The Take Away Show

LA BLOGOTHEQUE is one of the most awesome websites on the net, I wish more of it was in English, though I also like the fact that it's so French. La Blogotheque is a French Drowned In Sound / Pitchfork, but less magazine based I guess, and closer to a... blog. Which means it has cool features on cool bands, with less concern over how topical it is

The really amazing thing about La Blogotheque is THE TAKE AWAY SHOWs. These are films of bands kind of busking, but really well thought out. The really special ones are often directed by Vincent Moon, who recently did short films to accompany the National and Mogwai albums. These can turn out really special, here are some of my favourites:

Here they take Fleet Foxes to a disused University in the Grand Palais, for maximum echo effect on the acoustic stylyings. Below is The National, and then Bon Iver

Soundtrack to this post: Stars

Damien Jurado

DAMIEN JURADO has been on my 'radar' for a few months, since he came over in August. He's a Seattle singer-songwriter on Secretly Canadian, which should tell you a lot about him really! His new album is called 'Caught In The Trees' and I can thoroughly recommend it, it's got good tunes and very relaxed. If you need more encouragement 2 of the best sites for free MP3's have, free MP3's from the album:

Damien Jurado - Go Home @ RCRDLBL.com

MP3----> Damien Jurado - Gillian Was A War Horse

Secretly Canadian is of course a stamp of quality. And on from that, me & the good Nath have just arranged for their (Jagjaguwar's really) new signings WOMEN, to come and play Brudenell on 15th February. Should be much fun!

MP3----> Women - Black Rice

MP3----> Women - Group Transport Hall

Soundtrack to this post: Stars, Three Trapped Tigers

Giimore Girls

Yesterday lunch time, I applauded the TV, and I'm not ashamed

It was as a band on hot US program Gilmore Girls, disintegrated on screen in a mass brawl, as Joel from Brian Jonestown Massacre (recently having joined said band) danced around the stage avoiding punches.

This program is brilliant. The episode was called "He's Slippin' 'Em Bread... Dig?" - get it? Awesome. Apparently this seasons finale features The Shins, Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore and Yo La Tengo. Oh, and Sebastian Bach is a regular character as the guitarist in the above band. Brilliant

Soundtrack to this post: Radio 5 Live

The Week That Was

Man, what a week (yep, not about the Field Music spinoff). Full on busy, but I've done a lot of fun stuff

Thursday night, Mi Mye played the Buen Chico album launch at the Brudenell Social Club, and fun was had - it's the first time I've played with Mi Mye for a while and the gig was good. It's good times in Mi Mye, as we've got a single and video done and are hoping to release it in February

Friday night, me and Nathan from the Brudenell put on a gig in aid of Children In Need. The catalyst of the gig was getting ace American band OH NO!! OH MY!! to come and play. We were also blessed with ace bands Dinosaur Pile-Up and Just Handshakes (We're British). Everyone got into the spirit, and we had lots of fun with a great bake sale, raffle and a highly amusing game of Musical Chairs

Saturday & Sunday I had my fledging attempt at the other side of the mixing desk, producing some songs for The ABC Club. I tell people I kind of manage the ABC Club and I don't know why, because I DO manage them, but I can't help feel a tit talking of bands in those terms. Anyway, said recording went really well, and it's a work in progress for the minute.

Finally, my blowout at the end of the week was an awesome gig at, surprisingly, the Brudenell Social Club. These Arms Are Snakes / Russian Circles (pictured above) double bill, and it was better than I hoped it would be. As much of a fan I am of both bands, I thought I might loose interest (a me thing), they were both awesome. 

