en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/ Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 60 http://www.audioscrobbler.net/data/webservices http://www.last.fm/user/MadameBellamy/journal The Last.fm journal for MadameBellamy. Last.fm journals are a place to talk about all things music. http://www.last.fm/user/MadameBellamy/journal/2012/09/10/5lqwcw_updated_gig_list_10th_september_2012 Mon, 10 Sep 2012 20:14:27 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/MadameBellamy/journal/2012/09/10/5lqwcw_updated_gig_list_10th_september_2012 Some of these are gigs and some of these are sets at festivals. Woo! Happy reading.

2012
Dream Theater
Periphery
Sleep
A Storm of Light
Holy Mountain
They Came From The North
White Star Liners
Grandaddy

coming up...
Om
Muse
The Walkmen
Dirty Three
Opeth
Anathema


2011
Admiral Fallow
Olympic Swimmers
Fu Manchu x 2
Lords of Bastard x 2
That Fucking Tank
Battery Face
Mr Peppermint
Shield Your Eyes
Talons
Jackie Treehorn x 2
Lady North
O.P.E.N
Vasquez
Divorce
Shields Up
Secta Rouge
El Schlong
Fatalists
Of Spire & Throne
Godspeed You Black Emperor
Kid Canaveral
Cake
Hanson

2010
Future of the Left
Admiral Fallow x 2
Adam Gnade
Youthmovies
The Walkmen
Broken Social Scene
Mission of Burma
Wooden Shjips
Blitzen Trapper
Firey Furnaces
Camera Obscura
Boris x 2
Pavement
Monotonix
Atlas Sound
Pierced Arrows
Wax Fang
Dodos
The Fall
The Raincoats
Endless Boogie
Grails
Liars
Milk
Rachel Sermani
Phantom Band
Muse
Diane Cluck

2009
Women
Share
French Wives
Stinking Lizaveta
End of Level Boss
Jackie Treehorn
Earth
stembo
Devo
M83
Killing Joke
Future of the Left
Marnie Stern
Sleep x 2
Jesus Lizard x 2
Grails
Andrew W K
Parts and Labor
Harvey Milk
Lords
Qui
Metric
The Big Pink
Muse

2008
Blood Red Shoes
Enon
Sir Richard Bishop
Earth
Frank Black
Ootaven
Mucky Sailor
plaaydoh
That Fucking Tank x 2
Nervous Kid
Naked Shit
Mesa Verde
Lords of Bastard
Tractor
Hey Colossus
Youthmovies x 2
Dorian
Dead Meadow
Amplifico
Aberfeldy
Gasgiant
Shutter
Kyte
Future of the Left
Signals by Semaphore
Holy Fuck
The Death Set
Grozny
Ox Scapyla
Some Young Pedro
Hyena
Chi Champions
Dananananakroyd x 2
Kong
Hey Enemy
Ex Wives
gatechien
Lords
Take A Worm For A Walk Week
Melt Banana
The Death Set
Butthole Surfers x 3
Mogwai
Fuck Buttons
Errors
Om
Les Savy Fav
Wooden Shjips
Shellac
Lightning Bolt
Adam Gnade
Super Adventure Club
Fantomas x 2
Melvins x 2
The Locust
Big Business
Neil Hamburger
Bohren und der Club of Gore
Mastodon[artist] x 2
Joe Lally


2007
Lecorum
Citizen Ghost
the Industry Machine
Dance Lazarus Dance
Death Disco
Foals
the_ACUTE
The Rapture
Shitdisco
Calvin Harris
Faithless
With Scissors
Whores Whores Whores
D-Rail
Errander
BenCozine
Secta Rouge
Chronicles of Adam West
Beasts
Zillah
Otterley
We Are Something Broken
Kaput
Elligitimate
Muse
The Streets
Dirty Pretty Things
Orphan Fairytale
Sonic Youth
Dinosaur Jr
Andy Gallacher and Overhaul
Future of the Left
No Kilter
do-ne imagi-ne
Foals
Cut Off Your Arms
Great Eskimo Hoax
Jonquil
Youthmovie Soundtrack Strategies
Blood Red Shoes
Adam Gnade
Chutes
Battles
Dirty Projectors
The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster
Bill Bailey
Lords of Bastard
The Tourettes
The Dirty
That Fucking Tank
GILLET
Fat Worm of Error
Interpol
Friendly Fires
HTRK
Liars

2006
Kiddo x 2
Stapleton
Dartz!
Good Shoes
Flying Matchstick Men
Help She Can’t Swim
We Are the Physics x 2
iForward, Russia!
Drive By Argument
Thee Comrades x 2
the_ACUTE
V for Victory x 2
Damn Shames x 2
Gnarls Barkley
Orson
Razorlight
Muse x 3
Deerhoof
Beck
Radiohead
My Chemical Romance
Mastodon
Tool

2005
Aberfeldy
Otterley
Kid Canevral
My Latest Novel
King Creosote
The Bad Plus
Sigur Ros
Anima
Soulwax
LCD Soundsystem
Hot Chip
The Czars
Josh Martinez
Bikini Atoll
65 days of static
Youth Movie Soundtrack Strategies
Driverdown
El Dog
Michael Franti and Spearhead
The Bluetones x 2
Tom Vek
Thee Comrades x 2
Flying Matchstick Men x 2
Motormark
Kiddo

