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).
Showing posts with label Nina Simone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nina Simone. Show all posts
Thursday, 16 December 2010
Thursday, 11 November 2010
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.
• 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.
Thursday, 23 September 2010
LADY GAGA WHO? MIDLIFE CRISIS ME? TIM ROBBINS AND THE ROGUES GALLERY BAND TAKE OVER NORTH LONDON
NOTE: I was lucky enough to interview actor Tim Robbins this weekend - here is the first of two stories to come from this. The second is below.
IT'S 5am in an airport lounge in Hawaii and actor Tim Robbins is speaking quietly into his mobile phone trying desperately not to be “that guy”.
The wedding he was at ended a couple of hours ago and Robbins just laughs when I ask if he’s merry.
“I’ll never tell,” he says heartily.
Robbins and The Rogues Gallery Band play Islington’s Union Chapel on Wednesday and the chapel fits the one criteria the Hollywood actor/director/singer requested of all venues on this tour.
“I wanted to make sure they weren't too big and that they didn't have bars actually inside the room I was playing in,” he said. “I'm all for bars but it gets noisy and the songs I'm playing are a little more intimate than that... to make sure that we have a shot at telling the stories.”
The band name should give a hint at what Robbins’ music is all about, a bit folksy, described as “rousing, raggle-taggle gypsy Americana and story telling songs”.
His debut eponymously titled album, out September 27, will be the 51-year-old actor's first.
But don’t be fooled into trying to match the lyrics to Robbins’ real life.
“The stories are about all kinds of different things, people I've run into on the road who've told me their stories, things I've read in newspapers, moments in time in my own life...I was down in New Orleans in June and I wrote a lyric about an experience I had down there...What was the experience? Oh I don't know, no comment.”
And this is Robbins' attitude if you try to get close to his personal reality.
He warns: “If you're listening to an album and you're thinking about the personal life of a person you should probably check into an institution. People that are obsessed with other people's personal life who they don’t know, it's kind of a little silly and a waste of time. I believe that as well with people you do know. Mind your own business.
“It's a real good idea to try not to get into people's personal business because it's trouble. It's true. In personal business of friend of yours if you start laying your opinions on their personal situation can only lead to bad things. Sure you can be an open hearted compassionate person and be a sounding board if a friend's in trouble but to then pry and to needle someone. You know it’s not good.”
That's not to say he doesn't pull on real-life experiences in his writing – just be warned, his songs were written well-before his much-publicised break-up with actress Susan Sarandon, a fact he wants to stress.
He said: “I would like to set the record straight. If you heard Desert Island Discs I was clearly making a joke – the “midlife crisis” thing.”
Robbins has been affronted by UK Press taking his joke and suggesting he wrote the album after the break-up. So much so that he has asked if this interview is being taped for accuracy.
He said: “For them to write a story about how I did the album as a response to recent events and then have a psychiatrist write a side article about what men go through in a midlife crisis is and compare my situation to someone who's institutionalised and on and on...it was like really? Is it that important to make some story up where there is no story. All these songs were written way before any recent events in my personal life and have to do with many, many different things and about zero to do with a midlife crisis.”
(An old clip - can't find any recent ones).
So what is he singing about then?
“When I'm inspired by something or someone, whether it's inspiration from frustration and anger or from being touched by something.
IT'S 5am in an airport lounge in Hawaii and actor Tim Robbins is speaking quietly into his mobile phone trying desperately not to be “that guy”.
The wedding he was at ended a couple of hours ago and Robbins just laughs when I ask if he’s merry.
“I’ll never tell,” he says heartily.
Robbins and The Rogues Gallery Band play Islington’s Union Chapel on Wednesday and the chapel fits the one criteria the Hollywood actor/director/singer requested of all venues on this tour.
“I wanted to make sure they weren't too big and that they didn't have bars actually inside the room I was playing in,” he said. “I'm all for bars but it gets noisy and the songs I'm playing are a little more intimate than that... to make sure that we have a shot at telling the stories.”
The band name should give a hint at what Robbins’ music is all about, a bit folksy, described as “rousing, raggle-taggle gypsy Americana and story telling songs”.
