Fast Trains - 'Measure by Measure'

Some years ago I found myself on a fast train travelling from Malmö to Stockholm, the snowy countryside beyond the carriage windows speeding past in grey and white blurs, a journey sound-tracked by the Walter Mitty ta-poketa poketa rhythm of the wheels on the tracks. Landmarks would briefly appear amidst the flurries, ghosts of buildings disturbing my reverie, that soon vanished into the pale distance. Yes, when seen from a fast train the world is a very different place.

I couldn't say if Portsmouth musician and engineer Tom Wells has a similarly romantic view of train travel, hopping a 444 from Havant to Fratton doesn't have quite the came cachet about it as a jaunt across the Swedish plains, but I do know that his new solo project takes the moniker from such high-speed rail, Fast Trains. 

Measure by Measure is the first offering by the Kassassin Street bassist's new outing, a rhythmic three-minutes-and-change of beats, bassy wobbles and delicate vocals that rolls along beautifully. It's a light and wonderfully catchy slice of loveliness, with lyrics that touch upon modern lift and how to survive it, a musical mantra that would sit nicely alongside the likes School of Language and Metronomy on a travelling playlist.

Apparently recorded in a small flat in Havant, with an extra pinch of Kassassin Street DNA thanks to bandmate Nathan Hill providing percussion, the song is currently available exclusively via YouTube (where it's paired with a moody, monochrome video created by Sam Brandon) but fingers crossed it'll be available for purchase via Bandcamp soon. Very nice, more please.

The Gigwatcher 16/07/2008

Country playlist

Sad but true, the number one most played song in the land over the last five years was Daniel Powter's Bad Day, a particularly annoying upbeat tune about having a bit of a mare that's now used to sell anti-perspirant.

*koff*

Quite.

And so to business, I've perused the back pages of this week's NME and have picked the following local gigs for your delectation and delight:

Jay Brannan @ Komedia, Brighton - 27/08/2008
Golden Silvers @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 17/09/2008
Iglu & Hartly @ Komedia, Brighton - 17/09/2008
Golden Silvers @ The Joiners, Southampton - 29/09/2008
Cheeky Cheeky & The Nose Bleeds @ The Railway, Winchester - 02/10/2008
Cheeky Cheeky & The Nose Bleeds @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 05/10/2008
Beggars @ The Joiners, Southampton - 06/10/2008
Beggars @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 19/10/2008
Roots Manuva @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 21/10/2008
Cheeky Cheeky & The Nose Bleeds @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 24/10/2008
Black Kids @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 02/11/2008

The above gigs have a fair-to-slim chance of being thrust majestically onto the SoMC Events Calendar at some point over the weekend (dependent on whatever beer-fuelled distraction I find myself caught up in or recovering from). The Events Calendar is, as has been oft hinted at previously, a handy resource for the idle gig monkey about town. Here's a taster of the many many fine gigs it might contain when up to date...

