GIG REVIEW :::: DAN LE SAC VS SCROOBIUS PIP : TIM WELLS : THE VENTRILOQUIST : S J ESAU

GIG REVIEW :::: DAN LE SAC VS SCROOBIUS PIP : TIM WELLS : THE VENTRILOQUIST : S J ESAU
Current mood: SCROOBILICIOUS
Category: SCROOBILICIOUS Music

Tim Wells

Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip

S J Esau

The Ventriloquist

Penned in the Margins

@ The Spitz 15^th March 2007

It's a couple of hours before the gig and as we wait for Dan Le Sac to arrive to soundcheck, Scroobius Pip is telling me the thriving Spoken Word scene in London is about to blow up. This is good news. I've had my head so far up my ass I've not been to a spoken word night for years until a month previous, and I assumed it was still very much a marginal activity.

I mean it's a weird bastard is spoken word. It sits in between and over the tracks of comedy, poetry, hip hop and plain old story telling and the display at The Spitz amply demonstrated this varied diversity in it's full.

First on was Mr Tim Wells. Mr Wells delivers straight up poetry and on this occasion was preceded by a pole dancer gyrating to the more than mellow sounds of his royal highness Lee Scratch Perry. It was a peculiar start after which Wells related stories of the life and times of drunk London. Part anecdotal, part confessional his stuff didn't really grab me by the balls, but then it wasn't bad either.

Next it was Mr Scroobius P I P and Dan,.. Dan,.. Dan,.., Dan DAN!!! DANNN!!!!! DANNN!!!!!!!!!!! Le Sac.

Now, for my money this should have been the main event. Scroob and Le Sac were clearly responsible for pulling a large portion of the crowd and had the material and class to deserve centre stage, but due to their late addition to the bill and the size of the Ventriloquists orchestra this wasn't a go go.

So, unless you've had your head up your arse, you'll probably all know that 'Thou Shalt Always Kill' is one of the most memorable and just plain good pop songs of the year and it was duly delivered together with an excellent set containing punch, conviction and pretty power galore.

Make no mistake, Mr Pip is one hell of an orator and Mr Le Sac one hell of a music producer and together they're bringing us some proper pop music to wash away the pretenders with whom we've been cursed….

The only downside to this brilliance was that it made it a following on a very tough deal indeed for SJ Esau..

He gave it a good stab, playing as a one man electronic guitar loop band, but at times his hoops were almost drowned out by the chitter chatter and the technical problems of one type or another.

It was a weird atmosphere that continued into The Ventriloquists smooth and lounge jazztastic set. The thing was it seemed, once Le sac and Pip had taken their seats the crowd not only thinned, but whoever so remained seemed far more interested in their own spoken words than those of the on stage performers…

And perhaps this is the greatest barrier in the way of spoken word becoming the new rock 'n' roll: Talk is everywhere and talk is cheap. Certainly on this evidence, S W is most definitely evolving good and proper, but how far can it go?? This is the ????????

Currently listening : Pip By Keith John Adams

The 6ft 2in Pianist

Sounds like a familiar scene. I think that spoken word has the potential to 'go off', as long as the general public are able to judge those best to listen to. Scroobius Pip has been helped massively by Dan le Sac's imagination and skill, making the pairing's music impossible to ignore, much less chat through. Great review Posted by The 6ft 2in Pianist on Saturday, March 31, 2007 at 01:11 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	: THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI :	Thanks... Scroob has a great delivery and you did a very fine job this last Wednesday.. ALL OF YOU BUY THE FUCKIN SINGLE!!!!! Posted by : THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI : on Saturday, March 31, 2007 at 01:30 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	they came from the stars, i saw them	i finally heard the scroobius pip and kiss my sac record last night. So THAT is the record that recieved single of the week in nearly every single magazine the same week that Kite was almost totally ignored? Makes me fucking sick. Clever Cynical Shoreditch Cunts. and not even a tune. Wonder why it got so many glowing reviews. Today i want to give up more than ever Posted by they came from the stars, i saw them on Friday, April 13, 2007 at 12:28 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	: THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI :	Clever and cynical maybe, but I'm a sucker for clever and cynical pop music - I mean aren't those the two characteristics that define most if not all 'pop' music if you look at it without the rose tints??....If the artists/performer aren't knowingly at it themselves, then the management/publicity/record company certainly are...I'm very hard pushed to think of a Number 1 or even a top ten record that stands free of contrivance and has any kind of innocence or purity... Why didn't your single didn't get more attention?? - I'm at a loss as to understand it, though I'm begining to wonder what the hell your management & record company do all day?? Shouldn't they be sorting this kind of thing out??? I mean if I'd put my heart and soul into something as good as The Unstopable Kite' and nothing happenned, I'd be directing my wrath and disappointment straight down the fucking phone line to them...You done your work..Have they been doing there's?? Giving up ain't gonna solve anything that's for damn sure..... Posted by : THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI : on Friday, April 13, 2007 at 15:28 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	horton jupiter	nah, i totally disagree about this, doc. Great pop music is often Clever, sure, but there has to be a soul for it to be good pop music, and Pip just sounds up himself, making a record for all the wrong reasons. He's just not into music, he's into himself, and it shows. The Beach Boys - just a band, right - i'm all for tearing into our so cool heroes and all that. But someone like Brian Wilson goes to hell and back, kicking and screaming into the centre of the fires of creation and coming back with a bunch of something magical and profound and truthful and beautifully human to share with the world and...and...and all those other things. Then Scroobius Pip and his ilk shout "Bollocks!" really loud in the pub like borish pissed-up student tossers. Brilliant. 11 out of 10. As for the Stars, i don't think it's anyone's fault - Beauty just isn't cool anymore, as pip proves. Posted by horton jupiter on Monday, April 16, 2007 at 02:49 [Remove] [Reply to this]

: THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI :

Fucking cuntspace!! I had a beautiful hour long crafted retort and it's disappeared.. In brief it was this: Though i can see your point, 'Thou shalt always kill' has always struck me as trying to be light hearted, thought/discussion provoking and clever - I don't see it as cynical.. With reagrds to the 'Kite' I remain unconvinced by your record company and management. I don't think the quality of their work is matching yours. Maybe they're great people, but are they good gurerilla businessmen who get great records the response and adulation they deserve?? What's their track record? What's their ambition? Beauty is always in, but having beauty doesn't mean success...Plenty of beauty is never seen at all....To get your beauty seen requires good promotion, luck and timing.. The main thing I've taken from The KLF was the way they married guerilla business with great art. People like 'Plugger' Scott Piering were crucial to their success. One has to engage with capitalism, play it at it's rules and give it a sound thrashing or else be happy with no money obcsurity.. Posted by : THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI : on Monday, April 16, 2007 at 11:10 [Remove] [Reply to this]

GIG REVIEW ::: THEY CAME FROM THE STARS : EUGENE MACHINE : THE SHARMILLS : BB GUNN

Current mood: ENLIGHTENED
Category: ENLIGHTENED Dreams and the Supernatural

BB Gun

The Sharmills

Eugene Machine

They Came From the Stars I Saw Them

@Gingliks 22^nd March 2007

Gingliks is the sort of place where men used to go to find other men. I'm not talking about a Working Mens Club. No, Gingliks is a converted public toilet in the aptly named Shepherds Bush.

Weird that.

Not the Shepherds Bush bit, but the whole toilet cruising business. I mean I know being gay wasn't easily done in years gone by, but why public toilets? Why not art galleries or museums or somewhere else a little less dark and unhaunted by the smell of industrial strength cleaning chemicals??

Well, weirdness is about the only thing this gig had in common with the buildings former use. You see this night ended strangely, but let's not get ahead of ourselves…

Everything started as you might expect. BB Gun was first on and he delivered a selection of songs that whistled along much like the wind. No shit. They gently gusted, ebbing and flowing and I liked them a lot….

The Sharmills were next. It's a week later as I write this up and I'm still not sure what I make of them. They've got a kind of PJ Harvey meets Kate Bush at the rock opera thing going on. I mean, the songs didn't really grab me but they sounded pretty original and the front woman looked stunning. I really want to like them, yet I remain even now not totally convinced.

The strangely named Eugene Machine, hosts and organisers, followed on. Here we're talking a funk robotic electro thing and boy did they execute it well. The sound was double bass loud heavy, and dead funky phat with it. The tunes themselves were competent and strong and everything was just smart down the line. This lot are a class act, go and take a look next time they're in town…

And so to the headliners…

For my money 'they came from the stars I saw them' are one of, if not the most interesting band of the moment.

You see you've got everything with the 'stars' There's no guitars other than a bass, there's a mountain of electronic bliss from Jupiter, a clarinet, a saxophone, gay masters, white robes and cacaphonic glory reigning from the speakers like the holy Jesus spirit minus the dogma.

Yes boss, it was them I'd gone to Shepherds Bush to see and I assumed that would be the case with most of the crowd. So, you can imagine my surprise and disgust when I noticed half had gone home to beddy byes before the 'stars' had even strummed their first electropic chord.

