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Hello Mothers
First of all, apologies for the delays in posting during August. I was away for a lot of the time in Peru, and various things have happened since I have been back that have prevented me from posting.
Right then, upcoming posts. I saw the Warlocks at the end of August, but can't really be bothered to review them. They were good. Very sweaty show that included almost all of 'Phoenix', their career peak, except for 'Red Rooster' and 'Oh Shadie', which was excellent. It just slightly depressed me that such a good show was dominated by an album they released seven years ago. Speaking to JC, one of three guitarists, afterwards, he said they'd had some technical problems with the venue (no monitors) and nearly pulled the show. I am glad they didn't.
However, there will be a review of Bestival by me, which was wet, but musically very good. There will also be a review of Offset Festival, well Gang of Four and Wire at least, by Ali, who is going to start helping me out with this blog very soon. There also possibly will be a review of the Green Man Festival by John, if he ever gets round to it! I have also added video links to some songs from the Lips, way back at Lovebox. Enjoy.
Anyway, turn and face the strange.

Sonic Sam

Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll at Stokes Bay

When I was initially asked if I wanted to attend the Stokes Bay Festival last Sunday, I wasn't so sure that I did. It was mainly finances that put me off, but luckily I thought to myself 'fuck it, I'm going to go'. Excellent decision, aided by the addition of Alabama 3 to the line up, alongside Levellers, Phil Jupitus and the Blockheads, 3 Daft Monkeys and Bellowhead among others.
When I first arrived, my initial doubts seem to have been correct. In front of the main stage was lined right to the back of the big top with people sprawled out in fold-out fucking chairs. It was absolutely rammed. The first band I really watched were 3 Daft Monkeys, who play energetic pirate folk, which sounds like they have been all over the world, but still rooted in British folk. Good fun. I then didn't really catch much of anyone else into Bellowhead, and allowed myself to peruse the real ale bars and food stalls. The curry wasn't great, but the beer was excellent.
Bellowhead, billed as the largest sound in the British folk scene, are a band the size of a football team that play renditions of traditional tunes, such as Gallows Pole (take note Zepheads) as well as some of their own compositions in their own inimitable style, which includes wah-wah lute. All in all it makes for a pretty good cocktail of sea shanty's and folk, that's danceable.
After Bellowhead, I manoeuvred my way down the front for the almighty Blockheads, aided by Phil Jupitus. Opening with the 1977 classic 'Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll', the set was an absolute stormer. The Blockheads remain the tightest and most intelligent (British) punk/new wave band in the business, a cut above the rest. They knocked out all the hits, 'Clever Trevor', 'What a Waste', 'I Wanna Be Straight' and some newer stuff, which went down a treat with this reviewer. Phil Jupitus himself mocked the chaired folk, and the people dancing gave him a huge cheer for the joke. Set close 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick' lasted for around 10 minutes, with Big Phil introducing each Blockhead individually to rapturous applause. The line up isn't far off the classic Blockheads line up, with Dylan Howe on drums and Gilad Atzmon on Sax. Norman Watt-Roy, Chas Jankel and John Turnbull provide the core of the band, with Watt-Roy still moving like he used to, managing to sweat himself through his suit. Derek the Draw, Ian Dury's (r.i.p) carer has taken over some of Dury's vocals, and the other half is adequately covered by Jupitus, who makes it clear that he is merely a sideshow to the mighty Blockheads, a band he seems in awe of throughout the set.
It would take a tough act to beat the Blockheads, but Alabama 3 know how to work a festival crowd. For nearly 20 years they have been performing their gospel-country-acid house combo to festival crowds and have deservedly earned themselves a reputation as a formidable live band. The band mix preaching from The Very Reverend Dr. D. Wayne Love, vocals from Larry Love, and more vocals from Devlin Love into a hypnotic mix that forces you to dance. Really good fun. The set included the classics 'Woke Up This Morning' and 'Too Sick To Pray' as well as 'Up Above My Head' and 'U Don't Dance to Tekno'.
After Alabama 3 was the band that everyone had been waiting for, The Levellers. The Levellers have the most die-hard following of any band I have ever seen. I feel a mere newbie and I have seen them 6 times! The reason is that they are one of the most enjoyable live bands in the country, with their mix of folk, punk and top notch songwriting. Live, the energy levels are fantastic, and the crowds are always game. The show kicked off with 'England My Home', something that seems to be becoming more and more regular every show, and included the classics 'Sell Out', 'What a Beautiful Day', 'The Boatman', 'The Road' and 'Carry Me', all of which were excellent. The band sounded absolutely on fire during new ones 'A Life Less Ordinary' and storming set closer 'The Cholera Well', but it was penultimate song 'Dirty Davey' that stole the show for me. It's the song that got me into the Levellers, and so holds a special place in my heart. It also doesn't always get played, so whenever those two chords start, a surge of excitement always goes through me. Hears to the Levellers for another 20 years, rounding off a very good day's live music.

