The end of the year album 2012

Rather disgracefully it's been three months since my last blog. Music remains - it's just that I've been absent. Sorry about that - normal service (and better) will resume in 2013. And, here, to make a few amends, is the track list for my just completed 'End of the year album 2012'

1. New Fast Automatic Daffodils - These foolish things
2. Black Country Communion - Cry Freedom
3. Holly Golightly - Christmas tree on fire
4. The Zombies - She's not there
5. The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Get your pants off
6. Lyres - Not looking back
7. Heartless Bastards - Got to have rock n roll
8. Five Horse Johnson - The job
9. Led Zepagain - The Rover
10. Deus - Girls keep drinking
11. Grinderman - Mickey Mouse and the Goodbye Man
12. A lion named roar - Desert Wind
13. The pains of being pure at heart - Jeremy
14. Cowboy Mouth - Blues at bay
15. Sponge - Wax ecstatic (to sell Angelina)
16. Steve Earle - Conspiracy Theory
17. Dirty Guv'nahs - We'll be the light
18. Southern Culture on the skids - It's the music that makes me
19. Bronze Radio Return - Lo-fi
20. Led Zepagain - Trampled Underfoot

MOK - SHAKEDOWN

 

Thanks to the online votes and support at Brighton's Coalition last night, Mok are now playing mainstage at Shakedown festival, Stanmer Park, Brighton on Saturday 6 October. The likes of Dizzee Rascal and Professor Green are headlining. R-E-S-U-L-T!

 

Rachel Sermanni - Latest Music Bar, Brighton - 23.09.12

Although not quite as small as a good friend of mine led me to believe, Brighton's Lastest Music Bar is, nonetheless, quite intimate. And for quiet gigs like tonights, you sort of felt obliged to whisper your orders to the barman for fear of disturbing people. Promoting her debut album 'Under Mountains' Rachel Sermanni was her eclectic self, admirably supported by Jade Hopcroft and Jacko Hooper (watch out for those names). More of the same please.

 

Smoke Fairies - Haunt - Brighton - 20.09.12

We last saw the Smoke Fairies back in 2010 at what was then The Jam. That was an altogether different gig to last night at Brighton's Haunt for the fourth leg of their 18-venue 'Blood Speaks' autumn tour. This was a loud, boisterous, in your face rock n roll, albeit one laced with an echo of unassuming timidity. 'Blood Speaks' live is even better than 'Blood Speaks' recorded - that that's saying something! Eighty minutes of brilliance topped off with an encore concluding Abba cover totally in keeping with the haunting melodies we've come to expect from Jessica and Katherine.

[Set list]

 

Luddite Blues

At the time of writing, it's the last day of my summer holiday and the sun has abandoned me. Squally showers, cooling wind and a return to work in the morning. Enough to make anyone feel slightly melancholy. The blues though have always had the reverse effect on me. So here are three crackers I've picked from some of my favourite pick-me-up tracks.

 

Starting off with Love Sculpture's 'Blues Helping' from 1968. Formed in 1966, the split in 1970 launched frontman Dave Edmunds' solo career.

 

Next we have probably one of my all-time favourite tracks - Hot Tuna's cover of the classic 'Hesitation Blues' from their self-titled 1970 album. There've been many versions since, but this is their best.

 

 

 

And last, but by no means least, Mountain's 'Last of the sunshine days' from their 1974 album 'Avalange'. Enjoy.

 



Stop Simon Cowell

Mok - for Shakedown Festival

Mok's 'Hey' made the Argus download of the week this week - check this out for the detail - http://www.theargus.co.uk/leisure/download/. But what's more is that they've been chosen as one of the top 20 bands to play at Brighton's Shakedown festival. We now need to get them into the top 5. So get on your Soundcloud and make 'Hey' a favourite. You know it makes sense.

Oh, and if you're reading this before 7pm today - get yourself down to Sticky Mike's Frog Bar in Middle Street, Brighton. Mok are headlining at 9.30. Four of your pounds will get you in to hear first hand the best unsigned band in Brighton.