More British Sea Power

Last night I went to see British Sea Power (again!)

Someone I work with had bought tickets for him and his friends to see them at Rugby Library, and some of his friends couldn't go, so he offered me and mine the two tickets! It's a bit of a trek from where I live, but it had to be a resounding YES... so after work yesterday I toodled over to Rugby in my magic bubble car (actually it was far more boring than that, using the A14 and M6) and enjoyed my first gig ever in a public library.

As many people will know, in the UK there are serious threats to the funding for public libraries, and there is an organisation called Get It Loud In Libraries, who have been around for a while, who organise and promote gigs in libraries. British Sea Power are one of the latest bands to join their roster, doing gigs last night at Rugby, and tonight at Westminster Library in London. With lyrics such as '

The show was fantastic, the people, as always, were great, and I bought even more merchandise! I couldn't resist the Heron Addict bag (I already have the t-shirt) and I also bought another mug.

The setlist was just about the same as the Cambridge gig, and once again the sound was fantastic - when they start a song there is so much power to it that you can barely believe they are creating all that sound on stage. It is breathtaking.

AND...Christopher Laird will be presenting the British Sea 'Power Hour' on RadioNowhere on Monday 14th March at 9pm UK Time - don't miss it!!

There is something quite magical about watching a band surrounded by precious books, in a setting that exemplifies for me what is so important about social justice. I don't use my public library as much as I should, but at particular times in my life I have relied on libraries a great deal - when I was unemployed, and periods when I was short of money, I used the library all the time. I am a probably a bit more comfortable (and complacent) these days with internet access at home and a bit more cash to buy books when I want them, but at other times in my life, access to (truly unaffordable) computers, books, CDs, DVDs, and newspapers has been a huge influence and very welcome resource. I have discovered so many new authors without having to spend any money at all - that sounds like a pretty good deal. We should truly treasure our libraries - I know I'll be visiting mine more often and re-living that excitement of seeing thousands of books that could all be mine (even if only for 4 weeks at a time!)

I love British Sea Power

I spent a wonderful night last night with Christopher Laird at the Cambridge Junction, meeting and chatting to one of my ALL TIME favourite bands, British Sea Power. Wow, I just love how life turns out sometimes.

Despite it being disgustingly cold, and (as usual) having a woefully inadequate 'coat', and the Junction being stuck out of the way of everything except crappy food places - and a Tesco Express - it was a grand night out.

Not only did I get to chat with the lovely Scott/Yan (centre left) and his brother Neil/Hamilton (centre right), who are just so down to earth and friendly and funny - honestly - I also got to see another one of their stunning live shows. They are amazing on record, and if you haven't heard their records BUY THEM ALL NOW, but live they do come into their own. With their self-created videos in the background (they were working on them backstage before the show) and the intricate and intelligent lyrics, which are so unique they remind me of Cardiacs, and their stage presence, layers of sound and musical qualities, they are hard to beat as a live act. Their version of Apologies to Insect Life (in my top 3 songs of all time) made me a very happy girl.

They have a fairly intimidating presence, but not at all in person. As I have loved them for a while I was of course slightly in awe, but they were just taking the piss out of each other the whole time, seemingly quite shy but also super friendly and happy to talk to us about our small, independent station.

They also have the best merchandise (which they said pays their electricity bill!) and if you haven't seen it, visit their website for a look. I am a sucker for good merchandise, and came home laden with lovely things (if you're interested, vinyl versions of 2 of their albums, a t-shirt, a set of badges and a mug).

Christopher Laird will be using his interview with the band for a special show on RadioNowhere, and I might even force my way on that show, if I get the chance! I'll post nearer the time with the details.

BSP will be on tour all over the place for the rest of this year, so if you have the chance: GO GO GO!

Cola Jet Set... Go

I went to see Cola Jet Set, the wonderful Elefant records band, on Saturday at The Buffalo Bar in Highbury & Islington, London. I got to meet Filipe and Alicia beforehand and they were both really lovely and so full of positivity about their music and life in general. And they like cider.

