this course as a last minute change of heart. I was intending to go with the sensible option of an academic degree of History of Art at the University of Leeds, but decided in the end that my heart supposedly lay with the choice of photography. What a bad decision!!! The past year has felt like a waste of my time and a waste of my money. Ive had very few lectures who actually make me feel like i'm gaining anything from being there. Its killed my passion for the subject completely.."

To read more, both good and bad, follow the link below.

http://www.whatuni.com/degrees/showReviewDetail.html?x=16180339&y=0&a=220703&z=5490&rid=17738

I'm excited to launch my own monthly event that could go off into bigger territory.  Workin' with some good folks including Benjamin from Akwaaba, Shawn Dub (the homie), DJ Oro 11 (the homie), Samira Idroos (on the design).

We're also playing music that isn't really getting played at any other regular spots in San Francisco.  If you wanna hear Panamanian Reggae Soca, or Angolan Kuduro, or South American Kwaito, or U.K. Funky House, or U.K. Broken Beat, or Digital Cumbia, or Ivorian Coupe Decale, or Ghanian Hiplife, all in one place, THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE!

The first one is at Anu Bar on 6th Street between Mission and Market in Downtown San Francisco!  Keep an eye out for the next one as well!

SWEETBOX, recorded entirely with the cajon, retains all the live raw energy whilst pushing the Elova to a new sonic level. The record, described as "a multicoloured explosion of funky pop” has influences ranging from 1940's Tom and Jerry cartoon music and 1970's funk to the current UK indie scene. Catchy vocals are driven through with tough grooves from the box and gritty guitars. At turns feisty, as on the White Stripes influenced ‘Walk’, while other times delicate and yearning as on ‘Breathe’
We're having a big launch party on November 7th at the Luminaire London. Its gonna be an awesome party featuring Elova, MC Xander, DJ John Hendicott, Oompa Loompas and much more. Details at Sweetbox Website

Joo, ihan kuin HOHTO-elokuvasta alkoivat bussin valot elää omaa elämäänsä, vai pitäisikö sanoa kuolemaansa. Paloivat silloin tällöin ja Pyhtäällä sanoivat sopimuksen kokonaan irti!!!!
Joku setä sadan kilometrin päästä tuli vanhan laturin kanssa meitä pelastamaan. Maallisen avun ulottumattomissa ilmeisesti olimme, sillä niin vanhaa ja kummallista laturia ei kuulemma ihan helpolla löydy. Valottomalla, mutta ei ilottomalla bussilla jatkettiin rajalle. Onnistuttiin sammuttamaan se Vaalimaan tulliasemalle tukkimaan koko bussikaista. Kumma kyllä kukaan ei ottanut hernettä nenään ja pikku töytäisyllä päästiin syrjään kaapelikäynnistykseen (kuulostaa ihan pihtisynnytykseltä). Ja ei kun matkaan.
Rajan pinnasta bongattiin tosi siisti Nesteen huoltoasema. Jätkät osteli erilaisia tupakoita kuin irtokarkkeja. Niinkin aktiivisesti kauppaa käytiin, että sievin myyjättäristä oppi koko joukon suomen sanoja. Uppoava laiva jouduttiin jättämään tähän satamaan. Loppumatka aiottiin taittaa jollakin tilanteeseen sopivalla kulkuneuvolla!!! Soiteltiin sinne sun tänne ja uudelleen ja uudelleen venäläiseen tapaan kerrottiin mitä meille oli tapahtunut. Ja totta kai venäläiseen tapaan kavereita jeestaan. Oikein kaunis miesääni lupasi toimittaa jatkokuljetuksen tunnin sisään, jos pystyisin sanomaan, missä me olemme. Totta! Hyvä tieto kaiken kaikkiaan. Nesteen jo melkein suomea puhuva neito kertoi osoitteen ja jäätiin rauhassa odottelemaan. Porukat oli aika mielissään kun iltahämärissä pihaan kurvasi ihan oikea linja-auto. Sisällä oli suloisen lämmintä ja kamat mahtui heittämällä sisään.

