I’m off to see Erase Errata, and American Analog Set or The Dirtbombs over the next few days. I might blog about them.

IRE: SUNNYVALE NOISE SUB-ELEMENT: They were distinctly fantastic, kids. Despite some, uh, interesting monitor issues, they really delivered the noisy/motorik/techno goods in spades. Not being able to hear yourself onstage has never sounded so good. It would appear that they’ve come on yet further leaps and bounds since AUDIOSCOPE02, and their newer aggressive stance distinctly suits them. The audience didn’t know what to think. Hurrah!

RE: SOUVARIS: *cringe*. Fucking “rock stars”…

In other news, The Daily Telegraph this Thursday covering Vincent Gallo‘s vow that he’d never work with a professional actress not called Chloe Sevigny again was fantastic – the best laugh I’ve had at my parents’ breakfast table in a fair wee while. Apparently he’s made a public apology for his new film Brown Bunny, and said that he never meant to make it so long, dull and self-indulgent. I was appalled – what happened to the asshole stance of old? Anyway, here’s hoping it wins something at Cannes…

MOGWAI: my first viewing of ’em, and i think i’ve missed out on their greatest gigs in the past. but when they got it together with their DYNAMICS and VOLUME it blew my hair off. unfortunately there were some slight meandering bits of their set which were kind of a letdown. but in general… woooo

SHIPS A’GOING DOWN: got the whole oxes/shellac thing off to a tee, all stop-start noise-quiet bits. they stopped just short of being too derivative; i just wish they’d looked a bit more enthusiastic on stage!

REYNOLDS: another first viewing for me, and waaaaggghhhh they rule. BUY THE ALBUM, anybody who reads this. it is beautiful and fantastic. why are reynolds not more famous?

PART CHIMP: my god you chimps, why are you so LOUD? but i’m not complaining. i enjoy having bleeding ears when it’s caused by such fantastic, abrasive, aggressive jesus lizard/six by seven magic. amazing.

SUNNYVALE NOISE SUB-ELEMENT: hold on, this is the band I’m in! er, they ROCKED, of course. but seriously; our recent london performance was tons o’fun.

SOUVARIS: are them what we played with at that london performance, and they were sublime and classy and spot-on. especially with a new song which was played last, ending with mike standing atop the bar, rockin’ it like proper rock stars should.

The above is an indicator of the calibre of music I was subjected to in the latter half of my Saturday night. Luckily, before I was plunged head first into a rather surreal UK Garage hell, I was fortunate enough to attend the very final Why Can’t We Just All Get Along shindig at Nottingham’s Junction 7. For a somewhat amazing ?2 you got 4 bands, bargain central I say. First on was Brown Owl who did the whole math-rock thing (remember that?), plucking for crunching rather than soothing. The overall opinion of people I spoke to was that they needed more vocals, but I think they did just fine as they were, a great opening band.

Next, stepping up with less than 24 hours notice, Scout Niblett sang and played drums, and then sang and played guitar, and then shouted, and then rocked out with some big old riffs. The number of people rammed into the room meant that apart from the few in front of the stage, no one could see more than the top of a blonde wig, but the general strangeness meant she went down quite well.

After some more oddness in the form a bearded man and his rather worrying monkey friend, the spectacular Unit Ama stepped up. Not too sure how to describe them, but each song of theirs was an exercise in building things up with angular schkrings and yelping vocals, before breaking things down until the guitarist and bassist were leaping around pulling disjointed shards of noise from their instruments held at arm’s length, as if they were saying “WHY….WON’T…THIS….DAMN….GUITAR….WORK?!!” over and over again. Tremendous stuff.

