VIVA BROTHER - INTERVIEW

Viva Brother are one of the new crop of bands to be making waves in the pages of NME and on the live circuit with their own brand of guitar based rock and roll (or GRIT-Pop as they insist on calling it.) All music genre puns aside I spoke to front man Lee Newell about their mission, music and all things post Be Here Now.


Q)Grit POP! Explain and describe please.

A)That was something we came up with as a bit of fun. We knew we were going to be pigeonholed into some genre or another so we thought we may as well do it on our terms. I guess not many bands can say they have created a genre!

Q)Surely a revival of a Brit-POP culture/style is a bit too recent in people's memories to be taken seriously? For someone on the wrong side of 40 that feels that they've "seen it all" what would you say your ambitions are for the band?

A)We're not trying to revive any previous era. The Brit pop thing has been cast upon us by the media. We do listen to bands from the 90s but not exclusively. This band was created out of a desperation and a very real need for escape from where we were in our individual lives. For me, this band simply had to work. I didn't have any A-levels, I never went to university, I felt very very lost. I tried to get into the full time job thing, but it just never worked out. I needed to play music. There simply was no alternative. When the four of us first got together and started playing together we all had this united sense that we had something extraordinary. Something special. Yes we did all bond over mutual love of Manchester bands like The Stone Roses and The Smiths but we all have our own distinct tastes. Josh (Ward) and Frank (Colucci) are really into their dance music for instance. This band is just a culmination of that. We are what we are; and we know if we work hard that we can be remembered.

Q)Which side of the fence do you sit on concerning music progression and creativity? i.e When you make a follow up album will you consciously try and improve on the last one or do you have a "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality to songs and the sound of the group?

A)Give us a chance, our debut isn't out until the summer! Of course we are going to progress! What would be the point otherwise? We're not the sort of band that will get so self indulgent that it becomes un-listenable. When we write our music, we do consciously keep the listener in mind. We like to please the listener. We like to keep a lot of texture and colour throughout our songs, they never get boring. We will grow with each album, and we are lucky that we write our songs quite quickly so each album will be a literal snapshot of the stage we are at, at that time.

Q)Do you think politics fit in with rock and roll music? Is it something you're interested in?

A)It can be. Right now it's not something I would get involved with. If you're going to talk about politics, it has to be truthful and it has to be for the right reasons. There are too many self righteous people out there trying to sell themselves more than solve any problems. Frank Turner that is aimed at you. Shame on you.

Q)What other bands do you listen to or you would say influence Viva Brother's music?

A)It really depends on the time of day. I mentioned The Smiths and The Stone Roses before, but there is no real pattern with what we like. We're into The Brian Jonestown Massacre, MIA, The Black Keys, Tame Impala to name a few. Everything Everything's new record is astonishing!

Q)For the last few years guitars and guitar playing has been taking a back seat to more programming and synths, do you feel Brother could be one of the forefront bands to bring loud guitars back to the mainstream?

A)Yeah of course and that is half the reason why this band exists. The last great era of guitar music was in the 90s. We need to have something like that again and we've self elected ourselves to be at the front of that.

Q)Bands like Oasis, as great as they were and as great records as they made, do you find it a help or hindrance when they are mentioned in every review when describing your sounds. They seem to be a name that raises eye brows from music magazines these days as being ”that old thing we used to like"..whats your opinion?

A)They did write two great records I agree. I don't think it's a hindrance at all. If they want us to fill that gap we are more than happy to step up, but understand that we are not alike. We sound nothing like each other. They have had an incredible career and we hope to have the same.

Q)What was it like working with producer Stephen Street considering his musical history?

A)It was an honour as he is a childhood hero of mind. He is so welcoming and kind that it didn't take long to get over the awe ha ha. He is an incredible producer and has helped us create a masterpiece of an album!

Q)What's next for Brother?

A)More love and hate in equal measures I'm sure. But literally we are just doing a whole lot of touring. Our headline tour is coming up, then we are touring with the streets, after that we're off to Texas from SXSW then New York, then Europe, then back to the UK, then back to USA, all the festivals etc. etc. etc. I can barely keep up!

Q)Have there been any other bands you've seen on the circuit or heard that you like currently?

A)Not really as we haven't really had a chance to play a great deal yet. We played with this band Wheels on NYE and they were good. Ask us in a years time and hopefully we will be able to give you a big list of guitar bands!


Viva Brother's first single "Darling Buds Of May" is released on the 28/02/11 before the Album is released later in the year.

http://www.acidlove.net/

Under Cover Of Night - The Strokes - SINGLE REVIEW

As soon as the intro starts for ‘Under Cover Of Darkness’ there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that this track could be any other band in the world but The Strokes. With its format of blended guitars and bouncy drum backbeat that are all trademarks of the band (and one I hope they continue to keep) to its well used overdriven vocals and stinging guitar melody, the song I predict is going to be a definite live favourite this summer as the band takes to the festival and touring circuit. The song itself is no simple pastry cutter copy of days gone by, in fact it brings some new sonic tones and textures to the table (with the guitars especially).

The Strokes are a band that are always looking to push the guitar from its ordinary role and confinement preferring to instead serve the song to the best of their ability, whether it’s the interlocked octave riffs of ‘Last Night’ to the keyboard like synth riff of ‘12:51’ they have always played what was necessary rather than just playing what was expected, which is why in a track like ‘Reptilia’ when the guitar solo kicks in its exciting because they don’t rely on a similar paint by numbers reproduction in the other 10 songs on the album. But wait a minute! This isn’t a Wikipedia chat about The Strokes talk about the single for gawds sake!

Here we are today with the 48 hour free download sitting in my inbox. It’s an immediate winner and although phrases such as ‘return to form’ are being thrown about the place with the track from lazy journalists and online critics I can’t actually remember when they weren’t strictly firing on all cylinders as the albums previously have all been great as far as I’m concerned and although ‘This Is It’ has achieved “classic” territory with the next generation the follow ups were equally of a high standard. So as for ‘Under Cover Of Darkness’ it’s just the next step along the yellow brick road of greatest for the group. I can’t wait for the album.

'Under Cover Of Darkness' is currently available as a free download for 48 hours and the album 'Angels' will follow on the 22nd March.

www.thestrokes.com/home

LIMBO ROCK...

Good morrow my fellow fans of music past, once again I'm at that time of the month where I'm lining up new interviews and interviewee's as well as completing new album and EP reviews.

Although at this very moment today I don't actually have anything ready to paste and show online which is annoying and kind of leaving me in blogging limbo neither one way or the other.

As a fan of blogging and indeed the random blog I will show I'm still alive and interested in spilling my thoughts and opinions here on the Internet by giving you all some poptastic food for thought.

'Do I listen to pop music because I'm depressed, or am I depressed because I listen to pop music?' - Rob ;High Fidelity

Songs to cheer you up for the delay courtesy of spotify and youtube for those of you stuck at work.

'No Reply' - The Beatles
'Wash The Rain' - The Bees
'Jump Into The Fire' - Harry Nilsson
'New Orleans' - Gary U.S Bonds
'Scissor Runner' - Jenny And Johnny
'Love' - Rodeo Massacre
'Jump In The Line (Shake,Senora)' - Harry Belafonte

lather,rinse, repeat if necessary....

Anna Calvi INTERVIEW

Anna Calvi Interview
31/01/11
Domino Records ; Wandsworth Town

Q) The track 'Moulinette' is one of my favourites of your live show, how come it didn't make the cut for the album, instead appearing as a B-side for the single?

A) Well, when I was putting the album together it didn't fit the story I was trying to do and project.

Q) I've seen your live show a few times and as you are a 3 piece without a bass guitar (rather just guitar, harmonium and drums) do you find this limiting and do you have to re-arrange the song structure to compensate the lack of bass being there?

A) Yeah a little bit, Mally (Mally Harpez) plays bass pedals as well as harmonium though so when we do need that bass frequency we can get it, but I do like it without as it helps to create more space and dynamic although it does mean I need to work harder as a guitarist.

Q) What music do you listen to for your own pleasure?

A) It varies really, I like David Bowie and Roy Orbison as well as classical music like Ravel and Debussy.

Q) You've been getting some pretty high level plaudits from music luminaries such as Nick Cave and Brian Eno, had either of them been an influence on you and your music before you'd met them?

A) Well I loved the work that Brian Eno had done with David Bowie and I really liked 'Music For Films'. Nick Cave I'm a definitely a fan of.

Q) Talking about Brian Eno, is it true that he sings backing vocals on 'Desire'?

A) Yes he does, he's funny when he sings because he'll sit down and read a book while he's doing the backing vocals, at the same time (laughs). I actually met him through a friend of his, he had come to my gig and then told Brian about me and he then contacted my management and we went for lunch. He's really into gospel music.

Q) Is there currently any bands that you like? Maybe bands that you have gigged with or seen on the circuit?

A) Well the band that supported me at the album launch called Alice And The Cool Dudes, they are amazing, I really like them.

Q) 2011 is understandably going to be a really busy one for you with the album being released and live shows. With regard to the follow up, will you try and write on the road or do you need to shut yourself away and write separately?

A) I think I'll try and write some of it on the road although I like to write alone and shut myself away so a bit of both really. Usually when I write I've been inspired by a piece of music or something and I record the song as I write it usually, the lyrics and the melody come all at once quite fully formed. Obviously I sculpt it but the initial lyrical ideal and melody idea are there throughout.

Q) How did you find the recent Grinderman tour? How was the audience reaction?

A) Really great, they were great shows and the audience seemed to like us.

Q) Who influences your guitar playing?

A) Well the guitarists I got into first were Django Reinhardt and Jimi Hendrix so they are constants although now I like to imagine my guitar as something else, I imagine it as a piano or as an orchestra so that's how I keep it exciting to me. I like to imagine it as an extension of my voice.

Q) What happened to your Telecaster (her battered Fender Telecaster Guitar)?

A) Yeah I know (laughs) I used to hit it against the wall when I was angry and frustrated, I'm much nicer to it these days, I feel bad about it now.

Q) When you first started with the guitar did you ever learn other peoples songs or pop songs?

A) No not really, I mainly improvised. I played along to records but it was mainly my own music, I never really got into learning other artists songs.

Q) Your voice is very expressive and powerful. I read that initially this wasn't something you were going to do instead concentrating on guitar. Looking back do you feel you would have considered simply playing guitar and having a lead singer in the band handle the vocals?

A) I don't think so as I've always had a strong vision of what my music should be and sound like and you shouldn't have anyone else take control of that side of things if you can do it yourself. I had to do it myself.

Q) So you couldn't have had Liam Gallagher or someone fill in?

A) No (laughs)


Anna Calvi's debut album is out NOW on Domino Records

www.annacalvi.com
www.myspace.com/annacalvi

RADIOHEAD vs Nikki Grahame

As a new part of my daily rantings and blogging chat I have decided to start a new section where I will be speaking to bands/artist's/celebs/anyone else I can corner in the loo.. and asking them about their favourite bands, current songs, albums that influence them and general stuff regarding work by other artist's other than themselves.

First of the starting line is the lovely Nikki Grahame of Big Brother fame who apart from taking the time to write her own book has also planted her flag in the camp that is Radiohead. Her favourite band! So without further a do here is her top 5 (well 6) but you can't have everything....and yes NO CREEP!

Planet Telex The opening track from their 1995 album 'The Bends' first released as a double A-side with 'High and Dry'.

The Bends - The title track from the same album and still a live favourite.

Paranoid Android From the seminal 1997 album 'O.k Computer'. Wicked video as well, watch out for Kurt Cobain in his helicopter.

Reckoner From the great,great album of 2007 'In Rainbows', a song that was kicking around in 2005 in skeletal form but not finished till the session for this album.

Airbag Track 1 from 'O.k Computer' fuzzy, the direction of things to come.

Jigsaw Falling Into Place From the 'In Rainbows' album, the first track released as a 'pay whatever you like' scheme the band ran from their website, considering the video for the track was filmed with cycling helmets with mounted cams on top of them I would say the majority of people went with 0.05p..

*songs selected by Nikki
mugging off by Chris

something is happening here....

and you don't know what it is....do you? Mister Jones....

yes enough of the Dylan quotes and to the meat of the matter. I will be updating this very blog this week with an exclusive (and by exclusive I mean her 10th interview of the day) Anna Calvi interview, The Rodeo Massacre gig review from The Old Blue Last last night (31st Jan) as well as a new page which gives you the great unwashed a list of artists/bands/celeb's favourite records of the moment for you to judge, mock and even possibly go out and buy on their recommendation.


Stay tuned, same bat channel...

Miles Kane LIVE@Barfly + Interview

Miles Kane
Saturday 22nd January
The Barfly ; Camden Town

One of the most eagerly anticipated albums of 2011 was always going to be the debut solo album from Miles Kane. An old hand already in the industry from former guitarist in The Little Flames, front man in The Rascals to even one half of the critically acclaimed super group The Last Shadow Puppets with Arctic Monkeys vocalist and singer Alex Turner and all before his 25th birthday (this March.)

Already there has been 2 singles released from the upcoming album and both were on show here tonight bookending the set, with the opener ‘Come Closer’ showing a live band that hits the ground running and is primed and ready to go. The crowd was crammed in and rocking before the chorus of song one. It had been a long day after all here at the XFM all dayer and after many of the pastry cut out copies typical indie bands with the occasional synth sprinkling wasn’t really impressing too many people. Here at the finale with Miles Kane we are treated to someone on top of their game and fired track after track from the as of yet unreleased album with only a minimal of between track “hi how are you” chat. Security were on hand at both sides of the stage as loads of fans were climbing over the barriers to grab the front man before leaping back into the crowd, stage divers were politely ‘told’ that this wasn’t Wembley Stadium but a venue that holds the same as a Wedding reception and to knock off the leaping “somebody catch me!” routines. Other tracks that stood out were the poptastic ‘Quicksand’ and the highly anticipated ‘My Fantasy’ which appears on the album with Noel Gallagher applying backing vocals, ‘Re-Arrange’ as well as the excellent riff heavy ‘Inhaler’ which got the biggest cheer of the night.

The track that come out of left field and one that continued the trend by Kane of throwing a unexpected cover into the live mix was the faithful version of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's club banger ‘Spread Your Love’ which gave the floorboards of The Barfly a good ol’ fashioned hammering under a giant mosh pit. Expect greater things from Miles Kane, the album is going to be a wake up to the knob twiddling wimpy gap year bands flooding out of East London on a weekly basis and I hope it influences a generation of people to put down their computer run sonic ideals and crank their amps and guitars up to ten again.

I got a chance to meet up with Kane a few days after the Barfly gig, below is the transcript

Miles Kane Interview
26th January
The Social Bar ; London
by Chris Lancaster

Q) I interviewed Gruff Rhys last week (Super Furry Animals singer and also now solo star) and apart from saying that you were a "guitar god" and "surf guitar wizard" he thanked you for playing some guitar on his new album.

A) (laughs) Gruff is a legend, I was listening to him on Radio 2, he was being interviewed when I got back to my hotel last night, I just love that track 'Shark Ridden Waters' from the new album, I haven't heard the whole album yet but the track is brilliant. Working with him I learnt so much, I can't really speak highly enough of him.

Q) Are you happy with the final finished album now that its all mixed and complete?

A) Yeah its perfect, it's took a while on and off and in fact the first track to record was actually with Gruff (Rhys) and Craig Silver called 'Take The Night From Me' and ' The King Crawler' and they are on the record. I then tried this other producer and we ended up doing the rest with Dan Carey and we're finished now and its getting mastered tomorrow.

Q) In relation to the 'mastering' of the album I've noticed from the first tracks available such as 'Inhaler' and 'Come Closer' that they were mastered quite loud, they really seem to stick their necks out a little bit over the other records in a jukebox or even when I'm DJ'ing them I end up riding the volume fader to stop them blasting over everything else. Was this intentional?

A) That great, the louder the better really, not that I'm a DJ or anything I just play records but I was at this club on New Years Eve and played that new Beady Eye tune 'Bring The Light' it seemed to come in much louder than everything and I think they mastered it with the same guy as I'm using, I'm all for it.

Q) How have you found making a "Solo" record over a band recording or in fact a collaborative album such as The Last Shadow Puppets with Alex Turner?

A) At first it was daunting especially when you're used to being in an environment with a band or when I do "Puppets" I have a partner to bounce ideas off, the hardest part about making a record is the writing part before you even go in the studio making sure you had good songs, so that downtime period is tough. We decided before that I wouldn't do any gigs or anything until this record was done so nobody could hear any recordings or the songs beforehand which is good but at the same time it kills you because you get eager to gig and get out there so it took a while to adjust in that sense but once you started working and you knew that you had a couple of good tunes written it helped build the momentum. When I wrote 'Come Closer' originally that was a 'glam rock' sort of heavy drum based track, it sounded good but not unique enough and it wasn't till we got in the studio with the producer and we were listening to that 'Plastic Ono Band' (John Lennon) album that gave us the idea to keep it dead simple and re-look at the drum beat by keeping it the same the whole way through. Looking back now I suppose from writing it at the start and then recording it I knew that by the time it was finished and I'd done the interview and the photos and that stuff that I would love it and I do. I'm just excited now talking about it.

