So into a splitter van we piled and we journeyed to ‘THE NORTH’ until we reached Leeds. Getting out the van was kind of how it felt like when we went to Iceland and stepped out of the airport (cold). We made it just in time and, amazingly, had a line of front row balcony seats reserved for us.

Just as we sat down Vetiver readied to start. They released ‘The Errant Charm’ earlier this year and played us a lot of jams from that, as well as older ones like the beautiful ‘Rolling Sea’. Their music transports you to sunny California, wherever you’re listening (even Leeds). I love the way Andy annunicates and sings his words. They are a great band.

Then, via not eating, we were super hungry and hurried along to the nearby German market to scoff some sausages before Fleet Foxes. The highlight of this venture was ‘the special German sausage’. What made it special? It remains a mystery as not even the woman manning the stall seemed to know what was in it.

Then we finally watched Fleet Foxes. They performed with a backdrop of projections by Robin’s brother Sean. It suited the music wonderfully and added a lot to the show. I genuinely believe Fleet Foxes are the best at what they do, a truly formidable and terrific band. There are so many copycats but nobody comes close to the quality of songwriting and the stellar execution of group harmonies and musicianship. I mean, some of the tracks are just absolute jaw-to-the-floor corkers. Naysayers, you need to listen to Robin howl in the epic opus The Shrine / An Argument and witness the seamless transition into the achingly beautiful Blue Spotted Tail. So smooth. So good. It is nothing less than spectacular.

A genuine and fantastic band. We said hello to everyone after the set, drank champagne from a weird plastic-assemble-yourself glass then shot back to London through the night. What fun.

This was the fifth time I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Ms. Clark & company perform, and it didn’t disappoint at all.  This time it was with a new band in tow. I love her newest record, Strange Mercy, and it was a delight to hear those jams live; along with some oldies like Actor Out Of Work, Marrow and The Party. She had Mark Stuart of Pop Group fame join her in the band’s cover of his song, She Is Beyond Good And Evil. And a delight to hear album one pophit Your Lips Are Red. The whole show was sharp, powerful and brilliant.

One of my favourite live artists.

I can’t wait for whenever it is that I next get to see St Vincent. Annie’s musicianship is a joy to behold.

I took more photos, they are HERE.

At Scala, 2010

I cycled along to Union Chapel, the perfect setting for Timber Timbre’s music. I capitalised on the hotdogs upstairs (a church that sells hotdogs – whassnottalove?) and took my seat on a pew. Got a tea and chocolate and was set. Having been to so many gigs now (I think five or six hundred) it’s the whole ‘event’ of a gig that makes the show special for me (of course the music has to be super too). So all cosied up in the chapel I felt quite ready to hear some tunes.

And tunes I did hear! Hark at that sound engulfing the chapel, waves of it coming from the brand new PA. It was stellar. The TimTam trio make such a full sound; each musician a masterful player. The songs are so cinematic, the flow and transitions between them were seamless. The main body of the set was filled with songs from the latest LP Creep On Creepin’ On. They played almost the whole album. We also got tracks from the album’s predecessor, pophits Demon Host, Lay Down In The Tall Grass and Until The Night Is Over, as well as an old jam from Medicinals - There Is A Cure. I’m a fan of all the songs, so I enjoyed the whole set start to finish.

The sound and themes of the songs are obviously influenced by a lot of music, from film soundtracks to 60s doo-wop, but somehow Taylor manages to really make the songs sound like they belong to him. There’s something a little unique about what they do, and that’s something quite special.

On Thursday last week I went to the airport to go to Reykjavik for Airwaves Festival/a holiday. I have paranoia of missing flights, so I got to the airport super early and sat there listening to the OST for this:

The Fearless Vampire Killers! The music by Krzysztof Komeda is excellent and makes any situation way more creepy, which works well for me. I thought I was flying alone but it soon transpired that a bunch of friends were on the flight.  My friend Luisa found me listening to my creepy music, she was going to Iceland to sing with Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. I dozed off on the plane only to be awoken by the little girl in front of me who had managed to drop her gameboy game behind the seat onto my feet then made her mum wake me up to ask for it back. Nice work.

