by
. . . l o n d o n g i g g u i d e
b y s e a n
"now, everybody just stares and whispers..
can't you ever treat anyone nice?
think i'm gonna make the same mistake twice?"
"he fights problems, with bigger problems.."
- elliott smith
Hello!
Yes, a day early this week. Not too sure why. It's hailing outside, that might be my reasoning... but on the plus side I'll not have phones ringing during this rambling and i've just cranked up Elliott Smith to help rattle this off - anyone outthere have any idea what's going on with Elliotts next album??? It was meant to be out by now. Dammit!!
I'd like to make a bit of an appology to Alex at East West for my totally artist aimed comments. Was no thump at you mister. Glad to see you were reading (less so about what i coffee-fuelled said without realising). This week I'm feeling just as cynical. Ahghain. All these Nirvana wannabe's. All these copyists. DO SOMETHING ORIGINAL!!!!!!! Or at least pretty. Or inspiring. Or even just inspired... grrr! IT'S TIME FOR CHANGE!! My rockets are armed. Again.
At dis towers we're about to set up an awards for 2002 and apart from the obvious ones we're gonna piss off a few more people, especially with our "Best Welsh-metaller talking like an American" and "Most obviously formed six months ago THE band", yadda, yadda.. my albums of the year are..
A L B U M S OF THE Y E A R 2 0 0 2
1. Cooper Temple Clause - See This Through and Leave
2. iDLEWiLD - The Remote Part
3. Icarus Line - Mono
4. Sigur Rós - ( )
5. The Reindeer Section - Son of Evil Reindeer
Other albums that didn't make my top 5 but in a different mood probably coulda done... Tom Waits 'Alice', Queens of the Stoneage, International Noise Conspiracy, Remy Zero, Goldrush, System of a Down, 'A', Maximillian Hecker, Biffy Clyro, Six by Seven, Foo Fighters, Trail o'Dead, Glassjaw, Saves the Day and probably a few more... all worth going out and grabbing! What are you albums of the year? I'm curious.
D E M O OF THE W E E K
Project Abner
...blimey, this, is, LOWWWD!! But good. Very, very, rather, very, good, indeed. Ok, so they sound a bit like Boy Hits Car and a bit like Incubus but a bit more like early Tool or System of a Down. They sound crazy. They sound as unique as a metled down and moulded into something special, nu-metal band can be. They sound so much more than nu-metal. Nu-metal, pah. I don't like nu-metal, that's like pap music or somethunk. This is exciting. They will become popular because that's what SHOULD happen with good music, no? They're londoners, building a loyal fanbase already. And they know what they're on about too. Half-descent production too. The songs are pretty long and do sound americanily affected which I usually hate but this is so warm and powerful that I don't care... File in soon-to-be-signed rawk bands alongside Engerica!
Web: projectabner.com
FREE CD: Send a SAE, to: Project Abner, 385 Highbury Quadrant, Islington, London, N5 2TB.
PLAY: Weds 13th @ Drownedinsound.com Windmill gig.
* * * * * * T H E G I G G U I D E * * * * * * *
M O N D A Y
...lots of rock action!
@ The Forum... FUGAZI... oh my! "seminal" band. ..the only not sold-out night i believe. go see some history.
@ 93 Feet East... SONA FARIQ bring in the adf-metal noize + GOATBOY + SCARE ELECTRICS... this gig is totally and utterly FREE to get into!
@ the Barfly, the Monarch: FALLEN TO... cornish nu-metal? am i the only one who finds this funny? THORIA... you must know this lot by now. Nirvanary in places. M2-love 'em. One of the uk's biggest rock hopes. Don't exactly set my world on fire but for a world STILL mourning the loss of a legend, they're quite a few peoples bags. www.thoria.co.uk
@ Shepherds Bush Empire: THE VINES... the third night of torment. suicide news or info about how kidz are bored of rock bands who record albums too soon to keep up with ott media hype, as bored as they are with manufactured pop music, that news is to follow. very soon... fansite: www.nme.com
@ Metro... LOMAX + PABLO...two new rockslingers with scuzzy, once into indie, edges.
