Future Blues...Gil Scott-Heron

2010-02-09T07:55:00.000-08:00

Popular's Album of the Week

Gil Scott-Heron: I'm New Here

Heard and loved it...Gil Scott Heron famously said "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" pure genius! This amazing album is out now, courtesy of XL Recordings.

And if you’re willing to give those guys your email address, you can download a FREE MP3 right now...

Elaine

Popular interview Crocodiles

2010-01-29T07:46:00.000-08:00

The 'Crocodiles' are a band that are constantly compared to ‘Echo & The Bunnymen’, that is because they do sound a bit like ‘Echo & The Bunnymen’. Rather than hide the profound effect that this influence has had on their own music their name pays an overt homage to their
heros.

Just before their gig at 'The Victoria' Popular conducted a roof top interview that is devoid
of any mention of Echo & The Bunnymen, focusing instead on far more pressing issues such as Football hooligans, pirate radio stations and Harvey Milk...

When asked how their UK tour was going the 'Crocodiles' concluded that
it had been fun despite the poor turnout at their gigs. Their Manchester gig had consisted of only 5 burly Mancunians who apparently did not hold back with their constructive criticism of the performance..

‘They where like you need to work on your guitar, your a good front
man but you need to work on your guitar…’

Luckily the gig at the Victoria was pretty heaving and there weren't
overly assertive, well-stacked Northerners to be seen. I often make the naïve assumption that all the bands who are from California must be from L.A. They are not…these guys are from San Diego. There’s also the assumption that the Californian music scene is all sunny, surf-y and The OC , but is that the case?

'We come from a really small town….(the music scene) Is healthier now than its been for a long time theres probably no more than 100 people into the stuff we’re into…culturally its lacking…probably like 5 or 10 cool bands…noone has more then 100 people at a show…the only bands that get really big in San Diego are really crappy blues bands and cheesy hard rocker, white reggae stuff’…

So maybe its not really worth a visit? Where in California should you go in search of the sights and smells?

'You should go to San Francisco it’s the biggest city in California…its really 'East Coast' and what I mean by that is that the West Coast is much younger than the East Coast is and the East Coast
is culturally a lot more exciting….LA sucks, its completely plastic I mean there’s some cool underground stuff going on but its probably pretty hard to find…unless you know people…

And finally, what do you think to ‘the London music scene', any stuff you like?

'Graffiti Island' and 'Pens' who are London based we did a
Westcoast tour with them…they where great…'

Popular Interview Late Of The Pier

2010-01-29T07:04:00.000-08:00

We caught up with Late Of The Pier's Faley (Francis Dudley Dance) when he DJ'ed at The Social Club in gay Paris

Popular-What Late Of The Pier record is guaranteed to get the best reception at a gig?

Faley-As a band its probably bathroom gurgle because probably the most popular, space in the woods use to be the most popular but recently with shows 'Bathroom Gurgle' seems to be the one we always play it at the end, and everyone goes 'uuuuuuuhhhh yeh I know this one fuckin ell like'

Popular-What about when you DJ like here tonight?

Faley-When I DJ I don't have a fucking clue, coz I'm not a fucking DJ, I mean I do DJ I have 2 decks and CD mixer, I DJ for myself. I don't really DJ that often to be honest but the only songs you can ever play which are guaranteed to play out and everyone goes 'fucking ell that's incredible' is Daft Punk. Just because they are fucking hell incredible and everyone knows its just pure pop but amazing dance music.

Popular-Favourite city in the world and why?

Faley-Berlin…the first time I ever went there was last year or two years ago and I expected it to be kind of really harsh and and cold, but its twice as chilled out as Amsterdam, everyone kinda just moves at their own speed of life, and the speed of life seems to move to Minimal Techno. It's a really strange thing minimal has never really kicked off in the UK in a big way like it has there. The thing with Germany its not like a music you listen to or DJ its almost a way of life, art and minimal music go hand in hand…a lot of the artist I know over there do very much minimal art it all fits in hand in hand very much take your time, do what you want its all at a certain tempo BPM, life runs at a different speed there its just beautiful.

