“Taking Woodstock” and the Spirit of Love 40 years later…

Contrary to hopes and expectations, the summer of 2009 passed without the anniversary resurgence of the legendary Woodstock Festival of August ’69. After a few not-so-successful attempts (apart from maybe ‘Mudstock’ in ‘94) and the disastrous 30-year celebration still fresh -which ended in riots, arrests and injury- there’s been a lot of apprehension to any further endeavour to revive the ‘3 days of peace & music’. Lack of motivation from sponsors and producers concerned with the major dilemmas marking our time (free entry, old or new bands, before or after the crisis etc.) lead to withering of the reviving tradition.

However, on the penultimate day of the London Film Festival I did get a chance to ‘relive the love’.

“Taking Woodstock” (by Ang Lee) depicts the true story of how a young man suddenly got the festival back on track after it had been turned down by locals in the original site and effectively changes the lives of his family, neighbours and practically the entire American generation who experienced it. It is a beautiful film; funny, touching and inspirational with gorgeous scenes of the ‘flower children’ and the lifestyle they followed. Although the actual concert is never shown (the closest you get is a mud slope some 500m out), the music and art are always present, underlying the culture and mentality of the ‘60s in the US.

And 40 years later you can still relate to this hope and journey to self-awareness through philanthropy (sometimes drugs too) and of course through the love of music and all it represents.

So is all the love and altruism and inspiration and vision drowned by cynicism and the consuming nature of the modern ‘achiever’?

Our world is fucked up, this is certain and the future is scary and uncertain but there are some things that can still fight against the dystopias we might be heading towards.

I did not come out of the theatre thinking ‘what a shame it’s all changed’, I actually was loving everything too –though am usually a bit pessimistic.

Music and art are still very much alive, especially in London – well I know about the music at least. They keep the world turning, evolving in a beautiful and productive way and they keep this city vibrant. Through our student radio alone you’ll get to live it first hand, meet and listen to talented artists on their way up or even ones you already admire.

So go out and seek these treasures you’re offered!

When going through London you’ll come across the drunks, the homeless, the trash spread everywhere but, like me today, you might also get to go to a film festival, stumble into a free art gallery, walk past the love-preaching artwork on the pavement of Trafalgar Square and witness over 100 people giving money –not walking away- from a street performer. Yes, sometimes life is nice, and music and art keep it going.

Photo taken in front of National Gallery in Trafalgar Square

Btw, I should mention the annual ‘Woodstock Festival’ in Poland which is a musical and social success, bringing forward up-and-coming bands; if you’re ever around there in the summer, do check it out!

Alex metric

Alex Metric made his debut live appearance last night at The Flowerpot just north of Camden Town. Alex has been releasing music, both original and also producing an astonishing number of fantastic remixes, for a few years now and is currently on the Marine Parade roster.

I approached the gig with a fair amount of anticipation and I have to admit, slight trepidation. It can be very difficult to transform DJ produced tracks into a live performance. When done well, however, it can produce a spectacular show. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the masters, Soulwax, play live several times and their show is unrivalled in the realm of dance acts playing truly live. (The likes of the Chemical Brothers, Justice and Daft Punk don’t count because disappointingly they don’t use live instruments) Consequently, when I arrived to see a full band setup on stage my excitement grew. Not only that but as I left the bar to take my viewing position I nearly walked into the man himself, Mr Metric, who was mingling with the crowd pre-set, incredible!

Alex and the band took to the stage soon after and began with a track that I have to admit I haven’t heard before, I hope that isn’t a huge faux-pas! The track featured a lot of vocal’s from Alex proving that he’s not “just a DJ”. The band then merged into the next track, “Head Straight” which incidentally has an audience of millions as it features on the recently released FIFA 10 video game. Head Straight as a single is very easy to listen to and I did wonder how this would be transformed into a live band performance. The live version was amazing with what I can only describe as a brilliant mini-jam halfway through. (I hope he retains that in the set) Following on from head straight was my favourite track of the night, Alex’s remix of the Splitr track, “All Alone”. It was an inspired decision to include this in the set and on a bigger soundsystem the crowd will go crazy. I’m a big advocate of act’s playing covers, bootlegs and remixes during their live sets so this ticked another box. Another solid performance from the band with “In your machine”, reinforced their credentials that they really can make it work playing live. The throbbing basslines, rapid pace and distorted vocals of “What Now” added a further dimension to the set. The set ended with another track that I wasn’t familiar with that I believe will feature on his soon to be released album.
Alex Metric’s live show may have only just started out but it will certainly become one to watch out for in the future.

