Cee Lo Green Manchester Live
Manchester Academy, 27 March 2011.
I didn’t much like Cee Lo’s solo album, THE LADY KILLER, and the song that sank a thousand ships - ‘Forget/Fuck You’. Rather like Rihanna’s most recent runnaway success, I felt the material was feather-lightweight and rather meaningless - great Radio 1 fodder. So what the hell am I doing driving 40 miles down the M56 to Manchester to see Cee Lo? Well, I do like Gnarls Barkley music, especially classic single ‘Crazy’ and the last album (which actually didn’t sell well) THE ODD COUPLE. I arrived at the Academy to find yet another major show which would have been sold-out last year but in 2011 is struggling to fill the venue.
Cee Lo was due on at 8:50 after a support act called Ebony. But who are Ebony? I’m still none the wiser despite a Google search for one of the more unusual acts seen this or any other year. Five guys wandered onto the stage wearing rather eerie bright red face masks like something out of a midnight satanic sacrificial ceremony. One of the band manned the keyboards while two provided backing vocals, one sat behind his drums while the other with face paint manned the guitar. After a lengthy intro a female figure bounds onto the stage wearing a fake and very green-grass outfit topped by a massive curly head of hair.
Frankly I couldn’t understand what was going on although whatever it was was quite rhythmic and ‘danceable’. From the look of it the audience was a bit confused also relying as they did on instructions coming from the players. It was all quite weird and even included a costume change mid-set which signalled a much darker musical ambience. Looking at my watch I could see that Ebony had run well over their scheduled time by ten minutes meaning of course that Cee Lo would be late.
By 9:20 the audience was becoming decidadly restless and before long chants of “Cee Lo, Cee Lo” echoed through the joint followed by slow handcaps and loud boos. Eventually, after set-list changes and a delay of forty minutes Cee Lo’s four-piece lady band enters dressed in clinging red, low-cut jump suits that seemed painted on - sexy enough for the men in the audience to stop complaining and look… Cee Lo eventually emerged with matching red T-shirt with the bold black words John, Paul, George, Ringo… and I wondered whether he thought he was actually playing in Liverpool.
I discovered after the show that Cee Lo had a cold which shortened the length of the performance to just one hour while signalling changes to the set-list. However, while the more ‘challenging’ songs may have been missing Cee Lo proved that even with a cold he could out-sing most of his contempories with ‘Lady Killer Theme’ and a stunning ‘Bright Lights, Bigger City’. Cee Lo’s ladies gave the night a rocky and sexy feel (see photos) while the fional set-list happily included several Gnarls BarKley favourites including ‘Crazy’, ‘Run’, ‘Smiley Faces’ and ‘Gone Daddy Gone’.
Given the time constraints the set-list was excellent with ‘Fuck You’ receiving a chorus of approval from the audience before a quite beautiful cover of ‘Perfect Day’ closed the show. This certainly wasn’t the great man at his very best but he deserved browny points for effort and left his adoring audience happy. ‘Job done’ as they say…
SET-LIST
Intro, Lady Killer Theme, Bright Lights Bigger City, Cho Cha, Champagne, Bodies, Wildflower, I Want You, Satisfied, Crazy, Run, Cry Baby, Smiley Faces, Fuck You, Perfect Day.
Radioplayer: Online Console!
Radioplayer, described as “the online console for UK radio”, was unveiled to delegates at the Radio Festival.
An online listening platform, billed as “the most important development in the last 50 years of radio”, launched today. The platform, developed by not-for-profit company UK RadioPlayer, whose founding partners are the BBC, Global Radio, GMG Radio, Absolute Radio and the RadioCentre, is a cross-industry move to bring online radio together in one place and boost listening via the internet. RadioPlayer, accessed either via www.radioplayer.co.uk or participating stations’ own websites, allows listeners to tune in online using pop out players that individual stations can personalise, adding - for example - adverts, now playing information and links to podcasts.
Within each individual player, however, there is a search engine that allows the user to search for stations and other online content such as podcasts. The intention is that users can flick between stations seamlessly, storing their favourites as pre-sets.
Absolute Radio COO Clive Dickens said that this ability for stations to personalise the player allows stations to compete on content while agreeing on distribution. “I tweeted earlier in the week that I believe this is the most important development in the last 50 years of radio,” he told Music Week. “We [radio stations] are not competing with each other – we are competing for time spent listening to audio. With RadioPlayer we have grabbed an important stake for this.”
The player soft launched with 157 stations available. However, UK RadioPlayer managing director Michael Hill announced at the launch that Bauer Media and UTV stations have now come on board, taking the total number of stations up to 228. In total around 4.5m people in the UK listen to radio online every week. With RadioPlayer replacing the participating stations’ own online players, it was expected to launch with around 3m listeners.
