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Nothing to see here

2008-09-20T06:44:00.000-07:00

Seriously. Owing to a collosal bodge-up on the design front, I've moved this blog. IF you're a regular reader, please update your bookmarks, rss feeds etc to http://jackconner.blogspot.com - There'll be a propper URL for Adventures in Musica in the near future.

Thanks for reading and look forward to seeing you over at the new blog.

Off for a Ronebreak..Back in Five!

2008-09-07T08:48:00.001-07:00

Just a quick one to note that I've recently joined the team over at Ronebreak.com , the one-stop source for the latest in news, culture, art, entertainment and break through gadgets.

Most likely, you'll find me writing for the Rone' about music and sundry bits of internet-related geekery, but we'll see how we go for now.

Needless to say, 'Adventures in Musica' and all the other bits and pieces I do will carry on as normal, but I'm excited to be a part of the team at Ronebreak and having the chance to write about things which I usually don't get the opportunity to.

Maybe I'll see you over there!

Quadrophenia Still Relevant in 2008

2008-09-07T00:49:00.000-07:00

Stayed up late last night to watch ITV4's screening of Quadrophenia, the 1979 British film based on the rock-opera of the same name by legendary band, The Who.

A tale of social identity, misspent youth and rock 'n' roll, if you ask me, there are certain elements of the film which remain largely
rel event to Britain as it is today.

Admittedly, I was somewhat late to the whole Quadrophonic experience, only catching it for the first time in my early twenties. By this time, I was just about too old to be involved in any of the great cultural divide which lies at the underbelly of the country's youth, but that doesn't mean I didn't understand it.

Not long after this first viewing, I found myself engaged in conversation with one of my close friends about how the generation we've grown up in have been mostly devoid of any great youth revolution as experienced by Quadrophenia's protagonist, Jimmy, and his friends.

We were far too young to have been around for the whole Mods vs Rockers thing (a central theme in the film), the Northern Soul explosion which set our home town of Wigan alight, the punk thing, and even the whole rave/Britpop experience which exploded not far from us in Manchester at a time when we were just starting to grow pubic hair.

Since then, nothing much has happened.

Of course, when we were in our late teenage years, the whole Nu-Metal thing was being exploited by all and sundry a large divide grew between 'Moshers' (those inclined to wear baggy jeans, Slipknot T-shirts and Green Day hoodies) and the sub-society we now refer to as Chavs.

To an extent, this sort of thing is still evident today as kids take sides between the Chavs and the Emos/Goths/Indie Kids, but what you see today is no longer a revolution on any scale like we've seen in the past.

What you see today is all about fashion, but it does remind me of Jimmy's immortal line from Quadrophenia.

"I don't wanna be the same as everybody else. That's why I'm a mod, see?"

And it's that, right there, which leads me to believe that Quadrophenia still holds relevance some twenty nine years after the film was first released.

Speak to most young folk on the street today, especially those referring to themselves as 'emo' or all kitted out in exactly the same black costumes as their mates, and you'll find that being different, being unique and standing out is probably their number one priority.

Which is why they all donn similar attire, listen to the same music and hang around in large crowds.

So, people of Britain, the next time you're wondering why the Emos and the Chavs and all the other little groups can't just get along, remember that this sort of thing has been going on for decades, all the way back to a time when the Ace Face knocked out some greaser with a big stick.

MIT offer free Remix Download

2008-09-05T07:06:00.000-07:00

German electro-punks, MIT have just offered a free download from their Myspace page.

Here's the press bumf from Half Machine Records:

"MIT, who released their critically acclaimed debut album 'Coda' in March, have posted a free download of 'Rauch (COMA Remix)' on their myspace - www.myspace.com/mitmitmit

Feel free to use the download for whatever you want, re-posting etc.

COMA are signed to Kompakt records and are based in MIT's hometown and techno mecca, Cologne.

We will be releasing a 12" single and download of 'Rauch' early next year featuring remixes by Luke Abbott (Border Community), Sh*tdisco and more TBA."

Are Battle of the Bands Worth it?

