Thursday, March 13, 2008
Tunng cover 'The Pioneers' in Milano
In January 2006, experimental folk band, Tunng, released their cover of 'The Pioneers' - a haunting, atmospheric take on the original track which was featured in The O.C. (Season 3, Episode 24 - The Man of the Year, fact fans). Download it here (courtesy of Visions and Revisions).
Below is a video of Tunng performing the cover at their recent gig in Milano...check out the maraca action.
In January 2006, experimental folk band, Tunng, released their cover of 'The Pioneers' - a haunting, atmospheric take on the original track which was featured in The O.C. (Season 3, Episode 24 - The Man of the Year, fact fans). Download it here (courtesy of Visions and Revisions).
Below is a video of Tunng performing the cover at their recent gig in Milano...check out the maraca action.
Labels: Other_bands, Videos
¶ 10:27 AM 4 comments links to this post
Monday, May 14, 2007
Biffy Moakes
Gordy Moakes, bassist in some band called Bloc Party, became an honourary member of the RAWK glitterati last night as he joined Biffy Clyro onstage during their support slot for Bloc Party at Milan Alcatraz! Gordy took to the stage for the track 'Now I'm Everyone', adding some glockenspiel and lead guitar to the mix. Is there no end to this man's talents?
Gordy Moakes, bassist in some band called Bloc Party, became an honourary member of the RAWK glitterati last night as he joined Biffy Clyro onstage during their support slot for Bloc Party at Milan Alcatraz! Gordy took to the stage for the track 'Now I'm Everyone', adding some glockenspiel and lead guitar to the mix. Is there no end to this man's talents?
The tour continues tonight in Lyon, followed by a few dates on the Iberian Peninsula before the band return home for Radio 1's Big Weekend. There's no long break though...Bloc Party jet off a week later for another stint in the US before festival season begins. They should win some kind of award for 'Hardest Working Indie Band'.
Labels: Other_bands, Random
¶ 10:08 AM 1 comments links to this post
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Wonder-brawl
Beef between bands: an inevitable result of artistic differences, or a quick way for publishers to sell a few more magazines? Are Oasis really that overrated, or was 'Don't Look Back In Anger' a bit of a tuuune?
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Kele has directed some not-too-friendly words towards Oasis and their repetitive brand of meat-and-potatoes rock...labelling them "the most over-rated and pernicious band of all time". As per usual, the press has quickly caught on, hyping this into a battle of the bands. Only last week, Calvin Harris (who?!) labelled Bloc Party "rubbish, tedious and boring", prompting NME.com to prophesize a "great rock feud"! Read more about Kele's anti-Oasis diatribe here.
Beef between bands: an inevitable result of artistic differences, or a quick way for publishers to sell a few more magazines? Are Oasis really that overrated, or was 'Don't Look Back In Anger' a bit of a tuuune?
Labels: Other_bands, Random
¶ 2:47 PM 4 comments links to this post
Friday, March 23, 2007
Final Fantasy & Kele cover Mariah Carey
On the second night of Bloc Party's two night stint in Los Angeles earlier this week, Final Fantasy (a.k.a. Owen Pallett, violin-looping genius) welcomed Kele onstage to join him in a rendition of Mariah Carey's 'Sweet Fantasy'! This was a bit of a one-off; a special treat for everyone at Final Fantasy's last night supporting Bloc Party. Unfortunately, no bootlegs have surfaced yet, but there's a short video clip on YouTube here!
Also, the lovely people over at Say Anything Syndrome are currently hosting a whole bunch of Final Fantasy covers, including a different recording of 'Sweet Fantasy' (sans Kele). If anyone happened to record the Los Angeles version, please send it in this general direction!
On the second night of Bloc Party's two night stint in Los Angeles earlier this week, Final Fantasy (a.k.a. Owen Pallett, violin-looping genius) welcomed Kele onstage to join him in a rendition of Mariah Carey's 'Sweet Fantasy'! This was a bit of a one-off; a special treat for everyone at Final Fantasy's last night supporting Bloc Party. Unfortunately, no bootlegs have surfaced yet, but there's a short video clip on YouTube here!
Also, the lovely people over at Say Anything Syndrome are currently hosting a whole bunch of Final Fantasy covers, including a different recording of 'Sweet Fantasy' (sans Kele). If anyone happened to record the Los Angeles version, please send it in this general direction!
