The Major Key

Gig(s…I’m cheating) Of The Week:

Patrick Wolf – London Astoria, April 11
The ever-amazing Patrick Wolf gives London a little exclusive to promote new (and hilarious) album/single ‘The Magic Position’. Expect a lot of sexual rubbings on stage in rains of glitter. Should be mesmerising.

An Evening With Peter Doherty, Hackney Empire, London, April 11/12
Will Carl turn up? Will Carl turn up? WILL CARL TURN UP?!
No.

Recently Leaked Albums:

1990’s – Cookies
Avril Lavigne – The Best Damn Thing
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Baby 81
Bright Eyes – Cassadaga
To My Boy – Messages
Hot Chip – DJ Kicks
Mark Ronson – Version
The National – Boxer
Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare
The Clientele – God Save The Clientele
The Procession – Musique Magnifique
The Concretes – Hey Trouble
Groove Armada – Soundboy Rock
Marillion – Somewhere Else
Erasure – Light At The End Of The World

Bands You Need In Your Life:

A Woman Of No Importance (Awoni)

Recently disbanded acoustic & strings outfit from Seaham Harbour, North East England. Every single song is a stand out and despite the Belle & Sebastian highjinks last year, I now regard them as the best live band I have any seen. And I’ve seen a fair few. They’re spilt was a horrible day.

Random MP3 Of The Week

Arctic Monkeys – Fluorescent Adolescent
I can’t stand this bloody band. But I know there are people out there who absolutely love them (a large majority, oddly enough), so here’s a song on their new LP.

MP3: Patrick Wolf – On Sussex Downs (Larrikin Love cover)
MP3: Patrick Wolf & Charlotte Church – When Doves Cry (Prince cover)
MP3: Peter Doherty (with Kate Moss) – KP Nuts
MP3: Awoni - Multiply, September, Injuries, Logic & Touch - see myspace.
MP3: Awoni - Quiet Pioneer
MP3: Arctic Monkeys – Fluorescent Adolescent

The Rakes: The Warning

Brixton Academy, London, England, 31/3/07

The Rakes by Han Quintrell

Due to a PR mix-up me and me mate ended up in the balcony of Brixton Academy halfway through the sickening We Start Fires set, taking the opportunity to literally relax with our feet up and a pint. Nothing could keep us still during the Holloways, mind. A slice of drunkenness and ‘Two Left Feet’ (no pun intended, honest) later we swap our tickets with a couple of dead-looking thirty year olds for standing, and head on into the mosh pit. I’m not even sure if it’s worth recounting the rakes’ performance as despite the new songs and all of that like they’re still the same band I’ve seen seven times over. I’m not sure there’s too much to say on them anymore. They’re suffering a sever case of second album syndrome but if they can battle through it I believe they can be one of the strongest acts we’ve seen in the indie world for a long time. It was fucking brilliant to hear Ausland Mission again - still the best song they've ever written.

I advise any future Brixton Academy goers to take as little with them as possible – crime has been sweeping the beautiful building as of late, at the recent Fratellis gig about 200 people had their phones stolen. The count of reported five-fingering were slightly lower last night but my mate had both her ipod and her purse stolen straight from her closed bag. If you suspect fowl play over a missing phone call Brixton Academy over at 020 7771 3000. If it hasn’t turned up you can at least report it – you never know.

MP3's to follow.

Reviews: Live

Here are links to all the gigs I have reviewed, most recent at the top:

Rocklouder

Tokyo Police Club, Zan Pan - Dingwalls, Camden - 21/8/07
Tokyo Police Club, The Dykeenies, The Pistolas - Camden Barfly, 3/7/07
Dartz!, I Was A Cub Scout - Newcastle Academy, 20/6/07
The Maccabees, Jack Penate - Astoria, 17/5/07
CSS, Tilly & The Wall, Ratatat - Astoria, 22/4/07
The Rakes, The Holloways, We Start Fires - Brixton Academy, 31/3/07
NME Brats (Rock) Tour 2007 (Mumm-Ra/Horrors/View) - Brixton Academy, 23/2/07
The Rakes, The Social - Bedford Esquires, 3/2/07
Hot Club de Paris, Dartz!, Slow Club - Birmingham Barfly, 22/1/07
Futurefest (Futureheads, Field Music, Yourcodenameis:Milo, Dartz!, Kubichek!, This Ain't Vegas, Catweasles) - Newcastle Academy, 20/12/06
New Order, Maximo Park - Wembley Arena, 27/10/06

This Is Fake DIY

McFly, Ross Copperman, Natalia, The Little Villiens - Campbell Park, Milton Keynes, 22/7/07