Elliot Minor @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 17/07/2008 SOLD OUT!
Sandinistas, Farwest Leader, Installation and Roxanne Johns & Paul Thorne @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 17/07/2008
This Way Up @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 17/07/2008
Das Pop @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 17/07/2008
We Are The Ocean, Canterbury and All Forgotten @ The Joiners, Southampton - 17/07/2008
Eve Selis @ Komedia, Brighton - 17/07/2008
Arnie, Tim & Colin @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 17/07/2008
Rochelle, Hold Fast and Ornament Birds @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 17/07/2008
The Bullycats, Max Raptor and LCD @ The Railway, Winchester - 17/07/2008
Marlow, Professor J-S and Etidorpha @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 17/07/2008
Usual Suspects (TBC) @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 17/07/2008
The Horse @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 18/07/2008
Hadouken!, Master Shortie and Innercity Pirates @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 18/07/2008 SOLD OUT!
The Silver Beatles @ The Brook, Southampton - 18/07/2008
The Small Fakers (Small Faces tribute) @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 18/07/2008
The Plymouths, Catapult and Bosh @ The Joiners, Southampton - 18/07/2008
Elliot Minor @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 18/07/2008 SOLD OUT!
Prozium and Pariah @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 18/07/2008
The Young Knives @ South Parade Pier, Southsea - 18/07/2008
Steve Arnott @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 18/07/2008
Stone Cold @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 18/07/2008
Vinnie Void (DJ) @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 18/07/2008
Semi-Bone @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 18/07/2008
The Oli Brown Band @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 19/07/2008
Stone Free @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 19/07/2008
Little London, Puresist, Press Any Key, Lemon (DJ) and Spikey Mark (DJ) @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 19/07/2008 FREE ENTRY!
Keb Mo @ The Brook, Southampton - 19/07/2008
Burnt Ice @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 19/07/2008
The Legendary Derek @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 19/07/2008
Smackla, Woodnjuice and Yourgardenday @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 19/07/2008
The Alive @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 19/07/2008
Digital Delay @ Café Havana, Southsea - 19/07/2008
Open Room, The Ramblings, Heels and Neileo @ The Joiners, Southampton - 19/07/2008
Cool Banana, Life With Max and Luke Ferre @ The Barn at The Milton Arms, Portsmouth - 19/07/2008
Eminor @ Salisbury Arts Centre - 19/07/2008
Freddie & The Freeloaders @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton - 19/07/2008
Deltawave @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 19/07/2008
One Weird Fish @ The Wheelwright Arms, Havant - 19/07/2008
The Velvet Hearts and Luke Ferre @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 20/07/2008
Dennis Locorriere (Dr Hook) @ The Brook, Southampton - 20/07/2008
Superheroes and Atomic Badger @ The Bandstand, Southsea - 20/07/2008 (free afternoon entertainment)
Jack & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 20/07/2008
Gweido, Afterspark and Aitch @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 20/07/2008
Your Demise, Lower Than Atlantis and The Fair Fight @ The Joiners, Southampton - 20/07/2008
Are You Experienced? (Jimi Hendrix tribute) @ Komedia, Brighton - 20/07/2008
Ash Grunwald @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 20/07/2008
4 Fingaz, Wish List and Billy Irvine @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 20/07/2008
Lyrics Born and Stephanie McKay @ Komedia, Brighton - 21/07/2008
Sons of Albion, You're Smiling Now and Kill Kasper @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 21/07/2008
Easy Star All-Stars @ Komedia, Brighton - 22/07/2008
Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 22/07/2008
Passenger, Duke Raoul and The Miracle Mugs @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 22/07/2008
Bemis, Dan Rumsey and Jack A Weissmann @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 22/07/2008
Terrolapse, Oceanus and Desolater @ The Railway, Winchester - 22/07/2008
The Strange Death of Liberal England and The Freewheeling Demons @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 23/07/2008
Jamie & The 1st Class @ Chicago Rock Cafe, Fareham - 23/07/2008
Aynsley Lister @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 23/07/2008
Lightspeed Champion @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 23/07/2008
Escape Story, Final Round... Fight!, Digital Delay and On Flight Movie @ The Railway Rifles Club, Portsmouth - 23/07/2008
Hayseed Dixie @ Komedia, Brighton - 23/07/2008
James Blake, Chris Ricketts, Hayley Harland and James Tippins @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield - 23/07/2008
Hellcyon @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 23/07/2008
Kodiak Jack, Caimbo and Life With Max @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 29/07/2008
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 10/09/2008
Clearlake @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 21/09/2008
Friendly Fires @ The Joiners, Southampton - 24/09/2008
Bellowhead @ The City Hall, Salisbury - 28/10/2008

The residents are in charge of Waster this week as the Southsea Mafia DJs take over proceedings with a selection of the finest indiepunkelectrorockdance in town. Admission is the usual £1 before 2230 (£2 before 2300, £3 after, etc) and doors open at Liquid Envy in Portsmouth at 2200 tomorrow night, Thursday 17th July. For more information see the Facebook page.

