Imagine That It's Eleventh Grade, But Nothing's Cool At All

Thanks JAPANTHER. I think i have a crush on you.
They played last night at WestGermany, with THE GOOD GOOD openin' up for them.
The awesome Japanther banner was hanging behind the stage. Big and black with the silver letters. It's very impressive. The almighty gallons of sweat, the pink and yellow telephone receiver-mics, the bart simpson t shirt, the nasty stage dive, also very impressive.



The Good Good were amazing and great. Their lead singer lady said, "it's really cool to see all these rad ladies up in the front." She sings and plays her keyboard, guitar and siren with the fervour of a child at play. A sample they used in one of their songs was a recorded conversation she had with her father from when she was 5. The band have this frenetic energy, lead by their insanely fast drummer. Shouting, clapping, drumming, bleeps and bloops coming from a siren thingy with buttons. THIS BAND IS SO CLASS. I loved their ghetto equipment:

Check out this high-hat. It looks like it got attacked by a dinosaur.


The floor tom kept falling over. the lead singer of Japanther was on hand to hop over fix it. he was up the front rocking out for the whole thing.

And the drum machine thing. Held together with those elastic-y bike things with hooks at the end. Aw!


Twas a great night in Dr Pong on Tuesday.

Were you there?
Thanks for comin'.
There was alot of people. It got really hot. And i was a bit nervous.

It looks like i'll be djing at the inaugural opening of the Curators Without Borders gallery this Saturday night, Brunnen Str. 5. It starts at 6 and i'm djing from 7 til 11 (if it doesn't get shut down). It's not confirmed but maybe im djing at the party afterwards...somewhere..

LOTS of live Sonic Youth mp3s HERE.

i know that you feel

i met kate boss tonight in monster ronson's. it was magnificent. he is from sao paulo and while i was talking to him he played the klaxons, cansei de ser sexy and the presets.

SWOON.

i like to play all them songs too.
so come along.

tomorrow (tonight - tuesday) night from 11 - Almost Tropical @ Dr. Pong, Eberswalder Str 21.

lovelovelove.

Are You the Juan?

I got home on Friday night from a week spent on tour with Planningtorock.

Planningtorock is opening for Peaches during her European jaunt this September/October.

Planningtorock is also opening for the Knife on their selection of European dates and also IN AMERICA!

Shows, shows, shows, road trips, too much whiskey. backstage, hotel bar, tour bus..when i get around to figuring out how to explain it, i will.

Check it out.

Anyways, on Friday night, after an 8 hour car trip from Munich totally squashed into a Renault with 4 complete strangers, the only thing i wanted to do was get on my bike and cycle to Rio to catch the Presets playing a show as part of the Gigolo records night.

By some nice good luck, i bumped into Peaches boyfriend at the door and he waved me in. He had accompanied his lovely girlfriend earlier that week for some of her "business trip". It was really nice of him to do that. Yay.

Rio was teaming. I gulped down a leitungswasser after my speedy bike ride and stood around. I might have looked a bit odd. My friends couldnt make it at the last minute and there was some baaaad music on that everyone was dancing to. I didn't reall care though, I just wanted to see the band!

Which was good because they came onstage pretty soon. The Presetsin all their glory ARE REALLY REALLY GREAT AND THEY DO THIS ELECTRO/LIVE PERFORMANCE THING THAT
DRIVES
ME
CRAZY

and every one else too.

Drums that will knock your socks off and dance-antics that will make you giddy like when you had too much ice-cream in your coke that one time at your best friend's 9th birthday party in 1991. REMEMBER THOSE GOOD TIMES?!

All to be repeated THIS FRIDAY in bleughMAGNETbleugh where im sure nowt of the atmosphere, but as much, if not more of the sweat will be present. I'm gettin' up the front. I don't want to miss the chance to witness Kim's fancy A$$ drumming one more time.