Siitä matkasta ei sen kummempaa. Se oli niin tuiki tavallista ajoa, että en oikein edes muista matkasta mitään. Mutta perillä pääsi helvetti irti!!!! Mitään ääniä ei sitten tsekattu ja kylmiltään jätkät (ja Laleeni xxxxx) lavalle heitettiin. Ne ei kyllä näyttäny palelevan. Ollilla ei ainakaan ollu paitaa päällä, eikä rumpalillakaan. Tytöillä oli aika hepenet, mutta yläosaa myöten vaatteet päällä.
Jeps, soitanta kyllä lähti käyntiin. Ottelin kuvia ja siemailin olutta. Siinä jouduin pyöritykseen minäkin. Porukat oli intoa piukkana suomalaisesta bändistä. Joku tyttö oli ihan Siperiasta asti (tuskin tuli pelkästään EXSEÄ kattomaan sieltä asti, tai mistä minä tiedän)No, tommonen setti menee ihan hurmassa, ja tarkemmat tunnelmat sopii katella kuvista. Mutta helkkarin mukavaa oli ja yleisö mukana täysillä.
Hetki hengailtiin olutloosissa. Taidettiin Leenin kanssa tanssia joku puolihärski tanssikin siinä. Sekin oli vaan sen takia, ettei olla venäläisiä huonompia. Halauksia ja suukkoja ja semmosta lähdön tunnelmaa!!! Viisi taksia tarvittiin kuljettamaan meidät ja kamat takaisin bussille. Neuvoteltiin hinnasta ja sählättiin kamoista. Kaikki kuitenkin saatiin matkaan. Jossakin vaiheessa heräsin
torkuiltani ja ihmettelin, mitä helkkaria me tehdään Viipurissa. Kaupunkiin ei ollu mitään asiaa.

Kysyinkin, mutta vastaus oli epämääräinen. Ajattelin että ajakoot mitä kautta haluaa, hinta on kuitenkin sama. No perillä tajusin, että olin puhunut 50 kilometriä pieleen sijainnin. Mä olen aika suurpiirteinen, mut se meni aika pahasti ohi. Kuljettajat alkoi tietysti vaatia lisää rahaa, mutta mä olin niin poikki kaikesta sähellyksestä, etten jaksanut ruveta enää säätämään. Sanoin että kilometrit on kilometrejä, mutta osoite on osoite ja sen myös annoin. Mistäs suomityttö venäjän teistä tietää. Enempää ei tipu ja SPOKOJNOJ NO4I!Vähän säälitti, ei niilläkään varmaan liikaa ruplia ollu. Sitten kun olin jo oikeastaan unessa, kuulin kun joku meikäläisistä sano, et pelkäsi jos ne venäläiset taksikuskit kusettaa meitä!!! Hiukan riipaisi sydänalaa, mutta uni voitti nekin omantunnontuskat!!!
Jeps. Ja sillä välin kun me Arktika-klubilla valloitettiin venäläisten sydämiä, Sasha (oli sattumalta juuri hollilla, ei asu siellä päinkään) kävi lataamassa meidän akut ja oli se koputellut hiukan laturin hiiliäkin. Kävin Nesteellä kahvilla, missä tyttö edelleen osasi muutaman sanan suomea. Ja siemailin tuoremehua sekä helkkarin hyvän makuisen tortun. Vessa oli siisti kuin juuri pesty. Ajattelin, ettei elämä ole ollenkaan hullumpaa. Näin kun Sasha kurvasi pick-upilla pihaan. Oli helkkarin mukava nähdä. Pressun alta kaivettiin meidän akut muun aarrerojun keskeltä. Muut vielä koisasivat kun me asennettiin voimalaatikot paikoilleen. Valoa virtasi sisään . Porukat olivat kuin menninkäiset luolassansa. Eivät ymmärtäneet, mikä semmonen valoilmiö oikein on.

