The Gigwatcher 15/11/2006

Back beat, the word is on the street...

So we're a week closer to Christmas and the Oasis 'best of' has been released. The NME have, quite surprisingly, given it the full 10 out of 10. To be honest I think I'll stick with the first two albums and perhaps buy The Masterplan in the Music Zone sale. Not to be outdone though The Beatles have released a 'new' album too. It's the soundtrack to a Vegas show, comes on 5.1 Surround DVD and is, from what I can make out, like a Jive Bunny Mastermix (but without the hand-claps). As for whether it features the previously unreleased efforts of the famed Fifth Beatle, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, I can't say.

*koff*

This way to the cafeteria.. I mean, here's the pick of the gigs listed in the back pages of this week's NME:

White Rose Movement @ The Joiners, Southampton - 26/11/2006
Union of Knives @ Pressure Point, Brighton - 26/11/2006
The Futureheads @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 03/12/2006
Ralfe Band @ The Joiners, Southampton - 12/12/2006
Forward, Russia! @ The University, Southampton - 02/03/2007
Inspiral Carpets @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 07/03/2007
Jet @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 10/03/2007

I'll add them into the SoMC's Events Calendar just as soon as I can. Don't forget that the SoMC Events Calendar is just packed with forthcoming local gigs for local people. In order to access this most useful of resources you'll need to be registered on the SoMC forum. Once you've signed on the dotted you can also post up reviews, jokes, plugs or whatever the hell you want to (within reason) on the forum boards. To whet your appetite here's a selection of local gigs I've found on my aimless wanderings across the interweb:

The Bluetones @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 18/11/2006
Flip Top @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 18/11/2006 (and I've double-checked on The Cellars MySpace to make sure)
Rachel Unthank & The Winterset @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 19/11/2006
Rodrigo Y Gabriela @ The Dome, Brighton - 27/11/2006
Miss Spanky Wilson & The Quantic Soul Orchestra @ The Consortium, Bournemouth 29/11/2006
Thea Gilmore @ The Brook, Southampton - 18/03/2007
Girls Aloud @ Brighton Centre, Brighton - 29/05/2007
Girls Aloud @ BIC, Bournemouth - 30/05/2007

The Sawdoctors gig at The Brook on 10/12/2006 is also SOLD OUT; luckily they've added a second appearance at The Brook to their tour so you can catch the boys from Tuam there on 08/12/2006. Such is the demand for Steven Seagal's appearance at The Brook on 24/02/2007 that a second, matinee, performance has been arranged for the same day. The question now is, of course, at which point in the proceedings should I explode out of a large cake. Ahem.

On the font of all knowledge that is the forum more things are appearing on the YouTube thread. As the new Bond movie opens tomorrow there's some Bond-tastic clips for your perusal. I may add the cute animation about a Kiwi that I found last night, then again I might not.

That's about it for this week, this afternoon I am mostly listening to The Pineapple Thief, and rather good they are too..

The Gigwatcher 08/11/2006

Wibble wibble wibble.

I think my SAD might be kicking in, for some reason I really felt like having a moan this week.

Initially I was going to gripe on about Bar Black in Albert Road; the piano guy isn't there any more, he's been replaced by a DJ so it was actually busy in there on Saturday night. But I guess change is a good thing, and the Wonkey Donkey next door had Match of the Day on.

I then decided to to go off on one about it nearly being Christmas; seven weeks to go and I've not bought a single present yet. But it's my favourite time of year (and I'll be doing a special Lyric Quiz for you good people too).

So I finally decided to kick right off about Sunday's exceedingly lame episode of Torchwood. But I really don't want to relive the trauma of it.

*koff*

Quite. Here's the pick of the gigs listed in the back pages of this week's NME:

Youthmovies @ The Registry, Portsmouth - 09/11/2006
Jeremy Walmsley @ The Albert, Brighton - 12/11/2006
'Taste of Chaos' (featuring Taking Back Sunday, Alexisonfire, Underoath) @ Brighton Centre, Brighton - 13/11/2006
Grace @ The Engine Rooms, Brighton - 15/11/2006
Men Women & Children @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 26/11/2006
The Decemberists @ The University, Southampton - 09/02/2007
Plan B @ The University, Southampton - 15/02/2007
Faithless @ BIC, Bournemouth - 24/03/2007
Faithless @ Brighton Centre, Brighton - 27/03/2007

I'll post them up on the SoMC's Events Calendar just as soon as I can. Don't forget that the SoMC Events Calendar is liberally sprinkled with a selection of local gigs for local people, all there for your perusal. However, in order to access this invaluable resource you'll need to be registered on the SoMC forum (after which you can post up reviews, jokes, plugs or whatever the hell you want to within reason, on the forum boards).

Umm.

Moving swiftly on, here's a selection of local gigs what I have found on my "Journeys Across The Internet":

The Jamm @ Chicago Rock Cafe, Fareham - TONIGHT!
One Weird Fish @ The Cellars at Eastney - 11/11/2006
Misty's Big Adventure @ Unit 22, Southampton - 13/11/2006
Paul Carrack @ The Anvil, Basingstoke - 14/11/2006
Amplifer @ The Joiners, Southampton - 19/11/2006
Thunder @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 20/11/2006
The Strange Death of Liberal England @ The Joiners, Southampton - 22/11/2006
Sugababes @ BIC, Bournemouth - 03/04/2007
Sugababes @ Brighton Centre, Brighton - 12/04/2007

Owing to bereavement, the Dreadzone gig at The Wedgewood Rooms, scheduled for 16/11/2006, has been cancelled. The Bill Wyman & The Rhythm Kings gig at The Brook on 22/11/2006 is SOLD OUT! The Sawdoctors gig at The Brook on 10/12/2006 is also SOLD OUT; luckily they've added a second appearance at The Brook to their tour so you can catch the boys from Tuam there on 08/12/2006.

Steve 'The Human Jukebox' Arnott will be playing a benefit for the Portchester Players this Friday at Portchester Community Centre. Entrance is by ticket only, priced at a very reasonable £5. There are a limited number of tickets available, if you're interested in attending then leave a comment and I'll get back to you.

Meanwhile on the forum things are slowly starting to appear on the YouTube thread; Stu has posted a cracking slice of old skool hip-hop and something by some old chums of his. Elsewhere our resident Spear of Destiny fan has some information he really wants you to know.

And that's about it for this week. I'm off to make a Black Forest Gateau, Heston Blumenthal style! Now, where's my vacuum cleaner?