During the show they morphed one of their songs into a Daft Punk tune from Homework. It was genius. And they finished us off with "I Go Hard I Go Home"

I'm reposting this video BECAUSE I HAVE TO.

POWERS

At 8MM Bar you may have seen a notice that hangs precariously behind the counter; hastily scribbled and attached in a rather desultory fashion to a shelf bearing the weight of alcohol.

Powers 7” 6euros, the notice says.

This is the first ever release from Powers, featuring two startling songs, “Butchers Arms” and “Battery”, which mingle their dark and atmospheric charms in an enchanting blend of eerie vocals, noisy guitar and some seriously demented drumming.

They remind me of My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth and sometimes the Pixies.
Behold the power of Powers! They make a lot of noise for a threepiece. A band of three: drums, guitar and moog - the small size belies their big sound. Though based in beautiful Berlin the three members of the band came from England, Ireland and America. They all arrived in the city around the same time and got together to form Powers nearly a year ago. Joe used to be play drums for Add N to X, Paul is also a member of Boy$ and Jessica has been on tour lately playing moog for IAMX.

(ok, how class is that? the still from the video which is displayed until you press "play" is Jessica! It's actually my favourite shot aswell. Deadly.)



Elsewhere in Berlin, the record can also be bought at:

Freak Out
Mr. Dead & Mrs. Free
Downtown Records
Leila M
Dense,
Drehmoment
8MM BAR

In Hamburg, the record can be found in:
Zardoz
Rekord
Michelle
Burnout

the beautiful cover art was designed by Paul and his girlfriend. The band is currently working on recording new material and putting together a tour. So watch out!

Be their friend

White Trash Fast Food

Hello. I just wanted to pop in here and say I highly recommend to all of you a Sunday evening spent in White Trash Fast Food; it is surely a delightful thing.

See, on Sundays it gets real fancy at WTFF. From the glamourous broad who greets you at the door to the yummy candlelit dining and the burlesque dancer who fans her feathers at you at end of the night, fancy and fun are two really good words to describe the experience. I mean, it's still White Trash. Your maitre'd may be poised elegantly in a pin stripe suit, sipping from a glass of red wine - but check out his tats, yo. It's certainly bustling and the dj will keep you jiving in your seat as you await your Marquis de Fuck burger.

Apart from the restaurant there's a venue downstairs in a sort of cave. Bands who have played there recently include the Things, Two Gallants and Liars. And it's not just Sundays when its gonna be a good time:

**Swedish heart-melters Lampshade are playing there on October 23. Listen to "New Legs".

**And Italian dancefloor punks Hot Gossip are playing 18 Oct. Listen to "Haarp" (even though it's just a clip. It's a very tantalising clip..

I think you should go.


WTFF DOT COM

Yum.

AND WE LOVE IT!

WOAH!!!

Peaches came to town and put on a very good show. There was a giant inflatable penis, there was J.D Samson in a shiny silver get-up, swinging her keytar with a groove that made Peaches want to hump her leg alot, there was Peaches on a bike and Peaches stage-diving and there were two roadies, whose job specification seemed only to be to undress her as the show went on.

It wasn't really the theatrics of the show that really impressed me though. I'm not that familiar with previous fruits born from the Peaches tree, apart from the obvious ones...but anyway, I really like her new album. It is really good! Josh Homme and Beth Ditto are on there. YO. Her voice is gorgeous and she plays the guitar like a rock goddess. With a full band backing her up there's an almighty kick to the album and the live show is like a glam rock opera extravaganza. She finished up with that one, "Fuck the Pain Away". My favourites from the night were new one "Boys Wanna Be Her" and "Give 'Er", which Peaches definitely did.

The show attracted quite a few of the the underground Berlin musician folk. While i was working merch i saw IAMX, Robots in Disguise and one half of the Knife walking about. Swoon, thud. The after party was on in Rio. While hanging about in the dingy corridor waiting for my friend to come out of the loo I somehow rescued Peaches from the toilet she'd locked herself into. She was happy to get out...The band had Rio as a practise space for a week before this first date of the tour in Berlin. I wish i'd known..