Popular- We talked earlier before about whether decent electronic music only emanates from Europe and you spoke about Japan (earlier being before the interview)

Faley-Japan yeh there's a lot of weird crazy electronic stuff coming from there
But yeh to be honest most of the electronic music I listen to comes from…Buts to be honest there's 14000 kids in the UK making amazing electronic music, but you've just not heard them because they're 16 yr old kids in their room making it for themselves they're making it for the sake of making music, and for what they like, they are not trying to make it big or anything…and for that reason they haven't got picked up by major record companies and for that reason you don't know them and they've not got massive and they haven't been spread all over the world

Popular-What sort of sounds have an influence over what you do?

Faley-Late 90s house music from france, even early 90s house, absolutely amazing.been a massive influence to me, not so much the rest of the band, but I really do fucking love it, just like good feeling good happy electronic music

Popular-How important is aesthetic image to the band? To the band yes definitely, we all believe that image is part of it…if you step on stage and you look like a group of kind of boys next door its not gonna go down as well. All the greatest pop icons that you can think of everyone from daft punk to Kylie Minogue all have that solid image which makes them almost inhuman…so you cant touch.

….but to be honest personally I don't actually give a fuck, honestly I've been so unselfconscious about all that all my life, I'm the sort of kid who was bullied in school for having long hair, which has just made me be like, I don't give a fuck I'm gonna dress how I want. I'm gonna do it how I want and that's all that matters. For me personally music is about music and when you see it live it's about the music that they play and the energy and how you feel. Admittedly,how you look in costumes becomes a part of that energy..But again for me personally if I saw kinda four kids get on stage, play the music we make and they did just look like kids from like down the road, real scummy kids…I'd be so much more impressed than if they all stepped up on stage and they were all wearing the kitsch like American Apparel…oh fuck I'm wearing an American Apparel T- shirt. Shit..

Popular- ha ha

Faley-No it was given to me, part of our video I turned up and they were like free t-shirts. Image. I don't give a fuck, its about the music..i'm a skinny long haired kid nothing looks good on me…

Popular- How do you formulate a track as a band, what are roles that are played out whilst formulating it? Do you have a concept in mind before or does it just come to you?

Faley-9 times out of ten it's the lead singer Sam, basically he's a musical freak, I could say prodigy but that just sounds like I'm blowing coke up his arse..I mean he is honestly a really really talented musician, for the soul fact that when everyone else was at school, going out getting drunk and whatever he was at home hulled up in his room and was making tunes on 'Fruit Loops' or like playing around with synths or guitars or base or drums that his dad has left him, usually its him, he'll come over and he'll be like yeh I've made this track and we'll all listen to it you know and go fucking hell that's incredible. Its usually like very electronica based because its built on 'Fruit Loops', and then we basically try and take it and turn it into a band song..there have been a lot of exceptions , as with 'random film', 'mad dog' where its been ideas he's had and we've just jammed and played it live until it formulates itself into a song, but usually its not actually a fucking song, its just a group of ideas put together and then when you play it if people are like 'oh I like that' for instance bathroom gurgle was about three ideas chucked together that never really worked but as we played it live it actually became something on its own, it's a really strange thing..

also Sam makes a lot of remixes and his own electonic tracks..under the name of 'LA priest'..and I'd say some of the tracks from the album have defiantly taken an influence from that..taking Electonica and relating it to instruments..

we use old synths, base guitars from 84, guitars from the 80s early 90s..all the syths are from the 80s…all the instruments are from the 80s! I don't have a fucking clue! We just do what we do and see what happens..if people pick up on it then eh...

....especially with the lyrics it's a massive part Sam's written some fucking deep lyrics..if you look at space in the woods its so funny I've read a lot of reviews that write it off like 'Oh yeh its some Emo teenage angst' 'its like suicide was in my blood it always was'..but if they actually listened to it its more about the deep philosophical side of man against earth and space..and how one is all the same.. but yeh everyones like 'uuuhhhh teenage angst fuck off' there is hell of a lot more thought that goes into it than people first pick up on, and sometimes people can read into it in completely different ways….

Popular- And finally something a bit topical….Do you think the worlds gonna end?

Faley-The world or the human race? The human race…yes but not in our lifetime, maybe our kids…

Popular- Well what do you plan to do about this?

