Eclectic 10 - 2010

Hopefully this will work - http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Fuser%2Fcowdog%2Fplaylist%2F4V8CjAPAdetF8bSyoGH5be&h=ce379

Plan B - In a bleak Midwinter

If you're looking for a candidate for the Christmas Number One, look no further than this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkc9y3tQW8A. Way better than that engineered X factor bollox!

R.I.P. Captain Beefheart

Fond memories of the band from the Loughborough Union October 1978. Captain Beefheart (15.01.41 to 17.12.10) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Beefheart

Mok

Prince Albert. Brighton. Saturday 18th December. Be there! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=181451841866596

Misty Miller

I've just discovered Misty Miller, an emerging young talent from South West London who is fast gaining global recognition. This 16 year old singer-songwriter has been writing her own music since the age of eight.  Accompanying herself on the ukulele, she has a soulful voice beyond her years.There's an EP out called 'Remember' and 'Wild Thing' on YouTube is sublime. She's just recorded her first album - no more details on that as yet, but I'll keep you posted. Meantime, you can find out more here - http://www.myspace.com/mistymillermusic

The Firm - Star Trekkin

Arguably the best tune of the 1980's...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCARADb9asE

The Australian Pink Floyd

I'm really excited about this one - will be seeing them at Brighton Dome in March 2011. Check out the details here - http://www.myspace.com/aussiefloyd

Squeeze & the Lightning Seeds - Brighton 7.12.10

Against a massive backdrop of their 1994 album 'Jollification', the Lightning Seeds half hour support slot for the 2010 Squeeze tour was certainly enough to warm the somewhat ageing audience up a bit. That, and the Dark Star brew available on draught from the bar.


But, good as it was, this paled alongside Glenn Tillbrook's shiny silver-grey suit and the matching spotty guitars played so admirably by him and Chris Difford as they led Squeeze through a blistering set of tunes old and new. Opening with 'Black coffee in bed', the set-list took the sold out house back to memory after memory.


The evening's highlights for me were the definitive 'Cool for Cats' and the barnstorming encore opener,  'Bang Bang'. However, the eclectic dance routine part way through was a close second glory.The only slight surprise was the absence of 1979's Christmas Day, something I thought they might do seeing as it's only just over two weeks away.


An excellent last gig of the year though and I think that Father Christmas may well be asked to bring me a copy of the new album 'Spot the Difference'.

Jem's 'top five' (w/c 6.12.10)

If you're anything like me (and I know some of you are), your 'top five' tunes change by the week. So here are mine for the week ahead.

1. Screaming Females - Normal
2. Saint Jude - Soul on Fire
3. Pearl - Nutbush City Limits
4. Nouvelle Vague - The American
5. Cathy Davey - Little Red

Cathy Davey supported the Divine Comedy gig at Brighton's Komedia on 14 November. Check out www.myspace.com/cathydavey

The Bad Shepherds

Check out The Bad Shepherds website at http://www.thebadshepherds.com/ and, if you can find it, have a listen to their version of 'Anarchy in the UK'. This is wrong on so many levels and yet strangely appealing at the same time.

Mok - Hector's House

Check out this up and coming indie/pop/rap band at Hector's House (Brighton) on 1st December. You'd be mad not to! www.myspace.com/mok.one

Saint Jude

I've just discovered a gem so thought I'd share the good news. Check out Saint Jude at www.myspace.com/saintjudemusic. Their album 'Diary of a Soul Fiend' is sublime!

2010 gigs

Actually, I fibbed about my next posting - top fives can wait til next time. Thought it best instead to list the gigs I've been to (and will be going to) before the year is out and the ones we've already got in mind for 2011 take over...

• Vampire Weekend (February - Bexhill)
• Stornoway (February - Brighton)
• Grizzly Bear (March - Brighton)
• Mumford & Sons (March - Brighton)
• New Pornographers (May - London)
• Cherry Ghost (September - Brighton)
• Villagers (October - London)
• John Grant (November - London)
• Divine Comedy (November - Brighton)
• Laura Marling (November - Portsmouth)
• Squeeze (December - Brighton)

And the top three? Need you ask? [Mumford & Sons, Divine Comedy and Laura Marling in that order]

Compilation tapes

Well, I say tapes -  but mean CDs these days of course. Doesn't quite have the same ring or ambiance, but the principle's the same. Pick some classic tunes, burn them off and give them to a friend.

How about this eclectic mix for my good friend Robert's 50th birthday party in December?

1. Sex Pistols - God save the Queen
2. Undertones - Teenage Kicks
3. Ian Dury - Sex and drugs and rock n roll
4. Police - Roxanne
5. The Members - Sound of the suberbs
6. The Ruts - Babylon's Burning
7. Sham 69 - If the kids are united
8. Talking Heads - Psycho killer
9. Flying Lizards - Money
10. Stiff Little Fingers - Alternative Ulster
11. Rezillos - Top of the Pops
12. The Knack - My Sharona
13. The Undertones - Jimmy Jimmy
14. The Motors - Dancing the night away
15. The Stranglers - Peaches
16. The Buzzcocks - Ever fallen in love
17. Blondie - Hanging on the telephone
18. The Vapours - Turning Japanese
19. The Skids - Into the valley
20. Sham 69 - Hurry up Harry
21. Jilted John - Jilted John

The challenge is to stay seated with one's feet still when this one goes on the decks!

Next blog - top fives. What's yours at the moment?

Laura Marling - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth 22.11.10

I first saw Laura Marling at the first Hop Farm festival in 2008. Barely 18 then, she still managed an eclectic set backed by what were to become Mumford & Sons!

Two years on and she's matured gracefully to deliver to a sold out and very packed Wedgewood Rooms another memorable blend of classic tunes, old and new.

We watched the support (The Pins) from near the stage door (next to the bar) and smiled a smile as Laura nipped out for a quick fag, unnoticed by the crowd around her.

Later, hoodie removed, she was instantly recognisable and was met with tumultuous applauds at the close of every song.

Ms Marling must surely now go from strength to strength - particularly if the three new songs she played tonight are anything to go by!

[NB, check out Laura's support band - The Pins at http://www.myspace.com/thepinsloveyou. They've an EP out featuring the rather excellent '(Heard you say) I love you'.]

Jem's Music - this is where it all begins

Hello there. I've been meaning to do this for some time now - friends and family have been dropping hints as well, so I've finally found out how to get started.

My blog's all about music. Specifically the acts and bands I like, the gigs I go to see, the tracks I download. What I think is good, not so good, naff etc. The acts I think will do well. What I've got right and what I haven't. Basically, anything that interests me music-wise which I think may be of interest to you as well.

It'll all be my opinion of course and therefore maybe a tad biased - but I'm always open to other points of view. So please write in and tell me what you think!

To start the ball rolling, I'm currently part-way through a mammoth compilation project. A good friend is 50 in December and he's asked me to compile the music for the party. It's running from 3pm to midnight, so I'm thinking around 15-20 CDs worth. (Decided against MP3 this time). I've got the first five done under the following titles:

• Oldies mix
• Sixties mix
• Boogie mix
• Dance mix, and
• Punk mix

Tracks are laid down for all of the others- but I need to get them in order and work out what sounds best together etc.

But I'll not be doing any of that tomorrow (Monday 22nd) as I'm off to see Laura Marling in Portsmouth. I'll be writing a review of that sometime in the next few days.

Finally, a current tip for future greatness. Check out the Screaming Females album 'Castle Talk' on Don Giovanni Records. Track 4 - 'Normal' - is the dog's!

Jem