“RadioPlayer represents a united industry investment in its digital future,” he said. “Over the next few weeks RadioPlayer is set to expand rapidly, offering consumer choice across hundreds of stations and thousands of programmes. That choice could soon extend to platforms including mobiles, tablets, connected TVs and hybrid radios. “RadioPlayer’s strength is a simple, powerful offer to listeners: all of radio in one place,” said BBC director of audio and music Tim Davie. “This partnership is another signal that the radio industry is accelerating cross-industry innovation.”
Radio stations wanting to stream their services via the new Radioplayer platform will have to pay anywhere between £90 and £23,000 a year depending on their size.
The idea of the not-for-profit Radioplayer venture is that stations large and small get access to a superior streaming platform - modelled on the BBC’s iPlayer - for a relatively minimal cost. It’s hoped the £90 rate means student and community stations will be able to take part too. Listeners, meanwhile, will be able to access the majority of British radio services in one place.
The service’s MD Michael Hill told Radio Today: “One of Radioplayer’s founding principles is fairness - we want to create a level playing field where the UK radio industry can agree on technology, and compete on content. That’s why we’ve published this simple, egalitarian funding model”. According to the radio industry website, the rate card that has been distributed to radio stations also includes a guide to how the Radioplayer looks and works.
It was developed by not-for-profit company, UK Radioplayer, whose founding partners are the BBC, Global Radio, GMG Radio, Absolute Radio and the RadioCentre.
An extensive online marketing campaign will support the consumer launch. RadioCentre says it expects Radioplayer to be a multi-million user product from the moment it launches to consumers, with over 4m individuals already listening to the radio via internet every month.
Radioplayer will feature a “pop-up console” and a search engine designed to make listening to radio online intuitive. Listeners will be able to search by station, programme and genre.
UK Radioplayer managing director Michael Hill calls the launch “a defining moment for UK radio” adding “we hope all broadcast stations, of all sizes and types, will participate”.
“Radioplayer will deliver a simple, quality experience for users and provide a coherent online presence for UK radio stations,” explains director of BBC audio and music Tim Davie. “It is a result of genuine collaboration across the industry and is the sort of innovation we need to make digital radio a reality.”
Davie officially announced plans for Radioplayer in July at the Intellect Consumer Electronics Conference.
Miles Kane: Come Closer
Miles Kane releases ‘Rearrange’, The brilliant new single from his debut solo album, ‘Colour of the Trap’, in May on Columbia Records. A finger-snapping instant classic, ‘Rearrange’ comes complete with guitar effects of which Joe Meek would be proud - a reference Kane happily accepts.
Boasting a chorus as catchy as they come, ‘Rearrange’ was produced by both Dan Carey in South London and Dan the Automator in San Francisco, yet remains unmistakably Miles with a killer riff showing Miles’ superior guitar skills to their best. ‘Rearrange’ will be available on 7” vinyl which will include an exclusive b side track and also via digital download EP including the cutting edge remix by Skream.
7” 1. Rearrange 2. Morning Comes
DOWNLOAD EP 1. Rearrange 2. Morning Comes 3. Rearrange – Skreamix
‘Come Closer’ was his first fully available single release. The video for ‘Come Closer’ directed by Dan Sully is a nod to Martin Scorsese’s 1973 classic Mean Streets and features Agent Provocateur model Daisy Lowe as the sultry and hypnotic dancing girl.
Produced by Dan Carey in South London and Dan the Automator in San Francisco, ‘Come Closer’ is “A good first proper single, because it has all the elements. A bit sexy, sleazy, with cool guitar,” explains Miles.
Proving to be one of the most exciting young talents in the country, Miles’ recent headline tour of the UK as well as his Beady Eye and The Courteeners support dates have left packed crowds in awe of his good old fashioned showmanship and scintillating stage presence. A full list of tour dates and festivals are detailed below.
‘Colour of the Trap’ will be released on May 9th, a week after ‘Rearrange’, and is a glorious exploration into the darker corners of vintage pop, psych and blue-eyed soul sounds.