Basically the night was quite like this video. Minus the blood! I think..Watchout it's a bit gorey.



this week was really mad and alot of stuff happened. mostly good! i dont want to say anything, i dont want to jinx it. i guess im overwhelmed and it kind of all hit me today, i didnt get up to much apart from going out for a sushi dinner and so i guess im missing out on all the fun tonight. It's the first Ca$h Money Party after the summer break, tonight in 103 Club. Dance!

Thinking That Thought

There's an unmissable show happening in Postbahnhof tomorrow night. Peaches
+
PLANNINGTOROCK.

The Show starts at 8 pm and if you're planning to go, i would be there on time as I know for a fact that venue has an early curfew and is bound to start on time.

PLANNINGTOROCK is an amazing lady. A visual artist who escaped to Berlin and started making music, she is a classically trained violinist, and her love of strings has resulted in a special issue of "Have it All" being released: a purely string (violin, cello and double bass) + accappella version of the album. Aswell as deeply rooted love for classical music, PTR's circle of friends, which includes Mocky, Kevin Blechdom and the Knife has no doubt influenced the sounds on her album.

CHECK IT OUT:

PLANNINGTOROCK - Bolton Wanderer

PLANNINGTOROCK-Think That Thought

PLANNINGTOROCK-Have it All

Peaches will have a full band with her. That means Samantha Maloney (Hole, Motley Crue, Eagles of Death Metal), Radio Sloan (Hole) and JD Samson from Le Tigre on keytar and sequencing. JD's already been spotted in Berlin this week doing some shopping in Immaculate Heart, a great little vintage/thrift store in Mitte. (Em, on a sidenote, the owner of the shop, Meg, moonlights as hairdresser, cutting hair in 8MM bar. Make an appointment!

I'm gonna be working the merch stand tomorrow night. So come over, say hi and buy some stuff. There will be some amazing t shirts designed by Kristian Goddard and also some eccentric hoodies by Chicks on Speed designer Cathi Glas. Plus special edition white vinyl copies of "Have it All" and lots, lots more...

I Started Out Strong and My Hopes Were High

SIMPLE KID DOT COM.

IT'S NEW! IT'S NICE TO LOOK AT! IT'S ABSOLUTELY LOVELY!

Upcoming SIMPLE KID Shows, Swit Swoo!
Sep 16 End Of The Road Festival Dorset near Shaftesbury
Sep 27 ICA London London
Sep 29 GALWAY Roisin Dubh Galway
Sep 30 LIMERICK Dolans Warehouse Limerick
Oct 1 CORK An Cruiscin Lan Cork
Oct 4 DUBLIN The Village Dublin
Oct 5 BELFAST Spring & Airbrake Belfast
Oct 6 DERRY Nerve Centre Derry
Oct 7 DUNDALK Spirit Store Dundalk
Oct 31 BIRMINGHAM barfly BIRMINGHAM
Nov 1 GLASGOW barfly GLASGOW
Nov 2 LEEDS The Brudenell Social Club Leeds
Nov 3 LIVERPOOL barfly LIVERPOOL
Nov 4 MANCHESTER night and day MANCHESTER
Nov 5 CARDIFF barfly CARDIFF

None in Berlin, though.

Anyways, apart from Simple Kid here are some hot dates that are actually happening in Berlin this month: woah.

Hot Chip Lido 19.09.06
The Rapture Lido 20.09.06
The Black Keys Magnet 23.09.06
JAPANTHER WestGermany 27.09.06
The Presets Magnet 29.09.06

..a rapidly diminishing bank balance + no job = me = this video = yeh.

Check it out, "Staring at the Sun" by Simple Kid...From 2003. How is it that old? i dunno, it doesn't seem like it.



THE SIMPLE KID NEWS HEADLINES:

Simple Kid will be releasing 'Serotonin' & 'The Ballad
of Elton John' at the beginning of September, it will
be available as a ltd edition 7in and digital
download.