More monkey things, and then curators of the evening Wolves! (Of Greece) proceeded to shred every eardrum in the room. There were two very clear signs that something special was happening. Firstly, the singer was covered in blood from the outset, and secondly, by the time they finished their relatively long set, at an epic 20 minutes, one of the speakers was smoking. Blinding was a word that sprung to mind at the time. As recently pointed out by someone at Skippy’s Cage, Wolves are a band that people will claim to like because the music is very challenging and difficult to listen to, so they can see themselves as hip or whatever, but it is obvious that the motives behind the band are a world away from fitting into any trendy new experimental/noise/hardcore clique. They do also exert more energy in one short set that most bands could in about twenty, which is no mean feat.

A wonderful evening. Thanks to Chris Thrash for introducing me to the joys of, amongst other things, The Ex-Models, and to my wisdom tooth infection (urgh) for introducing me to the sorrow of non-alcoholic beer.

Back from the wilderness with bright new shiny broadband and creaky falling apart new house. I’m not going to talk about the war because I’m finding it all very strange and I can’t quite organise my thoughts. That is, the bit that goes STOP THE WAR is quite clear but after that I’m finding there’s lots of debate and thinking. Which is great, obviously. The other major thing is having a TV again and being quite awestruck by the wrongness of televised war. Maybe more sometime later.

In the meantime, I have been Getting Out Of The House, quite a new experience for me really. First stop the newly reformed Throwing Muses back playing live again. I never saw them before and I was quite excited by the idea as well as new album with Tanya and everything. The support band I was confused by, not being able to figure out who the hell they were but not particularly caring since they were a bit dull. I was thus surprised and dismayed to discover they were Sons and Daughters. Surprised because I know Scott and Adele to some small extent and didn’t recognise either of them; dismayed because I really liked Scott’s solo thing March of Dimes and Adele’s voice on various things (Arab Strap, the otherwise rubbish Zephyrs). I can only conclude that something was wrong and I shall endeavour to see them properly and have another go.

I went down the front for Throwing Muses because this was the QMU, a venue where small people cannot see anything unless they are right at the front. Even in the second row, I often couldn’t see a thing, thanks to Tall People in front of me. I hate harping on about the rubbishness of being a wee person at gigs but it so totally sucks. Throwing Muses were great as well – a bunch of songs I knew and a whole lot I didn’t and sounding all sparky and loud with Kristin’s voice as lovely as ever. Only after a few songs the sound started to become uncomfortably loud like the soundman had turned the volume knob all the way up to ‘Mogwai’. So what could have been a wonderful gig ended up with me struggling to see and struggling to make out the tunes through the blaring distortion. Eventually it got so loud I started to feel ill and had to go sit down. So I’ve had it up to here with the stupid QMU. I really resent paying twelve pounds to not see a band and not hear them either. Until they open up the balcony as a special small person’s area and turn the volume down a notch I’m avoiding the place. Gah.

Quite the opposite situation the next night at Stereo where I was treated to a cheap night of fantastic electronic music. Steven and John bis got themselves dressed up in white coats for one of their first gigs as Dirty Hospital, as which they romped through a set of electro rave. Fit to join the ‘electronic music can be fun’ ranks alongside the likes of Cex and Kid606, they were a joy. Loud, fun, stupid electronic music with shouting about hospitals. I like. EU was much more understated but still very very good. And he carted his entire computer all the way from Russia or wherever it is he’s from. No ‘get a laptop’ hecklers to be heard though. I enjoyed his set immensely apart from kicking myself for not bringing any money to buy more of his records. I was also astonished to discover I knew pretty much no-one in the place. When I next see all my Glaswegian friends and acquaintances I shall be shouting FOOL at them for missing this.

This is going on a bit now so I’ll just end with THINGS I WANT.

– a shiny new platinum Gameboy Advance with SNES Zelda!

– new shoes

– to hear the new Mogwai album

– it to be December. How can it still be NINE MONTHS until the next Lord of the Rings film…

I went to see the gargantuan beasts of rock who go by the name of Part Chimp last night, who were really quite terrific. There were many drunken fallings over, and guitars that could level cities. Yes. When I leave this here country in (hopefully) a couple of month’s time, there will be very few things that I actually miss, but Part Chimp will certainly be one of them. As will Wolves! (Of Greece), and I’m hoping they play near here before I go. Those of you who may have some influence in these matters, get on it.