Little Johnny Russell's on Albert Road in Portsmouth teams up with club night Sumo for a Summer Party this Saturday, 19th July, with Sheffield indie rockers Reverend & The Makers will be joining the Sumo DJs behind the wheels of steel. Tickets are £2 in advance, available from the venue.

Portsmouth's Victoria Park hosts the Young People's Arts Festival this Sunday, 20th July. Organised by the Inspired youth arts culture project the event will feature live music from Fresh Legs, Joe Black, Shegotsick, Mahdud, The White Coats and Minds Gone Blank plus stand up comedy and a youth circus. The event runs from 1400-1800 and entrance is FREE!

Nostalgia will be in the air at Stansted Park this Sunday, 20th July, when the Here & Now Tour stops off for an evening of 80's pop in stately surroundings. The line-up features Kid Creole & the Coconuts, Midge Ure, Nick Heyward, Curiosity Killed the Cat, T'Pau, Limahl and Toyah, with a firework finale. The event starts at 1900, gates open at the venue from 1630, and tickets are still available from The Guildhall, Portsmouth (adults £25, under 16's £12.50).

Independent music magazine The Mag will be holding its 2008 Awards at The Talking Heads in Southampton this Saturday, 19th July. Best Record, Best Live Act, Best Band and Best Solo-Artist are just some of the titles up for grabs, plus there'll be live entertainment from Idiot 3, The Dawn Chorus, Richie Madisun and Dlugokecki to keep the evening going with a swing. Doors open at 1930 and tickets will be available on the door.

Showcase 08 continues at The Wedgewood Rooms this week with the next two heats of the competition. Heat four takes place on Tuesday, 22nd July, and features Shegotsick, Peter Moseley, Grumpy Apples and Andrew Gordon. Heat five follows the next night, Wednesday 23rd July, when The White Coats, Toxic Rabbit, The Reservees and The SLM will be taking the stage. Each band gets to play a 25 minute set, with votes from the audience and a panel of judges deciding the winner. Tickets for the Showcase events are a bargain £4.

This week's Roger Courtney's Open Mike Club features performances from acoustic trio Penny Bonanza and local alternative rockers My Endeavour. The first artist is on stage at 2000, the regular Open Mike session follows at 2200 through to midnight. Doors open at The Barn at The Milton Arms at 1900 tomorrow, Thursday 17th July, and admission is FREE!

And that's it for another week; today I was mostly listening to the Neil Cowley Trio (who I've lucked out and won tickets to see at Koko) and 70's prog-pop stalwarts Electric Light Orchestra. Be sure to join me next week when I'll be balancing a Scrabble dictionary on my head.

:o)

The Gigwatcher 09/07/2008

Meow

Pete Doherty may be many things, possibly even a musician, but I never had him pegged as an animal lover. Fair play though, I can't think of many other artists who'd walk away from £60,000 because they've got to take their cat to the vet.

Mrs Slocombe would be proud. Bless.

*koff*

Moving swiftly on, the following gigs were teased from the rear of this week's NME for your delectation and delight:

Hadouken!, Master Shortie and Innercity Pirates @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 18/07/2008
Frank Turner and Chris T-T @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 27/10/2008
Mystery Jets @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 28/10/2008

Slim pickings this week I'm afraid, though it is "festival season" so it's to be expected I guess. Still, if I get a spare five minutes this weeked I will, of course, update the marvellous mechanical SoMC Events Calendar with the above listings (I wouldn't count on it though, you know what I'm like). As I may infer from time to time, the Events Calendar is just the place (when up to date) to check what gigs are on when, locally that is. Here's a taster of what it should contain...

