Wednesday, June 27, 2007

The Gigwatcher 27/06/2007

Here come the drums, here come the drums.

So it's Splitsville for Preston and Chantelle. Shame, I really thought that relationship was going to last, what with the chivalrous way he stormed off Never Mind The Buzzocks last series, Simon Amstell's mocking tones still ringing in his ears.

I wonder if they have to pay back the £300,000 they got for the wedding photos?

*koff*

Guess not.

Moving swiftly on, here's what I found listed in the back pages of this week's NME:

The Checks @ Unit22, Southampton - 28/07/2007
Just Jack @ The Dome, Brighton - 02/10/2007
The Cribs @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 14/10/2007
Bowling For Soup & Bloodhound Gang @ Brighton Centre - 20/10/2007
Kate Nash @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 21/10/2007
Bowling For Soup & Bloodhound Gang @ BIC, Bournemouth - 21/10/2007
Kate Nash @ Concorde2, Brighton - 24/10/2007
Kaiser Chiefs @ BIC, Bournemouth - 22/11/2007

I'll update the SoMC Events Calendar with the above gigs when I get a spare five minutes (i.e. when my brain needs a break from the weighty Windows XP MCSE Training Kit that I'm poring over at the moment in a vain attempt to improve my Microsoft Wizardry). Handily enough the Events Calendar is just full of many lovely lovely gigs, like these for example:

The Derrin Nauendorf Band @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 28/06/2007
The Mustangs @ The Tap, Portsmouth - 28/06/2007
The Corridors @ Little Johnny Russells, Portsmouth - 28/06/2007
Smokey Robinson @ BIC, Bournemouth - 28/06/2007
Dead!Dead!Dead! @ The Railway Inn, Winchester - 29/06/2007
Delphic Oracle & The Fret @ Black, Portsmouth - 29/06/2007
Huw Lloyd-Langton @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 29/06/2007
Steve Arnott @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 29/06/2007
The Bog Rolling Stones @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 29/06/2007
Limehouse Lizzy @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 29/06/2007
The Cool Banana Junkyard Show @ Havana Bar, Southsea - 30/06/2007
Dlugokecki @ The Joiners, Southampton - 30/06/2007
UFO @ The Brook, Southampton - 30/06/2007
Ricky Tick @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 30/06/2007
Contra & Eve's Only Son @ Black, Portsmouth - 30/06/2007
Graham Bonnet @ The Brook, Southampton - 01/07/2007
The Elements @ The Bandstand, Southsea - 01/07/2007 (free afternoon entertainment)
Remain Silenced @ The Joiners, Southampton - 01/07/2007
Suzanne Vega @ The Dome, Brighton - 02/07/2007
Scouting For Girls @ The Joiners, Southampton - 02/07/2007
I'm From Barcelona @ Concorde2, Brighton - 16/07/2007
Sly & The Family Stone @ The Opera House, Bournemouth - 28/07/2007
Attilla The Stockbroker @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 12/08/2007
iLiKETRAiNS @ The Joiners, Southampton - 13/09/2007
King Creosote @ The Joiners, Southampton - 14/09/2007
Turisas @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 23/09/2007
Cara Dillon @ New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth - 24/11/2007

The Brook's survival is looking more secure; apparently a number of interested parties have made overtures to the liquidators though any announcement on a new owner is some way off. In the meantime the venue has announced that tickets for next month are back on sale. Highlights for July include ex-Rainbow singer Graham Bonnet, bluegrass rockers Hayseed Dixie, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and local Pink Floyd tribute band Perfect Alibi. As always more information can be found on the venue's website.

In addition to this Sunday's regular free afternoon entertainment at Southsea Bandstand, 70's tribute acts Platinum Abba and Saturday Night Beaver will be playing there in the evening. The FREE fun starts at 1930 and runs through till 2230 (at which point there'll be a firework display to light your way home).

Little Johnny Russell's are inviting local bands to take part in the inaugural Rocker Soccer Tournament, to be held on Saturday 4th August 2007 at Roko in Hilsea. This 5-a-side competition will take the form of a World Cup-style tournament (groups and rounds I'm guessing) to prove, once and for all, who really is the best band in Portsmouth (with a football, obviously). More information is available on the Rocker Soccer MySpace.