Sasha antoi neuvoja Suomea varten. Venäjällähän pimeällä autolla voi ajaa sen kaikissa merkityksissä. Nopeasti matkaan, että valoisassa keretään. Taas halauksia ja lupauksia, että tullaan käymään ja taas halauksia ja matkaan.
Nopeasti ja nopeasti. Rajalla oli jokunen muukin odottamassa ylitystä. No me mentiin kolonnana hakemaan Jaksalle kaljoja Viipurin Veikoista. Sekin oli jotenkin suloisen näköistä kun kymmenen tyyppiä raahaa sateessa kaljalaatikoita mudassa. Jonotellessa varmaan kulutettiin hiukan niitä akkujakin. No päästiin jonkun tunnin kuluttua ihan pääkonttorille. Siellähän ei ollutkaan muuta ongelmaa kuin että koppeja oli yksi liian vähän. Siis niitä missä pitää hakea leimoja papereihin, että niistä tulee viralliset. Me kuskin kanssa pyöriskeltiin aikamme ja vasta sitten ymmärrettiin, että yks kioski onkin vastaantulijoiden puolella. Siis ei ollenkaan siellä päinkään, missä me oltiin ja mihin suuntaan oltiin menossa. No se mies siellä väärän puolen kopissa oli kyllä helkkarin hyvän näköinen. Ja jos nyt jotain ymmärsin puolen tunnin sessiosta, niin se piti meitä siinä sateessa ihan vaan siksi että saisi mun puhelinnumeron. Mä en sitä ulkoa muista ja suomikänny oli autossa. Venäjänkänny taas ei Suomessa toimi. Päästi se meidät ja sano ettei tiedä antaako se tolle dösälle enää toista kertaa lupaa tulla Venäjälle. Täytyy laittaa kännynumero mukaan, jos joku muu yrittää rajanylitystä. Voi helpottaa tilannetta.

Sitten ei taas tapahtunu oikeastaan yhtään mitään. Jätkät katteli videolta puolialastomia (täysin) naisia ja puheli niitä nuorten miesten juttuja (pärjää muutamalla sanalla).Vähän syötiin ja semmosta ihan tavallista.
Vasta Loviisassa taas Helvetti iski päälle. Valot lähti!!! Joo tai sähköt siis kokonaan. Me tultiin sitten loppumatka neljän fonarin valossa. Leeni ja Jussi oli vaihtamassa ”pitkiä” ja sitte vielä vilkkuina. Bussin persuuksiin jätkät laitto punaisia ledejä, jotka oli tosi hienoja ja edelleen paikoillaan, kun päästiin perille.

- Vappe

Vappe

Over the last month or so, I have had the great pleasure of recording with a new up and coming singer and songwriter from the Rochester, MN area. Her name is Mary Mehrkens. She is a high school student who really surprised me. She called and said, "I want to record a demo." So we booked some time and she came in. When she got here I told her to sit down at the keyboard and play what she had in mind, so we could see what direction we were going to take the songs. I was blown away! Out of this little girl comes this BIG voice! Not exactly how to describe it...she has the power like Christina Aguilera, but she has a unique tone. She writes her own songs and is looking to start doing gigs around the upper midwest. I have posted a couple of song samples so you can hear what Mary and I did here at C-Sharp Productions. All songs copyright (c)2008 Mary Mehrkens.

"Here We Go Again"
"Stay the Same"
Songs written by Mary Mehrkens. Vocals by Mary Mehrkens. Recorded in the Twin Cities at C-Sharp Productions. (c)2008 Mark Mehrkens.

10/10 2008 ore 21,00   C/O SOHO IN VIA GENERALE CLARK

MARLENE KUNTZ:  DOMANI SERA A SALERNO!

Il Soho di Salerno, in via Generala Clark,  si apre alla musica a 360 gradi, offrendo una programmazione che porterà nel città campana gruppi di spicco della scena rock e new wave italiana.

Uno sforzo organizzativo enorme quello di Lorenzo Moscariello (proprietario della nota discoteca) e dell’ Associazione Satori, intenzionati a rendere il locale il punto nevralgico della serate musicali salernitane.

Si parte venerdì sera, alle ore 21,00, con i pionieri del rock made in Italy. i Marlene Kuntz, che porteranno sul palco del Soho uno show tellurico incentrato sul loro vasto repertorio.

La band piemontese sta per terminare il tour estivo di "Uno-live in love", che prende il nome dal loro ultimo studio album “Uno”.

