End Of The Road 2010

The summer festival season is now officially over, with the End Of The Road festival signalling…well, the end of the musical festival road…if you like. It was my third time at EOTR and as usual a great time was had. This year was slightly different from previous ones, though. Instead of going because of a great line-up, I was there mainly to support Allo Darlin' and my friends in Eagleowl. The majority of the line-up was just not my cup of tea at all. Of course there was exceptions, and I did see some great performances, but if it hadn't been for the friends-in-bands connection, I don't think I would have been there.

Sooooo…..highlights of End Of The Road 2010

Allo Darlin' played two sets and were great as usual. It must be a bit weird playing to a bunch of people who might not necessarily be there to see you, but rather are just there "to see what's on", but AD didn't let that bother them. And even if it did, it certainly didn't show and they played two great sets...one on Thursday evening and one on Friday afternoon. If I had to pick a favourite it would have to be the Thursday one, since they were followed by Darren Hayman and they all joined him on stage towards the end. That's what festivals are all about – bands you love getting together with other bands you love doing something unusual together.

Backstage with Allo Darlin'
Allo Darlin'
Darren Hayman playing to an adoring crowd
Eagleowl on Saturday afternoon were brilliant....an they finished their set with a big sing-a-long stage invasion (the calmest kind imaginable).

Eagleowl!
Eagleowl!!
Eagleowl!!!
Eagleowl!!!!
Last time I saw The Mountain Goats, I wasn't overly impressed. It was at an inside stage at EOTR 2008 and I just wasn't in the mood. This time it was different. Outside at the beautiful garden stage and it was just perfect.

Yo La Tengo played a stunning set and finished with a surprise version of Times New Viking's Move To California. Again, just perfect.


Apologies for the terrible video quality...eek.

Brakes were brilliant as usual...but it would have been even better if they had played on th eoutside stage. That big horrible tent thing just doesn't do anything for me.

Hot cider!

And....the food...yes, I do have a soft spot for festival food and seem to eat an awful lot of it...not necessarily this unusual dish...


...but Pieminister, cheesy-beany wedges and other goodies...

Members of Meursault, Eagleowl and Woodpigeon playing a cover of Withered Hand's I Am Nothing....complete with random old lady and baby stage invasion!


Moustache of Insanity even managed to squeeze in a short set at the Hunga Munga tent!


So there...that's all. I've had enough of camping for this year.

Ho Ho Ho! Some ideas for pressies!

I haven't posted anything here for over a month. I simply haven't had time.

So, what's been happening in Nik land. Well, the new Moustache EP is almost finished. We've recorded all the songs and only need to add some keyboard bits and do some mixing. Paul from Hexicon will be doing some of the artwork, which I'm rather excited about. Woot! Hopefully it'll be ready before the end of the year, but it probably won't. Haha. We're just not very efficient when it comes to these things.

The next Allo Darlin' single, The Polaroid Song, is officially out on 7th December, but as far as I know you can pre-order the seven-inch already. If not, you should at least be able to get it at Allo Darlin' shows, the next of which is tomorrow at Jamm in Brixton. Both songs are absolutely incredible and guaranteed to make you want to dance the winter blues away. Irresistable bouncy pop songs and just the perfect stocking filler for just about anyone. Oh, and the artwork! Let's not forget the artwork, since it consists of Polaroids taken by me :)

The single cover, a Polaroid of Elizabeth taken in Brooklyn a couple of years ago.

What else is new in music land. Oh yes, the new Eagleowl single Sleep The Winter dropped into my mailbox the other week and what a stunner that is! The Edinburgh gang has really outdone themselves this time, with two glorious songs of alt-folk-fuzz-bliss that recalls Low at their very best. Hell, I much prefer it to Low. Yes, I said it. So, keep an eye out for Sleep The Winter, which is released any day soon. Another perfect stocking filler, perhaps to be used to calm down after the energy burst that is The Polaroid Song. So, in short, Allo Darlin' provides the perfect soundtrack for tearing the wrapping off your presents on Christmas morning and Eagleowl might be better suited for sipping mulled wine by the open fire in the evening. Or, I guess you could reverse the two and open your presents really slowly to Eagleowl, then get drunk on mulled wine in the evning and dance manically by the open fire to Allo Darlin'. Either way, they're both pretty awesome ways to spend Christmas.

I'm starting the new year with a bang, by putting on a show with an incredible line-up. Withered Hand, Sweet Baboo and Lofty Heights will be playing a Records Make Great Pets night at The Wilmington Arms on 22nd January. A flyer will be coming soon, but advance tickets are available now for only FIVE POUNDS from wegottickets. Another great stocking filler!

I can't really begin to say how excited I am about this show. Withered Hand's album Good News is definitely a candidate for album of the year and I can't think of anything that could beat Love In The Time Of Ecstacy to my song of the year title. Here's a clip of Withered Hand playing that very song at some birthday party in Edinburgh.



Awesome! Yes.

I don't need to tell you about the awesomeness of Sweet Baboo. Steve played the last Records Make Great Pets night in July and simply blew everyone away. Lofty Heights are from London and if their performance at the Duke of Uke's easter alldayer is anything to go by, this should just be stunning.

All bands have new releases out, so get yourself to their respective websites and get ordering.

I think that's it for now.

We did it!

The first 'Records Make Great Pets' night went really, really well. Everyone involved seemed to have a blast. Even though I spent most of my time from 5pm-8:20pm stressing like a mofo it all worked out in the end. It turned out to be exactly the type of night I've always wanted to go to, but have never really found in London. Of course, this was mainly down to the bands, who were all awesome. Well, I can't really comment on the awesomeness of Moustache of Insanity, since I'm in the band, but the others were all amazing.

Moustache of Insanity (myspace)

One of our best shows ever. Nothing went too terribly wrong and we remembered most words and chords. The new song went down really well. Hooray!

Allo, Darlin' (myspace)

Playing some new material from her upcoming EP, Allo, Darlin' was almost a full band this evening. With Paul on guitar, Bill Moustache stepping in on drums and Monster Bobby coming on stage for a duet, it was all just perfect. Elizabeth is always brilliant, but with a band behind her the songs come alive in a way that's just impossible recreate as a solo artist. 

Rob St. John (myspace)

Rob brought down the tempo a bit and the crowd gave him the attention he deserves. His heartfelt songs warmed the bellies of popsters and folksters alike.

Eagleowl (myspace)

The Owls just get better and better. They're tighter, more confident and just seem to enjoy playing a lot more than they used to. Their EP was one of the highlights of 2008 and you still can (and should) get it from their website

So, will there be a second live night next month? I sure hope so.

The first "class photo" of year 2009

Back row, l-r: Ian, Rob, Malcolm, Nik, Bart, Bill

Front row, l-r: Clarissa, Elizabeth, Paul

The only performer missing from the picture is Monster Bobby.

So, I'm putting on a show...

...and it will be awesome.

Eagleowl myspace

Rob St. John myspace

Allo, Darlin' myspace

Moustache of Insanity myspace

New year, new blog...

I feel like writing again. That's why I'm here. New year, new blog. We'll see how long it lasts.

Went to The George Tavern last night for a very pleasant evening of random musical treats. Two acts caught my acts:

Talons - myspace

and

Wounded Knee - myspace

Drew Wright aka Wounded Knee and Malcolm Benzie from Eagleowl (myspace) last night waiting for a bus that never came.