Singles: Miniature Dinosaur, Deerhoof (w/Jeff Tweedy), Twilight Sad, The Miserable Rich, Esben & the Witch
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Greetings, readers drinking styling moose earwax (decaffeinated, natch!) and nicking ginger cookies biscuits from the recently divorced red-haired bird at the office (buy her a pint) while the boss is buying the 600 quid remaster of Achtung Baby (aka the second best U2 album, after Zooropa. Deal with it). Welcome to another edition of our “off again, off again, hey it’s on again!” single reviews column. Granted, some of them aren’t singles, but I liked them and made my stupid human collaborators review ‘em. Mahalo.
This week’s singles come courtesy of Galactus and his recent addiction to vanilla Twinkies. Now, if he could only drop the planet kebab, we would all be happier and safer (but not fitter).
Ah, singles, right:
Sad notes from middle America
The Payroll Union – Your Obedient Servant
Stream – ‘General James Wolfe’
Interview – The Payroll Union
The Payroll Union are a Sheffield band that has been doing the rounds for a while, but it wasn’t until this year when it all started to fall into place. Between an EP launch in a cozy little pub, a stint on the Busker bus during Tramlines and a couple of Hoedowns (one which ended in a massive hay fight), the band is getting loads of good word of mouth.
A meeting with the band was arranged at 2Fly studios. When I get to the studio, the band are still recording. The song is ’1826′ and although the basic layout is pretty much finished, they want to add an extra layer of detail to the song. Melodica, a spot of keyboard and even the sound of breaking wood (courtesy of a 2×4 being destroyed in the studio) are added.
The Payroll Union are Ben (drums, vocals), Paul (bass) and Pete (guitar, main vocals) and they have been recording for the entire weekend. They look slightly tired but happy about how the song is panning out, so we take a stroll around and settle down at a Mexican restaurant to talk about Americana, history and why your influences might not determine how you sound.
Singles: Gaoler’s Daughter, Afghan Raiders, Pisco Sour Hour, Matt Kim Andrew WK Soulja Boy, The Payroll Union
Greetings, readers drinking discount Kombucha mushroom tea (SUGAR!) and sneaking a looksie at Nardwuar (he rules) while the boss is listening to Adele (aka the music equivalent of Bridget Jones). Welcome to another edition of our “off again, off again, hey it’s on again!” single reviews column.
This week’s singles come courtesy of KISS getting snubbed from the final line-up for the Michael Jackson tribute. Now, that’s weird. It’s already a cash grab, why snub the masters of the sell-out?
Ah, singles, right:
By the Rolling Sea
Live review: Vetiver @ Komedia, Brighton, 28.06.11
Supported by: Chris T-T, Marques Toliver
Vetiver’s Andy Cabic @ Big Sur, 2011
This unreliable ‘reporter’ (of sorts) will have to hold my hands up and apologise because I managed to miss the first support act of the evening, Chris T-T, whilst I was grappling with the public transport systems in Brighton. Sorry Chris!
However I did make it to Komedia in time to see the second support act, Marques Toliver who is originally from New York but is now based in London. Toliver has an incredible, soulful voice with a huge vocal range. He plays charmingly honest lo-fi songs, using only his voice and a violin/glockenspiel, and at points comes down off the stage to sing and play without mics. Toliver has an engaging personality, but mostly it’s his expressive voice that has won over the audience this evening.
(more…)
“I could’ve brought two guitars, but then there wouldn’t have been enough room for all my problems”
Live Review: Ryan Adams, An Acoustic Performance – The Dome, Brighton, 22.06.11
Supported by Jesse Malin
White Lion’s Rustlers
Local peddlers of fine country and Americana Pete David & The Payroll Union (one heckuva name for a band) have just (okay, a fortnight ago) released their six song EP, Underfed and Underpaid (another heckuva name!) with an impressive 2 set gig.
Haymageddon!
Pete David & The Payroll Union’s Hoedown @Broomhall Community Centre.
with support from The Biddy Fiddlers, Low Duo and Dan Haywood’s New Hawks.
It was a cold, damp Saturday. The snow that flurried in the morning was now a wet mess in the streets and the cold British winter was on its last throes.
Paving Stones : Pete David & The Payroll Union
Paving Stones is our brand new column where we talk about new bands and artists we find (or they find us). Check it every week, with a free mp3 included! You can submit stuff too, if you want to.
Pete David & The Payroll Union
Interview – Murder By Death
Murder by Death are a terrific band from Indiana, USA, who specialise in a species of alt-country with some cinematic undertones. All their albums are dense, dripping with atmosphere and most them have an unifying narrative (The Devil in Mexico, Weird Western, etc). We got out resident freak/spammer Sam to send them an email filled with questions, as he became a fan since he reviewed their recent album, Good Morning Magpie and worked his way through the band’s back catalogue…
The winter of our folk discontent
Quiet Loner – Spectrology
The Skinny: Introspection for the winter.
The Review Proper: Songs from a musty porch in Middle America, England.
Quiet Loner, aka Matt Hill, is a very quiet musician. Haven’t met him personally, but from his music, you can guess quite a lot.
Unfortunate letters of incidents – 10
Welcome to our weekly column with Russ “chords of gold” Palmer. This week, he writes with a concerned spelling request to Smarties…
Unfortunate letters about incidents – 9
Welcome to our new weekly column with Russ “chords of gold” Palmer. This week, he writes with a concerned sweet tooth to Wagon Wheels…
Unfortunate letters about incidents – 8
Welcome to our new weekly column with Russ “chords of gold” Palmer. This week, he writes with grave concern to Twiglets…
Unfortunate letters about incidents – 7
Welcome to our new weekly column with Russ “chords of gold” Palmer. This week, he writes with grave concern to Top Shop…
(and here’s a song to listen to while reading this incident…)
Radio friendly Americana
Dust on the Breakers – American Reclamation
The skinny: Music as a landscape.
The review proper: Imagine an Autumn sunset. The skies are turning mauve and purple. There’s a few shades of red and orange by the departing Sun. And you’re on your way home to your loved ones (in my case, a laptop).
Unfortunate letters about incidents – 5
Welcome to our new weekly column with Russ “chords of gold” Palmer. This week, he writes with grave concern to Mr. Kipling Cakes…
Unfortunate letters about incidents – 4
Welcome to our new weekly column with Russ “chords of gold” Palmer. This week, he writes with grave concern to Mates Condoms…
The night Weezer scorched Bradley Arena
Weezer @ Bradley Arena /Peoria, Illinois USA
Peoria is an important but little known town in the state of Illinois. It’s the birthplace of the multifaceted industrial giant known as Caterpillar and is considered as the best representation of the demographical standard (!) of the USA. In layman terms, if something works in Peoria, it works in the rest of the States.
The musical scene in Peoria is basically null, limited to a massive following of cover bands in bars. Hardly a star stops in these lands, which makes me ponder about that whole “works in Peoria” thing I just said. Would all bands want to come around here, play and pass the test?
