Shiny new things

I haven't been to any more gigs this month, but have been in the business of acquiring shiny new things instead.

Recent purchases include a wonderful, sexy and beautiful Indietracks postcard painted by Eddie Argos - it's two canvases, one being the front picture and the other being the bit you write a message to people on, which has been personalised to me. I love it. I love it. I love it. You can see it on his blog, where he sells paintings and band merchandise and stuff. He's great.

I have also bought a copy of the 7" of Uptown Top Ranking by Althia and Donna (spelled Althia on this release and Althea on subsequent releases - I know, I'm a nerd) on Lightning Records from a wonderful vinyl record shop near where I live. We also got a 7" of De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da by The Police recorded in Spanish and Japanese. Yay! AND we got the vinyl of Me And My Big Mouth by John Cooper Clarke, which was a bit of a surprise when we got it home as I had only heard his stuff performed live before and didn't realise that most of his stuff is set to music. I think I prefer the live stuff as his delivery is better without it being slowed to match the rhythm of the music, although saying that I really liked I Don't Want To Be Nice and need to visit 1978 soon so I can play it. I have really got into vinyl again, but I think it's mainly seeing thousands of records of cool stuff that is otherwise so very hard to find.

Other than scanning record racks this month and buying art brut (haha), I have been mostly writing about opium/opioid markets and listening to music from 1971. Speaking of which, you can catch the next Jessica 6 show from 1971 (see, shameless promotion) on Tuesday 2 November 2010 at 9pm UK time on RadioNowhere - 'twill be a pleasure to be with you then.

Jessica 6 in 2006

You can now download my 2006 show as a podcast, available here

This month's show includes Hot Chip, The Divine Comedy, Matisyahu, Art Brut and Absentee plus many more. The full playlist for the show can be found here

Next month, by request, I'll be in 1971 - if there are any songs you think I just must play, contact me by e-mail or on Twitter

Enjoy!

Back to School!

Last night I once again joined my partner-in-crime, Christopher Laird in seeing a great band, and friends of RadioNowhere, The School. They were playing at The Corner House in Cambridge, a small but perfectly-formed pub venue, put on by new local promoters Sleeping Today.

On arrival at the venue, Christopher was locked in the pub cellar and members of The School stole all of his equipment and ran away with it. Fortunately, rather than throw the stuff in the river, they showed their incredible work ethic and their dedication to good music and decided to use their down time by recording a show for him, taking over the controls and recording all manner of crazy banter and picking all their favourite songs of the moment to share with the wonderful RadioNowhere audience. Their takeover show will go out on RadioNowhere later this year, with some special seasonal surprises - keep an eye on www.radionowhere.org for more information and a transmission date.

After reluctantly releasing Christopher from the cellar (he was very dusty), The School took to the stage, playing several songs from this year's Loveless Unbeliever album, as well as some new songs, which I thought sounded great, and they assure us will form part of an album scheduled for next year (yay!) on Elefant Records.

They will be off to Germany soon, so if you're in that part of the world, go along and support them - they are the loveliest people you could wish to meet, so friendly and enthusiastic - some of the members are in about 5 or more bands because they love making music and are overflowing with talent. And if you can't get to see them live just yet (they'll be in a town near you soon) just get a copy of the album - it will make you smile and want to dance even if it is raining and dark and miserable (like today).

If you like the sound of that, visit them at www.myspace.com/theschoolband