If the best way to find good music...

...is to go out and see it first hand, then that's probably the single most important lesson I've learnt from this year.

It's odd how 12 months has rolled on by and in truth it's been a pretty ordinary year. Let's put it into perspective, particularly in terms of music...2009 was an immense year, probably the best of my life and in terms of my life as a whole it was right up there as a vintage year. I lost count how many gigs I went to, how many musical friends I made, how much great music I bought. This year was always going to fail to live up to the expectation. But then having said that I didn't help myself a lot. This year I went to a fraction of the gigs I did last year, partly because some of my favourite venues died a sad death (Monkey Chews in Camden and pretty soon The Luminaire in Kilburn), partly because the time just didn't seem to be there and partly because most of the acts I'd been so excited about in 2009 were all overseas "doing there thing" and making their dream come true.

That being said there have been some real highlights and where the quantity has been low, the quality has remained for the most part tip-top high. So to make up for a lack of activity for most of the year I've written (well am about to, a series of blogs which I'll release over the next week covering some of the music I've been introduced to this year).

Starting off tonight is a guy I saw about 6 weeks ago at The Old Queens Head in Islington who was so mindblowingly good, so incredibly talented that it took me such a long time to share it with the word...because I'm lazy, no other reason!

I'd actually been at the venue that night to see and support Patrick Plunkett and once Pat had finished his set and another act had played, on stage walked a man who had a strange aura, a real stage presence without appearing 100% comfortable about being there. The rest as they say is history, within a few seconds of bursting into life there stood before a decent sized crowd one of the finest raw Folk/Blues/Rock singer-songwriters I've ever seen in Samuel Brookes. Note the word EVER in that sentence, I'm setting the bar very high here. Now to set a benchmark here when I say how good he is, because my word doesn't count for much really, he recently supported Ray Davies (lead singer of the Kinks) around the UK on tour. That's a pretty darn good sign of talent?


Samuel's at times mesmeric guitar playing added the most rich depth to a set of songs which drew you in so close to the music you wanted to sit in silence yet all the while still wanting to tap your feet and pass "wow's" with fellow listeners. To top it off lies a seriously big, powerful, rounded yet controlled voice.



After the set, I popped over and in my usual manner parted with a bit of money for a CD, an EP (Helium) if you will of just two songs which in the space of 8 minutes defines just how good a talent he is. "Breathe Me In" is a pretty rounded rock song with some very catchy riffs without being too heavy, it just works. "In Weeks" the second song tells a really great story about a friend who disappears out of your life from time to time popping up and then vanishing again without any reason. I totally relate to it and I'm sure we all have a friend who does that, right?

The only real disappointment with the EP is the lack of songs, I got to the end and wanted more but as a first pass and a tempter, it certainly did that!

Samuel's signed to the reasonably small independent label Helium and I believe his debut album is being worked on in the studio at the moment so hopefully it won't be too long before we get more great music from him.



Right then, I now need to go and think of some other blogs to write.

Peace xx

Shake it, shake it, shake it like a....Snow Globe?

Two blogs in a few days? Immense effort...not! If I'm being totally honest coming up with an intelligently witty title is pretty difficult when really tired so I promise not to quote the Black Eyed Peas in any way again...ever!

Anyways, tonight is really a blog two and a half months in the making. Remember the other night I touched on a lot of good music I was listening to? Well, back in June (the 23rd to be precise) I was fortunate enough to finally see one of my favourite musicians, Jay Nash play in London. That night he played with the equally brilliant Joey Ryan, who I wrote a blog all about back in June but they were accompanied by another musician, a man who I must confess I knew little about (apart from his friendship with Greg Holden and that he's based between London and New York), Alex Berger.


