GUEST SPOT #54 - Show Of Hands - 'Arrogance Ignorance And Greed'

GUEST SPOT #54 - Show Of Hands - 'Arrogance Ignorance And Greed'

Grumpys Shed Guest Spot Show of Hands

It's Monday, it's guest spot day and so we welcome back Grumpys Shed, and yes he's still in the shed although he has ventured out recently

If you would like to contribute a guest spot then email us or click here...Tell us your favourite song, memory or gig, we'd love to hear from you

Show of Hands - Arrogance Ignorance And Greed 

“We saw Show of Hands in Cardiff last week and, apart from being overwhelmed by their brilliant musicality, we were also really impressed by the ‘poetry’ of the lyrics. This was modern folk with a commentary on all aspects of modern life from the closures of the Cornish tin mines to a moving song about the damage caused by Katrina to New Orleans a few years ago. As a ‘Grumpy old Man’ myself they speak my language in a number of songs, not least ‘Communication’ which basically decries the fact that we now seem to talk only by pressing the ‘return’ button and not speaking to each other. Show of Hands are a form of modern protest group but without the intensity of others – where for me the enjoyment is lost. I was drawn to the attached video at the time of the Government’s ‘Autumn Statement’ in which it would appear that the way back from the financial crisis of a few years ago seems to be as long as ever. For those with the inclination it’s worth looking on You Tube for the video of this song being played live on the Andrew Marr Show with William Hague as the guest – real irony I think !”

Show Of Hands

sfw Pada 01:00 1 Komentar

GUEST SPOT BEST OF 2012 - 'Brian'

GUEST SPOT BEST OF 2012 - 'Brian'

Best of 2012 Brian Jack Savoretti Public Service Broadcasting Show of Hands

In the essence of our blog, we asked a few friends and blogs we follow to share with us their top tracks of the year. We are always interested in what makes people musically tick and hear the stories associated with them. At the same time maybe learn a thing or to or maybe catch something we've missed. So a big thank you to you all for taking the time to contribute.

Thanks to Brian for a very colourful contribution! I have him to thank for sharing PSB to me which I featured on our TOTW. What a revelation! Come on Brian, tell us a story......

Would I like to select my top three tracks of 2012 and write a few words asked Shell Hunter, no problemo, two tracks came immediately to mind, however, I have since dismissed one for Alt (sic) the wrong reasons. Firstly triangles ∆ are not my favourite shape, I prefer the more macho dodecahedron, secondly a Mac is a fabulously powerful piece of kit and to sit around pressing AltJ ∆ is a terrible waste of it’s limitless potential ∆. Mac is also the name of my totally hopeless and spineless boss so, to have the luxury of three guns of which only one goes off and still misses the target I so want it to hit is such an anticlimax that the song has to be dismissed ∆.

 My next dilemma occurred when checking the release dates on the stuff I’ve been listening to, the realization of living in the past suddenly hit me, some of the tunes I’ve been really enjoying this year are positively ancient, but, despite the all too frequent senior moments and the, ahem, middle age spreading wherever it wants to, this significantly assisted me by narrowing the scope of my choices.

Public Service Broadcasting - 'Spitfire'

So my three tracks of 2012, in no particular order are Spitfire by Public Service Broadcasting, great track from the War Room E.P.  R.J. Mitchell would be proud to associate this great track with his iconic machine.

Show Of Hands - 'Company Town'

Second track is by Show of Hands a band I somehow keep missing on their numerous tours, Company Town from the album Wake The Union, ticks most boxes for me, fantastic musicianship, great vocals from Steve Knightley, and I adore Phil Beer’s haunting, melancholy fiddle pulling everything together.

Jack Savoretti - 'Knock Knock'

Finally, Knock Knock by Jack Savoretti. I was lucky enough to catch Jack and his band at the Guildford Boiler Room earlier this year before they set off around Europe supporting Jake Bugg then back to the Royal Albert Hall supporting Jools and his Big Band. Great voice, especially live, great songwriter and a great gig, looking forward to hearing lots more from Jack.

