Wooden Shjips - Huge European Tour

Chilled Psych jammers bring their wooden-space-craft to Europe tomorrow, which means some of this

and here's the title track from the new album, out now on Thrill Jockey records

enough clowning around - bit of a Led Zep thing going on with the sleeve

 

Wooden Shjips European Tour Dates:

December 2013:
Sun Dec 1st Utrecht, Netherlands - Tivoli (Le Guess Who Festival) - ticket link

Mon Dec 2nd Copenhagen, Denmark - Pumphuset - ticket link

Tue Dec 3rd Berlin, Germany - Berghain - ticket link

Wed Dec 4th Cologne, Germany - King Georg - ticket link

Fri Dec 6th Brussels, Belgium - Autumn Falls @ Salle Rogier - Brussels (B) - ticket link

Sat Dec 7th Metz, France - Les Trinitaires - ticket link

Sun Dec 8th Paris, France - Point Ephemere - ticket link

Mon Dec 9th Brighton, UK - Audio - ticket link *

Tue Dec 10th London, UK - Scala w/ support from kandodo - SOLD OUT!

Wed Dec 11th Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club - ticket link

Thu Dec 12th Glasgow, UK - SWG3 - ticket link

Fri Dec 13th Belfast, UK - Menagerie - ticket link

Sat Dec 14th Dublin, Ireland - The Grand Social - ticket link
* = please note Brighton, UK date changed from The Haunts venue

February & March 2014:
Thu Feb 13th Oslo, Norway - Bla

Fri Feb 14th Stockholm, Sweden

Sat Feb 15 th Gothenburg, Sweden - Pusterviks

Sun Feb 16th Aarhus, Denmark - Radar

Mon Feb 17th Hamburg, Germany - Kampnagel

Tue Feb 18th Nijmegen, Netherlands - Dornroosje

Wed Feb 19th Amsterdam, Netherlands - Bitterzoet

Thu Feb 20th Munich, Germany - Strom

Fri Feb 21st Vienna, Austria - Chelsea

Sat Feb 22nd Budapest, Hungary - A38

Mon Feb 24th Zagreb, Croatia - Mochvara

Tue Feb 25th Milan, Italy - Circolo Magnolia

Wed Feb 26th Rome, Italy - Circolo Degli Artisti

Thu Feb 27th Ravenna, Italy - Bronson

Fri Feb 28th Torino, Italy - Spazio 211

Sat Mar 1st Marseille, France - Grim
Mon Mar 3rd Barcelona, Spain - Begood

Tue Mar 4th Madrid, Spain - Moby Dick

Wed Mar 5th Porto, Portugal - TBC

Thu Mar 6th Cartaxo (Lisbon), Portugal - Centro Cultural Cartaxo

Linda Perhacs - European Tour

She's almost here! If you don't know Linda here's a track from her 1970 album 'Parallelograms' which was widely ignored! Decades later, of course, it became quite clear that it is a Psych-Folk classic-

Stunning isn't it? Now when these obscure musicians re-appear they can be disappointing but here's Linda a few months back with a killer band-

Yeah so she's brilliant...still. Additional points for that fellas Magma T Shirt as well. And from a few days ago- 

Gorgeous and kind music. Anyway tour dates left-

Dec 2- Le Divan Du Monde- Paris, FranceDec 4 - Le 106- Rouen, France
Dec 5 - Cecil Sharp House- London, England

(fonts playin up again then!)

Hopefully a new album 'The Soul of All Things' will be out early 2014 on Asthmatic Kitty Records.

 

Gerald Scarfe - A Long Drawn Out Trip

Astro Duo - Troink

Immense bassage (don't even bother playing this unless you have Bass) but funky with it.

Came out last month on Astro Records

Do It!

Genius

Homeboy Sandman - I-Tunes Song

Another great track from the only person who has ever recorded a drop for me! My Man the Sandman-

"...bite me" Ha ha

He's also doing this series of releases with some of the Old Masters, on Stones Throw Records yo

that's a favourite of mine from this bzzzzz

 

Myron & E - Cold Game (Live In Studio)

This'll get you bouncing.

They are still touring Europe - all dates in this weeks show - looks unmissable

Nov 28: Basel, Switzerland

Nov 29: Amsterdam

Nov 30: Rotterdam, Netherlands

Dec 01: Hanover, Germany

Dec 02: Cologne

Dec 03: Bristol

Dec 04: London, UK

Dec 05: Cardiff, UK

Dec 06: Berlin

Dec 07: Madrid

Bad Guys - Witness a New Low

Well they are in the current show but it appears that there is a video. Given that they have no money this is very impressive.