Faley-The end of the world? Well I could say..travel forward in time and tell everyone to chill out but no one would listen to me they'd be like who the fucks this skinny cunt…?

Popular interview Simiam Mobile Disco

2010-01-29T06:56:00.000-08:00

Name one thing that has had a colossal influence on your sound?

We made our records to play in clubs basically every single thing did we just wanted to play out on a weekend and get people to dance….I suppose clubs..

How do you see yourselves progressing musically in the next year?

We never really think or plan what we do ….listening to a lot of Space Disco and Vitalic and stuff like that at the minute I probably wanna make tunes like that, it might change when I finally get round to making a record which is not gonna be till next year.

In terms of a venue, who would you say plugged you the most?

Loyalty would probably be at 'Fabric'….in London…we owe a lot to them…probably one of the best venues in the world!

What was the first album you remember buying? Don’t lie!

It might have been a Now 24…or something (hides head in shame but then quickie regains composure) ummm but the first album I remember was Revolver by the Beetles. 

Mystery Jets 2009 interview

2010-01-29T06:31:00.000-08:00

Popular caught up with Blaine from the Mystery Jets for a quick interview…

Popular- What have you been up to lately?

Blaine-Well I've been painting….and uhhhhhhh watching ballet…….been re inventing the wheel (adopting an accent from 'The Importance of Being Ernest')…..We've been…uhhhh..bringing our art back to is fundamental elements...and reconstructing it. In the most...pretentious way possible.

Popular-Last time we did an interview William told us about a band called the 'Hallelujah Chicken Run Band'…they're great…you got anymore recommendations we can juice out of you?

Blaine-Do you want some cutting edge shit?!
The most recent thing that I bought was a record released on Analogue Africa which is a German reissues label.....Of a band called Green Arrows......It's a 70's Afro Beat Zimbabwean funk band

Popular-okay i'm satisfied with the obscurity whether or not there is any truth in it….

Blaine- William just distracted you.....William go away!.....we're trying to do an interview...

Blaine- 'Green Arrows' other people hmmmm.....i'd like to talk about a couple of bands that we've been on tour with us 'Stricken City' http://www.myspace.com/strickencity..really good band…

Popular- Alright…what about books…anything you've recently read that has particularly stuck in you mind?

Blaine –Hmmmmm...Okay the last book I read was called 'Kill your friends' by John Niven. But William…ask William about books…William's the one who knows about books….(William wanders over)

Blaine- (Goading William) Lets have some edgy author….lets throw some edgy authors out there....

William-BLAINE SHUT UP.

Blaine- Ellen this interview so far…no ground has been covered, lets cover some ground....Let me ask the questions, I'll ask the questions…..(Blaine takes the crumpled up piece of paper and asks himself a question) Right...

'Really liked the art work on the Twenty One album, does anything visually inspire you to make a track?'

We're definitely visually inspired I mean.... i wouldn't like to say we're an art school band or anything but both myself and William went to art school...and I think that when we were making our previous record Twenty One, we got to a point where we had all the songs but we weren't sure what kind of identity the record would go on to possess. Once we found the art work (Natro Alegros photography) we really thought about the record in respect of 'coming of age, and falling in love for the first time and having your heart broken...I really think that with his photography (Natro Alegros) that was when we really finalised the ideas. So I'd say yeh we are visually inspired... i don't necessarily know if images inspire the song but ..i think perhaps they're kind of like mental images that brought the album together…the running order and all that....

Popular- How do you go about composing or laying down a track?

I think when we write there's a bunch of different things sometimes i'll sit down and i'll have an idea... I'll just write a melody and some lyrics and let the band do the rest and you know William writes and when he writes it he does it in a very open ended way which allows the band to create their own paths… which I think is kind of how I see this album happening. As writers i think our job is to lay down what the song is trying to say and then allow the band to explain the message in a sonic way..

Popular- Do you have an agenda, of how you want people to think or feel when they listen to a song?

Blaine- Yeh of course...I mean i think you know songs should inspire, thoughts and I'd hate for our music to just be. I think we want to create music that inspires thought...and some kind of reaction you know...reactionary music I think is what we've wanted to always to do...

Popular-Do you feel that being in 'the band' has ever in anyway hindered you…as in do you feel in anyway that doing this has stopped you from doing anything that you might have done otherwise?

