I Am Kloot’s tour and a Mercury many years too late

It’s always refreshing to see, in between the polished shapes of the puzzle that is the music industry, some pieces that quite don’t fit. I Am Kloot is one of those weird-shaped pieces. Too old for teen rebellion, too rebellious for settled life, too settled to be hype, and yet nominated Band of The Year in the Mercury Prize. The crowd of old timers hardcore followers, and they are not a few, received the news with cynicism. For them, after 10 years and 5 albums, I Am Kloot is well above the Mercury.

They might not be “big”, but I Am Kloot have forged a successful and sustainable career at a cult level. Singer/guitarist John Bramwell has been compared to Morrissey and for many critics, fans and musicians, notably Peter Doherty and Elbow’s Guy Garvey between them, he is one of the country’s greatest songwriters. But the band remains relatively unknown thanks to Kloot’s succession of disasters that saw they go though seven managers and five record labels in one decade, leaving a trail of unreleased singles and undersold albums.

The Mercury Prize nomination, together with the fact that Sky at Night, their fifth album, is their most accessible to date, will take the band to a new larger audience. There is no compromising, however. I Am Kloot’s rich musical palette is still pretty much there and their personalities remain with the same explosive components. If Bramwell and co ever get to the mainstream, it will be in their own terms.

I Am Kloot’s UK tour dates: Portsmouth, (Sep 26), Brighton (27 Sep), Bristol (28 Sep), London (29 Sep), Newcastle (Oct 01), Glasgow (Oct 02), Liverpool (Oct 03), Nottingham (Oct 05), Sheffield (Oct 06). The winner of the 2010 Barclaycard Mercury Prize will be announced on September 07.

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Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan return for one-off London gig

What was regarded as an unlikely partnership, back in 2006, has now proven to be a heavenly marriage. Scot Isobel Campbell, the ex Belle & Sebastian chamber pop muse, and Mark Lanegan, former lead singer of the grunge band Screaming Trees and Queens of the Stone Age collaborator, are releasing this summer their third and most anticipated work to date, Hawk, also featuring  the young singer-songwriter Willy Mason and Smashing Pumpkins’ guitarist James Iha.

As in their previous releases, the 2006 Ballad Of The Broken Seas, nominated for the Mercury prize, and the 2008 Sunday At Devil Dirt, Hawk brings the alternative country style that has become a familiar sound in the indie folk/rock scene in the past years. The duo has been called the Beauty and the Beast, and its odd charm compared to celebrated female/male collaborations such as Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin and Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra.

In this case, however, the Beauty is in charge. Campbell produces and writes the songs, and alongside her ethereal voice is Lanegan’s deep vocal, adding more weight to the tales of loss and echoing an American nostalgia. Even though worlds apart, from Glasgow to Los Angeles and back, their duets aim to reach a timeless place, where darkness sits comfortably with light.

Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan plus special guest Willy Mason are playing at The Barbican on September 10.

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Clear sky for Jonsi’s UK dates

When Sigur Ros, one of the leading bands of  Post Rock phenomena and famous for putting Iceland in the cultural map alongside Björk, announced their indefinite hiatus, it wasn’t exactly a revelation. Although a great frustration for fans, cold reviews of their 2008 album, Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust, suggested that perhaps time has come for those side projects to flourish in order to keep ideas flowing. The group’s combination of apocalyptic and ethereal music and the monumentality of their live performances became somehow overused in a number of nature TV documentaries like those involving the ashes of a certain volcano.

Released this year, Go is Sigur Ros’ frontman Jonsi Birgisson first solo work and the second post-hiatus – a collaboration with artist Alex Somers resulted in the album Riceboy Sleeps. Initially conceived as an intimate acoustic project, Go carried on from where the group left and simply “exploded”, in Jonsi’s own terms. In a natural evolution of their epic and plush productions, Jonsi has created a work that balances elements of accessible pop with the familiar theatricality and a certain amount of chaos that were Sigur Ros’ trademark, to the delight of the group’s followers.

Jonsi plays the following UK gigs: Manchester (Sep 06), Leeds (Sep 08), Birmingham (Sep 09), Bestival (Sep 11), Bournemouth (Sep 13), Brighton (Sep 14).

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Two Door Cinema Club: tour dates and a bit of fortune telling

At the end of last year, Two Door Cinema Club was picked by 165 tastemakers in a pool conducted by BBC to find the Sound of 2010. Like in a self-fulfilling prophecy, whereas a prediction is believed to cause itself to become true, the trio from Northern Ireland have indeed turned into one of the sounds of 2010. The electro-pop trio played in a number of major festivals and are still to appear in others, their catchy songs can be heard every other hour on the radio and their ongoing tour includes dates in Japan, Australia, US and Canada along with many gigs in UK and Europe.

