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).

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.
 

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?

LIAM GALLAGHER IN JOG SHOCK + LITTLE J'S RECKLESS MEDICINE

WHAT'S happening to our rock idols? They’re getting respectable in their old age. My spies spotted an early morning jogger legging it through Hampstead last week, dressed in all the kit. Closer inspection revealed it to be Liam Gallagher. I’d say this is a more shocking image than the usual pics of him swearing and scowling at photographers.

• There’s something uncomfortable about watching Gossip Girl actress Taylor Momsen fronting The Pretty Reckless. Over here recently on tour with her 40-something band, the 16-year-old singer/actress resembled a character from Tim Burton’s The Corpse Bride – spindly, pale, and with eyeshadow so heavy, her eyes were two bottomless holes. In interviews she came across almost as moody as her character little Jenny has become, and equally as pretentious. But, I’m ready to give her the benefit of the doubt – it could just be the trappings of fame and naivety of youth. Her mesh of Courtney Love grungy angst and Juliette Lewis’s country twang is mesmerising and her vocals are unexpectedly soul-laden. Single Make Me Wanna Die is out now and debut album is released later this year. Look out for My Medicine, easily the best of the short selection I’ve heard so far. This is the clearest footage of the My Medicine I could find.

• One Taste, one of south London’s hottest underground music and spoken word nights, has been the launchpad for many fledgling unsigned acts. Scroobius Pip, Beth Rowley and Newton Falkner have all graced its stage and now it’s coming to Camden. One Taste Koko brings together unsigned acts with established artists in an alternative showcase on June 16, featuring Va Voi Woon, Polarbear, Kate Tempest, David J, and Mercury nominees Portico Quartet.

OZZY OZBOURNE GOES DARK FOR THE ROUNDHOUSE ITUNES FESTIVAL

TIME was, Ozzy Osbourne was primarily associated with Black Sabbath, alter-ego The Prince of Darkness and his on and offstage antics.

But in these days of celebrity obsession, half his family have overtaken him. The media spotlight spends more time shining on wife Sharon’s celebrity judge stints, daughter Kelly’s weight-loss and son Jack’s latest daredevil stunt.

In turn, Ozzy’s become the Boris Johnson face of heavy metal – a harmless-looking amiable mumbling chap, with unkempt hair, a questionable past and  oft-seen wobbling on  two wheels. But give the guy a break, he’s taking his limelight back and will be trying to be as convincing as possible as The Prince of Darkness at July’s month-long iTunes Festival at the Roundhouse.

The full 31-day line-up – featuring more than 60 acts – has not yet been announced but we do know Scissor Sisters, Tony Bennett, Faithless, The XX, Chew Lips, The Drums, Chipmunk, Darwin Deez, Ellie Goulding, Kate Nash, Diana Vickers and Daisy Dares You are all on the bill. 

Pick the right gig and you could inevitably find yourself witnessing one of those rare, historic sets that brings more than you bargained for. At last year’s festival Liam Gallagher made headlines at one of Oasis’s final performances when he strode on stage in a furious mood, eyeballing the crowd and swearing about students throwing beer at him. Even so, they played on for two hours, although at times it looked like Liam was about to go on strike.

The atmosphere between him and Noel was visibly tense, as big bro dismissed his sulky younger sibling and played on while Liam collected himself. But the entire evening was electric and one that won’t easily be forgotten. The irreparable cracks were pushed further apart and it was only a matter of time until our boys just couldn't stand to share the same stage any more.

The iTunes sets are usually quite short but who’s complaining when there’s the chance to see some huge acts up close for free. 

That’s not to say you can just walk in. Apple is making tickets available through Facebook and a series of competitions and giveaways. My only reservation about this is it seems you can only access their iTunes page by allowing it to access your own Facebook page and take the details of your friends.

I may be wrong about this, but I could find no other way of getting on to it. 

It will be the first time that Ozzy, Scissor Sisters and Tony Bennett have graced the Roundhouse stage.

All performances will be recorded and can be bought from iTunes stores worldwide. The best of the festival will be broadcast on ITV.

• Visit www.itunesfestival.co.uk

BRITS, WIGS, TRIPS AND FLIDS (Liam - that's you)

NEITHER N-Dubz nor Alexandra Burke won a Brit this year so unless Lady Gaga or Jay-Z have some secret north London connections, we’re pretty much done here. Instead, here’s what I noticed.

• The Brits evoked anger in a lot of people this year, you only need to follow Twitter to see. There was room for some hearty pop but some real questions about how out of touch it has become remain. Case in point – Best Album of Last 30 Years category was a travesty - Dido/Duffy - seriously?
I'm still struggling to comprehend how they made it into the top 10. Bearing the competition in mind, Oasis' What's the Story Morning Glory was the only possible winner.
However, if there had been a credible top 10 selection I doubt this would've been the case.

• Too much Spice Girls stage time.

• Success stories were nutty Lady Gaga and boy band JLS. Major fails from Jonathan Ross dressing as Dizzee, and from poor selection of award-givers in Sam Fox and Alan Carr.

• Jay-Z, Dizzee, Florence and Cheryl put on a fine show – I wasn’t looking at the screen so didn’t notice any miming – though Mrs Cole appeared angry about something.

• Robbie, growing in confidence, still has the look of a post-haircut Sampson in his eyes – a broken man who’s lost his power. Yet the difference is, Robbie looks grateful.

• Angry again Liam Gallagher dissed his brother by omission, swore onstage and chucked his award and mic into crowd. Cue urgent appeals during ads for mic to be returned or one of the performers will not be able to sing – sincerely.

• Kasabian’s Tom Meighan momentarily forgot his swagger as he bounded onstage, promptly falling flat on his face. He looked tempted to throw his award into the crowd but couldn’t bring himself to part with it.

• Lady Gaga disappointed Courtney Love and Geri Halliwell by not singing something they knew - how thoughtless.

• Lily Allen appeared to wear at least three wigs – a brown bob for the red carpet, a Dynasty-esque Joan Collins one for her opening performance of The Fear and a big old ginger Vivienne Westwood/Cilla one to collect her award. The reason for the ginger one? So the camera couldn’t pick out her disappointed expression if she lost, which she didn’t.

• Ellie Goulding was so taken aback with her Critics’ Choice award she looked like she was going to crumple in front of us.

• I still love Kasabian.