2004
Easyworld
The A Forest
Amy Hits The Atmosphere
Mclusky
YOURCODENAMEIS:MILO
British Sea Power x 2
Duke Spirit
Otterley
Oxes
Youthmovie Soundtrack Strategies
Senator
Dead or American
Bad Plus
Kasabian
Ben Kweller
Kings of Leon
Muse
Michael Franti and Spearhead
The Killers
The Rapture
stellastarr*
The Warlocks
Mull Historical Society
Scissor Sisters
Franz Ferdinand
Kings of Leon
The Pixies
X is Loaded
This girl
Tenesse Kait

2003
Flaming Lips x 2
Alfie
Mclusky x 2
Steve Burns
Frank Black and the Catholics
Mogwai
The Darkness x 3
Otterley x 2
Egoslave x ?
The Needles
Elbow
Muse
R.E.M
The Warlocks
Turbonegro x 2
Kings of Leon
The Polyphonic Spree
Mars Volta x 2
Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster x 2
Feeder
The Datsuns
Hell Is For Heroes
Placebo x 2
Ima Robot
Brandon Benson
Metallica
Weezer
Radiohead
Asian Dub Foundation

2002
Muse
Gun ‘n’ Roses
Pulp
Janes Addiction
Biffy Clyro
The Breeders
White Stripes
Moldy Peaches
The Prodigy
Foo Fighters
Puddle of Mudd
Korn
Cooper Temple Clause
Sparta
Hundred Reasons

2001
Caffeine
AFI
The Offspring
Taproot
Linkin Park
Deftones
[spunge]
The Vandals
Less Than Jake
Pitchshifter
The Ataris
Voodoo Glow Skulls
Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra

2000
Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra]]> http://www.last.fm/user/MadameBellamy/journal/2009/11/10/35gg8u_muse_:_november_9th_2009,_secc,_glasgow Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:49:22 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/MadameBellamy/journal/2009/11/10/35gg8u_muse_:_november_9th_2009,_secc,_glasgow Mon 9 Nov – Muse, The Big Pink

This was brilliant!!!!
Because Muse are more important to me than a lot of things, I am not even going to review the gig in the right order. Muse are getting priority here people...

Lets just set the scene... It's been a tantalising 30minutes post The Big Pink (I'll get to them afterwards. Maybe), and on stage there are 3 giant pillars made of some sort of fabric... As the house lights dim, a projection is seen on the pillars of white sihlouettes walking up stairs. Eventually, they all topple like dominoes and the fabric is dropped from it's holding points to reveal Matt, Chris and Dom standing on individual platforms (plinths???) as they launch into Uprising. It's cracking! But from where I am sitting I can't see Matt - he's obscured from my vision by the massive hanging speakers. Everyone is jumping up and down apart from me in my seat, trying my very best to contain myself. They're louder and as fantastic, with the entire crowd joining in whether it be clapping along, or singing along with the anthemic chorus "They will not force us..." etc.
Without much of a pause, they then go straight into Resistance. Being one of my favourites off The Resistance, I am particularly excited to hear this track live. On the platforms, on the 2 sides that are angled to face the audience, they have visuals, occasionally of the band as they play live, or of something that has been specially made. Anyway, by this point I am gagging to be down the front bopping up and down with the rest of the audience.
As they launch into New Born, I can't take it any longer! I've launched myself out of my seat and I am singing at the top of my lungs, far too bloody happy to bother with sitting down any longer. Memories flood back from Leeds 2002 and I admit, being in nostalgia mode, I was welling up!
Map of the Problematique is a favourite live Muse track. I don't know why it works so well, but it really does... Supermassive Black Hole is excellent as per with Matt twiddling away on his kaoss pad. Everyone is going tits!
Admittedly, I did sit down for a bit during Guiding Light, if only to catch my breath rather than it being anything against the song! It is pretty beautiful live, even if I'm not totally in love with it on the record. The lovely Interlude follows launching us (much to my brothers delight) into the monster that is Hysteria. It's bombastic, brilliant...bigger than you remember it being last time. As if the set couldn't get much better, Chris and Dom played some of Niche... Lovely, lovely, lovely song. Totally made up for the lack of tracks off Showbiz... ish.
While having being wrapped up in the awesomeness of "Niche", Matt had been off getting his piano which has freaking glow in the dark keys! And if that wasn't awesome enough, the lid of the piano lit up whenever he pressed down on the keys! It was back up on the platforms again for the brilliant United States of Eurasia which works very well live as a three-piece... The BEST type of Muse track! Following swiftly was everyone's favourite Feeling Good. Amazing... Just amazing... Again, nostalgia is kicking in. I've welled up.
Now for something completely different... Bagpipes. YES, bagpipes. And... A revolving platform! Chris (with the most excellent bass playing stance ever) and Dom are on the revolving platform and the bagpipe man is down to their left doing his thing. And it's rocking. I have no idea what it was they played, but it was genius!! Muse should definately use bagpipes on their next album...
Matt then appears with his keytar which means only one thing! Undisclosed Desires, the next single! Right. I love this song on the record, but I am not sure whether it really comes across live very well. It's almost a bit too stripped down for Muse. But hey! It's great to sing along to! And then oh my word, it's Starlight. Probably one of my most favourite Muse tracks ever. I've not felt elation like that for a while... it was nice to know it's still possible for me to feel that way. Everyone was clapping away as Matt serenaded us. His vocals are something else...
Time Is Running Out was fine as per usual...
I actually screeched when the first chord of Unnatural Selection was played. This was the track off the new album I was waiting for after all... If they're not going to play me Citizen Erased, then this song will keep me nicely satisfyed! It was rocking. I loved it. Muse can rock out better than loads of other bands that are out there... True, there is the bit in the middle of the song where they have to chillax for a moment. They're not as young as they were after all. My ears are ringing. With excellence!

