Beware! The Leopard

Yesterday's Post

Was completely fictitious and only exists because of how deplorable I find the man.  I understand the readership of my blog is close to zero, but I still wanted to give him a taste of his own medicine for picking on poor Manuel the other day. 

Nothing like having falsehoods thrown about in a public forum to get some ditzy celebrity's attention.

I slept with Russell Brand

Ok, perhaps I didn't sleep with him, but he did proposition me in a little known Camden area bar.  Now I must admit, his lothario persona precedes him by a good 5000 miles when he goes in any direction, but given his proclivity to seduce members of the opposite sex, I was a bit taken a back when he approached me with talk of football.  To be honest I was surprised that he is a West Ham fan, with an admiration bordering on obsession for DeCanio.

Then I was surprised even further when a pint of bitter and few winks and nods later, he's proposing that join him for a little rough and tumble at his place.  He mentioned that he'd never been with a Bear before and he wanted to try it out.  Part of me must admit I was curious to spend more time with him, not in a sexual fashion, but just so that I might get some material for a song or two out of the encounter.  Then my wits returned to me and I looked him straight in the eye and said "Russell, I'm very flattered, but I'm married." 

Apparently that wasn't enough for him.  Russell, or Russ as he prefers, is not used to taking no for an answer.  He's undoubtedly bedded a few married people before, so he thought that I'd probably be up for it.  It was only when I let him know that my wife M. would probably be upset if I came home wreeking of Brand-sweat (shudder...) that he started to back-track and pretend the whole thing was a joke, like on his programs.  I don't listen to them though, so I don't understand his type of humour.

Anyways, we amicably parted ways with me paying for my own beer (I don't like owing anybody anything), and he sauntered off to start chatting up a bird in the corner with whom he might have better prospects.  And that was my surprise encounter with Russell Brand.

Bands to Watch - Get Well Soon

Get Well Soon

Somehow appropriate to be reviewing this group while feeling like a big bag of something unpleasant that rhymes with 'nit'.  I do have to admit though, that listening to Konstantin Gropper is like plunging myself, headfirst into a bottle of Vick's vapour rub, because it makes me feel instantly better. 

Mr. Gropper has melded a number of different styles, from flamenco horns to industrial beats, and the occasional Arcade Fire strings section, to come up with something relatively new.  I particularly like the simpleness of the track "prelude" which has a cheery refrain which is making me feel very sleepy and relaxed right now.

I'm curious to see how Gropper pulls off the whole thing in a live environment, but thankfully I'll have plenty of opportunity to find out as his European tour continues as I write.  Definitely check him out, and if you like it, buy the album. 

Oh, and the picture is the Roman Baths in Bath, taken by yours truly.

Sickness Setback

We are back from Barcelona, and a couple of Spanish bugs decided to hitch a ride.  Ok, I'll be honest, I'm not sure if they're Spanish, or plain and simple British bugs that have decided to take hold in our throats, but they are not pleasant. 

This means no singing this week while I recover, which also means no recording :-(

On top of that, my Nord is back on display at the shop until the replacements come in, long story, so there's no practicing until early next week.  At least no practicing of the keyboard parts, which kind of sucks because I'm working on a new tune right now that has a kick-ass keyboard riff to kick it off. 

So instead, here's a nice picture of the top of La Pedrera, in my opinion, Antoni Gaudi's best work. 

Bands to Watch: The Paper South

So what do the members of The American Analog Set do when they're not writing folksy laid back music to read by (a la Set Free)?  They form a band with members of Winslow, call it The Paper South, and write atmospheric post-rock.  To be honest, when I first heard the EP Caught Leaving the Scene of the Accident, I was impressed, but I had no clue what I was listening to.  There are elements of Longwave, Low, Mogwai, and others, but the melodies are more complex, the sound more lush; but I never would have thought that this came out of the the same minds that brought us Set Free. 

Upon Further listening however, I can ascertain elements that are similar to The American Analog Set,  the vocals, sitting nicely in the background, acting the part of instrument and storyteller without wanting to steal the limelight.  The Paper South create music to be listened to at high volume, particularly good when wearing headphones, as the intricate melodies of the various instruments collide like waves upon the shore of the listeners brain.

The other great thing about this band is that they are giving their music away.  Download the six song EP at their homepage

Bienvenidos a Barcelona

That is what I will be saying tomorrow morning at some ungodly hour. I have to use some holidays before Christmas, and seeing as how I don't get to take any in November or December, I'm taking a week off starting tomorrow.

Tomorrow at 6:10 in the morning, our plane will take off for the hopefully sunny-er (and slightly warmer) climate of Barcelona, Spain's cultural hub and a super cheap flight away.  While we will be only staying 3 nights it will be nice to get ou.  The rest of the week off will be spent doing some songwriting, recording, and photo processing. 

