The End of The Revolution

The announcement that Pure Reason Revolution were calling it a day popped up in my Facebook feed earlier; the Reading alternative prog rockers have cited 'changing circumstances' but whatever the real reason it's a damn shame. I first stumbled across the band several years ago, supporting Mew at The Wedgewood Rooms if memory serves, and with their intoxicating blend of harmonies and melodic (and, yes, progressive) rock they soon became a band that my gigging buddies and I obsessively followed.

We bought the CDs, coveted the badges, used the bookmarks given away at the merchandising desk and waited with bated breath for news of a new release. Time passed only for debut album The Dark Third to be re-released in a slightly different form. Of course, we bought that too. Our fanboy ardour waned as the months went by; after a disappointing gig at The Joiners, beset with technical issues, one of our number decided that was enough. Our fickle fandom could only take so much.

However, being the kind of sad music obsessive that I am, I couldn't give them up completely. I scoured the internet for updates, there were rumours of the new album, but I wouldn't believe it until I had a copy in my grubby mitts. So it was, some months later, that I again found myself at The Joiners. The rumours were true; a pile of shiny new CDs, all in shiny cardboard sleeves, teased me from the merchandise desk.

Second album, Amor Vincit Omnia, dispensed with the lush strings from the debut, replacing them with dollops of synthesizer. The harmonies and repeated themes remained but, despite a couple of excellent signature tunes (Deus Ex Machina and Victorious Cupid), it wasn't as wholly satisfying a listen as their debut. Where the album succeeded though was in showing a band confident enough to experiment with their sound.

Not letting the dust settle PRR continued their push into electronic territories, perfecting their efforts on third long player Hammer and Anvil. Co-written and produced by Tom Bellamy (ex-Cooper Temple Clause) the album is a heavy, pounding, synth happy delight; throat-grabbing opener Fight Fire is a song that seems designed to accompany things blowing up.

Shortly after Hammer and Anvil's release I saw the band for what now looks to be the last time, at last year's SouthseaFest; having drawn the opening slot on the Wedge stage the band found themselves playing to a mostly empty room. No matter, they cranked the dials up to 11 and played a charged set sampling their new long player. This was a band ready to seize the day, or so I thought at the time; I really do have a kiss of death about these things. 

But before they bid the crowds adieu, pack up their instruments and go their separate ways, the band will be playing a final six shows. The 'farewell tour' takes in Nottingham, Bristol, Norwich, Holmfirth, Glasgow and London (but sadly no 'one last time' at The Joiners, which is a shame) with debut The Dark Third being played in its entirety each night. A good way to say goodbye, if there is such a thing. 

So long PRR, and thanks.

NME Radar Tour line-up announced

From the high-pitched warbling of La Roux to the raucous stage antics of Crystal Castles, the NME Radar Tour always offers the experience of something different, interesting or down-right weird. Earlier this year the crowd at the Wedgewood Rooms were treated to the delights of Grouplove and the awesome Anna Calvi when the Spring leg of the tour landed in Portsmouth (unfortunately I arrived too late to experience The History of Apple Pie).

The line-up for the Autumn leg of the tour features in this week's edition of the NME; Wolf Gang headline with post-punk five-some S.C.U.M. taking the second space on the bill. The remaining slot is split between Stockholm's Niki & The Dove and Australian thrash popsters DZ Deathrays.

The peripatetic tour stumbles into Portsmouth on Tuesday 4th October with the venerable Wedgewood Rooms again hosting. After a spell away in northern climes the tour returns to the South Coast a fortnight later, pitching up at Brighton's Concorde 2 on Monday 17th October when all four bands will feature.

Tickets go on general sale this coming Friday.

Guillemots on a stick

Indie pop rockers Guillemots have announced details of their Autumn tour, including two dates down south; the band play Portsmouth's Wedgewood Rooms on Sunday 30th October and are at The Old Market in Brighton the following night, Monday 31st October. Expect to hear chunks of new album Walk The River alongside a selection of tunes from the band's first two albums and, more than likely, that Billy Joel song as well.

Tickets go on general sale this coming Friday.

Kodiak Jack - 'Your Death : My Glory'

Having laboured long in the studio Pompey rockers Kodiak Jack have unleashed their debut long player uoon the world; the band celebrated the launch of 'Your Death : My Glory' with a sold out gig at the Edge of The Wedge on Saturday last.

The 10 track CD is released by Southampton label Angry Badger Records (no, really) and to wet your appetite here's the album opener, Crossfire...

 

The CD version of the album can be purchased direct from the band, alternatively the album is available for download from such reputable outlets as Amazon and iTunes (update: the Portsmouth branch of HMV is now stocking the CD also).

Ugly Duckling returning to Blighty

Long Beach's favourite sons Ugly Duckling provided one of my most enjoyable gig experiences of last year, in a packed Drift In The City of all places. The Californian three piece delivered an uplifting set of beats and rhymes that got even a Pompey crowd moving and, after giving 100% on stage, the guys made the time and effort to meet and greet afterward.

Details of a new UK tour have now started to appear on the Yudee forum and amongst the dates listed so far is a return visit to Portsmouth and a stop in Brighton; Andy C, Dizzy Dustin and Young Einstein will be at The Highlight in Gunwharf on Monday 10th October and The Haunt in Brighton on Saturday 15th October.

Update: The full list of dates has now been released by the band, in addition to the two local dates listed above they've squeezed in a visit to Southampton's Orange Rooms on Sunday 16th October. Orange, squeezed.. See what I did there? Yeah, with material that good I should be on TV. Ahem.

The Computers versus Southampton

In amongst the regular glut of spam and eggs that filled my email inbox today was a natty missive from indie/punk noise merchants The Computers. I was lucky enough to catch the four piece at The Wedgewood Rooms when they supported The Duke Spirit but, and maybe it was that last pint, for the life of me I can't remember signing their mailing list. Whatever, scrawl my name across the sheet of A4 I obviously did.

Getting to the point, the band have announced that they'll be joining The Subways on their Autumn tour, rocking up at Southampton University on Monday 3rd October. Before then however the band will be supporting Face To Face at The Joiners on Tuesday 30th August. Which is nice.
 