His debut eponymously titled album, out September 27, will be the 51-year-old actor's first.
But don’t be fooled into trying to match the lyrics to Robbins’ real life.
“The stories are about all kinds of different things, people I've run into on the road who've told me their stories, things I've read in newspapers, moments in time in my own life...I was down in New Orleans in June and I wrote a lyric about an experience I had down there...What was the experience? Oh I don't know, no comment.”
And this is Robbins' attitude if you try to get close to his personal reality.
He warns: “If you're listening to an album and you're thinking about the personal life of a person you should probably check into an institution. People that are obsessed with other people's personal life who they don’t know, it's kind of a little silly and a waste of time. I believe that as well with people you do know. Mind your own business.
“It's a real good idea to try not to get into people's personal business because it's trouble. It's true. In personal business of friend of yours if you start laying your opinions on their personal situation can only lead to bad things. Sure you can be an open hearted compassionate person and be a sounding board if a friend's in trouble but to then pry and to needle someone. You know it’s not good.”
That's not to say he doesn't pull on real-life experiences in his writing – just be warned, his songs were written well-before his much-publicised break-up with actress Susan Sarandon, a fact he wants to stress.
He said: “I would like to set the record straight. If you heard Desert Island Discs I was clearly making a joke – the “midlife crisis” thing.”
Robbins has been affronted by UK Press taking his joke and suggesting he wrote the album after the break-up. So much so that he has asked if this interview is being taped for accuracy.
He said: “For them to write a story about how I did the album as a response to recent events and then have a psychiatrist write a side article about what men go through in a midlife crisis is and compare my situation to someone who's institutionalised and on and on...it was like really? Is it that important to make some story up where there is no story. All these songs were written way before any recent events in my personal life and have to do with many, many different things and about zero to do with a midlife crisis.”
(An old clip - can't find any recent ones).
So what is he singing about then?
“When I'm inspired by something or someone, whether it's inspiration from frustration and anger or from being touched by something.
“I've written completely sober. I've written a few late night in hotel rooms. A lot of the album is from hotel rooms. I hate hotel rooms. When I'm on the road I try to remain open to experience. It's the only way I can be away from home. You know you have to treat it as a blessing. We find ourselves in circumstances we wouldn't normally be in and oftentimes that leads to conversations or a character that is intriguing. So you go home and you write.”
So the few insights I can gather about Robbins' life away from work include his love of riding his bicycle, and working in his garden “no skydiving for me”.
His confession that Abba is his guilty pleasure: “Abba can get in my skin sometimes. I can forget myself sometimes with Abba. All of a sudden you start tapping your foot.”
His admiration for Nina Simone's Sinnerman: “It just rocks. It's just got such a great groove on it and she's just amazing. They way she performs and interprets songs is just genius.”
His thirst for learning about new music from his children: “They've introduced me to Arcade Fire, Fleet Foxes, LCD Soundsystem, I'll stop there. I just absolutely love the new Arcade Fire album.”
His choice of funeral music: “I would like a second line. It's a New Orleans tradition. The first line is the brass band that plays on the way to the cemetery and the second line is the one that plays on the way back. The first one is super slow and the second line is a kind of celebration, it’s very uplifting, danceworthy.”
And his dislike of the outside world intruding on his home life: “You know what boring very liberating thing you can do is to get rid of your answering machine. That was really a great liberation for me. So I'm trying to apply that to the cellphone and voicemail. When you get home you should be home so I try to get any business done before I get home but I’m not perfect.”
It seems like he has succeeded on this last task as when I ask what he thinks of tabloid staple Lady Gaga, he replies genuinely: “Who?
Honestly I don’t listen to hit music, I don’t listen to radio stations, I don’t have a television either so she’s kind of not landed on my lap and so I don’t have an opinion either way.”
• Tim Robbins and the Rogues Gallery Band play the Union Chapel (Sept 30) and HMV Forum, along with Paolo Nutini for the Q Awards Show (Oct 22).
So the few insights I can gather about Robbins' life away from work include his love of riding his bicycle, and working in his garden “no skydiving for me”.
His confession that Abba is his guilty pleasure: “Abba can get in my skin sometimes. I can forget myself sometimes with Abba. All of a sudden you start tapping your foot.”
