A word of warning to anyone newly learning to play guitar – even if you’re getting to grips with barre chords, please don’t attempt to re-string your prize possession unless you seriously know what you’re doing and have a couple of packets of strings for back-up. I wish I’d have known that this afternoon. Two broken strings, a bruised ego, and now I’m guitarless until I can persuade one of my guitar-genius friends to come over and sort the mess out for me. So now I’ll have to stick to the acoustic and hand-me-down.. it’s only been a few hours and I’m having withdrawals from my little el-cheapo electric already!
No music posts for a bit so a quick recap of those where the camera didn’t make it out of the bag, and one where it did. I went to the Transit Lounge at the Metro the other week, my first time in that part of the venue and except while watching the sweet-voiced Tess McGowan I found myself lost staring up at the nice lighting rig or trying to remember how the place was laid out back when it was a Dendy cinema.
Last Saturday at the Annandale I saw bits of the Damn Arms, My Disco and the Bird Blobs but none of them were to my ears at all. The Drones on the other hand were quite spectacular to watch and listen to but I think some of it went over my head.
Thursday I caught most of the Saturns set at the dodge-central Excelsior. The bass player bantered amazingly kindly with a drunkard celebrating his birthday who was keen to dance and hold a microphone stand. They rocked on despite the local distraction, the lead singer seeped stage-cool, and their tunes are digging their way in to me. A cover from the Easybeats and a joyous Who’s “Substitute” capped off a great set. They’ve got an EP coming out soon that I’ll definitely be hunting down.
The birthday boy’s attempts to roadie for Phonograph saw him escorted from the venue before they went on. The crowd had massed up and was listening intently but several times the band melded one song in to the next not bothering to wait for applause. Overall they sounded great… but there was a niggling knowledge that they can do so much better. A report from a friend at today’s Come Together festival, where Phonograph were on at some ridiculously early hour, says they “were amazing”.
On to recorded music.. the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club‘s new album “Howl” has been on rotation and this girl is amazed by the affect it’s having on me. I’ve been spinning it around and around in its entirety utterly enthralled. It’s genius in all it’s acoustic guitars, harmonicas and hammond organs. “Complicated Situation”, “Devil’s Waiting”, “Restless Sinner” and the hidden last track are keeping me good company. It’s a bit of a sidestep from where they’ve been before, but similar to other artists I’ve been listening to recently.
Last weekend I was lent the Brian Jonestown Massacre‘s “Tepid Peppermint Wonderland..” and told to educate myself. I’m learning.
Upcoming gigs – By the Sea and the poetic Modern Giant at Spectrum tomorrow night; Tuesday the Mercy Arms are at the Transit Lounge; and Friday it’s to the Annandale for Tambalane and British India.
BRMC? pass. Have heard a lot of positives about this new LP to be fair.
Brian Jonestown Massacre. Take. Get learning. 🙂
Jim’s doing a gig in London apparently. Support by The Morning After Girls. Too cool for words.
Mr lostmusic.. seriously.. you know what I’m like with BRMC.. remember Reading? err. This album is genius. But maybe it won’t be to you… hard to tell with what I’ve been listening to you listening lately on your site.
You better not be yodelling recording the Mr Reid gig. And keep an eye on those Morning Atfer Girls, they’re gems.
I remember Reading. How could I forget! Ha.
My musical tastes are all over the place at the moment. It feels good.
I’ve got a better recording of the last Jim gig now if you’re ever on SLSK. 🙂 – Am under strict instructions to stay a little more sober this time around.