NYE Fool....I Mean Foal!

I Ain't Gettin On No Plane Foal!

Propelled to the stage by a Roar of pimpled teens and one slightly inebriated 28 year old hairy bear like character (Me) are 5 pint sized Rockers. Far from the art splattered canvas streets of Oxford, lurk a slightly atmospheric and oddly mysterious group of talented individuals named Foals. Tonight they are playing a packed to the rafters HMV Forum in Kentish Town, agreed by lead singer and avid soul collector Yannis Snuffleupagus to be the pinnacle of his career. Yes that's right bigger than being nominated for a Mercury Prize in 2010. What makes this night so special other than having a clearly talented self proclaimed music journalist in the audience is that 2010 is set to evolve into 2011 in one glorious night. I wasn't sure if it was the stench of stale beer in the air or the fact that i was heavily medicated, due to the great xmas man flu of the twenty tens, but i was extremely excited about what was about to happen, Foals playing songs and stuff i mean.

According too a piece of paper found by an individual and posted on Foals Facebook page the set list went something like this - Blue Blood, Olympic Airways, Total Life Forever, Cassius, Balloons, Miami, Afterglow, 2 Trees, Spanish Sahara, Red Sox Pugie, Electric Bloom, One, Hummer, Two Steps Twice...............If that doesn't make you want to cry for not being a part of the night then you are a Foal, Sorry i mean Fool.

Something that i found rather odd at this particular gig or possibly venue is that i managed to make it all the way to the front of the stage. Why have i made this point i hear you think? The answer to this query is that as massive this band have grown to be and small the venue in comparison to the hype, it was relatively roomy maybe that was down to the gig crippling recession we are currently in at the moment or possibly the stink of rail and travel tickets on the rise. Anyway........One of the most memorable moments for me was when Yannis attempted to climb the 50ft (possible exaggeration) speakers at the side of the stage right in front of  me, i say attempt because this did not go as planned. As Yannis clambered onto the first speaker he slipped and the speaker came crashing down to the ground below missing my girlfriend mere inch's (2nd possible exaggeration) it was close though. To cut a long but Awesome story short, he managed to conquer mount speakerton and as he stood gloriously at the top with guitar in hand B@#{L&*A%$£H.......some stupid mushroom hair cutted girl came smashing through myself and girlfriend, "I'm Foals number 1 and only Fan" she seemed to say. I am happy to say that she was swiftly removed by my mini power house bride to be, not really she just scuttled off into the crowd once Yannis resumed position back to front of stage.

Two great things have come from seeing the New Year with Foals, One - My Girlfriend has now become a super fan buying and playing anything that remotely resembles Foals. And Two - I believe i saw that pushy bowl cutted girl throwing up in the street on the way out, I joke of course!

In short summary what a band, what a show and what a way to see in the new year! I dare you not to be impressed by Foals Live. I'd like to finish by asking you a question - The XX or Foals? The answer is clearly Foals, so on that note I'd like to offer this trophy to the real 2010 winners of the Mercury Prize (Nothing against The XX but just think Foals are much better).

I Know its not the right trophy but couldn't find a Mercury Prize Trophy without someones grubby little paws all over it.

Jessie J

She's clearly not a Dude but she'll do it like one!

Coming down to the ring she's the Queen of Essex, The Sound of 2011, The one, The only Jessie J.

Real name Jessica Cornish, 22 year old Jessie J arrived on the main stream music scene in November 2010 after releasing Do It Like A Dude. You can clearly see the West End performer peering through Jessie's un-debatable grimy pop star princess persona. Jessie studied musical theatre at the Brit School which open doorways to her first record deal with Gut Records and interest from the United States.

Jessie was plagued by a mine field of health related problems early in her career, at the age of 18 she suffered a minor stroke which put a pause on her career. Clearly an unstoppable swaggering power house she stepped out from the ever looming shadows to find success as a songwriter for the likes of Chris Brown and Justin Timberlake. She was about to offer the epic track Do it Like a Dude to Rihanna before her record label convinced her to keep it for herself. Jessie has already appeared on Later... with Jools Holland, which incidentally is where i first saw the artist.

