NEW YEAR PARTIES IN CENTRAL AND NORTH LONDON - THE SOCIAL MINEFIELD THAT CUTS ACROSS CAMDEN, ISLINGTON AND WESTMINSTER

BY NOW you're probably just about ready to contemplate New Year’s Eve's social minefield.
Here's my ultimate list of parties across Camden, Islington and Westminster.
Burlesque, fancy dress and circus prevails, what’s the plan next year?

FOR THE MYSTERIOUS
The Eve of Tomorrow (Boom Boom Club + White Mischief), secret location (Russell Square tube), 8pm-5am, £45.99
Inspired by 1930s World Fairs and industrial obsession, a large scale production, with theatre, cabaret, circus, electro swing, vintage jazz, rock ‘n roll, and more – my personal fave. Dress – ‘30s glam, grand evening wear, aristocrats, socialites and industrialists.

INDIE KIDS
The Flowerpot presents Foals + Trophy Wife + Chad Valley, HMV Forum (Kentish Town tube), 8pm, sold out
The Flowerpot promised one helluva NY Party –Foals, great acts and DJs. Camden’s in-crowd were on to it months ago but there’s always the chance of doorstep spares sales. AND The Wheelbarrow, Camden High Street has just announced it has 100 tickets left to sell, must buy from the bar.



Club NME Ball, British Sea Power + Joe & Will Ask + Fiction, Koko (Mornington Crescent tube), 9pm, £32
Koko knows how to throw a proper rock party – in stunning theatre surrounds.

SHAMELESS NOSTALGICS

Ultimate Power, Scala (Kings Cross tube), 9pm – 6am, £20adv
Nine hours of power ballads – Meatloaf, Phil Collins, Queen – sing your heart out.

Naughty Forties NY Party, The Old Queen’s Head (Angel tube), 8pm-4am, £20
Tweed, corsets and wartime waves.

NEW YOIKERS
To the 5 Boroughs NYE Party ft Man Like Me (full live band) + Mouthwash, Barfly Camden (Chalk Farm tube), 8pm, early bird £15
New York theme – trip from CBGBs to Brooklyn loft to the Bronx and dress accordingly – 50s gangsters, 60s beatniks, 70s punks and 80s sportswear.

DEPRESSIVES
Feeling Gloomy vs Club de Fromage, 02 Academy Islington (Angel tube), 9pm-4am, £20
Wallow in misery with Feeling Gloomy’s morose tunes then clamber from the depths of despair to Club de Fromage’s cheesy hits.

AIRHEADS AND PIRATES
Barbie Girls and Salty Sea Dogs ft Diaphragm Failure + Pussycat and the Dirty Johnsons + Spacewasters, The Dublin Castle (Camden Town tube), 7.45pm-2am, £10 on door, £5 adv, or free before 9pm for fancy dress
Truly eccentric, dress as your favourite plastic doll or try out the Jack Sparrow look.

MOVIE BUFFS
Soundtracks, The Monarch (Chalk Farm Road), 8pm, £10
Blockbuster hits from fave movies, Dirty Dancing, Pulp Fiction, The Breakfast Club etc. Dress as your movie idol.

WARBLERS
Live band Karaoke, The Enterprise (Chalk Farm tube), 7pm-3am, £5
Feel what it’s like to front your own band – karaoke classics and new hits.

THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
Proud Camden’s NYE Burlesque Ball, Proud Camden (Chalk Farm tube), 7.30pm – 4am, general ticket £30
Proud attracts cool kids, aloof waifs, geek chic boys, and voluptuous burlesque beauties but there’s room for everyone, the music never fails and it’s always full of surprises. Captain Dangerous + The TV Night Jam Band live + burlesque shows.

CHEESY (AND SLIGHTLY TOWNY WE FEAR)
Shake NYE, 70s, 80s, 90s disco +dance party anthems, Electric Ballroom (Camden Town tube), £30adv, 9pm-4am
Rarely a good sign when a Camden Town venue feels the need to warn no trainers or sportswear. But this could be a fun cheesy night out in a big enough venue to avoid inevitable NY suffocation. Or it could be just like a night at The Ritzy.

SOUL, FUNK AND DANCE LOVERS
DJ Joey Negro and The Sunburst Band, Jazz Cafe (Camden Town tube), 7pm, £40 adv
Jazz Cafe’s marathon session with DJ Joey Negro brings a dash of sunshine with The Sunburst Band’s take on modern soul. Acoustic support from laid back Nathan Watson.

CARNIVAL TYPES
Good Times ft Norman Jay + Gilles Peterson + Ladybugz + Crate Diggers, Relentless Garage (Highbury & Islington tube), £30
Bringing Notting Hill vibes to Islington.

THE FANTASTICAL
Proud @ Matter – Cirque ft Shaun Ryder, DJ Yoda and The Maccabees (DJ set), 02 Arena, 7.30pm-6am, £20 adv
Yes it’s a trek but Proud has put on buses for those brave enough to venture that far east. Think 1950s Vegas, circus and burlesque and dress accordingly.

Cirque de la Nuit, The Winchester (Angel tube), 7pm-4am, £25/£15 adv
Shape shifting cage fighters, clowns, and guest DJs.

FOR THE MTV GENERATION
BLOGGER’S Delight presents Video Kills the Radio Star, The Lock Tavern (Chalk Farm tube), 8pm-4am, £10 adv/with regular's card or £15
DJs – Casper C, Skull Juice, Stopmakingme, Arveene, The Beeny Royston Experience, Gino Silano, Miss Odd Kidd, NikNikNik –disco, house and party faves upstairs, pop pop pop downstairs, get nostalgic, think 1984 MTV launch, Michael Jackson, Madonna and dance your way through to the end of the noughties. Come as your favourite tribute to the art of the music video – shouldn’t be too hard to find the garb across the road at Camden market.

DIE-HARD GLAM PUNKS
RACHEL Stamp + Conspirators + Spiderbaby + Et Tu Bruce + Deeds of the Nameless + Otherness, Monto Water Rats (King’s Cross tube), 6pm, £13
Glam punks Rachel Stamp rarely get together to play live anymore so witness this one-off show, grab a free signed copy of their latest album (first 50 arrivals), get your eyeliner on and dress the part for what promises to be a raucous party.

GARAGE DUBSTEP AND HIP-HOP
REGGAE Roast with EL-B & MC Rolla, Channel One, Daddy Skitz, Moodie, Excel + more, The Big Chill House, (Kings Cross tube), 9pm-5am, £15 earlybird/£20 adv
Reggae Roast’s first ever NYE party, Room one – UK Garage/dubstep pioneer EL-B ft MC Roll and Channel One Sound System with Rastafarian chants from Mikey Dread, Room II - UK Hip Hop legend Daddy Skitz party blend of Hip Hop, Drum and Bass, Dancehall and Reggae.

FOR THE MAD HATTERS
SAM and The Womp's NYE Hat Party with Sam and The Womp live, Senor Migan, DJ Cous Cous, Aaron Audio, Bobby Gandolf, Camino, (Kings Cross tube), 9pm-4am, £15earlybird, £20 adv, £60 restaurant ticket
High-energy Balkan, ska, dub, Latin and gypsy-dubstep with Sam’s six-piece band The Whompers, wear your most extravagant hat – prizes for best.

FOR THE CROONERS
Mitch Winehouse, The Pigalle Club (Picadilly Circus), 7pm-late, dinner, admission and champagne – £95, non-dining guests – £25
Crooner/cabbie/celeb dad Mitch Winehouse hosts a classy evening of jazz and swing – Amy’s been known to join him onstage but we hear she may be in Moscow.

COOL AND CASH-STRAPPED
The Wheelbarrow (Mornington Crescent tube), open till late, free
Top tunes, nice faces and an extended late licence – and you don’t have to pay a penny to get in.

RECORD OF THE WEEK - MILES KANE, Come Closer

MILES Kane owns the guitar. By owns I don't just mean, has one in his possession, I mean every note he plays (and sings incidentally), is like an extension of his very being.
That's not to say he's technically the world's greatest guitarist but certainly a skilled and to some extent underrated songwriter with a pure northern soul who feels his way through the music. A departure from The Rascals and The Last Shadow Puppets, Come Closer proves solo Miles can stand on his own two feet.
 