Now then imagine the scenario if you can. It was very hot and humid in London, I'd had a whole day of alcoholic refreshment (not drunk, just socially enjoying the cool offerings), my mind had been split wide open by Joey Ryan and then blown into little pieces by Jay Nash that by the time Alex hit the stage at about 10:30pm I was pretty much in mental meltdown. Anyways, Alex played a set which, if I'm honest I paid attention to at a slightly more than peripheral level not really capable of comprehending much more around me. I did grab a couple of videos, did a bit of research over the next month and fell totally in love with his song Your Last Night in Queens (which I will openly admit is one of the most beautifully constructed songs my ears have heard in years).

So fast forward to the start of August, the 6th to be precise. Greg Holden's back in London for the first time in 11 months, tickets are purchased, Alex is on the bill and I resolve to pay the utmost of attention and absorb what's going on around me. The room is hotter than the sun and I'm sweating like a geordie in a maths test (sorry, only the Brits are going to get that reference). Nonetheless sat on the floor like an old assembly at school with well over 100 people around me, I listened and was totally swept away by Alex's brilliance.

A sublime pianist, competent guitarist, outstanding songwriter, great storyteller, Alex ripped into a set consisting of Pop/Folk (Polk...as in...Poke!) songs pretty much all from his debut album, Snow Globe and a couple of new songs he'd written since the album. In fact I was so utterly blown away that as soon as the gig finished I made a rapid beeline to go and buy a copy of the album and we chatted for seemingly ages.

The next day mooching around in the car spending some time with someone extremely special to me (you know who you are!), we agreed to put Alex's CD Snow Globe on. The album, produced by the incredible Alex Wong (of numerous projects including The Paper Raincoat with the the equally outstanding AmbeR Rubarth) left us both sat pretty much mesmerised throughout only breaking silence to raise a smile at some of the more light-hearted lyrics in some of his songs including the French lyrics in Portia (a girl who Alex once dated) or to discuss the brilliance of what we were listening to. I instantly fell in love even further with Your Last Night in Queens (a song which has subsequently been listened so much it might even be in the 3 figures by now), Snow Globe, Where I Left You Last and Magic.


Alex recently played a gig at the brilliant Bedford in South London which sadly I couldn't make it to but watched it online. The show is still available, (just scroll it through till about 36:30).


Watch live video from The Bedford Live on Justin.tv

Go check him out, the album is still getting serious play time on my iPod and he's around on the London music circuit for a few more months yet, you won't be disappointed trust me!

Maybe if I wasn't such a music ponce...I'd have picked up on Joey Ryan a while back!

So then tonight from a hot and sweaty London comes the confession of a man who has been proven truly wrong. Let's be really clear, musically, I know what I like. I'm the first to admit it's pretty niche with a few exceptions but I know what I like. So when I find that I have somehow mistakenly made a big error or rather an oversight, I'll hold my hands up and go "you know what, I was wrong".

So tonight...you know what...I was horribly wrong.

Last week I had the absolute pleasure of seeing and meeting for the first time one of my absolutely favourite musicians in the world...the brilliant Jay Nash. It was an absolute delight having waited some 18 months for Jay to return (since I missed his last tour). But Jay didn't come to the UK alone...oh no, no, no!

Jay came with fellow US singer/songwriter Joey Ryan who is another member of what I call "The extended Californian music scene of brilliant artists".



So here's where the confession starts. Now I knew of Joey before he arrived here, I'd heard some of his tracks before on TV (in adverts and programmes), I'd even seen him in a video with my friend and brilliant musician Greg Holden but for some reason (and I genuinely couldn't tell you why), I had formed a rather, ill-founded and wholly incorrect view that Joey was a rather boring musician. I genuinely don't know why or how I'd formed that opinion having never really looked properly into his music so I guess the best thing I can tell you is that my opinion has been totally changed and I now see the error of my ways.

Joey (who physically really reminds me of a younger, taller and slimmer James May, of Top Gear fame...I think it's the hair) played the most brilliantly absorbing set which had the entire crowd gripped from start to finish (videos of the whole set on my youtube channel). Needless to say that alone changed my opinion and was further enhanced with the two CDs I purchased which have been pretty much played constantly for the past few days.




