Get Glucky

*We have moved!

2008-03-19T19:32:00.001-07:00

Hey Kids,

just to let you know we have now fully moved over to;

http://getglucky.com/

all new posts are going there and all of the old posts, yes every single one, are on that site too. We hope you like!

Glucky xo

*Update

2008-03-07T15:44:00.001-08:00

Some of you savvy lot have already noticed but the blog is in a very exciting process of moving to a bigger and better looking place, we know it's not all about looks and that personality is important but we promise the only thing that is going to change is the look of the site. All the content is there and will remain the same as it is now.

The site is about one post behind at the moment but after the weekend should be in full working order...

http://getglucky.com/

It's all for you kids, so hope you enjoy it. We'll let you know when we're going to completely stop posting here and transfer 100% over to the .com address.

Enjoy your weekend

xo

*Need To Know - Jaymay (Artist)

2008-03-07T12:11:00.001-08:00

Jaymay's album, 'Autumn Fallin' has been bubbling under the surface for a little while now and the bubbles have made their way over here. Initially, I will be honest, I was wary that she wouldn't stand out enough from the other female singer-songwriters around but Jaymay has a charm all her own. The record is full of New York inspired love songs and sweet anecdotal songs about everyday life. Lyrically she is a smart cookie. On 'Gray or Blue' she sweetly sings, 'I cant keep staring at your mouth without wondering how it tastes' and 'Don't second guess your feelings you were right from the start and I notice she's your lover, but she's nowhere near your heart'

If you don't like singer-songwriters then you probably won't like it, but if you do you will probably love it. Calming and hopeful, sometimes reminiscent of Regina Spektor but with less quirkiness, Jaymay should in some way... soothe your soul.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/d3sbuf - Ill-Willed Person

http://www.sendspace.com/file/v2nuxa - Blue Skies

http://www.sendspace.com/file/amau0i - Gray Or Blue

*Tegan & Sara - Tour Diary (Live)

2008-03-07T03:01:00.000-08:00

The delightful (don’t I sound about 80 using the word delightful?) Tegan and Sara have now left our shores. But in these sad times kids, dry your eyes. We have a tour diary for you, complete with those new fangled digital images you all seem to enjoy so much AND as previously stated... a fabulous merchandise give-away to follow.

With special thanks to Tegan and Warner for hooking us up for the Brighton & London shows, we hopped, skipped and jumped our way to a selection of dates so we could produce a nice little tour diary for you.

Photos from all shows here:
http://s269.photobucket.com/albums/jj75/getglucky/ (download for personal use is A-ok but please ask permission before re-using them anywhere else)

Brighton:
The Concorde in Brighton was by far the smallest venue we saw T&S play during the tour, and while small usually = good for intimacy, the crowd was extremely over-excited and for the majority of the evening repeatedly directed their excitement in all the wrong ways.
I have no doubt Tegan and Sara are tough enough to handle most types of awkward/rude crowd situations but for the audience it just got annoying. From repeated shouting out of old song requests (we don't mean a few times, literally before and after every bit of banter or song, the same group were just shouting out for songs that they weren't going to play) to crude sexual remarks...we just felt awkward.

However, musically this did not phase the Quins one bit, playing through all of 'The Con' excluding 'Knife Going In' they gave a fantastic platform to an already fantastic album. Older songs like 'Monday, Monday, Monday' and the very early 'Divided' sounded completely refreshed sung by their now, far more experienced voices.

With the great banter they have come to be known for, their banter in Brighton did not disappoint; anecdotal gems about allergies, weird dreams, marriage;

and Sara Quin so accurately describing the loud/drunk group in the audience as 'Nancy' (that girl who from afar who looks like she's the life of the party but then when she's at a sleepover... she's the girl who gets her eyebrows shaved) It was pretty great.

They finished with the stunning 'Call It Off' but not before someone had to get a few final, shouted questions in. Tegan described a dream she had where her mom had written in the sky 'Life Is Hopeful'.

Fan: "I have a question"
Tegan: "You have a question, oh ok, what's your question?"
Fan: "Is life hopeful?"
Tegan: (Pause) "I like to think so, yes."

Even with the crowd being on the awkward side of rowdy, that's a pretty sweet way to end a gig. Shame the fan had to ruin her luck by wanting to ask more questions. But we'll just end it there.

Leeds:
By Leeds they had already revamped the set-list and brought in some new, old songs and taken out some of the previous set. 'Time Running' and 'Not Tonight' slotted in to the set perfectly with the former sounding louder and punkier than ever and the latter embracing the delicate and the melodic. Tegans electronic 'Are You Ten Years Ago' was probably an interesting and maybe challenging song to take from the recording to live, but it came off pretty flawlessly - with an addictively strong bassline and tightly sequenced vocals. Sara rounded off 'Walking With A Ghost' with a humorous explanation of trying to write an almost child-like song whilst carrying scarier undertones, in her own little strum-along sing song she explained to the kids, "Your mummy and daddy or daddy and daddy or mummy and mummy are getting a divvvooorce, but they still love youuu."

For Leeds videos: http://youtube.com/results?search_query=tegan+and+sara+leeds&search_sort=video_date_uploaded

Manchester:
Out went 'Floorplan' and 'Not Tonight' from the set-list, while 'Time Running' still made the cut. People threw glow sticks. People continued to shout 'Get Your Tits Out' (at these moments, embarrassed to be British? Check.) Sara quickly responded by pondering over when the live performance changed, it used to be rock stars in leather pants with girls on their boyfriends shoulders taking their tops off and now... the band get heckled to take their clothes off. Something went wrong somewhere.

London:

the particularly epic sounding 'Living Room'

After sharing how the 8 minutes alone in the womb without Tegan were the most calm and peaceful of Sara's life, and Tegan expressing their gratitude that each time they come back to the UK they are selling out bigger and bigger venues, the ladies took their bows and left us for European shores. We'll miss you two little Canadian wonders, do come back soon.

*Laura Marling/Johnny Flynn/Mumford & Sons @ Union Chapel, London (Live)

2008-03-06T23:58:00.000-08:00

Union Chapel is by far, as specialist gig venues go, one of the most beautiful places around. I mean yes you are sitting in pews, and there is no alcohol allowed in those pews but that kind of enhances things. Instead of drunk people, you have nice quiet people, and for nice quiet music it's very fitting.

Mumford and Sons were up first, definitely one of the most exciting unsigned bands in London at the moment. We’re already big fans, Marcus has a truly beautiful voice, the other boys in the band manage to harmonize with him flawlessly and the way Winston plays the banjo with that signature swaying/humping motion is always...captivating. In short, they are charming, very British, and provide you with a healthy dose of heartbreak and hope.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/92g6s2 - White Blank Page
http://www.sendspace.com/file/ipn4sl - Roll Away Your Stone
http://www.sendspace.com/file/8wyqmr - Feel The Tide Turning

Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit were second, energetically mixing anti-folk with country, again embracing beautiful harmonies - especially between Johnny and his sister Lilly. Their vocals particularly stood out when their instruments stopped and they sang a three part harmony acapella, a pretty brave choice, it only showed the strength of their pipes.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/faimd9 - The Box

Laura Marling was of course, the headlining act who everyone was there to see. With the recent release of her debut, 'Alas, I Cannot Swim' people were excited in that way that fans of new artists always are. She played almost the whole record (apart from two of our favourite songs; 'Failure' and 'Captain & The Hourglass' but we'll forgive her). She has chosen to add a string section for the gig which always manages to enhance the dramatic qualities of songs. Laura's voice blended beautifully with Marcus, and while at first talking to the audience seemed like a bit of a challenge she warmed and became more confident as the show went on. One of the most charming things about the evening? She encored with Kimya Dawson cover of ‘Be Mine’, clearly known by the band but not necessarily practiced, the whole band collapsed into laughter at the end of the song. It's always good to know people don't take themselves too seriously...

*Uh Huh Her @ Shepherd's Bush Empire, London (Live)

2008-03-06T06:42:00.000-08:00

Perhaps somewhat predictably, the queue outside Shepherd's Bush Empire was nearing 100% female, the few men lingering next to their girlfriends or wives looked thoroughly confused as to where they were.

The support act, if one could call them an act, were two ladies dressed in some kind of military outfit swaying awkwardly behind a set of decks. The term DJ sure means different things these days... not sure if I saw them touch the decks or the mixer once?

On a side note, it was also the first gig I have ever seen where the bar was empty and the queue to the ladies toilet was about 4 miles long. Seriously, a 45 minute wait to pee is not fun.

Uh Huh Her had a challenging task in front of them, although the audience was clearly going to be supportive whatever they did, they were playing mostly from a record that hasn't come out yet and therefore most have not heard.
They looked great, they were clearly happy to be there but straight out of the gate there was something a little lackluster about the performance. Granted they haven't played live on numerous tours in the way that most other bands who would have arrived at the empire have, but even others I spoke to were expecting more. The vocals were in tune but very quiet, the body language was nervous and the overall sound shrank into the corners. Most of the songs drifted in between indie and electro and while perfectly pleasant to listen to, there was never a moment in the set where things felt really electric or exciting.

I really wanted them to be great, I was impressed by their previous EP with tracks like; Say So, Mystery Lights and Explode, but the new material just did not grasp the imagination in the same way. There is nothing to say that with more shows and more experience interacting with an audience, Uh Huh Her could improve remarkably but for the moment the show never really rose above average.

*Update

2008-03-03T22:00:00.000-08:00

Hey Kids,
coming up for you lovely people by the end of the week:

*Northern State Interview (it's taking a minute and a half, one can only type so much between going to shows but it will be here by the weekend)

*Uh Huh Her Live Review

*Tegan and Sara Tour Diary with.. fabulous merch give aways (get excited, we have GOODIES think tees, hoodies, cds...)

*Laura Marling @ Union Chapel Live Review

We know what you're thinking, it's like Christmas/whatever holiday you celebrate come early. Stop, you're making us blush.

xo

*Get Glucky On The Move!

2008-03-03T18:27:00.000-08:00

Easter is almost upon us and that means.. trip time! Woo. March 16th we're off for a few weeks on a whirlwind tour of the non rock 'n' roll kind.

First stop... the most hip and happening (no medical pun intended) state with lots of elderly people.. it's... FLORRRIDA. Ok so this part of the trip isn't so musically inclined. Family time.

BUT then it's on to San Francisco for a week where we have already booked ourselves in to see:

*Bon Iver
*Tokyo Police Club
*Kaki King
*Citizen Cope

and will be going crazy wanting to buy everything at Amoeba Records.

Sigh, then it's back to my home away from home, and my one true love, New York City; for a week where we will be catching up with old friends (watch out Bowery Ballroom/Terminal 5/J.O.Y and the rest of you) and hopefully taking in some more shows although pickings are currently a little slim...

See some of you somewhere? Do hit us up if you're going to any of the shows we are, we'll wave, shake hands, stare in to each others eyes, sounds fun right?

Glucky x

*OK GO - You Are Not Alone (EP)

2008-03-03T18:15:00.000-08:00

OK Go is releasing You’re Not Alone, a five-song digital EP featuring New Orleans brass band Bonerama (as in TROMbone, of which there are four in the band). All proceeds from this project, available exclusively at iTunes, will benefit members of New Orleans’ music community. People like R&B legend Al Johnson, who are continuing to struggle to rebuild their homes and lives almost three years after the levy failures that followed Hurricane Katrina, the costliest hurricane in US history and one of the deadliest.

The project was born when OK Go singer Damian Kulash teamed up with Bonerama to play a New Orleans benefit concert last year. Together, they re-interpret three tracks from OK Go’s most recent album, Oh No: “A Million Ways,” “It’s A Disaster” and “Oh Lately It’s So Quiet.” A pair of covers – David Bowie’s “Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide” and Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released” – round out the collection.

Proceeds from You’re Not Alone will go to Sweet Home New Orleans, an organization dedicated to helping repatriate and support the thousands of local musicians who were scattered by Katrina, as well as building a new Habitat For Humanity home for Al “Carnival Time” Johnson.

Download the song here:
http://girlieaction.com/okgo/AMillionWays.mp3

*Northern State Interview

2008-02-29T05:53:00.000-08:00

We will be sitting down with the hilarious girls from Northern State tomorrow before they warm up for Tegan and Sara in Manchester.

Any last minute questions people would like us to ask, we always like hearing from you. Email us at the usual: getglucky@googlemail.com preferably before midnight tonight and we'll try and loop some of your questions in.

Glucky xo

*Need To Know - Bon Iver (Artist)

2008-02-28T15:20:00.000-08:00

Every so often when browsing through new music, recommendations from friends, hideous Myspace band requests etc. you find a voice that haunts you, stays with you like an audible shadow. You listen, you get busy doing something else, you listen again...you stop whatever you were doing...and just keep listening.

Bon Iver, from Wisconsin, is one such voice. I don't want to try and describe his voice too much because it will probably do him a disservice, likewise I don't want to try and compare him to anyone, but I will say - a voice that induces heartbreak, hope and serenity all in one is pretty rare in my opinion.