 
Miles Kane plays XfM's All Dayer at Camden Barfly on January 22.

LOWKEY'S FRONT PAGE + THE HEARTBREAKS SPECIAL APPEARANCE + SLIMELIGHT GOES LIGHT + CHRISTMAS SHOPPING WITH THE CLASH

THE police issued a rogues gallery of wanted anti-fees protesters this week.
What, might you ask, has this to do with music?
Those who studied the pictures carefully may just have recognised one particularly vocal young rapper – Lowkey – featured on this page some time back.
Known for his eloquent campaigns for Palestinian rights – Lowkey – is a man of conviction. Last week he promised to visit occupying students and did just that – passing by our own Camden School for Girls.
But for those wondering if he had anything to do with Camilla being poked with a stick or other protest-related mischief, he had this to say on twitter: “(Lowkey ) is NOT wanted. I have already been questioned regarding these matters, so please STOP buying into the hype. Thank you. "Last night he warned: “Prepare for a smear campaign, however they attempt to discredit me, always know the only thing I stand for is equality. Peace + Love.”
Watch this space.



• Finsbury Park’s coolest club The Silver Bullet’s got a special appearance from The Heartbreaks at Ronnkie Pop’s Christmas party next week (Dec 23). Also playing, Two Wounded Birds + The Guilty Hands. These guys have been tipped for the top - get along asap.
• Angel’s Electrowerks, more usually associated with pasty-faced Goth night Slimelight is hosting an altogether more pleasant artist by the name of Lucy Rose (Dec 17). She’s a little pasty herself but in a waiflike folky ethereal kind of way. Beautiful voice too.
• Nina, Davina Lee, Rocketeer, Evryone and Olly Chamberlain all play at least one Christmas cover at The Monarch’s Christmas show (Dec 22).
• Everyone’s oh so busy Christmas shopping but duck out of the Camden Market chaos for a second and into Proud Camden to check out London Calling: TheClash by Adrian Boot, music photographer extraordinaire (ends Jan 23).

THE BEES ARE BACK

THE Bees have been quietly plugging away for some years now.
But just because the former Mercury Prize nominees are not crazed tabloid headline-grabbers doesn’t mean they haven’t got something worth listening to.
In fact, it is this very reason, their understated nature, which has attracted just the right amount of attention from those who know what they are looking for.
Take the fact that they have just come off tour supporting Paul Weller at a series of venues that almost all seem to have “arena” in the title.
That’s the kind of gig a good band wants and they got it.



And as with all good bands, there has to be a bit of drama, a label change, a long gap between albums and a few utterances about new freedoms and so they have returned, having fulfilled these important clichés.
It’s been three years since their last album Octopus and the band, which headlines Koko tomorrow (Friday), is sounding very pleased with their decision to work with label Fiction.

Fourth album, Every Step’s A Yes, was released on Fiction in October and has been nominated for the iTunes editor’s Album of the Year.
According to singer and songwriter Paul Butler, the label is in touch daily with new ideas and ways of doing things.
Aaron Fletcher another of the band’s multi talents (songwriter, guitarist, bass player), said: “It’s like starting all over again. Only now we’ve got loads of fans and people who love us. And our own studio. And an amazing label.”

The album’s a smiley, happy effort, mainly made up of uplifting guitars, psychedelic sitar twists and folksy harmonies – a cosy antidote to December’s freeze, with a more mature feel than previous efforts.
This may be something to do with how they have spent their time over the past three years.
Paul and Aaron stopped sharing a house, which seems to have sparked a new wave of enthusiasm and inspiration, they have played alongside Pink Floyd and Paul spent some time in LA working with eclectic – and definitely eccentric – folk-singer/artist Devendra Banhart.

This summer they played Glastonbury, naturally hailed among the best gigs they’ve ever done, but it’s really the decision to split from former label that they credit with their new creativity.
Since breaking from the traditional write, rehearse, record, tour routine, they have had the time to work at their own speed, which seems to have given their brains some time to ferment.

The result was that everything slowed down, the boys chilled out and the band found the confidence to really develop the kind of songs they had always wanted to write.
“The last two albums were exercises in creative writing,” said Paul. “These songs are all much more emotionally direct. I was thinking of those Joe Boyd productions – Nick Drake and Fairport Convention, Incredible String Band, John and Beverley Martyn.”
You get the picture.
I leave you with a little-known fact – The Bees are known as A Band of Bees in America.
The Bees single Winter Rose is out on December 20.

RECORD OF THE WEEK - WAREHOUSE REPUBLIC, Revolver

REVOLVER - the only word necessary to learn this chorus - will never sound the same again.
Forevermore, any utterance of said retro handgun - see every good gangster movie - will trigger Warehouse Republic's soundtrack in your mind, saturated in in dirty blues-rock vibes, with a messy soulful guitar solo to match. Sounds delightfully dangerous and the video has a bit of bite to it too.
Revolver out this week.
Warehouse Republic play an acoustic set at The Good Ship, Kilburn, on December 17.

WAREHOUSE REPUBLIC'S BLAZING CALAMITY + BAD SANTA'S KOKO DINOSAUR PILE-UP + THE LUMINAIRE'S LAST STAND + CLASSY FLORENCE JOELLE

BAND of the moment Warehouse Republic are hot.

Sadly so hot that guitarist Charlie Flynn’s house just burned down, devouring all he owns, including five guitars. He jumped from the attic window, breaking his fall on the porch, escaping with minor injuries. Go on Fender, help them out.
But this misfortune hasn’t put them off their campaign to save the 100 Club or their planned appearance at The Good Ship (Dec 17) – acoustic while Charlie recovers. A chance to see them in a small venue before they shoot into the stratosphere. Judge them by fantastic single Revolver released this week.

•  Manchester band The Quangos have already won support slots with Kid British and Ten Bears and now they're coming to London. Always room for another good northern band as far as I'm concerned. See them play The Dublin Castle on December 11. 

•  The Riff Raff play 02 Academy Islington tonight (Thurs). Drawing influences from indie, ska, folk and classical music, band were were one of the main highlights of BBC Introducing’s New Music Radio 1 Stage at Glastonbury.
•  Koko’s Christmas party is here. See Dinosaur Pile Up and Kassidy tomorrow (Dec 10) and visit Bad Santa in the gallery - free entry to anyone in full fancy dress between 9pm and 11pm.
•  The Luminaire may be closing but it’s not leaving without uncovering the next great student musicians. The top three bands in national student Battle of the Bands duel to the death on (Dec 13) – hear the tunes we’ll be downloading in 2011. Hear all the tracks here: www.studentbeans.com/battleofthebands
•  Miss Florence Joelle is a class act, evoking the mood and glamour of the 40s/50s, adding a modern twist and balancing between blues and jazz with finesse. See her at The Fiddler’s Elbow, Malden Road (Dec 14).
•  The Camden Crawl’s building momentum with CC2011 TIPS #3. Get to know the bands who will appear on the full scale crawl, ft Wild Palms, Bear Driver, The Slow Revolt and Heart Kill Grant at The Bull & Gate (Dec 15).

TROUBLE FINDING A WEDDING DJ PRINCE WILLIAM, HOW ABOUT SAM YOUNG?

HE HANGS out with The Killers and Usher, DJs for royalty, and Kasabian owe him a favour.
DJ Sam Young gets around and has the tales to prove it.
As we speak (on the phone), he’s just waking up at his St John’s Wood home after another late night and is preparing for Damien Hirst’s Christmas party later.

“Kasabian’s doing their entertainment,” he says. “I helped get their record deal. I used to work for a record company. The label I was with didn’t want to sign them, they were oohing and ahing. A friend of mine just started doing A & R at Sony BMG so I took their demo in and then yeah, that was it.”

Young, 31, is best known for regular spots at celeb hangouts Chinawhites and Boujis, which may seem far removed from the Camden scene but he begs to differ.

He said: “I’ve had my own nights at Hoxton Pony and Proud Camden. The crowd is different, they probably think they’re a bit cooler in Camden, same in east London they may think because they’re partying in Hoxton they’re cool but actually there’s no difference musically – unless you’re going to a specialist night. You’re more likely to get a tip in the West End from some rich Arab dude for playing a song while some guy in Camden might buy you a beer.”