The prophecy worked for many acts before – 50 Cent, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, La Roux and Little Boots, to name a few, were also mentioned in previous surveys. On the other hand, a few bands tipped to be the Sound of a certain year didn’t pass the test of time and were forgotten. So which team is Two Door Cinema Club going to join when the hype is gone? Quite possibly, they are here to stay. Firstly, they are signed to Kitsuné Music, a celebrated vanguard French label notorious for taking good care of its signed musicians. Secondly, their music might not be original in the sense that it’s new, but Two Door Cinema Club makes such a clever use of musical references that it sounds refreshing. And last but not least, their performances are light and lively and it seems an easy task for Alex Trimble, Kevin Baird and Sam Halliday to get the crowd moving. Wait and see how it goes. Care for a little dance while we are here?

Two Door Cinema Club UK tour dates: Birmingham on September 15, Northumbria on September 16, Glasgow on September 17, Manchester on September 18, Sheffield on September 20, Leeds on September 21, London Shepherds Bush Empire on September 22 and 23, Oxford on September 24, Brighton on September 25, Stoke on September 27, Cambridge on September 28 and Liverpool on September 29.

Bombay Bicycle Club: new album, tour dates (and being nagged by Liam Gallagher, thanks!)

If winning a competition for a slot to V festival in the first year into your career and going on to play Reading and Glastonbury, release two well received albums via a respected label and winning the Best New Band at the 2010 NME Awards wasn’t enough proof of relevance, then being criticised by Liam Gallagher is as cool as it gets. After all, the Mancunian enfant terrible has criticized Franz Ferdinand, Scissors Sisters, Bloc Party, The Kaiser Chiefs, Blur and his own Oasis. Some would even pay to be slammed by him: it always ends up in the papers and many will Google to check out the flaws of his latest fallout. Which is specially handy in the case of Bombay Bicycle Club, as Flaws is actually the name of their second album, out on Monday 12 July.

In it, the four-piece from London Crouch End ditch the electric guitars and effect pedals that ornate last year’s I Had the Blues But I Shook Them Loose to unveil an album that mixes rock with folk and elements of electronica and free jazz. Singer Jack Steadman’s voice is greatly responsible for their success, a voice so strong and confident that seems disconnected from the teenager behind it, as if Steadman is actually mimicking an older and more powerful figure. Awkwardly, apart from Gallagher trashing their name, this has been the only other criticism aimed at Bombay Bicycle Club: that they somehow are too good to be true. Since when exceeding expectations turned into a crime has yet to be known. So the boys are too unarticulated, too young, and too insecure to be good, but still they are good? We will have to live with it.

Bombay Bicycle Club is playing in Manchester on July 12 and 13, Bristol on July 14, Birmingham on July 15, Lovebox London on July 16, Cheltenham Trees Festival on July 17, Gateshead on July 19, Norwich on July 20, Brighton on July 21 and London Union Chapel on July 22 and 23.

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Bestival Tickets The Year of the Fantastic is fantastic indeed

If when you think music festivals the image that comes to mind is that of flooding loos, corporate banners, dodgy burgers, hot beers and elbow exercising, think again. Bestival and other so-called boutique festivals are on a mission to change the face of festival culture. Organized by BBC Radio 1 DJ Rob that Bank and his wife Josie, Bestival is held in the beautiful Robin Hill country park in the Isle of Wight since 2004, when it was attended by 10,000 people – a figure which has since increased to around 40,000.

Besides being more intimate and to its non-corporate feel, Bestival is also known for piloting odd and innovative ideas, such as offering yoga, massage and therapies, sumptuous cocktails bar with chandelier set all, burlesque-themed afternoon tea, a Pamper Lounge offering hair styling, manicures and make up, organic breakfasts and handmade piesto mention only a few indulgences.

The line-up is even more amusing than the chandeliers: Dizzee Rascal, the amazing Flaming Lips, Prodigy, Hot Chip, Simian Mobile Disco, Roxy Music, Mumford & Sons, Jonsi (Sigur Ros frontman), The XX and Cornershop, to mention only a few.
You don’t need any more convincing, do you?

When: 9 -12th September 2010
Where: Robin Hill Countryside Adventure park, Isle of Wight
2010 fancy dress theme: Fantasy

Check also its baby sister Camp Bestival

When: July 30, 31st & August 1stWhere: Lulworth Castle, Dorset

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Billy Childish: a journey from the depths of the underground to the lights of ICA

Nietzsche’s was huge. Dali’s was long. Stalin’s was powerful. Einstein’s was very messy and Freddie Mercury’s oh so camp. But with all due respect for this famous figures, there is nothing like Billy Childish’s moustache. Thick, funny, trendy, old fashion, sexy and very impressive. Perhaps its the man behind the moustache that turns it into something remarkable.