His record, 'For Emma, Forever Ago' is out now and I urge you to take a listen to the few tracks here and then take the next logical step...buy the record.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/uzuag3 - Skinny Love
http://www.sendspace.com/file/m6fgta - Flume
http://www.sendspace.com/file/m929d4 - Creature Fear

He is currently touring the states, check http://www.myspace.com/boniver for full dates.

*T&S Giveaway (WIN)

2008-02-27T14:50:00.000-08:00

In light of all the Tegan and Sara interview loving people out there, who by the way we thank for your lovely things said about the interview...

We are giving away ONE ticket to the SOLD OUT show in Manchester this SATURDAY (1st March). Apologies that it is only one ticket, not two, but there will be tons of other people there for the same reason who you can awkwardly stand next to/sing along with.

To win, it is very simple - just use that weapon of wit you so powerfully possess:

If you were to have a Tegan and Sara tribute band what would you call it?

Send all entries by noon on Friday to the usual email: getglucky@googlemail.com

Please include your name, and phone number and we will email you if you have won.

WOO.

xo

*Tegan & Sara Interview

2008-02-25T06:09:00.000-08:00

Recorded in January of 2007 with Chris Walla from Death Cab for Cutie, Tegan and Sara's 5th record 'The Con' came out in the states last summer and has finally reached our shores intact and sounding just as good as when we were listening last year. Recorded in Portland and accompanied by a DVD with tons of great footage from the recording process, Tegan and Sara are letting you in, so we hope you're excited.

As we said before we had a great time talking to Tegan in London last Thursday. We hope you enjoy reading as much as we enjoyed talking - say hi to Tegan kids...

*(see video at end)

LG: ‘The Con’ is your fifth record of a career spanning around ten years; do you think at this point people start to identify with either you or Sara more as songwriters?

Tegan: I think so, I mean in general I think our fans are attached to both of us but I certainly think that when it comes down to it certain people are attracted to certain songs. I’m not sure that our entire audience or our fan base actually sits at home and writes out songs like, ‘yes I’m a Tegan fan and I’m much more attracted to the way she writes’ but I think, certainly for the super fans, there’s a distinction between our writing. I like that, I think that’s really good. I mean we’re both writing from different places about different things and you know, we do our best to make it as cohesive as possible but it is two writers in one band. So certainly we don’t take offence when people…like I remember when Ryan Adams called us to ask us to tour with him, he actually called. He said, ‘I love “Underwater” and “I want to be bad” and “Monday Monday Monday”, I mean the whole record is amazing’ and I was just like, ‘yeah those are Sara’s songs, I’m going to give you to Sara’ (laughs) and he did, you know he followed Sara around the whole tour, he covered ‘Not Tonight’ and he was just…a Sara fan and there’s nothing wrong with that.

LG: There are Tegan fans…

Tegan: (laughs) There are a lot of Tegan fans. For some reason, I think because word got out quickly it seems, amongst the super fans, that I was single for the last couple years and it seemed like all of a sudden everybody was crazy about Tegan. So yeah I certainly don’t feel…there’s never been any competition between Sara and I in terms of writing or money or popularity or fans…

LG: SUVs, Hummers?

Tegan: Yeah, exactly, planes, I mean my helicopter is Sara’s helicopter so it’s all good.

LG: Mi casa es su casa.

Tegan: (Laughs) Exactly.

LG: Have you ever written stuff and thought you know what, actually, that’s too personal to share?

Tegan: Generally no, I mean I think that it’s all perception. I was actually pontificating on this last night about how there would be absolutely no way I could do what I do for a living if what I wrote the song about originally was what I was thinking about while I was playing it. So, over the years the song takes on a new meaning for me too just like how it takes on a new meaning depending on where we are and how old the audience is and what the demographic is or the type of story I tell prior to the song, it all changes. So generally when I write a song, if I don’t play it ever again or I don’t want to play it ever again it’s because I actually can’t relate to it anymore. You know? So some of our earlier stuff like literally the first two records, there is very little on it that I relate to and it’s not so much what I’m actually singing about, it’s actually more just the songs themselves, they’re very unbalanced to me. There’s a way that I think about music now that was so much in development there, that it’s very difficult for me to even try and wrap my head around learning to play them again, I literally could not do it you know?

LG: Yeah, I remember reading numerous times that you hate “Superstar”

Tegan: Yeah! It doesn’t make any sense to me, I mean I was in high school, you know 17 years old. It’s not what I’m singing about, the melody is hooky definitely and the production of it on the record is fine but when I actually sit down and try to play it, it’s just outside my box of comprehension at this point. I’m sad for all the people who want to hear it, apparently I promised everyone in Manchester that I was going to play it?

LG: Manchester can be rowdy…

Tegan: Yeah! I know, Sara told me that I’m probably going to get mauled but I don’t know how to play it and I don’t want to!

LG: There’s new stuff…people can…

Tegan: (laughs) Yeah people can get over it.

LG: I read in a previous interview that ‘Burn your life down’ was partly Sara writing and being inspired by stuff that you were going through, is it quite rare that you write about each others state of minds?

Tegan: Well, I think when Sara wrote ‘Burn your life down’ it was definitely a response to a combination of a lot of things that were happening in her life. I was going through this big change and this big break-up but I think what Sara was writing about…I think the distinction that we didn’t make early enough in our careers is that we’re not writing songs necessarily about each other or about our relationships. We’re writing about ourselves and how we feel about certain things, and so I think ‘Burn your life down’ was to do with Sara’s feeling about my break-up and my grandmother had just passed away. My grandparents were together for like 65 years, and it was devastating for our whole family. I mean she was the matriarch; she was the magnet that drew us all together. Our family has not been the same since, I mean there’s just not the same camaraderie without her and I think that song was just starting to scrape the surface of the magnitude of that loss and that represents all relationships - mine was only a 5-year relationship but it was still gigantic, I mean the core of our life was build around that relationship (with their grandmother) and when it ended it was significant for everyone.

LG: The record is pretty dark in some places, and definitely very intense. Do you feel like it’s a necessity as a songwriter to have a dark side to your personality? Or a brooding side?

Tegan: Well I certainly think it’s nice to be a musician to have an outlet for that dark side, I think that was certainly an inspiration for wanting to be what we are, for being driven and passionate about it. I certainly can’t imagine just writing poppy, happy, light songs. I’m not playing music to be rich and famous or to be popular and well liked…

LG: or to have helicopters…

Tegan: Yeah, I mean I think it’s fair that I have a helicopter and a hummer! But no, generally I feel like I’m doing this to have a vehicle to pass on this message, you know, this universal feeling. When we signed our record deal, the guy who signed us, he was a manager who had been managing for decades. He managed Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Neil Young and he said to us, ‘you’re going to be the voice of your generation’ and I did not understand, and thought that’s a lot of pressure and I’m not going to run for president ok…but I understand now what he means. We’re putting in to terms and writing songs that are universal and easily attached to, and by, people who have gone through any sort of anxiety or stressful relationship or heartbreak or loss. So, I think it does encourage our dark side for sure.

LG: Listening to ‘The Con’, I got it back in the summer of last year when it came out in the states because I refused to wait…

Tegan: Good for you, I thought it was silly that people had to wait.

LG: (cont’d) I noticed when I really thought about it that I didn’t ever hear feminine pronouns, is that a conscious decision to not use them or is that just how you write?

Tegan: Yeah, that’s just how I write. I mean I would never put someone’s name in, and I feel almost like by saying she or he I would be limiting the song. I did that on earlier records, I remember ‘My number’ was written about my best friend, who, he like had this intense emotional relationship with me and then he fell in love with me. It was so hard for me, I felt so sad for the loss, and the loss was so gigantic because I was in the midst in a kind of emotional love affair with a friend of his who was a female. The triangle between us was so sad and so hard, and I put a ‘he’ in the song and I hate playing the song now because it’s so hard to explain that to people. Where as if I has just written the song and taken that one word out, the song would make universal sense to everyone. So I think that pronouns, they really do limit the songs for me even, to be able to sing ‘Where does the good go’ you know, 5/6 years later, I can’t be overly specific or else it’s just too much. It’s like that song is about that time and I’m not there anymore so I don’t want to sing that song. Where as if you keep it somewhat general, like if I keep it about myself, it’s very easy to relate it to other things in my own life. So yeah, I don’t think it’s conscious so much as I’m just not attracted to doing it after 3 years of being on the road and playing ‘My Number’ I was like, if I have to sing ‘he’ one more time…(laughs) so I stopped saying he, and for years started saying ‘Keanu’ because ‘My number’ was in the movie he was in! So I was all like, ‘this song is for Keanu’.

LG: You could just put the mic out to the crowd and get them to fill in a word for you?

Tegan: Right exactly? They could figure it out themselves.

LG: The banter between you and Sara is becoming pretty synonymous with you guys as a band, and your fans obviously are very attached to that and to you guys. Have fans ever crossed the line?

Tegan: Sure, I mean it happens from time to time, generally it’s when people have been drinking but (laughs) certainly you don’t have to be a fan of mine to upset me while you’re drinking. You know, there’s moments where I definitely feel like people take it too far and certainly there are nights where I just feel like the audience is so over excited and screaming and crazy and then it’s like ok, great, you want a rock show, we’ll just play, no problem - we can do that. We can do that quite easily, sometimes I’m tired and I don’t want to tell stories, but then you’ve got the smattering of people who aren’t wasted and they’re like ‘Talk! Tell us stories!’ and you’re like, how?! When it’s madness we just rock out and get off the stage. But the stories are really important to us for sure and they’re funny, I mean they are funny! I don’t really know how we do it, we get on stage and we never tell the same stories and we just get up there and start riffing and talking. I like that energy that it creates with the audience for sure, I feel like it creates an intimacy.

LG: I feel like your kind of banter is quite rare but equally sort of… a complete necessity for live shows?

Tegan: I think so too.

LG: I always find it so boring when people just don’t talk at all.

Tegan: Me too, and not a lot of people do. Honestly, sometimes when bands do talk I’m like ugh, no don’t do it. Which I know we do too, we have moments or nights where we’re off too and I’m all like, ‘Ugh Sara, shut the fuck up!’ (Laughs) like stop talking, but then you know, I’ll say that and then everyone laughs and then we’re on a roll and it’s like, well Sara can keep talking because I’ll keep making fun of her!

LG: It’s a sister thing too.

Tegan: I think so…

LG: I make fun of my sister all the time.

Tegan: Right, it would be uncomfortable if it were Ted and I (their guitar player/band-mate) up there. People would probably be like ‘oh poor Ted!’ I think people have moments sometimes when they feel bad for Sara but when Sara gets me good, I mean I laugh! I’ll admit when it’s really funny.

LG: If for some reason you personally couldn’t be a working musician at a point in your life, is there anything else you would want to do?

Tegan: Well I think at this point, there are a lot of things I could do. I mean we’ve been in the industry for 10 years and we’ve managed ourselves for years and I have a high comprehension for everything that’s involved in doing what we do. I think that over the years we’ve definitely been of the school of artists that are very involved. I get cc’d on hundreds of emails everyday from my management and we approve everything, there’s nothing that doesn’t go through our business. So there’s any number of jobs I could do, I could run a merchandising company or be a manager or any of those things. I mean they would all be fine, I certainly see my future as always going to be somewhat music related. But I don’t know, if I had to create a whole new job or profession for my self I don’t know exactly what I would do, maybe write…something else?

LG: Yeah I suppose it’s probably very hard to imagine doing something else when you’ve been doing what you have for so long?

Tegan: It is hard yeah, and because I like it. You know it’s not just like; oh I’ve been at this stupid job for so long I guess ill just stay. It’s more like, I love this job and I’m not sure exactly what I could find to do that would inspire me more.

LG: Do you guys ever go into what your tattoos mean?

Tegan: You know I think the tattoos are kind of like the songs and open to interpretation? I mean certainly almost all of my tattoos have come at significant periods of my life, I generally don’t just get tattooed to get tattooed, I mean I do not get drunk and think, I’m going to get a tattoo! Put a clover on my knee!
But generally they come at the ends of relationships or significant times. Sara’s seem to revolve more around records, like it’s such a big thing. It’s almost like a pilgrimage to leave home for 2 years at a time to go on tour. But the actual meanings of them, I mean, they change for me. You know what I mean? Some of my tattoos are 10 years old, I can’t remember, I’m like, why?…why did I get that! Some of the new ones are so big that I’ll probably never forget getting them done and maybe I’ll already regret them but I can’t really stop you know? I mean I just got two more…

LG: Everyone says it’s pretty addictive

Tegan: It is kind of addictive. Now I’m like, I wish I’d had the foresight to plan them out earlier so now I’m getting two at a time to balance them, like, if I’m going to get this one then I need to get one on the other side exactly the same. I wish I’d done that earlier, because the rest of me feels fucked up now…unbalanced!