I got the bus into town and picked up my pass then made a beeline for dinner. I bumped into my Tasseomancy/Austra friends and ate a burger:

Anyone who knows me will know I a) have worked at Bella Union for the past year b) love Beach House c) haven’t met them yet. Then Beach House happened past and I was too shy to say hello, despite that they were chatting with my bosses Simon and Mark sitting opposite of me.

But then in a mere matter of an hour or so I was at the venue they would play at, Reykjavik’s Art Museum, sitting backstage with Mark. Anyway, longish story short; it’s kind of impossible to not meet them when you work at their record label and you’re hanging out with your colleagues. But I can verify they are super nice and very funny.

And holy molies, there is no band whose live show gets me as good as theirs. It was a killer. We watched from the balcony upstairs and had an amazing view. The set was phenomenal and included two new songs. Their next record is going to be incredible, I know it. I spent the whole set grinning ear to ear, singing along and having the best time.

I sprinted over to this gorgeous building called Harpa to shoot Yoko Ono. I watched a bit. It was bonkers. I headed back to the Art Museum and met up with everyone there again.

After Beach House had packed up we went to the hotel for a while then walked around town in the cold looking for a bar. Victoria had a sparkly top and we walked past a building that also had sparkles on. At this time, I found this hilarious. Sparkles! Who doesn’t love sparkles?

Then I can’t actually remember what happened next, but I ended up sleeping in Sari’s room in this hotel called Hotel Plaza which was the hub of the festival and where most of the bands were holed up. It was right in the center of town and the perfect location, I ended up staying there for the whole trip.

Friday

On Friday I took advantage of the free breakfast and ate bacon, egg, sausage, toast. The full works. I made myself a salami sandwich with full intention of stealing it (there were signs saying not to take anything from the breakfast hall or you’d be charged) but I am a wuss and sat unable to steal the sandwich. Luckily Sari was into stealing the sandwich and stole it on my behalf.

I ended up taking a day trip from morning until night; Maya hired a car and took Tasseo, Ryan and I all over the country.

We saw about 1000000000000000 ponies.

They were super friendly.

We were out until dark, exploring the amazing Icelandic lands. When we returned it was raining heavy heavy heavy rains. I met with Seb and Paul in the drinks lounge.

Then I got to see Niki and the Dove. Their live show is incredible; Malin is an amazing singer and magnetic frontwoman.

The photographers were a nightmare. The pushiest, rudest and most inconsiderate I’ve ever encountered…. it was quite amazing really. But anyway. Niki & TD was incredible. They’re one of the best new bands I’ve had the pleasure of coming across this year.

I bumped into Mark and Beach House again, they were bummed because they missed Dungen because it was supposedly canceled. We sat a while then had a Tasseo meeting in our room and watched some classy early morning/late night TV.

Saturday

I went on another adventure in the Icelandic countryside, with Alan and Odhran. We ate soup and went to a crater Bjork played in. I would have loved to have seen Bjork at the festival but unfortunately she played Wednesday and Sunday (I was there Thursday until Sunday afternoon).

Returning to town, I was next-level exhausted. It was the Bella Union night at Harpa so I got to watch Veronica Falls:

They played a lot of new songs, as well as songs from their debut. They were excellent.

I couldn’t handle being in a dark space through fear of dozing off so I had to step outside for Olafur Arnalds’ set and drink some freezing cold water. I stepped back in for Treefight, and what a delight! They are the loveliest guys and a really fun live band. They really made my night that evening, with Christian dedicating a super tight and faithful cover of Wuthering Heights to me. Yes. That actually happened. It was great fun.

Then I sprinted over to the Art Museum to find Austra backstage prepping themselves for the show. It was amazing as ever; they have some great pophits and are a visual delight to watch, especially with all the dramatic lighting.

Once again the photopit was a bit of an ordeal. Sometimes festivals give out way too many photopasses…

After the show Katie rounded up her troops and we did an Austra photoshoot outside in the cold. It was fun.

Then I had to shoot Iceage who weren’t really my kind of thing, so I ducked out after a few songs and headed to the hotel where I collapsed in the lobby, onto the sofa where I was unable to move for a good half hour or so. Eventually I made it upstairs to bed.

Sunday

In the morning, Tasseo and I met with my talented friend Seb. We walked to the public pool and filmed a video session. I think it will turn out great. I especially liked all the nearly naked old people walking around in the background. We have named this the ‘cool in the pool’ shoot.

I held the microphone so this was my vantage point:

Pretty sure it’s going to look great! I’m excited to see.

