MOG - King Sara's Posts

Who's Gonna Save My Soul?

King Sara — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:13:47 GMT

I have been thinking about this, only because I am reading the Twilight books and watching a lot of Battlestar and everything seems obsessed with souls and i am not convinced I have one, however, if I do, the I am sure that Gnarls Barkley is gonna save it.

i am possibly being a bit late to jumping on the bandwagon with this. The release of their debut album St Elsewhere in 2006 was a major success. The single, Crazy, made history by being the first single to reach number one in the UK based soley on downloads (this is because the UK charts until 2006 didn't want to even think about music on the internet).

Anyway, why you should listen to to Gnarls Barkley:

Because it is getting cold out and thre is not much better to do than listen to genre defying neo soul/alternative hip-hop/R&B

Because the awards people say so: 2006 MTV European Music Awards, Best Song and the Future Sounds award, 2007 Grammy Awards, Best Urban/Alternative Performance and Best Alternative Music Album and2007 BET Award for Best Group

Because you can dance to it

Because it is clever. Yep. Very clever...

Nerdy things

King Sara — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 17:58:14 GMT

Yesterday I had the nerdiest day ever:

1. I had a meeting of the science fiction film festival planning comittee

2. I went to Earl's Court for the Dr Who exhibition

3. I went to the Adam Ant convention disco

Of the three things above, I want to talk mostly about point number 2: Dr Who. Because I love the new series, and because the exhibition is of everything you could imagine a 10 year old boy wants to see when they go out on a day trip to a shrine to nerdism, this following thing happened:

A CYBERMAN DISCO!

Go on - you know you wanna.

Anyway, with the Cybermen Disco - I decided to use Chantilly Lace by The Big Bopper as the backing music.

The Big Bopper is a bit of a hero of mine. I loved him from the day my mum took me to see the musical The Buddy Holly Story - and holy shit did I cry at the end... Big sob sob tears.

The Big Bopper or Jiles Perry Richardson, Jr, as he was known by his parents, died tragically with other heroes of rock 'n' roll - Buddy Holly and Richie Valens - in a plane accident in 1959, but before then he relased Chantilly Lacy, which I have been told is one of the first, if not, the first rock and roll songs.

For the interested, Ike Turner's Rocket88 is, according to the rock and roll hall of fame, officially the first rock and roll song but the story (taken from wikipedia and from what I have been told by my clever and musically knowledgable boyfriend) is that Ike gets to claim this because this song is the first to use distortion - the song is actually a 12-bar blues song that uses distortion - not a rock and roll song. Anyway - the story is below about how distortion was invented....

From Wikipedia: The legend of how the sound came about says that Kizart's amplifier was damaged on Highway 61 when the band was driving from Mississippi to Memphis, Tennessee, but Phillips liked the sound and used it. Robert Palmer has written that the amplifier "had fallen from the top of the car", and attributes this information to Sam Phillips. However, in a recorded interview at the Experience Music Project in Seattle, Washington, Ike Turner stated that the amplifier was in the trunk of the car and that rain may have caused the damage; he is certain that it did not fall from the roof of the car. Link Wray had a similar story.

Fucked Up

King Sara — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 22:49:19 GMT

Fucked Up is a band from Canada who play hard core. Now, if you are like me, you liked hard core music a whole lot once and then stopped listening to it when you were old enough to go to shows that weren't all-ages.

What is it about hard core bands loving the youth? I mean, I went to a lot of youth shows involving hard core bands when I was young and I loved it, but even so, there didn't seem to be a lot else to go do in Wellington when I was 14. Hard core and punk love young people. It is like a non-religious youth group for people that will probably become vegans.

Actually, there was some controversey once about Fucked Up and their links to Hitler Youth, but it was all resolved and it turns out the aren't actually racists but like using WW2 imagery. Suprised that a hard core band likes imagery of WW2? I'm really not - I mean, I know the rocktasticness of Kiss isn't the same thing as anything like hard core, but i just want to mention the awesomeness of my new shoes (they have Kiss on them!) and the fact the Kiss on their logo has the Nazi SS's - there is something about WW2 imagery that lends itself to hard core, punk, glam rock, Posh Spice and gay culture and there is no denying it. Anyway, enough of this. All I wanted to do is mention that I came home today and found Fucked Up's latest album, The Chemistry Of Common Life, on my bed - hooray! And here is a picture of my new shoes (Paul Stanley-tastic!):

Here is Fucked Up's blog: http://lookingforgold.blogspot.com/

Cut Off You Hands

King Sara — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:36:56 GMT

My boyfriend is back from the New Zealand Music Awards this week. He has been doing some research for a feature in the NME on Cut Off Your Hands. I don't really know much about this band - they are a post-me-leaving-the-country band that I didn't grow up with, and in my heart I like to think "they are no Shihad, they are no Breathe, they are no Weta" but actually, they are pretty awesome, but like lots of New Zealand indie music of recent years, they don't sound 'New Zealand-ish", if you know what I mean. Mind you, the NZ punk rock sounds has always sounded like British 1960s or 1970s rock music.

I decided to to a bit of research into Cut Off Your Hands was needed and after a few YouTube videos I found this song. Expectations. It is kinds quite good.

It reminded me of The Mint Chicks, who are one of my favourite New Zealand bands. I found this song, which adheres to all the punk rock asethetics that I love, the tinny sound, the urgency... But it also has one of the greatest music videos I have seen for a while. I love cute bunny skeletons drumming (is that weird? - I hope not...)

Mint Chicks - I Don't Want To Grow Old

I hope you like it.

New Zealand Music Awards

King Sara — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:03:25 GMT

So, my boyfriend is in New Zealand at the music awards and though I miss him very much, his blog is keeping me well entertained.

However, it seems that Flight of the Conchords won everything at the ceremony, which is good because they are very clever and all kinda of great, but I wanted me make a couple of shout-outs for some classic, and somewhat overlooked, New Zealand songs.

Firstly, Herbs' recorded French Letter in 1982 to protest against French nuclear testing the the Pacific. It has one of my favourite lines in any Pacific reggae:

"Let me be more specific - get out of the Pacific!"

From www.nzhistory.net.nz/:

Herbs' music was described as ‘infectiously upbeat’, and it often carried a political message. Their 1982 hit 'French letter', questioning French nuclear testing in the South Pacific, came to express the country's anti-nuclear stance. It spent 11 weeks on the charts, peaking at number 15. Its use of a French accordion in combination with a reggae beat helped to create a distinctive Pacific sound.

The song's title was considered too risqué for radio. It was released under the alternative title of ‘Letter to the French’. It was re-released in 1995 to protest against the French resumption of nuclear testing at Mururoa Atoll.

