2023
Here’s a recent tune by Lorelle Meets The Obsolete, the Mexican band I saw on the spur of the moment on Tuesday night. I’d never heard of them but it was a great decision to go, and now I’m discovering their records.
When The National first got popular, after several years on the fringes of success, their critics dismissed them as miserable middle-aged men making music for miserable middle-aged men. Well they’re my favourite band so I guess that’s me.
Last night I went to see Mick Harvey of the Bad Seeds unveil his latest collaboration – a collection of duets with Amanda Acevedo at the beautiful church of St John of Bethnal Green.
You don’t often come across new sounds. And it’s even rarer to find a completely new genre of music. This one, which I suppose is a modern variant on “chill-out” music, is apparently called “barber beats.”
Last night I went to see Sarabeth Tucek at The Lexington. And the song I most wanted to hear was this autobiographical number about her childhood.
Last night I lost my oldest and dearest friend, Ben Buchanan. He slipped away shortly after 11pm, with his beloved Maria, Max and Penny at his side. I said my goodbyes to him a few hours earlier.
Maybe I’ve got a bit soppy because I’m feeling a bit sad and fragile but Mereba’s haunting electro-ballad hits me right there. Especially its lyrics.
Here we are on the hottest day of the year and I’m reflecting on the hottest gigs I’ve ever attended. One of them, on a night like this, was by Nas at the 100 Club.
If there was an instrument I’d lock away in Room 101 it’s the ukelele, that scratchy little four-stringed guitar so beloved of hipsters. Yet I’ve always had a soft spot for Zach Condon.
Christina Vantzou and John Also Bennett collaborate as CV and JAB on this beautiful piece of peaceful piano music – a soothing balm for the pains and frustrations of everyday life.