The encore kicked off with Exogenesis Symphony, Pt I: Overture which is beautiful live. How I long to be the timpani player that was on stage with them... This song live proves that it is one of the best Muse songs ever. A sumptuous song...
Stockholm Syndrome has always been utter genius live and last night was no exception. Since I knew the evening was coming to a close, I partied hard in my 50cm squared space lapping up the atmosphere. They closed with Knights of Cydonia, which was a first for me (them closing with it that is...). A real crowd pleaser. If people hadn't bopped around for the rest of the gig, then the whole of the hall at the SECC was jumping for this one. Muse galloped to the finish with AWESOMENESS (I like the word "awesome" yeah?) and left me, if not everyone, gagging for more.

Muse are worthy of the "Best band in the world today" title. They bring their music to those at the back of the hall, those down the front, those at the sides of the hall... The set up, the lighting, their musicianship... All flawless. I really hope it's not 27months until I see Muse again... That was far too long to wait! They never cease to amaze me despite having seen them 8 times... It must be love?!

****************************

A quick note about the Big Pink.
They were not my cup of tea at all. Did they think that strobe lights were going to improve their live show and sound?! Nope.
The songs sounded rather samey... It was a shame that the sound wasn't sorted until they were 4 songs into their 6 song set, it's a shame on any band that happens to... But even when it was sorted, the only thing that impressed me was the singing ability of the vocalist when he actually got a melodic line to sing.

Muse ftw.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/MadameBellamy/journal/2009/09/14/30em4i_muse_-_10_years__%22the_resistance%22_review Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:52:53 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/MadameBellamy/journal/2009/09/14/30em4i_muse_-_10_years__%22the_resistance%22_review Muse started out with "Showbiz" 10 (!) years ago which was an insight into the minds of 3 blokes from south England. Had you heard they were from Teignmouth? I had no idea. Hah. Anyways. "Showbiz" is a fantastic album. Simple, straight to the point and crammed full of amazing songs that make me want to sing along at the top of my voice.

Their next offering, which is undoubtedly my favourite Muse album and always will be, "Origin of Symmetry" was still based on the same principles of "Showbiz" but had more balls. Muse had come out and revealed themselves as geniuses. From the opening bars of "New Born" to the final blood boiling chord of "Megalomania" you are on the edge of your seat not sure what is going to happen next. I still have that same feeling I did about the album as when I first bought it... I still listen to it and pick up on little bits I hadn't before. Awesome.

"Absolution" was their first commercially accepted album. You may argue and say "Origin" was but "Plug In Baby" (sadly) didn't have the audience first time round that "Time Is Running Out" had. Muse went stellar with this one. They do like space after all... Suddenly everyone and their mother's owned the album and their music was playing as part of a perfume commercial. But despite all that, they still turned up tops with an album worthy of all the hype. Ok, it's not my favourite but if you can tell me that you don't tap your feet to "Hysteria" or play air piano along to "Butterflies And Hurricanes" then you are... weird... Hm.

In 2006 Muse brought us "Black Holes and Revelations" which was a welcome arrival for me personally as I was going into my last year of my Undergrad at Uni and their musical inspriation was appreciated and evident in my last portfolio of my BMus. This album pushed Muse even higher into the stratosphere and it was no wonder they were easily able to sell out Wembley twice (twice!). I was there :) It was awesome. Cheers Mum...

I'm pleased to say that "The Resistance", despite having a few puzzling moments, has sated my appetite for the time being.