Labels: Other_bands, Random, Tour
¶ 10:41 PM 1 comments links to this post
Sunday, January 14, 2007
US/Canada tour support
Here's who'll be supporting Bloc Party on their March US/Canada tour:
11.03.07 (Seattle) - 17.03.07 (San Francisco): Final Fantasy, Smoosh
19.03.07 (Los Angeles): Final Fantasy, The Like
20.03.07 (Los Angeles): The Like, tba
23.03.07 (Chicago) - 30.03.07 (New York): Sebastien Grainger, Albert Hammond, Jr.
31.03.07 (New York): Sebastien Grainger, tba
You lucky people! 'tba' means that the second support band for that date hasn't yet been announced.
Here's who'll be supporting Bloc Party on their March US/Canada tour:
11.03.07 (Seattle) - 17.03.07 (San Francisco): Final Fantasy, Smoosh
19.03.07 (Los Angeles): Final Fantasy, The Like
20.03.07 (Los Angeles): The Like, tba
23.03.07 (Chicago) - 30.03.07 (New York): Sebastien Grainger, Albert Hammond, Jr.
31.03.07 (New York): Sebastien Grainger, tba
You lucky people! 'tba' means that the second support band for that date hasn't yet been announced.
Labels: Other_bands, Tour
¶ 11:26 PM 2 comments links to this post
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Introducing...Metric
Self-aware, with a willingness to experiment. Lyrically astute, with a knack for producing beautiful, well-crafted compositions that stem from daily observations and world events. Hardly un-emotional. The Canadian indie-rock outfit, Metric, refuse to back down from their convictions, yet are not afraid to show that they are just like you and I - searching for truth and love in a vast world.
Way back in 1998, as the stars aligned, lead singer Emily Haines and guitarist James Shaw first met each other in Toronto and decided to form a band. After working with each other in Montreal, producing a collection of demos (Mainstream E.P.), they moved to New York City (where they famously shared flat space with future members of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Liars) and teamed up with bassist Joshua Winstead and drummer Joules Scott Key.
Self-aware, with a willingness to experiment. Lyrically astute, with a knack for producing beautiful, well-crafted compositions that stem from daily observations and world events. Hardly un-emotional. The Canadian indie-rock outfit, Metric, refuse to back down from their convictions, yet are not afraid to show that they are just like you and I - searching for truth and love in a vast world.
Way back in 1998, as the stars aligned, lead singer Emily Haines and guitarist James Shaw first met each other in Toronto and decided to form a band. After working with each other in Montreal, producing a collection of demos (Mainstream E.P.), they moved to New York City (where they famously shared flat space with future members of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Liars) and teamed up with bassist Joshua Winstead and drummer Joules Scott Key.
Metric's first LP proper, 'Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?', released in 2003, earned them a loyal fan base on Canadian soil. However, it was last year's 'Live It Out' album that finally saw the band go international. This was thanks in no small part to 'Monster Hospital', (whose "I fought the war, but the war won" refrain has inspired mass pandemonium on many an indie dance floor) and the sublime candy-coated-Interpol sugar rush of 'Poster of A Girl'. Frontwoman Haines has even struck out on her own path as a solo artist with her recent album, 'Knives Don't Have Your Back', a must for fans of Metric and Emily Haines's otherworldly vocals.
If you're seeing Metric opening for Bloc Party on the upcoming U.K. tour and have yet to open your ears to them, your chance to be enlightened is coming near. Cheers to a bright band with an even brighter future.
Candi
Labels: Other_bands
¶ 1:08 AM 5 comments links to this post
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Introducing...Fields
In 2005, Nick Peill was hardly living the rock star dream. He was a primary school teacher by day, but during the holidays and whenever else he could find the time, he retreated to his Warwickshire studio, located in his very own garden shed. This DIY, stripped ethic translates itself into the music of his band, who go under the appropriately organic name of 'Fields'.
Nick left the shed for the city and moved to London, where he met four individuals aiming for careers in music. Their background sounds like the plot of an indie-folk storybook. Keyboardist/vocalist Thorunn Antonia's father composed the Icelandic national anthem, but she found herself doing voiceover work. Drummer/vocalist Henry Spenner also had music in his blood: his father performed at the original Woodstock Festival. Guitarist Jamie Putnam was a music journalist and bassist/vocalist/keyboardist Matty Derham had been working as a hairstylist. Before Fields, Matty's best known contribution to the music world was perhaps Russell Lissack's infamous fringe, the 'Blochead'!
In 2005, Nick Peill was hardly living the rock star dream. He was a primary school teacher by day, but during the holidays and whenever else he could find the time, he retreated to his Warwickshire studio, located in his very own garden shed. This DIY, stripped ethic translates itself into the music of his band, who go under the appropriately organic name of 'Fields'.
