Edward Turner: n i g h t

My taste in music has changed quite a lot recently. When my iPod is on shuffle I am continuously surprised at the music that I used to love and find myself selecting songs by the likes of Laura Marling, Sam Beeton and Daughter instead.

That's why, after Pegasus Bridge split a year ago, I was so pleased to hear vocalist and guitar player Edward Turner had recorded some new songs. I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of n i g h t, his EP, particularly as he was selling hand painted copies. It is the second CD I have brought within 5 years, the first was Pegasus Bridge's While We're Young, which says quite a lot really.

When my copy came earlier this month I was ecstatic, especially as it also came with a lovely little note from Ed, which is an amazing personal touch. He was right, it is best listened to in the dark.

Wakey!Wakey! Summer

I love summer. It just makes me happy, it's as simple as that. Technically it's still spring but in Britain our summers are so limited that I am clutching at this brief interlude of sun and have convinced myself it's summer. I dread looking at the weather forecast to see it's going to go cold again.

For now, I am embracing summer with sandals, pretty 50's style dresses, picnics and lots of smiley, happy songs. One band that doesn't fail to get me in that sunny and relaxed mood is Wakey!Wakey! If you watch One Tree Hill you'll be familiar with them but just in case you aren't here are two of my favourites....

The Good Natured: Video Voyeur

At the beginning of this month The Good Natured released their latest video for the song Video Voyeur. I discovered the band about a year ago through Get it Loud in Libraries and interviewed singer Sarah McIntosh for Cellardoor Magazine. They class their music as "pop noir" and I'm not even going to pretend I know what that means but I love it and I love this song.

Misty Miller Makes Me Smile

I'm currently a bit poorly and feeling a little sorry for myself. My graduation is looming and I am trying to find my first step on the career ladder at a time when there are lots more people than there are jobs. Post-Masters I am a bit at a loss and as winter is creeping up on us I spent most of today curled up under a blanket with my MacBook on my lap trying to find something to perk me up a bit. Misty Miller's music was the thing to put a smile on my face.

I first fell in love with her when I heard her acoustic version of Remember, which she filmed as part of Burberry Acoustic. She isn't new, I haven't tapped into some unknown talent or anything unfortunately, but she is spectacularly talented. Lots of her songs are on her MySpace in very good quality so you should definitely check her out. Hopefully she'll help you relax and smile a little bit too.

Cellardoor Magazine: Get it Loud in the Library

Recently I wrote an article for Cellardoor Magazine's Spring Fling Issue. It's all about Get it Loud in Libraries, featuring Pegasus Bridge and The Good Natured as the next up and coming talent spotted in the library. To see the article properly click the link and turn to p.78-81. I hope you like it!

Soundtrack to Stress

Ok...so the title of this post is a little extreme. I'm not manically stressed, I just have five deadlines this week. Currently I have done 4 of those...I'm definitely on top of everything. It's times like these when checklists are good.

1. Umbro iPad magazine - CHECK :)
2. Cellardoor magazine article - CHECK :)
3. Uni report 1- CHECK :)
4. Uni progression presentation - CHECK :)
5. Uni report 2 (formatted as an iPad magazine) - erm.... not so check :( It's written, it's partially formatted but it's definitely not finished. Bugger.

Anyway, in an effort to get all this done in time I have gathered albums that keep me happy enough to work but not so happy that I start working. I have decided to share this just-happy-enough-ness with others so that they too can be productive. If you're expecting anything exciting and new then lower those. Here's a tip - those albums that are best aren't that new. Or they're new but I've listened to them so much I don't have to spend time focusing on lyrics I just sing along, much to the joy of my neighbours. (They're really loud and rude and inconsiderate anyway so it's fine).

Here goes... (in no particular order!)
1. Kate Nash, Made of Bricks - Merry Happy is my current favourite, it was Birds before that.
2 and 3. Paolo Nutini, Sunny Side Up AND Those Streets - Yep Paolo is just bloody awesome at keeping me going.
4. Slow Club, Yeah So - When I Go is a gem of a track.
5. Stereophonics, Word Gets Around - I've wrote about them before (i.e. here) so you may be aware of my love for Kelly Jones.
6. The XX, XX - the bonus tracks are awesome if you haven't had a listen.