He’s reputed to be one of Prince William’s favourite DJs and, has drawn up a personal top five of stag do hits for the soon-to-be married royal, in case he gets the call.
He said: “If he asked me to DJ at the wedding I would definitely.”

The Prince has been known to request a tune or two: “He likes the classic dance music. He’s current, not cheesy at all. All the times I’ve met him he’s liked stuff that was big at the time, like Outkast Hey Ya and Shakedown at Night. I’ve seen him dance – and the girlfriend.”

SAM Young’s top 5 tunes for Prince William's stag do: 

                                                                                 1. Ludacris - Area Codes

                                                                                 2. Snoop Dogg - Ain't no Fun

                                                                                 3. Katy Perry - I kissed a girl

                                                                                 4. LMFAO - I'm not a whore

                                                                                 5. RUN DMC - Down with the King

Sam once attracted the attention of The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers for playing a bootleg of Somebody Told Me.
But instead of telling him off, Brandon said it was “a pretty cool mix”.
Last week, he was asked to look after Usher, who passed by Boujis after the X-Factor.
He said: “He needed to fly really early so we were killing time. I wasn’t djing, I’d finished my set. We were having crack-babies – a shot they do in Boujis, champagne, vodka, strawberry and passionfruit.”

He once played a party for gangsters in Scunthorpe: “It was full on. Howard Marks did a talk. It was the who’s who of the UK crime scene. The police were outside, really nervous of all these people getting together. A lot of the guys had their own little stalls, selling their own DVDs and books. It was a bit weird. The only time I saw the guy that booked me again was at the premiere for the film about Bronson and that was full of heavies.”

The son of A-list photographer Richard Young, Sam stumbled into Djing on a whim: “When I was about 13 we used to get Christmas money and my brother said let’s buy some turntables so we can be DJs so I said OK fine.”
When his brother went to college, Sam was left with them and the rest is West End clubland history.
It’s not always an easy job: “It can be hard if the crowd are difficult. If they’re not receptive to what you’re playing or if you read the crowd wrong they can make it harder. It’s all digital nowadays so I have every type of music on me at all times. It’s not like the old days where you have one or two bags of records and you’re screwed if you didn’t have what they want.”

His secret dancefloor-filling weapon? “Play some Michael Jackson, or Prince or Stevie Wonder. I’m a sucker for the obvious people. In a wedding or office party you put one of those on, you’re on to a winner – usually.”
He uses alter ago Sam Roqwell less and less, but returns to it when releasing his underground work.
He’s well-placed to witness excess: “You see people always spending a silly amount of money. Specially in the current time – I’ve seen it a lot.”
The secret to being a successful DJ, he says: “Work hard, keep your head down, it’s a lot of how you go about who you know, you need the talent as well, you can’t just wing it. If you’re not as good as you think you are, you’ll soon get found out.”

•     Sam Young has residencies at Boujis on Thursdays and Sundays, Chinawhite Wednesdays and Fridays, and regularly appears at Bungalow 8, Covent Garden, Vendome Mayfair and The Hoxton Pony.

ARCHIVE MOMENT - THE RASCALS, I'll Give you Sympathy

THIS song is just one reason why Miles Kane, who supports The Courteeners at Camden's HMV Forum, is so fantastic.
The Rascals are truly cheeky scamps - I can vouch for that, I've got the interview tape with anecdotes of foiled customs searches following a trip to Amsterdam - to prove it.
But they had a stroke of creative genius, stemming from Kane.
They managed to give what could have been straightforward northern rock just a tiny glow of psychedelic guitars and muted 60s beats and I loved them for it.
Live, they strayed down untraceable guitar solo paths and sounded all the more attractive for it.
Then Miles excelled himself when he went and teamed up with bessie mate Alex Turner (are they still) to create The Last Shadow Puppets - will we ever see them again?
And now Miles is doing his solo thing, supporting The Courteeners and I hear teaming up with Noel Gallagher.
I'm positively overdosing on all this luscious northern talent.
More please.
But in the meantime, remember The Rascals.

FLOWERPOTS, WHEELBARROWS AND THE END OF AN ERA FOR THE LUMINAIRE + 100 CLUB CAMPAIGN HOTS UP

MIXED fortunes in our musical microcosm this week.
Good news first. The rumours – reported here first three weeks ago – are true. The Flowerpot has taken over Tommy Flynn’s in Camden High Street (though in my haste, I may have accidentally referred to it as Johnny Flynn’s, yes, I know, he’s a singer, see clip below).


Keeping up the gardening theme The Flowerpot (in its new location) has been renamed The Wheelbarrow and has kept the winning format, permanent free entry to top live gigs. The big launch is tomorrow (Friday) with HoodIums, I just hope the distinctive muso character isn’t eroded by the new, central location.

• Bad news for lovers of The Luminaire, in Kilburn, which has announced it is shutting in January. Sad to read the final listings email this week.

• At the same time the starry-eyed campaign to save the 100 Club from closing has gathered pace, maybe they can spare a few celebs for The Luminaire.
Kentish Town rockabilly family Kitty, Daisy and Lewis and hot young things The Cut Outs feature in this special campaign documentary.



• Finley Quaye did his bit for homeless charity The Connection when he played an exclusive live gig at Proud Camden on Tuesday.

• I hear Liam Gallagher was gracious and amiable at the launch of his Pretty Green label at Relentless Garage last week – though he would be if he’s raking in £30 for scarves and £35 for T-shirts. Good reports of headliners Exit Calm too.

• Catch a glimpse of what Elton’s wedding was like at The Castle, Finchley Road, tomorrow (Friday). Elton loved sixties band The Overtures so much they played at his civil partnership.

• Looking for rock with roots? See The Manic Shine at The Purple Turtle on Saturday.
• Richard Ashcroft plays Islington’s Union Chapel on Tuesday, good luck getting a ticket though – most are reserved for his fan club.

• Flavour of the Month, Mona, play Hoxton bar and Kitchen (Dec 7).

HOLY COVES BATMAN - THERE'S A WELSH ROCK BAND IN MY BARN!

INSPECT the listings of any self-respecting music venue and you’ll see the influence of the Welsh dragon.
Super Furry Animals, Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, The Joy Formidable, Manic Street Preachers...Wales has produced a steady stream of all-permeating talent.

So it’s no surprise that the latest promising band to hit the psych-rock scene – Holy Coves – can be found toiling away in the bassist’s grandmother’s barn somewhere near Holyhead.

With a joint vision of the type of music they wanted to make, singer and songwriter Scott Marsden and bassist Jimi Eggleton, left rock band The Lizzies to form Holy Coves. Drummer Ash Garden and former Wendykurk guitarist Ben Lee completed the line-up.

Marsden said: “We wanted to do something a bit more dark and groovy and we just had different ideas. It’s not like we fell out with The Lizzies. We wrote this album and it’s only now we’ve got it to where we’re happy to put the music out.”

The band plays Barfly Camden on Monday (Dec 6).
Marsden said: “I love Camden, I want to live there. The first time I came to Camden, we must’ve played about 15 shows before we worked our way up to some of the venues. It’s got such a vibe. You walk through there and feel it.

“I remember reading about Noel Gallagher saying during the beginning of Oasis the scene in Camden was just happening but (now) it’s not there, it’s dead. But I think the vibe is still there. I felt it the minute I went there. You create your own scene at the end of the day. I do think it’s important for bands to play Camden – but you go where people want you to play. Experience it and make it your main aim to get down to London.”

Regardless of his admiration for Camden, Marsden’s full of love for his oft-maligned home town of Holyhead.
He said: “Holyhead’s my home, my life. I’ll always be here at some point. Even if I was living down south I’ll always have a place here.
“I absolutely love Holyhead, I’m really passionate about the place. It’s beautiful and doesn’t get seen for what it is. We did the music video yesterday and I used locations in Holyhead because I wanted to show some of the beautiful parts people don’t get to see, the mountains. We’ve got some really cool places I want to put into all the videos.”

Put that backdrop to the kind of sounds you expect from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and the Black Angels and that’s kind of where Holy Coves fit in.

