Plan B magazine

Were you at T.I.T.S. at the Cowley last week Boney? I didn't see you there.

Trooooo

Sun Araw - dub bored go home
which was the same thing pocahaunted did!
EVERYONE LOVED IT

THIS KEEPS HAPPENING

A BUZZ ABOUT A BAND

EVERYBODY LOVES IT

I THINK IT'S RUBBISH

IS THERE SOMETHING WHAT GOES WRONG IN MY HEADT, OR AM I JUST RIGHT?

That being said somebody playd me some sun araw music on a spinny thing and it didn't sound bad to me

Heh, I was indeed. I think I was pretty much behind you for them, I was right in the corner that leads to the garden, this being my view:



Being a tally I get really para about blocking people off at shows in narrow venues like the Cowley, invariably I'm standing round the side of the PA or in a doorway.

Was good to meet you on Thursday. My enthusiasm to continue the evening was gladly not taken up by anyone, I struggled up on Friday morning as it was.

It was utterly captivating, one of the best gigs I've seen in the last few years. The improv set was really good, with lots of restless noise, a few half-techy moments that worked well, and loads of other ominous stuff. It rumbled on nicely, and kept me listening and thinking for the duration.

The second set of songs, however, was a different kettle of fish altogether. It was just so unbelievably intense. I couldn't take my eyes off Genesis, everything about his performance was utterly captivating: his hand gestures, his eyes, the way he meandered around, the way he acted out the songs, everything. Watching them perform `Persuasion' live was genuinely disturbing; by the third song I felt as if I was freaking out a bit, which isn't really like me as I usually manage to maintain some distance from music of this kind. The version of `Almost a Kiss' was one of the most emotional pieces of music I've ever heard; it was huge, and watching the figure of Genesis dancing, twirling, kissing the tattoo on his arm, while singing loudly from under this blanket of sound... it was almost too much. And then they finished with a razor-sharp version of Discipline which would have sounded perfect at a big drug-soaked club night at the Arches or something, but which was still really unsettling. I was exhausted just listening to it.

So yes, the gig massively exceeded my expectations. I wasn't even going to go until about a week before. I can see now why TG obsess people, and I can see myself becoming similarly obsessed.

Boney, that's the top of my head in the bottom left of your pic! Nice action shot. You can see lots of my grey hair too.

no, you're absolutely 100% right. free thought beats herd behaviour every time. trust your feelings. let goooo. he's turned off his targeting computer. what's wrong? nothing, I'm alright. great shot kid, now let's blow this thing and go home.

I played a gig on friday, on a bill of indie pop, bluesy surf-psych and comedy electro-rap. I was just a little bit out of place, and actually, genuinely cleared the room. I even got a disheartening sympathy pat on the back from some escapees as they left. fair enough though - my part of the set was dreadful, largely due to monitor inaudibility. only the throbbing noisefest with the radiation line provided any nihilistic succour.



speaking as the audience, I greatly enjoyed it. can't go wrong with a bit of turkish slayer-twang...

So, Ornette. What can I say? I'll be processing it all for years to come. I really hope recordings of the shows come out, because they were remarkable.
The support slot from The Master Musicians of Joujouka was glorious, tranced out ecstatic desert music. They joined Ornette later on, which was some of the greatest live music I've heard. Ornette's alto leapt around and weaved through their Moroccan pipes and drums and as the piece progressed the Ornette rhythm section (including Flea, who I'm happy to announce was really good - no slappy nonsense) locked into a heavy bass led groove that sounded a bit like Can. Heady stuff.
Ornette and co were also briefly joined by Baaba Maal, who added some keening vocal improvisations.
The show was billed as Reflections On This Is Our Music, and it was lightyears away from your rote Don't Look Back exercise. The tunes from that album weren't played in order and they were radically transformed, as were other Ornette classics, like Theme From A Symphony, the jaunty tune of which popped up at various points, but recontextualised and interrogated. Hearing this music live gives a great insight into harmolodics. You really had to listen hard when the band went at it full tilt, with everyone playing in what at first almost seemed like different keys or time signatures. But it soon made glorious, skewed sense.
The encore of Lonely Woman, with original Ornette Quartet bassist Charlie Haden was utterly beautiful. Without Don Cherry's trumpet to shadow Ornette's alto, there was more space for Haden to build on his bass playing. He has the lightest touch, sweeping across the strings to add higher register chords and patterns over a bottom string drone.
Just an amazing night.
And during the day we met Robert Wyatt!!! We were a bit nervous to go up and say hello, but Katesby convinced us. He was lovely and very gracious. We asked him how the Liberation Music Orchestra show went and bigged him up for his wonderful music. So I saw one of my heroes in concert and met another. What a day!

