The National Middle East June 21st

Even when I am having one of the worst months ever, The National start to play and I feel exhaulted.
So many good tracks but does it say bad things about my mind set when Secret Meeting pulses through causing frustration, despair and beautiful exhaltation at the same time. 'I have a secret meeting in the basement of my brain.' Matt puts his whole self into the performance singing so much with his eyes shut in concentration, the other guys create a tapestry of sound which allows these sounds to fitrate through your whole self until you feel what the whole song is about - the awfulness, the salvation.
Other people can write about the songs sung enough to say I remember in vivid detail why the show two years ago at TTs enhanced an amazing album and made The National one of the few bands I will read a mailing list from.
I loath and hate the people jumping on the bandwagon but if it gives these guys the money and recognition they deserve it is a necessary evil.
Guys - may you have everything you deserve and Lammo yet again I remember why you have never steered me wrong with your musical direction.

Karma

http://www.thefratellis.com/news/index.php?id=168&cat=3
BOSTON CANCELED
Due to unforeseen circumstances, The Fratellis regret to announce that due to scheduling conflicts, the previously announced Boston date on July 17 has been canceled.

Refunds are available from point of purchase.

We tried to get tickets for this on the Saturday after they went on sale Thursday morning. no tickets were left but tickets were available on ebay (about $85 for 2) or at an even worse price at Stubhub($145 each!). So I now laugh at you loathsome scum of touts who were selling on eBay. I hope you got burnt badly.
Touts are really the lowest form of life.

American Bands I actually like

Anyone I meet knows I am completely taken with UK music, like a few international bands and have a minimal tolerance for American music.
There are a few exceptions

The National
Scissors For Lefty
The Blood Arm
Every Move A Pictures
The Eames Era
Locksley
The Spinto Band
Cold War Kids
We Are Scientists
MC Lars
Ambulance LTD
Aberdeen City
Ra Ra Riot
The Little Ones
Tapes N'Tapes
Interpol
Be your Own Pet
The Dandy Warhols
Pixies (and spinoffs)

The Long Blondes, Great Scott Boston June 8th

I have waited so long for this. I so fell in love with this band and their music ever since I heard Christmas Is Cancelled and then came appropriation and long Blondes. I love their musical style I love the voice. Here in the US we have been starved. When I arrived last night Peter was already talking and drinking with Reenie and Screech, such a hoot being intro'ed as their biggest fan. These guys were so nice and `chatted with us, popping out occasionally as they were busy trying to use the local laundrette! oh so glam the life on the road.
We ended up chatting to Screech, Reenie and Emma quite a bit before the soundcheck (only the one new track guilty) and briefly talked to Dorian. We did recommend our favourite restaurant and as we were leaving after dinner the band were just starting their meal there. support band were good, then teh lb came on. so good live giddy stratospheres made me want to dance like crazy, so many good songs such a great front woman, Kate you are so petite, great front woman and pretty, I should hate you but i 'Love' you as a performer. The crowd were so into this dancing and generally the vibe was hot sweaty and so positive. It was a true love fest. We got swallow tatttoo and separated by motorways as an encore and both the band and the audience wanted more but the venue said no. This wasn't a scene thing, this was just a beautifully joyous occasion. I am just so in love with this music! Oh and i got a promise of SXSW next year even if I bribed with stories of free food and alcohol! maybe more details later
You weren't there- why not- shame on you !

Recent music

Realized I am starting to lose track of all the new and great cds that were out this year (already)
Listening to now
Editors - The end has a start - its a grower
Art Brut its a bit complicated - nice but no my little brother track
The Cribs Man Needs Womens Needs Whatever - OMG I cant even begin to say how much I love this
The Pigeon Detectives Wait For Me - Great just what they said they were about - music to smile dance and mosh too
Mumm-Ra These things come in Threes - totally loving this at the moment - awesome
Air Traffic Fractured Life - Some good tracks but a bit blah
This year
Maximo Park Our Earthly Pleasures - fun album
Good Shoes Think Before You speak - living up to the promise
The Maccabees Colour It In - everything we hoped for
The KBC On The Beat - love this band and album
Kubichek! - not enough night - has some real gems
The National Boxer - another grower same vein as all national cds- wonderful
Polytechnic Down Till Dawn - good album though not great
Harrisons - No Fighting In The War Room - not bad at all
Kaiser Chiefs - Yours truly angry mob - a disappointment
Idlewild make a new world - not bad
The Rakes Ten New Messages - more thoughtful than capture\release suspicious eyes is a classic
Twilight Sad Fourteen autumns - Listen and love
The Cinematics - strange Education - at last we got a real release - love their music and live peformance
The wombats - Girl, Boys and Marsupials- what this isnt released well it should have been - class
Tiny Dancers Lions And Tigers And Lions - heard better
winterkids Memoirs - fun

Ra Ra Riot

From the NME
Ra Ra Riot drummer found dead
John Pike's body found after air and sea search
03.Jun.07 9:07pm

The body of Ra Ra Riot drummer John Pike has been found.
Pike, 23, went missing after leaving a party in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The band played a show in Providence, RI on Friday night and afterwards attended the party in Fairhaven, MA. Pike left the party at 3am.
The search began on foot and by air yesterday around 4pm.
Pike's cell phone was later found in shallow water on a beach about half a mile from the house where the party took place, according to local Fire Chief Tim Francis.
This morning the search was extended, with divers searching the waters in the area.
The body was found around 4pm this afternoon (June 3) in seven feet of water in Buzzards Bay, about 200 yards from where his cell phone was discovered.

Ra Ra Riot are young, talented and should be going places. Having seen them support the Cribs twice last month, I couldn't have been more impressed. I probably was standing drinking beside this guy who has had his life truncated. Unreasonably as I really didn't know him, I feel affected and sad about this loss. He deserved more, R.I.P. is cliched but apt.