So yeah...I told you they weren't exciting but believe me they will keep you focused a treat. Here's a little bit to get you going:

Lancaster Library Gigs: Mona, Pegasus Bridge and Yuck

I had a weekend filled with gigs in a library, all part of my work for Get it Loud in Libraries. Luckily for me this means watching and interacting with some amazing bands in a very quirky venue.

On Saturday night Mona took to the stage supported by Tribes. Nick Brown, Mona's frontman, snuck out from backstage to watch Tribes play...I think really to assess the location but I don't think he was disappointed. Mona played as if they were in the largest and most traditional of venues and embraced the library with the usual "shhhh it's a library" type comments. The atmosphere was incredible, better than the Devlin gig but maybe I'm just biased because it's more my kind of music.

Mona at Lancaster Library, 19 February

On Sunday afternoon (yes...during the day time, weird right?) I was at the Yuck gig. They were supported by Pegasus Bridge who reminded me of The Kooks with a more electric feel. They have a great, positive sound that worked really well with the afternoon setting but that was also the failing for both bands because people just don't get as excited in the afternoon as in the evening. There was little dancing and interaction during songs, no clapping/singing along, but that's not to say it wasn't enjoyable.

Pegasus Bridge at Lancaster Library, 20 February

Edward Turner's vocals are what makes this band for me. It was good enough to convince me to buy the CD (the first CD I've purchased in about five years) and they have been the soundtrack to any travelling I have done over the last 24 hours. My friend was singing along to Ribena after only hearing it once and it is this infectious catchiness that makes them so popular, especially with teenage girls who swarmed around the band afterwards.

Yuck at Lancaster Library, 20 February

Yuck were, of course, amazing and coped with the effects of the gig setup perfectly. Two little girls stood right in front of Daniel Blumberg the entire time, dancing along and staring. (This is what you get for having no age restrictions and an afternoon time slot.) He smiled at them and said: "You're supposed to clap when we finish a song...I'm joking, only clap if you actually like it." They even carried on when, during the last song, those same girls knocked over a microphone. I can't wait to get their album, which came out today.

I am continuously surprised with how well bands take to the playing a gig in a library. They all seem to find it weird at first but adapt to it really well and afterward gush about how good the idea is. Ed, from Pegasus Bridge, said: "It was a little strange being to see every face in the room, but I enjoyed it." I think it's the uniqueness and the intimate living room feeling that it generates. You can't get more intimate than having a room full of people staring at you in broad daylight.

Hermanos Inglesos: Wanderland

This music video appeared on The Cool Hunter this week and despite the fact the song is infectious it is the video itself that interested me.  It is quirky, unique and produced in the mixed material style I just love. The combination of photographs with illustrations works perfectly and reminds me of some of Darren Firth's work.


Hermanos Inglesos feat. MeMe - "Wanderland" from Michélé De Feudis on Vimeo.

The Amplifetes - Somebody New

I may be massively slow on the up take as this song was released way back in May 2010 but I just cannot stop singing it around the house ever since it was on 90210 a few weeks ago.  Don't judge my taste in television taste...90210 is accompanied by One Tree Hill, The Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl and many other American "crap" TV but their soundtracks are awesome if nothing else.  My housemate once caught me singing with a big smile on his face and said "I heard you singing, you have a beautiful voice." He may be French but he has English sarcasm down to an art. I'm hoping this will get The Amplifetes 'Somebody New' out of my head and prevent future embarrassment...

Chew Fu: Whip My Hair

I almost can't believe I'm posting this, I never got on board with Willow's Whip My Hair, but then Chew Fu did a remix and I think it's awesome.  Have a listen.  He has a whole host of remixes up on YouTube, check out his YouTube channel for a wide variety of videos or just search Chew Fu.

Adele: Rolling in the Deep

It's coming up to Christmas and anyone who's been to uni knows what that means... A mass of deadlines, mad rush to get everything done and, of course, a mountain of Christmas shopping.  Needless to say I have been quiet on the blog front.  However, whilst I regain my thoughts here is a song that's keeping me going at the moment.  It's a beaut.  Adele is wonderful.  Enjoy.


Adele - Rolling In The Deep - In Studio from DUKOFF on Vimeo.

Mystery Jets Digbeth

I had a horrendous day on Friday. I travelled home in the rubbish weather only to have arguments, annoyingly slow waitresses and a broken umbrella to make me mad before I even got to my location: the Mystery Jets gig in Digbeth, Birmingham.