His admiration for Nina Simone's Sinnerman: “It just rocks. It's just got such a great groove on it and she's just amazing. They way she performs and interprets songs is just genius.”
His thirst for learning about new music from his children: “They've introduced me to Arcade Fire, Fleet Foxes, LCD Soundsystem, I'll stop there. I just absolutely love the new Arcade Fire album.”
His choice of funeral music: “I would like a second line. It's a New Orleans tradition. The first line is the brass band that plays on the way to the cemetery and the second line is the one that plays on the way back. The first one is super slow and the second line is a kind of celebration, it’s very uplifting, danceworthy.”
And his dislike of the outside world intruding on his home life: “You know what boring very liberating thing you can do is to get rid of your answering machine. That was really a great liberation for me. So I'm trying to apply that to the cellphone and voicemail. When you get home you should be home so I try to get any business done before I get home but I’m not perfect.”
It seems like he has succeeded on this last task as when I ask what he thinks of tabloid staple Lady Gaga, he replies genuinely: “Who?
Honestly I don’t listen to hit music, I don’t listen to radio stations, I don’t have a television either so she’s kind of not landed on my lap and so I don’t have an opinion either way.”
• Tim Robbins and the Rogues Gallery Band play the Union Chapel (Sept 30) and HMV Forum, along with Paolo Nutini for the Q Awards Show (Oct 22).
Thursday, 19 August 2010
SHIPWRECKED TIM ROBBINS SAILS INTO THE UNION CHAPEL, MORRISSEY'S CHEERY EFFECT, SHED SEVEN RAKE UP OLD MEMORIES & ANTE UP FOR M.O.P. AT THE JAZZ CAFE
HOLLYWOOD actor Tim Robbins told Desert Island Discs his mid-life crisis inspired his new album. See Tim Robbins & the Rogues Gallery Band at the Union Chapel (September 30). Incidentally, his emergency collection includes Nina Simone’s Sinnerman, Johnny Cash’s In Your Mind, and Joni Mitchell’s A Case of You and a matchbook as his book – cheating?
• The Smiths’ There is a Light That Never Goes Out has been ringing in my head ever since my landlady decided to evict me – “I never ever want to go home, because I haven’t got one anymore”, has been cheering me up. Shame Morrissey didn't turn up to The Dublin Castle on Monday like he was rumoured to.
• John Otway’s been around for some time, an old regular at The Dublin Castle. He returns on Saturday along with The Quirky.
• Shed Seven play 02 Academy Islington on Friday – I remember being a fan (pre Going for Gold – bleugh!), so revisited them on YouTube. Dolphin aside, some musical memories are best not revisited.
• Cellist and singer Izzi Dunn (Jazz Café, Friday) may have been classically trained but she won’t be pigeonholed. Her work spans hip-hop, soul and indie, and she’s collaborated with Gorillaz, Oasis, George Harrison and Mark Ronson.
• Remember the gruff vocals of hardcore rappers M.O.P., of Ante Up and Cold As Ice fame? Hear Lil’ Fame and Billy Danzenie in the flesh at the Jazz Café on Wednesday.
• The Smiths’ There is a Light That Never Goes Out has been ringing in my head ever since my landlady decided to evict me – “I never ever want to go home, because I haven’t got one anymore”, has been cheering me up. Shame Morrissey didn't turn up to The Dublin Castle on Monday like he was rumoured to.
• John Otway’s been around for some time, an old regular at The Dublin Castle. He returns on Saturday along with The Quirky.
• Shed Seven play 02 Academy Islington on Friday – I remember being a fan (pre Going for Gold – bleugh!), so revisited them on YouTube. Dolphin aside, some musical memories are best not revisited.
• Cellist and singer Izzi Dunn (Jazz Café, Friday) may have been classically trained but she won’t be pigeonholed. Her work spans hip-hop, soul and indie, and she’s collaborated with Gorillaz, Oasis, George Harrison and Mark Ronson.
• Remember the gruff vocals of hardcore rappers M.O.P., of Ante Up and Cold As Ice fame? Hear Lil’ Fame and Billy Danzenie in the flesh at the Jazz Café on Wednesday.
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