For starters, the album layout is different from any other. Take the opening tracks of the last 4 albums ("Sunburn", "New Born", "Apocalypse Please", "Take a Bow"), they've all lulled you then gone KAPOW! in your face with choonage. This time there's no fucking about and we've instantly got Chris Wolstenholme shoved in our faces / ears with "Uprising", a glam, funk ridden tune that was surely to turn heads. It's a stormer of a tune and while some people have been unhappy with the lyrics, Matt Bellamy knows how to get a crowd to sing along. An obvious first single choice - number 9 this week.
Title track "The Resistance" is perhaps how we would have been accustomed to hearing a Muse album start, but instead it is placed second. The piano line in this sounds like something that wouldn't be out of place on some 90's dance track but have no fear! The chorus sorts it right out as the boys get their rock awn and Bellamy sings in that style that I love so much.
"This song is for anyone who likes r'n'b" - Dom Howard @ Wembley 2007. That's what he said about "Supermassive Black Hole" and "Undisclosed Desires" will satisfy anyone who liked that track. This track was primarily written by Dom and involves a lot of looping, something that was inspired by the Timbaland music that is so prominent on the radio. But hang on, what's this? SLAP BASS? Mm! I think bar the obvious bass heavy records that I own (Squarepusher, Pastorius etc) this is the only "pop" song that I own with slap bass in it bar "You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon (Yes I mentioned him Ali. Get over it). Minimal but effective this one.
"United States Of Eurasia (+ Collateral Damage)" is the song that everyone has been talking about. Some people have said to me "it's fucking awful" and that's fine. But it's not fucking awful. It's fucking awesome. Yeeeaaaah. Bellamy gets his ballad on to start with pondering who we blame for the war *insert conspiracy theory blurb here* and then suddenly Freddie Mercury enters the room and Muse go all Romantic / Modern composers on our asses with an Eastern influenced string arrangement. Bellamy's a bit happier now, people are there with him trying to figure out the war etc so the piece gathers momentum. The bit where they shout "Eurasia! Eurasia!" is piss funny, and you can't take it seriously. If you do, you're missing the whole essence of Muse. "Collateral Damage" is a snippet of Chopins "Nocturne in Eb" with lilting strings which zooms into...
"Guiding Light". Right. I don't often have problems with Muse tracks and will be one of the first to stand up and go "omg it's awesome blah blah blah". Despite this song having hymn like qualities and being a bit epic and 80's, I can't shake the fact that it sounds like "Vienna". Thanks Ali. Wanker. Ooooooh Viennaaaaaa! It's true! I mean, I like it. But I'm currently not getting anything from it and usually I'm able to take something from Muse tracks. This one has me flummoxed. I might get back to you on this one.
Right. Enough of that. "Unnatural Selection". Herrow. Organ and Bellamy make way for a riff that will even make your Mum nod her head. This song is an absolute beast. There are elements of Muse when they first started out in this one and I have drawn similarities to "Agitated" and "Yes Please" during the chorus of this track. And then you get the verse and suddenly you're screaming "YES! MORE! PLEASE!" or at least I am. Heh :) Muse are doing what they do best here and rocking out... there's a bit in the middle of the track where they calm down a bit, mop their brows a bit (well they are older than they were when they wrote "Plug In Baby") and then they're off again. Riff riff riff. Bang bang bang. I can't wait to hear this live.
"MK Ultra". Rawk. I think this would be a good song to listen to when hang gliding. Much like Drowned in Sound said in their review, it does swoop and soar, before ending on a mother of a riff! It's the kind of riff that Buzz-o be proud of. Ah my. I need some juice...
Haha, now. Don't worry butt the next track "I Belong to You (+Mon Coeur S'Ouvre a Ta Voix)" has an element of Elton John and Jools Holland boogie woogie. It's excellent and I'm wishing I was being sung this song... It all gets a bit odd in the middle with Bellamy suddenly singing in French which is all very well but I'm not convinced about his vocals. Mind you, there have been no heavy breathing bits in this album thus far. Huzzah! I'm not sure what Wolstenholme thinks of this song but I hope they've had a fair bit of piss taking out of it... Oh, and what's this? A clarinet solo. Blimey. You might laugh, but yes. There is a bass clarinet in this track. "I'd travel half the world to say I love you". Anyone?

Ok. I hope you've had a cup of tea? As we're now onto the last bit of the album. "Exogenesis". The 3 part symphony.
It opens with "Exogenesis : Symphony Part 1 (Overture)" which contains some sinister strings and Ali got it into my head that Bellamy's turning into Philip Glass. He's not thank god, as all of a sudden the double basses start playing arpeggios and Dom lauches in drum kit 'n' aw. The vocals are up there with the violins while the bass plods on beneath giving the Overture real momentum which then fade out to...
"Exogenesis : Symphony Part 2 (Cross - Pollination)" which has some of Bellamy's trademark piano which leads us into a waltz like section. Oh and then Chris comes back into the room and puts a stop to this and they're thundering off again. It's all a bit ridiculous but I'm lapping it up...
Now, back to what I said earlier about Muse having a bit of a formula to their albums - the quiet start and then the rumbling endings to their albums. "Exogenesis : Symphony Part 3 (Redemption)". Glorious. This is absolutely lovely. I don't think Muse have written what could be described as a "love song" since "Unintended" but this is not far off being one. It's a bit like one of those boxes with the ballet dancer in them. You wind them up and they dance and then eventually they have to stop... It's a beautiful ending to a beautiful album.

So there you have it. My (not-at-all-biased) review of the latest offering from Muse and a tiny insight into what has come before.
I'm pleased they're back :) Just in time for Uni.

Happy 10 years since "Showbiz" Muse :) Here's to another 10!]]> http://www.last.fm/user/MadameBellamy/journal/2009/08/09/2xez0r_updated_gig_list_:_9th_august_2009 Sun, 9 Aug 2009 22:07:30 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/MadameBellamy/journal/2009/08/09/2xez0r_updated_gig_list_:_9th_august_2009 Some of these are gigs and some of these are sets at festivals. Woo! Happy reading.

2009
Women
Share
French Wives
Stinking Lizaveta
End of Level Boss
Jackie Treehorn
Earth
stembo
Devo
M83
Killing Joke
Future of the Left
Marnie Stern
Sleep x 2
Jesus Lizard x 2
Grails
Andrew W K
Parts and Labor
Harvey Milk
Lords
Qui

Coming up...

Metric
Muse

2008
Blood Red Shoes
Enon
Sir Richard Bishop
Earth
Frank Black
Ootaven
Mucky Sailor
plaaydoh
That Fucking Tank x 2
Nervous Kid
Naked Shit
Mesa Verde
Lords of Bastard
Tractor
Hey Colossus
Youthmovies x 2
Dorian
Dead Meadow
Amplifico
Aberfeldy
Gasgiant
Shutter
Kyte
Future of the Left
Signals by Semaphore
Holy Fuck
The Death Set
Grozny
Ox Scapyla
Some Young Pedro
Hyena
Chi Champions
Dananananakroyd x 2
Kong
Hey Enemy
Ex Wives
gatechien
Lords
Take A Worm For A Walk Week
Melt Banana
The Death Set
Butthole Surfers x 3
Mogwai
Fuck Buttons
Errors
Om
Les Savy Fav
Wooden Shjips
Shellac
Lightning Bolt
Adam Gnade
Super Adventure Club
Fantomas x 2
Melvins x 2
The Locust
Big Business
Neil Hamburger
Bohren und der Club of Gore
Mastodon[artist] x 2
Joe Lally