Miles Kane plays Live:
May
Wed 4th STOKE, Sugarmill
Thu 5th DARLINGTON, Inside Out
Sat 7th HULL, Fruit
Sun 8th YORK, Duchess
Wed 11th LONDON, KCLSU
Fri 13th OXFORD, Academy 2
Sat 14th SOUTHAMPTON, Joiners
Sun 15th BRUSSELS, Botanique Festival
Tue 17th MANCHESTER, Academy 3
Wed 18th EDINBURGH, Liquid Rooms
Thu 19th DUNDEE, Fat Sam’s
Fri 20th LIVERPOOL, St George’s Hall (Sound City)
Sun 22nd BRIGHTON, Audio
June
Fri 10th SHEFFIELD, Don Valley w/Arctic Monkeys
Sat 11th SHEFFIELD, Don Valley w/Arctic Monkeys
Roger Waters The Wall Live 2011
Roger Waters: The Wall: Live 2011
After touring the classic Pink Floyd album `Dark Side Of The Moon` around the world, which was THE SHAKE CONCERT OF 2008, Roger Waters has announced he will next perform his masterpiece `The Wall` live.
In a statement at his website, Waters says
Why am I doing the Wall again now?
I recently came across this quote of mine from 22 years ago:
” What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us to understand one another better, or will they deceive us and keep us apart?”
I believe this is still a supremely relevant question and the jury is out. There is a lot of commercial clutter on the net, and a lot of propaganda, but I have a sense that just beneath the surface understanding is gaining ground. We just have to keep blogging, keep twittering, keep communicating, keep sharing ideas.
30 Years ago when I wrote THE WALL I was a frightened young man. Well not that young, I was 36 years old.
It took me a long time to get over my fears. Anyway, in the intervening years it has occurred to me that maybe the story of my fear and loss with it’s concomitant inevitable residue of ridicule, shame and punishment, provides an allegory for broader concerns.: Nationalism, racism, sexism, religion, Whatever! All these issues and ‘isms are driven by the same fears that drove my young life.
This new production of THE WALL is an attempt to draw some comparisons, to illuminate our current predicament, and is dedicated to all the innocent lost in the intervening years.
In some quarters, among the chattering classes, there exists a cynical view that human beings as a collective are incapable of developing more ‘humane’ ie, kinder, more generous, more cooperative, more empathetic relationships with one another.
I disagree. In my view it is too early in our story to leap to such a conclusion, we are after all a very young species.
I believe we have at least a chance to aspire to something better than the dog eat dog ritual slaughter that is our current response to our institutionalized fear of each other.
I feel it is my responsibility as an artist to express my, albeit guarded, optimism, and encourage others to do the same. To quote the great man, ” You may say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.”
- Roger Waters, 2010
http://shakenstir.co.uk/rogerwaters/
Jeff Beck Rock ‘n’ Roll Party DVD
Jeff Beck ROCK ‘N’ ROLL PARTY DVD. Eagle Vision
Imagine being nestled in amongst a couple of hundred nostalgic invited rock fans in a small, intimate NYC jazz club, watching Jeff Beck and some pretty special guests rock your world… It kinda makes for an unforgettable and probably unrepeatable experience, especially with Beck honouring the late, great Les Paul by playing the man’s best songs and many other rock classics. Well, for the rest of us rock fans locked out of such a glorious event this 164-minute DVD is pretty strong compensation…
Beck’s guests include the very wonderful Irish singer/songwriter Imelda May and her band, Darrel Higham, Brian Setzer, Gary U.S. Bonds and Trombone Shorty who share vocal duties throughout the long show. They are all impressive but my first sighting of Imelda May was a memorable one. This lady truly rocks as she sings many of the tunes including Poor Boy, Cry Me A River, My Baby Left Me, How High The Moon, Sitting On Top Of The World, Bye Bye Blues, Vaya Con Dios and several other blues rock classics. Darrel Higham is also magnificent opening the show with Baby Let’s Play House, Double Talkin’ Baby, Cruisin’ and Train Kept A Rollin’.
In addition to a truly fabulous live performance there’s a fascinating interview with Jeff Beck, Behind The Scenes of the live show, At Home With Jeff Beck and his amazing collection of guitars, and footage of Les Paul playing with Beck. It’s no less than 164 minutes of stupendous rock entertainment with Beck in fine form. Strongly recommended.
4.5/5
Sarabeth Tucek Album & UK Live
Sarabeth Tucek GET WELL SOON. Sonic Cathedral. Released 11 April 2011
She was born in Miami, Florida, and grew up in Manhattan, New York before moving to Westfield, New Jersey as a teenager. She graduated from Westfield High School. She initially intended a career in acting, only starting to play guitar and write songs after meeting Anton Newcombe of The Brian Jonestown Massacre. After moving to Los Angeles, she made her recording debut in 2003 as background vocalist on a Bill Callahan-produced album, Goodbye Little Doll by EZT (aka Colin Michael Gagon), and on Callahan’s own album as (Smog), Supper. One of her earliest live performances featured in the 2004 rockumentary Dig!, which chronicled the relationship between the Dandy Warhols and the Brian Jonestown Massacre. She also contributed material to Newcombe’s 2005 EP release, We Are the Radio. One of Sarabeth’s songs on that EP, “Seer,” would later be retitled and released in 2006 on the British label Sonic Cathedral Recordings as Tucek’s debut single, “Something for You”.