Q) You will be going on Tour with Beady Eye soon what are your thoughts about that?

A) I can't wait, I just hope the fans like our stuff, I think we're a pretty good match so I think it'll be good. I haven't heard the album yet but those 3 songs that are out that I've heard I've really liked. I love that 'Four Letter Word' tune, been playing that a lot.

Q) Which bands/artists have you been listening to during the writing and recording of the new album?

A) Obviously I always mention Lennon so he's always there as well as Lee Hazlewood, in fact when I was making this record and even before I really got into him, I'd known the records he made with Nancy Sinatra and they're amazing and then I got into his solo stuff about a year and a half ago especially that track 'Rainbow Woman' and I did a cover of that for the B-side of 'Inhaler' I suppose that was a big influence and probably Motown as well with the drum beats so that it just stays the same and drives the song rather than fast then slow, I like it to just groove along it so if you heard the song half way into it you'd pick up on it straight away.

Q) Both with The Last Shadow Puppets and now in your LIVE set you've been partial to a cover version or 5, recently you've added Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's 'Spread Your Love' to your set and before with the "Puppets" you did Leonard Cohen's 'Memories' and a few more.

A) I think its great, yeah we just added 'Spread Your Love' , we did loads in the "Puppets" we did 'Memories', The Beatles 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)' , i think its good to always do a cover LIVE especially at this early stage where people don't really know the tunes its good to give them something to get hooked to, we want to try 'Hey Bulldog' (The Beatles) at some point as well, I think that would be a good one.

Q) Noel Gallagher sings backing vocals on 'My Fantasy' on the new album. How did they come about?

A) Yeah he did backing vocals, its only a subtle thing, I was mixing the track , the main vocals are just me double tracked and I was going to add backing vocals on the chorus and bridge, and I'd seen him a few weeks before and just texted him seeing what he was up to and said I was mixing and looking to add some harmonies and thought it would be great if he could "add the icing on the cake" and he said that "icing is what i do best" (laughs) and he just come down the next day and did it. I mean the press have made it something more than that but it was just a cool little nod. He's Great guy. I went into the studio with him after and played some guitar but don't really know what its for, more of a jam really.

Q) Are there any new and current band's that you like?

A) It's a tough one really, Sound of Guns from Liverpool are a good bunch of lads, more rock and heavier than me but great, The Heartbreaks from Manchester are doing some good stuff that I like, I don't really know many others, The Vaccines are really good that song 'Post Break Up Sex' is a good one, think it just charted didn't it?

Q) Before stepping forward to become the front man you were primarily known as a guitar player, who would you say are your influences guitar wise?

A) Duane Eddy, Link Wray, I just love that sound, really trebly echo sound, I'm not very technically good but I just find I can get good sounds, I'd be lost without my Bigsby though (Bigsby tremolo unit on the guitar) it manages to stay in tune perfectly as well, the guy that fitted it for me said it was a good one although I use it so much maybe I just know instinctively how much pressure to put on it to stop it going way out, I suppose I just have good wrist action (laughs), my nights in are great (laughs.)

Q) Where do you like to hang out when you're in London?

A) Depends really, I go out with my manager and my mates for dinner here and there, The Groucho club in Soho is really good, I'm not a member but have gone there with people they have snooker tables there so you can have a few games and a drink, wherever really……. I can't believe i said The Groucho (laughs), me and Vic Reeves having a drink (laughs), oh look there's Stephen Fry(laughs.)

Q) Will there be any new Last Shadow Puppets material or releases in the future?

A) Definitely yeah, Alex is in LA at the moment doing the new Arctic Monkeys album, you should see where they are staying in LA, proper boss place, I think we'll try and get together and write some new stuff, we're always talking about it, it'd be James Ford producing again he's great, I think we'll try and write towards the end of the year, Alex is amazing lyricist. Lyrically I would say the best out there which is great when we're writing as I'm more melody and he's never stuck for a line or word, just pours out of him where as I'm more "what does that mean?" (laughs)

Miles Kane Debut Solo album is out 25th April

Special thanks to The Social and Alex Fordham