Then we saw this cat which distracted me for a little while:

He was so friendly and cute! What a dreamboat.

I grabbed my bits and bobs and said bye bye to Austra and the lovely Treefight guys. What a fun trip!

I went to the airport; Simon and Veronica Falls were on the same flight so we all did the airport hoopla together and flew home. I listened to Teen Dream on the plane.

The trip was wonderful. I’d recommend Iceland to anyone. I only saw a few bands but I thoroughly enjoyed them, and the countryside is something to behold.

I can’t really review a show I was so heavily involved in, what with bias and whatnot. So here are some photos by my friend Seb Dehesdin and  a tidbit of writings.

I went and met Sari, Romy and Maya in the morning and we hauled their stuff to Camp Basement, and consequently spent the rest of the day shaking (their stuff weighs a ton). This show was to celebrate the launch of Tasseo’s record, titled ‘Ulalume’ and released in the UK on Turf as a candle and matchbox set. The candles turned out really super.

Maya is their friend and Austra bandmate; she came along and performed not only with Sari and Romy but also a set of her own as Princess Century. She was fantastic.

Maya // Princess Century

Then Tasseomancy played. What can I say? I obviously think they’re great. As a trio their songs were fleshed out and full and they were brilliant. They played a new song and ‘The Darkness Of Things’, which on the album is sung by Taylor of Timber Timbre.

Super trou-pa-pa.

All photos by Seb.

So, a little while ago I was in Washington DC. It was rainy. Like, biblical rain and thunderclaps like rhinos falling from two story buildings onto glass sheets. Pretty epic.

I, of course, decided to walk to the venue. My jeans got soaked to half way up my legs, and one of those classic moments happened when a car drove through a puddle which splashed over my whole body. Classy.

But no biblical rain could stop my excitement to see Celebration. I really love the band’s music and their whole aesthetic and approach towards getting their music out there. It turned out that the venue was actually a flat, rented by a bunch of college kids. It was really cool space and they were so warm, welcoming and friendly. The flat was on two tiers, all open plan; the bottom level hosting the bands. Around fifty or so people came. The sound was surprisingly fantastic.

Before the show I wound up talking to a guy called Trevor. He was from California and spent some time in DC studying, and was back to play the show. His band are called Tree River and they delivered a really fun opening set. Next were local band Deleted Scenes. They were super as well and great to watch.

I was well and truly there to see Celebration. I don’t think they’ve played in the UK for a very long time, so being there and seeing them was kind of like finding a really good toffee in a bag of exotic sweets. They are my favourite live band I’ve seen all year, and beyond that, one of my favourites ever. I’d love to see them again. Absolutely superb. They have three records, and they mostly played newer songs from the record ‘Hello Paradise’ (which is free to download).

The music is very rhythmic; the drummer is fantastic, and they had a guy playing bongo drums and Katrina had a drum of her own which she’d smack with a beater or a tambourine as she sang. The stacked keyboards and Wurlitzer produced such gloriously warm and brilliant organ sounds. In the middle of the set Katrina left the stage and there was a psychedelic, Middle Eastern-esque saxaphone jam. She returned and the band continued to tear through their songs. Each one was so passionate and full of infectious spirit and energy.

Katrina Ford is hands down, easily, without doubt, the most incredible frontwoman I’ve seen in a long while. Her voice is phenomenal, so deep and powerful and she sings every line with such gusto and intensity. She paces the stage, comes into the audience, springs on her heels and dances. She’s charismatic to say the least; a true performer. And I totally believe it. She’s not trying to be anyone or imitate anything; what I watched was completely real. It was raw passion and genuine talent.

There were six of them crammed into a tiny space. It felt just right. I’m so glad I got to see this show. I sincerely hope I get to see this wonderful band again. They are a treasure.

Highlights:

* Ariel Pink
* Zola Jesus
* the burger I ate

Lowlights:

* the sound was awful.
* they oversold the festival, clearly.
* lots of the clientele were pretty gross.
* there was no phone signal.
* it was really tedious to see any bands because of the awful sound/over crowding.

I learned my lesson this year, Field Day. It’ll take a helluva lineup to want to make me want to go back…

I like Grimes. Halfaxa and Geidi Primes are both excellent records which I’ve been listening to a lot lately, as well as her 2011 Darkbloom EP (with d’Eon). I love all the artwork and whole aesthetic.