Currently listening to K'Naan - The Dusty Foot Philosopher

Sonic Sam

p.s Photos to follow shortly...

Faust - Mamie is Blue

I don't think I have ever done a blog about a single track, but I really think I need to for this. When having a massive Faust listening session recently, I played the brilliant 'So Far' album and had something of a Faustian epiphany over the track 'Mamie is Blue' It's not like it's my favourite song ever, fuck it's not even my favourite Faust song (that's 'Jennifer' for anyone who cares), but it's just so fucking good. It sounds like something made by free-thinking robots in a rebel Utopia in 3015. That sound at the start that just jolts inside your head, followed by that circular, repetitive overloaded organ line completely blows me away. Music still hasn't really caught up. The only thing I can slightly compare it to is 'Frankie Teardrop' by Suicide, which sounds like a bullet ripping through your skull, whilst Faust sounds like 'Frankie Teardrop' on a horrifically bad acid trip. Sheer genius.

This is some weird German documentary about Faust in the 70's, but it's got clips of them jamming and stuff. Pretty cool.

Sonic Sam

The Flaming Lips - Live at Lovebox

The Flaming Lips closed the Lovebox festival in magnificent style on Sunday in a show that featured the usual copious amounts of confetti, balloons, explosions and lights. An audio visual feast for all to behold. The Lips are the best band on the planet with a devout following around the world, and the reason is that they make every indie band in the world look lazy and arrogant for feeling that it is good enough entertainment to simply watch them play on stage. The Lips play some of the best music ever made, as well as put on the best show in the world, and seem totally thrilled to be doing it.

As ever, the show opened with Wayne rolling around the crowd in the bubblezorb (see picture), followed by 'Race for the Prize' which was absolutely brilliant. Wayne then led the crowd in a mass swear-along to 'Free Radicals'. Then came a superb version of Zeppelin's 'Song Remains the Same' which was as uplifting and summery as the weather, complete with psychedelic naked hippies running around on the screen behind them. Following that was 'Fight Test', the first song off 'Yoshimi...' which got a huge cheer and mass sing-along. The Lips played then played 'Mountain Side' off 'In a Priest Driven Ambulance', something I never thought I would get to experience live, which was amazingly fuzzy, psychedelic and heavy, ending with a massive chord on repeat. After dedicating a beautiful version of 'Vein of Stars' to Alison Goldfrapp (who had played earlier), the Lips then played a stripped down, sing along version of 'Yoshimi...' with everyone singing every word. Mr Coyne looked absolutely thrilled at the reaction. Then came the instrumental 'Pompeii am Gotterdammerung', which sounded so much more epic than on the record, during which Wayne played some gong by firing streamers into the cymbal and causing lights to start flashing all around the instrument. 'The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song' continued the singalong vibe, which sounded much more like old Lips tonight than it does on record. 'The W.A.N.D' followed before epic version of 'She Don't Use Jelly' and 'Do You Realise??' complete with masses and masses of confetti, streamers, smoke, strobes and balloons so that you couldn't really focus on quite what was going on. throughout the whole show, it felt like you were in another place where, in Lipsland, everything and anything is possible, all you have to do is live in a duplex for a couple of years, and legions will follow you. Their creativity, talent and nature is untouchable. Long may they continue on their adventure into absurdity, and long may we follow Captain Coyne and the boys.

Playlist 10/07/08

A new playlist. Hurrah! It's all gone a bit geek rock, but it's good. In my head it's for an American roadtrip? No idea why that's what I am designing a playlist for...

1. The Song Remains the Same - Led Zeppelin
2. Fly By Night - Rush
3. San Ber'dino - Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention
4. Christmas at the Zoo - The Flaming Lips
5. Love is How You Make it - Gong
6. Giggle Smile - Faust
7. Where There's Woman - Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band
8. Holland, 1945 - Neutral Milk Hotel
9. Air - Talking Heads
10. No. 13 - Pixies
11. Today - Smashing Pumpkins
12. Fire In My Heart - Super Furry Animals

It's a short but perfect playlist I think. Enjoy.