The album is out now on the ever reliable Riot Season Records, and here is the wonderful back-sleeve shot I was creating about in the show 

That's what I meant!

and don't forget this gig...helluva lineup in a great venue

 

 

Jonny Kearney and Lucy Farrell

I love these two. Here's why-

So now you do too, so that's good.

They've released an album and ep on Rabble Rouser (Adrian McNally of The Unthanks' label) which are essential, but you need to see them live for the full charm to take effect.

Now, it seems Jonny is having a crack at something different and it's, well, it's bloody brilliant. It's 1970's pop!

He's recording the album now.

Dengue Fever - Girl From The North EP

Their new EP is coming out on TUK TUK Records December 3, but is temporarily up on soundcloud. They're a really good fusion outfit fronted by the most unlikely couple. Needless to say I am slightly biased due to the magnificent beardage sported by one of them. Thankfully it's not Miss Nimol! Right here is their more American/psych side

Lovely frock as well. Ok here's the EP (Girl from the North is my favourite)

Kid Congo Powers and the Pink Monkey Birds - this Thursday 28.11.13 at the Pipeline on Middlesex Street (near Liverpool Street) London with support from MIRACULOUS MULE

The Gun Club, The Cramps, The Bad Seeds, Kid & Khan, Congo Norvell, Knoxville Girls! And he now has this great band. Sorta Memphis soul + Mex garage rock + Singer/Songwriting Raconteur + creepy weirdness! Shit, just watch this-

Yeah that!

His Gorilla Rose album was a bit of a fave on my show, but this is the new one (out on In The Red Records)-

His last tour got rave reviews from rockers so if you can get to London this thursday - go!

Ticket link

http://www.dirtywaterrecords.co.uk/store-2/#!/~/category/id=3225192&offset=0&sort=addedTimeDesc

 

Brutal Truth/Bastard Noise - The Axiom of Post Inhumanity

This album has been a highlight of the year for me. This is the long track I mentioned on the Radio Show. It won't work on radio (23.55 mins) but fire this baby up while you're surfing and it will gradually fill the space you are in. Kosmische and Krushing.

It's out on Relapse Records and be aware "Both the CD and LP formats of the release contain entirely different sets of music from both bands while the digital version collects all of the tracks onto one compilation." Trust me, you want the whole lot!

 

 



Rose McGowan - Wild Rose

Always interesting, often undressed. Rose has just put this out (via Nowness). I've no idea why. It really reminded me of flower power photography/album art so...

The Toby Mearing Radio Show 25th November 2013

Snarky Puppy feat Tony Scherr - Black Sheep (Family Dinner Volume One)

I've tried not to post these Monday vids from Snarky's for a few weeks but this is another contender for performance of the year. For me, the last Tony Scherr vid was the only clunker they have posted so I didn't expect much here - WRONG! Highlights; the little smile at :43 because he know's he's got a barnstormer coming; the chord at 1:12; the omg reaction by those three dudes with the headphones round about 1:46; drummer starts building up a head of steam 4:14; Tony cranks the amp into feedback but then plays quietly 4:33 because he's got another ace up his sleeve; beautiful lady totally blissing out at 4:45; 5:33 here comes that ace - just listen to the guitar tone change when he hits that micro-switch; then it's honkin' perfection all the way to the end.



I don't know what it is about the genius of Snarky Puppy but this is another performance where the guest just cannot stop at the end.

This is the time to say that the film team who work with Snarky Puppy are superb - they caught all those highlights in a live performance! Just look at the (rare) beam on the 12-string guitarists face at 7:13 which is out and then in focus. Brilliant.

Rachel Sermanni

This is a lovely performance, rough sound but she just cuts straight through.



Dark folk is how she's marketed, but I witnessed an untethered warmth redolent of Mary Margaret O'Hara or the 70's LA singer-songwriter ladies when I was watching her at a soundcheck? (I am aware of the cavernous horrors they addressed, by the way, but not in a 'goth way'). Played her in a recent show - here's the album -

on Middle of Nowhere Recordings. But (here we go again) you need to see her live... 

She seems to have a pledge thingy going re a new EP so if you are interested that is here-

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/rachelsermanni/updates/29044

 

Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra - Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light on Everything

The usual inscrutable title from my favourite outfit from the Godspeed you/Constellation Records scene. Talking of inscrutability...