Here's a taster to whet your appetite...

Sirens soundtrack & Heartbreak

There I was, idly thumping the remote control buttons on a wasted Friday night, when I chanced upon Channel 4's new ambulance drama Sirens. The show is based on ex-ambulance EMT Brian Kellett's excellent blog and has the usual Channel 4 hallmarks of snappy editing (with things speeding up/slowing down at random), a sprinkling of sex & expletives and, of course, a cracking soundtrack.

Last night's episode featured a good chunk of the Warpaint album (no bad thing) plus tunes from Miike Snow, Local Natives and Magnetic Man amongst others. What caught my ear though was the unmistakable strains of Anglo-Argentine electro pop duo Heartbreak's Don't Lose My Time.

I first heard of Heartbreak when the NME Radar Tour stopped off at the Wedge in 2009, they were midway up the bill (with La Roux headlining) but were definitely my highlight of the evening. The twosome delivered a solid set of 80's influenced Italo-pop with an eye-popping amount of energy; so enamoured was I that I immediately bought their album from the merch desk. 

Unfortunately not much has been heard from the Heartbreak camp since, which is a shame, but a hunt through YouTube gleaned the following clips of the band in action:

 


Also tucked away on YouTube was this interview the band gave whilst they were on the NME Radar Tour:



As for Sirens, Brian Kellett has listed the tunes used in the first three episodes on his new blog (and he's knocked up a Spotify playlist for each too, which is nice).

So, farewell then Rilo Kiley...

The NME are reporting that American mellow indie types Rilo Kiley, following a long hiatus, have decided to call it a day. Bad news. Rilo Kiley were, like The Decemberists, one of the many fine bands I discovered thanks to the late and much lamented internet radio station WOXY.

A few years back the band nearly headlined the Wedge; a date was announced as part of a UK tour, a gig that I bought tickets for as soon as I found out about it. Sadly the show was cancelled shortly after (sad but true, I've still got the tickets).

So anyway, thanks RK for the good tunes, here's a few of them to be going along with...

Emily Barker & The Cellars at Eastney

Earlier this year I enjoyed a marvellous evening at The Cellars in Eastney sampling the music of Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo. I must confess that my interest in attending said gig was a mixture of "Oh, they did the theme to Wallander didn't they?" and "Ahh.. they've supported Frank Turner so they must be good".  

And yes, they played Nostalgia (aka the tune that plays over the opening credits whilst a blue hued Kenneth Branagh emotes), and yes, they were very good; a beautifully performed set that resulted in my being strangely drawn to the merch desk at the end of the evening.

Emily & Co have just announced the dates for their UK tour later this year and, big thumbs up, the foursome will be playing The Cellars on Sunday 6th November.

Glastonbury Festival 2011 - Part One

In previous years my enjoyment of the "Glasto experience" has meant gravitating toward the sofa, cracking open a cold one and watching events unfold over the various BBC channels; if I wanted the full effect I'd stand in a bucket of mud at the bottom of the garden, downwind of the neighbour's compost heap, and squint at a screen 15 metres away (a screen that's partially obscured with flags obviously). However for the past few years a mate of mine has been gently badgering me to go, assuring me that (as I'm something of a gig whore) I'd love it. Frankly there is only so much prodding my willpower can take before it melts like a Kit Kat in a hot car. And so, inevitably, it came to pass that I got off of my keister, bought a ticket, and made the journey to that special corner of the world known as Glastonbury.

Friday 24th June

For the people at home, watching Auntie Beeb's coverage, the festival starts today. For me and several thousand others however the festival has been already ticking over for a couple of days; I've been in Somerset since Tuesday, on-site since Wednesday morning, and the novelty of wet-wipe bathing has long worn off (though the shock of the long drops is still fresh in the mind).

 
Under an overcast sky The Master Musicians of Joujouka start events on the Pyramid Stage, bringing a slice of Morocco to Somerset; the soft drone of their instruments carries on the wind, a strange and intriguing cacophony. Over at the West Holts Stage the Brazilian sounds of Ziriguidum are more my thing, a 50-strong outfit whose samba drums dance my feet in the direction of the Brothers Bar and back again a couple of times.

Following an extended sojourn in the Green Fields I return to the Pyramid Stage in time for the Wu-Tang Clan; from my vantage point halfway up the hill the mix sounds stodgy and distorted, heavy waves of bass slosh around and I can barely pick an F-bomb out of the lyrics. Instead I watch the Swallows who, oblivious to the music, dart through the sky just inches above the tent tops.

At 85 years of age BB King is the Grand Master of the Blues, he can therefore be excused for letting his band warm the crowd up a bit before making his appearance. Not that he needs anyone to warm up an audience that is; the throng at the Pyramid Stage hang on his every word and, it must be said, I get a weird squishy feeling inside when I hear the opening bars of The Thrill Is Gone.

Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro have had an amazing 18 months, discounting having one of their tunes used to line Simon Cowell's pockets that is, and their Glasto set is icing on what must be a very large cake indeed. The band stir through a large chunk of Only Revolutions, mix in some of Puzzle and a sprinkling of Infinity Land and Blackened Sky. All good stuff, though the mass sing-along is reserved for that one that the guy from X Factor covered.

The enigma that is Steven Patrick Morrissey swaggers out into the evening, a heady mixture of sarcasm, dourness and self-deprecation, and launches into I Want The One I Can't Have. I immediately turn back into a 15 year old wastrel and start waving my arms wildly, wondering idly if there's a flower shop nearby. Indeed the first half of the set blends a fine mix of classic Smiths tunes (Shoplifters Of The World Unite & There Is A Light That Never Goes Out) with up-tempo solo material (First Of The Gang To Die & You Have Killed Me). Unfortunately things seem to stall midway; the inclusion of so-so new material leaves our party shuffling about in our dampening ponchos, a state that not even a cover of Satellite of Love can resolve.

Meat Is Murder would not then seem the obvious choice to warm up a cold and wet crowd; a paean to vegetarianism sung in the middle of what is, for most of the year at least, a Dairy farm. A odd choice but, now on a roll, our hero heads toward the big finish. Earlier in the set Moz had announced that he'd sing as fast as he can, given that the audience were all waiting for U2; whether this is the reason for the sprint through This Charming Man or not I don't know, but motor through the song the band duly do. And, just like that, he's gone; some old songs, some new songs, a change of shirt and a dig at David Cameron. Like I said, an enigma.