Recently I have been listening to the latest CD by Rhode Island band The Eyesores which doesn’t disappoint at all. I was very pleased to discover that it includes the song ‘Thousand Yard Stare’ which was the first song of theirs I ever heard (thanks Audiogalaxy). I’m not sure I could really even try to describe such an accomplished work with my inane comments, but if you’re a fan of Black Heart Procession, Will Oldham, Songs:Ohia and all the rest, you could do a lot worse that to pick this up. Out now on Handsome Records!

Neon Hunk, like a lot of bands, used to be called Abra Cadaver. Fuck knows what they think they’re doing. The only reference point I can think of is the music that David Amiss MP played on the cake episode of Brasseye; ridiculous jittery crashes with random blips and screeches. They do that, but with tinny speeded up vocals over the top. The term ‘Pokemon grind’ has been stuck to them, and it seems pretty accurate to me. As completely pointless and stupid as they are though, I couldn’t help but crack a smile when listening to them. They’re dumb and they know it, so there’s no pretence. It’s all good, apparently. I got a split with them and a band called My Name Is Rar Rar who are shouty and have someone from the Flying Luttenbachers in them apparently. Not much else to say about them really. For further things look at Liquid Death/Hello Pussy.

And last, but not least, it’s the return of Things I Like:

Garbage Pail Kids nostalgia

Having enough money to eat all month for the first time in ages

Diskant badges!

And Things I don’t:

The ringing in my ears

Royal Mail

The fact that no one has come round for tea and cake yet. Fuckers.

Just been to see the Delgados and I realised halfway through their set that, in a sneaky quiet way, they’ve become my favourite band ever. From jangly indie pop when i was a teenager with energy and enthusiasm to their more mature epic stuff they do now, I can’t imagine me in the last [let’s not count] years without having heard their songs.

And yet it’s not like other bands, where I’ve heard a song, been grabbed by it and played through all their albums in the month after. Since Peloton, the albums (even the singles) haven’t had immediate physical/ emotional appeal to me; they get played once then left aside for weeks at first. I’m still fuzzy on the titles of the songs. But the occasional play of each was enough to put little hooks into my head and make it imperceptibly essential, part of the repertoire of noises that my mind sings to itself when there’s not anything else on. Then I realise how good the lyrics are. No flashy wordplay but so many resonant phrases that I can’t shake off. “No-one can depress me more than I can,” “for the eyes to see through all that I do,” “there is no dignity in losing a friend.” etc. A lot of it maybe is the context I first heard the songs in but there has to be power in the songs to make them still carry the emotional weight / force that memory alone doesn’t.

What I’m trying to pay tribute to is the way that the Delgados have written albums full of songs that haven’t just stuck with me, they’ve got better as the years have passed. Looking at the whole of my record collection, they are the one band I’m confident that I’ll still be listening to (with a nostalgic tear in my eye) when I’m 70. There’s lots of things I could live without: the delgados are not one of them. They are very special to me and the gig tonight was special too.

And I promise I will go out and get Hate at the weekend.

two great, two not quite as great. first on were akira who suffered from the age old snare drum rattle problem, which seemed to last throughout their whole set. i know they’ve been around for some time, and that being the first time i’d ever heard them, i don’t want to cast (too much) judgement, but they didn’t seem to really do a great deal. the first song sounded like blew by nirvana, which is probably as good an indicator as any.

next, charlottefield who were really very good indeed. i hadn’t heard of them until the day before the gig, and had no idea what to expect, but ten seconds in they were rocking out and i was loving it. they had shouts and stoppy-starty-swingy-roundy riffs and, probably most importantly, they seemed like a competent band, which the previous band sadly didn’t. i’m on the look out for their new 7″ on jonson family.