So here's my promises for posts before next Friday.  A review of the set I played this past Sunday at the Phoenix, including a recording of at least one track from that set.  Lyrics for a new song I've got on the go, and all of this accompanied by some gorgeous photos of Spain and/or France and/or Stonehenge (because it rocks!) 

New Feature

As some of you may have noticed, there is now an ad widget running in the sidebar.  This is not a mistake, but a decision taken to see if any revenue can be generated by the site, for the site, and help other artists at the same time.

The only ads you'll see in the widget are for albums/books/movies that I recommend from Amazon.  Usually they will coincide with reviews that have been posted in the last while. 

So if you like the review, and decide you like the tunes you hear, pick them up from Amazon, and some of the profits will be sent my way to keep the site running.

Cheers

Alex

Stupid Canadians - a post that will ensure I never run for office.

I am not a big believer in democracy, largely because I don't believe in the intelligence of the masses.  Individuals are smart, but on a collective level they make stupid decisions.

Yesterday, the Canadian people returned the Conservatives to power with a stronger minority government (thank God it wasn't a majority).  This is a party that has for the most part done the exact opposite of what it claims is its aim.  Where it promised transparency it brought the most secretive government in recent memory; where it promised accountability it blamed current problems on past governments; where it promised increase in regional power, it brought a strong centralized government effectively creating a dictatorship out of the Prime Minister's office.  The people have voted to empower a government where the majority of its members don't believe in equal rights for all citizens, don't believe in helping the poor, want to empower the rich to get access to better healthcare than poorer citizens.  This is a government to whom "arts" and "culture" are evil words that only liberals use.  If they had their way, we'd all be watching hockey and listening to country radio whenever we weren't watching crappy American television shows. 

Not to mention that a good core of the Cabinet that will undoubtedly form are just arrogant assholes --ahem John Baird-- (believe me I know, I used to sit in Cabinet meetings). 

Anyways, it's all a bit of downer considering our intention to return to Canada sometime in the next year, but it has solidified my desire not to return to the public service where I can be made a pawn in political games played by idiots who don't understand the consequences to everyday Canadians. 

So there, I said it.  I hate the Conservatives, and I think most people who support them are clueless about the world and if I had my way, they wouldn't be allowed to vote.

It may be elitist, but I think there should be an exam to be allowed to vote.  You should be able to show a reasonable understanding of economics, geography (physical and human), and history.  Otherwise you are too ignorant to vote. 

There, now I can never be elected to any office in the land. 

Bands to Watch - Andrew Bird

Apparently there's a whole crapload of people already on the Andrew Bird train, which pulled out of the station sometime around 1996.  Heck, the guy has been on Letterman and somehow I've never heard of him, but I've probably never heard of your mother, and it is entirely possible that she's been on Letterman too, because I don't own a TV.

Anyways, I know I'm a latecomer but Andrew Bird is sublime.  I thought Owen Pallet had the looper nailed down (and he is extremely good, extremely), but Bird's live performances that I've seen on Youtube hold me mesmerized and I'm not even in the room with him.  I don't own any of his albums, but the next time I have a few quid to spare, I'm heading straight to Rough Trade and picking one up.  I don't know how to describe his music, existential-violin-rock meets beat poets and twitchy asylum inmates is probably the best description I can give.  Bird melds all sorts of influences into his music, I can't even really pull them apart, but it's definitely worth checking out.  My particular favorites are Nervous Tick of Motion to the Left, and Imitosis. 

Ok, forget this.  I can't come up with anything that describes this properly, so here Andrew is in all his glory.  All the instruments are played live, he uses a looper. 

 

Saturdegg Update

Saturday is kind of like Friday for me, so it's update time. 

This week has been one of ups and downs.  It was my thirtieth birthday last Monday, and to celebrate I got treated a to a sushi lunch by my Aunt, and meat sweats for dinner by my wife (in other words a huge piece of perfectly grilled Argentine beef).  On the musical front, the band jammed for the first time in ages last Sunday and it was good.  I do have trouble getting excited about it, because the others don't have as much time as I do to commit the band as I do.

However, Beware! the Leopard is taking off.  The Nord that I wrote about earlier is now in my possession and sounding great.  Tomorrow is my first proper solo gig (although still unpaid).  I get a 30 minute set at the Phoenix, and I'm pulling out all the stops, Nord, looper, and a cold that won't go away (the microphone will be lucky to get away without any snot on it).  My parents will be in the audience for the first time ever, and I'm excited and nervous at the same time.  Let's just hope the meds I'm on keep the sniffles and coughs at bay for long enough to get through the set. 

So that's me.  If you're in London, drop on by tomorrow night and say hi, I'll buy you a pint.