Look Blue Go Purple, who are NOT a girl band - they are a band with female members...

and of course, The Clean, with the awesomeness that is Beatnik

The Dunedin scene is a hugely influential music movement in New Zealand, with bands like The Clean, Bored Games, The Chills, Look Blue Go Purple, The Verlaines.... SO MANY great bands came from their. Here is fairly old little documentary about "the Dunedin sound"

A documentary on The Enemy (part 1)

A documentary on The Enemy (part 2)

on ,and if you are still not done obsessing with Flying Nun and the Dunedin sound, then this:

Sawchestra

King Sara — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:31:31 GMT

So, the Sawchestra had a find first show in Brighton. I found a blog review from http://fredpipes.blogspot.com/:

"Saturday night was the debut of the Twilight Club in the Argus Basement. Organised by David Bramwell (of Catalyst Club fame) and Rachel Blackman, it involved parlour games on a medical theme and a show in the pit by Foz's Sawchestra. There's a video of some of it on Vimeo: http://www.vimeo.com/1890874 . I was a bit unsure of the geography of the place so missed the first sitting, but they sell proper beer (in bottles) and the performance was worth waiting for. Reminded me of those happenings at All Saint's, Powis Square in the late 1960s, but much more entertaining! This is a welcome addition to the Brighton scene, for the older and more discerning punter."

There is a video here:

And James reviewed it on his blog here

The whole evening was pretty amazing - much better than I expected or even hoped for.

The Twilight Club who ran the night organised an amazing room full of parlour games which also included a guy DJing using gramophones Foz? from David Devant and His Spirit Wife organised a surgery light to be hung in the room and for hospital scrubs to be available for everyone. The audience all joined in in singing and making noise along with the performance which was kinda amazing. At the end, the whole room sung along and we struggled to get them to leave. We did 2 performances that night and some people came to see both.

Anyway, I suppose the best review of the night came from from a guy (who, as a matter of interest, was in a band which was a first band to release a single with One Little Indian pre-Bjork days) He pretty much smiled the whole performance in this wide-mouthed grin and at the end said he loved it because he thought his 5 year old daughter would have gotten just as much from the performance as he did.

Other people said other really lovely things as well, including that we should do it more, and that the performance should tour to festivals and modern art museums and the organisers said they wanted us back for more. So, hooray!

The next show is on the 19th at the Windmill in Brixton, and then after that we are performing on halloween in a 17th Century mansion on central London

I'll be dissappointed if you don't come.

Dan Raza - suprise like!

King Sara — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 06:44:56 GMT

I think Tim at The Windmill is trying to get me to have a new best friend in the unlikely face of Dan Raza.

Last week I DJed t the Windmill and Dan was playing. Tim and I talked about my Sawchestra playing a gig on the 19th and he suggested Dan Raza played with us then. The he asked me if I was free on Tuesday for DJ for Ladyhawk (not Ladyhawke), and Dan is on the bill...

It is a good thing I really liked him. Otherwise I would be in for some hard times ahead....

End Of The Road

King Sara — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:41:13 GMT

I just got back from the End Of The Road festival where Jeremey Wamsley played and I forgot just how much I like him.

He reminded me of the time I crashed his 21st birthday party and we talked about dogs wearing sunglasses and I teased him about his parents driving him to gigs back in the day whenwe were so much younger

Anyway,

Here is some Jeremy, because he is nice:

Broken-heart-cold-comfort songs

King Sara — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:47:32 GMT

I am in love but it isn't enough to stop me from being weird and abnormal.

Perhaps I make unwise decisions when I sit up late at night being bored.

I also, perhaps, make unwise decisions sitting in the dark listening to Nico songs over and over again.

There are a range of broken-heart-cold-comfort songs that I like to listen to. Tonight is These Days, but sometimes it is Songs:Ohia's The Lioness (it didn't rain translation). Sometimes, when times are really hard and I want nothing more than to cry and hide it is I'll Fall With Your Knife by Peter Murphy.

This weekend I had my first practice with my sawchestra (yah). Tonight dyed my hair and ate chocolate until I was sick.

Tomorrow is mine and James's lunaversary and we are celebrating it in an unconventional way.

I am posting Our Anniversay by Smog, because, you know, it is a nice song. Nice, but I can't tell if it is sad or happy. Why does Bill Callahan want to run away? Maybe someone next weekend at the End Of The Road festival will know...

Je T'aime (The Last Army and Eddie Argos)

King Sara — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 10:07:28 GMT

So, this weekend I have been at Top of the Pops towers for a party and was reminded of a few great things, like Randy Newman's Short People:

Randy Newman hates short people... Really. He said so once.

Me, Eddie Argos and Rebekah Last Army had a good time until the small hours finding music videos on YouTube - it was VJtastic.

The other day I get sent an MP3 of The Last Army and Eddie singing Je T'aime (moi non plus) and it is charming.

Also, is news that is only interesting to me, I played a musical saw gig in Hackney Wick for an arts festival and some of my music is now on MySpace http://tinyurl.com/kingsarasawjam

Mudhoney

King Sara — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:49:25 GMT

I am going to see Mudhoney tonight. By reports, their performance at ATP was lacklustre, however, they did do that great song with Sir Mix-a-Lot on the Judgement Night soundtrack (one of my all-time favourite albums) and the gig will be like a trip to 1993.

Here is Mudhoney playing with Billy Childish

Anyway, Mudhoney huh? 'citing!

Wednesday 23rd July - Prom 9: BBC Symphony Orchestra

King Sara — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:37:18 GMT

A Prom means a Promenade Concert, or a concert where part of the audience stands in a "promenade" area of the hall.

The BBC Proms is an annual music festival running from mid-July to mid-September and comprising over seventy Prom concerts.

I am going to attend Prom 9 on Wednesday as my first Prom of 2008.

I have been going to this every year for the last 5 years and really REALLY love it.

The Proms website list the Proms aim as: to present the widest possible range of music, performed to the highest standards, to large audiences.

Of course, most people think that the pomp and ceremony of the Last Night of the Proms is what it is all about (you know, the Union Jacks and the bunting), but it is so much more than the last night. The rest of the schedual is always interesting, with contemporary and well as classical orchestral music, opera and choral pieces being performed.

Prom 9's programme looks like this:

Mendelssohn Overture - Ruy Blas (8 mins)
Mendelssohn Symphony No.4 in A major, 'Italian' (28 mins)
Interval
Brahms Piano Concerto No.2 in B flat major (48 mins)
Interval
Brahms Symphony No.2 in D major (40 mins)

I like Brahms for all his doom and gloom and I am not familiar with Mendelssohn, so it should be good.

I suppose what I like about the Proms is the informality of it all. My favourite thing to do is go up to the Gallery and sit on the floor with a picnic (they are trying to stop this but it is a long tradition and they aren't trying very hard to stop the snacking) and read a book and hang out. Prommers have a long tradition - here is a quite charming story about Prommers (I am not yet this much of an anorack about it)

There are all these funny traditions about going to the proms - all of them charming. And for some reason they have a fountain in the middle of the arena and in the fountain lives an inflatable dinosaur? Why? Maybe this year I'll find out....