She recorded her debut album, SARABETH TUCEK in 2006, with producers Ethan Johns and Luther Russell. The album was released by The Echo Label in 2007. As well as touring solo and with a band, she has toured and performed as a support act with Ray Lamontagne, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and Bob Dylan. Influenced by Dylan, Cat Stevens and Neil Young, her singing voice has been compared to Karen Carpenter and her style to Cat Power and Neil Young. In 2009, after moving from Los Angeles back to her hometown, Sarabeth released an early version of a new song, “The Doctor”, on the French label Wool and played some shows in that country. Following a break, she recorded her follow-up album GET WELL SOON outside of Philadelphia, once again with Luther Russell at the helm. She contributed several songs to the soundtrack of the film Shit Year, directed by Cam Archer, which went to the Cannes Film Festival in 2010.
GET WELL SOON is a collection of twelve songs whose subject matter is the death of Tucek’s father. Tucek decribes the album as “an impressionistic rendering of a time ruled by grief.” The twelve tracks were “sequenced and resequenced for weeks” in order for the story to emerge and the end result is both economic and pure - sonically and emotionally. It is a beautiful and deeply moving record with the production skills of Ethan Johns and Luther Russell making major contributions to the record’s sound quality and immediacy which ultimately makes every vocal and instrumental note connect with the listener in the most profound way.
Tucek explained, “We recorded this record in a house where we also lived. My friends Robert and Peter from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club recorded HOWL there.” Russell added, “I think we managed to capture a unique mood down in that basement. As guests in someone’s home we got a feeling that might not have happened in a regular studio. Sarabeth wanted to be somewhere that was totally unfamiliar; the material was incredibly personal to her, so she had to feel right about where she did it. My job was to capture that feeling, and fast. The plan was to mix it in L.A., but it turned out that all the magic was there in the rough mixes I did as we went along - so that is what you hear. I think that is why it’s such an immediate record, because it really was completed in those two weeks… but with a lifetime of preparation of course.”
“It’s odd how placid a lot of music seems now; so washed out in sound and feeling. It’s like antidepressant music to take antidepressants to. I don’t give a shit. I’m more likely to buy a new book now than a new record” says Tucek. The record’s narrative ends with the title track and a resolution of sorts. “I feel like I’m either the patient or the doctor, somebody always has an ache,” she says. “When I wrote the title track I had a friend of mine on my mind. She was so sad… just inconsolable and it was painful to see her like that. The title is a reminder to keep myself well. It’s hard to explain the ferocity of the grief I experienced when my father died. I really felt like it was going to kill me, so to be here… well, I just wanted to remind myself of what I survived.”
In 2011, so far, I have yet to hear a record with such emotional involvement, sonic and musical integrity. It’s the reason why I have included the above background detail which (for a change) accurately matches what I am hearing and feeling. A brief introduction (’The Wound And The Bow’) leads straight into a startling and stunning ‘Wooden’ with its gorgeous, judiciously understated vocal (Adele could learn something from this) and momentous instrumental arrangement. ‘A View’ immediately follows sustaining the melodic and emotional magnetism while Tucek’s voice ups the expressive stakes. I must mention the production quality here which has the clarity and power of the finest analogue recording; that gives the impression that Tucek is performing live in your listening room; and connecting in the most substantial and intimate way.
It’s still early days in 2011 and who knows what musically is around the corner, but this record has to be an early and strong contender for album of the year. It’s that good…
5/5
Sarabeth Tucek is in the UK for a series of live dates.
Here’s the full list of dates:
April 30 . Camden Crawl (Earl Of Camden) . London
May 1 . Camden Crawl (Bull & Gate) . London
May 3 . Komedia . Brighton*
May 4 . Thekla . Bristol*
May 5 . Rescue Rooms . Nottingham*
May 6 . The Band Room . North Yorkshire
May 7 . Brudenell Social Club . Leeds*
May 8 . King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut . Glasgow*
May 9 . Band On The Wall . Manchester*
May 10 . Union Chapel . London*
May 13 . ULU . London**
May 14 . Truck Store . Oxford
May 15 . Buffalo Bar . Cardiff
May 16 . Café Oto . London***
May 17 . The Puzzle Hall Inn . West Yorkshire
May 18 . Prince Albert . Brighton****
May 19 . The Slaughtered Lamb . London
May 21 . Wood Festival . Oxfordshire
* With The Leisure Society
** With Engineers
*** With This Is The Kit
**** With David Thomas Broughton
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