2008-08-27T07:49:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow night, Social Icons take part in the Jumpin Jak�??s inaugural Battle of the Bands competition.

I have to agree with many music folks that Battle of the Bands contests are generally a bad idea, with the winners almost always being the band who made the venue/promoter the most money, rather than who actually did the best set.

Which is why it probably seems rather silly of me, as the group�??s manager, to agree to them playing this one.

Whilst I can�??t say this is the same for every band out there, for these guys I have to admit that playing a Battle of the Bands show is a good idea.
Why? Because they work so much harder.

The lads have played two B.O.Bs in the past, and both times I�??ve seen them rock the stage so much more than they do at your average gig.
That�??s not to say that the band don�??t go all out when playing live, because they do, but when you dangle a much more concrete incentive in front of them (in this case a grand and a day�??s recording) than telling them there�??s the chance of new fans and more gigs, they put even more into what they�??re doing.

And that�??s a good thing.

At every show they play, the band know they have a mission to please their existing fan base and attract even more people into that fan base. They�??re good at it too; the mailing list grows by the show and post-show compliments come thick and fast.

But when you become so good at something it becomes second nature, you need that extra challenge, that extra motivation to take it to the next level.
This may be different things for different people, but if Battle of the Bands contests is what motivates Social Icons to really step it up a gear, then that�??s what we need to do.

It�??s still all about winning the fans, but hey, if we can pick up a grand in the process, then who�??s to argue with that?

Metallica Return to Form with 'Death Magnetic'...And there's Solos!

2008-08-26T10:39:00.000-07:00

Social Icons drummer, Kev, sent me a message earlier, alerting me to the fact that everyone's favourite metal overlords, Metallica, have been posting up new tracks from their forthcoming album, 'Death Magnetic' in advance of its September release.

I can't quite fathom how I let the chance to get a taste of such an eagerly-awaited release pass me by, especially since all I've been listening to lately is the back catalogue of Messers Hetfield, Ulrick, Hammett and Burton/Newsted (and now the other guy too).

However it happened, I'm just glad someone pulled me out from under the rock I've apparently been living beneath, because damn is 'Death Magnetic' ever sounding good.

Out of the samples the band have posted on their website, the new album sounds like perfect blend of the Metallica of old and the older Metallica.

'My Apocalypse' especially retains some of those short vocal bursts of aggression from James Hetfield which made up the better parts of previous release, St. Anger, whilst adding in the kind of stabbing riffs and furious Ulrich drumming from their days of Kings of all that is Thrash.

That aside, my personal tune of choice for the moment goes to 'The Day That Never Comes', a dark sense of melody breaking into a soaring chorus in that oh-so familiar 'Tallica style.

But that's not the best bit. Oh no, that honour goes to the solos. Yes folks, 'Death Magnetic' sees Metallica making a glorious return to those mighty, slicing solos we all know and love!

I'll save proper judgement til I have the full album in my hands rather than making over-excited statements based on a few samples, but let's just say I can't wait til 'Death Magnetic' comes along and kills 'em all.

The Week in Music

2008-08-17T06:53:00.000-07:00

Forgoing the previously-blogged fiasco with the ill-fated Royal gig, this past week has actually been pretty enjoyable in the stereo department.

At the start of the week, I finally got round to checking out 'The Hungry Saw' by Tindersticks. Yes, I know it's been out a while now, but what can I say? The disc only landed on my desk a few weeks back and hasn't really been much of a priority since.

The verdict?

It's good. Solemn, forlorn, and probably only recommended listening if you're in a melancholic, sombre mood already since listening at any other time will only cause you to fall into such a mood (I have the same problem with Alice in Chain's unplugged CD).

Thankfully, as the rain lashed down on Monday morning and Tindersticks were doing their all to make me reflect on regrets and lost loves, fate lent a hand and dropped another package on my desk.

This one contained the new releases from The Chemical Brothers and Katy Perry.

'Brotherhood', the Chems' latest effort, is essentially a greatest hits collection despite the accompanying press bumf arguing that it's actually anything but. From 'Block Rockin' Beats' to 'Let Forever Be' and loads more in between, it was the perfect way to lift my spirits and have me leaping on to the desk for some frenzied dancing.