Flobots -

King Sara — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:20:23 GMT

Today (well, for the last 15 minutes) I have not been able to stop listening to this song.

I mean, it is pretty much the best thing I have heard in a long while

In other news - the Proms start today, though the second half of the season looks infinitely better than the first, I do plan on snacking and sitting on the floor up in the Gods at the Royal Albert Hall every free evening I have for the next two months.

Can anyone tell me why they have a dinosaur in the pond?

My favourite film

King Sara — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 09:33:11 GMT

I often tell people my favourtie film is Win A Date With Tad Hamilton, but secretly it is really True Stories, the David Byrne film that is weird weird werid

Anyway, I found this the other day - David Burne interviewing himself about things like Stop Making Sense and his big suit.

i think I love this man.

This is not the world

King Sara — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 14:39:02 GMT

SmFtZXM= gave me a fancy-pants copy of the new Futureheads album This is not the World, and I am listening to it right now and I am kinda loving it. Like, Radio Heart is lovely. The lyrics are all really heartybreaky in that "you have a broken heart but you'll be alright in a bit" kinda way - it almost makes me with I had a broken heart right now so I could cry and listen to it a lot, though thankfully my heart is very unbroken - it is possibly made of mithril. Hooray!

Anyway, the packaging is in a book with a CD and then pages of studio diary stuff and then at the end is a DVD of live stuff, interviews and the music video of The Twist and Radio Heart.

I am well pleased.

I mean, how good is this song?!?

Promises

King Sara — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:48:28 GMT

My friend Simon makes music videos for a bunch of New Zealand bands

My current favourite is this one - Odessa are a pretty lovely band and this song and video clip are pretty lovely together.

I can't sum up the energy to be happy

King Sara — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:08:49 GMT

I have a playlist on my iTunes called 'Oh my God I love you!' and I have been listening to it a lot, and I realise that all the love songs I like are about broken hearts and endings

Sad sad sad.

Today I feel lonelier than I have ever felt in my life.

This track by the New Zealand band The Phoenix Foundation is pretty, but it has some weird ending on it that you might as well skip.

The Phornix Foundation did the music to the film Eagle vs Shark, which stars that lad from Flight of the Conchords. The film, the band, the comedians and the TV show are al worth checking out. It will be one less regret you will have in your life.

My heart is broken. Like, it doesn't work at all...

King Sara — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 22:03:43 GMT

This weekend was the worst weekend I have ever had.

Like, it was mostly good, but it ended in heartache and suffering.

And then I had to watch 8 hours of Gilmore Girls season 5 until Loralie and Luke got back together because otherwise my world was just too TOO sad.

So, in order to milk the heart-ache (because no one pities me as much as I pity myself), I have been weeping, sobbing, crying and listening to Scott Walker...

End of the road

King Sara — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:16:28 GMT

So it looks like I might be going to the End Of The Road festival

I am WAY excited. It does mean sleeping in a tent, but then I get to see Low and The Dirty Three and Calexico and Bill Callahan and The Mountain Goats and Jeffrey Lewis and Kurt Wagner and British Sea Power and Jason Molina....

Anyway, brag brag brag.

But really this whole post is just so that I can force my current favourite Jeffrey Lewis song on you.

Seriously, this is a heartbreaker....

"My hearts just that thing beneath my ribs...."

"My heart pumps in my heart pumps out, that's all that my hearts about"

"I don't think I'm heartless, because my blood still gets around....

ATP - the beginning of the end

King Sara — Tue, 20 May 2008 21:40:08 GMT

ATP is honesty the best festival. I mean, camping is fun, but it always rains and I hate being wet and sleeping in dirt, so ATP is perfect for me.

This is the second time I have been to Minehead and though there didn't seem as much happening this year as last, it was exceptional, though it is hard to separate the awesomeness of the bands from the awesomeness of the company. Our chalet had every singstar disk - I mean, you can't get better than that can you?

Well, actually, you can, and it is in the shape of Saul Williams. When I grow up I am going to have babies with him. He doesn't know it yet. It will be a little surprise, I suspect.

Anyway, here is Saul video, it is good, but not nearly as good as seeing him and the band live. Honest. BEST SHOW EVER. Yep.

Oh and just a note - James doesn't really hate dance music (though it can be argued that James hates all music and dance shouldn't be singled out in particular.)

Chemical Wedding world premier SCI-FI-LONDON 2008

King Sara — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:27:54 GMT

So, last week was the SCI-FI-LONDON film festival which I have been helping organise, and on Sunday night we hosted the world premiere of CHEMICAL WEDDING, the bastard love child of Bruce Dickinson and Julian Doyle.

The film was brilliant - totally like the old Hammer Horrors. I mean, 2 stars in Empire magazine, but that magazine is SHIT. The film is totally a cult classic, but new. A new cult classic.

At the Q&A session after (which we weren't meant to film), I was amused that Simon Callow, Julian Doyle and Bruce Dickinson went into great detail about the difficultly of getting Simon to urinate on academics and about sending cum by fax...

It is a modern world...

Anyway, before you ask - yes, I did meet them, and yes, Bruce is as awesome in real life as you want your heroes to be.

I uploaded a clip I took, sorry for the quality but it was the best I could do. I suspect you'll get the whole thing in glorious technicolour when you buy the CHEMICAL WEDDING DVD.

French dance music is totally THE SHIT

King Sara — Fri, 02 May 2008 08:08:43 GMT

So, James came over the other night and was all, like, I have to go to Paris to interview this band, Justice, and I was all, like, yeah, I have heard of them, thinking they were some heavy metal band from the 80s and he was like, "Oh Really?" then went on to talk about how he hates describing bands as dance music, because dance music is shit, and then he showed me this music video and they are totally NOT the band I was thinking of. This song is way pleasing and the music video is charming, full of teeshirty goodness...

Something truly evil

King Sara — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 08:57:11 GMT

So, on Friday I was DJing at a Stolen Records show - it was ANZAC day and Minisnap (featuring 3 members of The Bats) and Ghost Club were playing, which is pretty god damn exciting, because both of these bands are worthy of a certain amount of reverence.

But also on the bill was Screaming Tea Party , and oh my god it didn't take long for me to realise that they are actually my favourite band.

They are a surprise evil genius. Honest. The amount of energy they put into their show is god damn unstoppable.

I highly recommend you want the video of one of their shows from last year. It was a just like this.

I came home and brought their 10 inch and their MP3s they were that good. I mean, the rock and the roll is amazing, but they also have some charming indie pop songs that would make the perfect soundtrack to hand holding walks along the south bank in the recently found sunshine.