LG: What’s your idea of happiness and unhappiness?

Tegan: Well I think the times in my life where I have been happiest I was busy, so I think for me, being productive and having purpose is very important to me. I constantly tell people that having a year off is not as fun as everyone thinks it would be and everyone goes, ‘yeah right’ but that’s because you only ever get 2 or 3 weeks off.

LG: Yeah I wouldn’t think a year off was fun.

Tegan: No…having a year off was very difficult, I got 18 hours a day to think about my life, myself, my purpose, my point in being here and it can be very stressful and overwhelming. So I think the idea of happiness is balance, balance of what you are and who you are and what you need specifically, and I think that part of balancing all that is to have purpose and to be doing something and being productive. I’m OCD, I’m a Virgo, I’m extremely linear and if you just give me a year like, ‘have fun!’ I just go ‘aaahh what do I do?!’

LG: Fly the helicopter?

Tegan: Yeah! Well, I did that for like a month but you know…

LG & Tegan: Boring!

*All live photos and video © Get Glucky - please do not use elsewhere without permission.

(We are trying to rescue the sound but our Macbook might have betrayed us. For all those non lip readers out there Tegan is just saying a quick hello, "Hi everyone, I'm Tegan from Tegan and Sara and we're here in London. You're reading my interview with Get Glucky

*Tegan & Sara update

2008-02-23T16:29:00.000-08:00

So the last week has been a little bit mental. Manic. Crazy. All of the above? Tick. But.. every adjective I have just used I mean in the best way possible. We have ridden on more trains, been to more cities and listened to more music than time should allow.

On Thursday morning we had a lovely interview with Tegan Quin from Tegan and Sara. If you're a regular reader of this blog you will know that we think extremely highly of these ladies and therefore were very grateful to be able to shoot the breeze with Tegan for a little while...

We will post the interview Monday morning so please enjoy it, we hope you like it. If you're a member on their message boards or fan-sites etc. feel free to link to our site.

We'll also have a tour diary report on the lovely Quins, which will be up early in the week; Brighton, Leeds, Manchester & London, Glucky has it covered.

Phewf. Ok. Sleep.

xox

*Dizzee Rascal @ Academy 1, Manchester (Live)

2008-02-20T14:18:00.001-08:00

You've gotta hand it to Dizzee Rascal. It's not like the UK can boast many MCs who've managed to a) cross over to the states b) put out consistently well received albums and collaborate with indie stars without confusing anyone oh and c) consistently pack out rooms, but he has done all of the above.

With recent collaborations with the Arctic Monkeys, Dizzee Rascal has drifted slowly into the indie scene and has been accepted more than ever before. This perhaps helps to explain the extreme diversity of the crowd packed in to the room to see him play tonight.. you had the hip-hop heads, the indie boys, the overly made up girls. Everyone was out to play. Even that one random girl who is clearly on pills and keeps mindlessly twirling and bumping in to everyone.

DJ Semtex warmed up for him and I must admit, while my hip-hop days have kind of faded in to the background of my musical taste, Semtex was amazing. Not because of any particularly unique DJ-ing skill but more the selection he chose, if it was a great hip-hop song in the last 20 years it's likely that Semtex spun it.

Dizzee Rascal came out to rapturous cheering and craziness, the crowd was most definitely live and ready to lose it, even if only for the big songs. He had the usual hype man with him (never sure what they're for? They just shout every other word in to a mic) but he did not distract from Dizzee's infectious songs. I've seen him once before and was slightly disappointed as it felt like he shouted everything but this time was much better, words were articulated, beats were crazy. Everything you need in a hip-hop show. Predictably there were certain songs that received extra noise, Sirens, I Luv U, Old Skool, Jus' a Rascal and classic Dizzee tune, Fix Up, Look Sharp. It's clear that some of his material is a lot stronger than others, and there were lulls in the craziness but he paced his set perfectly and near the end dropped the new-ish song 'Temptation' with The Arctic Monkeys (collaboration.. they weren't there. It's ok. Calm down.) All night the bass was the kind that resonates inside your chest, makes you thankful for your youth or your heart would probably be having a fit. So Dizzee impressed his varied audience and from the sound of the cheers the audience impressed him.

*Alessi/Alan Pownall/Naked & The Boys @ The Social, London

2008-02-19T15:28:00.000-08:00

The lovely Chess Club boys put on another fantastic gig last night at the Social in London and of course Glucky was there. First up was Alan Pownall, but this was an all together different Alan than the one we had seen at the Globe a few nights before (see review). Tonight Alan was playing with a band made up of Marcus and Ted, both from Mumford and sons, and it really made a difference. His confidence was apparent and deservedly so, the drums and double bass really added to what were already strong songs. Colourful day is still the standout song but we are beginning to see why the Major label offers are beginning to come in for "Tatler's most eligible bachelor"...we're not joking.

Next up were Naked and the Boys, fresh off the Young and Lost club tour supporting Noah and the Whale. We have seen NatB a few times and are always impressed with the level of energy these guys perform with. This set was no different. The single "If you find love" comes out on Young and Lost on March 3rd.

As we were waiting for the headline act to start, a very shy girl took the stage and picked up a guitar. She looked almost embarrassed to be on the stage but started singing songs anyway. It was at this point we realised she WAS the headline act. This was Alessi, who we had heard lots about but had never had a chance to see play live before. Alessi is just 17 and has been playing live for over a year. She is signed to EMI and even had Conor 'Bright Eyes' Oberst produce her album. Without being too dramatic, we were blown away by Alessi. Her haunting voice was even better live than on the great recordings, and she was just so damn...adorable!

The look of shock on her face when the crowd asked for an encore was priceless as she said it had never happened before. We know she wasn't lying as she had no clue what to play as an encore, so she did what any teenage girl would do, and asked her dad who was watching from the back.

Alessi is really set for big things and look for a nationwide tour coming later this year.

*Land Of Talk Interview

2008-02-19T15:02:00.000-08:00

We sat down with Elizabeth Powell, the lead singer of Montreal, Super Bad-Ass (they didn't say that, we did) band, Land Of Talk after their first night warming up for Asobi Seksu in London. It was an awesome set even though they only had time for a handful of songs, there was even a pool in the basement of the venue, so of course the interview went swimmingly. Wasn't that just the most awful attempt at a pun you've ever heard?

Thankfully, Elizabeth from Land Of Talk was extremely entertaining and we didn't attempt any cringe-worthy puns...

LG: So I know Land Of Talk has had quite a few changes in the line-up?

Lizzie, Land Of Talk: Oh my god, yeah.

LG: How did it come to be at its current line-up that it is now?

LOT: A lot of hoping and praying! And Brian materialized (their new drummer). Brian came on for the first time this tour. He’s really good friends with my boyfriend and I knew he was a killer drummer.

LG: He makes the best drumming faces I’ve ever seen in my life!

LOT: They’re legendary! He played in a band called ‘Immature Love’ and the front man Josh Scott was pretty incredible to watch as it is and they’re this legendary band, anyway people were fighting within themselves because they didn’t know who to watch, the lead singer or Brian. But he’s fucking awesome.

LG: He looks like a kid high on a lot of sugar.

LOT: (Laughs) I’ve never seen him! I was just so excited, I wasn’t even looking at his face, I was just so excited that he was working out and that he wasn’t a...fucking loser! Just like, you never know. The bottom could fall out at any moment so you just have to hope that people have got your back. But Brian is totally great.

LG: I had a bottle of champagne to bring you guys to celebrate the first night of the tour for you but I left it at home because I thought the interview wasn’t happening!

LOT: You did not!! You brought a bottle of champagne, are you serious? That’s just beautiful!

LG: Well it’s not here..

LOT: Who cares it never tastes as good as the idea of it. That’s just beautiful thank you!

LG: So where does the name Land Of Talk actually come from?

LOT: Funnily enough, it’s not like this anymore but it used to be that I would talk all the time about ‘oh the band that I’m going to do’ but then I’d realise, there was a café that we always used to hang out in, in Montreal where people were always working on a novel or people who were just like ‘I’m going to do this’ so it was the whole all talk no action thing. Even on a larger scale when I started researching ‘Land Of Talk’ I think somebody said ‘oh I’m just working on a novel’ which funnily enough he’s doing his novel now and one of the chapters is called ‘Land Of Talk’ because it was with him that we were talking on the phone one day and I said, ‘Oh who knows in this land of talk’ and he was like ‘that should be your band name!’ and I was like ‘yeah you’re fucking right it should be’ (laughs). But it was the whole idea of just talking, I realised I could wake up when I’m 87 and not have done any of this, so it was a good motivator. But now it’s all do, no..

LG: Sleep?

LOT: No nothing!

LG: Did you always want to do music?

LOT: Yeah, always mostly music. Otherwise it was figuring out how to help people out of their own shitty mindsets. I used to work with developed mental delay children, usually I dealt with like 7 year olds or people who were 14 but had the mental capacity of a 7 year old. I did that before I did music full time and I always still.. I would do that in a second if I had the opportunity. I would love that I think that’s awesome. But I was always musically inclined and involved.

LG: It’s pretty interesting to go from something like that to music though, they’re pretty different?

LOT: Kinda the same thing though, do you know what I mean? Like you’re dealing with people who are often suffering from something that is obstructing them from behaving normally and I just find in this industry you find a whole bunch of people who are fucking themselves up, I mean they weren’t born fucked up but you’re still dealing with the same bizarre tendencies or like aggressiveness or self-loathing so you can kind of use the same tactics. You know, calming people, speaking, use your words! Don’t hit, use your words.

LG: Don’t smash guitars. Put down the crack pipes etc. We’re not doing too well on the drug front here (Winehouse etc.)

LOT: Love Winehouse.

LG: I know right? Really don’t want anything bad to happen to her.

LOT: She’s going to be ok.

LG: Maybe you should talk to her?

LOT: (Laughs) Maybe we should hang out. By the way I’m not even attempting to imply that I have no problems! But no I love Amy, I was watching her on the Grammys and her mom was with her. She looked happy; I think the sooner people leave her alone the sooner she’ll get better. When she’s on she’s super on.

LG: Do you feel like the current musical focus on Canada, because everyone seems to be having an obsession with Canada…

LOT: yeah it’s weird.

LG: I totally have it too.

LOT: that’s awesome.

LG: (cont’d) do you feel like it helps you as a band or is there a pressure to live up to anything?

LOT: I don’t feel any pressure, I feel like the only pressure is things like getting to the flight on time and all the stress of just… shit! But in terms of all that I don’t think that anybody is aware of it.

LG: Are people not really aware how much other people are interested in Canadian music right now?

LOT: No, I don’t think so. Come to more shows please! Prove it! It takes so much to get over here that we rely on people to come to the shows. It’s like if you have the choice of seeing a local band or a foreign band on one night, go see the foreign band!
That whole Decemberists tour… was a disaster. But we made the best of it.

LG: Yeah I heard about that. That sucked.

LOT: I mean it was ok, because I think it was so hard, it sucked so hard that everything else now is so nice. Everything feels perfect, ‘oh we got lost’ like who cares. That tour was so shitty; I don’t think anything could be shittier.

LG: I don’t want to harp on it because it was so negative and it’s in the past but..

LOT: Oh no no, go ahead

LG: (cont’d) so did they literally just cancel the tour without telling you guys?

LOT: Yep totally. Now I got an email three weeks after I was being kind of negative about The Decemberists, I got an email from them explaining everything more or less. Because we did press that whole week that the tour was cancelled and we were obviously pissed off and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get used to losing that much money…it’s not like we’re on a huge label. You get tour support, they front it, but then you have to pay it all back. Personally I was really fucking pissed off. Just as a personal thing, like human-to-human, in terms of mutual respect and common decency, a lot was left to be desired. They have their own shit to deal with that I understand fully and I would never wish that on anyone, it wasn’t about why they cancelled it was just about how they did it. I’m sure that probably fell on the tour managers shoulders, he dropped the ball and I can only understand that if we were in that situation and had to fly home immediately for something… that’s why you have a tour manager. If anything, I have nothing nice to say about their tour manager.

LG: Is it true that your record ‘Applause, Cheer, Boo, Hiss’ was done in a really short time and not on a lot of money?

LOT: $1000 yeah. I borrowed $1000 from my mom and I just paid her back 8 months ago, like I finally had enough money to spare it. I was like here take it mom, and she said ‘but you’re still poor’ and I just explained that (laughs) if she didn’t take it now there was never going to be another window! The new album that we just recorded isn’t as low-hi and I’m glad.

LG: Is the second one going to take a while to come out over here?

LOT: I have a lot of inside secret information! Because we just got out of our Canadian deal, that was the one thing that might have been stopping us from releasing it in June but we’re now aiming for like a May or June release. I think we’re coming back in April though to tour again, and in the summer too.

LG: Damn, I think I’m in Canada in the summer. June and July.

LOT: June we’ll be touring Canada..

