It's been a while since I posted one of these...but, I was rummaging around in an old image hosting account. These photos are from the summer of 2004, before I even got my first digital camera.
Hmmm...I guess I must have borrowed one from a friend.
Those were the days, weren't they? I realise there is one other happy snapper caught in one of the below photos, but that's ok. There wasn't enough digital cameras around to get annoyed about. No endless sea of little lit-up screens in front of you at every single gig. I know I'm guilty of being "one of those annoying people" at times as well. But, I'm trying to cut down.
I remember being introduced to Polysics by the TV show Adam and Joe Go Tokyo. They were the musical guests in one of the episodes and just blew me away with their DEVO-on-crazy-pills antics. When they announced a Glasgow show, there was no way in hell I was going to miss out.
And while I'm at it, here's a video for their song I My Me Mine...
Here are some photos and a video from last night's Allo Darlin' show. The band was great as usual and the new songs work beautifullly live.
So, what happens when you keep your camera in a tote bag, then take it into a really warm venue...
Voila! Homemade hipstamatic! That's what happens.
Eventually, it will thaw...
Here's a video of Allo Darlin' playing The Letter, a new song from their upcoming album Europe, which will be released in the spring by Fortuna POP! in the UK/Europe and Slumberland Recrds in the US of A.
Awesome!
Allo Darlin' will be heading out on a UK tour in February, followed by a massive US tour in April/May. Visit their website(www.allodarlin.com) for details.
Last night was great. Two amazing bands playing to a crowd of 40 people in a little basement in Hackney. That's how you're supposed to experience live music.
Allo Darlin...
The Wave Pictures playing an old classic...Now You Are Pregnant
Here goes...the ten best/most memorable gigs I've been to this year.
10. Let's Wrestle (26th February 2011, The Victory)
This one was a hard one to decide on. I've been to so many great shows this year...but there can only be ten in a top-10. Maybe it's unfair to pick a gig that I can't really remember much of...all I know is that I had a lot of fun. It was dirty, smelly and hideously cramped but I was too drunk to care. I'm pretty sure it was awesome!
9. The Death Set (13th April 2011, Old Blue Last)
The show that almost didn't happen. The Death Set were meant to play the night before, but had to cancel because of some transport issues. I can't remember happened exactly, but they didn't get to the venue in time for curfew anyway. Luckily, the venue managed to find a slot for them the following night. It was my first time seeing them live and it was just as great as I'd imagined.
8. Withered Hand, Standard Fare and Tigercats (9th February 2011, Catch)
The only show I promoted this year, but it sure was a good one. It didn't matter that it was unbelievably packed, uncomfortable and almost impossible to see anything. All three bands were incredible that night.
7. Allo Darlin' (Greg's garden)
I've seen Allo Darlin' play all sorts of venues this year, but this was probably the one I enjoyed the most. Playing in the garden at a friend's birthday party, the band came alive in a different way than normal. I love how these kind of small shows makes bands relax and just have fun.
6. Half Japanese (31st May 2011, The Scala)
I had seen Half Japanese play an amazing show in Barcelona just a couple of days earlier, but this was even better. Everything was spot on. They played all the the songs I wanted to hear and Jad made full use of his amazing bendy guitar.
And with support from Let's Wrestle and The Lovely Eggs of course this was an awesome evening!
5. Times New Viking, Veronica Falls (3rd May 2011, XOYO)
This was a great night. I hadn't seen Veronica Falls for a long time and was really excited about hearing some new stuff. They certainly didn't disappoint and I rememeber being blown away by how great they were live. Times New Viking are always awesome and this show was no different. To finish off a great set they tried to play Fuck Her Tears (one of my favorite tracks on the new record) twice, before giving up. The guitar strings just couldn't handle it and snapped during the intro both times. Great end to an awesome show.
4. Humousexual (25th February 2011, Andrew's living room in Notting Hill)
Now this is what I'm talking about! It doesn't get much better than a proper bedroom show. Humousexual in a small bedroom, playing to just a handful of people. This was very special indeed.
3. Japanther (14th February 2011, Tufnell Park Dome)
I've seen Japanther five or six times and it's never been less than amazing. This show in North London was one of the best. The atmosphere was just unbelievable. Not many bands can get a London crowd going like these guys can.
2. Math The Band x 3 (Guildford/Harlow/Tunbridge Wells, October 2011)
I'd been wanting to see Math The Band for a looooong time and I never expected to have to thank Wheatus for finally making it happen. Kevin and Justine were invited to join the more-than-just-a-little-older-than-teenage dirtbags on an insane UK tour that lasted something ridiculous like five weeks.
I skipped the London show and instead decided to visit some nearby towns and venues I'd never been to. It was weird and great on so many different levels. Great to see one of my favorite bands play to a packed venue...weird that it was happening in Harlow, Guildford and Tunbridge Wells....and even weirder that they were supporting Wheatus, a band that played my University graduation ball ten years ago!