Even though the Glastonbury Festival site is, I am reliably assured, the size of the city of Bath, I wonder if it's big enough to hold Bono's ego. I'm still pondering this thought when, shortly before 10 o'clock, things start to happen on the Pyramid Stage. The strains of Bowie's Space Oddity can be heard and the additional video screens fire into life; bugs and butterflies are animated in bright colours as the opening chords of Even Better Than The Real Thing fill the air.

If I'm honest at this point we're still not 100% if this is still an introduction or whether U2 are actually there; the primary video screens, usually showing the act on stage, are off and, from our place in the field, the front of the stage is obscured by flags. Eventually the video screens flicker into life and, there dressed in black, Bono strides the stage. The crowd roars, the ego has landed.

The front of the set favours Achtung Baby, an album I played to death when released but, honestly, I've not touched for many years. If the rediscovery of U2's 90's reboot album is a joy for me it's something the voice next to me is not happy about. "I don't want to hear this new shit", it says. I point out to my chum that the album is at least 10 years old (it's actually just over 20, a worrying thought indeed). Shortly after this I Will Follow has him, albeit briefly, jumping around.

For their Glastonbury performance U2 have forsaken the majority of their usual theatrical tricks; the additional video screens the only concession. Unfortunately Bono appears to have taken this to mean that he must try and connect with the audience; he tries gamely, expressing his regret that he can't watch Primal Scream at the same time as entertaining us, launching into a cringe-worthy rendition of Jerusalem, but it falls flat.

With a set straining at the sides with hits, packed with songs we all know, with nods to the weekend's remaining headliners as well, it could be that the band are trying a bit too hard. Or, then again, it could be that I've been standing in the rain for several hours, the annoying drizzle long since permeating my German Army poncho, and I've just finished my last beer.

The huge screen at the rear of the stage flickers with static and an astronaut appears, live from the ISS, linking the set back to Bowie's opus at the introduction. So much for no smoke and mirrors, I am beguiled by the giant spaceman releasing the lyrics of Beautiful Day into zero gravity and turn grinning to my chum. "That was amazing!", I say. "What was?", he replies. A 50 foot spaceman appears in a field in Somerset and he misses it. Typical. With renewed vigour, or maybe it's just my recaptured attention, the band roar into the home straight; forgiving the execrable Get On Your Boots we're swept up with Vertigo, carried along with Sunday Bloody Sunday before being left sated by Pride.

Abandoning my plan to trudge through the rain and mud to the Avalon Stage, where Barenaked Ladies are no doubt singing about Brian Wilson, I instead head back to my tent after U2's encore, sodden and too sober to enjoy it. As I pass the camp-site crew's caravan I see the weather report chalked on the door; rain until 4AM, lovely after that. 

Fingers crossed.

The Duke Spirit @ The Wedgewood Rooms 02/06/2011

Little has been heard of London alternative rockers The Duke Spirit since dust settled on 2008's Neptune. The band have been on an extended sojourn in the US, gigging and working on forthcoming long player Bruiser, but are now back in Blighty, showcasing new material on a tour of smaller venues.

Having recently played just up the road in Southampton I hadn't expected to see 'sold out' on the door, even so I'm surprised to find the Wedge a shave under half full. It's still a good crowd for a band who've been away awhile though.

Before Liela and chums entertain us we've the support act to enjoy/endure. Going by the moniker of The Computers they're an unknown quantity. Neither I nor my gigging buddies have heard of them but already we've come to the same conclusion; that''s a crap name for a band, it fails the all important "Good Evening Springfield" test for a start.

We're further perturbed when, sporting Mark Lamarr-style 50's throwback quiffs, they take the stage. "Oh crap", one of my chums mutters, "they're a Rockabilly band". Collectively we make the decision to point feet toward the bar and hide out there. Too late, there go the lights. We realise our mistake in judging them on their name and look up almost immediately; a sonic assault of indie powered punk, all loud guitars and throat ripping vocals, hits us amidships.

Short spikey songs, powered with rage and delivered with attitude, fire out from the stage. Between tunes the lead singer hawks another gob of spit on the floor and shakes the quiff out of his eyes. That guy down the front, you know the one, yells something we can't quite hear (but can catch the gist of); too much talking between songs. He gets a volley of expletives for his trouble as the band launches into another rocket-powered opus.

As the set progresses the lead singer/guitarist keeps moving his mic stand ever closer to the edge of the stage, into the gap by the barrier, then into the audience. He finishes up at the rear of the room, doubled-over in guitar-gasm, next to three 40ish year old blokes with jaws dropped open (guess who).

Unfortunately, after this debauched display, it pains me to admit that the headline act pale by comparison. Yes, The Duke Spirit can rock. They can roll. They can do both at the same time even but, after The Computers' energetic performance, their static stage presence seems tired.

Tracks from the first two albums sound as good as ever and new song Villain, available as a free download from the band's website, entertains. But they don't grab me, shake me, throw me to the floor and pick me back up again. I've been broken by The Computers and The Duke Spirit can't fix me.

We hear the end of the headliners' set from the relative comfort of the foyer where, as fate would have it, The Computers' lead singer is manning the Merch desk. Like the drunken fanboys we are we gush over their performance, handing over cash for CDs and coloured vinyl.

But, we tell him, that really is a crap name for a band. 

Big Brother Soul's World Cup Special

The hardest working Soul band on the South Coast, Big Brother Soul, return to Gosport on Friday 9th July for another hot and sweaty evening of Stax & Motown at The White Hart. As the gig occurs at the tail end of the month-long football fest in South Africa, and there is of course the remote chance England make it to the final, the poster has a decidedly 1966 look and feel to it...



Tickets should be are available from the venue from Thursday 10th June NOW, priced at a bargain £3!

Given that previous BBS gigs at The White Hart sold out ahead of time I'd advise getting your tickets ASAP. For more information on the band check out their website or find them on Facebook.

