Definitely the coolest toilet wall's I have seen for a while
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Cafe Prov - Herne Hill
Had dinner at a lovely little place in Herne Hill last night - Cafe Prov. A laidback and informal joint that serves delicious food in a nice relaxing atmosphere. We had a lovely two courses for £12 deal: a Moroccan lamb burger served with homemade chips followed by more cheesecake than you can shake a stick at. It definitely had the coolest decor I have seen in a while too, with old LPs and music memorabilia adorning the walls. If you like you music soulful and your food hearty and affordable then this place is definitely worth a visit. Beside the extremely friendly staff, the best thing of all was that there was no rush to leave. I'll definitely be going back.
Monday, 27 February 2012
Marina and The Diamonds live at Shepherd's Bush Empire
I'll be honest - up until last night I'd only really heard the singles from Marina's first album and as much as I loved "I am not a Robot" I definitely wouldn't have claimed to be her biggest fan. However, yesterday at her NME gig at Shepherd's Bush Empire, I was pleasantly surprised by the voice and song writing talents of the girl from Wales who is due to release her second album in the coming months.
Skipping on to the stage in a lovely white dress and killer heels, Marina opened the show to Radioactive - just her and a piano. Her adoring fans went wild. Bringing on the rest of her band, Marina stormed through a set of songs both old and new, debuting new tracks Homewrecker and the new single Primadonna. Despite showcasing a lot of her new material, fans were not disappointed and when she sang crowd favourites Oh My and I am not a Robot, the audience dutifully sang along and screamed lovingly at her. Her stage presence was strong and her repertoire pretty solid. She can clearly sing and although not all the material was stand out I think there is a lot to get excited about when she releases her new album Electra Heart.
I left the gig a little bit in love with Marina and her powerful pipes. I also left in admiration that she had danced around the stage in her massive shoes without so much as a wince. What a woman.
Rumble in the Jumble for International Women's Day
Last night the humble jumble sale got a celebrity make over as a host of famous faces brought along their unwanted belongings to St Pancras Old Church for the much anticipated "Rumble in the jumble", all in aid of Oxfam and International Women's Day. Organised by the unstoppable journalist and TV presenter Dawn Porter and her mate and Radio 1 Extra DJ Gemma Cairney.
The queue was snaking out of the gate as I arrived at 6pm. An excited buzz about what awaited everyone inside the church meant this was the most patient queue I'd ever stood in. The deal was simple - £2 entry, bring a bag of jumble that they could sell and then peruse the celebrity stalls in search of a bargain and a bargain it certainly was. With jumble donated by the likes of Kate Nash, Jimmy Carr, Fearne Cotton and Sara Cox plus Caroline Flack popped in with her old X-Factor garments, it was an extremely surreal experience. My friend picked up one of Lauren Laverne's old topshop dresses at a bargain price. I was later informed on Twitter by Lauren that this particular dress is a "lucky frock". At one point Cherry Healey held aloft Gabby Logan's old trousers exclaiming "Gabby Logan's trousers, her bottom has been in these". Dawn Porter's fiancé and Bridesmaid's star Chris O'Dowd took to jumble selling like a pro, at one point clutching someone's tiny dog and offering it for a fiver...
The atmosphere in the sale was wonderful. Celebs and bargain hunters mingling and chatting excitedly, belongings flying off the tables and generosity emanating around the building. There was barely any bartering from what I observed, people were more than happy to part with their cash.
The whole event was coordinated on twitter, proving the power of social media. Dawn Porter and Gemma Cairney have spent the last couple of weeks tirelessly badgering people to donate and attend and it paid off. I hope they are both feeling pretty pleased with themselves right now. Rumours on twitter are that up to £7k was raised. A phenomenal amount for 3 hours selling. The main purpose of the event was to promote the Oxfam get together for International Woman's Day. The idea is that you get together with your friends, do something fun and raise vital funds for Oxfam. Just £46 enables Oxfam to train a midwife and save a mother and child. We can all easily raise £46!
I hope that those who attended will feel inspired to hold their own event and I hope those who didn't are experiencing a bit of FOMO (that's fear of missing out and a likely feeling right now if you weren't in St Pancras last night) and hold their own event too.
Dawn, Gemma and the long list of celebrities and Oxfam employees did a wonderful thing yesterday - they made jumble sales cool again and they raised a lot of money for charity.
The queue was snaking out of the gate as I arrived at 6pm. An excited buzz about what awaited everyone inside the church meant this was the most patient queue I'd ever stood in. The deal was simple - £2 entry, bring a bag of jumble that they could sell and then peruse the celebrity stalls in search of a bargain and a bargain it certainly was. With jumble donated by the likes of Kate Nash, Jimmy Carr, Fearne Cotton and Sara Cox plus Caroline Flack popped in with her old X-Factor garments, it was an extremely surreal experience. My friend picked up one of Lauren Laverne's old topshop dresses at a bargain price. I was later informed on Twitter by Lauren that this particular dress is a "lucky frock". At one point Cherry Healey held aloft Gabby Logan's old trousers exclaiming "Gabby Logan's trousers, her bottom has been in these". Dawn Porter's fiancé and Bridesmaid's star Chris O'Dowd took to jumble selling like a pro, at one point clutching someone's tiny dog and offering it for a fiver...