Alternative Car Park, Jenna's Revenge and The Levels @ Havant Arts Centre - 10/07/2008
Black Kids @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 10/07/2008 SOLD OUT!
Grown At Home and Shizamms Picbox @ The Joiners, Southampton - 10/07/2008
Switch Transmission, Nelson and The Model Village @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 10/07/2008
Casual Nelsons, Long Shore Drift and William Doyle @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 10/07/2008
Lollo Meier Quartet @ Komedia, Brighton - 10/07/2008
The Incontinentals @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 10/07/2008
Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, Plastic Toys and The Tripods @ The Railway, Winchester - 10/07/2008
Pete du Pon, Leigh Stokes and Andy Foster @ Drift, Southsea - 10/07/2008
Robert Cray @ The Dome, Brighton - 11/07/2008
Laura Veirs, Led To Sea and Polly Wood & Steve Picken @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 11/07/2008
Dirty DC (AC/DC tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton - 11/07/2008
Wyldside, The Levels, Club Le Shark and The Edible Stems @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 11/07/2008
Steve Arnott @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 11/07/2008
The Maple State, The Attika State, The Ornament Birds and Speed The Collapse @ Railway Rifle Club, Portsmouth - 11/07/2008
Popular Workshop and Platform 13 @ The Joiners, Southampton - 11/07/2008
Ash Grunwald, Booshtastic Blootronica and The Reverend Munday @ The Railway, Winchester - 11/07/2008
Arnie Cottrell @ Soul Cellar, Southampton - 11/07/2008
Rooftop Reggae with Dave B (DJ) @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 11/07/2008
The Blue Screen of Death, Invasion and Moral Low Ground @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 11/07/2008
Zub Zub @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 11/07/2008
Haunted Stereo, Jake Flowers and Esben & The Witch @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 11/07/2008
One Weird Fish @ The Brickmakers, Swanmore - 11/07/2008
Guns To Roses (G'n'R tribute) @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 11/07/2008
Barbwire Bob @ The Hoeford, Fareham - 12/07/2008
One Night of Queen (Queen tribute) @ The Brighton Centre - 12/07/2008
Bill Wyman & The Rhythm Kings @ The Brook, Southampton - 12/07/2008
Kangaroo Moon @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 12/07/2008
Telegraphs and Karmatribe @ The Joiners, Southampton - 12/07/2008
Kit Ashton, Animal Kingdom and The Stars Down To Earth @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 12/07/2008
Carmen Rosa, No Hope In Never and Life With Max @ Café Havana, Southsea - 12/07/2008
Kelevra, Biolith and Aeryn @ The Railway, Winchester - 12/07/2008
Lynchpin @ The Firehouse, Southampton - 12/07/2008
John Leyton & The Flames @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 13/07/2008
Madame P, Hamilton Yarns, Thos Henley and Love Shark @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton - 13/07/2008
Aaron Middleton and Sway @ Drift, Southsea - 13/07/2008
Johnny Truant, Blackhole and Bury Tomorrow @ The Joiners, Southampton - 13/07/2008
Blotto, The Dauntless Elite, Tommy Comstock and The Cost of Living @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth - 13/07/2008
Roland Chadwick @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton - 13/07/2008
Star Anise @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth - 13/07/2008
Smackla, The B of The Bang and Fadeout @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 13/07/2008
MC5 @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 14/07/2008 CANCELLED!
The Strange Death of Liberal England @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 14/07/2008
Tom Hingley & The Lovers @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 15/07/2008
Isla St Clair @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 15/07/2008 RESCHEDULED!
Battles @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 15/07/2008 SOLD OUT!
Slow Down Charlie, Dibz and Hidden Image @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth - 15/07/2008
Jack & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton - 15/07/2008
Hayseed Dixie @ The City Hall, Salisbury - 15/07/2008
The Displacements, Absolute Belters and The Elizans @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 15/07/2008
Skindred, Idiom and The Row @ The Railway, Winchester - 15/07/2008
The Queue, Last Action Hero, The Vision and The Silver Aces Band @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 16/07/2008
The Robert Cray Band @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 16/07/2008
Converge, Integrity, Coliseum and Centurian's Ghost @ The Brook, Southampton - 16/07/2008
Yoav and Loz Bridge & The Box Social @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 16/07/2008
Definitely Mightbe (Oasis tribute) @ Chicago Rock Cafe, Fareham - 16/07/2008
New Adventures and Flash Guns @ The Joiners, Southampton - 16/07/2008
Rumberos de Cuba @ Komedia, Brighton - 16/07/2008
The Wedding Present @ The Joiners, Southampton - 03/09/2008
Gemma Hayes @ The Fat Fox, Portsmouth - 04/09/2008
The Brand New Heavies @ Soul Cellar, Southampton - 25/10/2008
Focus, Wishbone Ash and The Groundhogs @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 30/10/2008
Dreadzone @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 20/11/2008

