MNDR Interactive Video

Fun new interactive music video from MDNR which integrates with your Facebook account to tell you a story of sacking off work and going to your friend's gig.

The track's pretty listenable too.

Via The Creators Project

Worst Track of the Day

Via Popbitch:

South 4 are a new boyband out of the Brit School. The poor lads have been landed with excruciating nicknames, the type that even Atomic Kitten would have baulked at (Preppy South, Moody South, Classy South, Party South) and a less than tasteful debut single, called Cougar Town, about yes, you've guessed it, MILF shagging.

Polica at CAMP

Almost three weeks ago I went to see Polica at CAMP.

The night started with dinner at Meter upstairs - dam good pizza sold by the half meter, nom nom nom +18.

In a slight rush, we went downstairs to the basement and were pleased to be able to get a good spot near the front +6. There weren't too many tall people around either +8 however, there was a potential 'Shoreditch dickhead' sporting specs on a chain in front of us - could she be problematic we wondered? -1

Polica came onto stage and immediately impressed with strong vocals and instrument, the two drummers not overpowering but adding to the intensity. I am a sucker for two drummers anyway but this was very very good +6. 

Channy Leaneagh (the lead singer) started chatting to the crowd and I was worried she might be a bit lame but she was actually pretty endearing, making a little joke about the Queen's jubilee 'I don't know what the Jubilee is about but I know it's not her birthday' and how she liked London, which always goes down well +2.

Back to the music and most of the Give You The Ghost album was played, including the immense Lay Your Cards Out and latest single (I think?) Amongster. It was the sort of performance you could close your eyes to (if you thought noone was looking and thought you were a dweeb) and really appreciate.

It got sweatier in there and the hipster in front starting shaking some questionable moves interwoven with attempting arty photos but this didn't even annoy me much so I knew I was having a great time +1. At the end I was even tempted to buy a tshirt however in the end not even Channy could persuade me!    

I was semi pissed off prior to the gig as I had bought tickets to the first date announced thinking I'd be well ahead of the times and then another date was announced the night before -5.5. However, it's water under the bridge now CAMP, what a bloody good venue - intimate, nice lighting and good sound all adding to the ambience and buzz of the night +11.

Apparently Jay Z is a fan and I don't blame the guy. Bloomin' good band and nice lead singer too. Go see Polica at Heaven in November, if you don't like them I'll maybe give you your money back*

A





















*Terms and Conditions apply.

Converse: Represent

Since Converse rescued the 100 Club early last year their sponsorship has been pretty low key with a few bigger names like Gorillaz, The Vaccines and Kindness.

However, today Converse announced a series of Represent gigs over the summer which sound pretty special.

























I have my fingers crossed for the Santigold date with Django Django, Friends, Best Coast and Citizens!

London Gig Guide - H2

Well we're coming into the second half of the year and there are some exciting gigs coming up in the next few months.

Here's my pick of the bunch:

Real Estate at Electric Ballroom - 27th June - Still tickets here, quick!

Get People at Camden Barfly - 23rd July - Tickets here

Savages at 1,2,3,4 festival - 1st September - Tickets here

Grimes at Heaven - 5th-6th September - Sold out (please let me know if you can get any spare tickets!) Heard Grimes at Field day (tent too crowded to see) and sounded reaaallly good.

Yeasayer at Shepherd's Bush Empire - 27th September - Tickets here

Hot Chip with Django Django at Brixton Academy - 19th October - Tickets here

Francois and the Atlas Mountains at Village Underground - 25th October - Tickets here

Alt-J at Electric Ballroom - 5th November - Tickets on sale this Friday 29th June

Jessie Ware at Brixton Electric - 13th November - Tickets on sale this Friday 29th June

Jake Bugg at Koko - 14th November - Tickets here - one to watch

Alabama Shakes at Forum - 17th November - Tickets on sale Friday 29th June

Polica at Heaven - 20th November - Tickets here (can't believe it's not sold out, highly recommend after seeing Polica at CAMP at couple of weeks ago)

Ben Howard at Brixton Academy - 28th-30th November - Sold out - try n get a ticket if you can, he was brilliant at Hackney Weekend.

New music of the day: Coco Morier

Listening to Ingrid, Volym 1 finally (didn't realise it was on Spotify yet duh!) and came across Coco Morier aka Nicole Morier. Afterlife (below) is my fave, but there's also a load more nice tracks on her Soundcloud page and info about Coco:

Now Morier debuts her solo EP, an infectious and playful five song collection exhibiting a cross pollination of dirty synthesized disco jams, sleek synth pop and lo-fi garage rock suffused with mesmerizing sugary melodies.

One to watch peut-etre.

Michael Kiwanuka at Shepherd's Bush Empire

I've been a terrible gig reviewer of late, not posting write ups for Grouplove (they were a bit annoying and I felt too cool to be at the gig), The Do (nowt special) or Of Montreal (pretty fun with lots of random stage invasions from costumed creatures), so let's get this Michael Kiwanuka at Shepherd's Bush Empire review started, yeah!

The evening started with an erm delightful quick Pret a Manger dinner and unfortunately missing Jake Bugg open the show who sounds very promising and has been getting some good hype after his performance on Later with Jools Holland -3.

After an expensive lager purchase we made our way towards the front so as to hopefully avoid as much whinging from me as possible that I couldn't see. We managed to get a half decent spot and Mikey came one stage +2.

His voice carried well in the venue and the performance was earnest and charismatic +6. The main problemos were the material itself and the venue - with one album there was a limited range of songs to choose from and some of the slower, more low key tracks got lost in the crowd who rudely chatted over the top -3. Some of the tracks probably would've been more suited to a smaller, more intimate venue (or a more polite crowd - I'm talking about a couple of talle douchebags in particular who wouldn't stop chatting - I think one had stupid hair as well) -1.5.

Other gripes were too many snogging, PDA couples -6 get a room please, and it getting really really hot there as usual - my fringe was not in good shape -12.

The band seemed to be really gelled (not jel) and the more upbeat, 'funky' tracks were more successful such as "I'll Get Along" and obviously the big one "Home Again". Other highlights from the album were probably "Bones" and "Always Waiting". The acoustic songs were also lovely and showcased Kiwanuka's talent to the max.

Overall I thought Mike was a really good performer, his vocal was breathtaking at times +7 and I enjoyed his anecdote about Secret Garden Party and other chit chat - he seems like a genuine guy +6.6666666.

B

ps some nice photos here

New music of the day - Igor Volk

Listen to this new track from the brilliant Igor Volk:



I've seen a preview of the video and can tell you it's an absolute corker. (And I'm not just saying that as I was a bit tipsy after a couple of beers!)

The song's out on 18 June and is already getting great reviews, check this out from The Guardian.