Here is the brand new song by Giggs. Produced and featuring Mike Skinner from the Streets it is a moving and powerful track (great unassuming synths, its almost a reconciliation of Blinded by the Lights and the newer stuff). When I first heard Giggs I was all for him but subsequent interviews such as the car crash one on Channel 5’s Basketball show and a phoned in verse on the JME album made me avoid his stuff.
Serves me wrong, he is still talented and can produce a big tune from time to time. Some more career guidance and I think the UK can finally have a talented Street Thug rapper again.
Funny grime video?!?! That’s a shocker. And another piece of slang to go along with the others that are filtrating London (Pars, various uses of Na Na Na and ting)
Well Jamie , I don’t and I didn’t have to pay for tickets. The troubadour from Wimbledon kicked off this year’s Itunes festival with a rousing set. The Itunes festival is unique as you don’t have to pay for tickets, just enter a facebook competition to stand a chance to attend a show.
Jamie T mixed in tracks from the new stick and stones EP with classics from his last album. This was my first time watching him perform and I have to say that I was impressed. With the plethora of live videos online I should have been prepared for his gig. I even spent my Saturday morning watching his set from Glastonbury this past weekend. I obviously wasn’t prepared enough as I stood near the back of the Camden roundhouse watching the swirling mass of teenagers at the front. His fans displayed the energy of a punk crowd, something that offset the fact that they were chanting the depressing subject matters in some of the songs.
The new stuff played well with the crowd but it was the classics that really got people going. Jamie T may never hit the top of the charts but he will be around for a long time. The combination of great songs, lyrics and a great live show (minus any theatrics) will outlive many of his flashy peers.
A little note to be added, if you didn’t win tickets for your favourite act during the festival you can stand in line to have a chance of getting standby tickets. There is a lot of great talent performing this month so don’t miss out because you didn’t win.
Tonight I’m going to see, in my opinion, the best troubadour in the Uk (Who gives a shit about those Libertines losers? Or that dude from Razorlight? Or Richard Blackwood?) Jamie T is a musician that inspired me to move down to London and not be afraid of the big smoke. Along with the Rakes they didn’t paint the city as glorious or too seedy, just what it is. A dilapidated monster of city. Full of transplants and misfits thrown together with the mega rich and the mega poor, I don’t know anyone that isn’t one of the two.
The first track I ever heard was his cover of the Billy Bragg classic “A New England”. These lyrics are timeless.
“I was 21 years when I wrote this song, I’m 22 now but I won’t be for long.
People as when you will grow up to be a man when the girls I loved at school are already pushing prams.
And I loved you then as I loved you still, though I put you on a pedestal they put you on the pill.”
I may not be so keen on the new stuff but he is from the footage I have seen a great performer and I can’t wait. It also marks the start of the ridiculous amount of gigs I am going to this week.
I went to Brighton this weekend. It was adam from acusis 25th birthday (flicks from that party will be coming soon). Earlier on Saturday I ventured down to the beach and the pier. Somehow it isn’t an English beach without the sunshine. I made my traditional Chris Eubank joke. I avoided the cockles, that’s for the Japanese tourists. Went to Shakeaway (a must visit), I had the snickers and malteser combo.
Above is a time lapse film of the train ride down to B-Town. There will be a lot of Stop motion videos on the blog this week as I have been shown some great one recently.
1) Best mixtape of the week :has to be this Clipse one. I have no clue who the Dj Hevehitta is, I think he is Swedish but this mixtape collects some of Malice and Pusha T’s released, unreleased work and the new single (Kinda a Big Deal). It also includes the family favourite Double Down. That song was the soundtrack of my xmas back in 2005 when my bro and I made numerous trips to the Lagos jail. I almost bought a Clipse new era in dc. I didn’t want to endure that wrath of their fans as I can barely rhyme of their songs.
2) Purchase of the weekend should be the Jordan 5’s. Look at how they shine.
