Birth of the cool...

Last night (Tuesday 15th July 2008 for posterity) saw the arrival of a live phenomena that we hope will go on to be a regular part of the soundtrack to future years in the WNDC. Talk of the "Lost in Transmission" duo, comprising our very own Roger with Dan on base, buzzed over a weekend of alcohol and karaoke but there was a nervousness in the eyes of all but the men themselves as they took up places at the bar end of the pub. Musicians have to learn to live with expectation but the day you first stand in a public space with your friends in the audience to sing your own compositions has to be up there with the best and worst now or never moments. I was later told that they chose two easier less demanding songs to start but if they were worried about the start you would not have known it as they didn't miss a beat. R's voice perfect for the Neil Young-esk tracks, D's excellent backing giving the sound a polish on the way to an appreciative audience. If you have not heard the music check it out at http://www.myspace.com/lostintransmissionuk.
For me the highlights were R's homage to Mr Kerouac and the stylish cover of Radiohead's Creep. By the end feet were tapping throughout the pub as they finished with The Jam's That's Entertainment - which indeed it was, nice one guys.

The Swaps are further down the road than the above in performance and gigging and have now established themselves as regulars at the excellent Sommerville. The charismatic James confident singing and talking to an audience eager to listen. The poppy highly individual songs have barbed hooks and once you have heard them a few times you start to wonder if some of their songs are covers such is the sense of familiarity. In John Paul the band are lucky to have a talented guitarist and the songs are often bridged with his stylish play. For me the highlight of the set was John Paul's haunting Bottles of Beer which had an aching Pink Floyd quality. The band finished with the whole pub singing along to Love. Hard to top.
http://www.myspace.com/thebloodyswaps

This Week's Playlist

1.) The Hold Steady, 'Joke About Jamaica'

2.) The Hold Steady, 'Stay Positive'

3.) The Hold Steady, 'Constructive Summer' - including the lines 'Raise a toast to Saint Joe Strummer, I think he might have been our only decent teacher.' Yes, indeed.

4.) The Hold Steady, 'Sequestered in Memphis'

5.) The Hold Steady, 'Magazines'

6.) The Hold Steady, 'Slapped Actress'

This Week's Playlist

1.) Jay Z - '99 Problems'

2.) The Guillemots, 'Words'

3.) John Coltrane, 'I Want to Talk About You'

4.) Radiohead, 'Creep' (acoustic version)

5.) Lost in Transmission uk, 'Sitting in a Bar'

6.) Vaughan Williams, 'Five Mystical Songs'

Gram Parsons - long gone, but long remembered

This Week's Playlist

1.) Guns N' Roses, 'Better'

2.) Guns N' Roses, 'Chinese Democracy'

3.) John Coltrane, 'My Favourite Things'

4.) Albert Alyer, 'The Wizard'

5.) Joy Division, 'New Dawn Fades'

6.) Sonny Criss, 'Ballad for Samuel'

The Master

This Week's Playlist

1.) Albert Ayler, 'Ghosts (Second Version)'

2.) Sun Ra, 'The Magic City'

3.) Judee Sill, 'I'm Over'

4.) Gene Ammons, 'The Happy Blues'

5.) Phil Woods, 'Sweet and Lovely'

6.) Midlake, 'Van Occupanther'