They were on the bill as part of a night put on by Pic 'n' Mixx. Their events encourage people to take along a mix-CD and swap it with someone else's, but I didn't know this and so didn't take one, and so I can't tell you about the wonderful mix-CD that I received from a brilliant stranger. Because I didn't take a mix-CD with me to the show, I was stamped with an unhappy face when I entered the venue. Only those who brought a mix-CD got a happy face stamp. I felt rather sad about this.

I also didn't get any pictures at the show as the venue uses those crappy red lights, and being short I couldn't see much. There are also big columns in the venue, so turning up just before Cola Jet Set went on stage, nursing my unhappy face stamp, I ended up standing near the back feeling a bit sorry for myself. I missed the first two acts because I was talking to two nice men in the pub upstairs. I did know them, I wasn't just randomly talking to strangers - Charly the cat warns us against such things.

This is Charly (he's the one on the right):

The band were fab, and their happy sunny pop was just the thing on what had been a rather drab and rainy London evening. I have a thing about bands who have songs with the band's name as part of the lyric (Sheep on Drugs, Pizzicato 5), and Cola Jet Set didn't disappoint. I was also wearing my purple Elefant badge to show my allegiance to the happiest record label in the world.

We had to leave early to catch the train to Dullsville, so missed the headliners Pocketbooks. I'm sure they were good. And, on the way home, some nice people sat next to us on the train and talked to us about music (of the classical and operatic variety), so I even learned stuff. I now know that Alison Balsom is a rather attractive trumpet player, and that it costs a lot of money to move a Steinway Grand Piano from London to the West Country. I probably could have guessed the last one.

Christopher Laird's interview with Cola Jet Set will be broadcast on The Christopher Laird Show on RadioNowhere on Monday 28th June at 9pm UK time - tune in at www.radionowhere.org

Tim Ten Yen Take Two

The second wonderful occasion last week was a triumphant and hilarious set from Tim Ten Yen at The Portland Arms in Cambridge, supporting his mate Jim Bob (ex-Carter USM). This is a bad photograph, but I like that Tim looks more sinister than The Sinister Cat:

Forget paying stupid money to see the same old act from stand-ups, just go and see Tim Ten Yen, he's a singing salaryman with a side order of comedy - honestly, I was still laughing about Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers on my way home.

As I said, also on the bill that night was Jim Bob, who was reading from his new book Storage Stories and playing some solo and Carter stuff too. This is a picture from the slideshow that accompanied his reading:


The concept of the reading and the songs worked really well, I thought. There was one guy in front of me, however, who looked over at his friend after the first reading and mouthed, 'What was that all about?', which rather made me giggle. They finished their drinks and left.

The show was up against the Cambridge Beer Festival, which was being held just across the road, so although it was sold out, I think a few people may have found themselves either unable to leave the festival (the magnetic pull of beer) or they tried to make it to the venue but forgot where they were going and got a kebab instead. Earlier in the day, when walking past the beer festival site, I watched a man leave the festival, get on his bike which was parked outside, and immediately crash into another cyclist. I laughed a lot.

I bought Jim Bob's book at the gig and read it the next day - it's really good. It reminds me a bit of Alexei Sayle's short stories, in terms of it's connection to reality, and especially to Martin Millar's Milk, Sulphate and Alby Starvation, which is one of my favourite books of all time. Apparently others have said it reminds them of Chuck Palahniuk, but I wouldn't know as I haven't read any of his books.

You can buy Jim Bob's book in all the usual places - also from http://www.storagestories.co.uk/

Our lovely friend Tim Ten Yen has interviewed Jim Bob about his new book for The Christopher Laird Show, and this will be broadcast, with Jim Bob as Artist of the Week, on Monday 21st June 2010 at 9pm UK time - head over to http://www.radionowhere.org/ for a listen!

If you haven't read Alexei Sayle's short stories, do so now, they are brilliant - first compilation is called The Dog Catcher, second one is Barcelona Plates. Also Ten Sorry Tales by Mick Jackson is a MUST READ - and worth buying for David Roberts' illustrations alone.