The atmosphere in the sale was wonderful. Celebs and bargain hunters mingling and chatting excitedly, belongings flying off the tables and generosity emanating around the building. There was barely any bartering from what I observed, people were more than happy to part with their cash.
The whole event was coordinated on twitter, proving the power of social media. Dawn Porter and Gemma Cairney have spent the last couple of weeks tirelessly badgering people to donate and attend and it paid off. I hope they are both feeling pretty pleased with themselves right now. Rumours on twitter are that up to £7k was raised. A phenomenal amount for 3 hours selling. The main purpose of the event was to promote the Oxfam get together for International Woman's Day. The idea is that you get together with your friends, do something fun and raise vital funds for Oxfam. Just £46 enables Oxfam to train a midwife and save a mother and child. We can all easily raise £46!
I hope that those who attended will feel inspired to hold their own event and I hope those who didn't are experiencing a bit of FOMO (that's fear of missing out and a likely feeling right now if you weren't in St Pancras last night) and hold their own event too.
Dawn, Gemma and the long list of celebrities and Oxfam employees did a wonderful thing yesterday - they made jumble sales cool again and they raised a lot of money for charity.
The crowds at Rumble in the Jumble
Caroline Flack
Get involved: Oxfam Get Together
Monday, 30 January 2012
Thursday, 26 January 2012
The Harlots at The Monarch
It's been a while but the blog is back for 2012 and where better to start than with my favourite Brit Pop inspired musicians - The Harlots - live at The Monarch last night. This was my first taste of the brand new line up. Still providing their audiences with tight guitar driven tunes - old faithfuls Sherwin and Kike have been joined by two new members Florent and Adam, have decked themselves out in a sharp uniform of white shirts and black ties and honed a strong setlist making them a worthy headline act. My initial impression? This is a band that knows what it wants: more gigs, more recordings and more recognition; and justifiably so.
Last night they headlined the Feed Your Head night in Camden and were a welcome relief after two disappointing support acts. They treated us to classics such as Babel, Red Dress and Ragged Rose as well as playing new tracks including latest single Be Mine. Despite a comedic interruption from an over eager fan - the group worked through their repertoire like consummate professionals - responding to the audiences enthusiasm for certain tracks and eeking out every last note; leaving us wanting more. They seemed much more together, much more engrossed and most importantly they were really enjoying themselves.
Things are certainly moving upwards for the group - a solid new line up, a 2 track demo recorded and ready for release next week, a fancy new website and PR strategy and a signature style both musically and visually emerging - it looks like 2012 is set to be a good year for The Harlots. They've come a long way from their debut acoustic gig in front of a group of friends and a couple of unsuspecting locals at The Crowne pub in Cricklewood a year ago. A year on and with a succession of gigs over the coming months the time has come to put on a skinny black tie, get yourself a front row seat and jump on the juggernaut that is The Harlots bandwagon - before it leaves you behind. This is set to be an epic 12 months for the band. You heard it here first.
Read: www.theharlotsmusic.com/fr_intro.cfm
Follow: Twitter Facebook
Last night they headlined the Feed Your Head night in Camden and were a welcome relief after two disappointing support acts. They treated us to classics such as Babel, Red Dress and Ragged Rose as well as playing new tracks including latest single Be Mine. Despite a comedic interruption from an over eager fan - the group worked through their repertoire like consummate professionals - responding to the audiences enthusiasm for certain tracks and eeking out every last note; leaving us wanting more. They seemed much more together, much more engrossed and most importantly they were really enjoying themselves.
Things are certainly moving upwards for the group - a solid new line up, a 2 track demo recorded and ready for release next week, a fancy new website and PR strategy and a signature style both musically and visually emerging - it looks like 2012 is set to be a good year for The Harlots. They've come a long way from their debut acoustic gig in front of a group of friends and a couple of unsuspecting locals at The Crowne pub in Cricklewood a year ago. A year on and with a succession of gigs over the coming months the time has come to put on a skinny black tie, get yourself a front row seat and jump on the juggernaut that is The Harlots bandwagon - before it leaves you behind. This is set to be an epic 12 months for the band. You heard it here first.
Give them a chance if you like: melodic, anthemic guitar driven tunes akin to The Stone Roses, Beatles, Oasis, The Verve
Listen:
Latest tracks by TheHarlots Listen:
Read: www.theharlotsmusic.com/fr_intro.cfm
Follow: Twitter Facebook
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Music for Meals gig at Old Queens Head, Islington
I haven't blogged for ages but today I have a very good reason to get back on it. I went to a bloody brilliant night at The Old Queens Head in Islington yesterday, organised in aid of Mary's Meals. The phenomenally talented Tinashe was on the bill so I knew it was going to be good but I was not prepared for the full force of talent that was unleashed on me in this intimate gig on the Essex Road.