A Clear candidate to take over the US in true conquering fashion, Jessie J is one of the most interesting and talented individuals emerging from the UK today. She is clearly a talented MC, singer and i think my friend Justin Timberlake would agree that she is unrivaled in the song writing business. Jessie has the look, the talent and the (try to be cool) swagger, i can see bright lights and a spot next to Jay Z at his next UK venture, If he still has ears and eyes of course.

check out Jessie J's performances and interview on BBC Sound of 2011

http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/soundof/2011/artists/jessiej/#p00d4twf

Neon Trees

Mohawks and colorless inert noble gas covered trees....

These 3 components help to form a rock group called "Neon Trees". This American group was Formed by Tyler Glenn (vocals and keys) and Chris Allen (guitar). The band set down roots in Provo, Utah where they recruited Branden Campbell (bass guitar and vocals) and Elaine Bradley (drums and vocals), finely rounding the number up to an even 1,2 carry the 3....4 yes a 4 piece Rock Pop Orchestra. A fifth member known as David Charles occasionally sneaks into the band when touring as keyboardist & additional guitarist sounds. Although the Trees are mega superstars in the local Provo taverns they didn't receive nationwide recognition until 2008 when they opened for The Killers on various American Tour dates. The band are now signed by major record label Mercury Records and released their first actual real big boy album "Habits" in 2010.

The Band have been very busy since 2005 touring with The Killers and 30 Seconds To Mars, headlining the Summer 2010 Bang The Gong Tour with Paper Tongues, MeTalkPretty, and Civil Twilight, performing to 7,000 at Lollapalooza, Their first single "Animal" has climbed to number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Alternative Rock Chart.

Below is a couple of Youtube links showing off some of the skills the band possess. Most ear and eye catching is the lead singer Tyler Glenn's fashionista style and silky smooth swinging vocals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b901cPCUtg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEYxcyA1oCI

(Thanks to Youtube, Google and Wikipedia)

Sleigh Bells

The sound of Sleigh Bells is in the air, it must be Christmas time,

An awesome American version of our beloved Ting Tings, Sleigh Bells are a noisy American pop boy 'n' girl combo. The group released their debut album (Treats) in May 2010. Coming straight out of Brooklyn NY with a combined weight of 300lbs Sleigh Bells are fronted by the silky smooth, aggressive Alexis Krauss and the behind the scenes man/ upfront guitar wielding maniac Derek Miller AKA the brains of the operation (songwriter, guitarist, producer). A brief in site into the duo's past points us in the direction of "Poison the Well", where Derek played guitar as the....um guitarist. Alexis on the other hand had a very fluffy wuffy past as a member of a teen pop group called "Rubyblue", she also appeared in a Nickelodeon Magazine commercial. You should be ashamed of yourself Alexis!! That's not Rock 'n' Rolls baby! The duo met and formed in 2008, legend has it that Alexis's mum kicked the whole thing off with a chance meet and greet in a Brazilian restaurant. I like to think the story went exactly like this (possible slight fabrication)......A down and out former rock star called Derek was waiting tables at a Brazilian restaurant called "Miss Favela" when he stumbled upon two hotties, whilst he was mentioning (to the hotties) that he was looking for a female vocalist to work with on a musical project; Alexis's gobby mother immediately stuck her nose into Derek's conversation and sold her daughter to the project for mere pennies, she has since been claiming royalties from the groups worldwide success. For the purpose of law and truth telling blah blah blah this did not happen, but it went something like that. The terrifying twosome are signed to M.I.A.'s N.E.E.T. Recordings and Mom + Pop Recordings.

Every time i hear the track "Tell Em" i automatically think of the Michael Jackson video Black or White when Macaulay Culkin is dancing in his bedroom and then his dad comes up stairs and sh*ts on his party, Macaulay then sets up his amps and with a massive F you to his dad, or evil step dad as i like to assume, strums his guitar and destroys the whole house with loudness ha ha ha aha ha aha ah....Awesome!

I've just bought my copy of "Treats" mere minutes ago for the grand sum of £5 (HMV Online), that's the equivalent of a penny sweet these days. If you've got some change floating around in your pocket, purse or strange pouch located in men's swimming trucks, whats that all about? Then get it out and purchase this album now!

As always i have trawlled through Youtube and found some links to some great associated video's, Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhYYd5adVY4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZFf9T32g94

We Are Mona (The Band)

I have frustratingly titled this, We Are Mona (The Band)

Why you ask? firstly, Stop talking to yourself in your head its dangerous, Secondly! Well.....there is no secondly, the reason i have done this is because Mona is the most commonly named song, band, food, animal, mineral, disease etc, etc, etc in the entire universe. Don't try and research this you will only find out that i am correct. Finding information on this band has been an arduous task, don't ask me what arduous means because I'll just stare at you uncomfortably until you get bored and walk off. After many hours i struck gold, Triumph!!! An actual understandable, sense making, journalist type individual wrote this........its just below this, look down.......Now....