But they’re not too rock and roll to hang out with Jimi’s gran, who has given over one of her barns for them to rehearse in. The guys pop in to see her every now and again and Jimi helps out around the house.
Said Marsden: “She’s an absolute star because without her we wouldn’t have that place. It’s a godsend for us. We’ve had it for about two and half years.”

Don’t be fooled into thinking Holy Coves has something to do with Holyhead’s coastline position.
Marsden said: “Holyhead’s known as the holy island so the Holy thing is from that part of it. You could say where all the beaches are is where we got coves from but actually we were looking through an old cockney slang book and it said coves was the name for geezers or criminals. We just liked the idea of holy before coves and it just sort of fits where we’re from.”

EP The Drones (out January 31), was recorded in a studio at the foothills of Snowdonia and Marsden promises: “This album is going to be amazing. There’s such a raw energy about it. When we play together there’s just something happening in the music now and it’s just really exciting. I can’t wait to put it out there.”

LOWKEY'S GOT YOUR BACK STUDENTS

NICE to see rapper Lowkey turning his support to the student cause.
He's offering to drop by students occupying their universities in protest at the government's keep-the-poor-uneducated policy that's making so many waves.
Maybe the coalition should go one step further and create huge fees for primary and secondary school too, then they'd get what they really want - an illiterate underclass they no longer have to mix with, except when cleaning their shoes.
Anyway, back to the point, Lowkey's precise words, via twitter were: "If your are currently involved in an occupation of your University, give me a shout and I will try to pass through and support anyway I can."
So go on, tweet @lowkeyuk and you never know, he might just make an appearance.
We need more of this kind of thing - any other musicians prepared to brave the snow and join Lowkey on the university crawl?

Here's a sample of Lowkey in action


We need more thinking musicians - here's a new duo on the scene - Partisan and Gavel

RECORD OF THE WEEK - MONA, Trouble on the Way

IS it time for a new rock Supergroup?
Mona’s leading the contenders on this one.
‘Course it’s almost their birthright, coming from Nashville, Tenessee, so expectations are high.
Trouble on the Way is simple, snappy, immediately memorable but it’s frontman Nick Brown who holds their not-so-secret weapon – stunning, stadium-ready vocals.
They play Hoxton Bar and Kitchen on December 7.

BEATBOXING COPS + JOHN LEGEND'S A DREAM + BEN HARPER'S SUPERGROUP + ELTON'S CHAPEL VISIT

REMEMBER the Police Academy cop with the bendy voice who could mimic anything? I always thought Michael Winslow aka Officer Larvelle Jones was aided by sound effects. Turns out I was wrong – he’s a world famous beatboxer and comedian who can imitate more than 1,000 sounds from recreating Hendrix to the roar of a jet plane. He was also in Spaceballs and voiced a Gremlin – got to be worth leaving your cosy homes for this one. He plays the Jazz Cafe on Dec 8.


(check out the guitar solo at 1.30)

But the best collection of his Police Academy talents can be seen here Officer Larvelle Jones, Police Academy
• More noteable events at the Jazz Cafe include US dreamboat (some might say) John Legend & The Roots on Sunday (Nov 28), Botown – the soul band of Bollywood (curious) (Nov 27) and Ninja Tunes darling The Herbaliser (Nov 3).


• There’s so much to say about Mencap Little Noise Sessions that you’ll have to look online for our full reviews. I just need to remind you they’ve managed to convince the loony Scissor Sisters to play an acoustic set at Bush Hall (Dec 4) and the Pet Shop Boys to headline the Big Noise Session at Hammersmith Apollo, (Dec 8).


• If you don’t recognise Fistful of Mercy in our listings (Dec 3), it’s actually a supergroup of sorts – Ben Harper, Dhani Harrison (son of Beatle George) and troubadour Joseph Arthur –wonder how Koko will cope with all those music heads on one stage.


• Islington’s Union Chapel may be hidden in a quiet Islington terrace but it’s not to be underestimated. The latest coup? Sir Elton John tonight (Thursday).


• Feel like sharing the Christmas spirit? Musicians and choirs are being sought to busk on Hampstead High Street. Email emsmagnus@btinternet.com for info.

PALOMA'S BATHTIME REVELATIONS

“IS IT a girl?” Paloma Faith asks as the call is put through for our interview.
“I’m glad it’s a girl because I’m in the bath,” she says. “I was trying to rush and then I thought let’s take a gamble. It’s 50-50 chance it’s going to be a man and if it is I’ll slowly edge out of the bath and try not to make any water noises. They might think I was flirting or something.”
Paloma’s insuppressible personality is apparent from her first words.



The former Islington Green pupil is due to play a gala show of her collaboration with trumpeter/arranger/composer Guy Barker – Down at the End of Lonely Street – alongside a full orchestra at the Barbican on December 10.

She said: “The Barbican’s like the cultural centre of the area I was brought up in. As a kid I always saw it as somewhere quite posh where rich people go. Now I’m playing there it feels like a breakthrough.”

She says the show’s about loss and loneliness, adding: “There’s a few of my songs but mainly songs that have influenced me by the great queens of tragedy and torch singers.”
Renowned as a flamboyant performer, Paloma’s happily aware of her past limits.

“I wanted to perform from quite a young age but I knew I wasn’t very good. I was about 10 when I did my first dance performance. I loved the excitement and adrenaline but didn’t know what I was doing. When they went right I went left and when they went up I went down, I totally stood out. My mum said it was hilarious that I stood out like a sore thumb because I was wrong all the time.
“For years after, I had the enthusiasm but not the ability. I think people thought I was a bit of a laughing stock…but I guess I found my way.”

A choreographer once told her he’d have to give her a lead role as she was hypnotic but “not very good” and was doing something different to everyone else.
Realising she wasn’t going to be a dancer was a “big setback”, so she began singing in bars while studying theatre hoping to work behind the scenes.
But she began attracting attention for her voice.

“I started to do it to my own surprise because I hadn’t really sung that much. Because the people I admired were so amazing I put myself beneath them and didn’t feel good enough but through this last year touring this album I think my voice has improved so much. I’ve sort of learned on the job. In a way my voice is better now than when I recorded my album. When I listen to the album I think oh a bit shit but I now play live and people say I’m so much better live.”

Paloma’s style has often attracted the attention of the Fashion Police: “Sometimes I end up walking out in something I haven’t really thought about. I look at it in pictures and think what was I doing? I know it’s dressing up. I find it difficult to get dressed on a day off because I don’t actually remember what I think looks nice. I take pride in taking risks and being a bit funny with it. People put me in those columns “what was she thinking?” Well I wasn’t. When I’m serious and when I know I look good it’s vintage inspired stuff. I think I’m very good at dressing like a Hollywood starlet.”

SEE the second part of this interview here - Paloma Faith on moaning music moguls, cash-strapped students + old school teachers

RECORD OF THE WEEK - BEADY EYE, Bring The Light

I KNOW it's the obvious choise but this blog wouldn't be complete without a glance at Liam Gallagher's latest effort (with most of Oasis) - as Beady Eye.
I listened three times. When I say three, I mean twice and a half, by which time my attention moved to a passing spider. Not sure about the Jerry Lee Lewis piano, Noel's more poetic approach is missed and Liam's given up the snarly drawl. Not bad '60s vibe but needs more work to distract me from errant arachnids.
 

TOM JONES' ALTAR STAGE INVASION FEATURING JO WHILEY'S MUM + PULP'S BEST. NEWS. EVER. + BRAINY AKALA + THE REVENGE OF D:REAM

TOM Jones set ageing pulses racing at Islington’s Union Chapel on Monday night as he headlined the first night of the magical Mencap Little Noise Sessions.

At Paolo Nutini’s gig the next night, my spies tell me Radio 1 DJ Jo Whiley confessed her mum stormed the stage when the irresistible Mr Jones was playing – bear in mind the stage is an altar – these Jones fans are wild.


Here's Mr Jones with Green Green Grass of Home, his encore.
• My fave up-and-comers, quirky, Louis le Prince play cult venue The Lexington (Nov 24). If you’re looking for one new band to adopt, this is it.

• The Electric Ballroom’s got a mighty list of gigs on its way – Kele (Bloc Party) plays Friday, The Fall (Nov 23) and The Tallest Man on Earth (Nov 24).