It will be the first release on Country Gentleman
Recordings and will initially be available in the UK
and Eire. The album will follow a few weeks later and
is called 'Simple Kid 2'. The album comes with a 24 page booklet. Nice.


Full track listing:

Lil' King Kong
Self-Help Book
The Twentysomething
Old Domestic Cat
Serotonin
A Song of Stone
Mommy n Daddy
Oh Heart Don't Be Bitter
You
Love's An Enigma (pt II)

What Are You Doing Later On?

It was really sweaty in Rio last night.You Say Party! We Say Die! were on the Saturday night bill. She sings good. They have some good songs. She's not afraid to grab silly boys by the necktie, if they so much as dare to manhandle her tambourine.

In about three weeks, the Presets will play Rio.

YES.
Though, that might be a secret.
Anyways, a week LATER they'll be playing Magnet aswell. YES YES.



Exciting.

Music is My Hot Hot Sex

If you were out last night and were at Dr. Pong, THANKS!!! It was my first time djing there on such a busy night, so I was a bit scared...And then there were some hiccups (double booked djs + the sound was a bit dodgy) so i felt a bit anxious for a while. But then it was alright, and I'd like to say thanks because, well, noone threw their ping pong bat at me or anything. (Unless it was when i was bending over to flip through records and you missed, ha.) And there was dancing, and I got alot of smiles and one offer to be in a music video.

For future reference, from now on at Dr. Pong, every Thursday night is MOVIE NIGHT! (Last night's screening was "Adaptation".) Film should be over by 11ish and then PING PONG playoffs resume of course & there'll be guest djs.

I Am a Deep Sea Diver With My Fins, and Underneath Your Currents I Do Swim

(If you are out tonight come to Dr. Pong, Eberswalder Str 21. i'm djing from 11 + celebrating my 1 year Berlinniversary! Yay!)

It's quite fitting that the coat of arms for Berlin depicts a grizzly bear because when Grizzly Bear themselves took to the stage here last Tuesday night with such ease and comfort, it was like watching them in their natural habitat.

The gig started a little shakily due to some technical problems, but it was nothing that an impromptu Hot Chip cover and some sellotape couldn't fix. Hearing "Boy From School" get the Grizzly Bear treatment more than made up for the glitch in the switches. The band themselves come across as a warm and fuzzy bunch, like cuddly teddy bears that you want to bring along on your picnic, rather than ferocious attacking animals that want to have you for their picnic.
I was fairly rooted to the spot in wonderment and happiness because this was a really great gig. The ferocity that their band name suggests is found in the pounding drums and vicious guitar riffs that work so well with their dreamy vocals and thoughtful instrumentation. And how those drums are pounded! It was beyond awesome watching Christopher Bear (yes! yay!) pounding those skins. Sometimes it was like being blasted by a sound wave. At this show, it sounded like they band were working a much heavier sound than last time, when they played in WestGermany. Except of course on dreamy numbers like "the Knife". My oh my is that song the best thing ever. Like Ed said, "sometimes we rock, sometimes we don't". The contrast of two lead vocalists develops a deep richness through their psychedelic rock. Their lyrics are eerie and haunting with melodies to match, all of it flowing so well in the shape-shifting song structures like "Deep Sea Diver" and "On a Neck On a Spit".
They remind me of Mercury Rev and the Beach Boys, and some comparisons made by others include the Who.

This video made by Blogotheque is JUST SO GOOD.





Check out Gregory Nolan's photography. In particular that batch of backstage Black Wire backstage snaps! New drummer!

...The Saddest Song, It Breaks My Heart To Sing Along

A Camera Obscura show is a special thing. Never mind the queue, or the long wait for them to come onstage (the long wait which came after the awful drivel of a support band) or anything else that might have been an attempt by whatever dark forces there are in the world that try to get in the way of having a fun time. With a trumpet, more vocals please and a laughing, smiling Traceyanne Camera Obscura were able to transcend the dark forces and put on their bittersweet show.