Sonic Sam

Here Comes That Artist Again - Glastonbury 2008

Well hello Mothers.

Sorry for the delay again, been at work and it's been quite busy really. Anyway, it is time for the annual Glastonbury review. Fucking excellent. Sunshine, great music, and plenty of etc. I think this review always gets rose tinted by the fact that I write it once I am back in the humdrum of reality and am pining for the surreal bubble of existence that is Worthy Farm on the last weekend in June.

First off, the music this year that I saw was excellent. I am not condoning Kate Nash's or the Feeling's sets, but the stuff I watched was brilliant. Friday included Alabama 3 and Candi Staton as well as a storming set from the legend that is John Cale on the Park Stage. Absolutely ace. I got myself right down the front, as you can see by the photo I took! He kicked off with the full on version of the satanic 'Heartbreak Hotel' cover that he does. Other highlights included 'Fear Is a Man's Best Friend' and the excellent rendition of 'Pablo Picasso' that went on forever.

I very wisely chose to see Jimmy Cliff on Friday night, who was unbelievably good. Played all the hits, a great cover of 'Hakuna Matata' no less, exceptional energy and fantastic vibe with everyone singing along. Wonderful place, beautiful gig. I've heard mixed reports about Kings of Leon, and don't know anybody who saw Panic(ex-!) at the Disco.

Saturday was all about one thing. The big man, Jay-z. Before him, I'd seen some good stuff, particularly Holy Fuck, Eric Bibb and Buddy Guy, who were all excellent. However, Jay stole the show. The much talked about 'Wonderwall' intro worked a treat, and showed Noel up to be so out of touch it's ridiculous. Jay-z totally won the crowd over, and 'Hard Knock Life' was the singalong of the weekend. An absolute Glastonbury moment that I feel privileged to have witnessed.

Sunday I started off with a more than welcome dose of Anton Newcombe's Brian Jonestown Massacre, complete with Joel, who, apart from taking 2 minutes to start each song, were pretty damn good. It's 1969 again baby. Caught a smidgen of Black Lips, who looked hugely disappointing. Watched the mesmerising Leonard Cohen, and ate dinner whilst enjoying The Verve. 'Bittersweet Symphony' was epic, but my favourite tune was 'The Rolling People'. It's 1997 again baby.

I saw some quality other stuff as well. On Friday, I spent a lot of my time in the circus tent and saw many weird and wonderful things, the highlight of which were the Black Angels, an acrobatic African Dance Limbo troop, who were so much fun and put on a great show. The crowd were lapping it up, especially when they limboed under a stick of burning fire about 8 inches off the ground. Mentalists. Friday night I saw a stripper of questionable gender in Trash City. On Saturday night, I spent about an hour transfixed by the Dukes Box in Shangri-La. If you haven't heard of these boys, basically it's a band in a dukebox. Brilliant fun. Also on Sunday, I saw the excellent Stompin' Dave tear down the Avalon Cafe with his speedy banjo and fiddle. He also played it behind his head. Mental. See picture for proof.

Overall, a brilliant weekend, preceded by a brilliant week. See you all again next year.

Currently listening to the radio. BBC 6. At work, remember?

Sonic Sam

The Bulletin is Back

The Soft Bulletin is back up and running as of tonight, as I now have access to a computer again. Finally. Which is good. Lots has happened, and lots more is going to happen, so an exciting summer coming up.
Recently I have been listening to a couple of the fucking excellent Nigeria Special compilations, the Highlife one and the psychedelic one. They are brilliant. The Funkees, as featured on the compilation, are the cool bunch of motherfuckers that are in this post's opening photo. A full review will happen soon, alongside it a review of the equally excellent African Scream Contest, which covers a similar period (early 70's), only this time in Benin and Togo rather than Nigeria. I might do those tomorrow or Monday, but before Glastonbury I promise. I'll also review the Cloudland Canyon album that's a krautrock tribute type thing. It's really quite spacey and wonderful. Check it out if you haven't done already.
Also, look forward to reviews of Radiohead live at Victoria Park, and Glastonbury. I expect the mighty John Cale or the Brian Jonestown boys to be the highlight, but who knows. Plenty of great things going on in the less well known areas, such as the mighty Ethiopiques playing a set.
I also fancy doing a blog about the seminal Wire trilogy of 'Pink Flag', 'Chairs Missing' and '154' because it's so good. Most people already own it, but still worth talking about. I think 'Chairs Missing' pips it for me.

Anyway, Thanks for reading if you are!

Currently listening to Ifa by Tunji Oyelana and the Benders

Sonic Sam