An Evening Without Kelly Groucutt

On 11th May me & my friend Dave attended "An Evening Without Kelly Groucutt", which was a celebration of the life & music of Kelly Groucutt, who passed away earlier this year. The place was absolutely packed and it was a warm and fitting tribute to a fine musician and a genuinely nice guy.

Once again Tim Eliis has posted some fabulous pictures on Flikr* which gives you a flavour of what the night was all about:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tim_ellis/sets/72157618383105582/

Oh and by the way, Kelly's son, Robin Groucutt, has teamed up with Dan Haynes to form the duo Groucutt & Haynes. They're performing an acoustic set at Wolverhampton's Varsity on 26th July and they're launching their debut album at The Robin2 on 30th September - which is where I'll be that night. Well worth checking out. Further details can be found here:

http://groucuttandhaynes.com/

Anyway, as it's Sunday and a glorious day, I'm off out to enjoy the sunshine!

(* Published under a Creative Commons Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/)

The Reasoning

On 26th April I went to see The Reasoning at the Robin2 along with my friend Dave. Tim Ellis has taken some excellent pictures of the gig* and posted them as a set on Flikr. Certainly much better than my blurry mobile phone efforts!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tim_ellis/sets/72157617531624194/

(* Published under Creative Commons Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/)

Wintercoast

Welcome to one of Prog Rock's best kept secrets...

Touchstone release their second album "Wintercoast" on June 1st. As I pre ordered the album from their website, my copy arrived two weeks ago, along with a print of the album artwork signed by the band.

"Wintercoast" received a glowing review in issue 2 of "Classic Rock Presents Prog" magazine and I have to say it is thoroughly deserved. From the opening spoken word intro by Jeremy Irons Touchstone are thinking big. The music is expansive, symphonic, aggressive and melodic.

The dual lead vocals are reminiscent of The Reasoning at times- which is no bad thing - and in Kim Seviour the band have a superb singer who is undoubtedly a star in the making. Very definately ones to watch...!

http://www.touchstonemusic.co.uk/

http://www.myspace.com/touchstonemusicuk

A Slow Burner

On Wednesday I was at The Carling Academy in Birmingham, for the first of three gigs that I'm going to this week on my own. I can only conclude that this means either:-

a) My musical taste is falling increasingly outside of the mainstream.
b) I'm ahead of the game and I'm getting into music before other people catch on or
c) I have no friends.

Whatever, tonight it was Ladyhawke, who I've been banging on about ever since she released her debut album last September and who has been my friend on myspace since before even that.

Initially I was frustrated at the lack of recognition Ladyhawke seemed to be getting - how could "Dusk Till Dawn" only get to number 78 for example? - but it seems her career is now starting to gather momentum. Her debut album has made the top 20 and has been advertised on TV. "My Delerium" was a top 40 single and tonight's gig at Birmingham Academy is sold out.

It was sweaty, it was crammed and unless you were right at the front visibility wasn't good but nonetheless it was a great night. "Magic" is as good a song to start a gig as you could ask for and the encore is a cathartic "My Delerium". In between that quality pop songs such as "Professional Suicide", "Another Runaway", "Dusk Till Dawn", "Paris Is Burning", "Crazy World" and "Back Of The Van" translate well live in a short but punchy set.

Ladyhawke seemed a little overwhelmed by the positive reaction from the crowd on what is, after all, her first headlining tour. At this rate she may need a bigger venue next time around...

Fox Base Alpha

Saint Etienne released a 2CD edition of their 1991 debut album "Fox Base Alpha" on Monday.

A week prior to the release of the album they performed four shows; two in London, one in Glasgow and one at The Leadmill in Sheffield, which is where I caught them with my friends Nigel & Dave.

It was a pop masterclass. The first half consisted of the whole of "Fox Base Alpha" from beginning to end; from the opening strains of "This Is Radio Etienne" (one of my favourite starts to any album!) flowing into "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" and en route taking in the uplifting "Nothing Can Stop Us"; the cool "Girl VII" and a hypnotic "Stoned To Say The Least".

The second half featured tracks old and new such as "Like A Motorway", "Sylvie", "This Is Tomorrow" and "Who Do You Think You Are" before ending with a fine version of "He's On The Phone".

There are some video clips on You Tube but to be honest the sound quality is not great. I've included a clip of "Who Do You Think You Are" filmed in London two days later as a taster of what it was like. You're probably best off scrolling through the "Related Videos" sidebar if you feel inclined to explore this further & seek out some of the Sheffield clips.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vzJ5RVDbWs

All Back To Norway...

Well who would have thought it - the Eurovision Song Contest is actually about songs again!

It's a matter of opinion whether the Norwegan entry "Fairytale" by Alexander Rybak deserved to romp home in the way that it did, but it was heartening that the international juries voted for it simply because they liked the song and the performance, rather than voting for their nearest neighbours regardless, as has been the case in recent years.

Personally I thought Norway would win but my favourite song was the Icelandic entry, "Is It True?" by Yohanna (pictured), which came second. Very Taylor Swift I thought.

I was pleased to see actual songs doing well this year, rather than the "smoke and mirrors" of extravagant production numbers used to disguise songs that are a bit pants - step forward Ukraine & Germany! And I absolutely hated the distressing Russian entry! There's three minutes of my life I'm never getting back!

Finally, Jade deserves immense credit for her performance on the night and the way she has conducted herself throughout. Her fifth place was the best UK showing for seven years. I hope she's not too downhearted and that this provides a springboard for a successful career for her.

All Things Eurovision - Part Two

As the Eurovision Song Contest draws ever nearer, it's time for Part Two of All Things Eurovision...

