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.