2007
Lecorum
Citizen Ghost
the Industry Machine
Dance Lazarus Dance
Death Disco
Foals
the_ACUTE
The Rapture
Shitdisco
Calvin Harris
Faithless
With Scissors
Whores Whores Whores
D-Rail
Errander
BenCozine
Secta Rouge
Chronicles of Adam West
Beasts
Zillah
Otterley
We Are Something Broken
Kaput
Elligitimate
Muse
The Streets
Dirty Pretty Things
Orphan Fairytale
Sonic Youth
Dinosaur Jr
Andy Gallacher and Overhaul
Future of the Left
No Kilter
do-ne imagi-ne
Foals
Cut Off Your Arms
Great Eskimo Hoax
Jonquil
Youthmovie Soundtrack Strategies
Blood Red Shoes
Adam Gnade
Chutes
Battles
Dirty Projectors
The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster
Bill Bailey
Lords of Bastard
The Tourettes
The Dirty
That Fucking Tank
GILLET
Fat Worm of Error
Interpol
Friendly Fires
HTRK
Liars

2006
Kiddo x 2
Stapleton
Dartz!
Good Shoes
Flying Matchstick Men
Help She Can’t Swim
We Are the Physics x 2
iForward, Russia!
Drive By Argument
Thee Comrades x 2
the_ACUTE
V for Victory x 2
Damn Shames x 2
Gnarls Barkley
Orson
Razorlight
Muse x 3
Deerhoof
Beck
Radiohead
My Chemical Romance
Mastodon
Tool

2005
Aberfeldy
Otterley
Kid Canevral
My Latest Novel
King Creosote
The Bad Plus
Sigur Ros
Anima
Soulwax
LCD Soundsystem
Hot Chip
The Czars
Josh Martinez
Bikini Atoll
65 days of static
Youth Movie Soundtrack Strategies
Driverdown
El Dog
Michael Franti and Spearhead
The Bluetones x 2
Tom Vek
Thee Comrades x 2
Flying Matchstick Men x 2
Motormark
Kiddo

2004
Easyworld
The A Forest
Amy Hits The Atmosphere
Mclusky
YOURCODENAMEIS:MILO
British Sea Power x 2
Duke Spirit
Otterley
Oxes
Youthmovie Soundtrack Strategies
Senator
Dead or American
Bad Plus
Kasabian
Ben Kweller
Kings of Leon
Muse
Michael Franti and Spearhead
The Killers
The Rapture
stellastarr*
The Warlocks
Mull Historical Society
Scissor Sisters
Franz Ferdinand
Kings of Leon
The Pixies
X is Loaded
This girl
Tenesse Kait

2003
Flaming Lips x 2
Alfie
Mclusky x 2
Steve Burns
Frank Black and the Catholics
Mogwai
The Darkness x 3
Otterley x 2
Egoslave x ?
The Needles
Elbow
Muse
R.E.M
The Warlocks
Turbonegro x 2
Kings of Leon
The Polyphonic Spree
Mars Volta x 2
Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster x 2
Feeder
The Datsuns
Hell Is For Heroes
Placebo x 2
Ima Robot
Brandon Benson
Metallica
Weezer
Radiohead
Asian Dub Foundation

2002
Muse
Gun ‘n’ Roses
Pulp
Janes Addiction
Biffy Clyro
The Breeders
White Stripes
Moldy Peaches
The Prodigy
Foo Fighters
Puddle of Mudd
Korn
Cooper Temple Clause
Sparta
Hundred Reasons

2001
Caffeine
AFI
The Offspring
Taproot
Linkin Park
Deftones
[spunge]
The Vandals
Less Than Jake
Pitchshifter
The Ataris
Voodoo Glow Skulls
Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra

2000
Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra]]> http://www.last.fm/user/MadameBellamy/journal/2009/05/11/2ptjrq_atp_vs_the_fans_2:_the_fans_strike_back_*updated,_less_sleepy_review* Mon, 11 May 2009 21:29:15 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/MadameBellamy/journal/2009/05/11/2ptjrq_atp_vs_the_fans_2:_the_fans_strike_back_*updated,_less_sleepy_review* Fri 8 May – ATP Vs The Fans 2: The Fans Strike Back

Wow.
What a weekend!!!!

I've had a sleep now, so I can actually review this properly...

Arrived with plenty of time to chill before heading off to see M83. Silly chalets didn't have the key cards activated until 4pm (although ours was 3.30pm) so we sat about and had a beer or 2.
M83 set things off to a great start. The sound was incredible. Admittedly, I was a bit dubious about their ability to bring their songs on stage, but I was completely blown away by the sound. Shame they didn't play "Slowly", or at least they didn't during the 45 minutes that we watched them for...Then it was off to see...
Andrew WK. Motivational speaker? A great show man for sure, and a fun choice to get the weekend kicked off. He's clearly a talented bloke, it's just a shame that everyone was there to go tits to "Party Hard". We didn't stay for as long as that... Never mind...
Devo next. Amazing. I had been told they'd be good but I didn't think they'd be THAT great. Choreographed dance moves, a fantastic array of songs (most of which I knew to my delight) and an extremely entertaining intro video. Did some serious bopping about to that.
Pizza Hut next - yay. Saviour of the weekend... except the guy ordered me the wrong pizza.
Decided to skip Health which I don't know if it was the right or wrong thing to do... Toddled back in from the chalet to catch some of AntiPop Consortium but we decided that we couldn't hack live hip hop. I like it when they get down to business and do their song thing, but not when they do all the "uh yeah, BUTLIIIIIINS IN DA HAAAAAUUUSSSS" stuff. No sir-ee.
Scooted downstairs to catch the end of Jesu's set. Don't think I could have endured the entire thing, but what I caught was pretty nice.
Due to being pooped, I missed out on Electric Wizard and left Rory to his own devices. They were good he tells me, but the sound was whack (He didn't actually use the word whack), Next time maybe...