• In case you’ve been living on another planet I’d like to point out that Pulp are reforming and headline Wireless next year – Best. News. Ever. My fave song’s Babies, what’s yours? PS 02 Academy Islington’s great club night Feeling Gloomy hosts Pulp’s Wireless launch party on Saturday – prizes, surprises and rare Pulp records played early.

• Akala’s sooo brainy and a good guy, not like those bad rappers you read about in the papers. He’s been teaching schoolkids hip-hop Shakespeare – check out his cerebral lyrical dexterity at the British Library (Nov 26).

• I’ve not been complimentary about D:Ream in the past and it seems they’re taking revenge. The checky-trousered dance act, which I hold personally responsible for the birth of Blair, (Tony, not the one-hit-wonder of Have Fun Go Mad obscurity), have managed to convince former keyboarder Brian Cox now a widely respected physicist to abandon sanity and reform – songs from new album “In Memory Of...” (I’d stop there) will be performed at 02 Academy Islington (Dec 1).

PALOMA FAITH ON MOANING MUSIC MOGULS, CASH-STRAPPED STUDENTS AND HER OLD SCHOOL

SINGER Paloma Faith has praised the teachers at her former school for doing an incredible job in the face of adversity and thrown her support behind the recent student protests
Speaking from her bathtub, the eccentric performer – a former pupil of Islington Green School – also criticised wealthy music industry figures for complaining about suffering during the recession.


Paloma, who is due to play a gala show of her collaboration with trumpeter/arranger/composer Guy Barker – Down at the End of Lonely Street – alongside a full orchestra at the Barbican on December 10, said: “When you look at world news, I think we’re really well off, maybe not as well off as in the 80’s and maybe that’ll never happen again.

"From the small perspective of being in the music industry I work with a lot of people who were in the music business when they earned shedloads of money and now they’re all complaining. Well they look pretty well off to me, I’ll be honest. I think a lot of people are rich people complaining they’re not as rich, but they’re still rich.”

Paloma, who is working on her second album, took a minute to praise her former teachers at Islington Green School.
She said: “I had an amazing education there. It’s funny because at the time I did my exams it was one of the schools that had one of the worst reputations in the country but I have to say the teachers were incredible.”

Now a bestselling artist, Paloma recalled appearing in school productions but never scoring the coveted main role.
Recalling one production of Little Shop of Horrors, she said: “I was never one of the leads I was always one of the dancers because at that time I was really into dance.”

Paloma also took the opportunity to voice support for students protesting against the coalition government’s plans to increase university fees.
She said: “It’s a shame the (protests) went violent because it reflects badly on their argument. If they’re protesting and saying all this stuff about being the future, what kind of impression does that give if they’re smashing things up? It's a shame for the students that genuinely are the future and are wonderful and have a lot to contribute because it gets them down as well. But I understand their reasoning because I do think that kind of debt is really intimidating to people specially people from poorer backgrounds.”

She added: “To a person who’s working, £9k is not that bad but if you look at that figure from the perspective of someone who comes from nothing and whose mother and father never in their lives can conceive of £9k or let alone earn it then I think that figure can be seen as extremely threatening and intimidating. It’s really sad and awful. It's great that students are protesting. For years I came from a really non political generation."

It is not the first time Paloma has commented on the British education system in the Press.
She appeared on This Week alongside Michael Portillo to discuss education in October last year.

The singer confessed to looking forward to her Barbican show, a venue she admired when growing up.
She said: “It's always been this place that was like the cultural centre of the area I was brought up in. The Barbican was quite close so it feels quite exciting to be part of it.

As a kid growing up I always saw it as somewhere quite posh and where rich people go from the perspective of a young kid in Islington and Hackney. But now I’m playing there it feels like a breakthrough for me.”

SEE the first part of this interview here - Paloma's Bathtime Revelations

RECORD OF THE WEEK - THE NARCOLEPTIC DANCERS, Not Evident

THE advertising world has a lot to answer to. It may be able to make an artist but it's also succeeded in destroying an entire genre of kooky, quirky, lightweight indie pop through overkill (see Peter Bjorn and John ad infinitum).
The Narcoleptic Dancers have previously been victim to this. Latest single Not Evident has so far escaped, but if an ad exec gets wind of this cloud-tripping, happy clappy ditty, it will be the end. Lovely long-fringed Darwin-Deez-esque video.

STORNOWAY - A LOT MORE GOING ON THAN THE AVERAGE FOLKY BAND

THEIR foundation was based on a lie, they inherited a “wanted” van from a fugitive stalker and their musical background ranges from Zulu singing to traditional choirboy.
Not your average young folky band you might say.



Stornoway may be one of the most intelligent bands in the UK (PhD in Ornithology, MA in Russian Lit, doctor, chemist), and claim to be “timid” but these guys are anything but dull.
Six years junior to founder members Brian Briggs and Jonathan Ouin, who met at a freshers’ fair at Oxford Uni, bassist Ollie Steadman conned his way into an audition.

He said: “There was an ad for a bassist for an Oxford band. I replied by lying about my age which felt really silly in retrospect. It was a lie that took two years to kind of fade out. It was a gradual realisation, I never came clean with the truth. It’s a topic we never discuss because it basically means my first encounter with them was based on a lie and they will never trust me again.”

A while later, his younger brother drummer Rob followed, wowing the band with his adept knowledge of their songs – he’d been secretly eavesdropping when Ollie practiced at home.
Stornoway, tipped as next big indie nu-folk band, play Mencap ‘s Little Noise Sessions at Islington’s Union Chapel alongside Ellie Goulding and Tinashe (Nov 20).
The acclaimed set of gigs running from Nov 15 – 20 also features Tom Jones, Hurts, The Kooks, Paolo Nutini and Example.
Ollie said: “We really like that they limit the gig to 85 decibels. Our whole philosophy is to play as close to unplugged as possible.”
The same calm reigns on tour: “Everyone’s really cordial, we’ve never put face paint on someone who’s sleeping or be noisy. It’s all very polite. We’re all basically timid and don’t want to anger each other because in the past we used to be a bit more crazy.”

Ollie and Rob moved to England from South Africa when Ollie was 15. They grew up listening to traditional Zulu songs, and Afrikaans, classical and US chart music.
So Ollie had a lot of catching up to do when he moved over.
He said: “My friends started saying what about Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd? I’d never heard music by any of those. Seven years later I’m still catching up.”

He owes his affection for bass to an Oxford phenomenon, which has entered local legend status: “Rob’s drum teacher suddenly said “I don’t like drums anymore, buy yourself a bass or don’t turn up to the next lesson”. He bought the bass and it was lying around at home so I decided to pick it up. Two years later I joined Stornoway.
“We discovered the teacher said the same to all kids having drum lessons at the time. There’s a brief generation of kids in all the big Oxford bands who have the same story about how they started bass.”

The boys can be spotted driving around Oxford in a dodgy-looking van, that has attracted the attention of the police: “We have this van that was given to us by this strange man who slightly stalked us and fled the country to go to Saudi Arabia. It’s got tiger seat covers and strange markings inside as in maybe he was a criminal and the van was a cover–up, an accessory to a crime and maybe he wanted to get rid of it.”
Naturally they’ve been pulled over and it was impounded by the police for some time.

So anymore plans to educate yourself Mr Steadman? “I just finished my chemistry degree and that was four years of wasted time because it was time not spent on music. That’s my attitude to life, if I’m awake and not touching an instrument then I feel really quite empty. I basically depend on music and nothing else. I crave music all the time.”
• Info and tickets for Mencap Little Noise Sessions from www.littlenoisesessions.org.uk

FLOWERPOT'S NEW HOME, REPRODUCING ENDTRODUCING, HOWARD MARKS, MAYORS, MIGHTY BOOSH AND ZAPPA

THE Flowerpot's demise hadn’t reached the ears of Stornoway’s Ollie Steadman when I spoke to him on Friday. He sounded crestfallen on learning it had closed, saying it was one of Camden’s best venues. He soon came up with a generous idea – offering to play the venue’s launch when they find a new home. It might be sooner than we think. If rumours are true, we may find a Flowerpot residency at Johnny Flynn’s soon.