You can catch Alex doing his monthly residency on Thursday’s at 9pm Radio 1.
His live set gets it’s first big outing tomorrow at Brixton Academy supporting Phoenix before he tours the country from mid-November.
http://www.myspace.com/alexmetric

By Chris Haggart

Weezer- (If you're wondering if I want you to) I want you to

- Rivers looks like R2D2!

Cutest title for a track, but then, it is Rivers so you wouldn't expect anything less. There's hints of white-boy-rapping in this, which shouldn't work, but the strength of the rest of the song makes it slot in. The beat is great, clapping (always a win), and plenty of percussion. The chorus sounds like old Jimmy Eat World, but the refrain is so so Weezer you can spot it a mile away. It's happy, upbeat, a real dance-like you're having a spazz track.

5/5

Lia

GEBUS I'M BEING NICE TODAY, MAYBE THATS BECAUSE MY FRIGGIN CEILING IS GOING 'DRIP DRIP DRIP' ALL NIGHT. The only thing I want dripping is......................................... (fill the space for personal amusement)

Gliss - Beauty

- Cor they look a bit like Placebo...even Brian Molko

What a caramel-ly track...it's so smooth and well kept. Vocals definately reflect the title of the track - beauty. Yes, lead singer Victoria does sound like she's a chain-smoking jazz singer who could pass off as a man, but I think this adds to the complexity and mystery of this track. 'you save my soul, it's still any empty hole' should be a lyric that makes you cringe, but in this track it works perfectly. The perfect bridge between old skool (My Bloddy Valentine) to the recent influx of Swedish instrumental acts (Sigor Ros, Surrounded). Highly recommended.
5/5

Lia

Atlas Sound - Walkabout

Atlas Sound definately tick the boxes for the new age of digital folk music. I sense intense pangs of Bright Eyes, Of Montreal and Arcade Fire. It's melodic, as kooky as Zoey Daschenel, and one of those songs that will make you remember that Summer three years ago when that boy took you to the funfair and won you a nice big teddy. Although, nowadays it'll be more like when that boy took you to the park, got you smashed on Ace Lightning and felt you up behind the bushes. Lets not kid though, this song is beautiful - it's light, the instrumentation is perfect - crispy electric piano tonks and carefully placed vocal harmonies.

5/5

Lia

Newham Generals - Hard (Caspa & The Others Remix)

Right so you will soon realize I am an absolute raving mad BEAT junky.

and I will go on non stop about dubstep dubstep disco disco dubstep.

literally I am obsessed. I was just listening to the radio and I got a hint off a wobble, and I remember the absolute tune I heard that is the caspa remix of the newham general- hard.

If you are new to dubstep hit up some of the stuff caspa and co. and churning out on the dub police label. some real gems I tell ya'

but anyway this is a fat tune. I know I shouldn't whack a youtube video in, but listen and love!

lets hope that works.

the mix of genre with underlying dub. ahhh

as you can tell this just makes no sense now, I'm rambling. I love it.

I just thought I would share a tune.

also check out towniship funk, that is so anthemic!

peace and love blog readers.

Michele Angelo

x

End Credits - Chase&Status ft. Plan B

Dubstep has been around for some time. Really it has.

Thankfully in my opinion it is hitting the mainsteam.

Chase and Status one of the most well know dubstep artists have now taken the growing genre to the movies, with the aptly named 'end credits' made for the soon to be screened 'Harry Brown' which I might add boasts Michael Caine.