Mona are an indie rock band originally from Dayton, Ohio, now located in Nashville, Tennessee. They play romantic rock n' roll songs for the 'city folk'. Their single ‘Listen To Your Love’ was recorded in their basement and was released on their own Zion Noiz recordings which came out in the United Kingdom on September 13th 2010. The band comprise of Nick Brown (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Vince Gard (drums), Zach Lindsey (bass), Jordan Young (guitar). The band have been so keen to keep their debut material under wraps that rather than sending it out to journalists to review, they played it down the phone to them.

The above was Stolen from: The Guardian - New Band of the Day, I have chosen to highlight and underline this as i am not going to prison for plagiarism again, I'll never go back there, swapping PlayStation's for trainers is crazy!!!!

I saw Mona on Later Live With Jools Holland preforming amongst power houses such as Robert Plant, Arcade Fire and Adele, who if i may add sang a single from her new album "Someone Like You" due for release in January, what an amazing song. Back to the titled band, whilst being sandwiched between the Godly ex-front man of Led Zep and the thousand member strong Arcade Fire, Mona really hold their own amongst the overlords of everything that is rock.

Please check out the Youtubious video's and judge for yourselves, I'm sure you wont be disappointed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTH6Hz_jrY0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziir6rf0eQk

Had to sneak the Adele track in here, sorry if your not a fan but its a great track!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHciwrfQQpU

Onlookers

Tunbridge Wells Forum......

A public toilet lookalike on a dark dark hill in a posh toff town where well known bands such as Gallows, Rolo Tomassi and The King Blues can sip shandy and rub shoulders with some of the new up and coming bands playing along side them at this old school venue, One of those new bands being Onlookers. I was more than grateful to see this band perform last night warming up the stage for another local band called Dogs. Onlookers is a Faversham based band consisting of four young lads, two of which are brothers, Dale Norton Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar, Callum Norton Drums and Vocals, Jamie Darby Lead Guitar and Keys, and Thomas Ford Bass and Percussion. An English take on blues rock with powerful vocals, commanding stage presence, and faultless live performances propel them from just another support act too a band worthy of headline stardom. Being Onlookers newest self proclaimed honorary band member i vow to use whatever platform necessary to help rocket the guys to ungodly heights.

If you like what you hear or are still on the fence then check out the tracks on Onlookers myspace and performances at Canterbury's Chantry Social Club's Hoochie Coochie night on the bands Facebook page.

www.myspace.com/onlookers

http://www.facebook.com/onlookers

(Special thanks as always to Google search engine for pictures)

At The Drive-In

After watching the 250 million trillion best Later Live with Jools Holland videos last night i stumbled across an All American Rock band that would make Ian Curtis look like Idiana Jones stuck in quick sand. The band were called "At The Drive-In", Hence the title. I say "were called" because they sadly went their separate ways in 2001, before the separation the band were active for 8 years that's 1,2,3,4,5, ah 1993 to 2001 for those of you that are mathematically challenged like my great self. They were known for being extremely energetic and have some of the most unorthodox guitar Melodie's as well as having unpredictable tempo shifts and loud controlled screaming, slightly reminiscent of my old PE Teacher, as well as......."only kidding"! I fell madly deeply head over heels in love with this band the second i saw them, sorry I've just read that back to myself and realised how that statement could be taken out of context, lets get it "straight" i was referring to the way they carry themselves whilst performing a live show, anyway shut up (dam this holes getting deeper, Hello is anyone up there?) At the Drive-In are sometimes by many described as a Prog Rock-Tastic face yankingly great band that should never have died. If you love music and you love listening then put those talents together and listen to this music, by this music i of course mean check out the link that i have attached. If you like some of the cool classic Rock bands such as The strokes, The Nation of Ulysses, sex pistols or even some of the new sounds crossing over to our shores these days like Dananananaykroyd then check out this band, I'd like to finish by saying and i think my friend Tony would agree "Their Grrrrreat".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NYbojdoAQE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqsNR5pI6bw

(Thanks to Youtube and Google Images)