Ha ha haaaa. Out 21st January on Constellation Records, and-

FEB-MAR 2014 TOUR DATES:12.02.14 Frankfurt, DE - Zoom
13.02.14 St Gallen, CH - Grabenhalle
14.02.14 Zurich, CH - Rote Fabrik @ Aktionshalle
15.02.14 Bern, CH - Reitschule
16.02.14 Genf, CH - Antigel
18.02.14 Lyon, FR - L'Epicerie Moderne
19.02.14 Limoges, FR - CC John Lennon
20.02.14 Nantes, FR - Stereolux
21.02.14 St Malo, FR - La Route De Rock
22.02.14 Diksmuide, BE - Botanique
23.02.14 London, UK - Koko
25.02.14 Glasgow, UK - Oran Mor
26.02.14 Leeds, UK - Brudenell
27.02.14 Brussels, BE - Botanique
28.02.14 Munich, DE - Feierwerk
01.03.14 Prague, CZ - TBA
02.03.14 Vienna, AT - Brut
03.03.14 Berlin, DE - Volksbühne
06.03.14 Malmo, SE - TBA
07.03.14 Oslo, NO - John Dee
08.03.14 Stockholm, SE - Strand
09.03.14 Copenhagen, DK - Vega

Here is a bit of the appropriately titled 'Austerity Blues' (note rather excellent album sleeve)

Cave - Live on the Chicago River

No really!



Lovely fluteage on this one 

Cove, S&M, and Early Mammal - Gig review/rant from June

Cor what a great gig! Just got in (1.18am here - having had to leave the gig at 10.30pm!) Finally met Tony David and Stephen in real life - lovely fellas, absolute delight finally hooking up AND two of them are in Cove who produced a venue-scalding set - wherein a broken string transformed their noise-rock-kraut-funk into an ecstatic delay bleeding meltdown. Also finally got to see Early Mammal and they did not disappoint. Acid-Psych-Stone(r)-Space tinges but lifted into the magical realm by dint of a superb drummer, an almost psychic bassist AND incredible organ-shenanigans run through a nest of very tasty pedals (think i spotted a malfunctioning mooger fooger) Jono Wright has to see this lot! S&M are darker...so dark they asked for the lights to be switched off. She's on drums, and he's on acoustic guitar wired up with arcane electronics whose entrails spew out the back and into an old suitcase wherein terrible homemade elec-trickery produces - many lost voices, churning tectonics, horrific frequencies, and much arsequaking. It's an eldritch thing. That was compounded as I stepped out for air/sanity by my first encounter with the Roof Dog! and child! Hell-Houndage! Great venue (Windmill Brixton), great crowd, great staff, great bands.

David CW Briggs - When My Magic's Down

I've been sat on this since July! David is guitar-wrangler vocs-mangler in Cove, and guitar-minimalist as Hills Have Riffs. You've heard them in my shows. He's gone in this new direction of songs. Between darker Syd Barret, lighter Roy Harper and Dave Gimour ? Traces of 70's acoustic rock, bucolic-prog, white-wizardry - but without any of the tweeness that often sinks these types of music. Bedroom in his head, and imaginary retro-equipped memories. One track is entitled 'Popol Vuh' and that sort of vibe starts to appear later in the set as well. Excellent album and this is where you go to hear/buy it



Oh he also does comic/graphic art. Look-

 http://dcwbriggs.tumblr.com/

Good beardage and a lovely fella - met him at a Cove gig this summer.

Sumner - Let's go and Play

This is a beauty from the tillsammansrecords/ Beaulieu Porch stable



Ah, the 70's! Seems to be a new single- 

from a forthcoming album "The Drewitt Tapes".

However there is an album just out now - "A World of Horses" from which this comes-

Beautiful, and any 70's kid will get all of the references.

So here's where you go to get it... 

Jim Wilson - God's Chorus of Crickets

The story is that Jim recorded crickets in his back garden in the early nineties. He was most enamoured with the recording. Then he thought about how short a cricket's life is compared with ours, so he had the notion to slow down the recording to a speed where the crickets lifespan would be similar to ours. The result is staggering! This is the version where the normal speed recording is playing at the same time as the slowed down version.

MV & EE + The Doozer - UK dates

Total Psych heaven tag-team. Dream Dates-

3rd December - CB2 Basement, Cambridge
4th - Cafe Oto, London
5th - Ravenous Cafe, Raveningham (nr Norwich)
6th - Inkfolk, Hebden Bridge
7th - Castle Hotel, Manchester (Golden Lab Records Xmas party)

Why is this huge news?