LG: I’ll be there.

LOT: Yeah! Done.

LG: You recently covered Wintersleep ‘Weighty Ghost’…

LOT: Yeah! Do you know Wintersleep?!

LG: Yeah, I love them.

LOT: Ok good! They’re totally awesome.

(Cue massive conversational diversion about future tours, fears of flying, starting up a cruise ship band because of the un-enjoyable routine of flying, Lizzie’s joke side band cRap your pants with her manager (find it on their myspace page), Brian the drummer walking in and us telling him about his amazing drum faces and Wintersleep)

LG: (cont’d) are there any songs by other artists/bands you wish you’d written?

LOT: Yeah, actually. That’s really funny we’re going to record a cover tomorrow for a compilation for a magazine. But they asked us to do something danceable but not dancey? The only thing I could come up with was, do you remember Aaliyah, she died some years ago? Rest in peace

LG: Yeah in the plane crash.

LOT: She has this song that was on the Doctor Doolittle soundtrack called ‘Are You That Somebody’?

LG: That’s an amazing song!

LOT: So guess what, tomorrow we’re going to cover that song! Because I used to sing it at home by myself recording it on a 4 track but you know it’s like ‘DIRTY SOUTH’…

LG: Are you going to have a Timbaland?

LOT: I think I want to cut that part out and then the part where he’s like ‘YO’ and does his part; I’m just going to do a weird noise guitar solo. But I just can’t wait to be like (Lizzie starts singing) ‘Boyyy I’ve been watching you like a hawk in the sky, like I…’ So that’s not a song I wish I wrote but I’m really glad I’m covering it. But then there are lots of other songs that I wish I wrote.

LG: After ‘Speak To Me Bones’ do you know what the next single is going to be from the record?

LOT: I don’t know if we’re going to do another single because I think we’re just going to release the next album…

LG: You didn’t play my favourite song tonight

LOT: What’s your favourite?

LG: All My Friends.

LOT: Oh yeah, because we don’t have a third guitar but once we’re bringing back Asobi Seksu’s guitarists, so we’ll have 3 guitars for a couple shows…

LG: When will those be?

LOT: Wanna come to Paris?

LG: Sure!

LG: The benefits of touring I think are sometimes more obvious that the negatives to people who don’t ever tour?

LOT: The downside of touring is that shit can fall through last minute, like you’re relying on other people until you are of the level at which you can be calling the shots and booking your own tours, you’re constantly at the mercy of supporting other bands. I think it’s happened for every tour I’ve ever done; something falls through and you just have to roll with it. My brother’s best friend’s father who just passed away, his favourite quote and life motto was ‘The most important F word in life is Flexibility’ so I’m gonna stop saying fuck so much. I have to learn to be very, very flexible.

LG: Is it ever hard to feel a sense of belonging in one place when you’re away and on the road so much?

LOT: Not anymore, it used to be that way but I think you just get used to it. I think whenever I used to get to hotels or venues and you’d just be in a room, I wouldn’t really talk to anyone but now I make much more of an effort to talk to people etc. and feel more at ease. You just have to switch your expectations and what your criteria for home is has to change a little. Just lose the expectation of feeling settled. Just expect to be in somewhere new everyday.

LG: My last question… not even really a proper question but what is this about your mom being a female alligator wrestler?

LOT: You know what that was a big mistake to put that on the MySpace because it is true, and really, not to make it seem like you’re not asking an original question! But now every single interview brings it up!

LG: Ok, then let’s change it up. Ignore the alligator thing, and tell us something random and new that’s not on the MySpace.

LOT: (laughs) Ok, my mom’s just cool so I’m going to stay in that vein. Now my mom is running for prime minister.

LG: Is her campaign about how she used to be an alligator wrestler?

LOT: Actually she’s never talked about that but that could come up! But she’s really ingrained in the campaign; she’s trying to be the leader of the Green Party.

LG: Well we are totally done here!

LOT: Ah, it was nice! That was so pleasant!

*Tegan & Sara - Norwegin Interview

2008-02-19T12:08:00.001-08:00

*Tellison @ Freebutt, Brighton (Live)

2008-02-19T11:25:00.000-08:00

Here at Get Glucky we don't like to make bold sweeping statements, but it is safe to say Tellison are one of the best bands in the UK and surely anyone who thinks otherwise has obviously not heard them. For this very reason we travelled down to Brighton for the first date on their small 14 date tour.

The tour, with Furthest Drive Home and The Maple State, has a rotating headline act and Tellison just so happened to be on first.

The set started at a fast pace with album opener "Hanover (start clapping)" and apart from the tuning between songs, didn't slow down until it finished with a raucous performance of Reader.

We were also treated to a new song called "A Little Kitten" which proved that these guys still have more to give. Quite why Tellison haven't achieved the level of success they deserve yet is beyond us, but mark our words, it WILL happen.

*Tegan & Sara @ Fopp, London (Live/Instore)

2008-02-19T10:09:00.000-08:00

Even though we've had Tegan and Sara blaring through our headphones for the last few years for some bizzaro reason we've never been able to see them live. Of course the big tour is coming up but when we got wind of this London in-store we wanted to go along and shout/clap/throw some love their way. They sounded fantastic, performing; The Con, Back In Your Head, Dark Come Soon, Where Did The Good Go and Walking With A Ghost. We'd also just like to take the time in print to say that the recent NME review of 'The Con' was one of the worst, not to mention laziest, pieces of journalism we have seen in a while. So yeah. BOO NME.

Pictures will be to follow but for now here are some videos that some eager beaver has already posted:

Performances of 'The Con' and 'Walking With A Ghost'

*Update

2008-02-18T15:13:00.000-08:00

Phewf ok so it's been a freakishly busy weekend while we were down in London. We still owe you the Land Of Talk interview which is coming, the AOL server has been down for the last two days (super helpful when you do things ONLINE) so we've not been able to get on but now we are (fingers crossed) back.

So yes back to updates,

*Land Of Talk Interview
*Tegan and Sara @ Fopp, London (sorry we didn't write this up beforehand but we found out very last minute.)

and we are very very excited that we have an interview with Tegan and Sara on Thursday (If I keep travelling back and forth to London so much I feel there should be train miles like air miles, seriously it's not funny how much money is wasted on train tickets.)

We have a short time slot with them but have some questions that we think are pretty decent and can't wait to talk with them.

And...

*Dizzee Rascal @ Academy, Manchester is happening tomorrow night and we will be there with the best trainers on we can find. Then later on in the week we have Tegan and Sara live in Brighton and Band Of Horses live up in Manchester. Phewf, we're gonna need a week long coma sleep soon.

P.S GLUCKY IS GOING TO BONNAROO. Excitement demonstrated.

x

*Alan Pownall/Davie Fiddle/Mumford & Sons @ The Globe, London (Live)

2008-02-16T07:54:00.000-08:00

The Globe in Notting Hill London, not exactly the venue you'd expect to find a blossoming folk/singer-songwriter night. The Globe is Jamaican at heart, the bright colours on the wall only those in the Jamaican flag, the reggae pumping out of the speakers and the laid back vibe runs all the way through.

Yet tonight it is hosting three fine young sets of men:

Alan Pownall

Davie Fiddle

Mumford & Sons

Alan Pownall played solo, although was backed up on one track by Marcus Mumford. His voice is hard to place... but definitely pleasing.
Our Recommendation - Colorful Day
http://www.sendspace.com/file/mvzc3f

Davie Fiddle was second up, and this was my first time seeing him. He impressed me greatly, with a simple guitar and string arrangement his stuff is truly haunting, and the violin/fiddle makes it echo in the mind for hours after. It for some reason, reminds me of Irish music that has crashed into a London voice. It's not unhappy music however, and brought nice warm and fuzzy feelings to our belly. His recordings don't quite do his live performance justice but we're ofcourse going to give you one.
Our Recommendation - Chasing Reason
http://www.sendspace.com/file/u4jcp0

Mumford and Sons have been mentioned a few days ago, and are such a bright new talent. Again infused with folk the band uses guitars, banjos, double bass and keys and is finally topped by Marcus's stunning voice. Really. The Voice. We love it. The song we've given you is pretty darn stunning, in our opinion anyway. Not for those whose hearts break easily.
Our Recommendation - White Blank Page
http://www.sendspace.com/file/bibclv

With a packed crowd, singing all the lyrics back, crammed into a tiny Jamaican bar. You can't beat those kind of gigs.

*Land Of Talk Interview

2008-02-15T17:44:00.000-08:00

....will be coming at you Sunday/Monday.

We had a lovely time with Elizabeth from Land Of Talk last night (they were supporting Asobi Seksu @ ULU, London) mainly because she is lovely. From what I remember the interview was really good too. Oh and the set was amazing.

We will tell you all about the it and deliver the interview to your hungry little eyes on Sunday.

Enjoy your weekend you youthful bunch.

Glucky xx

*Laura Marling - Piccadilly Records (Instore)

2008-02-14T08:47:00.000-08:00

We do enjoy instores. Intimacy is always nice.

Our latest expedition was to go see Laura Marling debuting some songs from her new record, "Alas, I Cannot Swim". We are already completely going steady with the record but seeing it performed in a smaller setting before things take off big time is always nice.

We have already reviewed the album, but in case your fingers are feeling horribly lazy and you want some quick advice; check out from the album:

Cross Fingers
Ghosts
Tap At My Window
Captain & The Hourglass
Failure
My Manic & I

Pictures? Yes Please!

*Need To Know - Mumford And Sons (Band)

2008-02-14T06:39:00.000-08:00

For fans of Laura Marling, Johnny Flynn, Noah & The Whale and generally boys with very nice voices and folkie rhythms.

Marcus plays in Laura Marling's band, but when we heard his voice with hers we suspected his own band would be rather wonderful. We were right.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/ulq17i - White Blank Page (Beautiful song, take the time to listen, you won't be sad you did)

http://www.sendspace.com/file/x6do19 - Roll Away Your Stone

They have some shows coming up:

Feb 15 2008 8:00P
The Globe w/ Alan Johnson (pownall) London
Feb 18 2008 8:00P
COUNTRY WINSTON DJ SET @ CHESS CLUB The Social London
Feb 21 2008 8:00P
Huckster Club @ Water Rats London
Feb 27 2008 8:00P
MI7 Warehouse Party w/ King Charles (and Alan Pownall) London
Feb 28 2008 7:00P
Bloody Awful Poetry @ Old Queens Head London
Feb 29 2008 7:30P
Hoodoo Hop @ The Troubadour London
Mar 24 2008 8:00P
Soho Revue Bar London

We will be at the one tomorrow night, Land Of Talk and Mumford and Sons in one evening. Gosh we're feeling spoilt.

Glucky x

*KT Tunstall/Billy Bragg - HMV London (Instore)

2008-02-13T13:37:00.001-08:00

Billy Bragg and KT Tunstall @ hmv 150 Oxford Street, London.

Billy Bragg and KT Tunstall will be performing a small live set. To announce the result of The Best Ever British Album vote, HMV have teamed up with Q Magazine to bring a special musical celebration of British music across 50 years.

150 Oxford Street on Monday 18th February at 1pm

We will see you there!

Glucky x

*Ellen Page - Black Tambourine (Video)

2008-02-12T15:58:00.000-08:00

From the movie 'The Tracey Fragments' but pretty much the best thing we've seen on the internet this week.

*Need To Know - Wintersleep (Band)

2008-02-12T04:16:00.000-08:00

Wintersleep will probably be no strangers to many a Canadian, but I wanted to put them up here because most people I have been speaking to about them look utterly confused when I mention them.

Although they have had two albums previously (Untitled & Self-Titled). On October 2, 2007, they released their third full-length album, Welcome to the Night Sky. This is the record that I am currently completely besotted with. For anyone who knows them already but doesn't own 'Welcome To The Night Sky' some of it is quieter, and more gentle then their previous stuff but no less hard hitting.

Taken from their bio:

"Following the release of their 2005 self-titled sophomore album, Wintersleep spent months on the road touring through Canada, America and Europe. Upon return to their native Halifax, the band enlisted the ear of veteran producer Tony Doogan (Mogwai, Belle & Sebastian and Super Furry Animals), and hid themselves in studio for April and May of 2007. It was during this time that the ten tracks of Welcome... grew into their final stunning form.

Each song in its own way points to the fact that sometimes looking too hard reveals things best left unseen. But still, hope grows beneath these sable clouds and distant stars, and a light that looms beyond them all. Until then, welcome to the night sky..."

*Glucky Recommends*
- Weighty Ghost
- Drunk On Aluminum
- Dead Letter & The Infinite Yes
- Archaeologists
- Laser Beams

and the lovely video for 'Weighty Ghost'

www.wintersleep.com
myspace.com/wintersleep

*Amy Winehouse - Grammys (Video)

2008-02-11T18:17:00.001-08:00

She actually seems back on form, fingers crossed it lasts. For any of you who missed the Winehouse Grammy performance... enjoy.

