They speak like a bunch of chavs and act like they’re the greatest fucking band in the world.
Continue reading “Hard-Fi – Melkweg, Amsterdam – 23/02/2006”
Sparks – Paradiso, Amsterdam 21/6/06
“But curiously I also have to note there’s only a scattering of women of any age – this crowd is a kind-of in-the-know boys’ club from a particular era. Turning back to the stage I get a hint perhaps why…”
Artrocker Night – Paradiso, Amsterdam 10/02/06
Kaito are thunderous live and thrive on the tension between the clipped stentorian 1920s school mistress rants of vocalist Nikki and the slobbering, baroque grandeur of Dave’s guitar playing.
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Art Brut, Hospital Bombers Melkweg, Klein Zaal 9/2/06
“Beer-gutted, moustached, rambling antidote-spewing Eddie Argos mocks himself and his style of singing (I think we could call it pub/lounge rant act); at one point saying, “Did you hear that? I think I was almost singing there for a moment, wasn’t I?””
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Julian Cope – Manchester Academy 2, 24/02/06
Hung Up and Hanging Out to Dry was just bloody
splendid, prompting my rather squiffy teacher friend to throw cheese
strings at Cope (“I did it for the hell of it” he later confessed).
Continue reading “Julian Cope – Manchester Academy 2, 24/02/06”
Authenticity, realism and the role of self-hatred in modern British drama
I do not wish to suggest that the Loach / Leigh films are ‘bad’, merely that there are factors at work that explains why they are often given a pretty easy ride. Basically, critics and audience alike have a skewed idea of reality and a good deal of self-loathing. To understand these factors we must first take a look at Jean Jacques Rousseau.
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Delays – You See Colours
“Artists that pop into mind while listening to You See Colours are Bon Jovi, Def Leopard, Starship, Crowded House, and Don Henley (and Cocteau Twins for me – ed). ”
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Letter from London. The Brits? Don’t mention the Brits….
“Have you seen the titles of the songs on Morrissey’s new album? Jesus, we didn’t realise he was adding self-parody to his talents. They look like they’ve been computer generated by a website designed to poke fun at the Smiths”
Continue reading “Letter from London. The Brits? Don’t mention the Brits….”
The Subways with Jeff Caudill 20/2/06 Melkweg Klein Zaal
“I have to say that I was fully impressed by their live energy. They put on a fantastic show and were truly a hell of a lot better than I expected. However, I really couldn’t help but think, gee I liked this band a whole lot better when they were called The Vines. ”
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An introduction to Dragonforce
“If you are a fan of all those lads who play guitar really fast… Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert and even fat-legged pouting Swede Yngwie Malmsteen you’ll love the guitar work, and be very envious of guitar-man Herman Li. ”
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