I fell in love with this track when I first heard it aired on radio, and when given the promo CD by kitty, to listen to again and again and write a review, I was nothing less than "buzzin' blad" mainly because I am a big Plan B fan, and it's wonderful to hear another side to his heartfelt rap-screams, where he sings in this song.

Simply the beats are heavy, the dubstep wobble is present and its out there, on the big screen. Dubstep has landed people, in it's lightest form, but boyyyyyy does it make me feel good!

Oh one last thing it has been championed by the genre man from Radio 1; Zane Lowe. Nuf' said people.

Image taken from: http://remix.vg/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/chase-and-status.%20jpg

Safe!

Michele

Nerina Pallot - Real Late Starter

An answer to the joining of folk music and the electronic age. Nerina Pallot manages to keep a kookiness to Real Late Starter with the use of strings and what sounds like a honky-tonk piano. It's an uplifting song, and above the usual standard from the influx of female solo artists like Pixie Lott.

Look out for the Interview with Nerina Pallot as she performs tonight in London!


image from: http://the-rocker.freeservers.com/Oct2006/nerina.jpg

Lia and Kate

The Kut - Doesn't matter anyway/Closure

The Kut show hints of The Gossip; woman fronted 'don't care about anything' vocals and a driving backing riff. Doesn't matter anyway is an energetic song, although we would prefer a different vocal line; you think you're geting The Offspring but it comes out more Katy Perry. Closure suits Maha's voice more, and there is an awesome bass line. Overall, a mix of opinions but not bad.
Lia + Kate

Matt Alinson's Songs of the Week

Booka Shade - In white rooms

Biffy Clyro - The Golden Rule

White Lies - Death (Crystal Castle remix)

Symbolone - Love juice (Danger remix)

La Roux - Not Your Toy (data remix) (see pic!)

A Tribute to Stephen Gately and My Boyzone Experience

Image from http://news.softpedia.com/images/news2/Mark-Feehily-Reveals-Homosexuality-Stephen-Gately-Supports-Him-2.gif


Stephen Gately was my first crush. When I was 7 I met a girl named Aisha who introduced Boyzone to me. They were a concoction of pre-pubescent dreaminess, tied together with harmony and sporting white t-shirts and denim overalls. Before N-sync strutted in with their dirrrty bubblegum pop and poor-grade CGI futuredome videos, there was Boyzone. Before Simon Cowell decided to show his potato-sculpted face on screen, revealing, like some fantastic magician, the audition process for merry-band-making which was previously hidden behind pages of The Stage, 5 Irish lads were selected to be Boyzone. Before the Internet there was Boyzone. Before Barack Obama there was Boyzone. And they rocked my little world.

The first ever live show I ever didst see was a Boyzone one. It was in Cardiff Arena. Aisha, me and her mum took a train from Bristol to the welcoming arms of a sold out 2000 capacity dream-sanctuary where I was to come face to face, separated by 100meters or so, with my hero. He was almost angelic, perhaps due to the overwhelming use of white polyester, or the overkill of 100W bulb usage (oh the good old days when it was legal to mimic the almighty power of the sun). I look back and realise how wrong it was, for me, as a child, to count how old Stephen would be when I turned 18, just to make sure he could have his wild marriage way with me yet still not be old-man-creepy and get sent to prison. Ok, so what if I didn’t know the legal age for ‘love’ was 16, in those days sex was still the icky with the finger going into the hoop made out of the other hands’ fingers. But at least I was willing to wait; young girls these days would scratch each other’s eyes out with a good size cactus, or hedgehog, to get the 2-finger-deal with Robert Pattinson, of Twilight (lets spend 2 hrs gazing into eyes intensely) fame, or one of the Jonas brothers (not the one who is now married although well done him..with that face...). In my day, it was a little bit more innocent. As we sat on that train to Cardiff, painting our nails, although in hindsight, what a retarded idea that was; strong fumes in a confined space, we literally counted down the seconds until we would see our beloved Boyzone. There was a moment when I swear Stephen caught my eye and yes, hear these words and laugh; it...was...like...he...was...singing...only...to...me. Golly. I don’t remember much else, not even my favourite song or how long the set was. Only that me and Aisha brought matching Boyzone dogtags and thought this was awesome-gee-wiz-cool.