*Fergie - Funny OR Die (Video)

2008-02-11T18:10:00.001-08:00

Well lookie here, Fergie has a 100% intact sense of humor...

*Land Of Talk - UK/European Dates (Tour)

2008-02-11T03:40:00.001-08:00

The dates were changed a couple times due to scheduling issues but these are the final confirmed dates kids. Get your tickets now! See you at ULU..

with Asobi Seksu…
15 Feb – London ULU

Headlining…
25 Feb – London The Fly

with Menomena…
27 Feb – London Kings College
28 Feb – Nottingham Rescue Rooms
29 Feb – Dublin Sugar Club
1 March – Liverpool Korova
2 March – Bristol Thekla

*Update

2008-02-08T04:15:00.000-08:00

We are in the process of moving.. (physically not on the internet) which is why new things are not coming out thick and fast but 'lay back and relax your mind' and we should be moved in by the weekend during which we will present you with a hoard of new goodies. For example; the funny interview with Noah & The Whale we did last night. Funny guys.

p.s a tip, don't collect random things like 7" vinyls, they are a pain in the ass when you have to move!

Glucky x

*Bonnaroo - 2008 Line-Up

2008-02-06T11:39:00.000-08:00

It's pretty sick, not quite as good as Coachella in total but we wanna go.

* Pearl Jam
* Metallica
* Jack Johnson
* Kanye West
* Robert Plant and Alison Krauss featuring T-Bone Burnett
* Phil Lesh & Friends
* My Morning Jacket
* The Allman Brothers Band
* The Raconteurs
* Willie Nelson
* Death Cab for Cutie
* B.B. King
* Sigur Ros
* Levon Helm and the Ramble on the Road
* Ben Folds
* O.A.R.
* The Bluegrass Allstars Featuring Luke Bulla, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Bela fleck, Edgar Meyer & Brya
* M.I.A.
* Umphrey's McGee
* Iron & Wine
* Yonder Mountain String Band
* The Swell Season
* Talib Kweli
* Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Soul Stew Revival
* Gogol Bordello
* Broken Social Scene
* Rilo Kiley
* Mastodon
* Lupe Fiasco
* Against Me!
* Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
* Pat Green
* Ozomatli
* Tegan & Sara
* Solomon Burke
* Drive-By Truckers
* !!!
* The Avett Brothers
* Israel Vibration
* Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet featuring Bela Fleck
* Robert Randolph's Revival
* Aimee Mann
* Ladytron
* The Fiery Furnaces
* Orchestra Baobab
* Ghostland Observatory
* Jose Gonzalez
* Dark Star Orchestra
* Minus the Bear
* Donavon Frankenreiter
* Lez Zeppelin
* State Radio
* Battles
* Jakob Dylan
* Two Gallants
* The Sword
* Vampire Weekend
* Little Feat
* Nicole Atkins
* The Felice Brothers
* Mason Jennings
* MGMT
* The Lee Boys
* Black Kids
* Serena Ryder
* Steel Train
* Grupo Fantasma
* Back Door Slam
* Bonnaroo Late Night Chat About with David Cross
* Janeane Garofalo
* Zach Galifianakis
* Jim Norton
* Brian Posehn
* Mike Birbiglia
* John Mulaney
* Michelle Buteau

*Laura Marling - Alas, I Cannot Swim (Album)

2008-02-05T14:41:00.000-08:00

Laura Marling has been honing her craft for a while, even though she hasn't yet reached 18 (she's 17). She often says she can't stand to play her earlier songs because they were written in somewhat silly 'teenage folly'. But her debut album, one of my most anticipated of 2008, is written and performed with a remarkable maturity.

Offered in both regular CD form and the impressive 'songbox' (more expensive but comes with beautiful artwork, postcards, wrapping paper, a game, fold out paper patterns and more - truly magic) it is one of the most creative ways to release a record if you're steering clear of the Radiohead route.

I'm avoiding talking about tracks; 'Ghosts' 'Night Terror' and 'My Manic & I' purely because we have already gone in to them when reviewing her EP, but the album, oh the album!

The album is one of subtle diversity, intense lyrical content and beautiful melodies. It delivers both darkness and boldness in equal measures. She invokes a Bob Dylan esque spirit on 'Tap At My Window', a song that like many of hers, appears sweet on the surface until you pay closer attention and realize they are some pretty dark undertones, her songs rarely ending on a cheerful note. With other singers this could get old, but there is something so convincing about Marling.
Maybe because she makes no apologies for the more solemn side of her personality or maybe because she has revealed fairly few details about herself, either way it makes a stunning debut. Songs like, 'Failure' reveal empathy for someone whose path has not gone quite the way it should have, "He used to be a singer in a rock 'n' roll band, he would write the songs and I'd tremble at his hand" and later in the song, "just be glad you'll smile again, because so many don't".

On, 'You're No God' she picks up the pace with a freight train rhythm, 'Cross Fingers' sees her voice take a more wistful direction, becoming softer and yet equally as poignant. 'Crawl Out Of The Sea' takes on a lovers ballad of times past, while 'Captain & The Hourglass' retains a truly haunted-at-sea quality, "My friends, they don't really get me, think i'm the only one. Well I sold my soul to Jesus and since then I've had no fun."

There is something to treasure with each song on this album, its clear Marling endless questions surrounding religion, love, devotion, tolerance and maybe just life in general. She may not get the answers to her questions but she should deservedly have packed out rooms when she decides to ask these lyrical questions in front of an audience.

8½/10

*The Bird & The Bee - One Too Many Hearts (EP)

2008-02-04T17:07:00.000-08:00

the bird and the bee are releasing a new EP, One Too Many Hearts EP, on February 12th especially for Valentine’s Day!

Give a listen to the first track on the One Too Many Hearts EP, “Birthday” below...

QuickTime:
http://bluenote.edgeboss.net/qtime/bluenote/thebirdandthebee_audio/onetoomanyhearts/01_birthday.mov

Windows Media:
http://bluenote.edgeboss.net/wmedia/bluenote/thebirdandthebee_audio/onetoomanyhearts/birthday.asx

Real Player:
http://bluenote.edgeboss.net/real/bluenote/thebirdandthebee_audio/onetoomanyhearts/birthday.ram

The video for 'Polite Little Dance Song'

"The past year has been an eventful one for the bird and the bee, the Los Angeles band made up of singer Inara George and multi-instrumentalist/producer Greg Kurstin. The Los Angeles Times named them one of “10 Bands on the Horizon for 2007” and their self-titled debut, a deliciously subversive indie-pop album, was released in January to rave reviews. The New Yorker called it “a sure delight” and Rolling Stone described their distinct sound as “audible sunshine.” Their music could be heard on shows like Grey’s Anatomy, and they toured throughout the United States, Europe and Japan, both as a headliner and opening band for such artists as Lily Allen, Sia and Rilo Kiley.

Always enchanting, the bird and the bee are now releasing the One Too Many Hearts EP just in time for Valentine’s Day. The four-song EP includes three new songs by the duo: “Birthday”, “The Last Day Of Our Lives”, which Inara George describes as “kind of a flower child-funk/Serge Gainsbourg-thing”, and “Come As You Were”.

The EP’s closer, “Tonight You Belong to Me” is a duet sung by George and Gus Seyffert (a multi-instrumentalist who has toured with the band playing guitar and autoharp). The song was originally written in 1926 and was most famously made a Country hit by Dottie West in 1977 and later performed as a duet by Bernadette Peters and Steve Martin in the 1979 film The Jerk."

*Johnny Flynn Interview

2008-02-04T08:17:00.000-08:00

We caught up with Johnny (and a few of his band mates) in their dressing room before their show at The Ruby Lounge in Manchester...

So I was just saying before the interview started that I’d seen you play at quite a few small London gigs
The Lock Tavern yeah.

So you’ve been a regular on the London gig scene for a while now, does it feel great to finally be on your headlining full UK tour?
Yeah it does, it’s our first headline tour. We did a couple of support tours last year with Jack Penate and Iron & Wine. But yeah it’s really nice, it’s nice having your own crowds and being able to get the sound right for us, those sort of technical things are great. It’s quite an exciting time, we’ve got an album that’s coming out really soon and it’s all about to happen, having spent loads of time together the songs are tighter than they have been so it’s good.

Were the crowds good at Jack Penate/Iron & Wine?
Yeah it was really good; I don’t think we had a bad gig. We didn’t feel like we were received badly at all but they were quite diverse and I wouldn’t even say that we were somewhere in the middle of those too because we’re sort of another thing all together.

So were you learning or performing with instruments from quite an early age?
Sort of yeah, I started learning the violin at 6 and then went to a music school and picked up the piano but now I’m also playing banjo and mandolin but I’m teaching myself.

So you’ve finished recording the full album now? Where did you record it?
Yeah it’s all finished now, we recorded in Seattle, well just outside of Seattle, in this amazing barn called Bear Creek studios. It’s run by this guy Ryan, and he’s been building up this studio over the last 30 years. We lived above the main recording room and just didn’t see daylight for about 5 or 6 weeks, we just lived in that space and got really into the music.

Was there anything in particular that made you not want to record it in the UK?
Not really, I guess I don’t really feel like I’m from anywhere. Our music has references from Britain and America and other places so it doesn’t feel like we have to stick here and make a ‘home-grown’ record. We met this guy who we really wanted to do it with, we did one song with him and we didn’t even feel like we got that song particularly right but I knew for me, he would be another creative entity within what we were. He didn’t try and mould our sound or change what we did he just knew how to technically record what we had already worked out, and make it the best that it could be. He had loads of really cool old mics and tube amps so it was great for that.

If you can narrow it down what would you say inspires your song writing most?
Sometimes its very specific situations or reactions and feelings, reading about some story that triggers some kind of recognition, some experience I’ve had or more just an overwhelming need to praise my friends, I feel like I learn a lot from the people I’m around. It’s so broad, it could be going to an art gallery, the need to create I think is in everyone and sometimes it just comes out. The most inspiring feeling is quite often writing the words, seeing it all come together, playing around with a riff or a melody.

So you tend to write lyric before melody?
Yeah, very rarely do I come up with what I think would be a very good tune and then thought well what does that mean for the words. Sometimes its just one phrase, or a chorus first, it tends to come more immediately than the melody. It’s really important to have strong and true lyrics, usually I have a few notebooks full of verse that I’ve written and if I find a good melody I can usually just piece together things from my writing.

Your music is more or less considered contemporary country/folk but do you think there is a lack of that kind of music within the British music scene?
No, I guess because we’re put on the bill with bands like that quite a lot it seems like there are loads of people doing it. I mean it can feel claustrophobic, like there are too many but there are actually only a few that I really rate…

Who are they?
There are different people that I like for different reasons, the anti-folk scene in America like Jeffrey Lewis.

Yeah I sold merch for him once in New York he’s great.
Yeah I really think he’s amazing, so true. I really like some of the English people too; Noah and The Whale are really good. There’s so many folkies and I actually feel that anyone who has attached themselves that scene as a named scene a few years ago did themselves a disservice because scenes go in and out of fashion and really music doesn’t deserve to be on that level, it is what it is and it changes. People should be allowed to do different things.

Are there other contemporary artists who people would maybe be surprised you listened to?
Yeah probably, I like some hip-hop and Joe who’s in the band and plays cello, makes and listens to a lot of electronic music and makes jungle so we’d go to drum and bass nights and stuff like that. I think Jamie T is pretty good, I don’t really see music in genres though which I feel is a healthy thing if I may say so. It's just people doing what’s right for them.

Queue lots of random irrelevant banter about Jeffrey Lewis…and then back to the interview...

So you’re playing south by south west in the states this year right?
I think we might not be anymore; it’s a sore subject! It’s a money issue mainly.

You’ve spent time in the states before, when you were discovering some of the New York anti-folk scene, were you living there?
No I wasn’t, my girlfriend was out there studying so I went to stay with her for a while, but I seemed to go there quite a few times in the last couple of years and then I was out there doing a play for a month and got to spend more time there.

Did you like it there?
Yeah, loved it… it’s pretty interesting.

I heard you came back and from that started a club night in London?
Yeah I actually started it with Adam’s (band mate) associate.

Associate? Sounds very formal…
Adam’s ex/girlfriend. I had to check what their current status was. Had to check on facebook. (To Adam) What’s she saying?

Adam: I don’t know! I haven’t checked it.

Is that not wrong that people know that from facebook, you find things out before people tell you!

(Johnny in a mock voice) Adam is now single! Broken Heart.. It’s so unbelievably wrong isn’t it?
But yeah so we only actually did a few nights but it was basically when I first moved to London, all three of us; me, Tom, and Emmy The Great basically set it up so we could play our songs and people would have to listen! We’d all been to New York and thought what was happening there was really cool and we wanted to see if people would respond to it here. We were all just obsessed with Anti-folk and those were my first gigs, it was the start of playing live for me. It was mainly only our friends who came though!