T U E S D A Y
...stay in and knit, much more fun. probably.
@ the Water Rats... THE COGNITION... better known for their annoying street teamers flooding messageboards than their music, which to be honest is fucking terrible. Sounds like 2 of them like Limp Bizkit and all of them like the Happy Mondays and never the twain should meet. EVER!
@ Brixton Academy... MORRISSEY.. it is better to burn out than fade away. i never liked him anyway...
@ West One Four... THE BELOW AVERAGE WHITE BAND..hehehe, best name of the week. controversial? or shut up and get back to mourning the death of the monarchy.
@ Buffalo Bars: FRAFF www.artrocker.com
@ Shepherds Bush Empire: THE ELECTRIC SOFT PARADE *yawn* Get a decent producer!
W E D N E S D A Y
...grrr, all that shit and then suddenly 3 gigs I wanna goto!
@ Play House Theatre (WC2)... AQUALUNG beautiful, truly fucken beautiful! www.aqualung.net + THE VEILS.. who used to be GodBoy who were brilliant. Havent heard their new ep yet but can imagine it won't be too bad. I'm going to this if I can find the venue on a map!
@ Buffalo Bar... S.ROCK LEVINSON this lot are another bunch you SHOULD know about by now. A revolution soundtracked on upon a time by the Pixies tumbling around rioting with JSBX, etc... www.srocklevinson.com
@ Notting Hill Arts Club... THEE ACID RANCH with Swedes LOGH. www.mustdestroymusic.com (home of The Darkness)
@ The Scala... GIRLS AGAINST BOYS + ENON + SWEARING AT MOTORISTS... sounds damn interesting. http://www.gvsb.com/
T H U R S D A Y
...don't forget your ear plugs!
@ Brixton Academy... PAPA ROACH.. 30year olds should really not still moan about their MOMS!
@ the Kings Head, Fulham... SENSUS really ace new rock band from slough of all places. just about to work with one of =weezers= producers. www.sensusband.co.uk
@ Metro... TEMPTATION RECORDS LAUNCH... Simon Williams (Fierce Panda) new labels launch shenanigans with MEDIUM 21 (oh dear) and the RAIN BAND.
@ Buffalo Bar... WHITEMAN KAMIKAZE.. first band on, ace like S.Rock Levinson but louder, somehow. Played a dis show recently and left punks dribbling for more in the corners.
@ Wembley Arena... LUTHER VANDROSS... no comment.
F R I D A Y
...revolutions can happen y'know!
@ Brixton Academy... HUNDRED REASONS + KINESIS + CAPDOWN... should be pretty good. shame about the headliners STILL wanting to be atdi, etc...
@ Bull'n'Gate.. in the middle of the bill is daisy chainsaws sisters ace little rock band OUR LADY MIRACLES. really something bizaarly entertaining.
@ ULU... RODDY FRAME.. yep, he's still going.
@ the Marquee... JESUS JONES.. for real.
@ Docklands Arena... ALICIA KEYS.. blimey, never thought she'd get THAT big that quick.. and the industry moans about the problems it's having? She's a popstar with a big of integrity and is selling well. See also: Sugababes. *They*. Just. Don't. Get. IT!
S A T U R D AY
...and will happen, i believe in a little thing called rock!
@ The Monarch... S.ROCK LEVINSON night 2 in london this week. www.srocklevinson.com
@ The Bull'n'Gate... DUSTBALL (who're bluddy brilliant! sign them ya pussies!) + THE CAPES who're also quite ace in a quirky south london via northern england styleee! www.dustball.co.uk
@ The Borderline... ZODIAC MINDWARP.. blimus. worship ye madness!
S U N D A Y
...yummy folk-popkidz make me smile.
@ the Windmill, Brixton... GOLDRUSH...awww they've gone and left Virgin and can now play the windmill to their hearts content and release what they want on Truck, yay them! www.goldrushinfo.com
"tired of living in a cloud,
if you're gonna say shit now,
say it out loud!"
- elliott smith
And then I was gone.
Sean
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