I also remember that the only copy of a Boyzone album I had was a tape, with two sides and everything; they were called side A and side B dontchaknow and it was totally pirated and sold to my Dad at Easton market. I always did feel the shame of my non-legit copy. The printing was a fail on both paper gsm and ink and there wasn’t even any lyrics printed, lyrics as classic as ‘love me for a reason, let that reason be love’.

I grew up and at the age of 13 rejected all my Boyzone love to turn grunge... then slightly goth, then a bit new-age 80’s finally ending my teenage years as very much 50’s. I denounced ever liking pop music; the trout of the fish-aisle, and never did the story of my first gig escape my lips. It was only after the last dreads of Fresher-mentality escaped my being that I truly appreciated my childhood and all the god-awful music that came with it; N-sync, Britney Spears, the Spice Girls (although for some reason Steps will always lurk below appreciation, much like everything that ‘H’ stood for...seriously, it’s like Cluedo with the card in the middle stuck on your opponent’s head, gaping at you...H...H...H...stands for...??? During the time it took me to grow up, Boyzone split up, Ronan declared that life is a rollercoaster and Stephen became Prince Charming in musical theatre. He also came out of closest, shocking girls everywhere and making me question how much tail he got in his Boyzone years, if any, before he decided to bat for the other team. People named him as a hero for gay rights although in my opinion being smoked out of the closest makes you more a hero for battling career-blackmail; an epidemic in our times. Since then, Stephen kept to himself, only releasing singles in sporadic periods of his life, but faithfully did not parade himself in celebrity big brother-stuck-in-a-jungle-cootie-love-island . Ok, so he did go on Celebrity Ice Skating, but that travesty was on ITV which is practically like broadcasting in a desert.

It was only until last week when his name even crossed my mind, and for all the wrong reasons. As I did my daily breakfast routine of a cigarette and reading Sky news on my mobile phone it was announced that Stephen Gately had tragically died on holiday. There were no suspicious causes and an underlying heart condition was suspected. Even though his death has shocked and saddened me, I firmly believe that it was accidental. However I cannot believe that Jan Moir of the Daily Mail managed to squeeze out of her column (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1220756/A-strange-lonely-troubling-death--.html) a large turd of conspiracy theory about drugs, sexual deviance and full on gay-bashing. I shan’t say anymore than what Charlie Brooker has very eloquently put in his comment (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/16/stephen-gately-jan-moir ) except Jan, get back into the kitchen. And I don’t mean that in an anti-feminist way, but in a ‘you’re a friggin cookery writer’ way (for example here is an excerpt of her faboosh writing; ‘incidentally, a Scottish muffin is very different from an English muffin, while the one Americans call and English muffin is what the Scots call a crumpet....Perhaps this baked goods confusion is what lady Gaga is referring to in her song Poker Face, when she sings about ‘bluffin with my muffin’)...well done Jan, well done. (To read the whole of that riveting article about different muff’s – head to Jan’s page in the link above).

Lia

Underground Railroad

IC Radio’s Lia Han and Kate Agathos catch up with Underground Railroad after their show in Camden and talk serious music. Originally formed in France, this trio of Marion Andrau, Raphael Mura and JB Ganviet have relocated to London to follow the Indie-dream; wear black, hang out in the East and eat salt beef bagels. Oh, and making some sweet sweet music along the way. And perhaps opening for Dinosaur Jr., wasn’t so bad either.

Underground Railroad are supporting some Australian band tonight. I forget the name because I was late to the gig but did manage to secure the all important 2 song rule (give any band two songs and that’s enough to make up your mind about how ear-rapingly shite they are). The place is full of very jolly south of the equator Australians much like a Friday night at Walkabout in Fulham and it’s hard to guess why Underground Railroad are supporting a band which sounds like Bon Jovi had a tongue-jacuzzi with ZZ Top (with the non-bearded one with the beard in his name sat on the side, juzzing himself out). Me and Kate make our way backstage, uttering the classic ‘OOOOOH GIGGLE GIGGLE backstage!’ like we are about to chug some Motley Crue spunk, and thrust our laminated backstage passes at any passer-by. Ha, two pass words in one sentence, whatdyathunkit.

