This weekend saw the final performance in the annual NME tour. As always, the weekly music mag pulled out all the stops to ensure they delivered a wealth of sonic delights. The headline slot this year was filled by South London indie outfit The Maccabees, still enjoying the rapturous response given to their second album ‘Wall Of Arms’. Also on the bill were Bombay Bicycle Club, The Big Pink and The Drums.
Despite having the opening slot, The Drums attracted a respectable audience for their set. The much hyped New Yorkers tore through their set, with lead singer Jonathan Pierce proving himself to be the epitome of hip shaking frontman. While the biggest cheers came for the singles ‘Let’s Go Surfing’ and ‘I Felt Stupid’, the band also showcased several promising new tracks. After appearing in our ‘Shazam Sound Of 2010’ poll, it appears things are going according to plan for this lot.
Pixies brought the O2 Brixton Academy down during their first of four nights in London with their ‘Doolittle’ tour. The influential band celebrated the 20th anniversary of its release by playing their timeless second album in full, plus its singles’ b-sides, to a rapturous audience comprising two generations of fans that sang-along to every single song. A lively Kim Deal introduced some of the tracks, most of them backed by excellent audiovisual works.
Label mates The Big Pink opened the gig claiming to be as excited as the rest of the audience by playing next to such legends.
The set began with four B-sides including “Dancing The Manta Ray” and ‘Bailey’s Walk’, followed by a rendition of the fifteen songs of the album in running order – from the incendiary “Debaser” to the ending “Gouge Away”. The four-piece performed two encores; the first one with two more B-sides, beginning with the slower UK surf version of ‘Wave Of Mutilation’; The second comprised three all-time favourites: ‘U-Mass’ from ‘Trompe Le Monde” sandwiched in between ‘Surfer Rosa’s highlights ‘Bone Machine’ and ‘Gigantic’.
Five years from their 1994 reunion tour –Pixies disbanded in 1993 and went to pursue solo projects with different fortunes- it was no less than surprising to see how well Black Francis; Kim Deal; Joey Santiago and David Lovering can revive the band’s mind-blowing energy and how relevant its music still is. Someone who saw the band during the original tour promoting the album – twenty years ago – couldn’t help feeling like a Grandad, falling into cliché territory by wondering why “No one make records as good as ‘Doolittle’ anymore”.
The tour will certainly reignite the appetite for the band’s flawless back catalogue, soon to be compiled and given an exclusive deluxe treatment on a lavish box-set named ‘Minotaur’. Details of which can be found in the video below.
After featuring on many tastemakers ‘to watch’ list at the start of the year, London based duo The Big Pink look set to release what will surely be a contender for album of the year. Robbie Furze & Milo Cordell decamped to New York and the hallowed walls of Electric Lady studios - originally built by Jimi Hendrix and previously host to the likes of David Bowie, Led Zeppelin and The Clash. ‘A Brief History Of Love’ is a staggering and assured debut album, evoking the dreamy sonic landscapes crafted by My Bloody Valentine and The Jesus & Mary Chain. Recorded with Rich Costey (Muse, Interpol) the pair have produced a clutch of songs that will quash any doubts about the hype they have generated.
The album is released on September 14th through 4AD and is preceded by the single ‘Dominos’. For a preview of the album click on the player below. For more information about the band head to their website.
As is the custom around this time of year, the UK’s music scene’s focus shifts to a farm in Pilton, Somerset. Glastonbury needs no introduction, from a small folk festival that hosted Tyrannosaurus Rex (soon to become T-Rex) Michael Eavis has developed what has become the festival that all other festivals measure themselves against. Whether its Radiohead’s rain soaked headline slot in 1997 or Jay-Z’s “controversial” inclusion last year, everyone has a stand out Glastonbury moment; ensuring the festival has permanently become etched in all music lovers yearly calendar. While no guarantee can be made on the weather, anyone who has been will tell you that rain soaked wellies are a small price to pay for an unforgettable weekend of live music.
After criticisms over the line up last year, Eavis has delivered some huge headline acts. Revered country rocker Neil Young headlines the Friday and the newly reunited Blur will close the festival. The one act that has dominated preview coverage of this year’s festival has to be Saturday night’s headliner, The Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen’s set will be the first headline festival set he has performed in the UK. Having never heard of the festival before, Evis coaxed the ‘Born in The USA’ singer into playing by sending his agent a document filled with glowing quotes from musicians who had previously played.
While the sets from the Glastonbury headliners will always be memorable, part of its continued success is that it continues to offer such a varied line up of established and up and coming acts. These are a few of the, slightly less hyped, acts that promise to deliver some festivals highlights:
The Big Pink
When Robbie Furse and Milo Cordell formed The Big pink, much was written about the musical past of the two. Furse was previously Alec Empire’s guitar protégé while Cordell’s label, Merok, was the breeding ground for various bands such as Klaxons, Crystal Castles and Pre (singer, Akiko, also plays drums in The Big Pink). With a string of jaw dropping singles and after recently signing to 4AD, the band has clearly proved that there is more to them than an impressive rolodex. The band recalls the feedback and subtle beauty of My Bloody Valentine and The Jesus & Mary Chain. Be sure to catch their intense performance as they play the Queens Head and John Peel stages.
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble takes every preconception you’ve ever had about jazz groups and throws them out the window. The eight brass players are all sons of the lauded Chicago trumpeter Phil Conran (the line up is bolstered with drummer Chris Anderson). The band first came to our attention after a mind blowing performance on Jools Holland, however word has been slowly spreading about this band; helped by Damon Albarn who released their first UK album on his label. The bands traditional instruments are merged with their modern hip-hop style. Their set in Club Dada on Saturday would be a good place to head if you’re looking for something off the beaten track.
Marina And The Diamonds
While much has been said about the rise of synth pop obsessed ladies such as Little Boots and La Roux, 2009 has also seen the rise of plenty of other female singer songwriters who don’t have an obsession with the Human League. Marina has more in common with Regina Spektor and looks likely to be our next eccentric female star. After gaining hype through several blogs and gaining the support of tastemakers such as Huw Stephens, 2009 looks like a promising year for Marina. If you’re looking to impress your friends by seeing the next big thing then head to the Queens Head Stage on Saturday.
The Virgins
While The Strokes lock themselves away recording their new album, a new gang of guys with guitars have appeared from New York. Mixing three minute punk songs with Hall & Oates basslines may sound like a car crash on paper, but somehow The Virgins manage to pull it off. Known for their raucous live shows, The Virgins will be aiming to bring a bit of New York sleaze to the John Peel Stage on Friday.
Another of Glastonbury’s charms is you have the opportunity to get lost in a world of dance tents. One we’re particularly looking forward to is the ever impressive New York Downlow; featuring performances from the always fabulous Horse Meat Disco DJ’s. Check the video above for a glimpse of what they have in store!