I mean, it's a good thing there was a queue! Lots of people came out to see them! In the rain! So many in fact that they said they were nervous! Kenny grabbed the microphone, and unable to look any of the crowd in the eye said "er, sorry we're a bit nervous, we didnae think it would be so..busy!" (in a terribly charming Scottish accent, my favourite.)
They didn't elaborate too much on why the technical problems....but Traceyanne said the British press have taken to calling them "Shambles Obscura", and that, "well, ha ha we deserve it."

About a year and a half ago they played in the Sugar Club in Dublin. At the time i was completely smitten with "Teenager", my only clear memory from that gig is that one song. This time around it was much, much different. I remember the whole show! I just don't know the names, i'm bad like that.

They tweaked the set list to accomodate some rowdy fans who were shouting song titles at them, not including "Books for Girls", which they had planned to play. So it got scrapped and they played another dancey little number. People were shuffling about in the soft glow of Lido and the feeling in the air was "don't go, Camera Obscura!" They played two encores, though Traceyanne was slightly admonishing when she said "We don't normally play two. Now away wi' ye!" Ok so she didn't really say "now away wi' ye!" But i cant seem to remember anythin she did say that will allow me to unleash my Irvine Welsh writin' skillz. Sorry.

Also Scottish and my favourite is ROBBIE! I'm excited for a London update.

dinnae miss:

Grizzly Bear in Lido this TUESDAY. tickets are 10.50. More than a steal.
+
Final Fantasy, El Perro del Mar + more at Festsaal Kreuzberg, 29 September.

Ease On Over, Look at the Places That You Left Behind

Erase Errata are coming to Berlin. This! Makes! Me! Happy! They are on a pretty long tour, looks to be starting from tomorrow. They are doing lots of the dates with the Gossip in America and when they come here they are sharing the night with Les Georges Leningrad!

un cadeau.

Oct 21 at Festsaal, Kreuzberg. Skalitzer Str.134.

They are visiting Paris, and also Cork.

Oct 19 The Hub, Dublin.
Oct 20 Pine Lodge, Cork!!!!
Oct 25 Point Ephemere, Paris.

"Thank God ye're coming to Ireland. I'll see ye for the Dublin and Cork dates. Now I can plan my holidays." - a nice comment on their myspace page.

They're even going to Australia.

Erase Errata dot com

I knew Peaches was gonna have a full band with her this time. But i didnt really think about who it'd be. Well how bout J.D Samson! On keytar! And sequencing! This girl is having a pretty f-ing cool year. She's in one of the best funtime bands already. Then she gets to be serenaded by Senior (see below) and now is goin' on tour with Peaches. That video might just be the best thing of 2006, and probably ever. Drumming for Peaches is Samantha Maloney, swit swoo!

...Would You Go Along With Someone Like Me?

i knew it was Victora Bergsman from the Concretes singin' along.




..and the REAL video:



Peter Bjorn and John are coming to Berlin!

They will be in Magnet on September 14th (with Little Man Tate)

Yay.

Thanks to Shane for introducin' me.

Can You Cut, I Can Cut, 'Cause I'm a Rough Gem

It's always the best gigs that are the hardest to talk about.



Here goes nothing.

See, about two weeks ago, Islands came to Berlin to play in Bastard. This band has a history that is a bit mad really. Having the founders of the Unicorns in the line up and a list of pals including Regine and Win no doubt helped to attract the big crowd that turned up, and ensured an exciting and happy buzz in the air as we hung about in anticipation. The instruments waiting onstage were glimmering gently in the soft glow from the array of beautiful antique lights: saxaphone sexy bass clarinet, several violins, oboe, lots of guitars, and hidden in the back, drums.