Con questo lavoro i Marlene Kuntz hanno messo da parte le ficcanti venature punk degli esordi e le sonorità “celebrali” di “Catartica” per avvicinarsi ad una musica più intimista e soffusa, fatta di passaggi più meditati senza perdere di vista la grande energia che li contraddistingue dal vivo.

A testimonianza di un desiderio crescente dei "grandi nomi" della musica di suonare a Salerno, il concerto del Marlene Kuntz al Soho si pone come l'unica tappa prevista nel Sud d'Italia.

La data di venerdì  10 ottobre prevede l'apertura, all’interno del locale,  di una nuova area dedicata esclusivamente ai concerti: sarà montato un palco 10 x 5 con impianto Martin da 20.000 watt, in modo da rendere l’acustica perfetta e la struttura avrà un capienza di oltre 1.000 persone.

Si allestirà  un’area esterna sempre coperta ma per fumatori e ci sarà spazio anche per la musica di Dj Toto e per la proiezione di video.

Dopo il concerto dei Marlene Kuntz si farà notte con il Dj Feel good Production da Torino.

I biglietti possono essere acquistati attraverso il circuito www.etes.it e l’ingresso è di  15 euro più  prevendita. per info e prenotazioni si può telefonare al numero 340 1636979

Ufficio Stampa

mobile 349 3115160

Hypaspace and Sandal Machine Foot really are part of a team; I have never heard of two bands working together as much as we do.

I am so sad that the tour has come to an end for now; playing every day is so good for my psyche as well as being great for my playing. Tonight's show was awesome, we played so well, and I had an unbelievable amount of fun. While we were away, I used Ian's drum kit, but for this final gig I brought my big Ludwig silver sparkle drum set with two bass drums. I love playing the big kit, I just have so much fun playing it.

I find myself wanting to write and write about the tour and what it has meant for me, but words seem elusive tonight, perhaps over the next couple weeks I will find thoughts needing to be expressed here. For now, I guess, all I can say is that I had the privilege of spending three weeks with six of the greatest guys I've ever had the pleasure of knowing; musically and personally Steve, Chris, Vinny, Ian, Matt, and Sean are just awesome folks. The tour was so fulfilling musically that I always feel I need to mention how great it was personally.

I am blessed, blessed beyond anything I could possibly ever deserve.

What a wonderful world.

Last night saw Bon Iver return to Tripod for the second time this year. On the back of June's now near-legendary gig, the Wisconsin three-piece had a lot of hype to live up to. As one of the first crazed fans through the door, I parked myself in front of centre-stage and refused to move, despite death-stares from some equally obsessive attendees.

Having heard reports from the last show there, I was expecting nothing short of acoustic perfection, so I was surprised by the magnitude of instrument tweaking and tuning that went on before the band took to the stage. An impressive set up of no less than 3 drum kits, 7 guitars and 2 keyboards (and that's just what I could see from my 5-foot-zilch eye level) made for a decidedly, um, 'un-acoustic' set. Support came in the form of Anais Mitchell who, with her 1960's-inspired lyrics about free love and revolution, seemed to be going for the Joni Mitchell vibe, but with her eerie fixed grin and youthful naivety it manifested itself as way too contrived. All a little too coffee-house folk for my liking to be honest.

So, after what seemed like an eternity of the aforementioned tweaking and faffing about with instruments, the buzz of chatter lulled and the bizarre interval music subsided as a hush fell over the room and Bon Iver emerged from backstage and began their set with album opener, Flume. First impressions were that this gig was going to live up to my expectations by providing an evening of tender harmonies and subtle melodies. I was completely blown away by what followed. After the beautifully up-tempo Lump Sum came to an end, my personal favorite album track Creature Fear, which has lulled me off to sleep many a night, was transformed by an overwhelmingly powerful electric guitar-enhanced chorus. Subtlety was out the window but amazingly the song managed to retain it's tenderness, plucking on every heart-string in the room with the raw and genuine emotion prevalent in the music coming from the stage. Equally entrancing was their rendition of probably the band's best known tune, Skinny Love, made famous by Vernon's acoustic Jools Holland performance. The use of three simultaneously-pounded drums made for an epic sounding ending to the normally tranquil track.