Nick left the shed for the city and moved to London, where he met four individuals aiming for careers in music. Their background sounds like the plot of an indie-folk storybook. Keyboardist/vocalist Thorunn Antonia's father composed the Icelandic national anthem, but she found herself doing voiceover work. Drummer/vocalist Henry Spenner also had music in his blood: his father performed at the original Woodstock Festival. Guitarist Jamie Putnam was a music journalist and bassist/vocalist/keyboardist Matty Derham had been working as a hairstylist. Before Fields, Matty's best known contribution to the music world was perhaps Russell Lissack's infamous fringe, the 'Blochead'!
Straddling folk and electronica, pop and left-field, Fields caused a frenzy amongst eager record labels. Eventually, Atlantic snatched them up with the deal of allowing them to release material through their own Black Lab label. Fields' first single with Atlantic, 'If You Fail We All Fail', was released on 20th November, and they've recently been busy recording their debut album with legendary producer Michael Beinhorn.
Fields have outgrown the garden shed and are hotly tipped as one of the acts to look out for in 2007. They provide support for half of Bloc Party's UK tour next year (Metric provide the other half) so make sure to turn up early for a dose of rustic, occasionally creepy, songsmithery.
Casey
Have a field day:
MP3: [Brittle Sticks] [Charming The Flames] [Roll Down The Hill]
Video: [Brittle Sticks] [If You Fail We All Fail] [Song For The Fields]
Labels: Other_bands
¶ 11:06 PM 4 comments links to this post
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Introducing...Mew
For some of you, Mew probably need no introduction, but here's a little article for the uninitiated. Mew will be supporting Bloc Party on their upcoming U.S. tour.
Sean Richardson writes...
Mew are a Danish band, who I had heard of but didn't actually know a great deal about. The only band from Denmark I'd heard of in recent years were Aqua - maybe not the best representative of Danish music (ok, The Raveonettes are a pretty cool little Danish band but for the purpose of this piece, we'll just say we forgot about them!).
Now thankfully, one lazy Friday evening, I stayed up so late that I ended up watching one of those 15 minute '4Play' programmes on Channel Four (a UK T.V. channel), which happened to feature Mew. I was intrigued, especially after hearing the gravelly voice of guest vocalist J Mascis from Dinosaur Jr. juxtaposed with the ethereal beauty of lead singer's Jonas Bierre on the beautiful 'Why Are You Looking So Grave?'.
So eventually, after sparing myself a little money, I bought Mew's most recent and only second full album, 'And The Glass Handed Kites'. After one listen I was one happy chappy – it really is a special album, from the apocalyptic instrumental opener 'Circuitry of the Wolf', through the beauty of the epic sounding singles 'Special' and 'The Zookeeper's Boy', to the Dark Side of the Moon-esque 'White Lips Kissed'.
As with any album you discover to be great and deeply satisfying, I remembered why I loved music so much. And for those wondering what type of sound a band from Denmark called Mew creates…well, attempting to compare, there's a nice helping of Sigur Ros, a splash of Spiritualized, a spoonful of Mercury Rev and a dash or two of Pink Floyd.
Well I think I better spare myself some more pennies to buy previous album 'Frengers'. Better than Aqua then. Better than most I reckon. Bloc are in good company…
For some of you, Mew probably need no introduction, but here's a little article for the uninitiated. Mew will be supporting Bloc Party on their upcoming U.S. tour.
Sean Richardson writes...Mew are a Danish band, who I had heard of but didn't actually know a great deal about. The only band from Denmark I'd heard of in recent years were Aqua - maybe not the best representative of Danish music (ok, The Raveonettes are a pretty cool little Danish band but for the purpose of this piece, we'll just say we forgot about them!).
Now thankfully, one lazy Friday evening, I stayed up so late that I ended up watching one of those 15 minute '4Play' programmes on Channel Four (a UK T.V. channel), which happened to feature Mew. I was intrigued, especially after hearing the gravelly voice of guest vocalist J Mascis from Dinosaur Jr. juxtaposed with the ethereal beauty of lead singer's Jonas Bierre on the beautiful 'Why Are You Looking So Grave?'.
So eventually, after sparing myself a little money, I bought Mew's most recent and only second full album, 'And The Glass Handed Kites'. After one listen I was one happy chappy – it really is a special album, from the apocalyptic instrumental opener 'Circuitry of the Wolf', through the beauty of the epic sounding singles 'Special' and 'The Zookeeper's Boy', to the Dark Side of the Moon-esque 'White Lips Kissed'.