Blaine- I think the bands been a really good kind of platform for us to create some kind of reaction with our songs and I think that whether its this band or any band, what we all want is to inspire ideas and do it through our music. I mean if you were to say to me 'what are you trying to say with your music?' I couldn't say but I think with every song has its place, was born…its got its own ideas about what its saying

Popular- I guess if a song has the ability to move someone then that's an achievement in itself…

Blaine- Absolutely. I'd like to kind of take words out of peoples mouths...perhaps feelings that people have felt...but have never really found the words to say, you know try and find the words to say....and put it across in a language that people can understand...

Popular-Kate (one of my friends who is suppose to be here)wanted to ask about Astoria the closing gig...about how you lot felt about playing that?

Blaine- i think for us it was a tremendous privilege to play, I saw my first ever gig at Astoria..in about 96 a band called Japan a kind of weird new wave band from the 80s they reformed with a different singer. I didn't really know who they were at the time either but it was just ingrained in my memory as my first live musical experience and I've always thought back to that. It was so loud! And the lights were fucking blinding, it kinda of inspired me to put a band together and play live gigs.
We played at the Astoria 5 times we where privileged to be asked.. And the last gig there that we played was amazing, we only played 3 songs, but on the last night it ever opened its doors…to be invited to do that......

TOP TEN'S OF THE LAST DECADE

2010-01-28T09:36:00.000-08:00

Elaine's Top Ten of the Decade

1. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
2. M.I.A - Arular
3. The Maccabes - Colour it In
4. Radiohead - In Rainbows
5. Battles - Mirrored
6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show your Bones
7. The Rapture - Echoes
8. N.E.R.D - In Search of
9. Four Tet - Everything Ecstatic
10. Dizzee Rascal - Boy in Da Corner

Leon's top 10 list of the Decade

1. At the Drive In - Relationship of Command (2000)
2. The Strokes - Is This It (2001)
3. Coldplay - Parachutes (2000)
4. The Libertines - Up The Bracket (2002)
5. Interpol - Turn on the Brightlights (2002)
6. The Streets - Original Pirate Material (2002)
7. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever to Tell (2003)
8. Whitest Boy Alive - Dreams (2006)
9. Phoenix - Alphabetical (2004)
10. TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain (2006)
Bonus Album: The XX - X (2009)

Lou's (WILD PALMS) Top Ten list of the Decade

TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
Sigur Ros - Takk
The Fall - Fall Heads Roll
Dizzee Rascal - Boy in Da Corner
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights
Arcade Fire - Funeral
Grinderman - Grinderman
The Streets - Original Pirate Material
Battles - Mirrored

(bonus album. Campag Velocet - Voice or Exit)

James' (WILD PALMS) Top Ten list of the Decade

1. Battles./ Mirrored.
2. The Knife./ Deep Cuts.
3. Gang Gang Dance./ Saint Dymphna.
4. Maps./ We Can Create.
5. Tom Vek./ We Have Sound.
6. Antony And The Johnsons./ I Am A Bird Now.
7. Celebration./ Celebration.
8. Portishead./ Third.
9. Bjork./ Volta
10. yeah fuck it. The XX./ X.

Ellen's Top Ten list of the Decade

1.Twice As Nice Vol.1: Mixed By DJ Spoony/Steve Sutherland
2. Pure Garage IV 2001

George's Top Ten list of the Decade

1. The Maccabees - Wall of Arms
2. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
3. Beach House - Beach House
4. Phoenix - Wolf Gang Amadeus Phoenix
5. Good Shoes - Good Shoes
6.The XX - The XX
7. The Maccabees - Colour it in
8. Death Cab For Cutie - Plans
9. Mystery Jets - 21
10. Golden Silvers - True Romance

Wild Palms Single Launch

2009-11-10T02:49:00.000-08:00

26TH NOVEMBER ALL THE DETAILS BELOW

GET YOURSELF THERE IT IS FREE!