I know you’re also an actor and have travelled companies performing Shakespeare, do the skills you develop as an actor, do they help you as a musician or are they two very separate crafts for you?
They’re sort of abstractly linked in a way; all experience tends to bleed into other things. For me it’s like a sense of… stagecraft sounds contrived, but I mean just helping an atmosphere to create itself and helping you to relate to an audience. My firm belief has always been that good acting is not acting; it’s reacting, and so being in that place and being super aware can really help your music anyway because it’s all about communication.

Would you ever be able to choose between the two?
I often feel forced by situation to choose, it’s really difficult. Sometimes I feel a bit resentful, obviously if you start putting yourself up for work in the acting business you have to be available to do the work. If you turn a job down because you’ve got a gig then people get a bit turned off. When I want to do that again I’ll have to be completely available for like the next six months.

*Peggy Sue & The Pirates - New Song (Video)

2008-02-03T14:07:00.000-08:00

*Current Playlist - Adele, Lupe Fiasco, Chris Walla, Wintersleep (Album)

2008-02-03T12:58:00.000-08:00

Adele '19'

We've covered Adele pretty frequently, now the album is finally out. 19 is an accomplished debut, songs like 'Daydreamer' 'Best For Last' 'Crazy For You 'My Same' and a blog favourite 'Hometown Glory', have been floating around the internet for a while so it's especially nice to hear the surprises on the record. 'Cold Shoulder' is another Mark Ronson production and clearly so, but still keeps its originality thanks to Adele's shimmering vocals. 'Melt My Heart To Stone' is a favourite on the record, with an epic string section and catchy chorus. 'Right As Rain' and 'Tired' are upbeat, more dancey numbers and round off the album's ballads nicely. The beautiful cover of Bob Dylan's 'Make You Feel My Love' rounds off the end of the album and rounds off an impressive debut. We'll be watching closely this year to see what develops...

Lupe Fiasco 'The Cool'

Since Lupe Fiasco debuted he's been one of the more exciting voices in Hip-Hop. Along with a selection of others, his records have managed to be relevant and intelligent, even ridiculing the rims/gold/drugs/hoes content of other rappers music. His second album has been highly anticipated and judging by the success of the first single, 'Superstar' it looked like the album was going to follow in its footsteps. The album definitely has its gems, repetitive, fast, 'Go Go Gadget Flow' the soulful and old school 'Paris, Tokyo' and 'Hip-Hop Save My Life' or the quirkier, 'Fighter' but it's not the same consistency that's come to be expected from a great Hip-Hop record, he's definitely one of the most relevant rappers today but the album doesn't quite live up to all the hype that came before it.

Chris Walla 'Field Manual'

Death Cab For Cutie's producer and member/magician Chris Walla has finally branched out on his own after producing records for others like Tegan and Sara's 'The Con'. His voice on 'Field Manual' sounds eerily like Death Cab's front man. But this is only a good thing, the voice sounds similar and while the music could be put in the same genre it's more accessible than Death Cab, with hookier hooks and catchier choruses while still retaining the ambient quality so crucial to Death Cab. From the echoing quality of two-fifty and the prophetic lyrics, 'All hail an imminent collapse' to the louder, guitar driven 'The Score' or 'Geometry &c' and back around the the softer, catchy 'Sing Again' and 'Everyone Needs A Home' Chris Walla has made an album full of songs to make you happy.

*Need To Know - Mozella (Artist)

2008-02-02T18:06:00.000-08:00

I came across Detroit native Mozella about two years ago after hearing her beautiful song, 'Light Years Away' on a soundtrack. She has one of those voices that is a little left of center, you think you know where it's going to go and then it surprises you. Describing herself as pop/acoustic/soul, her voice sounds beautiful on top of her acoustic guitar. She has had one full length record called 'I Will' and is in the process of recording her second.

She's done some pretty cool covers, Weezer's 'Say It Ain't So' for example...

http://www.sendspace.com/file/ozruuj - Killing Time

http://www.sendspace.com/file/nz9sc9 - The Best Gift

And a video recording of a new track, 'Four Leaf Clover'

*Land Of Talk - Speak To me Bones (Video)

2008-02-01T05:22:00.000-08:00

All Hail...

'Speak To Me Bones' Video

They also have a rad cover of a Wintersleep track 'Weighty Ghost' on their myspace, check it out.

www.mypace.com/landoftalkmtl

*Juno (Soundtrack)

2008-01-31T17:52:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the UK release of 'Juno' (the film we've been ridiculously over-excited to see) and the wonderfully magical music in the film, we have a copy of the soundtrack to give away, that's right, one of those crazy freebies you hear so much about.

Tracklisting is below:

1. All I Want Is You – Barry Louis Polisar
2. My Rollercoaster - Kimya Dawson
3. A Well Respected Man – The Kinks
4. Dearest – Buddy Holly
5. Up The Spout – Mateo Messina
6. Tire Swing – Kimya Dawson
7. Piazza, New York Catcher – Belle & Sebastian
8. Loose Lips – Kimya Dawson
9. Superstar – Sonic Youth
10. Sleep (Instrumental) – Kimya Dawson
11. Expectations – Belle & Sebastian
12. All The Young Dudes – Mott The Hoople
13. So Nice So Smart – Kimya Dawson
14. Sea Of Love – Cat Power
15. Tree Hugger – Kimya Dawson and Antsy Pants
16. I’m Sticking With You – Velvet Underground
17. Anyone Else But You – The Moldy Peaches
18. Vampire – Antsy Pants
19. Anyone Else But You – Michael Cera and Ellen Page

To win just email the usual address, getglucky@googlemail.com with Juno in the subject and your name and address. We'll get right back to you if you win.

GO!

Glucky x

*Paramore @ Manchester Apollo (Live)

2008-01-31T15:47:00.000-08:00

It's no secret that as a blog we love a bit of Paramore with our breakfast.. but before I continue with this show review I will address the cynics:

1. Yes we were pretty much the oldest people (apart from parents looking out for kids) at the show.
2. Yes there were really irritating teenage girls there singing the lyrics to Paramore songs in the bathroom at the top of their lungs and totally out of tune (Only made us appreciate Hailey more).
3. Yes there were emo haircuts galore in every line of sight.

Ok so now we've covered the cliches can we talk about the show? Thanks!

No matter which angle you look at Paramore from they're pretty impressive, whether you're a fan of the music or not; they're incredibly young, they've had two well-received albums, the latest of which has done very well, they seem to still be humble and they put on one of the most energetic live shows around.

I do think their age is important, there are quite a few young bands around at the moment, but when Paramore's first record came out some of them were only 15-17. They've been working hard at their stuff from a really young age.
They don't care whether their music is cool, they're die hard Jimmy Eat World fans (who they will be co-headlining an American tour with this year no less) and they come at shows with a genuine desire to leave you feeling satisfied.

The show started with a video montage of riot scenes, and had still pictures of riots at the back of the stage.. maybe a hint of some maturing young punklets?

Hailey's vocals are off the chart amazing, even when she's headbanging/throwing herself around/jumping, they don't falter for a minute.
You get the feeling that if Kelly Clarkson had never gone on pop idol but instead had fallen in with the punk kids she might have ended up where Hailey is. They worked through a set of new and old songs while predictably giving more air time to the new record. Admittedly the slower, ballad songs were less exciting than the rest but gave the chance for the band and the audience to catch their breath. Songs like 'Emergency' 'Pressure' and 'My Heart' from 'All we know is falling' still evoked deafening screams while newer songs like 'For a pessimist, i'm pretty optimistic', 'Born for this' and 'Crush, crush, crush' and the epic finale, 'Misery Business' had the kids crowd surfing their way to the front with vigor, desperate to get the attention of the band.

They covered a Jimmy Eat World song which everyone seemed to appreciate, and it struck me how while you can never be sure what kind of an impact a band is going to have, even if it's not on the same scale as Jimmy Eat World, they could easily be that band for a new generation, passionate, punk-pop little tic tacs fronted by a lead singer not to be messed with.

Can I get a fist-pump for Paramore?

*Adele - Break Free (Live)

2008-01-30T03:13:00.001-08:00

In the misty desert of the internet we found this old live track from Adele..

it's pretty raw, from her school days.

Enjoy!

Adele - Break Free
http://www.sendspace.com/file/ch4joz

*Coming Up

2008-01-29T10:06:00.000-08:00

-Paramore Live Review
-Stars Live Review
-Lupe Fiasco Album Review
-Adele Album Review
-Johnny Flynn Interview
-Noah & The Whale Interview

*Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor (Single/Video)

2008-01-28T18:33:00.000-08:00

Hot Chip are pretty brilliant, no shocker there. They are a band who I maybe avoided at first because there was so much hipster hype around them but recently I have realized the merit of their brilliance. This video is a great example. Check the half painted women.. trippy. Anyone who has a fear of weird objects, trippy colours and painted people should not watch. Everyone else.. enjoy.

'Ready For The Floor' is the first single to be taken from Hot Chip's forth coming album 'Made In The Dark'.

We also recommend downloading their songs 'No Fit State' 'Over and Over' and 'The Warning'. Talk about making geek cool.

*Laura Marling - Alas, I Cannot Swim (IN STORE)

2008-01-28T04:04:00.000-08:00

Hey folks,

to celebrate the release of her debut album, "Alas, I Cannot Swim" (Which we HIGHLY recommend) Laura Marling will be playing a couple exclusive live sets in record stores:

Live set @ Piccadilly Records, Manchester - 53 Oldham Street (5pm, Wed 13th Feb)

Live set @ Rough Trade, London - Talbot Road (6pm, Mon 4th Feb)

If you're going along, which I highly suggest you do - she is quite magical, then we will see you at the Manchester one.

Glucky x

*Need To Know - Natty (Artist)

2008-01-27T15:35:00.000-08:00

We are so glad we got to the Adele gig in time to see the support act. Natty is most easily defined as reggae, but claiming influences as wide as:
Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Neil Young, Prince, Burning Spear, D'Angelo, The Streets, Miles Davis, Sly Stone, Van Morrisson, Nitin Sawhney, Velvet Underground, Supercat, James Brown, Roots Manuva, Pink Floyd, Common, Slum Village, Bob Dylan, The Clash, David Bowie, Joy Division,

you can imagine reggae might box him in a little bit. Reggae, Soul, Indie, whatever he sounds like to you his voice is beautiful - smooth and rich with that little bit of grit to remind you that being signed to a major label doesn't mean having to wear a coat of polish on the outside.

Watch his amazing video session with MTV spanking new here:
http://www.mtv.co.uk/overdrive/id/99997

With a full band including a wonderful bongo player, he really stood out as refreshing, bringing reggae at you from a contemporary stance. It was very cool. We can only find a musty bedroom recording of one of our favourite songs of his called, 'Bedroom Eyes' so have a look and a listen but trust that live is always better! Also take a visit to his myspace to hear a clear version of his upcoming single, 'Cold Town' and 'Bedroom Eyes'

http://www.myspace.com/natty4d

*UPDATE* we have a Natty mixtape for you, it's 40 minutes long so flick through and listen, not everything on it is similar to what we heard we're listening now and it's sounding pretty cool. Happy Almost February.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/sej2ps

*Adele @ Royal Northern College Of Music, Manchester (Live)

2008-01-27T14:54:00.000-08:00

There is an unbelievable amount of recent hype around Adele, we can't help but feel a little bit smug seeing as we've been going to her gigs for two years now in little pubs in Brixton and Soho and now she has flown off the scale and is in huge demand.

This is one newbie where we really feel the hype is totally deserved. There's the usual preceding facts; only 19 years old, white with an incredibly soulful voice to rival the Winehouse's of the world etc. etc.

Tonight at The Royal College Of Music in Manchester she is humbled by the fact that the show has completely sold out and even before the first song has begun people are clapping elatedly.

Set list was as follows...

Her voice was truly immaculate, half solo and acoustic and half with a full band and string section, there wasn't a faltering moment as she worked her way through familiar songs, 'Daydreamer' 'Best For Last' and 'Chasing Pavements'. She used the gig to showcase a lot of unheard tracks, the Mark Ronson produced, 'Cold Shoulder' and the briefly Myspace previewed, 'Melt My Heart To Stone' and 'Crazy For You'. Her clumsy, funny and definitely endearing banter during songs made everyone see that you don't need to have a crazy/messed up private life to be a lady of soul, Adele can sing the blues without tabloid drama.

The Bob Dylan cover 'Make You Feel My Love' was carried off with total confidence including an intro to why she doesn't usually like doing covers ('I don't like singing covers cos it's hard to know what the singer was feeling, I don't usually understand what they were on about') The Jazzy stomp of 'My Same' would have had everyone out of their seats in a smaller venue and Adele, before closing the show with the epic and truly stunning 'Hometown Glory' said, 'Happy New Year everyone, hope you all had a good one. I know it's almost February but you know... BANTER' Legend.