As with any album you discover to be great and deeply satisfying, I remembered why I loved music so much. And for those wondering what type of sound a band from Denmark called Mew creates…well, attempting to compare, there's a nice helping of Sigur Ros, a splash of Spiritualized, a spoonful of Mercury Rev and a dash or two of Pink Floyd.
Well I think I better spare myself some more pennies to buy previous album 'Frengers'. Better than Aqua then. Better than most I reckon. Bloc are in good company…
S. Richardson
Labels: Other_bands
¶ 9:26 PM 5 comments links to this post
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Introducing...Ladyfuzz
Ladyfuzz are a hotly-tipped three piece, based in London and signed to label-of-the-moment, Transgressive Records (also home to The Young Knives, Regina Spektor, GoodBooks and Battle).
The band members are Matt, Ben and Liz Neumayr, a charismatic, Austrian-born vocalist who lives with Kele and shares songwriting credits with Bloc Party on 'The Answer'. According to the Ladyfuzz website, the band deal in "taut, spiky dancefloor/bedroom/headphones/anywhere-hugging six-string and vocal quivers, vehement bass-discordance and impossibly tight rhythmic panache." To hear them for yourselves, go here.
The new Ladyfuzz single, 'Bouncy Ball', is due to be released on limited edition CD and 2 x 7" vinyl on March 20th. The seven inch version of the single will be individually fingerprinted by the band and comes backed with an exclusive new track 'Trycycle, Bicycle, Icicle'. There is also a special seven inch release with remixes from Bloc Party and grime artiste Statik. More info on the remix to come soon. Go to the Ladyfuzz site to check out the video for 'Bouncy Ball', featuring a cameo appearance from a certain Mr. Kele Okereke!
The debut Ladyfuzz album, 'Kerfuffle', drops on April 3rd.
Ladyfuzz are a hotly-tipped three piece, based in London and signed to label-of-the-moment, Transgressive Records (also home to The Young Knives, Regina Spektor, GoodBooks and Battle).
The band members are Matt, Ben and Liz Neumayr, a charismatic, Austrian-born vocalist who lives with Kele and shares songwriting credits with Bloc Party on 'The Answer'. According to the Ladyfuzz website, the band deal in "taut, spiky dancefloor/bedroom/headphones/anywhere-hugging six-string and vocal quivers, vehement bass-discordance and impossibly tight rhythmic panache." To hear them for yourselves, go here.
The new Ladyfuzz single, 'Bouncy Ball', is due to be released on limited edition CD and 2 x 7" vinyl on March 20th. The seven inch version of the single will be individually fingerprinted by the band and comes backed with an exclusive new track 'Trycycle, Bicycle, Icicle'. There is also a special seven inch release with remixes from Bloc Party and grime artiste Statik. More info on the remix to come soon. Go to the Ladyfuzz site to check out the video for 'Bouncy Ball', featuring a cameo appearance from a certain Mr. Kele Okereke!
The debut Ladyfuzz album, 'Kerfuffle', drops on April 3rd.
Labels: Other_bands
¶ 7:49 PM 2 comments links to this post
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Introducing...Komakino
Komakino will be opening for Bloc Party on the forthcoming fan club tour. This five-piece from Derby, England have so far released just one limited edition single - the awesome 'Say Something'. You can listen to this track, along with live versions of three new songs, on the band's Myspace page. Komakino are one of the bands to look out for in 2006, so it's probably worth turning up early to check them out, especially if Idlewild, Placebo, dual guitar onslaughts and/or slighty crazy lead singers are your kind of thing!
Komakino will be opening for Bloc Party on the forthcoming fan club tour. This five-piece from Derby, England have so far released just one limited edition single - the awesome 'Say Something'. You can listen to this track, along with live versions of three new songs, on the band's Myspace page. Komakino are one of the bands to look out for in 2006, so it's probably worth turning up early to check them out, especially if Idlewild, Placebo, dual guitar onslaughts and/or slighty crazy lead singers are your kind of thing!
Labels: Other_bands
¶ 11:56 PM 1 comments links to this post
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Tunng release their version of 'The Pioneers'
'He was tough and romantic as the city he loved. Beneath his black-rimmed glasses was the coiled sexual power of a jungle cat. I love this. Liverpool was his town and Tunng was his band, and they always would be.'