The band took to the stage, making a wave through the crowd as they walked through, shaking tambourines. It was like the end of year class show. One of my friends there that evening said the band's lineup looks like a pretty typical slice of Canadian life. The seven Islanders reached for their instruments with solemnity and mischief. I think the human body makes the beautiful shape when it's held in position to play the violin. Also its quite beautiful to see someone playing the violin maintaining the correct posture while somehow letting go to the music, in an insane jitterbug fashion. The only girl in the band, Kate Perkins and brothers Alex and Sebastian Chow who all played the violin so impressively that night had all the best moves, definitely.

Islands are not twee and i like them for that. The doo-doo's and Hawaii-esque pop sounds belie the dark lyrical content and deeply talented musicianship which this group has.

They've had some really pretty t shirts deigned especially for their european tour by Rebecca Turbow. Swoon, thud.

Powers...

I like Powers.
I liked them when I saw them playing in Trickster a couple of months ago, when the sound was quite bad..and some other disadvantageous elements were affecting their performance, so to speak. ROCK N ROLL!..Anyway, I love their onstage dynamic: Paul facing away from the crowd, concentrating wholly on his guitar; Jessica determinedly working the moog and Joe, he's like a whip on the drums. On Saturday after we saw them play, a friend pointed out how she likes Paul and Jessica's aura of calm on either side of the stage, facing slightly inwards so they frame the centrepiece that is Joe.



They were the first band on the Moshi Moshi stage which was inside a barn? of sorts...It's been four months since i first saw them play, and it's really great to see how much progress their live performance has made. Their music is dark and raw and menacing, but also jangly and making you want to dance. They certainly have a big sound for a 3-piece. When Jessica sings its hard to make out the words. It's like she's singing in some kind of alien language, which certainly contributes to the air of mystery and intrigue the band exudes when onstage. They seem to play as if only for themselves. Jessica's voice seems more confident and much stronger - she has been moonlighting for IAMX, it seems like it's been a good experience for her. Check her out in the vid for "President".
real Berliners may be jaded with their native city, but Powers are another example of expatriots who have come to Berlin and found the inspiration to make really good music. An englishman, an irishman and an american girl walk into a bar..nyard...

Their 7 inch is the first release on 8MM Records. White vinyl, yo:
A. Battery B. Butcher's Arms
6 EUROs + shipping.

Powers' space
8MM Bar
Joe Dilworth.
Moshi Moshi

TONIGHT ISLANDS ARE PLAYING IN BASTARD! TOMORROW NIGHT IM DJING IN DR. PONGS. YOU SHOULD COME!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Thieves of Burning Cars Encirle Poisened Rivers, Minds and Hearts.

*****************************************

First day of Berlin Festival is OVER!

I'm pretty wrecked after it, in a good way. This was my only festival this summer and it was a good time. i set off this morning with my bag packed full of festival necessities: sun lotion, full batteries in my camera and rice cakes. Arriving early at the festival grounds we heard the rock'n'roll Humanzi getting it on at the main stage. They were the first band of the day, and playing to less than 10 people. ha ha! The er, less than huge crowd didn't stop them from ripping it up though, they were one of my favourite bands of the day.




The first time i saw them was when they played a special set for the Voices From A Room programme. (This bit of tv on RTE 1 is a gem: live performances taking place in a small church in beautiful Co. Kerry.) The night Humanzi play they are introduced by the inimitable John Kelly like this: "Sometimes I despair about young people. Alot of them want to sit in their bedrooms and strum acoustic guitars - don't even think about plugging them in. But every so often you get your faith restored. Here's a noisy bunch: HUMANZI."

They are indeed noisy. Their lyrical content is quite bleak, the second last song of their set with a song about the apocalypse, for example. I wouldn't really recommend** watching that archived show, the band were a million times deadlier today. Deadly = Dub speak for REALLY F-ING GOOD! Lead singer Shaun Mulrooney is looking a damn sight healthier for one, and also quite easy on the eyes, maybe its the haircut or the tight jeans, the slimmer waist or perhaps less booze and fags, more band practise. ?? Well done anyway Shaun. Swoon, thud. Their next gig is on a night called Kill All Hippies in 333 Club. If you're in London on August 8th, i definitely recommend going to see them.