Portsmouth's famous club night Chaos returns this Saturday, 12th July, for more at of the usual shenanigans at new venue The Wedgewood Rooms. Will Chump and Marky Marc will be watching over the mayhem in the Main Room whilst Ben Milsy and Lemon host the Chaos Lounge in The Edge of The Wedge (replete with comfy sofas and free Sega). Doors open at 2300, entrance is £5.

The Eastleigh Music Festival takes place at the town's Leigh Road Recreation Ground this weekend, Friday 11th through Sunday 13th July. Seth Lakeman brings a folk flavour to the festivities on Friday night, whilst Lethal Bizzle, Robots In Disguise and Scarlet Soho bring the indie on Saturday night. In addition there'll be free music during the afternoon on the Saturday, with Zwaitec, The Ashbies, JayetAl, The Pheromones, El Rodeo, The Sinnicks, Dlugokecki and Polly & the Billets Doux just some of the acts listed to appear. Entrance to the festival is FREE all day Sunday, with entertainment from The Huckleberries, Tzee, Max Pashm and N'faly & Dunyakan on offer. Limited tickets are available for the Friday and Saturday night shows via the Festival website.

This week's Waster features a DJ set by Babyshambles' drummer Adam Ficek as well as a selection of the first indie/dance/etc tunes from the resident Southsea Mafia DJs, all for the bargain price of only £1 (before 2230, £3 after 2300). Doors open at Portsmouth's Liquid Envy at 2200 tomorrow night, Thursday 10th July, more information is available via the event's Facebook page.

The organisers of the new Portsmouth & Southsea Music Festival have been running a rock challenge competition for young bands over the past few months. All the bands taking part are from Portsmouth schools, with members aged between 11-16, and the competition offers them the chance to play at a prime venue, The Wedgewood Rooms, with the winners representing their school at the Festival's opening ceremony in October. The finals take place this week at the Wedge, with bands from Mayville, St Lukes and Warblington Schools are battling it out tonight, Wednesday 9th July, and Admiral Lord Nelson, Priory and St Edmunds playing tomorrow, Thursday 10th July. Entrance to both finals is completely FREE!

This year's Showcase competition kicks off at The Wedgewood Rooms on Sunday, 13th July, with local bands My Endeavour, Melodramas, Atalanta and Rusty & Friends filling the first heat. Heat two takes place on Tuesday, 15th July, with Alphafa, No Hope In Never, Leviathan and Escape Story taking the stage. The third heat follows the next evening and features In Like Flynn, Sunset Mission, Not Good Enough For Tony and The Bizets. Each band will play a 25 minute set, after which both the audience and a panel of judges get to cast their votes on what they've heard. Tickets for the Showcase events are a bargain £4.

The week Roger Courtney's Open Mike Club features guest performances from Antony, The Custard Chuckers and XYeZ. Doors open at The Barn at The Milton Arms at 1900 tomorrow, Thursday 10th July, and the first artist is onstage at 1930; the regular Open Mike session follows at 2230. Admission is, as usual, FREE!

And that's it for another week. Today I have mostly been listening to Leonard Cohen's I'm Your Man album (which, for the most part, hasn't aged that well), plus some Gil Scott-Heron and Neil Diamond (yup, it's been that kind of day). Be sure to join me next week when I'll be affecting a strange mannerism.