The first CD, Joey's latest offering of Kenter Canyon features 5 songs which are both wonderfully engaging and full of warmth and sincerity. It's a great example of an extremely intelligent, thoughtful and clever songwriter. From the absorbing Broken Headlights which deals with the weather and releasing pent up feelings for someone, through to Permanent a song which as Joey explains talks about the perils of retail therapy and also the trevails of being a musician, the EP is packed full of beautiful heart-felt lyrics and music.

The second CD, one of Joey's albums with the imaginatively and cleverly titled "With Its Roots Above and Its Branches Below" is jam packed full of brilliant tunes. From the opening We Shall Arrive which resonates with me immensely through to the incredibly intimate and personal Like A Cloak all the way through to the fondest of ode's to Joey's homestate of California the album is bristling full of maginificent songs which'll have you hooked and more than keep your attention.



So to the world, I made a mistake, to Joey you're far from mundane, you're outstanding and the lesson to learn is as follows...don't make an assumption, get off your backside and do the research...then make a call.

Right now Joey and Jay are headed round Europe on an all too brief whistlestop tour (if you ask me) before heading back to the US. Go check him out, he really is THAT good! Oh and whilst you're at it, if you're in any doubt, for goodness sake check Jay Nash out!



Peace reigns over a stifling, muggy and still London (and this blog I believe has taken 4 hours with distractions to write!)

Night all xxx

Reporting from the field...

Ahhhhh the sweet smell (no wait that's impossible)...sound of live music. Man I've missed it so much. I actually didn't realise quite how much. The other night I popped over to the brilliant Monkey Chews for an open mic night and wasn't disappointed.

There were a few acts that were kind of indifferent, ok but not memorable and then there were three that stood out above the rest.

The first two were guys playing solo sets but part of bands "Bronze Medalists" and "Tourist". Now I think myself a good judge of music...to the point my senses are so refined I can tell the talent of a musician 85% of the time without hearing them play...I was proved right with both of these two although I wished I'd got a video of the first song sung by the guy from Bronze Medalists because it was just awesome. I followed instinct with Adam from Tourist and was proven right hence why I captured two videos.

Why only two you ask. Well that's all each act got, which I guess was the only disappointment of the night.

Finally there was a two-piece band, a guy with a keyboard and one with a bass guitar who played two songs when we weren't in view. I have not a clue what their name was BUT they too were absolutely awesome and I regret not being able to share who they are/were at this current time...but I will endeavour to find out and report back.

So in the meantime check out the new videos in the side bar and let me know if you like.

See ya! x

What's the blogging version of a re-tweet?

Is it a re-blog or is there another term for it?

Well whatever it is, this is one of sorts...

The night I first came across Idan Rabinovici/Strange Folks/Roy Rieck and The Medley Band, there was one other act that caught my eye, or rather my ear in a big way so having just viewed his Myspace page and noticed that he's got some new songs up there which looks on the face of it like he's closer to releasing an album, I wanted to devote a little recommendation for you to check out the brilliant Paul Cook or as he's also known Paul Cook and the Chronicles. (That is one heck of a long sentence by the way).

If you like what you hear, drop him a line and tell him and demand he plays some more gigs, but be nice in your requests, ok?

By the way, don't be mistaken into thinking that because I'm re-visiting old ground tonight that I've run out of things to talk about because you'd be wrong...there's some more exciting things coming real soon...

Bye for now xx

P.S. - If anyone know's what the term for a re-blog is, let me know please!!

"We like to see how many people we can fit on a stage at any one time..."

...says Idan Rabinovici of Strange Folks...."the most we've ever managed is 16, tonight there's just 7."

And 7 works just fine for me, it's a good number, it sounds good on paper, it sounds awesome to the ear (although I'd love to see 16 of them play together). It was a fantastic show last night, its a simple as that.

Before I delve further, today I wrote out on a postit note all the things I wanted to put in the blog tonight, and I left it on my desk in the office...so I'm working off the memory banks, which is risky.

