Howling at the moon

I sing in the shower. Personally I consider it to be one of my more endearing qualities. This is debatable, my house mate, who is not a morning person, thinks its fucking anti social, however another one of my friends has been known to stand by the door when I'm in the shower and join in with me wailing along to James (Laid...obvs) or Kate Bush (Running up that hill...obvs). Why am I telling you about my shower singing activities? Well. I like a song I can have a good wail along to. Generally I like music that isn't lyrically void, however for singing in the shower one needs to be able to howl. This is where The Vaccines entered my life. Post Break Up Sex is a song which gives one plenty of room for prancing about in the shower doing ones best Ian Curtis impression (does anyone else hear Joy Division in The Vaccines?) whilst having a good old how to something that is quite frankly lyrically nonsense. I was lucky enough to go and see the Vaccines in Leeds in November, and it was a splendid gig. I drank lots of Jack Daniels and had a good jump up and down in a hot sweaty mosh pit with one of my dearest friends.
Whilst watching the vaccines I was lucky enough to see another shower howling band...Howler describing themselves as a Surf/Trash (contradiction much?) band hailing from Minneapolis I think this band are destined for great things. Their songs are catchy, not lyrically deep, but equally not lyrically void either. If you like your music catchy and bouncy with potential to howl and a nod to Sheffield, Ian Curtis and the Beach Boys all rolled into one then may I suggest you go check them out.

They are also playing at Leeds Cockpit next month. May I recommend them. I'll be there...tickets HERE!

Welcome to Americana

I've been quiet for a while. I do apologise. I was away last week in Albuquerque, New Mexico attending a conference. I've spent the 5 days since I've been home battling with the worst jet-lag I've ever experienced and catching up on some long over due drinking. I've been off the booze since Christmas (for one reason or another) my liver was starting to think that my throat had been cut!
This was my first trip to the US. I've been as far East as Australia, but never quite made it around the corner! I wanted to write something about American music, and Americana in all its glory. I was expecting to encounter the latest finger-picking artists of the deep south. I was however largely disappointed. I found the area I was staying in to mostly be able to provide me with a choice of Mariachi bands or, somewhat unexpectedly, Irish music. In massive quantities. It turns out I was in the Irish quarter of town, on St Patricks day. It was a good place to be, although being 6000 miles away and watching American's expect table service in an "Irish Pub" was somewhat surreal, it has to be said I enjoyed the proliferation of Irish punk. It also made me some friends.
I didtched some of my colleagues who I was out with one evening. I coulden't stand to discuss the prospects, or lack thereof, in the academia at the moment. I decided an evening with my own company and Tequila was called for. I will quite happily take myself off on my own and enjoy one or two drinks. I found my way into a bar in an upstairs room on Route 66, and ordered a drink. This immediately raised my profile as being a foreigner. My accent is a dead give away unfortunately. I got talking with some guys at the bar. They were depserate for me to accompany them that evening to see Hank Williams III. To my shame I declined, a decision I am now regretting. Unfortunately I had not had enough to drink to think that wandering off alone in the more selubrious end of town with strangers was a good idea. I think however I may well have missed a splendid evening.
Hank Williams III is known for putting on shows with split personalities, starting out with the fiddle-dee country that is synonomous with his heritage, and then progressing on to punk and metal music.
Oh well. There is a lesson for the future. Don't go wandering off on your own, and looser your nerve and go home early.