Then came 'One of the Boys', Katy Perry's release, which was surprisingly much more enjoyable than I'd imagined it could be.

To be truthful, I wasn't really sure what to expect from Ms. Perry given that I haven't really paid much attention to her latest single 'I Kissed a Girl', but what I got was some attitude-driven power-pop with a knowing wit and the odd moment of tenderness.

Ignoring the fact that I was somewhat smitten with the slim, attractive brunette on the cover of both album and single, I found myself enjoying a woman who sounds like Pink giving Avril Lavigne a good kicking much more than any man who's current playlist combines Orange Goblin and Slayer should perhaps admit to.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Never Work with Children or Animals....

2008-08-15T09:07:00.000-07:00

Or your friends and family for that matter either.

The start of this past week found me in a foul mood. I've been rambling on for the last few weeks about the upcoming gig at The Royal in Golborne; the one in which Seven Sundays and my kid brother's other band would be rocking out on the Bank Holiday Sunday in a show I put together mainly to help out the 'Sundays and The Royal.

Well, as of right now, the whole f'n thing is cancelled.

Some time towards the end of last weekend I get a call explaining that Seven Sundays can no longer play since the singer, a long-time friend of mine, has decided to go away for the weekend instead, and that the other band aren't going to play either because they've realised they have no time to rehearse before hand.

I'm annoyed about this for a number of reasons.

First, there's the way in which I found out neither band would be playing. Like I say, the vocalist from Seven Sundays is a friend of mine, and the drummer is my little brother. Did either of them care to give me the call? No.
Singer sends a text message to my brother, brother tells my father, father rings me. What? So we couldn't just cut out all the hassle and let me know straight away?

Secondly, as I've already said, this was done as a favour. I'm taking no payment for sorting this thing out, and after the ordeal of just trying to find a band to fill the bill, now I'm lumbered with trying to sort out a completly new show.

What's worse, pretty much every band I know who might suit this gig are either already playing or away at Leeds Festival. I've tried my damndest to sort this out, and I've got one last band to try, after that, I'm cancelling.

I wouldn't mind if I was getting paid for this, if I was, at least I'd have a motivation to get it sorted out, as it is, I'm just annoyed at everybody for letting me down and not bothering to tell me direct.

I mean, I wanted to help out Seven Sundays with more gigs, but if they can't do the first one I set up for them, what the hell does that say?Thanks a lot Chris, but actually, fuck it, we're not that interested.

In other news, I've been reviewing some great CDS this week, but more on them over the weekend.

Cheers,

Chris.

Idiots on the TV

2008-08-10T06:18:00.000-07:00

Following a conversation I was involved in yesterday regarding some particularly awful television commercials, I thought it might be fun to run down a list of what I think are some of the absolute worst.

I know that by doing so, I'm only actually assisting these frightful marketing folk with their terrible campaigns, but what the hell; it's Sunday afternoon and I'll do anything to put off doing the dishes.

So here goes:

1) The DFS 'Rockstar' Commercial

There are those commercials which you just know that the brains behind them were going for 'intentionally naff' as a means to coming across as ironic or good humoured.

And then there's this absolute monstrosity.

There's nothing ironic about this, nothing humorous or lighthearted. This is no Barry Scott / Cillit Bang situation folks, this is pure and utter drivel which, far from making me want to go out and buy a sofa, makes me want to pick one up and drop it squarely on the heads of those responsible.

You can almost imagine the marketing meeting that day; in between snorting huge lines of coke and waving around their degrees in General Dickheadishnes, somebody stands up and says;

"I've got it! We need to come across as hip and trendy, to make our crappy couches appear cool and 'with it'. Let's get that Nickleback song that's already been played to death anyway, and hire a bunch of muppets to dance on our stock like they do in the Nickleback video!"