Born in 1959 in Chatham, Kent, Childish is a prolific artist and a man of many talents. True to the DIY philosophy, he has published over 40 collections of his poems, alongside fanzines and novels. He has recorded over 100 full length independent LP’s and has produced over 2000 paintings. For the last 25 years, Billy Childish has been a underground and infamous figure in the British art and music scene. He got expelled from St. Martin’s School of Art, is friends with the YBA gang, dated Tracey Emin and, in 1999, was co-founder of the Stuckism art movement. His bands include Buff Meadways, The Milkshakes, Thee Headcoats and, recently, Billy Childish and The Musicians of the British Empire.

A cult figure, he is loved by a small number of dedicated fans and largely ignored beyond that. Until now. Billy Childish relevance and extraordinary career have been at last recognized by a mainstream organization. The Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) has brought together a major solo exhibition that shows his prodigious range of activities as a total work of art, one which revolves around his own persona. Legend.

The exhibition Unknowable but Certain runs until May 02 (ICA London).

Billy Childish and  The Musicians of the British Empire will play Camden Crawl on May 01 and Dirty Water Club on Apr 30, May 21, Jun 18 and July 16.

Dead Weather’s new album, Sea of Cowards, out in May

“Jack White says hit Seven Nation Army almost overlooked as a single.”“Jack White will ‘eventually’ record solo album.” “Jack White teams with Jay-Z for new track.” “Jack White produces wife Karen Elson’s debut album.” “Dolly Parton considering an album with Jack White.”“Jack White and wife welcome baby boy.” “White Stripes documentary to hit UK theatres.” “Alicia Keys and Jack White team for Bond theme.”
Every other week Dead Weather`s drummer and mastermind is in the headlines for some reason. The Detroit-born is involved in so many successful projects that it was surprising to see their first album receive so many negative reviews. Dead Weather is a band full of credentials and it seemed only natural to be adored. But not even the beauty and furious performances of Alison Mosshart (The Kills), the experience of Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age) and the talent of multi-instrumentalist Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs), together with Jack’s Midas touch, were enough to convince. For those who love White Stripes, Dead Weather may be too noisy. For the Raconteurs’ fans, too grunge. And for The Kills followers, probably too Jack White. Be brave – their second album, Sea of Cowards, is out soon.

Dead Weather’s new album will be released in May. They are currently touring Australia and US but UK dates might be added.

Broken Social Scene to show their organized chaos in UK dates

Broken Social Scene is shaking the music scene in Toronto and beyond not only for the music but also for their strange way of operating. With as little as six and as much as 20 members playing at one time, and with everyone involved in other projects, this musical collective turns chaos into grandeur with unusual arrangements, experimental noises and a messy attitude.

The apparent chaos works very well both musically and in terms of the group relationship and dynamics. Broken Social Scene operates as an umbrella for many talents and as many egos, so it’s surprising that they ever existed, what to say persisted. Much of its success is thanks to core members Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning, who lead the group in a regime between anarchy and discipline.

The irregular line-up is even more peculiar considering the band is constantly on tour, but on stage the results are again very effective.  There is a rare to see enthusiasm of a first date on their gigs, the fact that members come and go making them enjoy each other companies as if it was a one night stand. Add to it all that Drew is also the founder of the independent record label that signs BSS and many of the collective’s bands and what you have is a picture of creative boom allied to intellectual capacity and a hands-on attitude. Long live DIY.

Broken Social Scene UK dates: Leeds University (Nov 14), London Koko (Nov 15, 16).

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Vampire Weekend tour dates to set UK alight once more

When an indie band from a wealthy background emerges, a fair amount of noses turn up in disdain. For them, preppy boys are fine as long as they turn into lawyers, Tories politicians or whatever they like but don’t try their hands in music. Ezra, Rostam, Chris and Christopher, from Vampire Weekend, are not the first ones to be looked down for the affluent upbringing, and they won’t be the last. But does it really matter if their lyrics are sophisticated, the words they use appear only in thick dictionaries or if they know what a mansard roof or an Oxford comma is? Or, more importantly, is it bad?

This weird upside-down snobbism is not only unfair but also a cheap way of demeaning someone’s work. When they first appeared with the eponymous album, back in 2008, Vampire Weekend was like a gulf of fresh air in an overcrowded room. Invigorating, cheerful and never dull, the New Yorkers set the indie scene alight with a never seen before mix of sounds and styles. Their follow up, Contra, was just as good, and the American boys are also famous for putting even inanimate souls to dance in their gigs. In brief, and no matter what the patronizing bunch claims: our favorite preppies are absolutely refreshing. Even if they wear polo t-shirts.

Vampire Weekend UK tour dates: Blackpool (Nov 25), Wolverhampton (Nov 26), Edinburgh (Nov 28), Sheffield (Nov 29), Brighton (Dec 01), Alexandra Palace London (Dec 02 and 03).

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