And for y'all who want it, a free MP3 can be found on the Stolen Records website here

The Last Army

King Sara — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 06:59:21 GMT

Tonight I am going back to Punk in Soho for The Last Army's single release party.

It should be a lot of fun. They are a band I rate, and the last time they played they had that guy from Sham 69 sing If The Kids Are United with them.

The line up includes The Art Goblins - often called an Art Brut side project but more like a Keith TOTPs super-group - and Me And My Head, and Eddie Argos doing a DJ set.

More details on their MySpazz here

Just for the record, Punk is the least punk place in London.

Pure Groove clear-out sale with THE VIRGINS

King Sara — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 06:54:37 GMT

Pure Groove is moving to Farringdon in June and is having a bit of a free-for-all clear out sale. Hooray!

And THE VIRGINS will be playing (at 1:00pm so et there early. And there will be DJs. And sale items!

Date: Saturday, April 26, 2008 Time: 10:00am - 8:00pm Location: Pure Groove Records Street: 679 Holloway Road City/Town: London, United Kingdom

The Indelicates album launch

King Sara — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:01:54 GMT

Yesterday I went to The Indelicates album launch and it was pretty fantastic.

They are pretty much my favourite band of the now.

There album has no weakness as far as I'm concerned. An album with no filler. Hooray!

The Old Grey Whistle Test

King Sara — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:58:57 GMT

So, Like, last week I ordered the three volume, four disk boxed set of The Old Grey Whistle Test

and it was the smartest thing I have ever done.

On disk two there is a video of Meatloaf that I am probably going to watch every day for the rest of my life.

Oh YouTube there is an extensive collection of the performances which is well worth checking out=

My personal favourite of this morning is The Edgar Winters Group. Say what you like, but a band fronted by an albino twin if fine with me...

Old Grey trivia-

According to presenter Bob Harris, the programme derived its name from:

...a 'tin pan alley' phrase from years ago. When they got the first pressing of a record they would play it to people they called the old greys (doormen in grey suits) . The ones they could remember and could whistle having heard it just once or twice had passed the old grey whistle test....

Here is more infor about the show

The Low Lows

King Sara — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:43:18 GMT

So, on Sunday I was lucky enough to see The Low Lows, who I have wanted to hear for a while now, and gosh if they weren't delivering on the cinematic low-fi indie alt-country goodies.

It felt a bit like drowning, if drowning was a good thing...

Other reviews have compared them to Band of Horses and Grandaddy.

My only hope is that I get to see them again before they head of back to Texas...

Wowville!

King Sara — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 06:34:28 GMT

So, like, I lied when I said The Raincoats was the weirdest gig ever. That title really does belong to Thomas Truax.

Imagine if Nick Cave was a steampunk Tesla-like inventor of musical instruments and that might explain Thomas some way.

He has these homemade instruments, including a programmable drum machine that uses antennae attached to a wheel (the second music video shows it in motion....), the hornicator, the stringaling...

The show itself was pretty amazing. More like an experience than a gig. As an audience member you somehow wanted to contribute to the show, to not disappoint him by standing still, but to shout, and laugh out loud, and follow him around in a cavalcade of whimsy as he leads the audience on an unplugged parade into the mean streets of Brixton and back...

he is anying again this week, and it would be a shame to miss it.

2 April, Wed: London, UK 100 Club supporting Flipron 100 Oxford St. W1

7 years and still saying goodbye...

King Sara — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:31:28 GMT

For 7 years now I have kinda hated this time of year. Without fail I am reminded how there is a Helen-shaped hole in the world.

I dunno. I used to feel angry and guilty. I suppose I still do, but not like I used to. I used to be so ANGRY and full of HATE and LOATHING (ironically, Helen did ANGRY, HATE and LOATHING so well when she was singing) And of course, there is the guilt - the 'where-was-I" guilt....

I suppose like everyone who knew Helen, I wonder what it would be like if she was still about. You know - what she would be doing... Would we still be friends... What her band would sound like... that sort of thing.

Anyway, here is my favourite Phuego song for missing Helen to.

America

King Sara — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 07:57:17 GMT

I was just wasting time watching music videos before going to work and saw this oldish video from The Indelicates.

I love the Indelicates. They have just released their new single, America. It is like listening to a modern day indie Meatload or something. It made me a little bit emotional this morning to tell you the truth.

Anyway, I understand they are at SXSW this week. You lucky people

The new single, America, is here

And an album is out soon. Thank god. The wait is killing me.

Glamtastic

King Sara — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:23:03 GMT

Tonight I am going to see Let's Wrestle, Paranoid Dog Bark, The Joy Formidable and Cruiser Chimp at the Buffalo Bar in Islington.

Paranoid Dog Bark is yet another band featuring Eddie Argos from Art Brut.

I am well excited actually. Last night Eddie told me that he is going to be wearing a jump suit and will totally be glamming it up. Apparently, he does all his own make-up, though Vessel/Mr Solo from David Devant and his Spirit Wife is also in the band so I expect that it will be all wigs and capes. I really could want a better night. 'Cept I am lacking sleep. It takes forever to get home from ewwwyuckCamden.

Last night I went to Club NME at Koko to see Sonic Flyer with my friend Stef, their former bassist. It was pretty good. They are all fairly competent musicians, but it would have been oh so much better if they knew more than one song. Seriously - a change in drum beat wouldn't hurt a little. Koko, of course, is still a disaster - like it wishes is was Frog during that 4 month period when it was the most fun place to be in London and unlimited guest lists...

Any way, I need a nap. I feel sleep retarded..

DJing tonight

King Sara — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 07:41:00 GMT

Tonight I am DJing at the Windmill in Brixton for John Vanderslice.

I think the Windmill is going to be the most awesome venue to see him. North of the river can get fucked. Don't the cool kids know that everything worth going to is south south SOUTH?

Anyway, for those of you who don't know John, he is all kinda of awesomeness.

From Wikipedia "Vanderslice was a contributing producer on the Spoon album, Gimme Fiction, and has collaborated and toured with The Mountain Goats. He also produced The Mountain Goats' albums Heretic Pride and We Shall All Be Healed. He is influenced by film and is a fan of David Lynch, whose work is referenced in his song "Promising Actress". His declared musical influences are diverse, ranging from Neutral Milk Hotel to Public Enemy. He has incorporated the poetry of William Blake, Percy Shelley and Robert Lowell into his music. In addition, Vanderslice is an avid photography hobbyist."

Though to be fair, all the descriptors that I use to describe him make him sound like one of those musicians I hate, he is actually fairly brilliant.

There are still a few tickets left from when I last checked.

And if you have never been to the Windmill, now is a good time to start.

The Gallows

King Sara — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:04:36 GMT

So, I went to see The Gallows last night.

It was so awesome I wish I went again tonight.

They are playing AGAIN at the 100 Club tomorrow.

There will be tickets on the door - they held some back to fuck the scalpers.

