ARABIAN KNIGHTZ DOUBLE THEIR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT EGYPTIAN REVOLUTION

EGYPT is broken.
But from the ashes of this uprising, there is hope for a more free future.
Egypt's musicians have been rallying the crowds at Tahrir Square and busy working away at new revolutionary songs.
Egyptian rappers Arabian Knightz called for an uprising in song Rebel (ft Lauryn Hill), and released it in its most raw format the minute the media blackout was lifted.
Listen here
During the rebellion, they also penned Not Your Prisoner especially for protestors (ft Shadia Mansour and Fredwreck).
The video is a compilation of some of the most jarring moments of the last few days, events that are almost irreconcilable with the Egypt I know and love.
But all these things really happened.
It is for the people and government to ensure this is never again repeated.

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.”

VOLCANO MADNESS AND GIGS FOR POLITICS

ANYTHING can happen in the streets of Camden. We’ve had Madness on a double-decker bus, Reverend and the Makers’ Jon McClure playing outside Morrisons and now it’s the turn of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

To appease fans waiting outside the Electric Ballroom last week – their gig began late due to volcano-induced equipment delays – frontman Robert Levon Been came out and played a medley before returning inside and carrying on with borrowed equipment.

Resourceful musicians elsewhere have also been finding ways to occupy themselves while stranded.
Dub Pistols had to cancel their Budapest gig, but good news for London fans, they play a special DJ set at InSpiral lounge in Camden Town on Friday (April 23), free before 11pm.
Nas and Damian Marley’s Electric Ballroom gig on Wednesday was also cancelled.
Ronnie Scott’s has been deluged with calls from musicians with too much free time on their hands, hoping to replace vacant spaces where others have cancelled. In place of US trumpeter Wallace Roney, who couldn’t travel to the UK, two-time Grammy winner Dee Dee Bridgewater, stuck here since performing at the Barbican on Friday, was drafted in to perform in his place.

- If you can get hold of tickets for Instigate Debate at Islington’s Union Chapel (April 26) – this is one pre-election event not to miss. Instigate Debate is a counterculture project formed by a collective of musicians including Carl Barat and Jon McClure, plus journalist Mark Donne and John O’Sullivan. The likes of Vivienne Westwood and Peter Tatchell will be debating “Is the Party Over?”, with performances from The Magic Numbers and Rose Elinor. The audience member who writes the best 100-word argument on the topic wins a free gig in their own home from a surprise line-up of exciting musicians.

GORILLAZ, Dead by Sunrise, Eartraining, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Egyptian Lover, Camden Barfly

I'VE signed the three-page confidentiality agreement and have promised not to say a word until Feb 22. No, it's nothing to do with John Terry's injunction, just the paperwork we've got to go through to get hold of Gorillaz new album, which should be on its way as we speak - by email - so don't even bother trying to intercept my post!! I'll tell you all about it in good time - after the 22nd...
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I'm not ashamed to admit it but there's little better than blasting Linkin Park as loud as possible on road trips. Now frontman Chester Bennington's side project Dead by Sunrise play their first UK side project at HMV Forum (Feb 19), but are they as good as the Park?
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Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s Forum date has sold out so they’ve given fans one more chance to catch them in London, and this one’s in Camden too. They’ve booked Electric Ballroom on April 15. Their fifth studio album, Beat The Devil’s Tattoo, is out March 8.
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Ever been that one person in the band who wishes they were just that much more in tune with everyone else? Do you love music but want to learn to hear even better. A new website www.easyeartraining.com, launching Monday at a secret location in Islington will help you do just that. "With a little bit of training, you’ll be able to discern minute details in sound which you never knew were there," they
promise. Email april@EasyEarTraining.com to reserve a place.
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Got to mention Egyptian Lover who plays The Big Chill House on Feb 12 - timely after our African Nations Cup final victory this week. Known as the Hugh Hefner of hip-hop, Greg James Broussard, aka Egyptian Lover has been enthralling with his electro talents for 25 years.
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Barfly Camden reopened last week after a full refurb and it's looking good by all accounts.