On 23rd January, Tunng release their version of 'The Pioneers' on Static Caravan. The single comes in two formats - a one-sided etched 7" vinyl in an edition of 750 and a four track CD that includes the long sold out debut single, 'Tale from Black'.
This is a much requested release after a life affirming 2005 for Tunng. Number 2 in the Piccadilly Records top 100 albums of 2005 chart, a finalist in the 'Album of the Year' category in Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Music Awards 2005, Bleep Music's best beats and clicks record, number 75 in Rough Trade's listings and number 2 in the Hoodlum Tribe chart.
Tunng's most recent BBC session was broadcast on Radio 1's OneMusic in November, across both the Rob da Bank and Huw Stephens shows. The band also headlined the Folkey Dokey stage at the legendary Green Man Festival in 2005 and have toured extensively with artists such as Crooked Fingers, VivaVoce, Nine Black Alps, Minotaur Shock, King Creosote, Jose Gonzalez and Doves. Phew, link overload!
There is already a 2006 Twisted Folk tour lined up, along with a showcase at SXSW in Texas and a performance at the BBC Folk Britannia show on February 4th alongside Burt Jansch and Vashti Bunyan.
Also, the 'God Bless Bloc Party' DVD is released today in the U.S. It's only available from Amazon, Tower, Virgin and the indie stores listed on thinkindie.com.
'He was tough and romantic as the city he loved. Beneath his black-rimmed glasses was the coiled sexual power of a jungle cat. I love this. Liverpool was his town and Tunng was his band, and they always would be.'
On 23rd January, Tunng release their version of 'The Pioneers' on Static Caravan. The single comes in two formats - a one-sided etched 7" vinyl in an edition of 750 and a four track CD that includes the long sold out debut single, 'Tale from Black'.
This is a much requested release after a life affirming 2005 for Tunng. Number 2 in the Piccadilly Records top 100 albums of 2005 chart, a finalist in the 'Album of the Year' category in Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Music Awards 2005, Bleep Music's best beats and clicks record, number 75 in Rough Trade's listings and number 2 in the Hoodlum Tribe chart.
Tunng's most recent BBC session was broadcast on Radio 1's OneMusic in November, across both the Rob da Bank and Huw Stephens shows. The band also headlined the Folkey Dokey stage at the legendary Green Man Festival in 2005 and have toured extensively with artists such as Crooked Fingers, VivaVoce, Nine Black Alps, Minotaur Shock, King Creosote, Jose Gonzalez and Doves. Phew, link overload!
There is already a 2006 Twisted Folk tour lined up, along with a showcase at SXSW in Texas and a performance at the BBC Folk Britannia show on February 4th alongside Burt Jansch and Vashti Bunyan.
Also, the 'God Bless Bloc Party' DVD is released today in the U.S. It's only available from Amazon, Tower, Virgin and the indie stores listed on thinkindie.com.Labels: Other_bands
¶ 10:06 PM 1 comments links to this post
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Final Fantasy covers Bloc Party
Owen Pallett is a bit of a genius. As well as co-writing the string arrangements on the Arcade Fire's debut album and playing with them live, he also has a solo project called 'Final Fantasy'. This features Owen on vocals and violin, occasionally backed by Leon Taheny on drums (who also engineers and produces the project).
As anyone who's been lucky enough to go to a Final Fantasy gig will testify, he is a stunning live performer. He builds up layers of sound using his violin through a loop pedal, including knocking the instrument to create a beat. Owen also has a stop-you-in-your-tracks angelic voice and his next album will apparently be called 'He Poos Clouds', which is described as "an eight-song cycle about the eight schools of magic in Dungeons & Dragons"!
Anway, I've uploaded the Final Fantasy cover of 'This Modern Love', filmed at one of his recent gigs. Clicky.
Owen Pallett is a bit of a genius. As well as co-writing the string arrangements on the Arcade Fire's debut album and playing with them live, he also has a solo project called 'Final Fantasy'. This features Owen on vocals and violin, occasionally backed by Leon Taheny on drums (who also engineers and produces the project).
As anyone who's been lucky enough to go to a Final Fantasy gig will testify, he is a stunning live performer. He builds up layers of sound using his violin through a loop pedal, including knocking the instrument to create a beat. Owen also has a stop-you-in-your-tracks angelic voice and his next album will apparently be called 'He Poos Clouds', which is described as "an eight-song cycle about the eight schools of magic in Dungeons & Dragons"!
Anway, I've uploaded the Final Fantasy cover of 'This Modern Love', filmed at one of his recent gigs. Clicky.
Labels: Other_bands
¶ 10:35 PM 9 comments links to this post