Saturday kicked off with Lords in Reds. We saw Lords almost exactly a year ago in Glasgow and admittedly never really rated them highly. This might have been due to excessive alcohol intake, but they were certainly enjoyable this time round.
Qui were excellent but I didn't feel great due to BIG SUN. Managed to stay for the whole set tho, then it was off to get an ice cream where I was prompty ATTACKED by a seagull who wanted in on my kit kat ice cream action. Naturally screamed like a little girl...
Harvey Milk were brilliant. So brilliant infact, that we heard some tool say "I think Harvey Milk are excellent but I really want to see Beirut". Hope you enjoyed yourself mate. You missed out. Then again, you might argue we missed out by not seeing Beirut. So we're even...
The poster LIED about Marnie Stern being on at 12, so it was just as well I went in "early" (or so I thought), and caught her set. She played the songs I wanted to hear, but I was totally bummed that the set was cut short due to technical difficulties. Still, she played "Patterns of a Diamond Ceiling" so I'm very happy...
Managed to locate Rory in the crowd at Jesus Lizard due to his big 'fro and proceeded to be blown away by the energy that band gave off. Excellent set, and Yow was clearly enjoying himself! Infact, EVERYONE was enjoying themselves... Most definately a set that I will remember for a very long time...
Up next, the big one, Sleep. A milestone in the history of whatever genre people want to label them as. I would put them under "Inspirational". Yeah. I didn't say "Doom" or "Stoner" or whatever because I don't like using words like that :/ I retreated up the back for this one where I was spoilt by a telly giving me a close up view of what was going on on stage. The sound was phenomenal and I was hypnotised by their cool grooves and balls out riffs. Their 90minute set seemed to fly by and before I knew it, it was time to head back to the chalet.

Sunday had a slow start for us, so we fed some mallards and drank lots of cider/beer outside. Thinks kicked off (well, in a very slow sense) with Grails who I thought were excellent. Dual drumming impresses me. I'm clearly easy to impress. Great, however I wonder what will happen to Om?
I've seen Future of the Left 3 times now, and that was easily the best they've sounded. The new songs were great, but it was good to hear "adeadenemyalwayssmellsgood" amongst others. As per, their on stage banter was great. And no I haven't downloaded the new album yet...Waiting for it to come out. Oh and by the way, Kelso has the best dancing legs ever.
I felt I should have been more impressed by Killing Joke. I mean, don't get me wrong, they were really good and I was excited to hear the songs that they played. They have some extremely dancalicious tracks, but I didn't leave their set feeling all "wow". And was it just me, or was the audience not really feeling it either?
Jesus Lizard pt 2 was just as great as pt 1 so I don't feel the need to discuss them further...
Decided to stay down the front for Sleep pt 2 which was a great choice once they got the bass sorted out at the beginning. I felt like I was going to vom everywhere it was rattling my rib cage that much... They played another storming set with a few different tunes, including a homage (of sorts) to Black Sabbath. Noodly noodling...Touching moment when Al gave Matt a hug at the end of the set. It felt good being there to witness that moment alone...

Corker of a weekend. Just enough cider, pizza and seagulls for the moment. Got the bug for live music though. Sadly can't afford this coming weekend, and I'm not bowled over by the Xmas line up as it stands, so maybe next year will be when I next grace ATP... But even though I dont' know if I'm definately going, I'm still fucking excited about the prospect...]]> http://www.last.fm/user/MadameBellamy/journal/2008/12/03/2bd56l_youthmovies,_adam_gnade_%252B_super_adventure_club_:_friday_21st_november_2008,_sneaky_pete%27s,_edinburgh Wed, 3 Dec 2008 23:08:12 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/MadameBellamy/journal/2008/12/03/2bd56l_youthmovies,_adam_gnade_%252B_super_adventure_club_:_friday_21st_november_2008,_sneaky_pete%27s,_edinburgh Fri 21 Nov – Youthmovies, Adam Gnade, Super Adventure Club

This gig got downsized from Cab Vol to Sneaky Petes which was disappointing in one way and one way only! - People are idiots for not coming to see Youthmovies FACT. However, for the lucky few of us (30?! 40?!), we were treated to an intimate show of sorts in Sneaky Petes on the Cowgate, so BOO to you that didn't come along, but thanks in a way because it was probably the best gig of the year for me.

Arriving there at 7.30pm, Becky, Tom and myself were pretty much Super Adventure Clubs audience for their first couple of songs before more people wondered in to enjoy an excellent set by this Edinburgh band. Oddly enough, despite never having heard any of their music before and the music consisting of odd turns, tempo changes and spanning different styles of music, I felt completely at ease with it. Three obviously talented musicians playing an organised mish-mash of styles to create something very special and INTERESTING. Interesting in a good way...I felt captivated by their music and thoroughly enjoyed the entire set. Only thing was they were a teeny tiny bit loud.