I have to admit, until last night I considered Bon Iver and Justin Vernon to be one in the same, with the former being nothing more than a moniker for the modestly charismatic front-man. However, after witnessing the mutual respect that the three piece afford each other's skills, I can safely say that Mike Noyce and Sean Carey are just as integral to Bon Iver's successes as Vernon is. Since their last show here, where Vernon apologised for their lack of material, Bon Iver have added new song Blood Bank to their on-stage repertoire, along with two cover songs - Graham Nash's Simple Man and Talk Talk's I Believe in You, sung by Noyce and Carey respectively. At the tender age of 21 (and to look at him you wouldn't give him a day over 16), the baby-faced Mike Noyce stunned the audience with his rendition of Nash's song by providing gentle yet confident vocals. Carey was equally as mesmerising performing vocals to I Believe in You which built to a powerful crescendo helped by stunning harmonies from the rest of the band.

The set concluded with with the laid-back front-man asking for some audience participation with The Wolves (Act I & II), something which I haven't seen at a gig in ages - I was giddy as a schoolgirl. As the crowd echoed Vernons cries of "what might've been lost", what we lacked in pitch was made up for with enthusiasm as the song built to a raw, primal scream from the occupants of Tripod.

Not one to disappoint, Vernon reappeared for a solo encore initially with a tender performance of Re: Stacks before being joined on-stage by his band-mates once again for the poingiant For Emma. The evening drew to a close with Bon Iver and support Anais Mitchell performing their version of Sarah Siskind's Lovin's For Fool's.

I have to admit, prior to the gig I had wondered if Bon Iver would be able to tackle a large venue such as The National Stadium, where they play this December. I thought that maybe their songs were too beautifully fragile to fill such a bland open space, and that maybe they needed the intimacy of a venue such as Tripod to maximise the spine-tingling effect that they had on their listeners. I am now of the conclusion that you could be standing in the middle of a warehouse surrounded by thousands of people and still Bon Iver would make you feel like you were the only person in the room and that these songs were for you. Ok, corny I'll admit, but after last night I just feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Do not ON YOUR LIFE miss December's date!!

Catch us from 9pm at O'Neills Bar on Broad Street, Birmingham.

Anyway the band has returned with a fantastic album 'The Hungry Saw' a mere 5 years after splitting up forever. They must mean 'forever' in the way Rolling Stones mean 'last ever tour' I guess.  The album is really why they're here and bravely they start with7 songs from it in the same order as they appear on the album. The sound is great apart from two gripes: the bass is slightly growly and the vocals are too quiet, although Stuart Staples has an annoying habit of singing slightly away from the microphone and this could be part of
the problem.

The remaining original members (Staples, keyboardist David Boulter and guitarist Neil Fraser) are augmented by bass, drums, a string section and a brass section. The sound is as rich and full as that suggests.

The first concession to the past is 'Dying Slowly' from 'Can Our Love?' album. This is followed by a storming version of Townes Van Zandt's '16 Summers, 15 Falls' and 'Say Goodbye to the City' from 'Waiting For The Moon'.  The 'oldies section' is completed by a trio of tracks from perhaps my favourite album, their eponymously titles second: 'Sleepy Song', 'She's Gone' and 'Travelling Light' sound as fresh as ever and bring back some vivid memories for your reviewer and his paramour!

The band complete the set with the closing tracks from 'Hungry Saw' including the awesome 'Boobar Come Back To Me' and my own favourite Tindersticks track 'The Turns We Took' which ends the show.

The encore sees a lovely version of 'If You're Looking For a Way Out' from 'Simple Pleasure' and two songs from their classic debut album: 'Her' and 'The Not Knowing'. The latter is beautiful and minimal.

The crowd wants more, but they're gone. A brave show all in all; the mania now is for nostalgia, and older bands are dusted down to perform classic albums as judged by…who exactly? Who is to say that your art
is now frozen in time, trapped in amber? I am sure most bands in these situations find the feelings mixed: grateful for the kudos and the money but disappointment that they can now have no creative future,
they won't be allowed one. Their 'time' was then.

The Tindersticks tonight put their faith in their new album and its strengths, and were vindicated.  Its highlights match their past and in places surpass them.

