Julian Casablancas Live At Leeds Met - 10/12/09

Julian Casablancas Live At Leeds Met - 10/12/09

It was around four and half years ago since I saw The Strokes performing live, and bar my live experience with Albert Hammond Jr, this was the first time I'd seen anyone connected with The Strokes since.

The masses of equipment filled the stage to the point that Julian and his five band members could hardly move once they arrived. Regardless, the audience reaction was nothing short of hysterical once the main man walked on stage and opened with a typically rousing version of Ludlow St.

As expected, almost the entire set was made up of tracks taken from Phrazes For The Young, as well as a stripped down version of The Strokes' Ask Me Anything, which saw most of the band leave the stage for Julian to perform on his own. However, without doubt the set highlight was definitely an epic version of Glass, showcasing Julian's strongest crooning vocal talent as he tore through the song's chorus to the adorning crowd.

After leaving for a short break the band returned to the stage and finished on a festive note with his upbeat Christmas single I Wish It Was Christmas Today, which was actually a spontaneous choice after it was requested from one of the front rows.

When news first filtered through that Julian was releasing his own solo record, there were worried souls branding it the end of The Strokes as we knew it. But after those rumours were quashed by the man himself, and with such a quality record under his own belt, it wouldn't be a bad thing if some of it influenced the next Strokes offering.

Ok, I REALLY need to see this

Paranormal Activity!

WHY is it not showing in Leeds yet?!

No Ceilings

Lil Wayne's new mixtape.

Includes remixes of Jay-Z's D.O.A., Black Eyed Pea's Tonights Going To Be A Good Night and Beyonce's Sweet Dreams.

(Thanks Ella)

Everything...

Them Crooked Vultures

Only Relvolutions

Muse Live at Sheffield Arena – 04.11.09

Muse Live at Sheffield Arena – 04.11.09

When Muse first announced their first tour of newest album, The Resistance, there were one or two grumblings about its shortness in length. Once inside Sheffield Arena, however, it was fairly obvious to see at least three rather large reasons as to why this could have been. At face value the three plinths that towered above the standing crowd didn’t really send imaginations into frantic tailspins, but once the lights dimmed it was an entirely different story.

Video projections of silhouettes climbing a series of steps were beamed onto the front of the plinths, accompanied by a female voice repeating the lines ‘We are the universe. Observing itself. Observing itself. Destroying itself”. This continued for upwards of two minutes before the figures suddenly stopped on their steps and began falling down the front of the towers. Out of nowhere, the screens then dropped to reveal all three band members on top of each tower as they instantaneously launched straight into Uprising to complete one of the most elaborate gig openings I had ever seen. Spinal Tap it certainly could have been…

The majority of the set from then on was primarily tipped toward the heavier end of the scale, with the likes of new tracks Resistance and Unnatural Selection mixed with old favourites such as Plug In Baby, Hysteria and Stockholm Syndrome, all of which getting excitable and somewhat raucous reactions from the Sheffield crowd.

Not forgetting their softer sides either, The Devonshire three-piece also played their cover of the classic Nina Simone song Feeling Good (accompanied by stunning visuals) and the old-school tearjerker Unintended, which saw the crowd hold lighters, cameras and phones aloft for the duration after instruction from Dom Howard.

After closing the set with Unnatural Selection, the band returned with an encore that consisted of an excellent rendition of Exogenesis: Part 1 (both musically and again, visually), Stockholm Syndrome, complete with Rage Against The Machine’s War Within A Breath riff and crowd favourite Knights Of Cydonia, very much ending the gig in the manner it started.

Out of four previous times I’ve seen Muse, including their famous Wembley residence, this up there with one of the the best. The over the top, grandiose stage set up, combined with flowing, vibrant visuals that including flowers, butterflies, meadows, space age cobalt blues, pinks and reds, shooting stars and laser greens created a great spectacle.They are always over the top, but this probably reached new heights for the band. Without shame, it is camp stadium rock and its best. The only thing we need for next summer’s tour is a full orchestra.

Setlist

1. We Are the Universe (intro music)

2. Uprising

3. Resistance

4. New Born + Headup riff

5. Map of the Problematique

6. Supermassive Black Hole

7. Guiding Light

8. Interlude + Hysteria

9. Nishe + United States of Eurasia

10. Feeling Good

11. Études Simples #6 + Unintended

12. Helsinki Jam + Undisclosed Desires

13. Starlight

14. Plug In Baby

15. Jimmy Jam + Time Is Running Out

16. Unnatural Selection

Encore

17. Exogenesis: Symphony Part I (Overture)

18. Stockholm Syndrome + War Within a Breath riff + riff

19. Man with a Harmonica intro + Knights of Cydonia

Videos To Follow.

iPhone on the 10th...

...yeeeeeeey!

Happy Halloween!

Yessssss!

I have finally got the material I've been waiting for four years for!

Bravo Mr. Casablancas

Friday the 11th Deember, 2009

Simple.

Here We Go Again...

The Dead Weather At Leeds Academy - 21/10/09

With the likes of Alison Mosshart, Dean Fertita and of course Jack White, one would have been forgiven for idly presuming that The Dead Weather would put on quite a live show. I had personally reserved judgement on the gig beforehand but would soon realise that any such reservation was 100% unnecessary...

The band kicked off proceedings with a quite frankly awesome version of album opener '60 Feet Tall' which, even though at such an early stage, probably gave Dean Fertita the chance to shine the most throughout the gig.