This actually was my second encounter with Grimes. She’s been suitably buzzy this year and I had made a note to catch her at SXSW, though she was one of the (many) artists I didn’t find time to see; through a mixture of not being able to get in to 21+ shows and not being able to make the all ages shows. But, I did actually (sort of) get to see her. I had just been hanging out at the French Legation watching Tune Yards perform a corker of a set as the sun cascaded down the lawn, and I was en route to the Bella U showcase at the Presbyterian church. 

I happened past a parking lot with a wire mesh fence that you could easily see (and hear) through. I was like ‘wow that sounds kinda cool’. I tracked back, looked at the stage times, checked my watch, and lo and behold: it was Grimes. Doing her thing solo, it’s just her and a keyboard, awkward dance and beautiful smooth vocals. I wanted to go in but apparently parking lots can be 21 and up too.

Anyway. I hate trying to describe how stuff sounds so here is a good example:

Grimes – Vanessa from Arbutus Records on Vimeo.

She’s clearly talented and I reckon she could go on to create some very cool stuff, especially if she continues to experiment with the visual side of her creativity and work that into her live show. The above video is self directed.

The live show at Hoxton perhaps fell a little flat due to a mix of patchy sound quality and a keyboard she wasn’t familiar with; but regardless, I though she herself was pretty excellent.

I look forward to more from Grimes…

This show was pretty rockin’. It was so hot inside The Lexington that when I spilled water all down my arm it only took like 4 seconds to evaporate.

Oh! What a lovely day I had.

First, I got to eat at The Central Cafe. Nothin’ fancy, but I’ve been eying up that cafe for the past two and a half years and never managed to get a full English and sit out front. Today was the day!

Second, I went to Northampton Square bandstand. It’s had a new coat of paint and it looked pretty magnificent in the lovely sun.  This was our first bandstand busk of the year here. It truly is my favourite bandstand spot.

The ice cream man came and my friend bought me an ice cream which I had to stuff down fast in time to film Veronica Falls:

Their debut full length will be out on Bella Union soon. They play hazy, summery indie pop which suited the day well.

Next was an artist I hold very close to my (cheesy) heart. Lovely lovely Sea of Bees. We’ve done five shows together this year and I think I’ve seen Jules and company play a dozen or more times since I met her and lovely John last September. She’s a good friend, a wonderful songwriter and a great performer.

She also likes to stare me down:

Jules informs me that her spirit animal is the unicorn.

She and Amber performed a set to a few hundred people who adored it. It was wonderful.

The duo also did a very special rendition of Single Ladies. I think they should include it in every set they play between now and forever.

The sixth and final song they did, and the last song they’ll play here until next year, was The Gold. Jules and Amber were unsure of what to play, and so I asked for that. It made me happy to hear the song and have it be the final sendoff until they come back with album number two.

I’ll miss these faces:

Amber’s hair was salty [via the sea].

I also started a band with Amber. It’s called Ocean Of Frozen Juice. Debut album on the way.

Next, another band I love lots both as people and musically. Peggy Sue.

They are my favourite band in the whole country right now, by a long way. Katy is pushing for continental domination, so they’re also my favourite band in Europe excluding Scandinavia.

They’ve made an excellent second album. I’ve written about them a whole bunch already, but I genuinely think they’re a special band and talented and brilliant people.

Olly informs me his spirit animal is the giraffe.

It was a delightful day. So happy to get to hear Jules and Amber one last time before they go home. When people come up and say Jules’ music gave them chills or that they had not previously heard her and ‘wow she’s amazing’, it warms my (cheesy) heart.

Lastly, we went up to Hammy Heath to relish in the sun rays.

Katy informs me her spirit animal is the newt, though I feel she’s unsure of this.

Luisa informs her spirit animal is the feline. Rosa informs hers in an otter. She also informs me that I am a ferret, though I am not convinced on this.

NB: I took it upon myself to survey people on their spirit animals.

After the sun set I returned to the bandstand to collect my bike, which I cleverly had locked up inside a gated (and now locked) enclosure. It meant me unchaining it through the fence and, through brute strength, lifting it above my head and over the fence. I was pretty chuffed about my display of strength, though nobody was around to see it.

A lovely day, with lovely music and good people.