Back to business. The guys played a set of 7 songs last night including one of my top 3 songs of the moment "Jared's Blues". I absolutely adore this song, I can't tell you exactly why apart from musically it's just perfect and it resonates with me. It's been on in the car, on the iPod, just about everywhere, infact as I type this I have the video playing on youtube. It seems from the video that the place was dead in this video but when they broke out into Thinking Cap, the place seemed to completely change with people dancing all over the place. Videos of the entire set are on my youtube channel (which is in the sidebar - i love writing that, I sound like a pro).

The real shame of the evening was that the set went by so quickly. Half an hour just doesn't seem long enough, and the camera had plenty of room for more videos and the battery was up for the challenge too.

As my friend big Dave S said last night, "some raw bands beat the hell out of their instruments trying to outplay the rest of the band, these guys are just so comfortable playing as a band that it just works amazingly well...they have a great sound." - He knows what he's talking about and I know this because he turned to me at one point and said that it reminded him a bit of Cat Stevens or Yusuf as he's now known. Turns out the gig guide on this website agrees.

So I knew going last night, that it was going to be their last gig in London, but now I know why. They're heading back to Israel to act as support to an American band who are touring there next month (the name escapes me, I think it was something...river - I needed a postit note then too). What I didn't know was that the guys had to go back because of visas too. That's sad in a big way, but Idan and Roy tell me they'll be back in the late Autumn / early Winter and that is great news.

So from a humble fan to a great set of musicians...guys thank you so much for 3 brilliant nights of music and two brilliant CDs. Safe trip back to the holy land and see you in a few months.

Musically this last few weeks has really proved my point, if you don't go out and listen to live music and support it, well then there's a good chance you'll miss out on great music, just as I might have had I opted not to make it to Monkey Chews that night.

Night all xxx

PS. - I can now clarify something that people keep asking me about the whole Roy Rieck and the Medley Band and Strange Folks two bands in one thing. Here's the crack, its exactly the same set of guys, except the lead singers alternate between Roy Rieck (Medley Band) and Idan Rabinovici (Strange Folks) AND yes, they play two different sets of music and they actually sound somewhat different.

Two days, two gigs...

Tomorrow I'm embarking on a first, two gigs back to back...(swigging on a drink I sound so pretentious) infact I almost sound like the rock star, yet all I'm doing is standing and watching, drinking and capturing some songs on camera...still it's hard work in my book ok?!?!

First up is a night with the newly found and much listened to Roy Rieck and the Medley Band playing at the Road Trip in Shoreditch (incorporating Strange Folks...I still can't get my head around that one, I will try and get that one nailed tomorrow night with a quick chat with Roy or Idan). So that will be very cool indeed.

Thursday night will be a trip back to the cool house that is Monkey Chews to go and see yet another eARMusic night...I really must buy one of their season tickets and save myself a fortune. All I know is that Kicaberry are playing. I briefly saw these guys (well guy and girl to be precise) once back in early July when they played a set after Greg Holden and Chloe Temtchine.

So the camera will be on double overtime this week and there's a few minor and major logistical problems trying to clear the camera down from Wednesday night for Thursday's onslaught. I haven't yet figured out how but I need to find 4 to 6 hours that don't exist to get the vids off and process them...challenges...but nice challenges.

Anyways that isn't even remotely close to a recommendation, a review or anything more than a random splurge so to balance it out nicely...

I've been sitting here listening via myspace to a band called The Wishing Well. Never heard of them and I actually don't know how I stumbled across them. But their music is quite nice, nothing standoutishly brilliant but nice and quite mellow I like it, maybe not enough to think "damn I need this record" but it's good. Actually in continuing to listen I can sort of see a distant, very distant similarity to Five for Fighting (not in the vocals) but just the music itself, I can imagine Jon's voice belting over the top...now there's a band I haven't heard anything from for years...time to dig the CDs out, although I see I've missed 2 or 3 albums....hmmm.