Anyway, it was punk as fuck. I have a little crush now...

Here is a clip someone uploaded, thugh I think is from the Monday night show.

The weirdest best gig ever

King Sara — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 12:19:15 GMT

Yesterday I ventured to west London for a gig in Nottinghill Gate, which is the first time in ages I have been that far for a gig, and oh my god it was the wierdest gig ever. I LOVED it.

It was the first Raincoats gig for about 8 years.

They are fundraising to build houses in Uganda.

The gig was during the day in a big old church and included a cake sale and cups of tea. It was full of very posh people and their children. LOTS of children. But I suppose the benefit of this is that Beth Orton played (at one stage during the set she lost her child. I was amused), and Mick Jones, who seemed to want to spend the day getting drunk except for the few minutes he was performing with a group of teenagers called the Dirty Curtains.

Anyway, I digress. The highlight was totally The Raincoats, who were amazing. they look a bit like the nicest grandmothers you could ever want to meet, and it was amazing that they could be so edgy and awesome. It was like seeing childhood heroes. My favourite song was Babydog, which is basically about being unable to have children. It was heartbreaking, but in a punk way.

Chemical Wedding

King Sara — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 11:05:41 GMT

ZMOG - so exciting. The film festival I help run is holding the gala premier of Chemical Wedding, the BRUCE DICKISON film about Aleister Crowley.

It is going to be awesome.

FYI - the film festival runs from April 30th to May 4th.

Aleister Crowley's 'Chemical Wedding'
Uploaded by neverknwo

Oscars and gossip

King Sara — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 07:51:18 GMT

So, a good friend and skeleton in the closet has made the news for boffing an actress and his ex has sold her story to the Daily Mail. Hilarious (and also a bit sad because Sandro is so awesome he should be in the news for his amazing paintings, and not for who he is boffing....)

scandle rags

Anyway, that is what is happening in my life this week.

What is also happening is that I love The Wave Pictures. I saw them live last week and they were tweeness in all their Jeffrey Lewis teeshirt-wearing glory.

So I brought their CD, and it isn't nearly as good as they are live. Which is a HUGE shame, because they were brilliant.

ATP - Explosions

King Sara — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 19:14:45 GMT

So, getting pretty excited about ATP this year. I am going to the Explosions one: Friday 16th May to Sunday 18th May.

The line up is below.

And a song by Jens Lekman, who I have a bit of a crush on.

Awesome!

EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY, BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE, IRON AND WINE, DINOSAUR JR, ADEM, ....AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF THE DEAD, POLVO, ANIMAL COLLECTIVE, A HAWK AND A HACKSAW, ELUVIUM, OLA PODRIDA, LAZARUS, THE PAPER CHASE, FOUR TET, GHOSTFACE KILLAH, WESTERN KEYS, SILVER JEWS, JENS LEKMAN, MONO, TONY TEARDROP, THE DRIFT, THE NATIONAL, LIARS, SUNSET RUBDOWN, LICHENS, STARS OF THE LID, BATTLES, DE LA SOUL, SAUL WILLIAMS, RAEKWON, THE FIELD, OKKERVIL RIVER, ATLAS SOUND, THE PALE GALLERY, THE OCTOPUS PROJECT

Champutees

King Sara — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 23:10:43 GMT

Seriously, even in the 80's, when I was tiny and young and did gymnastics and wore hammer-pants I could never do this....

I am totally addicted to amputee breakdancing.

If I was going to end it all...

King Sara — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:34:20 GMT

I suppose if I was going to end it all, I would have to think long and hard about the songs that would be playing while I did it.

I mean, I am not suicidal usually. Only the past few days I have spent too much time at home, and when I get bored of my own company I plot how to rid myself of this uninspiring house-guest.

Plus, it is my 28th birthday in a few weeks and naturally, thoughts at this age turn to mortality. That is normal right?

Anyway, today I was thinking of the soundtrack to ending it all, and part of me thinks, fuck it, the last songs I hear on this planet should be:

Bob Marley - Three Little Birds (if any song could talk me out of it, it is this one) Bugsy Malone soundtrack - We Could Have Been Anything (for the comic value, you know?) The Pixies - Wave of Mutilation (because it seems like an exit song)

But then this song came on my iTunes, and I decided to stop thinking about such a depressing topic.

Who wants to die when music is this charming and delightful? Not me for sure.

I just want to feel good

King Sara — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:08:56 GMT

I feel like my lung are full of gross. Being this flu-ey is ruining my life. Especially since I just wanted to have a REALLY good weekend partying in Southampton and not sleeping and dancing and singing karaoke.

OK, so I struggled through it all and did sing some karaoke, but really, I just wanted to be in bed with someone stroking my hair and pitying me.

This weekend I have realised that The Unicorns can make me feel a bit better.

Here is a song about illness.

I like their DYIness, their tweeness, their jangly guitarness, and their unpolishedness.

Other than The Unicorns, there is little in the world at the moment to live for.

(It seems that being ill makes me a little melodramatic...)

Tullycraft are TWEEness

King Sara — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 23:19:46 GMT

Apparently, James and I weren't in a fight the other day. I was reading too much into it. Of course, then I was 45 minutes late meeting him and he was left in the cold and the dark. He even made me a get well soon card that had zombies on it.

Anyway, I only mention this because I wanted to talk about Tullycraft and how twee they are.

They are so twee I managed to not only knit a cardigan, but also fly a kite while listening to this song. I then baked biscuits, called my mother and made a felt broach of Bonnie 'Prince' Billy when listening to it a second time.

Wikipedia says that Tullycraft are considered one of the forefathers of American twee pop. Good for them I say. It is a grand genera

I think me and James are in a fight again..

King Sara — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:39:33 GMT

You know where in the first few seasons of the Gilmour Girls Rory and whats his name are constantly in a fight?

Well, James and I are a bit like that - not that we mean to. I mean, fundamentally, we are best friends. It is just that try as we might, we can't spend more than 24 hours in each others company.

Anyway, sometimes, when we don't fight about:

a) classifying music (yesterday I told him I tagged Ani DeFranco as rock music just to annoy him)

b) Whether science is romantic (of course it is!), or

c) Whether humans are predictable

we fight to find the twee-ist song ever.

Today I found it and he isn't around for me to gloat.

Here is the TWEEIST song in the universe ever. It is lonely at the top...

Cow-punk!

King Sara — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 07:21:06 GMT

So, listening to Biafra And Nixon first thing in the morning is like having a little socialist heart-attack.

The best thing about cowpunk is how it is its able to use something that is often linked to right-wing nonsense and make it subversive.

Biafra And Nixon have been described as frenzied, frantic, Rockabilly-based fun.

That sounds about right. They are no Gun Club - they are more like a country version of Oi Polloi.

