TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
Band of Skulls: Live
Before I go to see a gig, I always look up live videos of the band online. Now videos can never compare to the live experience itself, but if a band looks completely boring in a video from a previous gig, they probably won't be amazing when you go to see them.For this reason, I had mixed feelings about what I was in store for when I went to the Band of Skulls gig at Camden's Electric Ballroom, London. After watching a few clips I'd experienced both mediocre and wonderfully brilliant performances from the Southampton three-piece.
I can gladly say that the latter was true of the live performance.
The vocals were to the standard of the studio recordings, guitarist Russell Marsden was on form, and the atmosphere was great (though being directly at the front certainly helped).
Having only one album, 'Baby Darling Dollface Honey' (which and modern rock & roll lover should buy, by the way), they played most of it, and what they didn't had to be in the encore.
Great gig.
FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 2010
Video: "I Wanna Live In Paradise" - Slow Club
Our favourite English duo, Slow Club, has been keeping busy! Seems they've got themselves a new tune called "I Wanna Live In Paradise," featuring the cute couple both playing on piano. It's quite lovely, really. Check it out!
SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 2010
Godspeed You! Black Emperor Ends Hiatus
That's right, you read correctly. Listen to the words from GY!BE themselves:
after a decade’s retreat, god’s pee has decided to roll again.we are, as always, stoked, stubborn and petrified.between now and the live-dates, there’ll be rivers of noise and distraction. and the internet is a petty tyrannical monster. please remember that really all that matters is the keep on keeping on. and all that really matters is the shows. and physical engagement in the world. and folks like us and folks like you. thanks for understanding, and thank you for still listening.see you next winter.xoxoxox godspeed you! black emperor
To boot on this extremely amazing news, Godspeed You! Black Emperor will be playing and helping out at All Tomorrow's Parties: Nightmare Before Christmas 2010. Find out more here! And also,check out Godspeed You! Black Emperor here.
THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2010
The XX
'Lively' would usually be the first term to spring to mind when speaking about the music of most London bands, however the endearing basslines and almost soothing vocals of Wandsworth three-piece group The XX is anything but energetic; yet just as far from boring.'XX'
The album's first track, 'intro', does exactly what it says on the tin. The two minute instrumental leaves the listener crying out for some sung lyrics, and this is exactly what the listener gets.
Romy Madely-Croft's softness perfectly compliments the deeper, velvety tones in Oliver Sim's voice, making for a great record - in terms of vocals at the very least.
A mix of upbeat tracks such as 'Heart Skipped a Beat' and songs which are perfectly calming ('Night Time', 'Fantasy') this album has pretty much nothing missing.
Think eery indie with R&B and dance qualities, and you won't be far off from summing up The XX's addictive style of music.
I won't be deleting them from my playlist any time soon.
Rating: 10/10 , 9 if you want to be picky.
Ones to repeat:
- Crystalised
- VCR
- Heart Skipped a Beat
- Islands
Ones to put you to sleep (in a good way!):
-Shelter
-Night Time
-Stars
-Fantasy
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2010
From The Basement
Clearly I have been ignoring some things that should be blatantly obvious to any keen music listener. Those of you reading Voilà! back in October may remember the article I wrote up onRadiohead's live performance with From The Basement, hosted by VH1. It was a truly powerful performance by them (one now that streams frequently while in public places, via my iPod (thanks iTunes)). It seems, though, that From The Basement has taken things to the next level by having a new website.
And they've expanded quite far from their Radiohead roots. While I haven't been gandering at their wicked site, From The Basementhas managed to record very lovely and truly unique performances by HEAPS of new artists: Andrew Bird, Albert Hammond Jr., Beck, Fleet Foxes, The Shins, Sonic Youth, and Queens of the Stone Age just to name a few.
So what are you waiting for? Go check out From The Basement's official site for tonnes of the latest and greatest performances they've filmed.
MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2010
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2010
I'm From Barcelona - Le retour
Jovial! Happiness! Celebration for one and all! That's I'm From Barcelona's standpoint, and happiness has been what they've been advocating with their music since their uniting as a band back in 2005 and releasing Let Me Introduce My Friends, followed by the significantly darker and more experimental Who Killed Harry Houdini? But the mood behind what I'm From Barcelona is never changes: a group of friends who love music with all their hearts and souls.
It's hard for I'm From Barcelona to share their love with people. This is mostly due to the 29 folks in the band that make I'm From Barcelona such a wonderful musical experience! It's hard to move 29 folks around on tours, so generally, I'm From Barcelona restricts themselves to playing big festivals around Europe and the rest of the world. Us concert goers should be very thankful the collective leaves Sweden at all. But sadly, not everyone can attend big festivals, meaning they miss out on very fantastic performances by the wonderful band, which is a sad truth to admit indeed.
For those of you (and myself included) unlucky enough to be able to see I'm From Barcelona for ourselves, La Blogotheque comes to save the day! La Blogotheque had already featured a performance wandering through the streets and in a cantina, following I'm From Barcelona around on a musical escapade through the city street. Now La Blogotheque rejoins with their old friends for a night of frivolity. After a concert at Bataclan in Paris, La Blogotheque follows I'm From Barcelona for an intimate after-performance performance with the entire crowd. I could continue, but it is on occasions such as this where I prefer show-and-tell more than to write and explain. Feel free to catch the entire 00 minute concert experience with I'm From Barcelona via La Blogotheque here on Voilà!, or visit La Blogotheque to catch their article on the event.
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment