Oh, You Really Were The Bomb

Hello again. Three tracks today from bands whose most recent albums I have been enjoying very much.
First up are the Silversun Pickups, a US band who I first saw/heard on Jools Holland. Since then I picked up debut album Carnavas and I think this is the best track. Also looking forward very much to their Reading performance in the Carling tent: Lazy Eye


Secondly, a brand new album out today (25/6/07) in the UK, it is New Young Pony Club, a band that made the end of year Top 20 in singles last year. I think the album is fantastic and that absolutely everyone should go and buy it...This track is the most recent single: The Bomb


Finally we have Client. Three exceptional ladies, including Dubstar's old singer (yay, Dubstar!) making electro-minimalist tunes. Heartland, their third LP came out earlier this year and I reckon this is the standout: Monkey On My Back

Download:
Silversun Pickups - 'Lazy Eye'

New Young Pony Club - 'The Bomb'

Client - 'Monkey On My Back'

Hooray (I Think)

I wanted to start audioblogging, but it has taken me nearly two hours to link to one sodding file...

That file is a stomper called 'D.A.N.C.E.' by Justice.

Pet Shop Boys Live Review

The Pet Shop Boys, London Hammersmith Apollo, Wednesday June 6th

I had waited a long time for this gig, somehow I've managed to miss Messers Tennant and Lowe every time they'd been playing. The gig at Eden was an option, but Dave, a friend of Dave's from Uni Moira and myself plumped for this one instead. The Apollo isn't exactly heaving outside, and inside is little different. It made a change to be made to feel young at a gig though, we spent a length of time attempting to spot gig-goers younger than us to pretty much no avail.

With no support act to stand through, the lights went down at approximately 8:30 and a flourescent cube lit up from centre-stage. Two dancers emerged, followed by two backing singers eventually followed by the PSBs, who charmingly met in the middle, shook hands and took up their positions. Starting up with 'We're The Pet Shop Boys' the first touch of perfection came from 'Left To My Own Devices'. Equal parts epic and poptastic this for me, surprisingly early on in the set, was the definite highlight.

As if to remind the audience of their immaculate back catalogue, the early part of the show contained uber-hits 'Can You Forgive Her?', 'Shopping', 'Rent' and 'Heart' interspersed with recent singles (and much improved live) 'I'm With Stupid' and 'Minimal'. The dancing throughout the gig was superb (on-stage that is!) and the backing singers, especially Sylvia Mason-James, who during 'Where The Streets Have No Name/Can't Take My Eyes Off You' wore two hats! Two hats! She had the kind of voice that, as soon as she lets rip, sends shivers up and down your spine. She was probably at her best at the end of 'West End Girls'.

Everything about the show was pretty damn spot-on, Tennant was on great vocal form, the music didn't miss a beat, the backdrop, choreography and lighting were all perfect. It was also a decent crowd and when the show hit it's camp high-spots 'Paninaro', 'Flamboyant' and set-closer 'Go West' the feeling of fun was overpowering. In fact, it was probably the most 'fun' I've ever had at a gig.

I worry about saying that the gig was 'fun' though, because it seems to belittle the musical achievements the PSBs have hit over the years. At frequent points during the evening the audience was treated to bursts of absolute musical perfection; sparkling pop gems, hi-NRG dance classics, tender ballads. I loved it. Best track 'Left To My Own Devices', overall 9.5/10.

I Said Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

UNKLE confirmed as Dance Stage headliners! A live set! Oh My Motherfucking Gawd. Hooray!

So, Mr Lavelle please play in this order:

Beethoven's 9th/2nd Movement Scherzo Remix
Reign
Be There
Lonely Soul
Eye For An Eye
What Are You To Me?
Burn My Shadow
The Knock
Drums of Death
In A State
Rabbit In Your Headlights

Oh, Mervyn, you have made one man very, very, very happy.

Top 20: It Ain't Changed Much!!

20. 'All My Friends'
19. 'Down For So Long'
18. 'Destroy Everything You Touch'
17. 'California Soul'
16. 'Kill All Hippies'
15. 'And I Was A Boy From School'
14. 'Atlantis to Interzone'
13. 'Live In Sunshine'
12. 'Head'
11. 'Faraway'
10. 'Monster Hospital'
9. 'Over And Over'
8. 'Alala'
7. 'Someone Great'
6. 'Heart Of Hearts'
5. 'Swastika Eyes'
4. 'Shoot Speed / Kill Light'
3. 'Whoo! Alright-Yeah...Uh Huh'
2. 'Pass The Hatchet I Think I'm Goodkind'
1. 'Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above' - CSS

Live Review: Wallis Bird / Lee Gordon Trio

A random one, this. Karen knew by association one of the members of the band playing second on the bill, the Lee Gordon Trio. Off to Earl's Court to a little place called the Troubadour (below), strangely placed below a restaurant. Once there, two drippy Irish singer-songwriters bored the pants off everyone present. Upon reading the guff distributed throughout the venue I noticed that both these singers had been signed by Island Records: why?! Completely immemorable. Both 1/10.

The Lee Gordon Trio were an interesting mix of acousto-electric guitars, a double bass (see below!) and drums. They kicked out some cool tunes, including a nicely rewrought version of 'All Along The Watchtower'. I think the singer had problems with his voice but he seemed to do well enough, if sounding a little too Americanised at times. It was great to see a double-bass in action though. To me they sounded a bit like Jimmy Eat World...I'll let you blogosphere readers decide if that's a good or bad thing. 6/10 but with potential.

Last on was a strange girl, blessed with the Irish gift of the gab. Backed by a tight (German!!) rhythm section and joined occasionally by a backing singer/violinist, Wallis Bird was a real unexpected treat. The songs wavered from jamming funk'd up tunes, to real low-beat ballads. At one point she announced 'Are you ready to rock?!' quickly followed by 'Not really, this is a ballad. Oh no, not a fucking ballad' she teased. But seriously; her band was exceptional, the bass pinning people to the walls of this tiny venue. The last track was an absolute killer, one of the best new songs I've heard this year. I think it was called 'Go On Home' but could just as easily been called 'Your Daddy Is A Liar'. An !!!-inspired break down was both preceded and followed by a raucous chorus, I can't wait to get my hands on this on record. 9/10 and one of the finest small venue sets I've ever seen.