Yeah! Be people, not sheeple!

Absolutely superb Evan Parker Double Quartet gig last night - totally surpassed my expectations. The previous times I've seen Parker were in noise and electro-acoustic improv settings, so it was really exciting to seem him lead an acoustic free jazz ensemble. It was sponsored by the Goethe Institute, so the players were all German, with exception of the great London bassist John Edwards. Connie and Johannes Bauer, both on trombone, were absolutely wonderful. The latter did some fun spit valve and voiced solos, while the former made jaws drop with an incredible circular breathing solo, all gurgling drones and split tones. Sweet drummers too - one guy was a cheeky looking wee dude, but he dropped all these funky Elvin Jones like thunks. One of the best jazz gigs I've ever been too.

What are The Sticks like? I'm swithering as to whether or not I'm going to go to a gig with them and Finally Punk on Thursday. The promoters usually put on good stuff, and I like to support what they do, but it's directly after football, when I'm usually bruised, battered and in need of my bed.

We watched - or didn't watch - Sticks when we saw T.I.T.S. I'm not over keen. Maybe I've just seen them too many times. They don't seem to have written any new material in an age.

Didn't Sticks support T.I.T.S in Brighton? Don't think Eater of Birds was impressed. Their myspace is alright. They owe a lot to early Fall and The Monks without being a millionth as good. But worth a shot. And Finally Punk and Gummy Stumps are ace, so it's all good.

Oh yeah, that's where I recognise that name from. They sounded pretty shit to me. I don't really rate the Gummy Stumps either so I think I'll just sit this one out. There aren't enough good gigs on just now!

(The) Stick(s) it up yer arse, more like.

Festival season, innit? Divorce on Saturday and that night we're DJing a week on Sat. DJs Stewbeard and Fuzzy Dunlop (aka Ggggary) bringing the big tunes.

Oh aye I'd forgot about Divorce. I'm really looking forward to that one.

Finally Punk and Human Hair were ace, The Sticks were better than at the Cowley by some way. Was a cracking day, super good atmosphere too. There was some impromptu Jacko commemoration too:

I was going to say there's not much coming up but I'm Londoning it for The Lucksmiths/Gary Olson/The Chemistry Experiment/Still Corners at the Luminaire a week tomorrow.

Brightonwise I think we're going to Growing/Remember Remember/Drum Eyes at The Freebutt in a couple of weeks. Haven't seen Growing for years, like what they're doing now more as well I think.

yo! so many gigs coming up i'm off to.. this and next week really but hey! whose fussin'?

thursday is 'MA Interactive Media: Critical Theory and Practice' show at goldsmiths, well looking forward to this! homemade electronic instruments in a theatre context is what i've been told..

sunday is london improvisers orchestra at cafe oto ..

monday is marshall allen of sun ra at cafe oto ..

tuesday is uk noise conference at the old blue last, this looks awesome! Defibrillators, Sloppy Seconds, Team Brick, Blue Sabbath Black Fiji, Cementimental, Ryan Jordan, F.M.G, **K and more i thinks..

wednesday i'm seeing Makoto Nomura: The Sound of the Melodica at the japan foundation

thursday is ainote-san, which feats the melodica guy from the night before and clive bell at cafe oto (again, love that place!)

friday i'm going to amsterdam! and then the tuesday after i'm off to indonesia for a month.. tooooooooooo muuuuuuuuuuuucchhchchchchhhhhh!!!!!! so excited i might explode.

