K's Convention

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/features/Undressing-in-public--Kristin.3832792.jp

Well, I'm off for a week firstly to go to K's convention in London. Really looking forward to this, my music hero(ine) reading and playing. Link above. Will also meet up with some other K fans.
I may be attempting to preach to the unconverted here but please if anyone who reads this take a look at how interesting a human being this lady is.

Then I shoot off to Stockholm for 4 days just a break and a look round the city and take in it's gallery's and culture. It's bloody cold over there at the moment though, but that I'm ok with, it's part of the fun.
I hope to take in a gig while I'm there Laura Marlin and Lightspeed Champion are playing so I will do one of those I think.

Shite! I think I should pack some stuff.

Ida Maria

Night & Day, Manchester, 23/3/08.

I haven't got time here to get a full post up before I go away on hol for a week so I'll just post a few pics and edit when I come back.

I'll just say that this is the best gig this year so far. Ida Maria is a wonderful slice of Scandinavian eccentricity. Imagine if you poured a bottle of wine down Bjork's neck and said go for it girl. I give you Ida Maria.

S-K PDX 1 & 2 Footage.

Sometime last month it emerged that there was DVD footage of the two final S-K Portland shows. Kt on the S-K board had kindly put them up for download through a torrent site. For some reason I can't get torrents to work. I need to spend some time working out how and setting my computer to work these things.
Anyway I asked Kt if she could send copy's and she asked Kori who was downloading them to send them on to me. So thanks to both you lovely people, I got them a week or so ago. I think it was Jeff who described the discovery of these as the "holy grail" which amused me. I think for anyone who was at these shows it was not a bad description really. Fortunately the footage is shot from the back of the Crystal Ballroom so there's no embarrassing footage of myself or the main 'hardcore' fans, phew!. Though I think I can spot myself and other people at times.

Having watched them now a couple of times it's really noticeable how different the two shows were. PDX1 was the total rock out one, it sure was a very lively gig up the front there. The ladies did totally rock out this night. Where as PDX2 was the more sing-along play what the people want to hear type show. Though again I do remember it being fairly lively at the front. Of course the end does capture the emotional embrace the ladies had at the end and you you can sense the the emotion in the audience as PDX2 gets towards the end.

All said it's very interesting to have the full shows on disc, they bring back some great memories and a tear or two.

Operator Please

The Roadhouse, Manchester 5/3/08.

I made a bit of a cock-up here when I booked to see OP I automatically booked to stay at the Crown. It wasn't till later that I realized it was an early 6pm show, therefore plenty of time to get the train home. Never mind. It was lucky I was off work or else I'd have struggled to get there. Anyway with being off I was armed with a big shopping list and set off early afternoon to purge Piccadilly Records. Unfortunately or luckily for my bank balance I could only find 3 albums I wanted. With it being an early show I decided to eat after as there would be plenty of time.

There was no queue coming up to 6 so I decided to pop into a little pub I know in a side street opposite the Roadhouse. As I was coming out I heard a "hey hi" it was Nick the singer with Politburo who I chatted with last month in Chester, small world.
By the time I got to the Roadhouse there were about 10/15 people waiting on the staircase leading down into the Roadhouse. A very young crowd too which made me feel older than normal. By the time I got in after everyone in front of me being I'd for age I secured a spot front stage (between Corin and Janet).

The support band were a band called The RGB's an electro punk/dance troupe fronted by three girls and backed by a drummer. In truth they were ok the lead singer did overplay it a bit for my liking. They seemed a strange support for OP though.

Operator Please soon set up, I saw this Ausie five piece last year in Liverpool. I thought then they were worth keeping an eye on. They're a very young bunch all teenagers. Led by Amandah the guitarist and lead vocal and plays a lovely Rickenbacker guitar.
There was a decent crowd not too packed in but full enough for a good atmosphere. They played a quick fire set that included an excellent cover of "whip it" which was lost on the majority of the young punters. The highlight though was the previous single "get what you want" which they really seemed to rip into and includes a nice little riff from cute violin girl. All told a good little band this.

Land of Talk/Menomena.