• Wonder what Howard Marks is like when he’s not regaling with tales of his misdeeds? See him on the decks at The Old Queen’s Head, Essex Road (Nov 12) – think he’s got Cypress Hill’s Mary Jane in there?

• Lovely to see Camden’s musical mayor Jonathan Simpson doing his bit for the borough’s music scene – he was a volunteer usher at the Roundhouse, hanging out with Noel Fielding (a mate I’m told) and Julian Barratt at The Mighty Boosh play Zappa on Saturday. He told me they need more volunteers – interested?



• Who else relied on DJ Shadow’s Endtroducing for their uni house party chill-out room? See 10-piece band Introducing reproduce every note of this essential album completely live at Koko (Nov 19) – a serious must.
Here's the original man in action.



• Judge just how close Diana Vickers’ single is to the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Under the Bridge, when she plays Koko (Nov 12) – I say very.

• Highgate’s The Boogaloo has a novel twist on the acoustic open mic night – proving a bit of an underground hit. At the monthly Under the Influence night, acts sing two songs of their own and one cover of the month’s featured artist – Nina Simone on Nov 22. Line-up includes The Joker and the Thief, Betty Steeles, Meow and Belle Humble. Entry only £2.

RECORD OF THE WEEK - RIZZLE KICKS, Down With The Trumpets

AS THE cold dark nights draw in here's a little bit of sunshine to throw off the clouds.
Brighton duo Rizzle Kicks have come up with a lively, groovy tune about...brass (until now, my least favourite instrument group). Down With the Trumpets has a ring of Man Like Me - another reason I like this one. A tea tray features heavily in the video - why not? They're unsigned but not for long - check them out on Youtube now.

THE FLOWERPOT'S DEMISE + LITTLE NOISE SECRETS + CHESNEY HAWKES SAY NO MORE

DESPITE management being “gutted” at shutting down, The Flowerpot’s final night on Sunday was one hell of a party. Shame Camden loses such an important venue in the year Mayor Jonathan Simpson has worked so hard to champion the borough’s musical heritage. Luckily they’re already working on a new home.


• Now’s the time to speculate on which special guests are going to pop up at the Union Chapel’s Mencap Little Noise Sessions. I’m thinking the Pet Shop Boys, who are playing the Big Noise Sessions, may just pop in on Hurts night (Nov 17). Or how about Kylie? She recently recorded a song with Hurts, is she due in the UK around then...Course I’m still hoping to see Paolo Nutini team up with Amy Winehouse. She’s played her fair share of secret gigs lately, so maybe she’ll joins our Scottish Italian darling on Nov 16.



• Atlanta soul artist Anthony David who played the Jazz Cafe last Thursday may have a brief insight into what it's like to be inside the President of the USA's mind. Apparently, he’s on Barak Obama’s iPod (a recommendation from the wife), as well as being cousins with Shawn Stockman of Boys II Men.

• My spies at the Camden Crawl launch party at the Bull and Gate last week have tipped Jon and Jehn as a defo must when planning your crawl route next year. Early bird tickets on sale now.

• Chesney Hawkes played The Luminaire last week – yes he is still going.

• The Constitution on St Pancras Way may be off the beaten track but hey, that’s where you find rough gems. Their sideline in decent gigs is a reasonably-guarded secret, see for yourself next time you're on the hunt for a good unsigned act,

MOURNING THE FLOWERPOT + ALICE COOPER'S FREAKY HALLOWEEN + TALIB KWELI'S BAD LUCK

MUSIC lovers of Camden Town are upset – favourite Kentish Town hangout The Flowerpot closes on Monday.

Born from the fire which turned Holloway Road muso-magnet Nambucca to cinders, it has become the real Camden music scene – a free gig every night, quality guaranteed. Musicians ran it, worked the bar and kept the dream alive but sadly, they say they’re gutted their lease has been sold. No more secret gigs from Jamie T and Reverend and the Makers. While they look for a new home at least New Year’s party with Foals at HMV Forum is still on.



Here's a recent interview with the guys who ran the place - before we knew it was closing Find The Flowerpot and You Won't Want to Leave.

• The saga of Talib Kweli’s bad luck continues. Last week I told you he raged at the plug being pulled on his Roundhouse set – see proof here. This week he tweeted his frustration that he wants to work with The Noisettes frontwoman Shingai Shoniwa but one of her people doesn’t know him so won’t put him in touch – ouch, ego dent x2. Sure Shingai would jump at the chance – if she gets it.

• If you don’t recognise Big Boi from HMV Forum's listings (November 1), he’s from Outkast – maybe you want a ticket now.

• A whole lotta music’s going on in Kentish Town’s Bull and Gate on Saturday at the Emergenza Festival. See the acts before they’re famous.
• Fans of Halloween horror may enjoy Alice Cooper’s Halloween Night of Fear (Sun and Mon) at the Roundhouse – too much freakiness for me.
 
• Feeling Gloomy’s Halloween Party at 02 Academy Islington (Oct 30) features Depeche Mode tribute act Speak and Spell – can’t get more scary than that.

BREAKBOT'S ON THE MOVE AGAIN

FIVE years ago Thibaut Berland was a successful animator, toiling away on big screen CG hits such as director Luc Besson’s children’s movie Arthur and the Invisibles.


Nowadays he’s an internationally renowned electro DJ, jetsetting around the world, hiding behind his long hair and going by the name of Breakbot.

As we speak he’s leaving Paris to play Hamburg and Berlin before heading to the UK to play a heavyweight electro set for the audience at Koko (November 6).

Also playing are some equally magnetic names – French electro-house superstar Sebastian, Reverend and the Makers side project Reverend Sound System, Eddy Temple-Morris and Tom Bellamy’s collaboration as Losers, electro funk punk specialists Punks Jump Up and east-London dance-pop trio Chew Lips.

Breakbot said: “I’ll do my best to make people dance and have a good time. I’m coming with Sebastian. I’m very happy to play alongside him. We’re doing separate sets but maybe we’ll do a little piece together.”

He may have left his animation behind for now but he’s making the most of his girlfriend’s artistic talents.
Director and artist Irina Dakeva had a heavy hand in artwork for Breakbot’s single covers and created the animated video to his single Baby I’m Yours.
He said: “I have total trust in her skills. I know she makes things really fresh. We’ve been together a long time. We’re going to try and make something out of the video for the live show.”



He’s played London many times and said: “I like UK audiences, they know about music. That’s not always the case in Europe. The UK really has a strong indication of music because so many bands come from there and change a lot of things in pop music.”

Breakbot’s as known for his remixes as his own work.
His secret remix wish, he confesses, would be....Beyonce, not a natural progression from his slightly less obvious back catalogue, which includes Late of the Pier, Digitalism, Sebastian Tellier and Röyksopp.
He said: “If Beyonce asked me, I would accept . I love Crazy In Love and all the stuff from the album You.”

He doesn’t pick the remixes, people request them, he says, adding: “When I think I can make something I decide to do it. When the vocals are good I say yes. I’m also working on my own album to be released next year.”

Breakbot, who graduated from the School of Graphic Supinfocom, was working on graphics at home but turned to music in his spare time.

He said: “Sometimes when I was fed up with my work I tried to have fun. One day in 2005 I made a MySpace page and made contacts from that. Then I did some gigs. It all started with MySpace and three years later Ed Banger (records) contacted me. It went all like that very naturally. I never thought I would be making music as a career one day. Since I began this job I’m very happy because I think it’s one of the best jobs in the world. I never expected to do this. I’m just trying to make the best of it, have fun and try not to make people sad around me.”

RECORD OF THE WEEK - JONA LEWIE PRESENTS MAN LIKE ME, You'll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties

IF YOU watch X-Factor and don't get up for a cuppa during the ads, you'll have seen Man Like Me dancing around a house of kitchens promoting Ikea covering Jona Lewie's 1980 hit You'll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties.
Band member and - it turns out - talented impressionist Pete Duffy sings lead instead of frontman Jonny Langer (deemed too wild for this song) and replicates Lewie's voice perfectly. This is the most restrained MLM - loved for their energetic dancing - have ever been. Great song but next time Ikea use one of MLM's originals.