My 2nd favourites of the day were Hot Club de Paris!
YAY! THIS! BAND! IS! AMAZINGLY! FUN! AND! GREAT! Inside, on the Moshi Moshi stage, they beckoned the crowd closer to the stage and opened their set by standing together all three in a row, hands clasped behind their backs, eyes to the heavens, thus serenading us with a little song about themselves. They were so delightfully happy and cheeky - its hard not to fall in deep smit with a band doing sweet harmonies, beatboxing, singing witty lyrics and rocking out all at the same time. Do check out the live dates listed on their myspace page. Their live show is NOT TO BE MISSED!!!!!!!!! It was a nice moment when their bass player snapped a string, the bass player from Kubichek (who was in the crowd enjoying the show) ran off and got his to hand up onstage for a lend. Nice.

The festival setting was slightly surreal as part of the grounds, around the corner from the main stage, were sectioned into a sort of petting zoo. In between bands, we visited the pigs, goats, deer, hamsters and peacock. Amazing!



Klaxons. They have the best t-shirts. They have done a cover of a dodgy old 90's dance tuuuuuune, the one that goes like, "it's all over, it's all over, it's all over, it's all over nowwwwww." Grace, "It's Over Now". I coulnd't believe my ears. These boys...hitting all those high notes. Before the band began, several rowdy members of the crowd were doing their own vocal rendition of the "Atlantis to Interzone" keyboard bits: "WAAAAAAIIIIIIII, OH OH OH". This made the Klaxons laugh. So did the answer "YOU!" when they asked, "who was the best band of the day?". One of the guitarists took over the mic for the last song and jumped in the crowd. He has bright green converse. The other wore a bright pink cardi. Theres alot going on with this band. They're singing obscure/mushy lyrics to their indie-rave-what-have-you,
while looking surly and wearing their grannies fleurescent cardigans. They were totally out of tune for "Gravity's Rainbow" which was kind of funny and disconcerting, they were all singing together out of tune like one key higher or something. The keyboardist had programmed one of his keys to play the word "WICKEDDDD" whenever he pressed it. THEY ARE SO GREAT.




Sorry i'm such a girl and have decorated this post with nothing but sweaty boys.


Humanzi, Kill All Hippies Gig Flyer - pass it on
Hot Club de Paris
Berlin Festival
Klaxons.net
Other Voices, RTE
Kubicheck
Moshi Moshi Records
Nice bedtime story

**I would however recommend watching this. Amy and Torque from Stars shine a light on why Canada's music scene has been blossoming in recent years, plus nice live performance bits and more talking. Other artist's performances you can check out there are Duke Special, Bell X1, Jose Gonzalez, Jape, Rufus Wainright, Mark Lanegan, The Thrills....

Nice Day For Your Shop To Get Busy

i love the news today.

******************************
BECK IS MAKING A HIP HOP ALBUM

....THE COVER ART IS GONNA BE STICKERS

******************************
THE ROOTS ARE SAMPLING RADIOHEAD ON THEIR NEW ALBUM. "YOU AND WHOSE ARMY" IS ON THE TRACK "ATONEMENT" ON THEIR NEW ALBUM "GAME THEORY". THERE ARE NO STICKERS INVOLVED BUT IT'LL PROBLY GET STUCK IN YOUR HEAD KNOWING THE ROOTS. AND KNOWING RADIOHEAD.

GET STUCK IN here or here.

..wow. this track is really reminiscent of "You Got Me". Pang.

******************************
DIVINE COMEDY WANT YOU TO MAKE THE VIDEO FOR THEIR NEW SONG, "TO DIE A VIRGIN".

*****************************
IM GOING TO BERLIN FESTIVAL....I THINK

Klaxons!
Islands!
My Latest Novel!