Abba - Waterloo (Star Parade 1974)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu1q17rUkVU&feature=channel_page

"I had to include an Abba one on here! This performance comes from "Star Parade" on German TV."

Ofra Haza - Chai (Preview Promo 1983)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuM3YD3e9Qo&feature=channel_page

"A beautiful woman with a beautiful voice who is sadly no longer with us. I still maintain that this should have won in 1983. There's also a little more to this song than you may think. The title "Chai" means "Alive"and the refrain translates as "Israel is alive". The symbolism of singing a song with those lyrics - in Munich of all places, with all that that means historically for the Israeli people - was not lost..."

Co Co - Bad Old Days (Preview Promo 1978)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X68F4hJCfSM&feature=channel_page

"A nice little video clip of the UK's entry from 1978, featuring the lovely Cheryl Baker aged just 23! Aww bless!"

Kojo - Nuku Pommin (Eurovision Song Contest 1982)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTRaIZIHOMk&feature=channel_page

"An anti-nuclear protest song. Sung in Finnish. It never stood a chance really did it?! 'Nuku Pommin', (Bomb Out), did exactly that and came last with no points. It's completely bonkers though and I loved it. Kojo's a star in my book!"

Lynsey De Paul & Mike Moran (Preview Promo 1977)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKlCUabnLLk&feature=channel_page

"Lynsey and Mike riding around in an open top bus somewhere near Shepherd's Bush. The lyrics were loosely inspired by a newspaper headline highlighting the economic recession that the UK and indeed the World were experiencing at the time. It's a good job nothing like that happens nowerdays eh...!"

Carola - Framling (Preview Promo 1983)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FCAaoltFr8&feature=channel_page

"You may remember that Carola won the Eurovision in 1991 with 'Fangad Av En Stormvind' but back in 1983 she was a fresh faced 16 year old in a canary yellow jump suit with a strong song and a voice that belied her years"

Anna Vissi & The Epikouri - Autostop (Preview Promo 1980)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw33j1cFoM8&feature=channel_page

"The 1980 Greek entry discovers the joys of blue screen technology and dodgy dancing"

Live Report - Why Do I Always Get It Wrong (1989 Song For Europe)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx3G66hMBV8

"There are more eighties fashion Faux Pas than you can shake a stick at here but that shouldn't detract from the fact that this melancholic little song was our strongest entry for many years. It was also superbly sung by Ray Caruana. Sadly it came second in the Eurovision that year: undeservedly beaten by a lively but weak song from Yugoslavia called "Rock Me".

Emma Bunton - Puppet On A String/Maybe (Song For Europe)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ByU-xpO84s

"I would never have considered 'Puppet On A String' to be in any way sexy, but here the (frankly, gorgeous) Emma Bunton manages it in spades! Sigh! Quite aside from all that, Emma performs the old Sandie Shaw number very well and her 'Free Me' and 'Life In Mono' albums reveal that she has a real flair for sixties style pop. I hope she gets the chance to do more of it.

Right - that's enough from me, but if you still fancy exploring All Things Eurovision a bit further then head over to this site on You Tube where there an absolute weath of stuff:

http://www.youtube.com/samsarashalimar

Adrenalize: Deluxe Edition

June 23rd sees the release of Deluxe Editions of Def Leppard's "Adrenalize" & "Pyromania" albums. Track listings are as follows:

Adrenalize - Disc One
1. Let's Get Rocked
2. Heaven Is
3. Make Love Like A Man
4. Tonight
5. White Lightning
6. Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion)
7. Personal Property
8. Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad
9. I Wanna Touch U
10. Tear It Down

Adrenalize - Disc Two
1. Hysteria (Live In Bonn 29/05/92)
2. Photograph (Live In Bonn)
3. Pour Some Sugar On Me (Live In Bonn)
4. Let's Get Rocked (Live In Bonn)
5. You Can't Always Get What You Want
6. Little Wing (With Hothouse Flowers)
7. Tonight (Version 2-Demo Version)
8. Now I'm Here (Live)
9. Two Steps Behind (Acoustic)
10. Tonight (Acoustic)
11. Too Late For Love (Live)
12. Women (Live)

Pyromania - Disc One

1. Rock! Rock! (Til You Drop)

2. Photograph

3. Stagefright

4. Too Late For Love

5. Die Hard The Hunter

6. Foolin'

7. Rock Of Ages

8. Comin' Under Fire

9. Action! Not Words

10. Billy's Got A Gun

Pyromania - Disc Two (Live At The L.A. Forum 1983)
1. Rock! Rock! (Til You Drop)

2. Rock Brigade

3. High 'N' Dry (Saturday Night)

4. Another Hit And Run

5. Billy's Got A Gun

6. Mirror Mirror (Look Into My Eyes)

7. Foolin'

8. Photograph

9. Rock Of Ages

10. Bringin' On The Heartbreak

11. Switch 625

12. Let It Go

13. Wasted

14. Stagefright

15. Travellin' Band

Right, now I've told you that I'm going back to bed cos' I have a bad cold and I feel like rubbish!

Tell Me Something New: Ulysses

Having used the entries of this blog to promote new music by the likes of Ladyhawke, Panic Room, The Wishing Tree, Laura & The Tears, Pure Reason Revolution, Dragonette, Quecia, Matinee Cub, Bailey Tzuke etc, I've decided to turn it into a regular feature.

First up is a young band from Bath called Ulysses. They are my friends on myspace and even took time out to leave a very nice message on my page. Groovy video too guys!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXyo8SSXc1U

http://www.myspace.com/ulyssesgb