TALIB KWELI'S STAGE RAGE + LITTLE NOISE SESSIONS + THE RETURN OF MILES KANE

RAPPER Talib Kweli exploded in fury last week when the plug was pulled on his Roundhouse show midway through the final track.
Swearing in rage at the “disrespect”, he vowed never to play the venue again.



In a way he’s right, it’s a huge affront to an artist to be cut off mid-performance – in the case of Missy Elliott at Wireless this year, it was awkward and embarrassing to see the dancers flailing about wondering where their beats had gone.



But it’s not fair to blame the Roundhouse – yes licensing laws are there for a reason and neighbours need to be protected but surely there could be a short grace period post cut-off time?

• Latest names to be added to Mencap Little Noise Sessions at Islington’s Union Chapel are The Kooks, Example, John Bramwell, We Are Scientists and Leah Mason (Nov 18) and Ellie Goulding, Stornoway and Tinashé (Nov 20).

• Placebo fans watch out – former drummer and co-songwriter Steve Hewitt and his new band Love Amongst Ruin play Relentless Garage (Oct 30). New single ‘Home’ is out Oct 25.

• Not content with fronting cheeky scamps The Rascals, being Alex Turner’s bessie mate and one half of The Last Shadow Puppets, one of my favourite musicians Miles Kane is off on another side project. His obsession with psychedelia comes to fruition with the release of debut single Inhaler, an adaptation of 1969 track Mother Nature Father Earth in tribute to 60s LA psychedelic garage group Bonniwell Music Machine. He plays Monto Water Rats (Nov 23) and HMV Forum (Dec 7).

• Also at Relentless Garage, Liam Gallagher’s clothes label Pretty Green launches a club night (Nov 26) – live music from Exit Calm plus DJ sets from Andy Bell (ex-Oasis), Paul Gallagher (yes, his other bro), Eddie Piller and Jamie Skillz. But will Limo be there in his own clothes?

PATIENCE...DARWIN DEEZ IS SPEAKING

GEMSTONES, 25 cents a week, chores on the refrigerator, Mushpea the dog, Honda car trips, Discman, In Utero, Metalheadz – a potted history of Darwin Deez’s formative years in his own words.

New York singer Deez is in a van, heading to Newcastle and proving a tricky subject.
If he isn’t turning the questions on his interviewer, he’s taking his sweet time between Every. Single. Utterance.

Take this prime example when asked about his abstract videos: “Em....err...(10 second pause) I spaced out, what was the question?”
Somewhat contradictorily, Deez professes to be a “very, very, very” impatient person – so, for the benefit of others like him, we shall forego the pauses and deliver the readers digest version.
Deez plays Scala with his ultra-hip geeky band on October 26.
“We’re going to sing and dance and be in the moment and it’s going to be fun,” he says.
The shows are famous for their inventive dance routines to mash-ups of tracks by other artists in between their own songs.

Deez said: “We’ve just put two brand new ones in the set. It has to be a surprise...Is that what you really, really want? That was my hint... I get really enamoured with certain songs and making a dance to them is a nice way of doing something with that love and sharing the music with people. It’s very satisfying.”
He added: “The stuff we dance to is pretty far away from us but it adds to the entertainment value. If we
stuck to one kind of music it wouldn’t necessarily make the same impression intellectually ...I’m always tickled by a good mashup.”

And he’s got a plan: “It’s my mission is to make music for people who are not even music fans. I want to make their next favourite song. I also want it to have value to music fans.”

Anyone familiar with the video to recent hit Radar Detector will recognise the colourful indie-flick style of Deez’ work.
Although he gives most of the credit to the director, it was his idea to hoover up his own shadow and, he reveals, despite the video showing results to the contrary, his disposable camera panorama hat didn’t really work.

He said: “It was just a prop but don’t tell people that. You see what you’ve done, you go after the truth and you ruin the magic.”
While touring the UK, Deez has begun writing rap music “a stream of consciousness”, he says.

“I haven’t written any lyrics in a long time. Not actual Darwin Deez music just hip hop. I just wanted to do something fun. I’ve gotten a lot better this summer. I can get better.”
His videos seem full of joy but is he happy?: “Yeah....that’s my image isn’t it? Don’t be fooled though, I feel all emotions?”

But it is this anecdote about plans to prank a friend, which is most telling about Deez’ character: “We were going to hide behind somebody’s curtains and turn the TV on and off so they thought there was a ghost in their room. But we never did it. We did steal the keycard but we didn’t follow through.”
So full of ideas but too laid-back to do them then?
“Yeah, that’s me to a T.”

SCROOBIUS PIP JOINS HIP HOP TWITTER TRIBUTES TO EYEDEA, WHO HAS DIED TOO YOUNG

FANS of rapper Michael "Eyedea" Larsen have been left stunned by the news of his death.
Eyedea made a name for himself, winning the respect of the hip-hop industry with his incredible freestyle battle skills.
His mother broke the news of the sad loss on Facebook.
She wrote: "It is with great pain and sadness that I tell you my son Mikey (Eyedea) has passed away.

At this time we kindly request your respect and our privacy as we process this devastating loss.
We do, however, welcome your kind words, memories, and positive thoughts."
She went on to say donations were being accepted towards the cost of the service, adding: "On behalf of Mikey's family, close friends and fans. Thank you - Kathy Averill."
Friends are planning a memorial fundraiser.

Last night twitter was alight with tributes from the hip-hop community, fans, and fellow rappers.
British hip-hop poet Scroobius Pip wrote from his account @scroobiuspipyo: "Just heard about Eyedea. If true, its a fucking tragedy man. E&A day is one of my favourite hiphop albums of all time. A great loss. RIP"
Others just celebrated his skills, with one fan describing him as "one of the most unique stylers of our craft".
Here's a reminder of the artist in action at his best.



If you don't know what he looks like, check this:

TALIB, TORNADOES AND GUTTER RAINBOWS

“IF SKILLS sold truth be told, I’d probably be, lyrically Talib Kweli,” so sang Jay-Z in his 2003 album track Moment of Clarity.
It’s a line that haunts rapper Talib Kweli, a sign of the high regard he holds with the hip-hop fraternity, who covet this wordsmith’s tongue.

But Talib, widely seen as one of America’s greatest hip-hop lyricists, doesn’t mind. In fact, he says: “I take it as a huge compliment. Don’t be fooled I’ve dumbed down lyrics before. I just haven’t done it at the level Jay-Z has. I’ve songs where I’m having fun, playing around and I like those songs. Sometimes that works but I haven’t made a career out of it like Jay-Z.”

Talib plays Lyrical Alliance at the Roundhouse (Saturday), joining leading Arab hip hop artists –Algeria’s Rabah Ourrad, British Palestinian MC Shadia Mansour, dubbed the first lady of Arabic hip-hop, Palestinian Israeli Tamer Nafar who sings in Arabic, Hebrew and English, Lebanon’s Rayess Bek and VJ Jana Saleh and Jordanian rapper Samm.

It’s a night where the Middle East meets West and Arab hip-hop takes centre stage.

So where does Talib fit in? Not so naturally he admits “I’ve never heard Arab hip hop or been to a country where the language is Arabic”, adding: “I’m definitely excited about doing something different and possibly learning more about hip-hop in another language.”
Although artists like Mansour are particularly political, Talib’s not picking sides.
He said: “(Palestine and Israel) need to work harder at getting along and hitting extremists who too often misrepresent what rational sane people think. I don’t think extremism on any side is warranted. But I also recognise we live in a world where the struggle of the Palestinians is under-represented in my view. I believe in fairness, balance and clarity so anything that brings eyes to that I’m down with it.”
The oppressed have always adapted to hip-hop says Talib, adding: “Hip hop is folk music not in the sense of soft focus, it speaks the language of people at the time when they are still speaking it. A lot of music speaks a language from years back...hip hop often speaks the language of the reality existing right now.”

Album Gutter Rainbows, his childhood name for puddle oil slicks, a phenomenon he recently discovered immortalised as gasoline rainbows in classic novel Catcher in the Rye, is out in November.