Vespertine

[...] I am not sure that this performance did the album the kind of truly magical justice that it deserves. At the same time, where the high points were reached, they were spellbinding, breathless moments.

Are my expectations quite high here? Yes. Should they be? Well, why not?

In any event, Justin promised to be back in the Autumn. If held indoors, I cannot help but feel that this will be the show not to miss!

Last night’s return visit demonstrated these remarks to be both justified and prescient. Simply put, it was an extraordinarily good performance to a capacity audience. Justin Vernon said at the outset that it would be a special evening and the four-piece band made good on that promise in spades.

To begin with, the band sounded so much tighter thanks to the constant touring that they have been doing, with Mike Noyce on guitar and support vocals, in particular, seeming much more confident with his role. Moreover, they have added some great instrumental sections to some of the songs, most noticeably on Creature Fear, which had a simple but powerful percussion-led ending to it. This may be an entirely different sound to the almost-fragile songs on the record, but this really just goes to demonstrate their versaility as compositions.

Choosing a highlight from the show is difficult. This writer is an unabashed fan of Blindsided and he was not disappointed last night with the rendition that was on offer. However, the honours has probably got to go to Skinny Love, which built to a powerful and enthusiastic ending, involving the use of three drums. The crowd justifiably roared their approval afterwards.

Last June, Justin apologised profusely for not having enough songs yet to play. Even now, the more up-tempo Blood Bank is the only new one that they are touring with. At the same time,they have padded out their repertoire with three cover songs, of which Mike's beautifully performed version of Graham Nash's Simple Man was the stand-out number. With any luck, the song may even make it onto the next record!

The main show concluded with The Wolves (Act I & II). The audience was invited once more to repeat the line at the end, but a Broken Social Scene-type tweak has been added since June. As with It's All Gonna Break, the audience are now encouraged to scream out anything they like towards the end. It may have lacked the unbridled, catharsis-enducing, lung-emptying energy that battle-hardened veterans of BSS shows now bring to It's All Gonna Break, but there will equally be no need for Justin to demand this ending from Irish fans in the future - an epic in the making!

The encores featured a solo version of Re: Stacks by Justin, For Emma, and an acoustic cover of Sarah Siskind's lilting Lovin's for Fools where the band stood a little bashfully around a single microphone.

It is pretty remarkable to think about the distance that this falsetto-voiced singer from Wisconsin has covered in 2008. From the initial Internet whispers that someone had gone and produced a remarkably evocative record whilst living as a semi-reclusive woodsman in the middle of nowhere to playing three sell-out shows in Dublin, alone, it has been a meteoric rise to fame in the world of alternative music. Moreover, there is so much talent to burn here that it is hugely unlikely that his star will extinguish any time soon. I, for one, am perfectly fine with that.

Here is the set list, as I remember it:

- Flume

- Lump Sum

- Creature Fear

- Blood Bank

- Blindsided

- Simple Man (a Graham Nash cover)

- I Believe in You (a Talk Talk cover)

- Skinny Love

- The Wolves (Act I & II)

Encores:

- Re: Stacks

- For Emma

- Lovin's for Fools (a Sarah Siskind cover)

]]> http://libraryjo.wordpress.com/?p=26 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:33:26 +0000 libraryjo http://libraryjo.pt.wordpress.com/2008/10/08/supergrass-the-forum/

Last night we saw Supergrass at The Forum (another of Tom's selections) I LOVE the venue, it has a false sky ala the Hall at Hogwarts and the look & layout always reminds me of Brixton Academy in London but I have to admit I was a bit bored! I only recognised about 4 songs, my feet hurt, a girl whacked me in the guts and from my view the sign read either ERGR or GRASS most of the night. I hope that was not subliminial messages about our planned grass laying on the weekend.

The band will be playing at Hangar No. 1 at the Fair Trade & Convention Center in Tel Aviv on november 2nd.

I have to mention that Israel is one of the most conservative nations with the most rigid standards in the terms of culture, anyways, If these dudes catch us with our pants down (and all the religious and parents associations), we could be talking about another Slipknot's gig at the Vatican... or maybe not.

Eyeless by Slipknot (download mp3) (Right click and hit "save target as")