I expected to arrive at the HMV Institute, which opened in September, with enough time to embrace the support acts and get a little tipsy. That didn't happen sadly and I struggled to get into the mood...until they started playing.  They were amazing. The HMV Institute was a great, intimate venue and everyone was dancing and singing along (which was rather annoying when they were louder than the actual band).

I was amazed to find though that all my favourite Mystery Jets songs weren't actually sung by frontman Blaine Harrison, they were sung by William Rees and he made the night for me with Show Me the Light and my personal favourite After Dark.  Strange considering technically it's actually a song by The Count and Sinden featuring the Mystery Jets. Either way it's amazing and anyone that can get me wanting to go out and dance until the sun comes up when I've been in a foul mood all day is a hero to me.

Kate McGill: YouTube katem3

Kate McGill is a perfect example of how open source channels can spread you and your message far and wide.  She's on YouTube, MySpace and a variety of other social networks.  She started off by sitting in her bathtub filming herself performing covers of songs.  By doing this she comes up in your search for that well known artist.  For instance, my friend searched for Mumford & Sons on YouTube and up came Kate.  What did he do then?  He told me I had to listen because "not only is she beautiful but she is talent too" and he was right.

She has such a beautiful voice.  There is this quality on her YouTube videos that manage to make every song sad and heartbreaking.  Her management are currently running a poll and for every city that 100+ people say they'd like to see her she will tour there in January/February...and guess what?  She has over 100 people for every location already. That's the power of the Internet.

< Insert video here >

...She won't let me embed them.  How awful.

Hot Hot Heat: Goodnight Goodnight

I have been rather bad at posting anything lately... and when I have it's been rubbish.  However, today I became reacquainted with a song I used to love.  It has really no relationt to my life, or indeed anything, but it reminds me of being 17.

I forgot Hot Hot Heat exhausted until iTunes did some shuffling and finally produced me with something different.  Warner Brothers Records are mean and won't let you embed their YouTube videos so this is a random one...but check out the official video later.

Lissie

If you live in the UK you'll know that Lissie's debut album Catching A Tiger is being advertised constantly.  So much so that snippets of her songs have embedded themselves in my brain and like I sheep I've gone and listened to her album.  Listened but not yet brought, sorry Lissie.

She does have a wonderfully sweet voice.  She reminds me of a more country version of Ellie Goulding.  They have similar traits to their voices I think.  Do you agree?  Turns out she's actually teamed up with Ellie in Brighton and did a wonderful duet of Lissie's Everywhere I Go.


I'm sure lots of you will be aware of her but if not here's the song that go stuck in my head and most likely will stick in yours.  Then you too will go and listen to it again and again if only in an attempt to get it out!  Check it out on Lissie's myspace if you're not a fan of live versions... It is good quality though, promise! :o)

First Day at Fused

I had my first day at Fused yesterday...and it went alright I think.  Thank God.  I compiled for articles for Area, their local West Mids guide, which goes to print Friday, and wrote about a fundraising music photography auction for the website: Teenage Cancer Trust Six Shooters Auction.

I'm not going to say it's my best work, I've wrote more unique things, but it is very nice to see my name published with an actual article somewhere that is not here...and it's in the most popular articles section currently too after only going online last night.  Yay!  Check it out.

Stuart Cable Tribute

Devastatingly for many Stuart Cable, the original drummer of the Stereophonics died this morning.  After raving about the latest line up of Stereophonics only yesterday it feels so sad to be writing of his death now.

What do I most remember Stuart Cable for?  Other than his time in the Stereophonics it has to be his deep gravelly voice, enhanced only by his strong Welsh twand, which was completely compelling when he presented on Kerrang! Radio.  His radio show, Rock N Roll Years, as well as his appearances on other shows never failed to brighten my day. Kerrang! are today adjusting their schedules in tribute, playing a range of Stuart's favourite music as well as interviews and live sets Stuart Cable performed for Kerrang! with his new Welsh band Killing for Company.

The most interesting news piece I've seen comes from the BBC where Kelly Jones tells of how the drummer said only two weeks ago on his 40th birthday that he thought he'd never reach 40.  Check it out here as Kelly talks on the day of his uncles funeral, who was honoured at the Cardiff gig, mourns the loss of another man close to him.