Now, if there's one thing that annoys me on this lonely and dear little planet we live on it's people leaving events early. Whether it be football matches or gigs this whole 'Oh, I've got to home to my boring shitty life rather than risk oversleeping tomorrow' is pure catshit and I'd like to take this welcome opportunity to publicly admonish all of you who practice it.

I mean what's the fucking point? You've paid to get in and something special could happen and you'd rather get the last friggin tube home so you're up bright and fresh for you're damn work….

I shouldn't get so upset, but I honestly think that people who leave gigs early should be beheaded on their way out, especially when the headliner is the 'stars'.

So, the gig???

Well, I won't lie and say the 'stars' set went as smoothly as planned. There was tension and there was equipment with it's own agenda and by the impromptu end there can't have been more than 10 clever people left in the room.

Horton Jupiter said it was one of the worst times he'd ever spent on a stage and when Sculpture threw his bass on the floor as the final act of frustration, it seemed that the sky had maybe just fallen in a little on the stars..

But despite the myths and the stories, the sky never really falls in on anyone and the 'stars' still sparkled with the kind of energy and ideas that most bands are too simple to even imagine, let alone perform live on stage.

One thing is sure, you can't keep a good band down for long and despite the problems it was a blinding set of the sort of musical chaos that makes this band so very special.

So, if you weren't one of the ten and you weren't at the 333 last night you've missed out on this particular feast twice in a week and you should be thoroughly ashamed.

Make sure it doesn't keep happening....

Currently listening : What Are We Doing Here? By They Came from the Stars I Saw Them Release date: By 01 July, 2003

Currently listening : What Are We Doing Here? By They Came from the Stars I Saw Them Release date: By 01 July, 2003

16:14 - 4 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

	they came from the stars, i saw them	wow! thankyou very much mister. although the bad time on the stage wasn't the result of people leaving, it was my godawful personal life! People leaving did exacerbate the situation a little, but you can't hold it agin them too much - you're right, the school night excuse is a load of toss, but i don't think it's that so much as the fact that missing the last tube would mean most of the crowd would have to get TWO NIGHT BUSES to get home, and how Boring is that? Uncle Boring and his Boring Wife, i'd say... Posted by they came from the stars, i saw them on Saturday, March 31, 2007 at 14:35 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	: THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI :	Oh fuck, I love nightbuses...Full of nutters and drunks...Brilliant...Give me nightbuses and a walkman and the 'stars' ahead of the Tube anyday of the damn week... Posted by : THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI : on Saturday, March 31, 2007 at 14:43 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	horton jupiter	i love nightbuses too, and sometimes am the nutter myself. but you gotta admit that TWO nightbuses is bollocks on account of the not knowing WHEN, and TWICE. Christ it's painful! Having said that we should take your mate Michelle on some sort of night bus hell tour when she rolls up. that'll learn her. Posted by horton jupiter on Monday, April 16, 2007 at 02:53 [Remove] [Reply to this]

: THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI :

Yeah, I know what you're saying, but I can't let practicalities enter my thoughts when pursuing good art...Everyone should go and see 'the stars' regardless of the consequences - Shit if the nightbusses are the problem camp on the firggin green or pull someone who lives more local or pay for a taxi or use a bike... Good idea with Michelle - If she ever makes it over here we should give her a bus pass and tell her bus parties are where it's at. It'll be a novelty, I don't think they have busses in Hollywood.... Posted by : THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI : on Monday, April 16, 2007 at 10:46 [Remove] [Reply to this]

ALBUM REVIEW: LOUIE AUSTEN - IGUANA

Would Frank Sinatra be making electro disco dance records if he were still on planet earth?? A collaboration with Mark Ronson perhaps? Or maybe the Neptunes? Come to think of it, it’s a surprise Franks record company haven’t tried eeking out a little post mortem payola courtesy of a superstar DJ mix or two, or if not them, then some bedroom bootlegging DJ splicing his dads Frank with Kraftwerk…

Well maybe it’s all been done and I’ve just not heard it, but whether it has or hasn’t, the results of such a mix might well sound something like Iguana by Louie Austen…

Formerly a club crooner from the same old school as Frank, Louie Austen is an experienced hand in the music game. His uncompromising approach to his trade has shown him occasional bumpy times along the way, but these peaks and troughs haven’t affected Louies self belief, his passion or his longevity. Yes boss, Louie is now 60 years old, and he’s not only still going strong, he’s opening up new and younger audiences for himself and this is what I like to call impressive class…

So how does a good old crooner doing electro disco work exactly?

Well, Iguana features the work of 4 different producers though you wouldn’t necessarily know it as the sound is pretty constant and consistent, centering around electro, disco and house with occasional nods to the easy listening sounds of James Last and the like.