The Gosport Waterfront Festival returns this weekend though, after the complaints from Gunwharf residents, it's again decamped to Walpole Park. Building on last year's success the FREE festival begins on Friday 29th June with performances from local acts Recreation, Gilkicker and The Elements, with 70's favourites Mungo Jerry headlining. Super Fly, Kelly's Tattoo and a sadly Noddy-free Slade take the stage on Saturday 30th June, the festival wraps up on Sunday 1st July with ska from Orange Street, some slappy bass from tribute band Level 43 and 80's soul diva Jaki Graham, who closes the event with help from the Soul Survivors.

And that just about wraps it up for this week. This afternoon I have mostly been listening to Oasis' Greatest Hits and some Gil Scott-Heron. Join me next week when I'll be standing around nonchalantly with my hands in my pockets, whistling tunelessly and looking like I'm up to no good.

:o)

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

The Tin Hut Music Festival

This year's Tin Hut Music Festival takes place on Saturday 21st July. Now in its second year the festival brings together the pick of the Stiff Promotions catalogue with artists from further afield, providing both a day's entertainment and a way to raise funds for the Stroud Village Hall Project. The nine band strong line-up includes Brian Houston, Suburbian, The Goondocks, Andy Foster, The Weather Committee and One Weird Fish.

The festival takes place opposite the Seven Stars public house in the village of Stroud, near Petersfield, Hampshire; gates open at 1400, the first band is onstage at 1500 and the fun runs through till 2300. Aside from the main stage there are also fringe entertainments for young and old, a licensed bar and selection of foodstalls. To add to the "festival experience" on-site camping is available this year, a post-festival pitch can be purchased for £10.00 (payable on the day).

Tickets are £10.00 in advance, or £12.50 on the day, and can be purchased direct from the Stiff Promotions website (children under 10 years of age get in FREE); only 600 will be available so best get in quick if you want to come along and enjoy the fun.





Day of Silence

My favourite internet radio station has, along with many other such US webcasters, gone silent today. The Day of Silence, as it's been tagged, is a protest at the Copyright Royalty Board's decision to raise royalty fees for online broadcasters. The proposed increase which could well cause many American online broadcasters to shut up shop (and may well set a precedent for webcasters elsewhere on the 'net).

Previously online broadcasters in the US paid an annual fee plus 12% of their profits. The new system, which comes into force on July 15th (but is retroactive to January 1st this year) applies a flat fee per song, per user, with an additional $500 charge per channel owned. The fees also increase annually throughout the life of the new royalty plan, which is scheduled to end in 2010.

Both public and commercial broadcasters in the US claim the changes represent a 300% increase in payments and could force cuts to existing services, affecting an estimated audience of 50 million people. National Public Radio, for example, maintains several channels; theoretically it could be charged thousands of dollars.

The members of the SaveNetRadio coalition, which includes big players like Yahoo and AOL as well as smaller webcasters, therefore took the decision to go silent for 24 hours to raise awareness of the campaign. They're pressing Congress to pass a bill which would set royalty rates for webcasters equal to those of satellite radio broadcasters.

Fingers crossed.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

The Gigwatcher 20/06/2007

Nulli secundus.

So, Bernard Manning died the other day.

[pause for reflection]

He might have been many things but I never heard him tell a fat joke.

Umm.

*koff*

Moving swiftly on, here's what I found listed in the back pages of this week's NME:

The Sonic Hearts @ Komedia, Brighton - 21/06/2007
Envelopes @ Audio, Brighton - 22/06/2007
Albert Hammond Jr @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 12/07/2007
Cajun Dance Party @ Pressure Point, Brighton - 16/07/2007
Cherry Ghost @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 30/07/2007
of Montreal @ Audio, Brighton - 03/08/2007
Martha Wainwright @ St Georges Church, Brighton - 15/08/2007
Milburn @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 17/09/2007
Reuben @
Concorde 2, Brighton, Portsmouth - 18/09/2007
Milburn @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 19/09/2007
Reuben @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 19/09/2007
The Holloways & The Wombats @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 21/09/2007
Kula Shaker @ Student Union, Southampton University - 30/09/2007
Hadouken! @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 05/10/2007
Underworld @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 08/10/2007
The Maccabees @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 14/10/2007
The Enemy @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 15/10/2007
Hadouken! @ Corn Exchange, Brighton - 25/10/2007
Hadouken! @ Student Union, Southampton University - 26/10/2007
Mark Ronson @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 29/10/2007
Enter Shikari @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 01/11/2007
Enter Shikari @ The Dome, Brighton - 02/11/2007
The Twang @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 03/11/2007
Air @ The Opera House, Bournemouth - 16/11/2007