ELECTRICITY IN OUR HOMES + SPECIAL DJS

8PM - LATE WAREHOUSE PARTY

BEHIND DALSTON JAZZ CLUB

WWW.MYSPACE.COM/WEAREWILDPALMS

TONIGHT

2009-08-18T04:22:00.000-07:00

>>> Amanda Blank <<<

(Onstage 10.30pm)
Ms Blank is pretty amazing when it comes to singing, rapping, song-writing AND performing. She more than holds her own alongside her contemporaries having collaborated with M.I.A, Lovefoxxx of CSS, Spank Rock and Yuksek. Her album 'I Love You' is out in September and features production from Switch, Diplo and Dave Sitek of TV On The Radio.

>>> Yo! Majesty <<<

(Onstage 11.30pm)
The rowdiest female rappers in the entire world return to the location of their very first UK performance. Yo! Majesty released 'Club Action' and the blogosphere went absolutely nuts. Damn right too! Make sure you catch them live. They're insane.

>>> Young Fathers <<<

(Onstage 9.30pm)
An absolutely inconceivable boyband who combine hilarious hip-hoppy lyrics (delivered with all of the passion of Pharrell Williams) and stripped back beats that were made to break your neck.

DJs
Snaggle Bros (50 Bones)
Captain Magic (Peanut Butter Jelly Time)
The Charlatan Girls
Snitch DJs

Only £6 advance from See Tickets: http://tinyurl.com/nlzsl6

Free downloads!!!

http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/Amanda_Blank/track/Might_Like_You_Better_Blaqstarr_Remix

http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/Amanda_Blank/track/Might_Like_You_Better_Rusko_Remix

http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/Amanda_Blank/track/Might_Like_You_Better

http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/Amanda_Blank/track/Make_It_Take_It_DJ_Eli_Escobar_Remix_

A Grave With No name - Single launch - Madame Jojo's

2009-07-29T07:08:00.000-07:00

The Mono

2009-07-22T08:54:00.000-07:00

on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/theemono

check em out

The 1234 festival

2009-07-21T03:36:00.000-07:00

1234 festival takes Shoreditch park hostage once again this July with a hand picked bouquet of revered live acts. The 2007 debut was a tent to tent, stage to stage assault of sweat and euphoria in the sun. Today an even bigger and bolder story has emerged for the east end with the event escalating in size and style to encompass the very best of current music as showcased in the carefully crafted line-up.

Ripe for your delectation are a selection of this years finest acts and a nod to next year’s future stars, with a specially curated PIX stage. In the mix we have seasonal favourites S.C.U.M, Chrome Hoof, Kasms, Ipso Facto, Poppy and the Jezebels, Ox Eagle Lion Man and the Joseph Wright referencing gobstoppers, An Experiment On A Bird In The Air Pump. The inimitable Patrick Wolf takes second billing on the night with a set destined to burn a perfectly dulcet hole into the eve, while headliners The Rakes top the evening off with their rabble rousing, off-kilter anthems.

Once sundown hits the park the entertainment moves indoors to a host of different venues, from The Macbeth, the Old Blue Last and most importantly the illustrious Hoxton Square Bar and Grill. The after parties will rage long into the night, expect to see the crème of the new crop here, from Language, The She-Set and the welcome return of newly configured punk-mongers, Vulgarians.

1234 Festival comes with the phenomenal price tag of just £15 for a whole day and night’s worth of sonic revelry. Prepare to beat your chest and grind a be-sandaled foot into the green green grass of N1 because Monday’s were made for calling in sick. Do it!