Their songs are generally commentary on issues - like abortion, atomic power and environmental issues, and religion. Though one of my favourites is titled 'Where Are We Gonna Work (When the Trees Are Gone?)'

Here is one of my favourites to play when DJing.

Hooray for cowpunk!

So So Modern's last London dates

King Sara — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 08:04:14 GMT

So, I came back from New Zealand with full on wet sloppy love for the So So Modern.

In the tradition of The Mint Chicks with their clangy angular guitar they are both blankie carrying kite flying indie and punk as fuck. Hooray for a combination that often misses any integrity.

The good news is that So So Modern are in the UK and playing 2 gigs in London this week (as far as I know - there might be more) they are playing on the Art Rocker festival at the Buffalo Bar tomorrow and at the Windmill in Brixton on Sunday.

Here is one their songs, you know, just for the pleasure of it.

New Zealand music

King Sara — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 06:14:16 GMT

This isn't released yet and but I got a leaked copy and I love it.

It is a New Zealand band full of young and freshed faced children who make feel old and talentless.

I think they are rather good and I don't care who knows it.

Glasvegas will be your new favourite

King Sara — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 20:06:32 GMT

James sent me this song as part of our fight for the saddest song in the universe.

He didn't win, obviously, because that place is reserved for Songs:Ohia, but it is pretty fo shizzle, and I am fairly confident that Glasvegas will be my favourte band next year.

Their MySpace is here.

I suspect that you won't regret listening to them and maybe even having a bit of a weep.

New Mountain Goats!

King Sara — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 19:39:47 GMT

So, last weekend I went to see The Mountain Goats at the Union Chapel (which is an amazing venue and it was an amazing show - all of you who didn't go will probably regret it in years to come).

My friend Jo did think it was in poor taste, being that we were in a chapel, for TMG to pull up Eddie Argos for the finale to sing The Best Ever Death Metal Band Out Of Denton (I am sure you can see the horror of this on YouTube if you are interested), but luckily, God did not smite them and I understand that Australia will soon be benefiting from an Art Brut tour fairly soon. Good for them.

Anyway, I digress. What I was to say is that there is going to be new Mountain Goats all over the place and from what i have heard so far it is brilliant.

Here is a sad song. Not The Saddest Song In The Universe Ever, but you know, it is sad all the same.

The Tailors

King Sara — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 22:39:09 GMT

Here is a song I am really liking at the moment.

The Tailors are a great band to see live. They are awesomely pleasing. And sincere. It is not often that something this sincere comes from south London. They are so good I weep a little thinking about it. If they were in a fight with Lucero, I think I would be on their side.

This song is from the Total Loss Farm Weekender sample CD that I borrowed from the Windmill.

Ukulele Wednesday

King Sara — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:44:10 GMT

That is right! I announce Ukulele Wednesday - a day set aside to celebrate the true majesty of this wonderfully diverse instrument.

Thanks Lyn for the heads up about Jake Shimabukuro. He is totally my new favourite!

and more!

The Pixies - because the past just isn't quite over yet

King Sara — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 08:02:43 GMT

The Pixies are a band that are a bit like the soundtrack to my life from 1995 - 2001ish.

I suppose that seems like a long time, and they aren't the only band I listened to during those troubled teenage years, but they were right up there on the play list.

The funny thing about The Pixies is that it is never big memories that they hold her me and play along to. It is the small memories - the ones that in another world, if The Pixies weren't there, then they would be forgotten.

The song below is a tribute to my 16 year old self. The memory I associate it with is driving in the middle of the night down these awful nowhere roads with native New Zealand forest enveloping us on each side with my bestest friend while trying to find a party at the Argentinian Embassy.

The Black Arts

King Sara — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 22:15:01 GMT

I know what you are thinking...

You are thinking why hasn't there been an Art Brut-Black Box Recorder Christmas song yet?

And you would be thinking this because you haven't been looking hard enough.

Here is a Pitchfork article http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/47038-art-bruts-argos-black-box-recorder-cut-xmas-single

Here is the MySpazz: http://www.myspace.com/christmasnumberonetheblackarts

Neko Case

King Sara — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 14:41:02 GMT

The other night when I was DJing I got in a conversation with the sound man about other great music. We were talking a lot about Bruce Springsteen, then about early Bob Seger, and then he was all like, have you heard Neko Case. I said no, and he said, well you should.

And honestly? He was so right.

Listening to Neko is a bit like "Oh, so that is what I really wish I sounded like when I sing."

Yeah. Her voice is a pretty special. The only think that could make it better is if she was a bit more road weary, but that is a personal thing.

Here is a Neko Case song that is a little bit country, a little bit awesome.

The fighting with James is over...

King Sara — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 00:40:48 GMT

Yeah.

Fighting with James is good and all but this time it is an empty victory.

James - you can't win this fight

King Sara — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 23:31:31 GMT

It is a FACT that this song:

Is WAY MORE SAD than this song:

and just because you are a music journalist for a living and I work in administration doesn't change the fact that I am right.

Fighting with James (still)

King Sara — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 08:15:03 GMT

So, James and I are still fighting. He sent me a few music videos, which are below, and insists that these are in the running for the saddest song ever. I am really not convinced though.

I don't think The Verve or Blur are capable of writing the saddest song in the universe ever.

-- This one does quite well, but Bonnie "Prince" Billy can do sad, we all know that, but can he do sincere as well as Jason Molina? Well, the answer is no (BTW - Jason Molina is playing in London next month and everyone should go).

-- I thought this song as an entry was a good choice for being unexpected. Not something that springs to mind when I think "saddest" and "universe" but it definitely rates:

I gave it a little thought and countered with Box of Rain by The Grateful Dead (not because it is sad, but it makes me sad. It makes me have regrets and feel loss for never having lived in an American small town in the 70s.

I then offered up some Beach Boys - God Only Knows, but this song is also not sad - I just wasn't thinking.

However, I think that I can claw back some victory with He Lays In The Reins by Calexico and Iron & Wine and definitely one with the Fairport Convention below

More fighting with James

King Sara — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 13:26:13 GMT

Here is how it is. I started this new fight by staying the the song below is the SADDEST SONG IN THE UNIVERSE EVER.

It opened up a new challenge.

Now, James is a really good guy. I like him a whole lot, but there is no way he can win this fight. Why? Because I am an ex goth who loves country music....

He countered with this, which fair play to him, is a pretty maudlin song.

I then suggested Trinity Roots with The Little Things, http://www.dubsession.com/video/new/NZ/TrinityRoots_-_Little_Things.html

but I think that this song isn't really in the winners circle. It is a damn good song, but not THE SADDEST SONG IN THE UNIVERSE yet.

I think The Lioness set the bar too high.

He came back with Brand New . A song called You Don't Know, which was way to emo to really be a contender.

In my mind he should have stopped with Spritualised.