The Festive Gigwatcher (Part Two)

It's that time of year again.

I've pored over my CD collection, perused the sleeve-notes and laboured long over my worn out copy of Microsoft Word, all to bring you good people 52 lyrics that will hopefully keep you scratching your brain in frustration until the new year. Yes, it's the Annual Son of Music Club Lyric Quiz.

As in previous years there's a prize for whoever gets the most correct answers (last year it was a novelty bottle opener). Don't get any ideas about cheating (every time you cheat an angels wings fall off) as there are rules (no, really). At the end of the day though it's all a bit of fun, so right click this link, download the PDF and get cracking.

Have a Happy Christmas, and here's to many many fine gigs in 2009!

:o)

The Festive Gigwatcher (Part One)

Ho! Ho! Ho!

I did have a full Christmas blurb prepared, extolling the myriad virtues of Mince Pies and the joys of bad jokes in Christmas crackers, but I feared the heady mix of bad festive puns might be a bit too much for some of you.

No, really I did. Honest.

*koff*

Moving swiftly on for the last time in 2008; here are the pick of the gigs coming our way, freshly selected from the back pages of this week's bumper Christmas edition NME:

Of Montreal @ Digital, Brighton - 24/01/2009
Sky Larkin and Pulled Apart By Horses @ Audio, Brighton - 30/01/2009
Emmy The Great @ Komedia, Brighton - 02/02/2009
The Twang @ The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth - 03/02/2009
Fighting With Wire @ iBar, Bournemouth - 04/02/2009
The Coast @ Audio, Brighton - 04/02/2009
Fighting With Wire @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 06/02/2009
Fighting With Wire @ Hamptons, Southampton - 07/02/2009
Stricken City @ The Freebutt, Brighton - 11/02/2009
Stricken City @ Lennons, Southampton - 14/02/2009
Alkaline Trio and The Audition @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 15/02/2009
Secret Machines @ Digital, Brighton - 17/02/2009
Hockney, Passion Pit and Bear Hands @ Audio, Brighton - 17/02/2009
Late Of The Pier and Micachu @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portmouth - 20/02/2009
The View @ Southampton University Student Union - 22/02/2009
General Fiasco @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 22/02/2009
The Spinto Band @ The Joiners, Southampton - 27/02/2009
School Of Seven Bells @ Audio, Brighton - 01/03/2009
The Ting Tings @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 05/03/2009
Fall Out Boy @ The Brighton Centre - 08/03/2008
Goldie Lookin' Chain @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 23/03/2009
Goldie Lookin' Chain @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 25/03/2009
Bat For Lashes @ The Corn Exchange, Brighton - 16/04/2009
65daysofstatic @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 25/04/2009

If you fear the outlaws may drive you mad over the Christmas period, or that you'll over-indulge with the Quality Street, or find you've watched The Great Escape that one time too many and are in dire need of leaving the house for an evening, then have no fear; I've perused the net and found the following gigs taking place during the forthcoming festivities...

19/12/2008
The Bog Rolling Stones @ The Brook, Southampton
Rusty Sheriff @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth
Viatrophy, Gehenna VII VII VII and In Her Ruin @ The Joiners, Southampton
The Visitors, Loz Bridge & The Box Social and Emily Barker @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth
Julian Nicholas' Heavy Plant Crossing @ Komedia, Brighton
The Booze Brothers @ The Rifle Club, Portsmouth
The Fabulous Rockman @ The Railway, Winchester
Amy MacDonald @ The Guildhall, Southampton
Zetan Spore @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth
Roadhouse @ The Firehouse, Southampton

20/12/2008
Installation, Hijera and Zoo Zero @ The Joiners, Southampton
Perfect Alibi (Pink Floyd tribute) @ The Opera House, Bournemouth
Steve Arnott @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton
The Ben Waters Band and The Spike Drivers @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham
Pencil Riot, The Bluescreen Of Death and Rosenkrantz @ The Hobbit, Southampton
Chicago Nine @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth
Rufus Stone @ The Brook, Southampton
The Reason @ The Railway, Winchester
Lynchpin @ The Firehouse, Southampton

21/12/2008
Speed The Collapse, Tigre Bite Tigre and Faireway @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Furthest Drive Home, Out Of Sight and Skyline Heroes @ The Joiners, Southampton
Jools Holland and His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra @ BIC (Windsor Hall), Bournemouth
Brontide, Sion and Great Walls @ The Railway, Winchester
Gentle Bren (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth
Jezebell @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton
The Damned @ Komedia, Brighton

22/12/2008
The Damned @ Komedia, Brighton
Kodiak Jack @ Havana Bar, Southsea
Lost On Landing, Not Advised and Burn The Fleet @ The Joiners, Southampton
Sensational Alex Harvey Band @ Concorde 2, Brighton

23/12/2008
The Jamm (tribute) @ The Opera House, Bournemouth
Inklings @ The Joiners, Southampton
The Bog Rolling Stones @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth
Status Quo @ BIC (Windsor Hall), Bournemouth
I See Sparks @ The Railway, Winchester
Bad Manners @ Concorde 2, Brighton

24/12/2008
Stone Free, Dave Miatt and Joe Parker @ The Hobbit, Southampton
Santa Gold (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth
Rebel Yell (tribute) @ Chicago Rock Cafe, Fareham
The Silver Beatles (tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton

27/12/2008
Autons, Shegotsick and Night Of Treason @ Moodeaze, Gosport
Cream of Clapton (tribute) @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth
Stickee Ickee (DJ) @ The Hobbit, Southampton
Great Pretender (Queen tribute) @ The Opera House, Bournemouth
Red Indie with Dr Watson (DJ) and Skidmark (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth
The Vegas @ The Joiners, Southampton
Mary Jane @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth
Timebomb @ The Brook, Southampton

28/12/2008
Clym Arnold & The Delta Breaks, The Lonely Cardinals and The B Of The Bang @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth
White Knuckle Revolution, Deity and Minds Gone Blank @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Crossfire, The Realists and Castillo @ The Joiners, Southampton
Gentle Bren (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth

29/12/2008
All New Comics @ The Joiners, Southampton
Kojak's Revenge @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Max Hayes @ The Hobbit, Southampton

30/12/2008
Remain Silenced, Typheous and Boilith @ The Joiners, Southampton
Eric Prydz (DJ) @ The Opera House, Bournemouth
Dragon Eye Morrison, Little London and Cut The Blue Wire @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

31/12/2008
Burn The Fleet, Science Of Eight Limbs and Venice Ahoy @ The Joiners, Southampton
The Bog Rolling Stones @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Valhalla @ The Firehouse, Southampton

...and here are gigs in the new year that you may want to add to your diary...