Powers!
Shout Out Louds!
the Raveonnettes!
Echo and the Bunnymen!
Hot Club de Paris!

*****************************

GERRY RYAN PLAYED THE PIPETTES ON THE BIGGEST NATIONAL RADIO STATION IN IRELAND, PROBLY THIS MORNING! I WAS HAVING A CUP OF TEA AND I SAID TO MYSELF "THAT SOUNDS LIKE..NO IT CANT BE..VIOLINS?...PULL SHAPES!!!!!!!"...I NEARLY SPLUTTERED MY TEA ALL OVER MY LAPTOP. GERRY SAID, "doesn't that sound like something Phil Spector would have come up with in the 1960's (he soundeded very pleased with himself here) Very fresh and lively! Now, lets talk about expensive alcahol....."

MORE ABOUT THE STICKERS, THEN:

beck said,

"it's all stickers...
It's really pretty amazing.
The artwork is laid out in stickers,
it's modular, the cover is blank
and you get a sheet of stickers
and you make your own cover."

Do You Feel My Heart Beating?

Last night at West Germany there were some bands! It's probably one of my favourite venues in Berlin. Probably because it's run by two of the loveliest expatriots in Berlin, with the fanciest irish accents, Paul and Fitz. Probably because its homed in a dilapidated doctor's office - of which the ceiling (or lack thereof) is probably my favourite feature.

Cupcake lived up their name and were quite yummy. They took up the whole stage and then some with two sets of drums, electric and bass guitar, singer on keyboards and a girl sitting quaintly on a chair just offstage finger-pickin' on an acoustic guitar. The sound was really good, though it was a shame we didnt really get to hear the acoustic guitar at all, except this one time before the rest of the band kicked in. They performed a batch of really hot treats..about halfway through their set as I was texting a friend about them, in that moment I was getting some interesting flavours: there was a satistying and crunchy Sonic Youth centre with some extra added Bloc Party nuggets plus a sprinkling of Hole. Their music makes you want to dance and i think their songs would have had us all in a stomp if it hadnt been so damn hot and perhaps if there'd been just a few more people there. Included in the set was a song inspired by "the band who sings that song 'close your eyes..give me your hand, darlin'...'". A ripple went through the crowd of people turning to their neighbour, scratching their heads and asking "Who sang that song again?". Funny. Their set was quite short, i guess because they were on first. I hope i'll get to see them again somewhen somewhere around beautiful Berlin.



On the way up there we noticed that the stairwell has been newly painted a rather disgusting pastel puke green colour. Unfortunately the West Germany management is asking that the walls remain untarnished, probably the best warning sign ever, though. i'm not sure which is worse - the ugly graffiti tags or the new paint job...im not anti graffiti, but the previous mess of tagging was pointless and boring..

When he's not going on mad jaunts in the tour bus with Erase Errata et al, Fitz djs. At the moment he's djing once a month in Paloma bar. He has a deadly record collection: "never leave the house without it" he said, brandishing some Thin Lizzy vinyl, though last night was more French 60s pop. It's tiny and amazing in there. Up the 2nd set of stairs over from West Germany as you go towards Kaisers.

i never knew that Tiffany was doing a cover!

Tommy James and the Shondells, "I Think We're Alone Now"

children behave, indeed.

Oh, Kelly

I've loved Cut Copy for a long time. Signed up for the newsletter and everything. They make this music that makes you sad and want to dance at the same time. kind of like Interpol? Not musically, but the way you feel..


Cut Copy, "Going Nowhere".

i discovered the Presets somehow this week. i can't get this song out of my head. it's amazing...and has clapping.




Today i stumbled upon this. I'm in love.


"Kelly" by Van She

not sure but i think they are, all of them, australian and on the same label. ha ha! thats not how i discovered them though. anyway. im happy.

i just had my first split-from-the-band-due-to-creative-differences experience. it was a good time.

if you go here you can download some crazy shit.