Adam Gnade (pronounced Gn-ah-day, not Gn-ade as I had been lead to believe) played a superb set. A thing to mention about Adam is that he is shy in between songs shifting uncomfortably from one foot to another and speaking far too fast, but as soon as he starts a song, he is completely at ease and performs his poetry with music brilliantly. Last time Adam Gnade played in Edinburgh, he played at Cab Vol as part of the last Spitfires gig/club night in October 2007. Sadly I missed his set (due to drinking myself under the table at Negociants, setting the tone for the rest of the evening) and Adam said at the gig on Friday night that he was really grateful for our patience and quietness during his set, as at Cab Vol people had talked throughout his set and he had left with a really bad impression of the Edinburgh crowd. We turned that opinion round on Friday and he dedicated a song to Scotland, which might have been 5 o'clock in America but I can't remember :) Excellent set and I like his guitar...

Youthmovies (as per the previous 4 times I've seen them) did not fail. They played only songs from “Good Nature” (cracking album btw) and everyones clappy favourite “Ores”. Their set was tight and it was most definitely the best live show I have seen them play probably since I saw them supporting Oxes back in 2004. All the songs performed were brilliant and it didn't matter that there was no “A Little Late...” or “Spooks the Horse”. Obviously I would have loved to have heard those songs and others from that era of Youthmovies played but it was not to be! They have moved on to other pastures including “Last Night of the Proms”, which always gets the crowd moving! “Soandso and soandso” sounded even better live than on record, and being passed Al's guitar during “Something for the Ghosts” was something I will NEVER let my brother forget he missed! I could have listened to them playing all evening as I'm sure many members of the audience could have done also. Genius. Absolute genius. Despite this gig having happened nearly 2 weeks ago, I am still gushing with admiration... Sneaky Pete's should definitely get Youthmovies back again in the near future. Please. Thanks!

NB I have some photos from the evening, including Al and Adam's rolling about on the floor and I will post them soon!]]> http://www.last.fm/user/MadameBellamy/journal/2008/11/10/29rbr4_atp:_release_the_bats:_the_forum,_kentish_town,_london_%5B311008%5D Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:13:10 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/MadameBellamy/journal/2008/11/10/29rbr4_atp:_release_the_bats:_the_forum,_kentish_town,_london_%5B311008%5D Fri 31 Oct – ATP Presents: Release The Bats 2008

Small review as this was over a week ago...
Here are the notes I took...

Lightning Bolt = AWESOME. Wonderfully loud, but not loud enough! And there was not nearly enough mayhem. I couldn't get to the front so I watched from the Balcony slightly miffed that I wasn't at the front causing havoc.

Pissed Jeans = Best surprise of the evening. Brilliantly weird. I hadn't appreciated that musically they are actually very accomplished. Maybe I haven't been paying enough attention to their records?! Very entertaining.

Wooden Shjips = As expected. They're good background music (good for washing up to!). I have to admit making a boo boo and thinking that the Do Make Say Think record played before they came on was Shjips. What a flange.

Om = Disappointing. They played too fast (Was it the drummer? Or the fact that the other bands on the bill play more up tempo music? Would the audience have coped with "At Giza" at normal speed? etc). Awesome musicians of course, but the tempo was all wrong. Plus there was some fucking moron in front of me throwing his body back and forth, back and forth whilst clinging onto the barrier and nearly twatting me in the nose several times. And then there were the other dicks. But that's not the music...Apologies. I expected slowness and I didn't get it. Shame...

Les Savy Fav = I didn't really watch this band. I hung about at the bar...They sort of washed over me apart from "Hold onto your genre".

Shellac = Love love. Brilliant. Thank you to the boys who let me stand in front of them so I could see! They were excellent and they played the "Squirrel song" which was ace as I was one of the thousands of squirrels. Musically - spot on, visually - entertaining. They did not fail, not that I thought they would. Then I got to see them all over again in Glasgow on the 2nd. The crowd was more subdued there, but Shellac sounded EVEN BETTER.

Very poorly written review. Sorry.

Oh and the Forum venue security people need to sort themselves out. That smoking malarky was, to use a pathetic word, lame.
"GET OFF THE STEP! GET OFF THE STEP!"

Still. Shellac. Get in.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/MadameBellamy/journal/2008/06/21/218gm2_melt_banana:_18th_june,_oran_mor,_glasgow Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:43:02 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/MadameBellamy/journal/2008/06/21/218gm2_melt_banana:_18th_june,_oran_mor,_glasgow Wed 18 Jun – Glasgow's West End Festival presents Melt-Banana plus Dananananaykroyd

Awesome.

Still have a sore neck and bruises in funny places.

Come back soon Banana...]]> http://www.last.fm/user/MadameBellamy/journal/2008/05/29/200vqs_2daysinstereo_(part_2):_24th_may,_stereo,_glasgow Thu, 29 May 2008 13:10:42 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/MadameBellamy/journal/2008/05/29/200vqs_2daysinstereo_(part_2):_24th_may,_stereo,_glasgow Sat 24 May – 2 Days in Stereo

Slightly knackered after walking about Glasgow all day in hunt of a) vinyl b) ice cream and c) "the water", it was a relief to get to Stereo.



The first band on were Hey Enemy, a 3 piece from Glasgow with added help from D.O-NEIMAGI-NE (or however he writes it...). These guys were good. Really good. Definate influences from Rapeman, Shellac and Oxes so they played a thoroughly enjoyable set! It was a shame they were on so early, but I was glad I caught them. Pretty much no nonsense music with wonderful bass lines. Definately worth a listen.

Chi Champions were up next. I had listened to some of their tracks on their Myspazz and had quite enjoyed them. Again, a band with a respectable list of influences, but as good as they were, they didn't quite pull it off. Maybe it might have been due to this being their first gig in a while but I didn't really gel with their sound. It was a rare occasion when I preferred the recorded version to the live version! I'd go see them again tho...