The Doozer-

The incredibleness that is MV & EE live 

That's why!

Undersmile - Soil

I am playing Coma Wall in this weeks Radio show. Undersmile is their electric alter-ego



both incarnations appear on the split album (on 12" on Shaman Recordings  and CD on Future Noise Recordings)

maybe one more from the last release 

Crudo Pimento - Tic Tac Toc



Tremendous little performance. They sent me this with Spanish info, but there seems to be an album 

and a gig I missed but with a great poster 

oh and two more gigs

29 Noviembre @ Louie Louie ESTEPONA
30 Noviembre @ La Cueva, ALMERÍA

 and another-
On 5-8th December, they'll be playing at IFEMA in Madrid. Christmas gigs for children.
I now have the album so expect to hear more of Crudo Pimento in the Radio Show.

Myron & E - Do It Do It Disco + album and Euro tour deets June/July 2014

RollerDisco? Hell yeah!

Stones Throw are re-releasing this single with some killer remixes, which you'll be hearing on the Show.
The album is still out

and they are coming back to tour Europe -

Jun 27: Milan, IT @ Caroponte Festival 

Jun 28: Bristol, UK @ Start The Bus Jun 29: Glastonbury, UK Jun 30: Paris, FR @ Jazz a la Defense Festival Jul 01: Cognac, FR @ Cognac Festival Jul 03: Hamburg, DE @ Mojo Club Jul 05: Brugnera in Prodenone, IT @ Blues in Villa Festival Jul 07: London @ Oslo Hackney Jul 08: Manchester, UK @ Band On the WallJul 09: Glasgow, UK @ Broadcast Jul 10: Liverpool, UK @ Kazimier

The Poets of Rhythm - Anthology: 1992-2003

FUNK - and it's out now. Expect to hear them in my shows but here's Edan showing off/out!



and here's a bit more 

Daptone Records baby! 

Hanson Records

They gotta shop!

For weird and wonderful sounds/music this is a great label/distro. Exhibit a - 



Exhibit b 

Vinyl, Cassettes, 8 Track or digital. Always interesting, novel, challenging...and don't get me started about the shirts 

Their web shop will be quiet while they move permises but once it's back it's an incredible place to visit http://hansonrecords.bigcartel.com/

 

 

The Small Faces - HERE COME THE NICE - The Immediate Years Boxset 1967-1969

Yes they're re-issuing remasters of the albums but fans are gonna explode when they see this-

 

1 cd with all the singles and eps on. 3 cds of rarities. But then - books; posters; 7" singles; 7" french eps; replica Olympic Sound Studios one-off acetate pressing for Andrew Loog-Oldham of “Mystery…”; autographs, Ogdens press kit and promo 7"! Fine art prints & postcards...absolutely insane package coming February 2014.

Galaxy Music Awards 2013

I see The Sonic Jewels are nominated for a gong at this. It's in the Alley Cat Club in Denmark Street London this Friday (where I witnessed Black Crack's awesome debut). Smashing little venue - recommended.

More Deets here - https://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/galaxy-entertainments/galaxy-entertainments-music-awards-2013/388881217881167

and here is Da Jewels in da Cat! 



The Toby Mearing Radio Show 18th November 2013

Female Gothic - Dyad Productions - West End Centre, Aldershot 13.11.13

As usual I have to try and write about this production without ruining the stories and surprises. A huge rug; a leather armchair; a side table and candle stick holder. Suddenly from the murk a Victorian woman manifests to tell some tales. They are dark...horrific, as was the fashion then. This is a celebration of the female gothic novelists, so guess who doesn't come out of this looking too good chaps? Vanity, hubris, callousness, wrecklessness, weakness, stupidity and all of those other traits we know so well are laid out before us. Anyway, little by little, and courtesy of superb light and sound design everything starts to become a little unhinged. The actress has multiple personalities - she slips between phantasy and reality, innocence and blame, male and female, love and self-loathing, belief and disbelief...and the ostensibly simple staging is cast adrift from a Victorian fireside storytelling session - sunk by heavy, slate-grey sepulchral guilt, dread, seasickness and then drowned in DOOM. When the storyteller is with us, she paints the pictures with her body movements...there's nothing there; between beliefs; but in that void she is there, and drags the scenes with her as she dances through the horror (the laboratory scene, in particular, was incredible). Just stepping off the rug becomes significant...