Miles From Anywhere, The White Coats and No Access @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 02/01/2009
Tiny Spark @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth - 03/01/2009
One Weird Fish @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield - 03/01/2009
Get Your Ass To Mars @ The Railway, Winchester - 03/01/2009
Mindless Self Indulgence, Bring Me The Horizon and Black Tide @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 18/01/2009
[spunge] @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 09/03/2009
You Me At Six @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 12/03/2009
And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 14/04/2009

Tonight Indie club night Waster will break out the snow machines for more winter mayhem at Liquid Envy, with Will Chump (Chaos) and Philip Harvey (HKGC) of the Southsea Mafia DJs supplying the tunes. There'll be plenty of tinsel and sparkly lights as well, plus the chance for one lucky punter to win a fridge full of Kick energy drink (just the thing for a Christmas hangover). Doors open from 2200, with admission £2.20 before 2300, rising to £3.20 after. Further details can be found on the event's Facebook page.

The Wedgewoods Rooms goes back in time tomorrow night, Friday 19th December, when retro night It's A Sin fires into life. DJs Monsieur Dangerous and Carlos De Lemona will be raiding the vinyl under the stairs for a heady mix of oldies and goldies; doors open from 2300 and admission is FREE!

The Hong Kong Gardeners Club have lined up an evening of live music at Southsea's Havana Bar on Boxing Day, just the thing to cure the cure the post-Christmas blues. As well as sets from Joe Black, Thos Henley and Balk Fiction you'll also be able to savour the DJing skills of Myke Eales (Aspect) and Andy Summerly (from The Strange Death of Liberal England). Doors open from 2000, admission is £3 on the door.

Hipshaker hot-steps it into Christmas this Saturday, 20th December, with a seasonal offering of classic 60s funk and soul served up by the resident Hipshaker DJs plus live music from Pompey surf/punk outfit Emptifish. Doors open at The Wedgewood Rooms at 2130, admission is £5.

The Macabret will be taking over The Edge of The Wedge this Monday, 22nd December, for an winter's evening of burlesque entertainment in aid of All Saints Hostel. In addition to performances from Ms Honour Mission and Ms Ruby Red there'll also be live music from Joe Black and Kelly Kemp. Admission is £4, doors from 2000-2330 and it's over 18s only.

Contact returns to South Parade Pier this New Year's Eve with sets from guest DJs Uberdruck, Chris Liberator, DJ X and A+D+A+M, plus residents Matt Handy, Gav Ravenous and Nathan D & Lanslide. Tickets are £25 in advance from from Ticketweb, doors open from 2100, with music through till 0400.

The Wedgewood Rooms hosts A Night For Joe Strummer on Tuesday, 23rd December, with all profits donated to Strummerville, the Joe Strummer Foundation for New Music. The line-up so far features The Racketeers, The Good Time Charlies, TFA and Archive 45, with further acts to be announced. Doors from 1930, tickets are £8 in advance.

Chaos will be celebrating Christmas in style this year, with two events at the The Wedgewood Rooms next week. First up is a cracker of a Christmas Eve special, featuring live music from Kill Kasper, Wyldside and Tricorn plus DJs Hev Stillet-Hoe and Ruby Soho. Then, if your liver has recovered from all the yuletide excess, Will Chump and DJ Lemon will be seeing in 2009 a few days early with The Alternative New Year Party on Saturday 27th December. Admission is £5 for either night; doors open from 2200 on the 27th, from 2100 on Christmas Eve.

Club night Kiss My Bass have planned the mother of all New Year's Eve parties at Southsea's Havana Bar, guaranteed to see 2009 in with a bang. DJs Charge and Tom Mayhem (Ricochet) will be joining residents Udy, Vol.1, Eratik Behaviour, Neil Doc and Fotza for an all-night session, with a live beatbox countdown to the New Year courtesy of Ochs. A new sound system and lighting rig are promised, plus the DJs have been told anything goes, so it's going to be large. Tickets are available in advance from the venue, or online from the Portsmouth page at http://www.dontstayin.com, priced at £8. The fun starts at 2100 and runs through to 0500. Oh lordy.

And that's it for the Gigwatcher for 2008; today I have mostly been listening to Pearl Jam, Muse and Kodiak Jack (with the Bo Selecta Proper Chrimbo tune on random for good measure). Thanks for putting up with my drivel landing in your inboxes or taking the time to read it on the blog, I hope Santa brings you all something very special (I've asked for Cheryl Tweedy again, fingers crossed) and not that CD by The Priests (which is a total rip off as it doesn't have My Lovely Horse on it). Be sure to join me in the New Year when I'll be breaking that resolution I foolishly made in a rare sober moment.

:o)

The Gigwatcher will be slightly delayed this week...

I've been waylaid with "the manflu" so I've got a little behind with collating all the lovely lovely gigs coming up over the imminent Chrimbo period. Thankfully the Beechams have kicked in so, all being well, I should be able to wrap up The Festive Gigwatcher in time for it to come down your chimneys (if you're an email subscriber) or leave it under the tree here on blog some time tomorrow.

;o)

The Gigwatcher 10/12/2008

Bah Humbug

Try as I might to avoid X Factor, even I managed to stumble across the news that the winner of this year's competition will be covering Leonard Cohen's classic Hallelujah. That's not to say whoever wins is guaranteed the Christmas #1 slot this year; already a wave of internet protest has seen Jeff Buckley's take on the song start to rise up the charts.

Strangely, a similar thing occurred in the US when a contestant on American Idol performed the song...

