Accentuate the Positive
Big Chill soon! Many of the acts I want to see normally draw blanks with everyone, and not just Courtney. So, in preparation for the festivities, here’s my list of must-sees and reasons for seeing.
1) The Fatback Band
The only reason these rhythm and blues masters are on my radar is for their groovy tune “Bus Stop.” It’s not even mentioned on the Big Chill website, so I can only assume the tunes that are must be even better. They’ve done everything from r’n’b to soul to disco to hip-hop, and are guaranteed to be as polished as brand new bling. They’ve been sampled to death, too, so there’s a good chance we’ll all know bits of their set. My early favourite for most danceable grooves of the weekend.
2) Roisin Murphy
Also known as the voice of Moloko. She’s probably getting a lot more exposure back home than here, so apologies if everyone’s excited about seeing her. What’s even more exciting, for me at least, is that Matthew Herbert is producing her new stuff. The Matthew Herbert big band was my highlight of 2003’s Chill, and his Bodily Functions album is one of my favourite albums. She played Glasto, and the bit of her gig I saw online was great. As well as being pleasing to the ear, she’s easy on the eye. Mmm. Redheads.
3) Kate Rusby
Over the last couple of years I’ve started to really appreciate English folk music, and during that time I’ve consistently heard good things Kate Rusby, but somehow I’ve not heard any of her stuff. Everyone who tells me about her says how great she is live, and what a good voice she has. I hope she’s got a nice chill afternoon slot. Perferably just before the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. I’m really looking forward to hearing the recommendations justified.
4) A Certain Ratio
The punk-funk sound seems to be re-emerging with bands like !!!, and even Franz Ferdinand, but it was A Certain Ratio who first made it popular in the late seventies/early eighties. I heard their stuff on a reissue when visiting Courtney in Norwich in 2002, and it stuck in my head. Danceable and spiky, they should be worth watching. I just hope they’re not a washout like the under-rehearsed Durutti Column were last year.
5) Horace Andy
A legendary roots reggae singer, he’s best known to my generation for his work with Massive Attack. Can’t wait.
It’ll be interesting to see St. Etienne, the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain will be good fun once more, and Nouvelle Vague promise to be entertaining. Their version of Love Will Tear Us Apart is great. Even better, whilst surfing today in preparation to blog, I came across Yat Kha’s cover of the same song. Yat Kha are a group of Tuvan throat singers. Yes, throat singers. I almost went to see them in Canterbury, and now I wish I had.
Love Will Tear Us Apart – Albert Kuvezin & Yat-Kha
Go one, have a listen. We all need something to smile about today.
Dude, Joy Division kicks ass. Well, kicked ass. Would you happen to have a copy of this version of Love Will Tear Us Apart I can listen to?
I’ve heard of more of them than I thought I would. Nouvelle Vague are particularly toppo.
No Egg/Lemon Jelly this year?
I would like to recommend Amy May of Paris Motel. One day I’m going to marry her, but for now, I’m just going to swoon everytime she opens her mouth!
Come see her with me, and join the Amy Love-Fest!
R xxx
Are you just SO excited about Saint Etienne that they’re just completely off the charts?
Well, most people have heard of them, and know at least one or two of their songs, so I don’t need to bother writing anything about them.
But yes, I’d rather like to see them live, if only so I can say that I have and you haven’t.
I guess most of your readership have heard of them, but they’re not too big amongst the crowds I run in.
As to the second part of your comment… welll… um… ahh…. at least I’ve slept with someone YOU HAVEN’T!!!! Ha! And we both know who the fuck that is!!!!
Oh man, this fucking stinks.
The rest of “this readership” doesn’t know who that is! Do tell. And Liam, when are you going to fill us in on the Westgate Inn incident?
Believe me, Rev. Rehash isn’t proud of his latest drunken exploit. It’s no-one you’d approve of, Mr. Leahy. Besides, the good reverend doesn’t kiss and tell in public. Private email, perhaps?
James:
I just noticed that the title of this post is “Accentuate the Positive.” I think me talking further about this would do basically the opposite of that. Let’s just leave it at bad judgment. Not quite “invading Iraq for no reason” bad judgment, but bad judgment nontheless.
It’s OK; I think I know. It’s your stalker isn’t it, Mr R?
You hit it on the head, Mr. Leahy. Actually, she had more of an eye for Liam, but of course, he’s not on the market.
If I feel like being a complete dick, I would say that during it all, she kept on calling out his name… but I won’t make such a claim.
Is that a backhanded compliment, a straightforward insult, or a naked proclamation of the truth, Rev?
Oh dear Christ on his technicolour bike. I’ve stumbled into an episode of Hollyoaks.
I don’t really remember Liam; I was drunk, remember?
Aha…I was wondering how this post suddenly acquired 14 comments! I’m most impressed that James got it in one try…
We miss you and your shenanigans up here, Rev!
Courtney:
I miss you guys too. Bar studying sucks.
I’m also impressed with Jame’s first-try guess. I don’t recall if he ever saw her “in action.”
And by the way, there’s going to be a new sitcom on Fox about a fancy-ass chef, and the lead character is played by the guy who plays Will Tippin. I wonder if this means he won’t have time to do Alias appearances anymore?
BTW, the Bar starts on Tuesday, not Wednesday as I previously thought. So my stop-study time is tomorrow night at 6:00pm