Lyrically, Louie shares his passion for life and the history of music as he remembers it and his delivery is, as you'd expect, liquid smooth and composed. In fact, taken all around, Iguana is a profoundly easy listening LP and if this album were a drive, it'd be a pleasant Sunday afternoon one in some kind of cabriolet...

Yes, it’s late spring or early summer. You’re in a white Volkswagen Bettle Convertible with the top down. You’re wearing a cream suit and a Panama and you’re cruising around old English country lanes thinking you might never go back to work, normal life etc. You’re playing Iguana by Louie Austen and you are living!

So is the LP any good? Well, is a drive in the country in a cabriolet in late spring any good? Of course it is…

On the odd occasion, I felt a little short changed by the production. I mean sometimes the sounds are a little too formulaic and unadventurous, suggesting that if they were standing without the voice and the concept they might not work out too well.

There's also the occasional failure in the fit between the vocal and the strict programming of sequenced dance music. In his autobiography Bill Drummond formerly of The KLF waxes about the problems Jimmy Cauty had trying to fit Tammy Wynettes intuitive vocal onto the strict electronic sequences in the KLFs bumper smash Justified and Ancient. I reckon this same difficulty surfaces occasionally here.

But these are small problems and I still say dust down your cream suit, get the top down on that VW and vote Louie. Better still get along and see him play live, I reckon you’ll get the best of him in the club.

See you there....

THIS WEEKS HITS – WEEK ALMOST ENDING 28TH MARCH 2007

Current mood: REGULAR GOOD
Category: REGULAR GOOD Music

Blimey there's a mountain of work chansing me, so this is gonna have to be double quick which'll be hard because this week there are many many hits...


FRESHERS

Let's start with The Hand. This is some kind of folk electornica cross over. Both genres hare having a renaissance just now and thank the blue sky for that. I particularly like the way The Hand utilises that juddery jumpy effect that seems to be all the rage just now. This is a good blend all round, pour yourself a mug...

Terry Toe is another citizen of electronica utopia. Mr Toe's trick is brass which reminds me of being young and naive and I like him for that and for many other reasons. Brasstronica anyone??

Bible College have also pitched a tent in the fertile floodplains of electronica utopia. There's only one track up at the moment but it's a good one. Go listen and don't forget to read the good book every night b4 bedtime...I saw this on the way to my medical trial...Fear culture or what?!

Laura Burhenn has come up with some sublime acoustica and if the track Just for the Night's splendid mix of acoustic and electronic doesn't open you up then you might well not be human

Metamoderne takes this weeks prize for originality. I have no idea what you call this, they call it Experimental/Tropical/Gospel. Whatever it is it's good..

Lastly here's a special mention for Hijackalope who's suffered the indignity of having most of his gear nicked this last week. The song about chipmunks on your player is depraved Mr 'Lope. The CIA have probably stolen your gear either them or animal rights people...


STAPLES

There's not much in the way of staples this week. I've been mostly sorting through the archive to make it easier to DJ which has meant I've been listening to beginings and ends, so I think i'll just leave this blank....


LIVE

For a review of the Eugene Machine / they came from the stars I saw them gig at Gingliks watch this space - a full review is in the pipeline..

As is a full review of last nights Scroobius Pip and 6ft 2" Pianist gig at The Strongroom...It was a blinder. Mr Pip is a fine fine orator. Get along and see him quick before Elton John starts wanting to work with him..

The second Pull Up A Chair was a little sparsely attended, but was a decent way to spend the dregs of the weekend. There was some shit hot DJ playing a mixture of electronica, reggae and easy listening. He was called Paul Giovanvandriver - something like that anyway


MIXES

My favourite this week has been a mix by Mr Mike Paradinas aka U-ziq. It's called Ammunition and it's on the Planet Mu label.. It's a quick bang crash wallop mix with some lighter moments. It's pretty new, but old enough not to be infected by the rancid plague that is dubstep....

OK, that's it. I'm off to get drunk and watch some more bands..Last night was the first drinks in 3 weeks. It ended badly. Tonight I will do better..

PG:+)

Currently listening : Surrender By The Chemical Brothers Release date: By 22 June, 1999

03:55 - 2 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

	T-toe	Cheers for the words, dude. Look out for a live show! CD on its way soon. Posted by T-toe on Thursday, March 29, 2007 at 20:41 [Remove] [Reply to this]

: THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI :

Looking forward to the live show and the disc..PG Posted by : THE FUTUREPROOF MUSIC BLOG BY PIOUS GIOVANNI : on Friday, March 30, 2007 at 11:34 [Remove] [Reply to this]