*Tegan & Sara- Australian Interview

2008-01-27T14:48:00.000-08:00

I know we don't often post other peoples interviews mainly because you internet savvy kids can usually find them yourselves. This one might be no different but we thought it was a cool feature.. we chuckled.

Tegan and Sara: The Rise of Lesbian Rock Stars, in 4 Parts
Written by Megan Smith
Tuesday, 15 January 2008

On their fifth and most recent album, The Con, Canadian twins Tegan & Sara reached a new level of commercial success and a new generation of fans. OUTinPerth interviewed Tegan Quin, one half of the lesbian duo. As a tribute to the book-inspired concept behind The Con, we have decided to tell chapter by chapter how Tegan’s view of life as a queer musician has evolved over the past decade.

CHAPTER I

Tegan & Sara come out in rock star style and the lesbian world takes notice.

‘When you come out, you are really gay. You are rainbow-clad. You all of a sudden find your community and you identify really strongly with that. We wrote our first record when we were 17 and our second when we were 19 and those were the first two years that we came out… So, the first couple recordings were right around when we were coming out and absolutely that was an opportunity for us to be speaking directly to the girls we were trying to get with.’

‘The girl I’m dating, she was a huge fan and she was like “When I heard Business of Art [Tegan & Sara’s second album], me and my friends were listening to it and were like they’re totally gay. They must be gay!” Which cracks me up because in the States we were on the cover of Lesbian News – which is the biggest glossy lesbian magazine – but she was from Canada from a small town. I don’t think there is a person on Earth who didn’t know we were gay at that point, but I guess she didn’t.’

CHAPTER II

The girls learn to deal with their newfound fame and the crazy, obsessed groupies that come with it.

‘When it comes to the more unstable, obsessive fans, they get more obsessed with one of us. On the last record and in between records amongst real die hards it got out that I was single… This one girl got really obsessive and she started emailing a lot and she had this myspace page that was really intense. She was calling me the Virgo and talking about how we were destined to be together and how I just needed to let her in.… I want Lindsey Lohan, but I’m not going to create a whole myspace page about it.’

‘The fact is that at the end of the night when two hours have gone by and it’s minus 20 and ten kids are standing in an alley, they are lunatics – in a good way mostly, but they’re lunatics. I certainly wouldn’t be standing in an alley for two hours in the rain to meet me.’

CHAPTER III

Tegan goes from watching the L Word and perving on Marina to performing on the show and hanging out with Shane and Alice.

‘I loved Marina. I have a straight girl thing and an older woman thing. So, straight, older woman, I was so up for that… It’s a great show, especially the first two seasons, which to me were landmark. My Mom got it for me for Christmas, and my girlfriend and I, we watched the entire first season over the Christmas holidays. I didn’t know any of the people off the show at the time, but they shot in Vancouver and I would wander the streets hoping to run into them. That was when the L Word was getting a lot of press and a lot of gay people were complaining that it was not realistic… And I was like, who cares? It’s a fucking gay show and it’s entertaining and it’s hot and they’re not playing out a lot of the stereotypes.’

‘[Now] I have a friendship with Kate Moenning [Shane]… I don’t claim to be a best friend of hers or anything like that, but we’ve hung out a few times and she comes to our shows. Her and Leisha [Alice] pushed really heavily to get us on the show…’

CHAPTER IV

The girls defend their sexuality against critics who say they aren’t as gay as they used to be.

‘I gave interviews to gay press in America a couple weeks ago and almost every single interviewer asked me at some point or another in some way or another, why we didn’t talk more about being gay. In ten years, I don’t think I’ve done one interview where they haven’t asked me about being gay. [So] I disagree that there isn’t a lot of stuff about us being gay. I think it has been written about so much that people aren’t that interested in writing about it anymore because how many times can you say we’re gay? How many different ways can you say it? We’re gay.’

‘When you’re straight, you don’t have to walk around with pointy boots and tight pants and a Prada purse. You don’t have to embody all the Laguna Beach characteristics of hetero culture to be straight, you just get to be straight. I’m just gay. I don’t have to have a shaved head and a fucking armband tattoo and sit and listen to Ani DiFranco to be gay. I am all those things whether or not I’m representing them physically… I’m absolutely excited about leading another generation into the frays of pushing mainstream culture into accepting gay music and gay artists and recognizing that we are equal and the same.’

*Mash Ups (Team 9)

2008-01-26T16:33:00.000-08:00

Team 9 have been rumbling underground for a little while now, and in my opinion make some of the best mash ups around, not only in sound but in their choice of artists.

Their latest compilation is out for free download here:

http://stereogum.com/archives/mp3/mysplice-20-2007-mashed-up_007573.html

I urge you to go check it out, track listing is as follows:

01 team9 vs. Stereogum - "It's A Sweet Ghost Party" (Band Of Horses vs. Guns N' Roses vs. 2 Live Crew) (MP3)
02 team9 vs. Stereogum - "M.I.A.-Team" (M.I.A. vs. The A-Team Theme) (MP3)
03 team9 vs. Stereogum - "Smalltown Apology" (One Republic vs. Bronski Beat) (MP3)
04 team9 vs. Stereogum - "Roc Knife" (Jay-Z vs. Grizzly Bear) (MP3)
05 team9 vs. Stereogum - "A Forest Prayer" (Bloc Party vs. The Cure) (MP3)
06 team9 vs. Stereogum - "Loose Dancing" (Bangers & Cash vs. The Bee Gees) (MP3)
07 team9 vs. Stereogum - "My Man My Bomb" (Feist vs. New Young Pony Club) (MP3)
08 team9 vs. Stereogum - "Smokey Fire" (Arcade Fire vs. Smokey Robinson vs. The Gunsmoke Theme) (MP3)
09 team9 vs. Stereogum - "Countdown To Girls" (Europe vs. Sean Kingston vs. Calvin Harris) (MP3)
10 team9 vs. Stereogum - "Ratatat Under Ether" (Ratatat vs. PJ Harvey) (MP3)

Oh and for some extra MP3 Magic people...

http://www.sendspace.com/file/fmdl7y

Britney - Dead or Alive (Mash up with Daft Punk/Justice - it's pretty much amazing.)

Lupe Fiasco review coming very soon.

Glucky x

*The Savages - Rob Crowe (Soundtrack)

2008-01-24T09:08:00.000-08:00

We've been wanting to see 'The Savages' - the new Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney flick:

and in the process discovered a pretty awesome Rob Crowe song called 'Up' have a listen and enjoy...

Killer beard Rob.

The other song in the trailer is ofcourse Spoon 'The way we get by'

http://www.sendspace.com/file/wwyzlv

*RIP Heath Ledger

2008-01-22T15:53:00.001-08:00

I know this is a music blog but we were obviously shocked to hear that Heath Ledger had died tonight.

There's not much we can say that hasn't been said.. it's horrible and tragic, not only for his life to be lost but for his daughter to lose her father and for anyone who knew him to lose a friend/family member.

All respect and condolences go out to any and all who knew him.

Glucky x

*Laura Marling - Ghosts (Video)

2008-01-22T12:15:00.000-08:00

HA, what a totally weird video. We're slightly in love though.

*Coachella 2008 line up

2008-01-22T09:41:00.000-08:00

We are floored. Possibly the most amazing line-up ever.

The line-up for this year’s COACHELLA will feature:

FRIDAY, APRIL 25: Jack Johnson, The Verve, Raconteurs, The Breeders, Fatboy Slim, Tegan and Sara, Madness, The Swell Season, The National, Animal Collective, Slightly Stoopid, Mum, Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, Stars, Battles, Aesop Rock, Midnight Juggernauts, Does it Offend you, Yeah?, Minus the Bear, Spank Rock, dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip, Diplo, Adam Freeland, Santo Gold, Jens Lekman, John Butler Trio, Vampire Weekend, Dan Deacon, Architecture in Helsinki, Sandra Collins, Busy P, Cut Copy, Black Lips, Datarock, Professor Murder, Reverend and the Makers, The Bees, Porter, Rogue Wave, Modeselektor, American Bang, Lucky I Am.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26: Portishead, Kraftwerk, Death Cab for Cutie, Cafe Tacuba, Sasha & Digweed, Rilo Kiley, Dwight Yoakam, M.I.A., Hot Chip, Cold War Kids, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, DeVotchKa, Flogging Molly, Mark Ronson, Turbonegro, Scars on Broadway, Islands, Enter Shikari, Calvin Harris, Boyz Noize, Junkie XL, Cinematic Orchestra, Jamie T, The Teenagers, VHS or Beta, Carbon/silicon, Erol Alkan, Yo Majesty!, Little Brother, Bonde Do Role, St. Vincent, Akron Family, MGMT, Institubes DJs (Surkin, Para One and Orgasmic), James Zabiela, Sebastian, Kavinsky, Dredg, The Bird and the Bee, Grand Ole Party, New Young Pony Club, 120 Days, Yoav, Electric Touch, Uffie

SUNDAY, APRIL 27: Roger Waters (“Dark Side of the Moon”), Love & Rockets, My Morning Jacket, Spiritualized, Justice, Gogol Bordello, Chromeo, The Streets, Metric, Danny Tenaglia, Simian Mobile Disco, Booka Shade, Murs, Dmitri from Paris, Autolux, The Field, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Les Savy Fav, The Cool Kids, Sons & Daughters, Sia, Holy Fuck, Black Kids, Black Mountain, The Annuals, Kid Sister w/A-Trak, Man Man, Duffy, I'm from Barcelona, Manchester Orchestra, Deadmau5, The Horrors, Austin TV, Shout Out Louds, Plastiscines, Brett Dennen

Tickets for COACHELLA go on sale Friday, January 25 at 10:00 AM (PT) via TicketMaster charge-by-phone lines at (213) 480-3232 and at all TicketMaster retail ticket centers or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices are as follows: 3-day general admission: $269.00 + applicable service fees. Single day general admission: $90.00 + applicable service fees. Camping events: General admission camping: $55.00 per person + applicable service fees.

At the same time, promoters can now confirm preliminary details for the ALL POINTS WEST MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL. The three-day event is set for August 8, 9 and 10, 2008 at Liberty State Park in New Jersey. This historic location offers panoramic views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the Manhattan skyline. The festival’s name is inspired by the area’s rich history, particularly Ellis Island and the NJ Central Railroad terminal located on the festival site, where people boarded trains for ALL POINTS WEST. Additional details re the line-up, ticketing and other information for ALL POINTS WEST will be announced in the coming weeks.

For up-to-the-minute information on COACHELLA, please visit www.coachella.com.

*Adele - Chasing Pavements WIN (Single)

2008-01-22T09:27:00.001-08:00

Hey Kids,

sorry there was a little bit of a gap there, life has a way of catching up with you, sitting you down and making you complete boring day to day tasks. GO AWAY I said. And now I am back.

We have a pretty little ditty for you..

There are a lot of Adele fans out there so we are offering one lovely winner a 7" vinyl of her new single 'Chasing Pavements'.

All you have to do is send us two lines that rhyme, can be about anything you like from why soup makes you happy in winter, to how not everyone loves Oprah.. anything you like (just make us smile) best gets the vinyl. See how little effort it is? You get to be creative AND win things. Life is good to you.

Send to usual address: getglucky@googlemail.com

Glucky x

*Holly Miranda/The Jealous Girlfriends

2008-01-18T17:33:00.000-08:00

The lead singer of 'The Jealous Girlfriends' Holly Miranda:

also has a solo project (http://www.myspace.com/ravenmayhem) and we saw this pretty awesome video of her and Scott Matthew covering Elliot Smith's 'Between The Bars' and as always... wanted to share it with you.

*Tegan & Sara 2008 American Dates (Tour)

2008-01-18T02:52:00.000-08:00

For our friends across the ocean, T&S are coming back to you...

17-Apr Salem, OR - Elsinore Theatre - www.ticketswest.com
19-Apr Arcata, CA - Kate Buchanan Room - HSU Box office
21-Apr Davis, CA - Freeborn Hall @ UC Davis - www.tickets.com
22-Apr Santa Cruz, CA -The Rio Theatre - www.ticketweb.com
28-Apr Phoenix, AZ - The Marquee - www.luckymanonline.com
29-Apr Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theatre - ticketmaster.com
30-Apr Aspen, CO -The Belly Up - www.etix.com
2-May Tulsa, OK - Cains Ballroom - www.gettix.net
4-May St. Louis, MO -The Pageant - www.ticketmaster.com
6-May Madison, WI - The Barrymore Theatre - barrymorelive.com
7-May Milwaukee, WI -The Pabst Theatre- www.tickets.com
8-May Indianapolis, IN - The Egyptian - www.ticketmaster.com
9-May Cincinnati, OH - Bogart's - www.ticketmaster.com
10-May Pittsburgh, PA - The Palace Theatre - ticketmaster.com
12-May New York, NY - Terminal 5 - www.ticketmaster.com

Tickets are on sale today, all shows are all ages, with the exception of Arcata, CA, which is 16+.

*Get Glucky on Myspace!