So to finish have a wonderful and most importantly safe Christmas and a Peaceful, Happy, Prosperous and Musical New Year. Wherever you are on New Years Eve…….Let’s Tessellate ∆

sfw Pada 22:00 Komentar

TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 21/10/12 - Earlimart, Show of Hands, Mock andToof, Frank Turner

TRACKS OF THE WEEK - 21/10/12 - Earlimart, Show of Hands, Mock andToof, Frank Turner

Earlimart Frank Turner Mock and Toof Show of Hands Tracks of the Week

Four tracks that fluffed our pillows... What were yours?

Sfw:-

Earlimart - 10 Years (2012)

This song features on LA based Earlimart's seventh album "System Preferences" and it got me hooked within the first 10 seconds! The Fuzzy guitar, reverb and tambourine sounds almost Mazzy Starr-esque. It is melodic, dreamy, indie-shoegazing brilliance!

Shell Hunter:-
Frank Turner - 'If Ever I Stray' (2012)

A while ago a friend of mine asked if I liked Frank Turner and I said not really. For some reason it's taken me a long time to 'get' his music. My mind was drastically changed when I saw him performing on the top of a grassy hill at the Olympics opening ceremony. I loved his shouty passion and patriot lyrics. The Olympics made me feel like I was really part of something and now I can appreciate frank's folk-punk joviality. This track makes me imagine being in a packed pub in the summer, feeling ever so slightly merry, shouting the lyrics and stomping my feet while the crowd sways like one complete organism! It's what being British is all about!

www.frank-turner.com

Old Pa's Corner :-

Show of Hands - Now You Know (2012)

This track is taken from Show of Hands' new album called Wake the Union (2012). They are relatively new to me but I quite like their folksy rootsy music. I went for the track Now You Know which apparently is a Festival Favourite of theirs. This track may sound a bit more commercial than most of the track on the album. But this is definitely worth a shot if you want to try something new. Check out our guest spot contributor Grumpy Shed's post on Show of Hands here....

Official site here...

Flycasual-

Mock & Toof - 'Don't Work, Don't Care' (2012)

Mock & Toof are my new favourite Electronic band, all thanks to an email recommendation I received last month. Their musical style is quite difficult to pinpoint but I don't think I'd be far out if I described it as freaky electronica. A bit like a futuristic Tom Tom Club (certainly on first album 'Tuning Echoes') or a 'madder' Moloko. Should David Lynch's Eraserhead go clubbing, this is the sort of music he'd be listening to.

'Temporary Happiness' is the second album to be released from the London duo, with atmospheric vocal numbers interspersed with instrumental house tracks, some of which have a definite early 90's acid tinged feel to them, makes it hugely enjoyable and way off centre! 'Don't Work, Don't Care', is one of the more sombre offerings from the album and my personal favourite, it reminds me a bit of a 'darker' Little Dragon and that's alright with me!

Free download of their single 'Sleeper' from Soundcloud here....

Subscribe to our Tracks of the Week Spotify playlist here...

sfw Pada 03:36 1 Komentar

GUEST SPOT # 11 - Show of Hands - "Roots"

GUEST SPOT # 11 - Show of Hands - "Roots"

Grumpys Shed Guest Spot Show of Hands

This weeks guest spot is by Andrew Brown (AKA Grumpys Shed)

Show of Hands - Roots (2005)


I heard this in the background while I was doing something around the house a couple of weeks ago.    I was in a 'standards today are not what they used to be' mood and I heard the reference to Australian Soap's and  pubs now with TV's and no more live music etc...  I thought that this is a song after my own heart. I wound up the volume and found myself unusually stirred enough to sing along and my mood lifted.  I've found that you
become more nostalgic as you put on the years and, whilst life goes on (cue for Noah and the Whale song), let's not forget our roots.  After hearing the title and the band at the end of the song I checked them out and have since downloaded the best of 'Show of Hands' album with further stimulating and meaningful songs. Perhaps more to come!

'...letting one rip'

Check out more Guest Spots here!

sfw Pada 01:08 4 Komentar