Friday 31 December 2010

U2 - New Years Day



Before the The Pope started asking for autographs etc, U2 were a great new wave band with some amazing rock anthems. This is still the definitive song of New Year though.

Tuesday 21 December 2010

Star Soaked TV

Sort of.

starsoakedmusic at gmaildotcom asked if one required a youtube account.
following up the recent interview with The Dandies, how better to illustrate the excitement than this clip of them live at the Reeperbahn Festival in Germany.

The Star Soaked Music YouTube is at http://www.youtube.com/starsoakedmusic

Billie Holliday sounds like Christmas.

The Chanel No.5 advert still sounds like a lady singing the blues who is peerless.

In just a few seconds of the song "I'm a fool to want you" you can hear her tempestuous life. The positivity of it lives on through music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs9P-pfqF6Y

Friday 10 December 2010

Postcard From Westminster

Greetings From London

Beatles, Marner Brown, Rolling Stones, John Lee Hooker, Rainbow, Cab Calloway, Kinks, Led Zeppelin videos.

Star Soaked will be one month old on Christmas Day. I am especially happy about the videos that have been posted up. Dear BBC4 if ever you need somebody to make up playlists for you I can be paid in cava. Thank you. www.twitter.com/starsoakedmusic


25 Nov 


Ray Davies curating Meltdown, that's gotta be worth a Kinks video!
Appropriattly, You Really Got Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2GmzyeeXnQ


Rock n roll hardness and swagger from The Dandies and Marner Brown. Interviewed the former, and here is a beautifully soundgtracked grolsch advert featuring 'Open Road' by the latter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNM5Y8SaArE


Led Zep - Whole Lotta Love. Naturally http://t.co/aco1c57


Blues rock explosion 21st Century style courtesy of Popskull singing the tasty sounding Rat Sandwich http://t.co/KuEnTff 


26 Nov


Rainbow - Since You Been Gone http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mSkZU8IkjE 


John Lee Hooker and Bonnie Raitt - 'I'm In The Moodhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT-FoZt95D4 


29 Nov


Cab Calloway doing 'Reefer Manhttp://t.co/kWoYnYl  


30 Nov


Steve Lamacq played Marner Brown!


1 Dec


Rolling Stones - Lets Spend The Night Together  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqQ9FCVmPaI


And a legendary moment of vintage English Rock Star behaviour courtesy of fabulous role model, Keith Richards http://t.co/RUWCMZC 


5 Dec


The Darkness - 'Get Your Hands Off My Woman' http://t.co/BwtAMN0


Mona - new rock and roll tipped everywhere, eventually by MTV too


9 Dec


Spear Of Destiny - Prisoner of Love http://t.co/pcq90SP


The Beatles- Twist n Shout (Official Video) http://t.co/UIOuwAu


That would be Star Soaked Music TV mixed in with the new passions.


Indie. Just say no, kids.



Tuesday 7 December 2010

Tweetzine Times

starsoakedmusic getting the hang of the tweet n blog communication. that's great when there's interaction. 


last week;
 @RechargedRadio 
@wrtweets @thedandies @MarnerBrown @hedoniacs Thanks Starsoaked!!


recharged radio have sessions and interviews., those were some recommendations. not really sure if they will play warehouse republic, the dandies, marner brown or hedoniacs, but if they do that would be something.

@Wheres_Strutter 
@SoundCity cheers. wouldnt watch us tho we pick our noses and everything. 


where's strutter? -  manchester youth culture rock outfit that have the thumbs up from pete doherty but even more cred of their own making. recently seen on sky tv where they were hands down winners of a talent show. their song mr menace is a big tune. 


@wrtweets thank you very much, first proper radio play play next Fri on BBC Radio Birmingham (Brett Birks). Best wishes WR*


also youth culture rock with an american twang in the guitars. scroll down for words on warehouse republic debut single revolver.

@GinInTeacupsUK  Thank you for the support and appreciation! x


new music tv show on line in conjunction with the alternative culture site god is in the tv (described as a friendly drowned in sound). with carl barat doing the first session and interview that is a strong start.


No.25 in the YouTube most subscribed this month; http://www.youtube.com/user/GinInTeacupsUK


@Sabotagetimes #FF @samleeds88 @bonafidezine @RickHincks @tomvictor @donkey_walloppa @mikemanouevre @Cloine @starsoakedmusic @r0wanj0nes @lloyd_evans


more interesting that what passes for writing about culture (envious of the articulation), and entertaining to read at the same time. very kind of them to return the follow friday favour. it did actually work and helped achieve the required first dozen followers.


without the usual myspace and facebook, star soaked is mainly a tweetzine. thank goodness for the inter active nature of retweet and reply. 