minutes to live feature three members of crs* along with one sexy bitch on bass. this was their first gig, and they played three songs. it was hard to know what to make of it, as nothing seemed that clearly defined (not that that’s a problem in itself, but there were a few times when the songs went nowhere, and left me feeling unsatisfied). still, it’s very early days…

finally, after months of anticipation, cat on form took to the stage. once i had overcome the shame of being made to feel like the tubby bastard that i am by steve and dan’s skinny shirtless antics, they proved to be my favourite band of the evening. the one thing that struck me overall is that the conviction and yes, the anger of these guys just doesn’t let up for a second. recently i mentioned how bands rarely play with that unabashed fury that first made rock music so exciting to me, and i was very pleased to see that cat on form apparently share my views. there was lots of leaping around and falling over and shouting and more shouting and sweating. i also decided when left-hand-side guitarist/shouter dan was lying at my feet scratching at the floor that he is possibly the tiniest human being i have ever seen. they played ‘back off man i’m a scientist’, my favourite song from their recent vacuous pop 7″ and it was mighty good. i hope they come back, this city needs bands like them to play here.

in other news, i just got a shitload of blood drained from my arm, and i have to go back tomorrow so they can drain some more cos they couldn’t get enough today. i’m covered in puncture wounds and i hate illness. me and marceline should start some kind of sick kids club, where you have to be pastey white and be calcium deficient to join.

Well it seems with diskant being broke recently the usual tardiness of most bloggers has not improved and so I figured I’d try to buck the trend and actually post something. A week ago today I moved to London to start my new job at Southern Records and it was some week. Three gigs (The Apes, Nina Nastasia and Billy Mahonie) later and lots of effort trying to work out what my new job actually involves has left me a little frayed around the edges but hey it’s been fun. Of the three gigs I have to say Billy Mahonie were the best. They debuted their new line up (kev & Hywell have left) one bass guitar being replaced by a normal guitar and some new songs. I was a little worried how they’d be live after Hywell left but these fears were unfounded ‘cos they were excellent and the new songs bode well for the future of the band. Apart from that I’ve not much to add aside to say I’m missing the diskant list’s inane chatter and my computer/stereo/records. If you are one of the nice people that check out the diskant gig guide then I apologise for the lack of updates between now and the new year but Marceline will be doing her best to keep things as up to date as possible!!! So for now then all I have to say is if I’m not back before Christmas then a hope a good time is had by all and keep your eyes peeled in the new year for a new Errol website and errol-y release including the stunning Reynolds album. Egg nog all round then…

That’s better than what happens most Tuesdays….

I saw, for £3 at West 13th, Scatter a glasgow band who act like a collective and have a toy trumpet, double bass and electric mandolin. They sound like early Velvet Underground in a free jazz mood but not so free and hostile as to be molesting your ears. Atmospheric, moody and not like anything I’ve heard for a while. I’ll be hunting out their next gig and there aren’t many Glasgow bands I’d say that about.

I also saw Vialka (I think it’d be fair to call them Slovenia’s Finest) who I was even more impressed with. Having gone along purely on the basis that if someone’s come from the other side of Europe to play, it’d be rude for me to not wander down the hill to see them, I was pleased to find that they are Very Good Indeed. They look like The White Stripes, one bass one drumkit two uniforms, but they sound a bit like God Is My Co-Pilot, Kenny Process Team, Fighting Red Adair and a (tiny bit like a) minimalist Melt-Banana, i.e. spiky off-kilter indie punk or whatever it’d be called, fast and tight with added showmanship. They present the ‘Tonight We Show You Fuck’ Show with a lounge-y opening tape, amusing banter and a football rattle to help you know when to applaud (this wasn’t necessary as they went down a squall – good crowd tonight too).

They are playing Newcastle (Head of Steam), Leeds and London before going home. You Really Should See Them. [Even if the music wasn’t reason enough (it is), they finish the set in their underwear.]