He said: “When the rain and dirt mix together, it forms a little rainbow. When I was a little kid not knowing it was from oil and pollution I was just thinking wow that’s nice. You know when you live in a city and there’s a heavy wind and the wind tunnels through the buildings and forms these little rainstorms, these little tiny tornadoes, you can see the leaves sort of dancing? That’s like an inner city tornado. There’s things in the city that are nature that happen because of man made things, buildings, pollution, but somehow nature seems to find a way to give us rainbows, tornadoes.”

WHERE'S JOHNNY? DEPP'S STUNT DOUBLE KNOWS + LITTLE NOISE + BRAVO MOBO NOMINEES AKALA AND N-DUBS

EVER wondered what Johnny Depp’s stunt double does when not risking his life to save Hollywood’s most precious cheekbones?
Turns out Pirates of the Caribbean cast member Scott Sener is a musician. He supports Camden band Earth Prayer – fronted by Heidi Jo Hines, daughter of former Wings guitarist and Moody Blues founder member Denny Laine – at a free gig at Scars Studio, 20 Castlehaven Road, Camden Town, on Saturday.
Sener’s invited cast members so keep your eyes peeled for the genuine article – Mr Depp has been known to pop up at the odd underground gig – ask Babybird.

(Can't find a clip of Earth Prayer so here's Heidi Jo Hines on her lonesome).

• Fellow music lovers, it’s all happening. Once you’ve completed the three peaks challenge of Elton, Neil Diamond and Robert Plant at Electric Proms (Oct 28 – 30) – here’s what’s coming up.
• Regular readers will know this is my absolute fave series of gigs, Mencap Little Noise Sessions return to the Union Chapel (Nov 15 – 20) with Tom Jones, Paolo Nutini and Hurts latest headliners to be announced – my pick so far – Hurts. Be there.
• Can’t believe we’re talking about the Camden Crawl already but early bird tickets go on sale at the Bull and Gate launch gig (Oct 28) – The Chapman Family, DELS, Hook & the Twin, John & Jehn, Martyna Baker and the inevitable secret guest tba by Twitter of course!
• If you missed Tim Robbins at the Union Chapel, you can catch him supporting Paolo Nutini at the Q Awards gigs at HMV Forum (Oct 22).
Also playing are Jamiroquai (Oct 20), Chase and Status (Oct 22) and Mark Ronson & The Business INTL (+ Rose Elinor Dougal) (Oct 23).
• Bravo N-Dubz and Akala for Mobo nominations – find out if they won (Oct 20).

ARCHIVE MOMENT - PYTHON LEE JACKSON FEATURING ROD STEWART, In A Broken Dream

THANK you to whichever radio station reminded me of this song today.
Must NOT be forgotten.
I searched for original footage of Australian band Python Lee Jackson but failed miserably.
In the late 60s Stewart recorded a number of tracks with these guys, In a Broken Dream being my favourite - sublime guitars and Rod's stunning vocals. 
Check out the photo of Python Lee Jackson on Wikipedia. It could have been taken today - the fashions have come round again, new bands still pose in the same way and the haircuts would be no stranger to any slightly trend conscious street near you.
Don't be put off by the apparently bad dubbing - the track has been put against footage of Rod singing something entirely different but sadly there seems to be no actual footage of the song so squint your eyes and pretend he's singing this one!

WHICH MILIBAND IS A-PUNK? HOW MANY IN ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT + GOLDIE IN THE RING

HOW much do we really care about a politician’s record-sifting skills? 

If you're a Labour party member, maybe more than you think.

Before the election David Miliband told me his chosen campaign music would be Things Can Only Get Better – Blair’s atrocious D:Ream New Labour anthem.

Hmmm, I thought, can’t Mr M think of a single new track in the last 13 years? Even a classical piece would have been more forgivable.
Last week young Ed Miliband marched to victory over his sibling for the Labour leadership - his chosen anthem? Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw – a neighbour of David – pointed out helpfully it was Vampire Weekend’s A-Punk. Say no more.

Course I prefer Cousins...

• I never really worked out how many people were in the laid-back extended family that made up Arrested Development. Count for yourself when they play the Barbican supported by M3SNA, October 13.
• He’s wearing gaudy gold shirts and competing with Anne Widdecombe on the dancefloor, Soundclash, he’s put on a penguin suit and conducted full-scale orchestras but happily Goldie is returning to what he does best at Roundhouse Culture Clash (Oct 14). Four contending soundsystems, five rounds, one champ – it’s like fight club with Metalheadz, Scream & Benga, Channel One Soundsystem and Soul Jazz Records with Don Letts as referee.

WHAT HAVE ELTON JOHN, ROBERT PLANT AND NEIL DIAMOND GOT IN COMMON? ROUNDHOUSE ELECTRICS!

I’VE made my point on this page before but what has happened to the Electric Proms?
Firstly, it’s been rebranded BBC Radio 2 Electric Proms (Oct 28-30) – the organisers have made that very clear to all Press.

Secondly the headliners – Elton John, Robert Plant and Neil Diamond – are all only slightly one side or the other of claiming their pensions.

Thirdly, we all fought to save BBC 6 Music, they had their own section to the Proms last year but by Radio 2 taking over, we’ve lost that edge.
The greatest news about this year’s line-up, whose most likely highly varied followers would class as legends in their own special way, is that a restricted number of £5 tickets will be released in the weeks leading up to the festival.
Don’t bank on these but for those who do snap them up, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience...of sorts.
Now this is not an ageist page. In fact Robert Plant featured here a couple of weeks ago when he played Kentish Town’s Forum, and Led Zep remnants are always welcome here, but this is more about the lack of
new blood, and, at risk of sounding like a council flyer for youth services – diversity.
Radio 2 may be a part of the establishment but it does also feature good new music – just this weekend Dermot O’Leary played Villagers on his show. So why keep it so limited?
This year’s Proms will include a tiny sprinkling of younger pop acts – Plan B and Rumer will join Elton and Plant gets the London Oriana Choir (Oct 29).
But the Electric Proms tagline was always “creating new moments in music”.
There’s no doubt Elton, launching the show on Thursday (Oct 28) will put on a good show, and he’s a master at collaborations so there’ll definitely be some surprises but how is this going to work with Neil Diamond?

The greatest show I ever saw at the Proms was Africa Express. It had been a Proms staple but last year mysteriously dropped off the bill. 

Africa Express really defined the Electric Proms – a world away from the stuffy flag-waving crowd at the traditional Proms, it featured more than 100 artists of every discipline and background, crammed on Koko’s stage, jamming and experimenting like true musicians at the greatest party ever.
In 2008, it was Damon Albarn who brought it together and he’s been touring with various incarnations ever since.
It’s just a shame we don’t get it in Camden anymore.
This is not supposed to be a major moan about the Electric Proms.
Where else will you get the chance to see Elton at such close quarters for only £25?
He’ll be joining his idol Leon Russell to play tracks from new album The Union but the classics will be there too.
And how will Plant create his “new moments” with the choir?
Sure Neil Diamond will attract some older fans but also that irritating contingent who danced/drank/hooked up/staggered home to “I’m a Believer” and ”Sweet Caroline” at every university summer ball/formal etc. Sadly Neil, you’re responsible for too many bad memories.
As no other acts have been announced to join him, it would appear he will be making his new moments by himself. If none do materialise, it might be fair to say the concept’s becoming a myth.
He’s promising to play songs from his new album as well as old favourites so maybe he can redeem himself.
The good news is the whole thing will be broadcast on Radio 2 for those who miss it, presented by Bob Harris (any excuse to hear more of Harris’ voice is very welcome).
Performances will be broadcast on BBC 2 with the prefix A Night With...you fill in the gap.
• Tickets for the R2 Electric Proms, are £25 from www.bbc.co.uk/radio2.
• A restricted number of £5 tickets will be released in the weeks leading up to the festival.

RECORD OF THE WEEK - WU LYF, Lucifer Calling

I HAD picked a totally different ROTW but then I heard this.
Wu Lyf – unsigned – stopped me in my tracks. They are masters of obscurity, dealing in misdirection and a leaving a web-wide trail of clues. Calling Lucifer has that rough appeal of a first gig – shredded, raw and echoing in a venue too big for it. The addictive, coarse vocals are so unclear they’re almost implied while the instrumentals are both arresting and suffocating. And they’re from Manchester. Check out their back catalogue...if you can track it down.