Korova, Liverpool, 1/3/08.

Was looking forward to seeing LoT again, even though it was the Korova, not my fave venue. They were playing with Menomena a band I'd come across a while back and was still undecided about to be honest. They're from Portland though so they had that on their side.

For some reason I struggled to find somewhere to stay, my normal dive was fully booked. I ended up getting a place about 3 miles out northwest of the city center. I was off work and with it being a Saturday I pre-booked a table at my fave French restaurant, so went up about 2pm. Got sorted and got to the restaurant about 7, had a nice meal too.

Got to the Korova about quarter to 9 and enquired what time the bands were on. To my surprise I was told they would be running on time tonight and LoT would be on by 9:30. There were a few people about but nobody I knew. It wasn't long before Chris and Eric came out and started setting up, no sign of Lizzie yet.

She soon came out they introduced themselves and opened with a new song. I don't know the titles of the new material so it's a bit tricky at the mo. Last time I saw them their set was 66% new this time it was 75% new. It all sounded good though, the song they played after "Stateside" stood out. I tried to ask Chris after the name but forgot which song it followed, dork!. Lizzie in fairness was not a well lady, she was suffering from a bad cold. During one song she suffered a

coughing fit and had to skip a line of vocal, she kept her guitar playing up to scratch though which was admirable. I hadn't noticed before but she has a cute way of standing on her toes with her left leg while playing, and sort of dancing on it. Again they were super though and the new stuff sounding good.

The main band was Menomena a three piece from Portland. I'd heard their stuff and wasn't too sure about them to be honest, so seeing them live would make my mind up I hope. First thing is they're fairly hi-tech with a lot of gadgetry. The lead singer switches between guitar and sax and there is a lot of different sounds to their songs.

The three of them are quite multi-instrumentalist, though I didn't know their material I quite enjoyed them. I can't really pick any songs that stood out but their big sound was enjoyable and sort of washed over you at times.

After she finished Lizzie said hi and apologized for having pneumonia. I was talking to Chris later and asked him how the album was coming on. He said it's as good as finished and they'er just looking for someone to release it. Looking forward to that one, the year needs something.

Dirtblonde/Sheepy

Liverpool, View2 Gallery, 22/2/08.

I came up to this little event because Lonelady was billed to play but I found out the nigh before she had to cancel. I decided to travel up anyway.

The venue was a gallery on Mathew St which was initially difficult to spot. It was billed to start at 8pm and I got there about 20 past to told they were starting at 9. I had decided not to stay over but to get the last train home at 11:30 even though I was off the weekend.

I got back just gone 9. The bands had set up just in a room in the gallery. It was all very civilized with some tables and chairs set out with bowls of snacks on the tables.

First band up were called "Heads of State" who were ok. They set up with the vocalist set well stage left almost separate from the band. They played some chunky guitar tunes only prob was the drummer who kept having trouble with his kit, but got through it. They did play a PJH cover though "This is Love".

Next was a young lad called "Sheepy" just him a guitar and a drummer. Again nothing to completely write home about but in fairness I don't think he's played too many shows, I maybe wrong. There was a woman at the back singing and clapping away, obviously his mum. This was quite amusing though. He gave it a good go and I believe he is looking for others to form a band.


Next up was a singer/poet the same guy that sang lead with the first band. He pulled a chair up and said "I'll sit down being as though everyone else is". I was over to the left of the room and standing so I just said "I'm not"he looked over at me turned his mike towards me and was about to try to say something condescending or vaguely amusing but looking at me he decided against it. Another case where I think I may have been thought of as "industry", this amuses me. He was quite good though he did a couple of poems and some accompanied with guitar.

Dirtblonde came next, I was speaking to the girl before the show saying I couldn't find their myspace page. She informed me that they don't have one!! "not every band has one you know". Sorry I mentioned it! Anyway Dirtblonde stepped up a two piece bass/guitar combo (he! always wanted to use that) no drummer. They made a good noise and used some looped beats, I think! problem here was the room was echo'y. They were ok what I heard as I had to leave after 3 songs to skootle for the train. Ah well, perhaps they should get a myspace.