BIG STAR at the serpentine tonight.

Technically it's Tindersticks being supported by Big Star but as I don't really like Tindersticks as far as I'm concerned it's BIG STAR followed by an early night. Sweet.

Any idea if there's any decent bike parking in Hyde Park wher ethey do these Serpentine Sessions things or if i'll be able to take a bike in?

there's a huge amount of cycle racks outside the RCA which is right over the road .. i don't think there's a designated area specifically for the serpentine but i could be wrong!

As an aside and in full agreement with Gary's review how ace is this picture of TG by the Clyde from Chris Cater's Flickr stream:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris_carter_/3635474834/in/photostream/

Ha ha, how sweet!

I just made that archetypical sealiony 'AUGHWWW' noise (last made by Prince when the audience sang 'I think I love her' during his rendition of 'Raspberry Beret' on the Lovesexy tour video).

Durrrrrrrrrrr I forgot...also going to the Loop Fest the weekend after next.

got the stupid tube but wait it's cool because...

I JUST MET ALEX CHILTON!

what a sweet dude. just saw big star (alex and jodie with two of the posies making up the awesome, awesome band) supporting the tindersticks. i really don't like the tindersticks (*understatement*) and left after big star but was rewarded with running into alex in wandering about the outside bar area in a little corner of sunny hyde park. i promise i've never done this before to anyone but i collared him, gushed a little bit and took my picure with him. hehe.

amazing gig. amazing dude. such a shame the stupid crowd didn't know or care who there were. although i suppose it was kinda cool cos i got to stand at the front hollering along and chat with the man afterwards but... i dunno. so sad really. almost a bit spinal tap puppet show. they started 15 minutes early, about 10 people seemed to know the songs and during their set, which probably only a couple of hundred people bothered watching, someone actually shouted out "who are you?" to which alex sweetly and totally unphased replied. "oh, i forgot to say, we're big star". i probably shouldn't have, but, giddy and stuck for words i mentioned it when i was talking to him and he just said "i guess someone didn't know" and smiled.

gig of the... very long time.

*puts #1 record back on very very loud*

i'm so happy right now.

p.s. forgot to tell him my new band's called decemberboy. actually glad i didn't or it might have all gone a bit alan partridge. "YOU'RE A MENTALIST!" etc.

Oh I was there but missed Big Star due to overrunning sunshine drinking. Shame on me. Tindersticks were great though and I enjoyed the event overall even if it was a bit souless.

meeting your heroes is well cool! congrats!

Cymbals Eat Guitars tonight at the Windmill!

Went to see one of the Lucksmiths final UK shows, the one on Tuesday at the Luminaire. Only a half-fan but they were really good, a good bill as well, I quite enjoyed the Broadcasty pop of Still Corners as well. First time I'd been to the Luminaire, I was very taken with the place, super lovely.



Loop Festival this weekend, am skint so will be disarmingly sober and probably hate everything. Looking forward to catching Sian Alice Group, Telepathe, a bit of Squarepusher, a bit of Fever Ray, Mira Calix & Quayola, The Field, Fujiya & Miyagi, múm etc.

I'm playing records at this tonight. Should be fun.

This forum's very own Skeletonjode will be playing a set of Springsteen covers. Plus Hillary from Divorce in solo mode, and Fence types the Red Well.



Tomorrow it's the mighty Team Brick and Tuesday, THE BOSS!!! What an exciting few days.

Oooh we've got Teeth of the Sea/Peepholes/Medicine & Duty next week as well.