I'd heard a few things about Lords, the main point being stressed that they're awesome. Which they were. Rock music most definately with a bit of "piss taking" thrown in. With a drummer that looks a bit like a monkey playing his kit like there was no tomorrow, they were stupendously loud. I don't remember much about the set sadly as I couldn't see very well and I was thinking an awful lot about That Fucking Tank...

Due to HUNGER, cigarettes and wrestling we missed most of Ex Wives which was a shame as what we heard of them (last track or 2) was brilliant. Oh and the guitarist looked like Steve Albini.

Woot.

Then! It was time for the band I'd been waiting for all weekend (apart from Kong): That Fucking Tank. The three of them were there- Giles sporting one of his wonderful jumpers, Andrew looking slightly bemused as usual...and James, perhaps one of the tallest drummers ever? I love the Tank. And their set on Saturday was no exception! Kicking off affairs with "Making a meal for Beethoven", it was chaos from there on out. Giles was up to his usual tricks of running about the audience, at one point humping the bassist from plaaydoh. Musically, James and Andrew were on top form and beasted their way through new tracks finally ending on "PUMPIN' IRON". Which was amazing. I am still getting over it. Honestly, BEST TRACK EVER. By TFT. It just seemed so much grittier than before and it was the best I've ever heard them play it. Genius. I love the Tank. It's official.









I was curious to see Take A Worm For A Walk Week due to being extremely drunk the last time I saw them and not remembering much. They didn't impress sadly. Apart from their cover of Devo's "Whip it" which was amusing. They were a bit same-y and *yawn*. I don't really dig screamy vocals and. I could go on about how I didn't enjoy them. But I'm not.

Instead I'll talk about the last band of the event, Gatechien who were a wonderful duo from France. These guys were good, but I didn't fully appreciate them due to being extremely tired. Still, they impressed with their ballsy (HA!) attitude to playing and stormed through some cracking songs. Hard, fast and down the line. Wicked.





So yeah, the 2 nights were great.
When's the next one?]]> http://www.last.fm/user/MadameBellamy/journal/2008/05/26/1zvwgf_2daysatstereo_(part_1):_23rd_may,_stereo,_glasgow Mon, 26 May 2008 20:50:53 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/MadameBellamy/journal/2008/05/26/1zvwgf_2daysatstereo_(part_1):_23rd_may,_stereo,_glasgow Fri 23 May – 2 Days in Stereo

Firstly, huzzah for gigs like this. 14 bands over 2 nights for £12. Doesn't get much better than that...Unless it's free, but we'll let that slide.
Secondly, well done to the people who organised this. I had a jolly good (and drunken) time. Thanks.



Anyway, arrived at Stereo, which seems like a second home, with weasy and promptly bumped into blasts from the past Marc and James which was jolly nice. Despite a late bus, we discovered we weren't late so that was ok.
Filled with tapas, we toddled downstairs to see Grozny who were filling in for someone last minute. With influences along the lines of Oxes, Part Chimp, Shellac they were doing the right thing, but it wasn't very tight and I wasn't overly impressed. Perhaps with a bit of practise and more of a warning (!) they would have been more my thang. Still, there could have been FAR worse openers to a gig and they weren't one of them.

Ox Scalpua were probably one of the best surprises of the weekend. These guys (and girl) were obviously well rehearsed playing music a bit like Fugazi (Disclaimer: but not as well). There were stops and starts, nice icky sounding chords but by the end of the set, I felt I'd heard it all before. I was impressed as I'm all for stop start stop start but they're not going to fill Fugazi's shoes quite yet.



Weasy immediately said that Some Young Pedro sounded like Mclusky as soon as they started to play. This has a bit of truth in it...but McLusky were fatter and better. I can see the appeal in SYP as the music is straight to the point, has interesting bits in it and they had good stage presence. Forgive me if my descriptions start to get a bit hazy from now on, but I was on my 'x'th pint by this point. Their music in places would build but then it would lead to nothing which was a down right shame...and why were there 2 drummers?! And was the drummer with the long hair ACRONYM the laptop music performer. Or am I just barking up the wrong tree...



The band that had organised the weekend, Hyena were up next. Despite an impressive influences list on their Myspace, I don't think they have that sound at all. Is that a good thing? I don't know...But they ended up sounding a bit more like a punchier version of the Llama Farmers than Hella. Basically, they were more chordy than noodly and some of their tracks seemed to go on and on. I know, I'm sounding like a right BITCH here who didn't enjoy herself but to be honest, I really did. Constructive criticism...But maybe it's just because at the moment I'm not listening to much chordy music...

Cutting Pink With Knives were not my cup of tea at all so we left and went for a walk. If you like throaty screaming with synthy keyboards and tinny beatz then by all means check out their myspace. But not my thang.

Can I just verbally gush here and say that Dananananaykroyd were totally stonking and have wet my appetite for them supporting Melt Banana in June!!! They were cracking and clearly had drawn the majority of the crowd for that night with everyone partying away down the front. Fantastic front man, exellent guitarists, exciting drummers (what's the deal with double drummers?!), moody bassist. It was all great. Musically, they were loud, nasty, thumping and had ideas that the boys in Don Cab would have been proud of. Great to see a local band bursting with talent and energy. One to check out.





The band of the night, if may say so, were definately Kong. They ruled the roost, scared the shit out of everyone in the front view with nudity and played stupidly loud music that had my ears ringing right up to midday on Saturday. It was like the Oxes with shouting and I fucking loved it. "Jizz worthy". I wished they had played for longer...and they better come back up North again soon...







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