Apparently they're a bunch of Aussies, thus proving that there is something better than Kylie, Jason and Savage Garden on the other side of the world.

Anyways there's an offering of a review...and now I get to the end I remember how I found The Wishing Well...they're playing a gig on Saturday night with Roy Rieck and The Medley Band...

Night night you random visitors whoever and wherever you may be xx


PS - Oh shit, I almost forgot something exciting, Will Hoge has put up on his myspace player the title track from his new album which is called "The Wreckage"....the song and the album. Check it out!

Lots of Strange Folks and the Chronicles of Paul

Last night I asked the fantastic Lucy Rose and Simba if eARMusic ever put on a bad show. 6 shows in and the answer I keep forming in my own mind is NO!

Last night just confirmed again what I always say...there is nothing better than live music. Turned up to what's fast becoming one of my favourite places, the very cosy, homely and relaxing Monkey Chews in Chalk Farm with not a clue of who was performing, apart from Lucy would be hosting the evening so in my mind sub-conciously I set my expectations low...Greg Holden, Chloe Temtchine, Lisa Mitchell, Lucy Rose that calibre isn't easy to beat or come close to...but it was equalled again.

There were five acts but two that really stood out. First up was a total unknown, least to me...Paul Cook (and the Chronicles). As I now know Paul played in 2 previous bands...Brinkman and The Vessels and is sort of in the throws of forming a new band (hence the chronicles bit). Paul has a really good strong yet subtle voice that sort of reminds me a bit of Elvis Costello...maybe more than a bit but its cool either way. Anyways he played a great solo set and I stupidly didn't get more than 2 videos...which was a huge mistake. Anyways...check these out...

Bye Bye Him and Guilt

He also has a youtube channel...where there's some more videos of Paul playing in the bathroom. Go check him out, he is very cool.

Now my other little discovery, a band well two bands in one. So let me set the scene. There's one band (of 7 members) but then there's another band featuring half the actual band (3....so technically a lie....42.8% to be precise), playing under a different name....confused.com???? yep!!!!

I'll call them firstly by the collective name and then for the purposes of not confusing myself...I'll call them by the form the sub 43% form they took last night for the rest of the post...

Full Name - Roy Rieck and The Medley Band
Small Band - Strange Folks

So these are 3 guys I believe from THE Holy Land of Israel who all moved over to the UK a few months back...for the better weather of course...obviously to try and make some good music. I'll start by simply saying that the guys last night were three of the most talented musicians I have seen in a long time. Two amazing guitarists, one of whom simply owns the Lap Steel guitar whilst playing the Xylophone...impressive. The other is a vastly talents Electric guitarist of the highest order. Backing this up is Roy Rieck who sings and plays a beautiful Harmonica.

As a three-piece band they played a mix of electric and part acoustic folk/rock songs and judging by the CD I listened to and added to my iPod today, as a seven-strong unit they play the same but a bit more jazzy. There's some great tracks in there and if you're in London they're playing a few gigs near you soon...check them out.

Let It Burn...

Not an exercise video or diet tip. Last night we headed over to Monkey Chews in Chalk Farm (London) to yet another awesome live gig put on by the brilliant eAR Music. Sadly missed the first act Lisa Mitchell, catching just the last 2 minutes of her set from the corridor but by all accounts she was awesome, you couldn't get in the room there were that many people. Then came the brilliant Greg Holden who played an amazing set but what then followed was mind blowing.

Over from the US was Chloe Temtchine. I'd never heard of her before, most of the people there hadn't by the silent(ish) reaction. She sung for about 40 minutes what I could only describe as a sort of Acoustic, R&B meets Pop meets Soul. She was mindblowingly awesome, not only does she play the guitar, the piano (well keyboard) but managed to sing in 3 languages...don't that type of talent make you sick with envy??? She was nothing short of amazing. Take a look at my youtube channel, I put up a few videos, but check her out she might just blow your mind.