popfests and owls etc

Ok...so there's ALOT going on in London Town this week. In fact, there's so much going on that I should really just hide at home and not do anything. But, that's probably not going to happen. So, the problem is...what to do without getting completely OD-ing on live music.

The London Popfest starts on Thursday and even if I know it's gonna be a lot of fun, I don't really feel a desperate need to see anything. Everything looks good, but nothing on the line-up really screams at me (apart from Allo Darlin' of course, who might actually literally scream at me if I don't go...haha..just kidding...but I know they have some surprises up their collective sleeves for this show, so I really wouldn't want to miss it). Anyway, the popfest doesn't really need me to be excited about it, they're doing just fine without me and in general there are no tickets left anyway. The main reason for going would be to see friends and I guess that's a good a reason as any, so we'll see. But, as I said, it's not just popfest this week...

The Popfest kicks off on Thursday 25th february with Withered Hand (solo) and more at Cafe OTO. Of course I'd like to see Dan play and Camila from WeePOP! is DJing, but it is of course sold out and even if it wasn't there's also Shearwater at the Scala, Casio Kids at Barfly and of course Fuzzy Star at The Betsey.

On Friday The Just Joans are playing at the Buffalo Bar, which would be fun, but is also mega sold out anyway....I think.

On Saturday it's the big Popfest all-dayer at the 100 Club, with Ballboy, Shrag, Allo Darlin etc, but it is also the day of Owl Parliament at Union Chapel with Mount Eerie, Darren Hayman, Emmy The Great etc.

On Sunday there's a bunch of things happening at the Lexington, but I have a deadline for Monday and doubt I will be in the mood to do much.

Then finally next Monday, Pit er Pat are back in town. This is perhaps the most exciting live music thing happening over the next seven days and I really can't miss that.

London Popfest website

Owl Parliament website

Paul Baribeau

I've written about Paul Baribeau before, but he's absolutely amazing, so here we go again. Paul's a guy from Michigan and is currently releasing music on ubermega-fair-and-legit-DIY-with-some-erious-street-cred label plan-it-x, who is also home to a bunch of other awesome artists including Best Friends Forever and Ghost Mice.

He writes modern folk songs that are simple and instantly accessible, but also extremely moving. Every single song is straight from the heart, zero bullshit, no metaphors, just hard core emotions laid bare for whoever wants to listen. And listen you should, cause he deserves to be heard.

Most of his recordings are just him and an acoustic guitar, but he has also recorded some stuff with a full band, under the name Yikes Baribeau.

A few songs for you to sample, all through mediafire.

Paul Baribeau - Through The Walls (Demo)

Paul Baribeau - Ten Things (from the album Grand Ledge)

Yikes Baribeau - Nervous Feet (From Yikes Baribeau - download the whole release for free from $Big Record Label$

Paul Baribeau myspace

Paul's blog/website

You can buy his music from a variety of online outlets, but I would recommend getting it straight from plan-it-x

California Dreaming

It's absolutely freezing outside and the summer seems veeeeeeery far away. But, what did I expect when I chose London? Anyway, in my head I've been living in California for the past few weeks and I thought I'd share some of the sounds that have been keeping me from going insane.

Let's start with Christmas Island, a band from San Diego that I've completely fallen in love with. Their most recent release, a seven-inch called Nineteen, is one of the best things I've heard in a long time. If I had heard it when it was released last year, both the a-side and the b-side would have been contenders for my songs of the year. This song is from their debut album by the same name, an amazing collection of near-perfect garage pop-punk-rock awesomeness. Think a lo-fi and slightly dead-pan and punky Beach Boys covered in distorted fuzz, with songs covering all important topics like love, growing old, partying until you black out and...dinosaurs. It's straight from the heart, extremely charming and despite the themes, never silly.

Christmas Island - Blackout Summer (mp3, Mediafire link)

Christmas Island Myspace

Next up is Best Coast, a girl from Los Angeles, with songs that just scream "Sunny California" so much they even make the London weather seem ok. Mellow and catchy, Best Coast is a modern take on the Everly Brothers/Beach Boys or really just all things 60's. This song is from the Art Fag seven-inch and also brings to mind 60's girl groups like The Shangri-Las...which really isn't a bad thing.