3) “You are only as strong as your last drink.”- me
p.s Joel just mentioned that he is going to be on NME Radio on Saturday. So show some love and listen. Seriously because otherwise we will have to listen to their shows about the top 30 Manchester songs which is full of Oasis tracks. He’s on from 10 till 11pm. So think of him as your Saturday night version (and male) Annie Mac.
What’s the story behind the Russian Tank in Bermondsey? Legend has it that a property developer bought the land in order to build flats. When the council caught wind of the idea they blocked his proposal. So he then applied to put in a tank. The council agreed thinking it was a septic tank. He then installed a decommissioned Russian tank in the middle of south London. It used to be beautifully painted, like 60’s wallpaper, now it’s pretty sad to see up close. Well that and having to step over the used condoms. Seriously people why are you fucking near a tank by a major street? I guess it could be a decent dogging hotspot. Either way check it out, its on Mandela way by old kent road. Can’t miss it. It’s a fucking pink tank for christ’s sake.
There will be will some written posts this week. The masses (ie some friends) are complaining over the lack of things that they can read whilst at work. First, in celebration of the weather here is a video from Sunday morning.
“You know it's summer when you stumble out of a grotty london pub at 5 in the morning after dancing to minimal techno for two hours, only to find some russian guy pumping out weird trance out of his souped up penlope pitstop looking car. Only in london.”
2)Lacrate’s remix of Ebony Bones. I like Ebony Bones, she used to be on Family Affair a show I used to watch. Remember it was like Eatenders lite on channel 5. When channel 5 used to have porn on a Thursday night? You would go to school and start reciting what happened in the Red Shoe Diaries? The show narrated by David Duchovny? If you don’t know now you know.
3)I gave you advice for what to do if you are in Milton Keynes on Sunday. If you are in London. I would suggest going to Bugged Out and seeing Mad Decent vs Crookers. I’m a little over the whole crookers thing but Diplo and Fake Blood. And the opportunity to hear more major lazer tracks. Too Good to miss. With that being said the genius that scheduled Diplo and Crookers at the same time is gonna get mashed up if the crowd finds out. Plus the prospect of all those dubstep heads losing their shit at 4.30 when skream comes on will almost be too good to be true.
p.s be good.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Whilst everyone and their grandma are still going nuts over dubstep, I on the other hand cant get enough of UK funky. The british music scene doesn’t really have that many fun songs, mainly because pop bands did that and now that they are out of fashion we don’t get just pure fun songs unless it’s Dizzee. So this is what the country needs as we head out into a summer of bumming around free parties for booze and festivals. Bring it back is really good.
I’m also enjoying the simple executed video with kids in the streets and the best in uk urban talent (their words not mine). Either way it’s fun to see. Plus the tune features a similar vocal style to rick flair. Overall good vibes.
Where can I go on a Thursday night that has indie, electro, remixes, bmore, house, funk, disco soul and a bunch of other genres that you love but rarely hear in the same space? How about jam at the sohobar.co.uk (its on Greek street). Dj 7oel will be spinning (his vinyl video should be up soon on the blog). Not in London? Well the boys are taking over my old stomping ground Milton Keynes this weekend at revolution aka the only place in Mk that is worth going.
Whats that? The sound of a bargain? Tonight Ain’t It Black and 7 Year Glitch are throwing a bash at my favourite little intimate spot: The Social. So come on down to get assaulted (get it?) with some booty bass and some gutter tech. Don’t know what that means listen to this.
I’m really digging the Golden Silvers, funky, chill vibe with a squeeze esque singing pattern. Friend of mine saw them live and they carry this sort of mature chilled vibe onstage. Either way they are very good, try and track down the Michachu remix of this song which sends it into space, fucking around with the vocals whilst slowing the beat. That girl is mad talented.
This is a video made by Al Doyle of Hot Chip. It is a remake of the 2006 smash and NME song of the year Over and Over using members of the homeless community. It is being used to promote the upcoming series of secret gigs in order to raise money for Crisis, the homeless charity.
Ldnnez or London nose (geddit?) is a blog that usually explores the best in music, fashion, culture and arts. Usually, sometimes we get sidetracked. Spread the love. You can hit me up on twitter. Or Facebook.
Posts