*koff*
Winter draws on, here are the slim pickings from the back pages of this week's NME:

Buzzcocks @ The Brook, Southampton - 28/01/2009
Starsailor @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 04/04/2009

Not much there I'll grant you, but as usual I've also plundered the interweb to come up with a veritable treasure trove of entertaining gigs coming this way over the next seven days...

11/12/2008
The Kabeedies, Dawn Chorus and Fresh Legs @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth
Larry Miller and Sinner Boy (Rory Gallagher tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton
Will Young @ BIC (Windsor Hall), Bournemouth
Delays @ Lennons, Southampton NO ADVANCE TICKETS
The Sly Hardy Band @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth
New Scorpion Band @ Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton SOLD OUT!
Crazy Arm and The Arteries @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth
Remain Silenced, I See Sparks and Capricorn Sisters @ The Talking Heads, Southampton
Crazy Arm, The Dead City Stereo, Bangers and Livers & Lungs @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth
Flamboyant Bella, Melodramas and Leigh Mary Stokes @ The Joiners, Southampton
The Dandy Warhols @ The Old Fire Station, Bournemouth
Suspiciously Elvis (tribute) @ Komedia, Brighton
The Labels and Reno @ The Railway, Winchester
Pete G @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton

12/12/2008
Bad Toad @ The Talking Heads, Southampton
Scarlet Soho, The Tripods and Citizen @ The Railway, Winchester
Sevendust, Symphony Cult and Jurojin @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Delays (acoustic set) @ The Orange Rooms, Southampton SOLD OUT!
Dirty DC (tribute) and Limehouse Lizzy (tribute) @ The Opera House, Bournemouth
The Blind Boys Of Alabama @ The Dome, Brighton
Purple Monkey @ The Firehouse, Southampton
Pendulum @ BIC (Windsor Hall), Bournemouth
Sonic Boom Six @ Hamptons, Southampton
Status Quo @ The Brighton Centre
Akahum @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth
Mary Jane @ The Hobbit, Southampton
Supertonic, The Queue and Corazza @ The Joiners, Southampton
Geoff Eales Trio @ Komedia, Brighton
Gentle Bren (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth
Panama @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton
RU40 (UB40 tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton
Loose Tongue @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth

13/12/2008
The Levellers @ The Guildhall, Southampton
Red Letter Day and The Adamseed @ The Nell Gwynne, Portsmouth
The Bon Jovi Experience (tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton
John Etheridge & Kit Holmes @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham
Red Indie with Dr Watson (DJ) and Skidmark (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth
The Cropdusters, Beautiful Life and Moosehead @ The Talking Heads, Southampton
Antillectual, Fromplantoprogress, Chillerton and The 255s @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth
Steve Arnott @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton
Katherine Jenkins @ BIC (Windsor Hall), Bournemouth
Trio Valore @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton
Sons Of Noel & Adrian, Kristin McClement and The Great Park @ Komedia, Brighton
Ian Scarbro, Noen Thomas and Thinking For Tuesday @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth
Blessed By A Broken Heart and I Am Ghost @ Concorde 2, Brighton
Delays and Open Room @ The Joiners, Southampton SOLD OUT!
Creamy (tribute) @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth
Stone Free @ The Firehouse, Southampton
The Mods @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth
People In Planes @ Hamptons, Southampton

14/12/2008
Delays @ The Brook, Southampton SOLD OUT!
Kings Of Leon @ BIC (Windsor Hall), Bournemouth
Radio Stars @ The Talking Heads, Southampton
The Hold Steady and The Mark Inside @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Blessed By A Broken Heart, I Am Ghost and Fei Comodo @ The Joiners, Southampton
Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth
Ronnie & Johnny @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton
Jimmy Corrigan and The Limes @ The Railway, Winchester
Suspiciously Elvis (tribute) @ Komedia, Brighton
Gentle Bren (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth

15/12/2008
Hawkwind @ The Brook, Southampton
Katherine Jenkins @ The Brighton Centre
The Swing Commanders and The Sally Strawberry Revue @ South Parade Pier, Southsea
Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett @ Komedia, Brighton
Johnny Truant @ The Joiners, Southampton

16/12/2008
The Uplifter (DJ) @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton
Stereophonics @ The Brighton Centre
Harper @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth
Stu & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton
Owen Tromans & The Elders and The Moho @ The Railway, Winchester
Run Of The Mill, Endless Doubt and Midnight Embassy @ The Rifle Club, Portsmouth
Guttermouth, Mike TV and Get Your Ass To Mars @ The Talking Heads, Southampton
Matthew Harrison, Oli Collins, I Confess and Andrew Gordon @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Safe Harbour, Silversweet and Kids Next Door @ The Joiners, Southampton
Suspiciously Elvis (tribute) @ Komedia, Brighton
Mostly Autumn @ The Brook, Southampton
Maddy Prior @ The City Hall, Salisbury
The Adventurists @ Komedia, Brighton
From The Jam @ The Guildhall, Southampton

17/12/2008
The Fratellis @ The Dome, Brighton
Barry Barnes @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth
Stereophonics @ BIC (Windsor Hall), Bournemouth
Stickee Ickee (DJ) @ The Hobbit, Southampton
Spice Gals (tribute) @ Chicago Rock Cafe, Fareham
James Blake, Chris Ricketts, Ben Pinwill and Becky Jerams @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield
Cue The Disaster, Waiting For Sirens and Jenna's Revenge @ The Joiners, Southampton
Definitely Mightbe (Oasis tribute) @ The Opera House, Bournemouth
One Night Of Queen (tribute) @ The Guildhall, Southampton
Three Times Over and Ardentes @ The Railway, Winchester

...and here are some others you may want to add to your diary...

Ugly Duckling @ The Talking Heads, Southampton - 16/01/2009
Seth Lakeman @ The Brook, Southampton - 18/01/2009
Soulfly @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 01/02/2009
The Datsuns @ The Joiners, Southampton - 17/02/2009
Candi Staton @ The Brook, Southampton - 17/02/2009
Bellowhead @ The Brook, Southampton - 19/02/2009
School Of Seven Bells @ Audio, Brighton - 01/03/2009
Hot Leg @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 13/03/2009
Billy Ocean @ The Guildhall, Portsmouth - 15/03/2009
Goldie Lookin' Chain @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 25/03/2009
Morrissey @ The City Hall, Salisbury - 25/05/2009

The rescheduled date for The Wedding Present's cancelled December 3rd show has been announced; the new date is Monday 2nd March 2009. Tickets for the original date remain valid, anyone unable to attend the rescheduled date is advised to contact their point of sale for a refund.