If I'm not busy swotting up for the next Harbour Lights Movie Quiz I'll update the SoMC Events Calendar with the above gigs. The Events Calendar, in case you weren't aware, contains details of many weird and wonderful gigs that I stumble across on the internet, like these:

Pull Tiger Tail @ The Joiners, Southampton - 20/06/2007
Brakes @ Concorde2, Brighton - 21/06/2007
The Secret Police @ The Brook, Southampton - 22/06/2007
The Elements @ Havana Bar, Southsea - 22/06/2007
Feckless @ The Tap, Portsmouth - 22/06/2007
Flip Top @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 23/06/2007
I Am Finn @ Unit22, Southampton - 23/06/2007
Apostle & Armchair Guru @ Black, Portsmouth - 23/06/2007
Blackmore's Night @ The Dome, Brighton - 23/06/2007
The Slackers @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 24/06/2007
Clayson & The Argonauts @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 24/06/2007
:( @ The Joiners, Southampton - 24/06/2007
Papa Noel @ The Bandstand, Southsea - 24/06/2007 (free afternoon entertainment)
Caesura @ The Joiners, Southampton - 25/06/2007
OMD @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 26/06/2007
We Are The Physics @ The Barfly, Brighton - 26/06/2007
Fujiya & Miyagi @ Audio, Brighton - 26/06/2007
Suburbian @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 26/06/2007
Kid Carpet @ The Joiners, Southampton - 04/07/2007
The Victorian English Gentlemans Club @ Unit22, Southampton - 14/07/2007
Dave Sharp (ex-Alarm) @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 18/07/2007
The Smyths @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 16/11/2007
Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 24/11/2007

The 16th Blues On The Farm festival takes place this weekend, once again at the quirkily named Pump Bottom Farm in Appledram, just outside Chichester. As usual the line-up is a varied one, bringing together acts from all over the world. The fun begins tomorrow night with the Canada's Wild T & The Spirit kicking things off with their mix of Blues-Rock. Regular visitor Mike Sanchez headlines on the Friday night, whilst Sunday features a 'bleggae' band (Tim Hain & Sunnysideup), some UK country (Rachael Warwick) and the talents of Blue Harlem. The festival wraps up on Sunday with performances by Lucie Diamond, The Ian Siegal Band and Imelda May. Tickets for all days can be purchased from the festival website (Sunday is Family Day, so children get in for a bargain £5, which is nice).

Well, that's me done for another week. This afternoon I have mostly been entertained by Andy & Stu's whistled interpretation of Minnie Riperton's Greatest Hits (though I've also been listening to My Computer's No CV and some Feist). Join me next week when I'll be teasing baboons.

:o)

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Electric Six - Gay Bar

The sight of four young whippersnappers, dressed in hot-pants and skimpy pink vests, decorated with stick-on Abe Lincoln beards and stovepipe hats, brought much amusement to the bar of The Wedgewood Rooms last night. Electric Six headlining had something to do with it (well, I'm hoping it did, if not there's something dodgy afoot).

Unfortunately, not having seen the promo for Gay Bar, the connection was lost on Jim; us drunkenly explaining why four (most likely) students were dressed in such a manner didn't really help matters either. It's always best, I find, to show rather than tell:



Just plain bonkers I tell you.

Anyway, the band's latest album, Switzerland, has been out awhile and, whilst it didn't exactly set the charts alight, is worth a listen. If you head over to Fluxblog you should just about be in time to download one track, Mr Woman, before it drops off the site's server. Nice.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

The Gigwatcher 13/06/2007

I am the Robot Man.

This morning I recieved an email from one Selma Brisbane-Imponderable who offered to turn my dreams in to reality. All I have to do is ring some number and I'll receive $58,734 for my troubles.

H'mm.

I can't help feeling there's a catch, but if it gets me one step closer to owning a gold toilet I'd be a fool not to ring her, wouldn't I?