Monday 6 December 2010

The Sea take a break from hard rock n rolling for Xmas

The Sea
@theseauk
have had an amazing year around the UK, USA and Europe.A festive treat is the Xmas song


Happy Happy Christmas 
(Take Off All Your Clothes) 
video!


Getting in the mood for the holidays.


but to hear some full on pychadelic rocking, they have new tour dates up at http://www.myspace.com/theseasounds kicking off in London (Brixton Windmill on 10 December).

Warehouse Republic, single release, 'Revolver'


'Revolver' 
A new single turning music around by  Warehouse Republic

Its time for 2010 music critic quotas "of the year" etc, plus this weeks releases include Plan B, Kylie Minogue, Micheal Jackson and Kings Of Leon to name but few. They have no competion from interest-stirring new artists profile wise, but their game needs to stay raised against young pretenders to the throne. 

Star Soaked got excited recently about the youth culture rock epitomised by Warehouse Republic. Their debut single, Revolver, is available now for 79p from Amazon, iTunes and more. It turns todays mainstream sounds - urban, pop, indie and electronic - around. A revolution in other words, in that its timeless bluesy hard edge contains a howled call to every decade of popular music obsession. Classic Rock can be young and new too, it's in the composition.

SSM not alone in checking out the WR scene early. Similarly anticipating music fans stepped inside The 100 Club a few weeks ago. Because of it being under threat there was an element of pilgrimage to the evening. Sadly, it may be just another Oxford Street basement soon. For now, breaking artists strut their stuff on the same stage as household names. 

They're not heard of but Warehouse Republic must have virtually sold it out. I joined the crush around the entrance, then was packed in again downstairs. That crowd were really loud as well as moving around. Sometimes for new bands they just watch. It sounded like some of them were on the point of screaming. That was slightly ironic considering the punk energy fizzing with elements of early Kinks / Animals chords from the stage. It could have been the 60s or 70s again with the 100 Club at the start of something. That would be iconically ironic.

The single 'Revolver', was a stand out of a great and noisy set. The song has that catchy title chorus and guitar licks that would be at home in a New Orleans music bar. The four band members looked like they were returning heroes and it felt like they were loving it too. 

Star Soaked recently commented in a news story about Warehouse Republic that they were a bit like "a young shambolic Rolling Stones and a lot of fun". Every word was meant. Their fresh faced nervous energy and one or two moments that seemed created on the spot,  made it all the more engaging an EVENT.  They were far from perfect but they can play and this ability held the balancing act together right up to the swaggering, sweat soaked, stage invaded finale.

In Warehouse Republic I think The Beatles fans of all ages may have something new to rejoice in, beyond the homage of the single's title. The may have a long way to go but this is the kind of racket that used to thrill Hamburg underlaid with a new colour to the chord changes. 

I dont know how they managed to entice Rachel Hurd-Wood, an actress who has appeared in movies with Dustin Hoffman,  Colin Firth, Alan Rickman etc to be in the film noir Revolver video but its a string to their bow. So then, a special rock band to discover (and the 100 Club show was undoubtedly one of 2010's best gigs that you wont find in a list of 2010's best gigs.).


www.warehouserepublic.com

Wednesday 1 December 2010

Joy Zine - New Music Excellence - a twitter hitter

Star Soaked got a lovely free download of Piney Gir today from the first new music zine to make a musical advent calendar. 

Don't wait for #ff / #followfriday - it's December 1st and the season of Joy. go: @joyzineuk 

Thank you Joyzine for kindly replying to @starsoakedmusic 

“what gave you the idea of the Joy advent calendar? That idea is popular now. Who have you featured/tipped so far?”

@Joyzineuk  We've had Bloc Party, British Sea Power, Art Brut, The Long Blondes + lots of less well know but equally wonderful bands.

@Joyzineuk  TBH, it was so long ago I can't really remember now. I've always been one to get excited about xmas, so it just followed.

Get your free music Christmas presents from http://www.joyzine.org/

The Dandies - biggest rock from Switzerland since The Alps

@starsoakedmusic : 2011 is rock n roll heaven! Believe and pass it on. The music power stars, they will come.