Everyone agrees it's a good idea, they all didle with each other's pee pees in celebration, and the result is this nightmare:

2) Confused.com

'My bank tried to sell me car insurance. I'm confused.com'

I'm sorry, but if the fact that your bank offers car insurance confuses you, you're obviously an f'n moron and shouldn't be mentally capable to drive a car, let alone buy car insurance.

3) Anything from JML

Their latest advert? "Spend twenty quid on this great new device that lets you cut onions!" . Yes mate, I have one of those in the kitchen. IT'S CALLED A KNIFE!!

I can't even be bothered to find a JML advert. They're too ridiculous.

Big Brother Luke's Big Wigan Bother

2008-08-04T10:03:00.000-07:00

It's Friday afternoon, and we're sat in the corner of The Orwell pub, looking out over the canal and moaning about how it's pissing down in the middle of summer, when conversation randomly turns to the next edition of The LINC Magazine.

Despite none of us being ardent Big Brother fans, we all agree that, given we're a Wigan publication, it would be quite something if we could scoop an interview with local BB hero, Luke.

So imagine my surprise then, on calling in at LINC HQ in between said jolly in the pub and making my way home, to find my phone ringing, and the voice at the other end saying;

"Luke from Big Brother is favourite to be evicted tonight. If he is, Channel 4 want to film him with the Mayor on Monday morning. They've said we can invite local media types, so do you fancy coming down to get an interview with him."

The word 'coincidence' doesn't even come close.

Monday morning comes, and instead of the usual scruffy jeans and a T-shirt, I'm clad in my best 'smart casual' shirt/blazer/shoes clobber, ready to mingle with the sundry media types I'm sure will be there with me to indulge Luke in his proverbial fifteen minutes.

Half nine this morning, I phone up just to double check everything's going ahead. It is.

At least it was, until ten minutes later when I get another call.

Apparently, with less than two hours to go, Channel 4 shit-canned the entire thing; leaving the poor old Mayor with nothing to do and me wearing the most uncomfortable pair of smart pants in the world.

So, a bit of a non-story really, but a story which is actually the most interesting thing to happen to me today.

Whether that's a good thing or not depends on your own opinion!

Another Week in Music

2008-08-03T10:13:00.000-07:00

So, it's been another good week on the music front.

On Tuesday, I got the chance to speak with New York songstress, Nell Bryden. This might sound all a bit much, but I just found Nell to be a fascinating woman with a great back story to her recent success and touring.

The legend goes that after the financial well ran dry on her first self-supported jaunt across the states, Ms. Bryden returned home to her Father's place, where she happened upon a painting given to her as a gift by her step-mum many moons ago and long since forgotten about.

Taking said painting to a Sotherby's auction, the singer walked away with a cool £300grand, enough to arm herself with all the useful people musicians need to help them along the way and to take her band out on the road, touring Europe and supporting the likes of Counting Crows and KT Tunstall.

I had a really nice chat with Nell and look forward to catching her when she's back on these shores in October.

Until, all I have to worry about is getting said story published.

In my last blog, I talked about Glaswegian rockers, Wired Desire. I also had the chance to talk to them, or rather one of them (rhthym guitarist, Eddy), towards the end of the week.

Another nice chat, this time about all things rock 'n' roll and the current state of music in this country.

On a local front, the August 24th gig at The Royal which I've been fretting about for a week or so has finally sorted itself.

I mentioned last week how my kid brother's band, Seven Sundays, will be taking to that particular stage. What I didn't mention, is that they don't yet have a long enough set to fill an entire evening's show.

And so it was that for the past week I've been worrying about what to do with this one, especially considering the few bands which spring to mind as being ideal for this kind of gig would be unavailable.

The rescue came thanks to the little bro', who'll be doing double duty that night as he teams up with two friends from his college band to play a bunch of crowd pleasers. This band still doesn't have a name yet, though I've told them they'll need to come up with one by the end of tonight so I can get the posters sorted out.

And finally, to my boys, Social Icons. The lads are heading up the Abbey Lakes Hotel in Orrell next Saturday. The band will be taking the place of local covers act, The Kerbcrawlers, who's drummer was sadly taken into hospital recently.