This week indie club night Waster holds its second annual Winter Wonderland, a fantastically festive indie affair featuring the best alternative tunes in town courtesy of the Southsea Mafia DJs. The doors of Portsmouth's Liquid nightclub will be open from 2200 tomorrow, Thursday 11th December, with admission just £2.20 before 2300, rising to £3.20 after (though if you're in festive fancy dress entry is gratis). More information can be found on the event's Facebook page.

It's a Christmas Chaos at The Wedgewood Rooms this Saturday, 13th December; Secret Santas Will Chump and DJ Lemon will be taking care of the festive business in the Main Room whilst Marky Marc handles the tunes in The Chaos Lounge. Doors open from 2200, with admission £5 on the door.

Dutch punk bands Brito and Antillectual top the bill at the STE Punk Collective's all-dayer this Sunday, 14th December. The Hobbit again hosts the irregular shindig, which also features sets from local bands Gordon Gano's Army, Whole In The Head and Constant State Of Terror. Admission is £6 on the door, with music from 1400 through till 2100.

The RMA Tavern hosts an evening of fine burlesque entertainment this Sunday, 14th December, courtesy of HMS Pin Up. In addition to performances from Dolly Divine, Poison Ivy, Bea deVile and Bella De Jac, there'll also be live music from local band The Edible Stems. Doors from 2000 till late; tickets are £5 in advance from the venue or The Wedgewood Rooms Box Office, or £6 on the door.

iLLuMIDanCe takes over the Venus Vodka Bar for a night of uplifting trance this Saturday, 13th December, with DJs Ben Nicky (Abstract Recordings) and DTF joining residents Nathan Hunt and DJ Cabin Boy. Music from 2100 through till 0200. Admission is £1 on the door, ID will be required.

The guest entertainment at Roger Courtney's Open Mike Club this week comes from trio Steve, Paul & John and the fantastically monickered Alan Robertson & His Wheels Of Fire. The doors of The Barn at The Milton Arms will be open from 1900 tomorrow, Thursday 11th December, with music from 2000; the Open Mike session follows from 2200 through till Midnight. For further details check the Facebook group.

And that just about wraps it up for the penultimate Gigwatcher of 2008; today I have mostly been listening to The Decemberists, Mew and Phil Spector's A Christmas Gift For You. Be sure to join me next week when I'll be making a list and checking it twice.

:o)

The Gigwatcher 03/12/2008

The Silly Season

You can tell it's near to the end of the year, the news stories always get just that more ridiculous. For instance, dancing political pundit John Sargeant is releasing a festive tune, Girls Aloud have announced they'll be supporting Coldplay next year and Axl Rose is suing Dr Pepper for not taking the release of the much delayed Chinese Democracy seriously.

Whatever next, Cliff Richard releasing a single with Slipknot?

[crosses fingers]
 
*koff*

Moving swiftly on, here's the pick of the forthcoming gigs plucked from the back pages of this week's NME:

Little Joy @ Audio, Brighton - 15/01/2009
The Bookhouse Boys @ Audio, Brighton - 22/01/2009
Alkaline Trio @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 15/02/2009
Late Of The Pier @ Concorde 2, Brighton - 18/02/2009
Late Of The Pier @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - 20/02/2009
The View @ Southampton University Student Union - 22/02/2009
Snow Patrol @ BIC, Bournemouth - 22/02/2009 SOLD OUT!
Pure Reason Revolution @ The Joiners, Southampton - 07/03/2009
Fall Out Boy @ The Brighton Centre - 08/03/2009
Pure Reason Revolution @ Audio, Brighton - 16/03/2009
Lily Allen and La Roux @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 19/03/2009
Lily Allen and La Roux @ The Dome, Brighton - 20/03/2009

If I can peel myself away from my steaming mug of Horlicks and comfortable chair by the fire long enough I'll endeavour to update the SoMC Events Calendar with the gigs above. To be honest though, I get a bit sleepy after a hot cup of malty beverage, so I probably won't. Bless. To keep you going here's a selection of gigs coming your way over the next seven days...

04/12/2008
Will Young @ The Dome, Brighton SOLD OUT!
Kirk Brandon and Wise Children @ The RMA Tavern, Winchester
Kris Dollimore @ The Gun Room (The RMA Tavern), Portsmouth
Julian Joseph @ Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton
Red Snapper @ Concorde 2, Brighton CANCELLED!
Blues Etc @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton
The Holloways, Sam McCarthy and The Ramblings @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
The Rotted, Desolated and Driven By Devils @ The Joiners, Southampton
The UK Chili Peppers @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth
Sharleen Spiteri @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton (tickets available via wave105fm)
The Getaway Team, The Weather Committee and Midnight Embassy @ The Rifle Club, Portsmouth
Portico Quartet, Caroline's Capuchin and Shona Foster @ The Talking Heads, Southampton

05/12/2008
One Weird Fish @ The Drum, Petersfield
Luke Leighfield, Atlum Schema and Paperplane @ Hamptons, Southampton
Heaven 17, The Human League and ABC @ The Brighton Centre
Atlantico @ The Talking Heads, Southampton
The Suicide Rooms, Freakpit and Press Any Key @ The Alma Arms, Portsmouth
Adrian Edmondson & The Bad Shepherds @ The Brook, Southampton
The Bog Rolling Stones (tribute) and The Small Fakers (tribute) @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth
Alice's Band @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton
Attack! Attack!, 84MM and The Auteur @ The Freebutt, Brighton
The Legendary Derek @ The Frog & Frigate, Southampton
Martyn Joseph @ The Studio at The Petersfield School
The Van Jammers @ The Hobbit, Southampton
Medallist and Incredible Weapons @ The RMA Tavern, Winchester
Ardentes, Waiting For Sirens and Chemical Sunset @ The Joiners, Southampton
Six Million Dollar Man Club (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth
Legend @ The Firehouse, Southampton