*koff*

Eyes down for a full house, here's what I found listed in the back pages of this week's NME:

Mutemath @ Concorde2, Brighton - 20/06/2007
Assembly Now @ The Joiners, Southampton - 08/07/2007
Assembly Now @ Barfly, Brighton - 09/07/2007
Ghosts @ Barfly, Brighton - 11/07/2007
Reverend & The Makers @ Concorde2, Brighton - 17/07/2007
The Bravery @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 24/07/2007
The Bravery @ Concorde2, Brighton - 25/07/2007
Nine Black Alps @ The Railway Inn, Winchester - 28/07/2007
Uppercut @ The Joiners, Southampton - 18/08/2007
The Dead 60s @ Pressure Point, Brighton - 19/08/2007
The Dead 60s @ The Joiners, Southampton - 22/08/2007
The Holloways @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 21/09/2007
Athlete @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 10/10/2007
Los Campesinos @ Komedia, Brighton - 22/10/2007
Los Campesinos @ The Joiners, Southampton - 30/10/2007
The Wedding Present @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 30/10/2007
The Twang @ The Dome, Brighton - 30/10/2007
Biffy Clyro @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 20/11/2007
Babyshambles @ The Brighton Centre - 25/11/2007
Babyshambles @ BIC, Bournemouth - 26/11/2007
The Klaxons @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 30/11/2007

If I'm not geeking about with Safari I'll enter the above gigs into the SoMC Events Calendar when I get a spare five minutes. I know I say it every week, but the Events Calendar is full of local gigs for local people, like these:

Electric Six @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 13/06/2007
Roger Chapman & The Shortlist @ The Brook, Southampton - 14/06/2007
Sleepyhead @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 14/06/2007
Strawberry Blondes @ Unit22, Southampton - 14/06/2007
Satartia & Akakios @ Black, Southsea - 15/06/2007
The Smyths & Re:Order @ The Wedgewood Rooms - 15/06/2007
Flip Top @ The Contented Pig, Portsmouth - 15/06/2007 CANCELLED!
One Weird Fish @ The Tap, Portsmouth - 15/06/2007
The Visitors & Humungous Douglas @ Havana Bar, Southsea - 16/06/2007
Special Delivery @ The Railway Inn, Winchester - 16/06/2007
Skunk Funk @ The Tap, Portsmouth - 16/06/2007
Tremain @ Drift, Southsea - 17/06/2007
James Litherland @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 17/06/2007
Head Automatica @ Student Union, Southampton University - 18/06/2007 (rescheduled date)
Paradise Lost @ The Nexus Club, Southampton - 18/06/2007
Jessica Spencer @ The Tap, Portsmouth - 19/06/2007
Emily Barker & Amalthea @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 19/06/2007
Sine Star Project @ The Joiners, Southampton - 23/06/2007
Dead!Dead!Dead! @ The Railway Inn, Winchester - 29/06/2007
The Earlies @ Concorde2, Brighton - 15/08/2007
TS McPhee's Groundhogs @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 02/09/2007
The Enemy @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 15/10/2007

Following last week's rocktastic entertainment at Southsea Bandstand things take a mellower turn this Sunday. Reel Sound Music have organised an afternoon of acoustic music, just the thing to relax to on a sunny afternoon. Acts taking part include The Velvet Hearts, The Alistair Goodwin Band and ex-Lisheen front man Vincent Treacey.

Southampton's annual Access Festival, a free event featuring bands and artists from the city, takes place this Saturday 16th June at Mayflower Park. The festival, which promotes awareness of the work of the Society of St James, a local charity which provides accommodation and support to the homeless and vulnerably-housed people, has grown considerably since it started four years ago. This year's event features a World Dance Stage and University Music Tent alongside the main stage and The Hobbit's acoustic tent, and there's a rumour there may be some jazz too. Nice.

Tie a knot in it, that's me done for another week. This afternoon I have mostly been listening to The Aliens' splendid album and the bizarre Muse-flavoured coverdisk that came with this week's NME. Join me next week when I'll be setting my controls for the heart of the sun.

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

The Gigwatcher 06/06/2007

I love the smell of vinyl in the morning.

Barely has the sun started hanging in the sky that little bit later in the day and already my hayfever has kicked into high gear. Of course, I suppose it would help matters if I wasn't trying to recreate Bill Oddie's Springwatch farm in my back garden, but there you go.

H'mm.

Anyone got an industrial strimmer or some napalm I can borrow?