The gig had added significance as I hung out with a few of the Snakes in Seattle last year, and Russian Circles made their album directly after Forward Russia's Life Processes with Matt Bayles (who also runs Red Room Studios with Chris of TAAS). So had a funny chat with Chris and an even funnier chat with Mike Circles about the nuances of recording with Matt. Good times

FOOTBALL UPDATE - Lokomotiv lost 2-1 last night, following a very dissapointing game. We went 1-0 up, then conceded 2 scrappy goals in a game we again dominated. Me & Fogal had the cream of the chances and we were all annoyed to loose. We've got a depleted squad for the next month now as iLiKETRAiNS swan around Europe but I'm hoping we can call on a few other talented individuals

So, I've tried something new here - I don't know how informative this post is, it's more of a dear diary post. But it's been a busy week...

Finally a tip for a 2 similar bands I got introduced to earlier this year, who are starting to pick up a bit of hype and I want to stamp my mark:

THREE TRAPPED TIGERS - MYSPACE

FRIENDSHIP - MYSPACE

Soundtrack to this post: t'radio

Football - Week 2

Wow, looking at the recent posts, it appears I have to be careful to make sure this whole blog doesn't turn to purely following the adventures of Lokomotiv. But I think it's good to do a recap, it's one of general well being as well I think

So this week we lost 2-3 against "Inter Sofia" - who'd won there first game 4-0. They were lucky, we were lucky, they were insanely lucky as they barely had the ball for the last 20 minutes. Some how they got a quick 3 goals, but then it was all us. 2 storming goals from the TRAiNS contingent got us back, but we couldn't bag the final goal to bring us equal. There's always next time

I'm just making shepherds pie and trying to upload a gazillion bytes of video on the the t'interweb. Hmm....

Soundtrack to this post: Ladyhawk (no 'e' this time)

God is real, and he's American

I can't wait for this film. If you don't know about it, buy the book as it's one of the best works of fiction I've ever read. The title of this blog was supposed to be the tagline, but they thought it would've been un-PC. Would've been funny though.

They've just released a new trailer on the back of Quantum Of Solace. Watch it here

Oct 08 Watchmen Trailer

Soundtrack to this post: PNAU feat. Ladyhawke

The NME

Here's a pretty incredible feature on the NME with interviews of with key staff, giving a rare insight into how misguided their editorial policy. The piece is generally positive, so I can't decide if comments are misguided or if the writer is trying to make them look foolish

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/nov/09/nme-wiseman-conor-mcnicholas-musical-express

Soundtrack to this post: The Rain Parade

Football

So, our new football team kicked off it's competitive existence on Monday night with a hard earned win against a challenging "Jonah's Jiggamen' side. 

FC Lokomotiv iLT is the combination of myself, the iLiKETRAiN boys and numerous other friends around the Leeds Music Scene. The above picture was taken at Big Scary Monster Summer 5-a-side Competition where we made the semi's but were knocked out by a cheating, moaning team from Punktastic (yep, I'm still bitter)

So, we started out 6-a-side league on Monday, and despite conceding very early on, kept our cool to battle back with 2 goals from our creative tsunami of Joel Ashton and Simon Fogal.

Follow our progress here and here

Soundtrack to this post: Commodores 

Mr November

Obama wins and the whole world breaths a sigh of relief.

Dizzee Rascal says the result was down to hip hop, but not lets forget a certain brand of indie

The National - Mr November 

Dizzee Rascal on Newsnight

Soundtrack to this post: Gilmore Girls

On The Radio

On Sunday night I did an hour broadcast for East Leeds FM which was loads of fun being indulgent talking about myself and my favourite records. Here's some tunes I picked:

Thin Lizzy - Vagabond Of The Western World

Get Well Soon - Prelude

The National - Mr November

Jonquil - Lions

International Trust - Let's Have A Dance

Mi Mye - The Last

Oh No! Oh My! - Wham Bam Thank You Spaceman

Gemma Hayes (feat. Kevin Shields) - Out Of Our Hands

First Aid Kit - Tiger Mountain Peasant Song

Lift To Experience - Waiting To Hit

NERD (feat. Julian Casablancas & Santogold) - My Drive Thru

Neutral Milk Hotel - Holland 1945

Wilco - Ashes Of An American Flag

Soundtrack to this post: Gregor Samsa / Final Fantasy