06/12/2008
The Gran Torinos and Sunset Mission @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth
Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra @ The Brighton Centre
Perfect Alibi (Pink Floyd tribute) @ The Brook, Southampton
Uiscedwr @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham
Flash Guns @ Unit, Southampton
Simian Mobile Disco @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth
Nicotine Smile and Seven Day Weekend @ The RMA Tavern, Winchester
Attack! Attack!, Not Advised and Dead Mile @ The Joiners, Southampton
Adriano Adewale Group @ Salisbury Arts Centre
Atomic Badger @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield
Superfly @ The Red Lion, Stubbington
Time For Action @ The Fawcett Inn, Portsmouth
Powerplant @ The Pavilion, Brighton
Ghoad @ The Firehouse, Southampton
Heaven 17, The Human League and ABC @ BIC, Bournemouth
The Zutons @ The Dome, Brighton
Exit 10 and Glamour Of The Kill @ Hamptons, Southampton
The Jelly Rollers @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth
Neville Staple @ Concorde 2, Brighton CANCELLED!
Scaramoose @ The Hobbit, Southampton

07/12/2008
Joan As Policewoman @ Concorde 2, Brighton
The Velvet Hearts and Tremain @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth
Venice Ahoy, Colour and Joey Nightmare @ The Joiners, Southampton
Gentle Bren (DJ) @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth
Johnny B & Denovo @ The Hobbit, Southampton
Ade Cull and Peter Paul Parker @ The RMA Tavern, Portsmouth
AOR (feat. Dave Sharp of The Alarm) and Time For Action @ The Talking Heads, Southampton
Imelda May and Roxanne Johns @ The RMA Tavern, Winchester
David Celia @ The Platform Tavern, Southampton

08/12/2008
Ben Ottewell (Gomez) and Little Gem @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Caroline Nin @ Komedia, Brighton CANCELLED!
Dead Like Harry @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth
Official Secrets Act, I See Sparks and The Inklings @ Hamptons, Southampton
Digital Delay, Atlas and The Rivers Of Sound @ The Rifle Club, Portsmouth
Paul Curreri and Danni Nichols @ Komedia, Brighton

09/12/2008
iliketrains, Jeniferever and The Strange Death Of Liberal England @ The Joiners, Southampton
The Pigeon Detectives @ BIC, Bournemouth
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan and The Miserable Rich @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
St Agnes Fountain @ Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham
Aitch, Doubleback Alley and Paddy Taylor @ Little Johnny Russell's, Portsmouth
James @ The Dome, Brighton
All Forgotten @ Hamptons, Southampton
The Parlotones, Recreation and Beau Monde @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth
Suspiciously Elvis (tribute) @ Komedia, Brighton
The Exits, Dan Rumsey and The Real Raj @ The Edge of The Wedge, Portsmouth
The Fratellis @ The Guildhall, Southampton SOLD OUT!

10/12/2008
Wilko Johnson and The Riotous Brothers @ The Cellars at Eastney, Portsmouth
The Rezillos @ The Brook, Southampton
Shona Foster and Cordelia Fellowes & Co @ Komedia, Brighton
The Redwalls and The Broken Hearts @ Hamptons, Southampton
Atomic Jones (tribute) @ Chicago Rock Cafe, Fareham
The Trevor John Band @ Havant Arts Centre
Paul Jones & Dave Kelly @ The Studio at The Petersfield School
Never Back Down, Pancake Eating Freaks and Canada Water @ The Joiners, Southampton
Suspiciously Elvis (tribute) @ Komedia, Brighton
Five By Five and Doghouse @ The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Jackson & The Spangles, Jazica and Zoe Croune @ The RMA Tavern, Winchester
Apocalyptica @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth
John Otway @ The Soul Cellar, Southampton
Fritz @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield

...and here are some others you may want to add to your diary...

Richard Thompson @ The City Hall, Salisbury - 05/02/2009
The Spinto Band @ The Joiners, Southampton - 27/02/2009
Noah & The Whale @ St George's Church, Brighton - 07/03/2009
Same Difference @ The Guildhall, Southampton - 12/03/2009
Starsailor @ The Pyramids, Portsmouth - 04/04/2009

This week's Waster features live music from funkers Blue Alert and electro outfit Lighthouses, with Will Chump and DJ Lemon of the Southsea Mafia pumping out the finest indiepunkelectroraverock in town afterward. Doors from 2200-0230, with admission £2.20 before 2300 (£3.20 after); details of how to blag your way in for less can be found on the event's Facebook page.

The chaps at Kiss My Bass launch their new 'genre clash' night, Ugly Beats, at the Havana Bar this Saturday, 6th December. Joining Ugly Beats residents Dirtbox and Darkfloor will be guest DJs Tom Mayhem and (one half of) Hated In The Face. Admission is FREE, doors from 2100, music through till 0100.

Santa will be getting on his good foot at The Wedgewood Rooms this Saturday, 6th December, when Funkt-If-Ino hold their Christmas Extravaganza. Resident DJs Darth Fader and Chewbazza will be dishing up a hot helping of festive helping of disco, funk and soul to get you in the festive mood. Admission is £5, doors from 2200.

The Talking Heads hosts Southampton singer-songwriter Ben Dlugokecki's 6th Annual Xmas Xtravaganza this Saturday, 6th December. The line-up for this year features local bands The Warm, The Bizets and The Reservoirs, plus Ben's band Dlugokecki (who will have learned some special Christmas covers for the occasion). The first band will be onstage at 1930, tickets are £5 in advance and £7 on the night.

Fareham based popster Joe Ward and Portsmouth indie four-piece Sunset Mission will be the musical guests at Roger Courtney's Open Mike Club tomorrow, Thursday 4th December. As usual, there'll be FREE admission to The Barn at The Milton Arms, with doors open at 1900 and live music from 2000. The regular Open Mike session will follow from 2200 through till Midnight. More information can be found on Facebook.

And that about wraps it up for this week; today I have mostly been listening to a couple of compilations I knocked up awhile back and some assorted 80's pop. Be sure to join me next week when I'll be throttling back the flange manifold.

:o)