From then on it was a case of musical rotation. One of the things I was looking forward to seeing was how the band set themselves up. For the most part White stayed on drums, Fertita handled guitar and organ while little Jack Lawrence stuck to the bass. This wasn't to say there wasn't variation. For one number Mosshart left vocal duties to White, who was accompanied only by Fertita and the bass of Lawrence and on another occasion White even played both guitar and drums in the same song. And it wasn't to say we didn't see Lawrence showcase his very capable drumming skills either...

It was when Lawrence swapped percussion duties with White that many people saw what they secretly all hoped they would see, Jack White on lead guitar. The band finished their set with album closer 'Will There Be Enough Water?' and he very much utilized his opportunity on guitar to full effect, treating the crowd to a couple of signature Jack White guitar solos.

Before I lose scope and go off on a Jack White love fest, special praise must be reserved for Alison Mosshart. I have never seen her other band, The Kills, live before so wasn't sure on her frontwoman credentials in a four-piece band. But she most certainly didn't disappoint. Maintaing high energy throughout the gig, she threw her body around to drum beats, stood tall on the monitors and repeatedly kicked the mic stand over. The woman had weird sexually energy onstage, crooning and screeching in equal measure behind the confines of her long, black hair. Part of me hates to say it, but I feel i enjoyed her performance more than I did of Jack Whites.

With only one album under their belts I was worried the gig was going to turn into a thin forty-five minute set, but then i forgot everything Jack White touches seems to turn to gold. With nicely placed cover versions and intelligent extensions to some album tracks, they managed to fill out a headlining slot of about and hour and fifteen minutes without it feeling drawn out.

Greeted with rapturous applause, they finished their encore with songs 'I Cut Like A Buffalo' and foot-stomping crowd favourite 'Treat Me Like Your Mother', and with Mosshart being quoted as saying the second album is half finished, I already can't wait for a second shot of The Dead Weather.

(The Dead Weather performing in NYC 2009)

The Big Pink

They wern't too shabby at all last night in all fairness. They cut strange and lonely figures on a stage that was bathed in lighting and smoke. Naturally, the best and last song was 'Dominos'.

The support band was B.A.D. but all things considered, it wasn't a bad night to say entry was free!

I've watched this all day today and it JUST about got me through!

Oooh Yer Baby!

I'd Bloody Love To See This Live

Only 11 days to go before The Dead Weather gig!

EXCITED!

Love And Bullshits

I'm Back!

And oooooh! the stories to tell.

Time to relax in the comfort of a leather chair and catch up on some television.

Stay tuned.

King Charles

Discovered a singer/songwriter by the name of King Charles today.

He played what was apparently a very well received set at the Glastonbury Introducing Stage in the summer and currently has a debut E.P out.

He seems to blend a variety of styles from light hearted pop, rock and a smidge of r'n'b to create a very agreeable cocktail!

Check his myspace out at www.myspace.com/kingcharlesuk

Dream

Dreams. Lots of dreams. One in particular. Very vivd. Very real.

Always memorable. Always scary.

Repeat.

Repeat.

'When you have a dream you've got to grab it and never let it go'

Carol Burnett

Yes/No?

Any News Is Good News...

So, Julian Casablancas has released the tracklisting for forthcoming debut solo album 'Phrazes For The Young'.

I'm slightly suprised by the album's length (8 tracks in total...) but if they are all as good as '11th Dimension' then we have no problem what so ever!

Track names as follows...

'Out Of The Blue'

'River Of Brake Lights'

'Chords Of The Apocalypse'

'11th Dimension'

'Ludlow Street'

'Glass'

'Left And Right In The Dark'

'Tourist'

And with the release date set for mid-October, my excitement levels have stepped up another couple of notches. God help me when he announces UK tour dates...

Stand back and take it in.

Believe the ones you think are lying

Help them instead of leaving them crying

Why do well all live in fear?

Come out from were you can't be found

Do all the things you arn't allowed

FlashForward

If you havn't already seen this, or at least heard about it then it certainly won't be long before you do.

The first episode aired this evening and was so good! Ok, highly HIGHLY unrealistic but the Americans sure do know how to make a ridiculously entertaining drama series.

Its just a shame we now have to wait a week for the next episode. Even more of a shame for myself as I will be out of the country when it is shown on Monday. But hey, thats what video recorders are for, right?!

Oh My Good Lord

Vivienne Westwood Man Spring/Summer 2010 Collection. Can't wait to start wearing some of this stuff already.

http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/show.aspx/full-length-photos/id,7940#

And before I know it, I'll be back there again...

11th Dimension

This is 100% my new favourite song of the moment. FACT.

The first proper taste of Julian Casablancas' debut solo effort is sounding very, very good indeed. Rousing synth, processed beats coupled with The Strokes esque guitar make 11th Dimension an excellent proposition for any fan of The Strokes.

Forgive them, even if they're not sorry.

http://www.myspace.com/juliancasablancas

These Girls Fall Like Dominos

Intermittently, I will post my favourite song of the moment. Currently, it is 'Dominos' by The Big Pink.

A very anxious, cold take on a a rushed and ultimately failed relationship, it still remains the poppiest track on their debut record 'A Brief History Of Love'.

Highly Anticipated...

For my first post I give you 'Phrazes Of The Young'.

Released October 19th.