 The Dandies 
(l-r) Adrian Weber (lead vocals/guitar), Dimitri Schubiger (bass), 
Fabian "Fizzie" Voirol (drums/vocals), Eric Weber (guitar/vocals)

(Photographed at London Bull & Gate by Jack Mealing).

Star Soaked refers to dripping in sweat, under the lights, having put your soul into communicating your music to an audience to the point that your twinkle reaches out and converts new disciples. 

This is just what happened recently at a Saint Jude gig when the supporting act played a set that perfectly complemented such an excellent headliiner. I left, star soaked by The Dandies.

Aware of a new buzz, I was determined to catch them live on this trip to the UK. To be honest, I’d just listened a bit on line. I surf the net a lot so only pick up on tunes that can grab attention within a minute. 'Bootstraps' did it by mixing powerchord beats with song writing sensibilities within 60 seconds and I investigated more. I like rocking rock and The Dandies "really got me".

Live, The Dandies were a fun experience, especially as there was a genuine feeling of affection for, and connection with, the audience. They are louder and more full on than the recordings, without losing the pop element of their tunes that hook the songs . It’s pretty mighty.

Sure there had been some camdenshoreditchindiecoolhairandclothes bands on the bill earlier but nowadays its the rock n roll bands that stand out and are more memorable. It’s been as if accessible music, punching the air and singing along had become dirty words in the trendy scene aspect of the music press. Perhaps that’s why garage and blues tinged rock sound so fresh right now. 

The Dandies personify that freshness.

They formed in Switzerland, with a mutual love of classic American bands from both centuries, but also a heartfelt desire to create their own history. It is this urge that I can feel coming off the stage in waves. 

I am actually down the front for an act I’ve never seen before and don’t really know their songs. Within a few bars of them starting to play their punky edged garage rock anthems. 

They have no shame in sounding like the kind of stars that should reclaim Reading Festival with huge, swaggering classic tunes that refer to the roots of one of the original rock n roll festivals when they were more about music than money infatuation.

Following the London shows, singer and guitarist with the band, Adrian Weber, kindly took time out for a quick interview with a curious Star Soaked Music who wanted to know about the Swiss rock n roll scene; 

Adrian: “I guess it’s similar to different scenes around the world – I expect it’s not as big and not as developed as, say, the London scene. You can get a local name pretty quickly and develop to a certain point. Then you gotta move on if you’re serious. Or that’s how I see it at least.”

And putting their money where their collective mouth is, The Dandies are doing just that. Moving on to the city that they made such an impression on. It’s a massive step.

SSM: Do you already have plans and accomodation?


A: "Yes we do have somewhere to live. It’s a tiny apartment and we’ll literally pretty much be sleeping on top of each other. It sounds funny but we can’t wait for all that! This really is our next big step and we’re serious about taking our career to the next levels. London is the place to do that. 


We’ve got some plans too. One of which is a video shoot which we’re really excited for, we’ve never done one before. Also, it’s London. Now that’s a town that can party. That’s in our plans too, of course." 

SSM : So The Dandies had one helluva good time when they were last getting down in London town....


A: "...We did have the time of our lives. Mainly because we were just blown away by the great reception we got. We never expected it. I mean some people who came to the first show ended up coming again to another, it was nuts. The shows were the highlights really!

Oh yeah, haha, there was an after party at our manager’s flat which we shall not speak about, but that would join the shows as one of the highlights."

SSM : sounds like you won some followers...

A: Yes, we did make new fans which was amazing. It was overwhelming for us to get that kind of response. We treat each show as if it’s the last thing we’re ever going to do and want to go out with a bang. It made us really happy and proud that people got that and liked and cheered us on. 

I could go on and on about how we felt in London. But it was amazing. We’ll never forget those shows. That’s why we’re moving over, I guess. 

SSM : Having to fit so much into a short tour, did you get to check out many other bands?


Not really… We saw the bands we played with at the various nights and I was really impressed. Each was awesome yet different at the same time. I love that sense of creativity. When you can hear the influences but it’s still unique. All the bands we saw were top draw! 

The Dandies – who I would have loved to see at their Black Rebel Motorcycle Club support - have made an amazing 2010 for themselves that included appearances at SXSW, Reeperbahn Fetival and those adoration fuelling UK tour dates. They’ve just finished some new recordings, and look to be back in Britain soon where they are on the wavelength to fit right on in.

You wanna have shagtastic fun at a rock concert? Go see The DandiesOnes To Experience for 2011.



Thank you to the band’s manager, Antony Meola at Yergh Entertainment Group, for help.