Anyway, every single show was great and the only thing I regret now is not going to more of them.
Finally...
1. Weezer (6th July 2011, Brixton Academy)
I know Weezer doesn't really need the publicity and in general I tend to prefer smaller gigs, so this might come as a surprise. But, the thing is...Weezer at Brixton Academy was just unbelievably AMAZING!
Reading that makes me want to go to that show again and again and again and again...you get the point. And Male Bonding were supporting! Best gig of 2011. FACT!
That's it. My ten gigs of 2011. Many awesome shows have been left out. Other incredible gigs that spring to mind are Proper Ornaments at Power Lunches, Pulp in Hyde Park, Enfant Bastard in Edinburgh, Cloud Nothings at CAMP Basement, Omi Palone at Duke Of Uke, Best Friends Forever and The Middle Ones at the Old Blue Last, Anguish Sandwich at Indietracks, Spaghetti Tree weekend in Peckham (with Japanther, Please, John Maus etc) and the awesomeness that was Primavera Sound in Barcelona.
Bring on 2012! I noticed on Songkick that my teenage heroes Guttermouth are playing in London in March. I might have to go, just for old times' sake. One of the first big concerts I ever went to was to see them support The Offspring in Gothenburg in 1994. Shit, I feel old.
Power Lunches is a nice little place on Kingsland Road, near Haggerston overground. It kinda reminds me of Cake Shop in New York, with a lovely cafe upstairs and a somewhat dingy (but nice) venue downstairs.
Last night, Humousexual were playing a London gig, something which doesn't happen very often. Last time I saw them was back in February when they played a bedroom in Notting Hill. Victor and Boitel were in great form, playing the hits, as well as some new songs. They have new CD out that you may or may not be able to order from Everard Records...and if you can then you should. I haven't had the chance to listen yet, but of course it's gonna be awesome.
A short youtube clip of Get On Yr Bike...
Later on, it was time for Anguish Sandwich. They played The Reading Festival this summer, as proven here by the official Reading Festival t-shirt.
Somewhere right between Henry Rollins and Descendents, which is not bad place to be on a t-shirt.
Anyway, they were awesome as usual and even treated us to some new songs.
They've been threatening to take their current EP off bandcamp, so hurry over and get while you still can.
I've been neglecting this blog for the last month or so. Reason? Well, to be honest, I just haven't felt like writing about anything. But, this morning I thought it was time to get back into it.
First, some tour stories. The band I'm in, Moustache of Insanity, went to Vienna last weekend to play a couple of shows.
We left London horribly early on Thursday morning, meaning we arrived in Vienna feeling like shit. We got to our hostel, had a nap, drank some beer, practised some songs and wrote a set list. I also realised that my keyboard was not doing that well after August's blood-soaked album launch party. Fake blood and keyboards just don't go that well together.
In the end it didn't really matter. My keyboard was probably the least of our problems that evening, the biggest one being a drunken audience member. I can't remember her name, but she decided it would be hilarious to keep grabbing the mic, dancing on the stage and just being weird. I suppose it was pretty funny, to a certain extent anyway. In the end it was just annoying. She seemed to prefer our faster songs. Or at least I assume she did. During the slower ones she kept shouting "This is conventional bullshit". Anyway, I guess she did manage to divert attention from our set and obvious lack of practise.
We made it through the set, feeling reasonably satisfied. It wasn't great, but far from the worst show we've done. And people seemed to like it. Even drunk girl, who assured us that if she hadn't liked it she would have left the gig early.
In the end it was a great night. We met loads of lovely people and drank loads of Austrian beer. We even sold some records. Success!
On Friday we went exploring. Highlight of the sightseeing was a shop called Elektro Popp, run by a man called Konrad Popp. How awesome is that?
We also saw a bunch of awesome graffiti and a levitating man.
The levitating man was slightly more impressive before we figured his trick out. Well, at least we assumed we knew what was going on.
On Friday evening we played in our friend Costa's living room. This was an awesome show, much more relaxed. It probably helped that there was no weird girl shouting abuse at us during songs.
Jad Fair Drew Me A Duck
And Bill got to play an axe! A real axe. AXE!
Another day, another hangover…and more sightseeing. On Saturday, we saw a flak tower, bought some records and Bill wore a rather colourful cardigan.
That's about it. Sunday was spent recovering and wandering around Vienna…again. It's a cool place. We had loads of fun and hopefully we'll be back.
I'm Nik, a Swede in the wonderful mess that is London. I watch a lot of films and I listen to a lot of music.
I mainly seem to write about films these days, but occasionally I do post about music. If you want me to remove a song, send me an email (recordsmakegreatpets@gmail.com) and I will remove it immediately. If you like what you hear, please support the bands by buying their albums and going to their shows.