Underground Railroad certainly play a spectacular show; not afraid to put themselves literally on the stage, they exude energy and an old skool punk attitude. Playing in London is hardly daunting for these guys anymore, they claim to be practically Londoners after re-locating 3 years ago, and have firmly embraced the classic Londoner compass-divide; declaring their love for the East because it’s too expensive to go anywhere on the tube and they love hanging out in Shoreditch and Brick Lane. The subject of Brick Lane Salt Beef Bagels comes up, most likely instigated by me because it literally is the perfect sandwich with meat:carbohydrate ratio (fyi: 2:1), and we have a mini-circle-time-bonding-sess by agreeing that out of the two bagel shops, it’s the first one as you turn into Brick Lane that totally pwns over the other. They’ve had a wealth of shows in London too, all over the shop; Koko, White Heat, Luminare, Cargo and Buffalo bar, just to name a few (these venues sound like Wicca Anime characters… except Cargo, maybe he can be the Mr T of the group, non?). But do they miss France? It’s very different Marion remarks, but there are more bands in London. ‘It’s boiling here, with so much activity; everyone seems to be in a band. There’s competition in France too but we know everyone so you can build a scene really quickly. In London there are still lots of bands we like but we haven’t met yet’.

Their new album Sticks and Stones was produced by John Goodmanson, of Death Cab and Cutie fame, and delivers on some noisey impact. Obvious bumming of Jesus Mary Chain and Velvet Underground, although anything with a bit of avant-garde noise will normally invoke those references like a sharte gone right. But I am pleased to report some pop! Yes! Pop! Jingly jangly catchy swiftly monkey verses! Good fashioned good music.
On why the lyrics are in English, the band delve into the ins and outs of the French dialect, commenting on the fact that the ‘hu-urgh’ sound one makes is not as suited to rock music than say, rap. There is a brief spell of the teaching of French culture as they tell us that they call what I assume we know as scat singing, ‘yoghurt’. Creamy and full of wonderful and full of bifidis regularis? Hmm. But English or French, the sound of the album does little to offend the ears, which explains why they gelled so nicely into the European Nada Surf tour. As they recall, despite the differences between the bands, the fans just ‘got it’. They aspire to support bands in different genres, with the names Goldfrapp, The Liars and Deerhoof mentioned in passing.

For a band who have been together 5 years, growing up in a small suburb in Paris, and meeting in what they seem to describe as the only studio in town (because it was cheap at 100 Euros a year), they all seem so fresh and not at all living the stagnant band life so many fall into. Yes, the beginning was hard and they certainly took moving to London, ‘we didn’t know anyone in London and were living in Whitechapel and took the 1st room we could get, sending demos to clubs, promoters, anyone’ but they’ve done well for themselves, and as they describe it, London is a platform which has brought them immense opportunities here and abroad.

Lia

Sweet sweet music

This little gem was written when I was a Fresher - you can tell because of the over-use of genitalia slang and the fact that I actually sound like Imperial hasn't raped me of all my time

It’s a well known fact that music can be sexy (Genie in a Bottle), romantic (I am Beeeeeeeeeeautiful), and down right dirty (DiRRRty). Oh Xtina, music goddess of the vag. However, choose the wrong music for your nookie session, and it suddenly has the unbelievable power to make even Lexington Steele get the beerpussy. No one likes silence, and most people don’t want to listen to the smacking, popping or chuffing sounds of the ‘intercourse’, so reaching for the CD player/Ipod station/Tape (wat ist das?!) or even live orchestra is a natural thing to do. And I know for a fact that everyone has had an awkward experience trying to squirt the spooge whilst simultaneously ignoring the ugly sounds filling the room. So after much deliberation (and the decision to horribly embarrass my own boyfriend) I’ve come up with a nice little list of good and bad ambience music for whatever tat des geschlechtes takes you.

