Month: June 2008

whoops…

Aurora Plastic Monster are Norweigian! Whoops sorry about that.

but they’re cool
I had a kinda ‘rock n roll’ evening and discovered I still like heavier styles! (not because the high society’s guitarist was beautiful…oh no I’m a pro!) but because it was just a fun evening. I will let you know when the review is up…
ah its the wee minutes of tuesday morning.
Better go to bed then!
Frank.

continued from below

So I thought of something to say!….and then I forgot!

The brumlive photographer I’m working with tonight is the lovely-seeming (I’m making assumptions having never come face to face with her, but her myspace is cool and she sent me a nice message) Kate Snape.
I must say I’m also quite jealous because she’s my age (19) and she’s photographed loads of really cool bands so I’m looking forward to have a natter between acts. Also she taught herself and developed her own style of photography only a year ago so it gives me hope that I, one day, will actually be able to operate an SRL camera….or is that SLR…I think it’s SLR!!!
(Ask me what you like about mics, recordings, gaming, music, sound etc but I’m awful with camera knowledge.)
Tonight the first support act is Birmingham based Kate Finch who has got an acoustic-punk feel to her music. I’m looking forward to seeing her live because I think that she’ll sound fresher on record…would be interesting to see if she ever plays with a band when she’s live too.
Also playing are two full bands with punk-rock stylings, The Kamikazes and The High Society.
I’m having a listen to The Kamikazes right now and I’m getting really excited…It’s gonna be a high octane gig I think…I’d get out my skinnies if I had them!
Unfortunately I haven’t…(I’m the girl who bought skinny jeans 2 sizes too big to avoid muffin top…and therefore lost the skinny effect) So its another dress I think! (with some customisation of course!)
So if you’re there tonight please say hi, Ill probably have a button headband on my person. It’s my current signature
Frank. x

Lazy Sunday

I’m not afraid to admit that I had a little cry today…

Max died on Hollyoaks! I knew it was coming but it was so brutal…
Anyway I realised that I should make a list of all the things I need to do and publishing it will make sure I do it!!! I’ve literally been lain out on three squashed together staff room type ‘studenty’ chairs in front of T4 from 11-4 and Its counter-productive. I know I’m meant to be giving myself a ‘day off’ but suddenly that seems like a bad idea. I was always the kid that got the course work done on the day it was given out…get it out the way, be prepared etc…
SO to the list
1.transcribe I Will Attack interview
2. transcribe Tom Peel interview
3. Transcribe Anyone for shark? Interview
4.T-S One Night Only
5. T.S any other interviews I’ve got left…ooh Jimm Zombie!
6. Write to Lee of Ditto Music,
7. Begin e-interview with Polar Bear (Didn’t manage to get interview yesterday, hes a busy bear!)
8. Begin e-interview with the Retro Spankees
9. Ask Poppy and the Jezebels for e-interview!
10. Being 444 club e-interview
(I love E-interviews…at least I think I will, I’ve not actually done it before but it’s less typing and easier to edit, I suppose it will lack the spontaneity of dictaphone/msn but it gives bands to double check what they want to say about themselves- which is good for them!)
11. Clean room
12. Get big boxes (from Maccy D’s across the road???)
13. Buy milk.
14. Go gym
15. Pack for moving
16. Research 7inch cinema before interview.
17. play some guitar and I haven’t for far too long. (whoops)
…….not going to be such a lazy one after all!Only problem is I’ve left it too late to get started!
Frank.

Busy saturday

Ah… so my saturdays are now spent working! Darn, I knew qutting Sports World was a mistake!

just kidding…I’ve done a spot of writing this morning and today I’m off to interview Polar Bear at the MC’s For Life at the Custard Factory. He’s an amazing poet/MC who is about to go to London with new one man show “If I cover my nose you can’t see me.” Colin Murray even played his poem ‘Jessica’ the other night which you can find if you click the link above. I’m a bit nervous…it’s harder than with some bands because I haven’t got a ticket so I’ve been repeatedly listening to his stuff on myspace and it’s really good. Quick witted and funny.
Tonight I’m off to see Birmingham band I Will Attack… (who I can’t find a link for) 
one of the members sold me my MacBook so I said I’d pop along and have a watch. I might not stay for the other act because I’m absolutely exhausted…we’ll see!
Frank.

444Club…Club Paradise more like!

Its the rather wee hours of the morning and I’ve just time for a quick blog before bed!

I’ll do a proper one for Gigbeth tomorrow.
First a rave about Carlo of 444Club…genius! The two lady DJ’s played fabulous retro music between the acts and got everyone in a mood for a good time. Tom Peel played an acoustic set that got more and more energetic as it developed, Finding Calcutta provided a little maturity and then Anyone for Shark? smashed it with a funk tinged hammer! Kate Goes and the Retro Spankees (For links for the bands see previous post) provided energetic, crazy, original music that made me want to dance like Phoebe from friends runs….except on the spot!
Great people great times….and an odd occurance where Pete Ashton turned up…it wasn’t odd that he was there but that he had a crazy drunken lookalike!
I know where I’ll be on Friday nights from now on!
Frank. x

Created in Birmingham

Hey,

The lovely, efficient Chris Unitt has put up a rather unglamorous video on Created in Birmingham I made basically making my excuses for not being able to do many interviews.
However…this will soon change.
An interview with Lee from Ditto music should be up soon followed by an interview with Jenny and Lisa, the rather amazing Capsule team who are two of the most dedicated people I’ve ever met in Birmingham.
Going on TV wasn’t too far off what I expected. The studio was small and hot but the team were busy and friendly. None of them get paid for what they do and as it was only the 6th show they really seem to be managing it well, I’m sure it will get less chaotic as it goes. You can read my ‘TV Diary” here.
Tonight i’m off to the Rainbow in Digbeth to see Tom Peel, Finding Calcutta, Anyone for Shark?, the brilliant Kate Goes and The Retro Spankees. Its from 8 til late and a bargain at £4 so if you can get there you’ve got no excuse to not go! Its being hosted by the 444Club who host a gig night there every friday night.
I’ll also be interviewing Anyone for Shark? and The Retro Spankees. You can read my interview with Kate from Kate Goes here.
I’ll report for duty shortly
and also thankyou to everyone who has sent me lovely messages after the CIB video, they were much much appreciated!
Frank. x

Ditto music

I got a call on the way back from the Radiohead gig (which was, predictably amazing…I had to stay at a friends cos it finished after my last train) It was from Lee at Ditto Music, who I’m meant to be interviewing tonight and it turns out I’m being interviewed on the show which I had no idea about!

So I’m going to go on and try not to stutter and look cute! What outfit to wear eh?

Firewires….and Radiohead

So its time to make the blog less about me and more about what I do…!

After what I’m sure will be an exciting trip to get a firewire from the apple store (mac to mac…all the best writers have macbooks these days so I’ve decided to get one and see if people take me seriously!) I’m off to Victoria Park, London for Radiohead. Its one of the few gigs this year that I’ve forked out my own student loan cash for! So it better be worth it….
Just kidding, its RADIOHEAD! I’m rather excited about it, but no so excited about not knowing when its due to finish so I couldn’t book a train ticket…costly stuff! I’m interested to see how Victoria Park shapes up as a venue as well as the second Underage Festival takes part there in August and I’m hankering for access!
Frank.