Here's one of my favourite Stereophonics songs from back in 1998...RIP Stuart x

Stereophonics: Summer in the City at Cardiff City Stadium

Last night the Stereophonics did a one off gig as the first band to ever headline at the new Cardiff City Stadium, supported by 4th Street Traffic (competition winners handpicked by Stereophonics), Kids in Glass Houses and Doves.  Good bunch that.

Photograph from Stereophonics' Twitter

Oh...and I was there :o)  Now I won't gush, even though I want to, but it was amazing.  The sold out gig only showed its true colours when Stereophonics took to the stage, before that despite the good names on offer not everybody deemed them worthy of a watch.  Opening with Trouble, not my favourite I'll be honest, the anticipation was amazing as we all listened and watched their silhouettes through the bold, red, Keep Calm and Carry On curtain that covered the stage and was dropped to raptuous applause.

Kelly Jones, charming as he is, regaled us with stories of a quiet night "in the old town" where "I woke up to the sound of my own voice and thought I was tripping.  I almost opened the door and said 'what's the crack like?'"  I wish he had, can you imagine the faces of those at that party if Kelly Jones turned up.  Epic.

Photograph from Wales Online

Phone in hand, I rang my friend as Same Size Feet belted across the stadium (it's his favourite) only for it to be delayed due to some idiots that thought standing on the very precarious roof of a temporary bar was a good idea.  Kelly Jones was stopped by security and announced: "Now I know you're having an amazing time lads but can you get off the fucking bar, it's about to collapse."

And it was oh so Welsh...with Doves the only act that wasn't Welsh, the Welsh anthem playing before Stereophonics took to the stage, flags flying everywhere, Kelly Jones' wonderful Welsh twang and fireworks and streams exploding at the end...in Welsh white, red and green of course!

Ok....enough with my little stories, I'm still too wrapped up in it all.  Enjoy with me?



...I really enjoyed this one live.  There was something quite transcendent about it.  Well...until the fat old man next to me started grinding into thin air thinking he was very sexy.  He wasn't...but Kelly Jones was.

Night Terror

I like to sleep.  A lot.  It is a favourite hobby of mine.  The only problem is that I have this incessant imagination that just will not shut up.  Today my dad recalled an occasion last week that I had forgotten...I woke up, saw someone hovering over my bed (yes I know people can't hover) and ran into his room panicked and rambling that somebody was in my room.

I had forgotten this because: a) it was such a brief interlude between me waking up and calming down and going back to sleep... and b) this kind of thing happens to me all the time.  As a child my mom lay with me for hours in the night so I would go back to sleep after having a nightmare.  My sister, who will be 12 in August, has previously ran into my room when she's been woken by my scream and had to comfort me. What causes nightmares?  Are the images that seep into reality really there or an extension to some dream I don't remember?  People have told me it's ghosts but I'm not sure I believe them.  More, I don't want to believe them.

Homer (The Odyssey) says: "Dreams surely are difficult, confusing, and not everything in them is brought to pass for mankind. For fleeting dreams have two gates: one is fashioned of horn and one of ivory. Those which pass through the one of sawn ivory are deceptive, bringing tidings which come to nought, but those which issue from the one of polished horn bring true results when a mortal sees them."

This concept of night terrors, of dreams that "bring true results" and those that "come to nought" reminds me of Laura Marlings 'Night Terror'...let's hope I'll always have someone in my corner to take care of me if I scream within the night.  In fact, if we're hoping for something, let's hope this doesn't scare off every man in the world.  Christ.

Brandy and Monica: The Boy is Mine ...Glee-tastic Memories.

When Glee took it's little break from E4 I decided to break away from it entirely...I really didn't need any more television shows in my life.  Last night however, during some rare time spent in the same room as my 11 year old sister (we fight like cat and dog) I was forced to sit through Glee.

The outcome?  I felt really old... When they burst out with Brandy's 'The Boy Is Mine' my sister had no clue what it was.  Having being born in 1998 I forgot all the 90's classics she'd missed.And yes, I did tell her it was a classic and she had to love it.  This one in particular was actually released around the time she was born!  She looked at me as if I was weird, and old.  For all of you that may have forgotten this song like I had (or all you youngsters who are reading this with the same look my sister had) here it is...