Lets start with the least painful recollections; the music that made that moment a bit more special; even if he did give you a dirty sanchez afterwards:

A friend once told me that Damien Rice ‘O’ (like the whole album, stamina or what) was a sweet little ditty to play, and if your biatch don’t start crying half way, I say that’s a hit for you relationship types. Personally, there are songs which I’d stay away from; Woman like a man starts off with ‘I need a piss, wanna hate, fuck it up, calm’. NICE.
Then there’s classical music. My boyo once put on Chopin’s nocturnes, and that makes any biscuit crumbed bed seem like a four poster. However, careful with the pretentious arty persona; rules still apply: most piano music yes, some string quartets (bar Debussy) still work; but orchestral works, leave that to the pros. You don’t want to be struggling with some Nazi Wagner or Steve Reich. Or even worse, Schoenberg. God no.
Weezer (Green Album) is damn cute, and you’ll find that most girls adore Rivers anyway. It’s the math-rock-geek-emo thing that came before scenester-hair-gelled-asymmetrical-hair cut-studded belt types spawned the earth. Sexy as.
And to bring the rock to your cock. Its gotta be a bit of the heavy stuff, ya know, the drum beats for the tush push, guitar licks and flicks. All that is awesomo. Motley Crue, I will admit, ranks thigh high (bring on the trailer trash insults) and anything during the mad-crazy-your-parents-conceived-you period of the 70-80’s still rules! ZZ Top, INXS, Deep Purple, Dinosaur Jr…take me up to the 90’s for us young uns and it’s the likes of Smashing Pumpkins (just too many songs to mention, oh, go on then; today, perfect, tonight tonight, thirty three, cupid de locke) and Pearl Jam (because we all watched Clarissa and totally fell for ladder Sam).


Ho ho ho. Santa here bringing you the goodies. Bad bad bad encounters. The worst; gotta be Zappa (we didn’t have time to change the CD)…not the easiest thing to ignore when you hear ‘I’M IN YOU!’ on the surround sound. The cringe gradient slowly decreases to PWEI (get me a big mac, get me fries to go, watchman!) then something lame from a few years ago like the James Blunter. I’d like think any girl sounds I heard were from me and not some army tosser with a guitar. Oh and even though it hasn’t happened to me yet, (despite being referred to as liking cuntcore music), stay well away from Peaches! ‘Sucking on titties like you wanted me’ and ‘I keep my self respect hidden in my cervix’ are not for the approachable modern lady.

So my little raccoons, may you procreate like bunnies! Be safe by wrapping the piggy in his blanket! Listen to the soundtrack of your life! Steel clear of J pop! Avoid the Westlife for it is all LIES (the ugly one with the huge spam went and knobbed Delta Goodrem)! And never never never ever go ass to mouth.


Love you long time,
Lia

F.Y.I: Go on lads, put on Smack my Bitch Up and watch her transform into a right little minxy freak. I wanna freak in the morning, freak in the evening. Sugababes had it down.

The Baddies - Open one eye

This sure sounds like Madness! And that my friend, is damn good. With hints of Maximo Park, the vocals are definately reminescent of Indie music circa 2 years ago, but this still feels fresh. There is a great mix of sounds, and is bursting with fullness, it almost feels like it's done in the underground, although that could be my crappy speakers. I can't say that it's revolutionary, but at least it stands out from the crowd.

Paramore - Ignorance

Paramore are gained extreme popularity since their chart breaker Hallelujah, and have comfortably stood in the front of the new resurgence of the rock genre. With the likes of Fall Out Boy and Panic at the Disco paving the way for electro-rock, Paramore have found a sound that stays quite raw amongst the beep beep synth sounds of their compatriots. Hayley Williams delivers strong vocals with the the rest of the band driving some very rifftastic rhythms. The chorus lacks the same impact as the verses; it just doesn't hold the same momentum and melodic interest. The catchyness of the hook 'ignorance is your new best friend' makes up for this although when the song finishes you somehow feel an emptiness, but maybe this is because I no longer hold that teenage angst which gels so well with lyrics like 'yeah I've got friends who stuck together, we wrote our names in blood'.