Well, this blogging lark clealy isn't as attractive as they make out. This'll be the first entry in a couple of weeks, so I should grit teeth and rattle through all the exciting goings-on in one. So: have been to Backpackers for a show with the 55s, who boast at least one ex-Kyaha member in their ranks, but whose cowboy tendencies are greater than this suggests. Good show though. Vinnie Peculiar also appeared, singing songs of religion and murder. His album's great, seek it out. Best moment of the night was when Vinnie was faced off by an enormous drunken rugby supporter who was silently insisting that he 'shake hands'. Fortunately V complied rather than take the Yosser Hughes approach to such contact.
Fuck-off Machete - great - great album, good live show at the Subway. (I'm speeding up now...) How to Swim at Stereo - great shambolic live show, with trumpets and flutes and everything, real kitchen sink stuff. Troika - another great set, they should gather together all their songs old and new and release a number one album. Aye, that reminds me - aren't there supposed to be hordes of A&R men hanging aorund Glasgow this month? Bollocks, I say, if they had any nous (unlikely I know) they'd have been at this gig, and signed up all 3 bands on some sort of bulk discount. Because the Flying matchstick Men were headlining (wooh!) and did that kind of lively not-like-the-album kind of electropunk show they deliver so well. There was even an encore, for goodness sake.
Just trying to get through the 100-odd CDs which are requiring review in the next itm? This involves sticking them on and basically skipping through them unless they're interesting, in which case I keep them and review them myself, while the rubbish ones get turned over to the reviewers (who have in many cases requested them anyway. Turin Brakes, anyoine?)
Not much has stood out so far, but a dodgy photocopied cover encases the Radiator Experts, whose 6-track EP is a shambolic ragbag of C86/Mary Chain/TVP half-formed ideas which seem to really work. At the other end of the clapometer is Park, an American (I believe) emo-influenced angsty shower to be sure. At times they really hit home, a kind of ATDI/Jawbreaker blend, which wobbles towards Lost Prophets territory on occasion. But the lyrics - can't really recall specifics, but these boys seriously need to go on 24 hour suicide watch. I blame the parents.  ¶ 9:14 AM