I countered with Emmylou Harris singing Boulder to Birmingham - the song she wrote after stealing Gram Parson's corpse and setting it on fire at Joshua Tree - an awesome song, and for good measure, to absolutely prove my point that my wealth of songs of sorrow, I threw in Subrina by Einstürzende Neubauten:

and I get extra points for the weird music video.

Today is another good day to be a winner.

Fighting with James (part 2)

King Sara — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:07:59 GMT

The fight over twee-ness continues, with Helen Love getting a mention.

I think I one round 2 with The Research's "I Bet If We Kissed", which is a crying cadrigan wearing classic.

James tried to counter with this song - Nazi Girls - and failed to recover his dignity.

It was a good day to feel like a winner.

Fighting with James

King Sara — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 08:06:55 GMT

My friend James and I are in a fight to find the MOST TWEE SONG EVER. The winnder gets a cardigan and a kite and a holiday to Southend to stand in the rain on the beach.

James has the upper hand because I work in administration and he works as the features editor at the NME, however, I put up the good fight.

Here is the winner for the day -

More Jeffrey

King Sara — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 07:34:37 GMT

I just ordered Tapes From The Crypt, 14 songs dug up from Jeffrey Lewis' home recordings from 1997 - 2001 and it is rather good - some better than others, but on the whole, a pretty great collections of songs.

Here is something cute about animals and things. It has already made my day a little better.

Punk Is Dead

King Sara — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 06:57:54 GMT

As promised, here is a song from the new Jeffrey Lewis album 12 Crass Songs.

I have so say that the packaging for this CD is great. It has an autobiography of JL and his love of Crass in JL comic form. LOVEY.And the songs are all pretty great.

Jeffrey Lewis and the Jitters

King Sara — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 06:46:29 GMT

On the weekend i went to see Jeffrey Lewis and the Jitters (of course I did...he being my favourite it is unlikely I would do anything else).

His new album is called 12 Crass Song and from what I heard at the show, it is pretty super. He has taken Crass songs and made them Jeffrey Lewis songs and they are pretty awesome.

Below is a video from one of the shows. I have purchased the album, so when it arrives I'll post something better quality, but I really wanted to big-up Jeffrey Lewis because he is super:

Also at the show was Jeffrey Lewis's uncle, Professor Louie, who was also awesome:

oh the whole, it was pretty much the best day ever.

Walking in Light

King Sara — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 20:21:07 GMT

last night Ewan and I stayed in and ate fried plantain and vegan chili and watched a film about New Zealand's biggest mass murder. It was in a small South Island coastal town called Aramoana in the early '90s and 13 people were killed by David Gray (not the musician).

Anyway, there are a few good New Zealand songs about the incident. By the Chills, the Mutton Birds, one by a band I can't remember but it is called "Our Little Town".

However, below is a song entirely unrelated, but that I like. Originally written by Th' Dudes this version was released earlier this year on the She's Lost compilation and is by Disjecta Membra - a goth band fronted by one of the only men I have ever punched in the face.

Enjoy:

R Kelly - I check my closet for you because you scare me

King Sara — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 06:28:38 GMT

I just watched R Kelly's Trapped In The Closet - Episodes 1 - 12, and it was the BEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN!

That it, until I watched the commentary, which was EVEN BETTER! It was just like the film, only without the amazing rhyming and with more cigar smoking.

I can't wait to see more.

Now wait until last year

King Sara — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 07:06:26 GMT

I like how people from the past can find you on facebook and how you can search for past crushes and things like that. It is so easy to stalk when your bored or should be doing other stuff.

Here is a song about finding people on facebook (it's not really, but you know, whatever). B"Prince"B knows...

Milk Kan

King Sara — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 20:16:32 GMT

I could say a lot about Milk Kan - about how they are rather jolly, about how they are a south London country hip-hop extravaganza, about hey they get by without growing up, and all of it would be true.

I really like them.

This song has the line "it's like New York without the avenues, like inland without revenues..."

It is a bit slower than most of what they play. Mostly, they make people dance... and that is a really great thing to do.

The Singing Adams

King Sara — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 06:59:29 GMT

The Singing Adams is that guy from the Broken Family Band and some other people making some really good music.

I see that there is stuff about advertising Christmas - like we can forget that it happens EVERY December - and so in honour of early Christmas panic shopping I am posting one of my favourite Christmas song.

I might post a few others, but for now - here is I Got you A Book For Christmas

My Sad Captains

King Sara — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:54:46 GMT

I go see My Sad Captains play quite a bit and really like them.

Over the weekend I was making a mix CD and included this song, which I think is excellent. It slotted into the mix between I Bet If We Kissed by The Research and I Got You A Book For Christmas by The Singing Adams.

I think it is going to be a good mixed CD. I find it harder to make mixed CDs than mixed tapes. So much more thought goes into a mixed tape it is hard to do that kind of thinking in front of a computer.

Eagle vs Shark

King Sara — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 23:07:33 GMT

So, I went to see Eagle vs Shark tonight and it was awesome.

For those who don't know, it is a New Zealand film staring Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords (who have a new TV show - see below)

Anyway, the music for the film was provided by The Phoenix Foundation

and was rather lovely.

There is a lot of their music available on their website for listening to. i think i might have to go buy the film soundtrack at some point. It was all rather lovely.

As as aside, it seems that the film has a thing going with Threadless.com.

Doug Stanhope and MySpace

King Sara — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 20:32:50 GMT

Last year I went to see Doug Stanhope who is one of my favourite comedians.

Today, while I was was at work after 5pm because for some reason I thought not leaving on time was better than leaving on time I found myself looking for him on YouTube and and found this video - Doug Stanhope on MySpace pedophiles...

This is just a song

King Sara — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 22:05:10 GMT

Just a song about ping-pong!

i really like this band. i think they are kind addictive. This song especially so.

post-Ciccone

King Sara — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 21:56:19 GMT

So, Ciccone are no more,which is sad for me. Except Rebekha and Micky and some others have a new band called The Last Army, which play some rather sweet music, and some not so sweet music.

Below is once of the songs that are currently stealable from their myspace page

I think it is rather nice.

Yo Zushi

King Sara — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 07:04:32 GMT

I went to see Yo Zushi again on Sunday night and he was very good.

The last time he played it was just him, but this time he had a band.

The band was excellent. I was trying to find a video so I could share the enjoyment of this and I see on his website that he is a practitioner of J-folk. Now, being a fan of anti-folk I don't think I say say "but that genre doesn't exist" but still. J-folk

Anyway, you can listed to some J-folk here: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=8766626

It is really good.

Great moments in Britpop - Carter vs Schofield

King Sara — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 06:41:17 GMT

On the weekend I went to see a number of bands, one of which was Abdoujaparov, Les Carter from Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine's new(ish) band.

Growing up in New Zealand I kinda missed out on the whole 80's britpop thing - so I still find it odd when my friends say things like "Les was the reason I started my first band" because for me Les is just a nice guy who will fix your computer and make you a rather good cup of tea.