I've been hearing good things about Rebecca Vaughan for a year or two now, and it's all true - don't miss her.

Forthcoming dates are here, but Aldershot - their productions have been rolling through the West End Centre for years now. Just sayin'

http://www.dyadproductions.com/tour%20dates.html

 

The Toby Mearing Radio Show 11th November 2013

Jodorowsky’s Dune

Fantastic poster for a documentary i'm desperate to see



Werner Herzog - From One Second To The Next

Herzog's films were often focused on a person's struggle against his environment, his hubris, vanity, demons and fate.

Since he moved into documentaries it seems to have opened him up. You'll never forget the relatives in this, and you will hate the murderors whining, and wonder why they are not in prison? 

I recall that way back, when the use of mobile phones in vehicles was to be banned, the industry's lobbyists 'prevented' that common-sense. The scum-captains of the white-van fleets required by internet shopping behemoths also lobbied re using mobiles to monitor their minions.

Daddy Long Legs - incredible live footage

You NEED to go see this band if you can



See?

If you can't get to them, get this

STOP THE PRESSES two more gigs today!!!

Nov 9th Southend, England -Railway Hotel(Canvey Island Breakout!)
Nov 9th Brighton, England -Blind Tiger Club

 

Leslie Mendelson - Singer/Songwriter

Popped in to the West End Centre to see if they needed a bit of help, and lightening struck again! Leslie is tour support for Glenn Tilbrook. I hadn't come across her before. She has a terrific Brooklyn Jewish accent so what I wasn't expecting was this



that's her new single as well. Stunning isn't it. As she was soundchecking I just couldn't get this image, of her playing a baby-grand piano in a jazz club in New York, out of my mind. So I had a look around today and bingo (warning this song is so beautiful it may kill you) 

So she's a wonderful singer-songwriter, but with the restraint of the classic jazz vocalists. Now, last thing, part of her live performance is what she does with those eyes - oh come on don't tell me you didn't notice them- 

So there we are. You need to go see her now so here are the dates

 

07 November- Shanklin Theatre, IOW

08 November- East Quay, Whitstable

09 November- Astor Theatre, Deal

11 November- Arts Centre, Norwich

12 November- Arts Centre, Colchester

14 November- Tivoli Theatre, Wimbourne

15 November- Arts Centre, Pontadarwe

16 November- The Globe, Cardiff

17 November- Warwick Arts Centre, Warwick University

18 November- The Stables, Wavendon

20 November- Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

21 November- Brindley Arts Centre, Runcorn

22 November- Brewery Arts, Kendal

23 November- The Lowry Centre, Salford

25 November- Huntington Hall, Worcester

26 November- The Rescue Rooms, Nottingham

28 November- The Floral Pavillion, New Brighton

29 November- The Sage, Gateshead

30 November- Liquid Room, Edinburgh

03 December- The Green Hotel, Kinross

05 December- King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow

08 December- 53 Degrees, Preston

10 December- ARC, Stockton on Tees

11 December- Arts Centre, Bingley

12 December- The Ropewalk, Barton Upon Humber

14 December- Blackheath Halls, Blackheath, London

16 December- Komedia, Brighton

17 December- South St Arts Centre, Reading

18 December- The Brook, Southampton

The Toby Mearing Radio Show 4th November 2013

Ovvl - tour art

The Ovvl European Tour is really inspiring the poster designers-

 

 

Calibro 35 - Traditori di tutti

I played this wonderful band in last mondays show. The new album is now out on Recordkicks and is BRILLIANT. Fuzz and Funk all over the place. Soundtracky but also garage-rockin'.

I promised to post a link to their European tour dates so here we are

http://www.calibro35.net/e-adesso-inizia-il-tour/?lang=en

 

Cattle & Cane

Totally blown away by these people yesterday. Last show of their tour with Goldheart Assembly, and their van blows up leaving half of the band stranded and the other half at The West End Centre in Aldershot but with no gear. So the fates are against them when the two singers and the violinist start to soundcheck and then this happens-



what the...and then this (which is easily one of the best songs I've heard this year) 

and then the most curious thing - Goldheart Assembly started drifting back on stage to help them, and, well here's what I wrote last night "Cattle & Cain and Goldheart Assembly are two bands who have fallen in love. Soundchecks were stunning. Backstage was affection-city. The show was gorgeous cos it all just bled through into the performances"

Oh and here's a vid with the violinist in it, top chap and he had to become a multi-instrumentalist last night to save the day!