And whilst we wish the gig could've come under happier circumstances, no doubt Social Icons will deliver another top notch performance of feel good rock 'n' roll.

The Week in Music

2008-07-28T09:36:00.001-07:00

The past seven days have been pretty full-on in the music department for your writer.

The early part of the week saw the arrival of several new promo discs, only one of which I can say I'm fully enjoying.

Then again, maybe 'enjoying' doesn't quite cut it; I'm freakin' loving the new album by Jaguar Love.

We caught most of the band's lunch time set at T in the Park a few weeks back and I was, in all honesty, reasonaby impressed. But when this thing dropped on my desk, damn, it was like being blessed from some great musical God from above.

I just got done writing the review for The LINC this afternoon, so I'll post my true thoughts once that review's published.

Other albums which came in the same package include releases from Shearwater and Tindersticks, two discs which I haven't spent enough time with yet to form any decent opinion.

Then there's 'Barely Illegal', the new EP from Glaswegian rockers, Wired Desire. It's a pretty nifty four-tracker, as though made up of whatever was left on the cutting room floor after Guns 'n' Roses recorded 'Appetite...' and some classic AC/DC, and whilst it's hardly mind blowing stuff, it's pretty decent if you're looking for a good rock band to turn up loud at parties.

On the live front, Friday saw my boys, Social Icons team up with my little brother's indie-punksters, Seven Sundays for a night of good ol' rock 'n' roll at The Royal in Golborne.

A good gig by all accounts, which led to more dates for both bands (Seven Sundays on August 24th and Social Icons on September 19th), and, strangely, a gig for Northern Soul DJ, DJ Deano on Friday August 22nd.

Why strangely? Because whilst the two bands were both present when said gigs were pencilled in, the Northern Soul night was put to me as a fair-trade for booking them. I sort The Royal out with a Northern Soul night, they give more dates to the bands. Fair trade.

Speaking of Social Icons. The lads just booked another gig in Burnley at the White Hart Inn on September 13th, so looking forward to that one.

And that's yer lot! I'll probably just keep filling this blog with more poems until more interesting subjects spring to mind.

Til then,

Take Care,

Chris

A poem I found on a tattered piece of paper at the botom of a box

2008-07-20T13:01:00.001-07:00

You are beautiful and strange
And weird,
Like a sun storm after
A winter blizzard,
Or a cold midnight.

You are wrong and perfect,
Like sex with a best friend,
Or a tenner found
In the gutter.

You are wicked and pure
And insane,
Like the eye of a hurricane,
Or a man who breathes his last
At the bottom of the ocean,

And I am nothing
If not in awe.

A poem about watching bands in Preston

2008-07-18T15:48:00.000-07:00

Dark Skies over PReston
The best one's yet
to come
Revel through the morning
Dance towards the sun
And when it's done
And the night
Is dead
And the day new born
Don't scorn what
Might've been
instead
Or worry about thoughts
Long since left
Unsaid
Just be thankful
For dark skies over Preston,
And that the next one,
The best one,
Is yet to come

People Who Go to Festivals

2008-07-17T11:29:00.000-07:00

I'm only really here
For the beer,
You know.
I know
There's a show,
But so what?
It's nothing I haven't seen before
On TV.

Excuse me,
I can't see,
Trying to record this
On my mobile
Whilst you're sat
So arrogant
And agile,
Atop your boyfriend's shoulders.

What's that smell?
Smells like smoke, smouldering.
Fire from the riots.

Bad diets
Of ten quid chips
And five quid bottles
Of beer
To sip

But anyway,
I'm only really here
For the beer
You know.
I know
What you're saying,
There's a good band playing,
But if I film it on my
Iphone
I know
I can watch it
When I get
Home.

And I can spend
This moment getting
Plastered
And seeing who can piss
Faster
against makeshift walls.

It's all a bit shit,
This festival business.

All these smelly campers
Trampling across mud
For the sake of some tunes.
The loons.

They should
Stay at home
Or at least stay still
And film on their phones
And drink beer
And drink beer
Drink beer
Drink beer
Beer.