However, I was pointed to this video of Les at the Smash Hits Awards and it made me realise that Les is not just a nice guy - he is a nice guy with a platinum album, a fan club and fists of steel. Carter USM Vs Phillip Schofield @ Smash Hits Awards 1991

Best day ever

King Sara — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 09:25:08 GMT

Yeserday was the BEST DAY EVER for me. I went shopping for BBQ things in the morning and also found the perfect pair of jeans that I could stencil with this design:

Then I came home and it was sunny so I dragged out blankets and pillows into the backyard and read comics in the sun for the rest of the morning.

Then some friends came over, my housemate went to IKEA to buy bookshelves to fill the gap where our TV used to be (I finally live in a no-TV household and it is AWESOME! All our furniture points towards books and records).

Then I BBQed lots of vegetarian things. My favourite was chargrilled marinaded eggplant, but the Halloumi was good, as was a corgette and and garlic butter field mushrooms.

Then it was getting quite dark, so Ewan alphabeticized my records for me, and then he sorted out my books in a system that takes no effort and I can understand (genre then height - the perfect system for me), while we listened to awesome records that I haven't been able to find because my system of filing was chaotic.

Then everyone left and Ewan and I sat for a while not really talking but just enjoying the evening. Then his girlfriend came over so we ate the last of the muffins and then I went to bed.

This monring when I woke up, there was an email fom Chris Matthews from the Headless Chickens asking me to be in his band!

BEST DAY EVER!

The English Traveling Wilburys

King Sara — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 08:53:29 GMT

My friend Keith has actually formed the Engligh Traveling Willburys.

The band consists of:

Ketih TOTP, Eddie Argos (Art Brut), John Moore (Jesus and Mary Chain), Luke Haines (The Auteurs), The Vessel (David Devant and his Spirit Wife), Paul Guided Missile, and Frank Sidebottom, with members of the Indelicates on percussion,

They are doing a session for Gideon Coe on BBC6 next month.

Hooray.

This kept me amused for nearly 4 minutes

King Sara — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 09:30:26 GMT

The Hipster Olympics!

One day...

King Sara — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 20:12:01 GMT

...I am going to practice making babies with Pop Levi.

It is true.

I am.

And no one can stop me.

My musical saw tutor

King Sara — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 06:42:09 GMT

Many people are familiar with The Jesus and Mary Chain, but are less so familiar with Black Box Recorder, which is the band John Moore (my musical saw tutor) is in with Luke Haines of the Auteurs and Sarah Nixey.

I like to think of them as the English Travelling Wilburys.

Here is a good morning song by Black Box Recorder.

Goodbye (part one)

King Sara — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 22:53:58 GMT

I have been revisiting bands that I really really love but that are no longer together.

One of these are the wonderful Clor, who were old regulars at my favourite pub and one of the best Brixton bands about.

It makes me weep a little thinking about how much I miss them sometimes.

Rose Kemp's Morning Music

King Sara — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 06:50:53 GMT

About a year ago I went to see Rose Kemp and enjoyed it so much that her song 'Morning Music' became a song that I can't help but wake up to.

Rose had a lovely voice - and wouldn't you if you parents were folk-famous? Her mother is Maddy Prior from Steeleye Span.

Anyway, I am attaching to this post a song called Violence. it is good and I really like her weird husky voice.

Everyone else

King Sara — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 06:50:17 GMT

I haven't listed to TISM before, but after a recommendation i found that i quite like them. I like bunnies singing.

Songs influenced by Philip K Dick (Part 4)

King Sara — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 06:38:10 GMT

Here is a song by Home Video as mentioned by my last post.

I like them quite a bit.

Yaesayer are pretty great

King Sara — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 07:08:14 GMT

I was DJing at the Windmill last night and the bands were of superb quality.

First was Home Video, who are from Brooklyn and play what I like to think of as the best electronic music straight from the '80s. They were sweet and gloomy. like listening to Sisters of Mercy but without the baggage.

Then was Yeasayer, who were also pretty damn amazing. Also from New York and also playing electronic '80s sounding music, their recordings dissappointly don't really sound like what was happening on stage during their live set. Their recording lack the richness of sound (and of course the pretty weird stage act).

There is a lot going on with this band and obvious influences are mixed and varied. There is a bit of Mexican/Spanish-esk sounding guitar, A lad who looks like he was once in New Kids on the Block. Walls of electronic sound in that disparing '80s way and occasionally a south of the border harmony.

-- My DJ set include:

Sisters of Mercy - More Clem Snide - The Soung of German Hip Hop Elton John - Tiny Dancer Bugsy Malone - So You Wanna be a Boxer Meet the Mets original theme song Art Brut - Pump Up The Volume Video Club - Lady Shambles The Humanity - Sharks Don't Sleep Roxy Music - 2 HB The Victorian English Gentlesmen's Club - My Son Spells Backwards

and lots of other self-indulgent stuff and i am too shamed to mention.

The Moths

King Sara — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 23:07:32 GMT

I missed The Hot Puppies because I have a crush on Dave Fade who is in The Moths and I found myself in stinky Camden on Sunday at The Proud Gallery blushing at Dave then leaving before saying hello, because I am not very grown up about these sorts of things.

Here is a song off The Moths new single.

They are pretty great I have to say. The sound at the Proud Gallery is a bit poor, but the outdoor bedding is a bit of a winner, as is the Alice in Wonderland theme. It made me wish I was very very drunk.

Catchy

King Sara — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 23:55:46 GMT

This weekend I have decided that a trip to The Windmill in Brixton is in order.

On Sunday, as well as BBQ, they have Tim Ten Yen, who is lovely...

The rest of the line up for the sunday all-dayer is looking a bit like this:

*The Hot Puppies (Awesome video clip follows...)

*The Victorian English Gentlemens Club *Popular Workshop *Das Wanderlust *Subliminal Girls *Witter *The Housewives

I think it will be a well-spent £5.

British Sea Power

King Sara — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:59:07 GMT

For those of you who were mad at me about the British Sea Power gig, they are playing Club Fandango in early September:

In fact, this whole line up looks pretty super if you ask me.

Linky-link

I'm dying (my hair)

King Sara — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:36:15 GMT

I am currently dying my hair black and it is making me remember all the wonderful things about being a goth...like Peter Murphy's solo work.

It was nearly a decade ago that this was my favourite song to listen to on repeat while I cried and hated by parents and wrote poetey about how I was picked on at school and cut holes into my fish net stockings.

I am glad I got over all of the things above, though sometimes I like to listen to this song on repeat when I want to be a bit melancholy for the past.

Now that I am a little older and more mature I listen to things like Clem Snide's 'I Woke Up to The Sound Of German Hip Hop' on repeat. Maybe that is what it is to grow up.