*koff*

Moving swiftly on, here's what I found listed in the back pages of this week's NME:

The Wombats @ Concorde2, Brighton - 12/06/2007
Asobi Seksu @ Sussex Arts Club, Brighton - 18/06/2007
Ben Ottewell & Tom Gray @ The Old Market, Brighton - 27/06/2007
The Orange Lights @ Barfly, Brighton - 06/07/2007
Feist @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 17/07/2007
Tegan & Sara @ Komedia, Brighton - 13/08/2007
The Happy Mondays @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 09/10/2007
KT Tunstall @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 23/10/2007
The Pigeon Detectives @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 16/11/2007
The Pigeon Detectives @ The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth - 17/11/2007
Maroon 5 @ Brighton Centre - 05/12/2007
Manic Street Preachers @ BIC, Bournemouth - 09/12/2007
Manic Street Preachers @ Brighton Centre - 14/12/2007

If I'm not faffing about in Facebook I'll add the above gigs into the SoMC Events Calendar just as soon as I can. The Events Calendar, as I may have mentioned once or twice, is free to view and just full of local gigs for local people, like these:

The Cribs @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 06/06/2007
Jessica Spencer @ The Tap, Portsmouth - 06/06/2007
New Young Pony Club @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 07/06/2007
Zub Zub @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 08/06/2007
The Rips & Suburbian @ Black Bar, Portsmouth
Marillion @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 09/06/2007
Contra & Fade Out @ Havana Bar, Southsea - 09/06/2007
Mimas @ Unit22, Southampton - 10/06/2007
Claire Teal @ The Landmarc, Bournemouth - 10/06/2007
The Bog Rolling Stones & The Silver Beatles @ The Bandstand, Southsea - 10/06/2007 (free afternoon entertainment)
Polly Paulusma @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 10/06/2007
The Aliens @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 11/06/2007
Boo Hewerdine @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 13/06/2007
The Smyths & Re:Order @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 15/06/2007
One Weird Fish @ The Tap, Portsmouth - 15/06/2007
Los Pacaminos @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 04/07/2007
Tom Hingley @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 26/08/2007
John Otway @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 26/09/2007

Whilst The Brook has managed to keep its head above water, so that all its self-promoted gigs for June at least will be going ahead as planned, events from outside promoters at the venue have not fared so well. The Joiners has already moved its two planned events at The Brook this month to The Nexus; it now appears that they've had to cancel next month's Easy Star All-Stars gig, the fate of August's visit by The Damned has yet to be decided.

This month's Club 12th Hour features performances from The Model Village, The Rebel Ching and Moses. The action takes place in the Raglan Rooms at The Alma Arms this Saturday, 9th June. Entrance costs a mere £5, doors open at 2000 and the fun goes on till late.

The Fawcett Inn continues its post-refit renaissance; joining the line-up of live events is a weekly Open Mike Night every Wednesday. Further details are available on the pub's MySpace.

The Wedgewood Rooms will be running its Showcase competition again this Summer, entries are now being accepted and local bands and artists are invited to apply. Further information on the competition structure and required details for those thinking of entering is available on the Showcase MySpace.

The SoMC's resident DJ, Disco Stu, will be putting down his vinyl and reaching for his bicycle this weekend. He's taking part in the British Heart Foundation's Bike Ride Round The Harbours on Sunday 10th June. If you'd like to sponsor his good works then you can do so here.

And that wraps it up for this time; I made it all they through without kvetching about not having a ticket for this weekend's IOW Festival. Doh. This afternoon I have mostly been listening to Tom McRae's new album (and rather fine it is too) and the nostalgia offered me by the 12"/80s POP boxset. Join me next week when I'll be living in a pineapple under the sea.

:o)

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Crowded House - Don't Stop Now

Co-written with Johnny Marr (!), Don't Stop Now is the first single lifted from the latest release from everyone's favourite antipodeans, Crowded House. Neil Finn, Nick Seymour and Mark Hart have been joined by ex-Beck drummer Matt Sherrod (who has the unenviable task of stepping into the late Paul Hester's shoes) and so far things are looking (and sounding) pretty good.

The new single is a slow burner of a song and, whilst not evident in this 'lifted from breakfast telly' clip, definitely provides rewards with repeated listens. Enjoy.



The single will be released digitally in the UK on 18th June with the physical release (on several different formats) scheduled for 25th June. The album, Time On Earth, is due to be released here on 2nd July 2007.