First up was singer songwriter Frank Hamilton - a rather cute looking chap with a guitar and a harmonica who sang beautiful songs about lost loves, London and his home town of St Ives and a haunting cover of Please please, please let me get what I want. Sweet, endearing and easy on the eye and ears!
Next up was the wonderful Tinashe who has been absent from the gig scene most of the year whilst he writes his follow up to debut album saved. I have been patiently waiting for something from him all year and was last night treated to a 5 song stripped back acoustic set. For those of you who have never heard of this man, you have missed out. His music is sweet and uplifting and he is so incredibly talented. His vocals dominated the room we were in, to the point where he probably didn't even need a microphone. My only criticism is that it wasn't long enough, I needed more!
When the organiser of the evening, Bobbie Gordon, took to the stage, I was simply blown away. A backing singer for an endless list of huge artists, Bobbie Gordon is a fresh, unique, soulful and beautiful singer who is definitely one to watch and is clearly wasted anywhere other than centre of the stage. Cheered on by family and friends, entertaining the audience between songs and sounding like the love child of Amy Winehouse, Etta James and Aretha Franklyn, this girl made my night.
The final act was Natty, mesmerising, awesome and a real privilege to listen to him in such an intimate setting. As his set progresed no one spoke and the entire room was hanging off every note and lyric that came out of his mouth, it was hauntingly beautiful in parts, uplifting in others and a brilliant conclusion to an epic line up.
The best £9.40 I ever spent and not only because it was for such a good cause. My final gig of 2011 was probably one of the best...
1.Frank Hamilton:
2. Tinashe
3. Bobbie Gordon:
4. Natty:
First up was singer songwriter Frank Hamilton - a rather cute looking chap with a guitar and a harmonica who sang beautiful songs about lost loves, London and his home town of St Ives and a haunting cover of Please please, please let me get what I want. Sweet, endearing and easy on the eye and ears!
Next up was the wonderful Tinashe who has been absent from the gig scene most of the year whilst he writes his follow up to debut album saved. I have been patiently waiting for something from him all year and was last night treated to a 5 song stripped back acoustic set. For those of you who have never heard of this man, you have missed out. His music is sweet and uplifting and he is so incredibly talented. His vocals dominated the room we were in, to the point where he probably didn't even need a microphone. My only criticism is that it wasn't long enough, I needed more!
When the organiser of the evening, Bobbie Gordon, took to the stage, I was simply blown away. A backing singer for an endless list of huge artists, Bobbie Gordon is a fresh, unique, soulful and beautiful singer who is definitely one to watch and is clearly wasted anywhere other than centre of the stage. Cheered on by family and friends, entertaining the audience between songs and sounding like the love child of Amy Winehouse, Etta James and Aretha Franklyn, this girl made my night.
The final act was Natty, mesmerising, awesome and a real privilege to listen to him in such an intimate setting. As his set progresed no one spoke and the entire room was hanging off every note and lyric that came out of his mouth, it was hauntingly beautiful in parts, uplifting in others and a brilliant conclusion to an epic line up.
The best £9.40 I ever spent and not only because it was for such a good cause. My final gig of 2011 was probably one of the best...
1.Frank Hamilton:
2. Tinashe
3. Bobbie Gordon:
4. Natty:
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Uh Huh Her, Nocturnes - The Review
First impressions are that Uh Huh Her have stepped it up a gear - this is a polished and neatly produced album. Much rockier than the first album 'Common Reaction'. It features tight drumming, crashing guitars and Camilla Grey's sweet vocals. Opener Marstorm is a winner and simply has to be played loud, with it's epic drumming and guitar riffs. . It is an excellent lead in to the next 40 odd minutes of new material. First single Another Case gave a sneak preview of what to expect and my immediate observation is that Leisha and Cam have built upon the positives of their first offering and now have a solid band sound, less synthesized than first time round. I also can't get enough of the drumming on this album, a noticeable addition from last time round. My stand out tracks are 'Marstorm', 'Human Nature', the sweet and slow 'Time Stands Still' and the dreamy 'Wake to Sleep'. 'Debris', is the only track to be solely produced by Leisha and is certainly the darkest track on the album - with guitars in overdrive mode and angry, snarly lyrics.
Uh Huh Her are described as an electro-pop band and in many ways that description still certainly fits but as any good band should, they are trying new things and developing their sound and this second outing is a very good effort. Hardcore Uh Huh Her fans will not be disappointed and it has certainly been worth the wait. Most importantly, with songs like Human Nature, this could be the album that awards them acclaim further afield than the Uh Huh Her faithful. It certainly deserves to, anyway.
Uh Huh Her 'Another Case' video:
Uh Huh Her are described as an electro-pop band and in many ways that description still certainly fits but as any good band should, they are trying new things and developing their sound and this second outing is a very good effort. Hardcore Uh Huh Her fans will not be disappointed and it has certainly been worth the wait. Most importantly, with songs like Human Nature, this could be the album that awards them acclaim further afield than the Uh Huh Her faithful. It certainly deserves to, anyway.
Uh Huh Her 'Another Case' video:
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