Best Coast - That's The Way Boys Are (mp3, Mediafire link)

Best Coast Myspace

And finally, a band that needs no introduction, San Fransisco's Brilliant Colors. Now on Slumberland Records, they've been getting A LOT of coverage over the past year. Debut album 'Introducing...' is a great little boost of energy, sounding like a mix of the Shop Assistants, Vivian Girls and maybe a dose of Amelia Fletcher. However, it's the 'Make A Mess' EP that's closest to my heart. Much less polished than the album, it's over before you have time to tell anyone how great it is. Short but soooo sweet.

Brilliant Colors - I'm Sixteen (mp3, Mediafire link)

Brilliant Colors Myspace

Both Christmas Island and Best Coast are playing South By South-West....just over a month to go!!! Yay! Yay! Now, go out and buy their records.....if you can find them....it's proving rather hard :(

Photos from 22nd January, 2009

Took a roll of film with the old lomo camera. Some of them turned out pretty nice. A selection...

Greg from Lofty Heights, during the "experimental" ending to their set

Sweet Baboo


Withered Hand coming out to play. I forgot to wind the film, but let's say it was intentional.

Withered Hand

Withered Hand

Music, music, music....

Finally starting to feel human again after an extremely busy and music-heavy weekend. It all kicked off on Thursady at The Luminaire with the Hexicon single launch party. It was great to see Hexicon at a proper venue, with proper sound and all that jazz. They boys were on top form, excited that the single was out and that an album release seems within reach. I can't remember exactly how long, but their album has been several years in the making. I've listened through it a good few times and I can only say it has been worth the wait. It sounds great!

Hexicon rockin out with guest appearances form Elizabeth of Allo Darlin and Virgina (former member of Allo Darlin')

The Luminaire is a difficult venue to fill and unfortunately there wasn't a huge amount of people there for the support bands, but by the time Hexicon hit the stage there was a respectable amount of people in the room. They played pretty much all the tracks off the upcoming album, and despite them all being great, the highlight for me was Cutting Limes, a newer song which hasn't made it on to the album, but which is absolutely incredible.

On Friday was my big night. Withered Hand at a completely sold out Wilmington Arms. Unfortunately Time Out did a biggish write-up of the gig after we had already sold all the tickets, so a fair few people showed up at the venue, only to be told they couldn't get in. But, I can't really complain too much. It was a sold out show after all.

Withered Hand soundcheck

Lofty Heights started off the evening with their melodic folky ballads. With a stripped-down set-up of only guitar and lap steel, it was a perfect start to the night. Sweet Baboo was great as usual, but unfortunately the room started to get a bit rowdy and a fair amount of people paid him no respect whatsoever and kept talking throughout his set. It was really a shame, since he is one of the most amazing British artists I've heard in a long time and really deserved better than that. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do in those situations, except for trying to tell people to shut the fuck up. Which I did. Anyway, he coped with it admirably and didn't seem too disappointed afterwards.

After two quiet bands it was time for Withered Hand, with a full band – drums, bass, guitar, cello, banjo, backing singers – the whole schebang. By this time, most people, myself included, had had a fair amount to drink and the band couldn't really do anything wrong. They stomped through pretty much every song I've ever heard (except the Christmas Song) and people were singing along and even requesting repeat plays. Finally, after a whole hour on stage and past the curfew for music they finished off the set with a cover in homage to Vic Chesnutt, who I'm sure you know recently passed away. A great ending to a great night.

On Saturday evening , we headed down to The Flowerpot on Kentish Town Road, where Internet Forever were playing a free show. Unfortunately, we got there in time to see the support band, who were one of the worst bands I've seen in a long time. The Flowerpot is an odd venue. It's not very nice and on a Saturday night any music venue with free entry in this part of town will be a bit of a "weirdo magnet". Anyway, Internet Forever took to the stage and played a short-but-sweet set to a not terribly excited audience. Not the best place for them to play and I would really like to see them at a proper venue…or just in a nicer place really.

Internet Forever

Apologies for photo quality. These were all taken with my phone. Proper photos from the Withered hand show should be up soon.

Tonight

A little late shouting about this, but if you're free this evening you should really come down to Kilburn. I've been treated to an advance copy of Hexicon's upcoming album and it's well worth the wait....and what a wait it has been. Luminaire tonight. Be there.

First Moustache show of the year!

And it's gonna be awesome...

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Now, that really is an awesome line-up! Get your tickets from http://www.wegottickets.com/event/70139