Colette Thurlow

www.the1234shoreditch.com

Buy your tickets at www.ticketweb.co.uk

The After Parties taking place from 8.30pm-2am include:
Queen Of Hoxton: Hosted By The She Set, This Tawdry Affair, Four Dead In Ohio, Maria & The Mirrors.
Mother Bar: Hosted By A Crisis In Taste Joe Gideon And The Shark, Relics, Vaporators, CC-SB, Sean Mclusky, Donald 3rd Earl.
The Legion: Hosted By Dice Club, The Sticks, Oh Minnows, Man Flu, Hidi Heelz
Catch: Hosted By Round Our Gaff, Lowline, Kontakte, Miss Cozmos
Electricity Showrooms: Hosted By Galvanised, Death To The King, Zov Zov, Model For Memory, F.M.G.
Old Blue Last: Hosted By Sensitive Youth, Lo Fi Culture Scene, Mafia Lights, Scarlets, Waxhouse, Shauney 1234, Donald Earl, Dissorder, Raffie Ray, Ruokdjs.
Bar Music Hall: Hosted By Kool Kids Klub, Project: Komakino, Silhouette, Language.
Hoxton Square Bar: The 1234, Popular, Japanese Voyeurs, Rubicks, Vulgarians, The Males.
Cocomo: Hosted By Pix Mag, Gyratory System, Hanna Hanra, Princess Julia.
Joiners Arms: Hosted By Nuke Em All: Line Up TBC
Dalson Superstore: Hosted By Disco Bloodbath, The Loveley Jonjo, Bloodbath Hit Squad.
Hoxton Pony: Hosted By Snap Crackle & Pop: Line Up TBC.

The Death Set, Cold Pumas, Japanese Voyeurs

2009-07-20T04:18:00.000-07:00

The Death Set In Vice

A Grave With no Name- single launch

2009-07-20T03:26:00.000-07:00

A GRAVE WITH NO NAME LAUNCH THEIR DEBUT EP ON JULY 21 AT WHITE HEAT

"Searching, distorted, bedroom-recorded songs with haunting falsetto vocals and a grunge spirit which bring to mind Atlas Sound or Panda Bear, though it's bands like HEALTH and Meat Puppets that have soldered these three Londoners together...captivating" - Dazed and Confused

“Battery acid neuvo grunge... soundtracking a blood-red sun exploding onto the horizon of a sleepy Big Country ranch somewhere near a canyon like Wyoming, like a colossal lava lamp spilling over an episode of the Waltons” – NME

"Coming on like a Hyperglycemic Slowdive, the band combine pulsing Pro-Tools built beats and fluid walls of guitar harmony, the vocals riding on top like a ghost track of Ben Bridwell...quietly resolute, this is bedroom music that successfully survives live recreation” – Loud and Quiet

"A Grave With No Name tap into the subconscious of the zeitgeist...an exploratory hiking trip to find that place where Animal Collective, SALEM and the Jesus & Mary Chain sit round a campfire making toast" - John Kennedy, Xfm

To celebrate the imminent launch of their self-titled debut EP on Popular Recordings on August 3, critically acclaimed London art-noise trio A Grave With No Name are having a party at White Heat on July 21, with the Rayographs and Celestial Bodies supporting, and DJ sets from The Big Pink, Feeding Time and No Pain in Pop.

Mesmeric and entrancing, swirling and unsettling, the beautiful, brittle soundscapes that A Grave With No Name conjure are vastly different to anything their contemporaries are currently creating, owing more of a debt to compelling, legendary figures like Wesley Willis, Kevin Shields and Paul Westerberg than anything earthbound . Indeed, far from being anything resembling straightforward, songs such as lead EP track “And We Parted Ways at Mt Jade” and “Stone Setting” weld together haunted Americana, freaked folk and rickety electronic influences, with Alex Shields’ ethereal vocals being the improbable glue that holds all of it together to hypnotic effect.

Earlier this year, The Big Pink took the band along as support on their first UK tour, and since then they have played festivals like The Great Escape and gone on to support other bands of note, such as Women and HEALTH. The A Grave With No Name EP, released on August 3, is their first official release, following a split cassette with Magik Markers last year.

A GRAVE WITH NO NAME EP LAUNCH

July 21 @ White Heat, Madame Jojo’s

w/ The Rayographs + Celestial Bodies, and The Big Pink, Feeding Time and No Pain in Pop DJ’s

Tickets: www.seetickets.com, 8pm – 3am, £5

Micachu & The Shapes - Lips

2009-07-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

Micachu & The Shapes play a warehouse in Brooklyn in between gigs at CMJ.

SELFISH CUNT ENGLAND MADE ME II

2009-07-14T07:18:00.000-07:00

SELFISH CUNT ENGLAND MADE ME II MUSIC VIDEO BY 241-24-7

Video Details
Description:
SHOT AND EDITED BY MR. ELIZABETH HENDRIX BETWEEN 2005 AND 2007 . SELFISH CUNT OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO BY 241-24-7

KWESACHU

2009-06-12T01:04:00.001-07:00