Fun night at the Flying Duck. All went well, apart from my haunted turntable, which decided to speed up to 45 rpm of its own volition. I was powerless to act and had to hastily crossfade to another tune. Heavier on the beats than any set I've played before, and all the better for it. Stewart and Caroline asked me to write down my playlist, so here goes:

Pastels/Tenniscoats - Vivid Youth
The Chills - Pink Frost
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Interesting Results
Pocahaunted - Chains
Kode 9 - 9 Samurai
Astral Social Club - Caustic Roe
Zombi - Spirit Animal
Zomby - Where Were You In '92?
Jakes & TC - Deep
Glass Candy - Computer Love
Telepathe - So Fine
Omar Souleyman - Leh Jani
Gang Gang Dance - First Communion
The Honeys - He's A Doll
Belbury Poly - From An Ancient Star
Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band - Tropical Hot Dog Night
Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath - Nick Tete
Xiu Xiu ft Michael Gira - Under Pressure

---- Skeleton Bob solo set (nice Del Shannon & Cookies covers!)------

Vivian Girls - Where Do You Go?
Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is The Move
Raincoats - No One's Little Girl
Joe McPhee, The Thing & Cato Salsa Experience - The Witch
Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers - I'm Not A Juvenile Delinquent

---- Blood Of The Bull set ------

Secret Chiefs 3 - Akzamachamarei
The Bug ft Tippa Irie - Angry
Flying Lotus - Gng Bngr
Art Ensemble of Chicago - Theme De Yo Yo
Joker - Do It

I'm available for children's parties and senior citizen dances...

Well, Bruce was absolutely fantastic. I didn't think a stadium gig could have such atmosphere, but Bruce can pull that off. Sound wasn't bad either, all things considered. There's no cynicism to his music, which isn't to say it's earnest or lacking in complex emotions. It's rare that such BIG music feels so righteous, so inclusive and yet so specific. He doesn't deal in the vague platitudes that so many stadium rock bands do. Who else could get away with silencing a stadium during a song as bleak as The River or Atlantic City? And the sheer joy of hearing Born To Run, Thunder Road, Bobby Jean, Out In The Street etc etc... BRUUUUUCE!

Still Flyin' tomorrow night
Growing / Remember Remember on Tuesday

woo

frontier ruckus at the windmill on thursday - no eye dear what to expect from it...

Magma! Not this week, but what's a few months in Zeuhl-world: http://www.barbican.org.uk/music/event- ... sp?ID=9534

I really take issue with this description of Chrome Hoof tho: "the extraordinary ritualistic collective Chrome Hoof – the nearest thing to these prog masters [i.e. Magma] that present-day London has to offer."



This week, gonna see Arbouretum.

Nowt till Spin Spin The Dogs a week on Thursday, I think.

The Thing! That was frakking awesome. Mats Gustafsson is such an enthusiastic, energetic and powerful saxophonist. Love his moves, his hollering into the saxophone, his big fat tone. Yeah! Pal Nilssen Love - one of the greatest drummers I've ever seen. So inventive and so fast. Bitchin'. Ingebrit Haker Flaten is rock solid on bass.
The lame and gimmicky rock covers of The Bad Plus can't hold a candle to The Things' improvisations on PJ Harvey, Black Sabbath et al. Best of all is their take on Lightning Bolt's Ride The Skies: bwarp bwarp bwarp bwaaaaaaaaarrrrpppp!!!
They do beauty too: their version of Donald Ayler's Angels was gorgeous, with that gospel-tinged melody soaring over a busy double time rhythm section.
They claim to be the only free jazz band sponsored by a BBQ establishment. 'We like meat!'

I might be going to see the Victorian English Gentlemens Club tonight. Didn't know they were playing until I was walking past the venue, on the way back from dropping my car off for its MOT, and noticed the poster.

I really like them and it'll probably do me good to go but I don't have much money and no-one to go with (not that that has ever stopped me before).