Music post
Yes my internet is back, but just have been running around doing various things, which I will go in more details later. In general, life is not bad. A friend of mine from San Francisco is visiting, so have a bit of playing host to do as well.
I'm just gonna make a music post for now. I've seen a few bands last month, and here're a few great ones. I've also started taking some photos at gigs, partly to supply photos for if72's music blog http://deleteaa.blogspot.com (do check it out if you want to see some serious music blogging ;) ), and partly maybe for keeping a record, like a gigging diary, and just for fun. I know there're a few much better photographers here, so don't laugh at my amateur, point and shoot effort. ;)
Dirty Pretty Things
Yes here we had about 65% of the former Libertines. At 10:30pm, still no sign of of the band. The scene was starting to look inconceivably familiar, despite the absence of Pete Doherty, and people were getting irritated. Drummer Gary Powell eventually came out to apologise and explained that the delay was due to lead singer Carl Barat suffering with a migraine. All that was forgiven when the band came on stage and gave an electric and amazing performance. Despite not knowing most of the songs, the set was very impressive and tight. The Libertines track ‘Death On The Stairs’ and new single 'Bang Bang You're Dead' sent the crowd in a mad frenzy. I'm looking forward to the album.
Bat For Lashes
(I'm too lazy to write, so the following text is kinda stolen/modified from deleteaa.blogspot.com =P)
Bat For Lashes is one Natasha Khan, backed sparingly by two other girls on violin, handclaps and various odd instruments. She was clearly almost too nervous to speak, managing only a hesitant whisper, eventually started playing piano and then... a confident, haunting voice somehow emerges, and a whole set of sparse beauty followed, incredibly fully-formed. It's rare that I was so impressed by an unknown support act that was first on the bill. Expect to hear more soon.
Semifinalists
Three-piece, London based Semifinalists all sang at various different points in their set, and all didn't exactly have brilliant voices, but their seeming ambition to take the biggest headrush moments of The Flaming Lips and keep them up constantly for a whole set, plus movie projections of fireworks, stars and short film clips made for an exciting and pretty set. It certainly had a strong visual art element to it. (Later I was told by one of the band memeber that they all met at a film school, so that made sense). It wasn't the most impressive thing I've heard but they were quite fun. It will be interesting to see how this all translate to their self-titled album released in a couple of weeks.
My Latest Novel
I was told that they have a fantastic album, 'Wolves', but can't say I listened to it too much before seeing them. It probably sounds a bit silly, but they seem to have a rather "Scottish" element to me. Perhaps it's the sometimes rather fearsome and furious sounding vocal and chorus made for shouting in unison by all members of the band and fans alike. They gave an energetic and powerful performace.
Guillemots
If you want some good new music, do check them out. (warning: they do have some rather long songs) They produce music of amazing scope and invention but with not a hint of believing their own greatness or trying to exclude anyone or be hip. Although singer Fyfe did only apologised for them being crap three or four times, which seemed to be a pattern from seeing them twice. During set-ups between songs, he invented jazz numbers based on words shouted by the crowd and sung in a startling Tom Waits impression and covers Fine Young Cannibals. His combination of infectious enthusiasm and willingness to try anything with constant self-effacement does rather remind of Chris Martin haha. They played a constantly involving set of over 90 minutes. It's great to see both the band and audience were enjoying themselves, having a few laugh at times.
Ok, that's enough for now. I have to work on application!
I'm just gonna make a music post for now. I've seen a few bands last month, and here're a few great ones. I've also started taking some photos at gigs, partly to supply photos for if72's music blog http://deleteaa.blogspot.com (do check it out if you want to see some serious music blogging ;) ), and partly maybe for keeping a record, like a gigging diary, and just for fun. I know there're a few much better photographers here, so don't laugh at my amateur, point and shoot effort. ;)
Dirty Pretty Things
Yes here we had about 65% of the former Libertines. At 10:30pm, still no sign of of the band. The scene was starting to look inconceivably familiar, despite the absence of Pete Doherty, and people were getting irritated. Drummer Gary Powell eventually came out to apologise and explained that the delay was due to lead singer Carl Barat suffering with a migraine. All that was forgiven when the band came on stage and gave an electric and amazing performance. Despite not knowing most of the songs, the set was very impressive and tight. The Libertines track ‘Death On The Stairs’ and new single 'Bang Bang You're Dead' sent the crowd in a mad frenzy. I'm looking forward to the album.
Bat For Lashes
(I'm too lazy to write, so the following text is kinda stolen/modified from deleteaa.blogspot.com =P)
Bat For Lashes is one Natasha Khan, backed sparingly by two other girls on violin, handclaps and various odd instruments. She was clearly almost too nervous to speak, managing only a hesitant whisper, eventually started playing piano and then... a confident, haunting voice somehow emerges, and a whole set of sparse beauty followed, incredibly fully-formed. It's rare that I was so impressed by an unknown support act that was first on the bill. Expect to hear more soon.
Semifinalists
Three-piece, London based Semifinalists all sang at various different points in their set, and all didn't exactly have brilliant voices, but their seeming ambition to take the biggest headrush moments of The Flaming Lips and keep them up constantly for a whole set, plus movie projections of fireworks, stars and short film clips made for an exciting and pretty set. It certainly had a strong visual art element to it. (Later I was told by one of the band memeber that they all met at a film school, so that made sense). It wasn't the most impressive thing I've heard but they were quite fun. It will be interesting to see how this all translate to their self-titled album released in a couple of weeks.
My Latest Novel
I was told that they have a fantastic album, 'Wolves', but can't say I listened to it too much before seeing them. It probably sounds a bit silly, but they seem to have a rather "Scottish" element to me. Perhaps it's the sometimes rather fearsome and furious sounding vocal and chorus made for shouting in unison by all members of the band and fans alike. They gave an energetic and powerful performace.
Guillemots
If you want some good new music, do check them out. (warning: they do have some rather long songs) They produce music of amazing scope and invention but with not a hint of believing their own greatness or trying to exclude anyone or be hip. Although singer Fyfe did only apologised for them being crap three or four times, which seemed to be a pattern from seeing them twice. During set-ups between songs, he invented jazz numbers based on words shouted by the crowd and sung in a startling Tom Waits impression and covers Fine Young Cannibals. His combination of infectious enthusiasm and willingness to try anything with constant self-effacement does rather remind of Chris Martin haha. They played a constantly involving set of over 90 minutes. It's great to see both the band and audience were enjoying themselves, having a few laugh at times.
Ok, that's enough for now. I have to work on application!