Tuesday 22 Sept 2009

ROCKONLONDON Podcast - Issue 14 (37.5 MB, 33 mins, mp3 file)
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Magic Wands - Black Magic

Chris & Dexy Valentine

From Nashville via Los Angeles. They met on myspace !! Can you believe it? I can actually. I'm a firm believer in making friends on the internet especially if you move to a new town. Chris and Dexy met on myspace and started talking on the phone, mailing each other gifts and writing songs. Dexy eventually moved to be with Chris and Magic Wands was built.
www.myspace.com/themagicwands

Wild Beasts - We Still Got the Taste Dancing on Our Tongues

Hayden - guitar/falsetto Benny - guitar Tom - bass/tenor Bert - percussion/baritone

First of two Leeds bands on the show this month. I seriously do not know why they haven't made this song a single?! I saw Wild Beasts twice this summer (Truck and Offset) and when they play this live it sends shivers down my spine. I love the dude's voice on this song. They're doing quite well for themselves; signed to Domino and touring all over the UK and Europe this fall.
www.myspace.com/wildbeasts
www.wild-beasts.co.uk/

The Wildlife - The Lemon

Mano Daren Scotty

From Russel City, California. According to their myspace they should have a new album out this year. I don't know anything about this band. I just really like this song and it always crops up in my ipod on shuffle so I thought I'd play it.
www.myspace.com/thewildlife

The Awkward Stage - We're Going For A Ride

Shane Nelken - vox/guitar/piano Tygh Runyan - lead guitar/vox Tony Koelwyn - drums/vox Chris Mitchell - trumpet/keys/vox

My big brother's band! Shane has been in numerous bands over the years. I first met him when he was in the Come Ons, a garage rawk band playing the Vancouver circuit. This is from the first Awkward Stage album. Heaven Is For Easy Girls (2006). I saw Shane this summer in London - it was actually his first time in London EVER and his BIRTHDAY ! All on the same day. He was playing with AC Newman at the Luminaire so as any good sister friend I bought him a cheap handheld video game thing from a pound shop and some tequila.
www.myspace.com/theawkwardstageband
www.theawkwardstage.ca

Sky Larkin - Octopus 08

Katie Harkin - vox/guitar Nestor - drums Douglas Adams - bass

From Leeds! I finally saw Sky Larkin AND met them for the first time at Latitude this summer. Katie was nice enough to give me a copy of their record. This song is rad because it's called Octopus. I love everything Sea, plus my band also has a song called Octopus. I even own the t-shirt that accompanies this tune. Very nice. You should all buy one when yr next at a gig. Oh and they all know who Nardwuar is and even had a brief tour of Vancouver from Nardwuar. Impressive.
www.weareskylarkin.com
www.myspace.com/skylarkinskylarkin

Official Secrets Act - The Girl From The BBC

Lawrence Diamond - bass/vox Tom Burke - vox/guitar Michael Evans - guitar/synths/harmonium/vox Alexander MacKenzie - drums/vocals

First thing is not only do they have this song about the BBC they went and ripped off the BBC logo on all their t-shirts & stickers as well! Ha. Luckily the BBC doesn't seem to sue anyone. What can I say about this band? I had seen them before but could never really remember them due to alcohol. I finally went about listening to them properly after Lawrence took me and a few friends out in Richmond Park for the day... and well... I became a fan.
www.myspace.com/officialsecretsact

Ash - Return of the White Rabbit

Tim Wheeler - vox/guitar Mark Hamilton - bass Rick McMurray - drums

This is a free download from the Ash web site and their latest single. I went to Truck Festival in July and Ash was the Saturday night headliners. I hadn't really given them much thought since about 1996. I loved Trailer and 1977 but after those 2 albums I lost interest. Seeing them live brought back loads of nostalgic memories for me and I actually quite like this new single. It's the return of me appreciating Brit Pop again.
www.ash-official.com