I've moved from Blogger to http://alanraw.wordpress.com

I've moved from Blogger to Wordpress

New blog home is here: http://alanraw.wordpress.com    :-)

Danny Landau & Rich Thomas talent in the blood

I have music man Rick Abbott to thank for these next two recommendations. I was round at his late the other night and he told me about Danny Landau's recent exploits. Danny is the ex-lead singer from The landaus, who played Leeds/Reading festival a couple of years back. He is now mainly solo, mainly because of his day job, as a crewman on luxury yachts; sailing between Barcelona and the Pacific islands. Danny always takes his guitar along and has been selling out bars in Barcelona and impressing with his song writing.
I managed to catch up with Danny and enjoyed his tales of losing guitars, being robbed on his way back to the boat and swimming with stingrays. Most of all I enjoyed his music, here's some for you:

Well a very fruitful conversation with Mr Abbott indeed, but wait there's more; Danny has a cousin who is also an extremely talented singer song writer; Rich Thomas.

He does a lot of solo stuff like Danny, but also has a crackin good band too, called "Brother & Bones". Look out! here comes another recommendation:

• Wed 23 May: The Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
• Thu 24 May: The Hop, Wakefield
• Fri 25 May: Room On Fire, SHEFFIELD
• Wed 30 May: 100 Club w/ Kassidy, London
• Thu 31 May: The Slade Rooms w/ Kassidy, Wolverhampton

I say! It's Black Diamond Bay

I've been into this band for just over year now, since seeing them at The Library in Leeds. I've now seen them 4 more times live and love them all the more for it. After uploading their tracks to the BBC Introducing Uploader and impressing the Leeds based Producer at the time Graham Albans (now at BBC Radio 2) they got a session on BBC Introducing West Yorkshire. This lead to a recommendation and subsequent appearance on the BBC Introducing Stage at Leeds/Reading Festival. The drummer is a genius, the vocals are gorging and that slowed down house sound is well sexy. I caught up with them shortly after Leeds Fest, at The Library again:

Apart from the fact that I was embarrassingly fat when filming this, it is one of the few times that I have seen myself do an interview on screen and not cringed deeply. I think it's because despite their popularity, the band weren't too cool to talk to me, like many are. In fact they are one of the nicest groups of people I have found in this industry. Make friends with them yourself here: http://www.blackdiamondbay.co.uk/

More ear bending anyone?

Here's another top tip for your ear'oles; CHINA RATS.

A crackin four piece rock 'n' roll band from West Yorkshire

They have a  free download at http://facebook.com/chinarats of a fine single that most of the country can relate to: "N.O.M.O.N.E.Y." Lyrics include: 

Got No Money and I wanna die

I got N.O.M.O.N.E.Y

All my debts gonna multiply

I got N.O.M.O.N.E.Y

happy days! 

"Like" them at http://facebook.com/chinarats, 

Follow them like gig sheep at: http://twitter.com/chinarats, 

Listen to their jolly jangles at: http://soundcloud.com/chinarats, 

or visit their site at http://chinarats.co.uk.

More on Kleine Schweine

Kliene Schweine packed out Milos for Live at Leeds yesterday. There was just enough room for the band to wield their instruments

and Bart played till his fingers bled.

Funky Chunks

It's Saturday, the morning after a mammoth gig at The Library in Leeds. In fact this is the first time I've been able to sit down and grab five minutes to post on here, since Wednesday. "Why is your time management so inadequate?" I hear you cry. Because for a sad old music geek like me, this week has been like a wheely-bin of roast turkeys to a rabid Jack Russell. 

Thursday night on the radio with talented young newcomers; Traffic Wire, monsters of rock Mr. Shiraz and pig masked dictators of Leeds Kliene Schweine. Plus special guests; Simon Fogal from I Like Trains and Si Glacken from Live at Leeds & I Like Press with a beautiful vinyl album of The Shallows by I like Trains for me to drool over.

After the show the beer did flow, I talked country music with the the Kliene boys and saw Isaac Heywood get his funk on with Funky butt Chunky , in aid of Martin House down in The Wardrobe. The night took a turn for the worst when I found I had nowhere to throw my sleeping bag. I told my mate I'd come in my camper, but no, he talked me into staying at his. Great plan, until he passed out on the sofa and the thundering of his own snoring, drowned out my efforts to kick his door in. 

Friday, bright and early I was first in line for The Unconference as The legendary TomRobinson was making the opening speech. Well what a speech it was. I felt inspired, in awe and rather inadequate after that. Especially because I was booked for the "ask the experts" session. Luckily Tom had left to do his brilliant radio show by then. So I felt I could actually give people the benefit of my comparatively minuscule experience. 

During the demo listening session, I was sat in the crowd listening to bands that I have supported getting critiqued, including Backyards who didn't go down very well (so wrong) and Navajo Youth who did a little better. Both acts who I rate much more highly than the panel did, but in conversation with them later they said that they found the judgements useful and would take the experts advice on-board.

Whiskers did a stirling job of the Unconference and overall it was a very informative event.

As soon as it finished me and fellow speaker Richard Watson of 360 Club (Legend), had to burn rubber to get to his event at The Library. The line up was four greats on one stage: Indecision, the afore mentioned Backyards, along with Black Diamond Bay and Danny Toeman. My voluntary role was to interview the bands and facilitate the making of videos to promote them, DJ new music, play whatever demo's that people brought in and be the master of ceremonies. Unlike my part, the stage saw an epic mind melt of musical wizardry and multiple styles of creative talent i.e. four bloomin great bands. The club was packed with happy music lovers, dancing their pants off all night. I even spotted Middleman whistling from the crowd for  Black Diamond Bay.  I was also impressed to see so many good people of the music press in attendance. I look forward to seeing what Leeds Music Scene, No-TiTLE and Vibrations thought of it. 

Anyway it's still Saturday morning and I'm out of my sleeping bag and stuffed with complimentary toast. So before I dive into the madness of Live at Leeds, I'll give you my Raw recommendations:

Kliene Schweine http://kleineschweine.bandcamp.com/

Check out their darts video, it's sporting genius

You can also join in with their pledge campaign to make their album. Tom Robinson has already pledged £25 to sing backing vocals on it. http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/kleineschweine pig masks are optional.

Navajo Youth http://www.navajoyouth.co.uk

Think 80's pop and Miami Vice fashion meets the sound track to a night out in Leeds with the cool kids and Heads We Dance.

I gave the new single it's first play last night in my set at 360

I Like Trains http://www.iliketrains.co.uk

A band who I have been a fan of for at least 7 years now. I introduced them to the LeedsFestival stage 6 years back and have been waiting for their latest album for far too long. It's called  'The Shallows' and it is beautiful.

Now I need to do at least 4 today because I intend to do 7 recommendations a week and so far I've only done 2. 

So last but not least, from last nights gig Danny Toeman http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1331763328

He is the Funkiest Funker in Funky Town (Leeds on this occasion). Big voice, big hair and big in general really. He also has a real gift for song writing. Check him out funk lovers.

Probably the best vintage case amp ever

This brilliant device is the home made guitar amp, used on stage by Tsar Nicholas III & The Exiles. It was made from a vintage record box and it sounds lovely. 

The gig was a marvel too and I highly recommend you get to their next one.

In the mean time in-between time check out this here video:

Say hello to the band on facebook here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tsar-Nicholas-III-and-the-Exiles/126111840811252