2008-01-15T16:46:00.000-08:00

Hey Kids,

glucky is now on myspace at:

http://www.myspace.com/getglucky

crazy original link isn't it? Forgive the simplicity of the page but we just got ourselves up there.

Come be our friend, it can get lonely out there.
Please post comments on the page about bands and artists you'd love us to feature/interview etc. for the first time or maybe again for a more recent article - no matter how big or small and we will do our best to make it happen for you!

Always Love,

Glucky x

*Kaki King - Tour, Single, Album

2008-01-15T16:11:00.000-08:00

Kaki King is returning with her forth album after her contributions to Foo Fighters and Tegan & Sara’s (hear her awesome quirky guitar parts on 'Floorplan' and 'Knife Going In' from 'The Con') latest albums, and having been nominated for a Golden Globe award for “Into The Wild” together with Eddie Vedder.

Download the song "2 O'Clock" from the new record here:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/cyg1a9

The record 'Dreaming of Revenge' is out March 11th and then she's heading out on tour soon.. dates to follow.

Glucky x

*Laura Marling - Album release, tour and tickets

2008-01-15T10:35:00.000-08:00

Along with Adele, 2008 is going to be Laura Marling's year.. and deservedly so.

The Song Box is coming…

There's now less than a month until the release of the Song Box, featuring Laura's debut album 'Alas I Cannot Swim.'

The Song Box (designed by Laura with artwork by Andrew Mockett) will be released on February 4th. It contains…

* The album 'Alas I Cannot Swim' (CD)
* A concert ticket
* Special mementos and artwork relating to each of the 12 songs on the album

The concert ticket will be printed with a code which you can register at lauramarling.com and specify which gig you would like to attend. You will then be sent a unique barcode to your mobile phone via text message which can be used to gain access to the Song Box Tour date of your choice in March.

This will be the only way you can gain access to these gigs - tickets will not be available to buy separately.

There are only a limited number of Song Boxes available. You can order yours from amazon.co.uk or play.co.uk

Alas I Cannot swim Digi/C.D Album will be available to buy in shops and online from February 11th.

In the meantime, the new single 'Ghosts' will be available on CD from January 28th. Or you can download now from itunes...

We recommend this single, it's completely beautiful:

"Presents her with the pictures and says, these are just ghosts that broke my heart before I met you, these are just ghosts that broke my heart before I met you. He opened up his little heart, unlocked the lock that kept it dark and read a written warning saying, i'm still mourning; over ghosts, over ghosts, over ghosts, over ghosts that broke my heart before I met you. Lover please do not, fall to your knees it's not, like I believe in ever-lasting love."

*The Cinematic Orchestra (Live Video)

2008-01-15T10:24:00.000-08:00

'To Build A Home' was a ridiculously stunning song from The Cinematic Orchestra - that we already knew; but a good friend just sent us this video of the song live and we are completely mesmerized - we hope you will be too.

The clarity of his voice... the string section... *sigh* we adore it.

Maybe we'll follow that up with some star-gazing/life contemplating.

Glucky x

*New Kids On The Block - Part 10 (The Jealous Girlfriends)

2008-01-14T15:12:00.000-08:00

We've already confessed our love for The Jealous Girlfriends, now is the time to find out a little more about them..

Please, for the record, state:

1. i) Name and Current residing/Music making location?
Holly Miranda, The Jealous Girlfriends, Brooklyn, NY

ii) Please share a fun fact about you (Music related or otherwise)
Fun Facts About Me: I put hot sauce on everything. I am deeply drawn to neon green.

2. A little summary of your sound? Any artist comparisons to help people fit you into their mental record collection?
We are all over the map as far as comparisons and genre classifications go. Between the four of us our influences are pretty extensive, but I would hope that we put our own sauce on it. Making the songs our own and changing the definition of what that is everytime we play it and learning more about the songs.
So I would rather let the listener hear what they want and connect with what they hear, rather than me telling them what to find...but yeah basically its yacht rock.

3. What was the first ever concert you attended? (Preferably no lies, even if it's embarrassing, my first was The Spice Girls so no judgement here)
My first concert was probably a concert at church...like some guy juggling basketballs and singing 'I believe I can fly'. A Harlem Globetrotter who found Jesus that came to perform at a "Friday Night Special Service". But if you mean a proper 'rock' show, it was Brian Adams. He played at the Palace of Auburn Hills; I was ten in a stadium full of forty year old women going crazy for "Yeah I would die for you". It wasn't that great of a time. The first concert I ever attended by choice was Maceo Parker, which was rad.

4. Which artist/band would be a dream collaboration for you?
I am having my dream collaboration come true as I type this. Dave Sitek and Katrina Ford are producing my solo record. If you don't know who they are... run to google. We are in Brooklyn recording till the end of January... this record is gonna be bananas!

5. Where can we find/hear/buy your angelic music?
myspace.com/thejealousgirlfriends and thejealousgirlfriends.com
myspace.com/ravenmayhem

p.s. The Jealous Girlfriends hit the road with Kevin Devine following our Jan 19th show with him at Bowery Ballroom in New York. East coast and Southern/Midwest US shows.. come say hi.

*Vivek Shraya Interview

2008-01-14T14:11:00.000-08:00

Ok, so it's no secret that Get Glucky loves us some Canadian music but we especially like the artists who not only make great original music but have a nice little talent for re-working songs by others. Therefore, we introduce you to Toronto's very own; Vivek Shraya.

Vivek Shraya introduces himself to YOU:

LG: How did you first get started making music? Were you learning an instrument/s from a young age?

VS: I started singing at an early age. I dont really remember how I started to be honest. I think like all things at that age: my mom made me do it. I was really into music class in elementary school where we learnt such hits as Good Kind Wenceslas, Bonhomme Bonhomme and On Top of Old Smokey. It was also in music class that I discovered my inability to play the recorder, and my unmatched skill at playing the bells. I didn't pick up guitar until 19.

LG: Who are the bands/artists you listened to growing up and the ones you listen to now?

VS: I didn't start listening to western pop music (aside from Kung Fu Fighting and Relax, Don't do it that my dad liked to play in the car) until I was 12 or so, and while most of my peers were listening to Nirvana and Pearl Jam, I was rockin out to TLC and Salt-N-Pepa. These days I have been listening to mostly the new Hot Chip, the new Radiohead and Santogold.

LG: Do you tend to write melody before lyric or the other way around?

VS: I tend to write lyrics first. I am really inspired by a single word or a phrase and will build around it. SOS for example was built around the phrase "stress on the stands."

LG: You have recorded with both Tegan and Sara Quin and performed with them too, how did you originally meet and how did you go about picking the songs they were going to contribute to?

VS: I met Tegan and Sara at one of their shows here in Toronto. With The Alphabet, the song was somewhat inspired by them stylistically, so it really made sense to have Tegan sing on it and with Your Name , I had demoed the track at Sara's place and she was going to add more instrumentation to it and send it back. She ended up singing on the demo she sent back and I was blown away and asked her to sing on the final version.

LG: What are your favourite songs off your records to play live and why?

VS: From If We're Not Talking, my favorite song to play is probably Your Name, mostly because it's super poppy and people seem to immediately respond to that track live. I have really been enjoying playing the Seven Nation Army cover live as well, because people instantly recognize it and I can just have fun with it. I dont have the same responsibilty to a cover as I do my own stuff.

LG: You played some Parisian shows recently, was that your first experience of touring in Europe? How do the crowds differ from the Canadian crowd?

VS: This show in Paris *was* my first European show and it was really incredible! I had no idea what to expect. Before I started, everyone seemed to be doing their cool French thing...smoking and looking hot. But people really got into it in a way that I have yet to experience in North America, presumably because electro/dance music is really happening out there right now. It was really gratifying.

LG: What made you choose to cover seven nation army? Any other songs coming up that you're going to re-work?

VS: Meghan Toohey, who produced the track and If We're Not Talking, suggested it actually. We knew we wanted to do a cover in the vein of the record and had been talking about it for awhile, going through our favorite songs and artists. It's just such a great song. It's kind of hard to fuck it up. I would love to do another cover soon. Any suggestions?

LG: The way the music industry seems to be going artists are not relying on record labels so much, do you still feel that urge to sign a deal and widely release records or do you have your own plan carved out?

VS: I think a label can provide support and resources that independent artists don't often have and in that respect, I think they are still vital.

LG: What song by another artist do you wish you had written?

VS: Right now I would have to say House of Cards by Radiohead. It's just such a beautiful song, Thom at his most clear and sincere.

LG: Are your records going to be fully released in Europe/UK? any future tour dates planned for here?

VS: Right now, If We're Not Talking is available worldwide via vivekshraya.com and iTunes, though I am hoping for and working on actual distribution and touring in Europe this year. Fingers crossed!

Get your eager little mitts on Vivek's cover of '7 nation army' here:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/v9t804

we love it.

www.myspace.com/vivekshraya

*Need To Know - The Jealous Girlfriends (Band)

2008-01-11T09:08:00.000-08:00

Don't be mislead by the name.. this is not a band full of scorned women (just incase that's where your mind was going).

The Jealous Girlfriends are the latest band out of Brooklyn to get people talking, while everyone else was salivating over Vampire Weekend we were swaying/dancing/shaking to The Jealous Girlfriends.

First things first; they are:

Josh Abbott - Guitar, Vocals, Drums
Alex Lipsen - Keys, Synth, Bass Modules
Holly Miranda - Guitar, Keys, Trombone, Vocals
Mike Fadem - Drums

Their first record 'Comfortably Uncomfortable' still remains our favourite with such beautiful hazy gems as 'Lay Around' 'Mother May I' and 'Whoever you are'. Holly has one of those voices that gets under your skin in the best way, quirky and delicate enough to relax you but deep and smokey enough to make sure you pay attention.
The songs take different directions, the pop/jazzy 'Lay Around' faces the fragile and beautiful 'Mother May I' which meets the acoustic/bluesy 'Whoever you are'.

The new self-titled record has gone in a slightly more indie/rock direction but is still getting us excited; 'The Pink Wig to My Salieri' to the vocally stunning 'Roboxulla' and the electric, male fronted 'How Now' we will be keeping a close eye on these lovely sounding Brooklynites.

For all you lucky ducks in the states, they are touring with Kevin Devine at the moment, if you see a show let us know how it is!

Tour kicks off at:

Saturday, Jan 19th
Bowery Ballroom
6 Delancey @ Bowery, NYC
w/ Kevin Devine

see http://www.myspace.com/thejealousgirlfriends for all other dates!

*Land Of Talk - UK Dates (Tour)

2008-01-11T08:41:00.000-08:00

After having the brutal choice of choosing between two very desired gigs last October (The Blow vs. Land Of Talk) we heard it was the last time The Blow were touring 'Paper Television' so we chose them. HOWEVER. We were sad big time to miss Land Of Talk but knew they would be back. The time has come...

Directly from the horses.. blog?

"We will be touring UK and Europe Feb/March and then jumping over to SXSW to play a few shows. after that we will hang our touring hats until the Full Length is released July. mind you it's hard to get a feel for when the album will actually be released due to all the "red tape" in label land."

So far we can only find a London show but will post the rest as they crop up.

Tickets for London 'White Heat' Date here:

http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=251107

For those of you who know Land Of Talk you will know how exciting their record is and therefore how excited to be about their live shows.
For those of you who don't know them and feel like taking a few minutes to maybe fall in love with a new band please do, they have been described as having elements of 'Cat Power, PJ Harvey, Rilo Kiley and Yeah Yeah Yeahs' they have been described by us, the of course more reliable source as 'Awesome'.

*Get Glucky Recommends*

-All My Friends
-Summer Special
-Magnetic Hill
-Speak To Me Bones

http://www.myspace.com/landoftalkmtl

*Sam Lewis (Tour)

2008-01-10T08:17:00.000-08:00

Our lovely (he really is) friend Sam Lewis:

who we featured a while ago in the 'New Kids' feature is playing some London shows, we will be attending the one tonight but if it's too late notice try to catch one of his other shows..

Jan 10 2008 8:00

The Green Note London

Jan 22 2008 8:30

Dublin Castle London

Jan 29 2008 7:30

Water Rats London

Feb 12 2008 7:30

Water Rats London

*Citizen Cope UK/European dates (Tour)

2008-01-10T05:50:00.000-08:00

We haven't written about Citizen Cope before, purely because he hasn't had many new updates recently but he's really a great songwriter and has beautifully original voice, smooth yet gritty and with a slight drawl. We recommend taking a listen to 'Sideways' 'Son's Gonna Rise' 'More Than It Seems' 'Bullet And A Target' and 'Brother Lee'

His myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/citizencope currently has them for download.

Tuesday, March 11
Borderline
Orange Yard, Manette Street Charing Cross Rd
London, United Kingdom
Tickets: http://www.livenation.co.uk/event/getEvent/eventId/313680/

Thursday, March 13
100 Club
100 Oxford St.
London, United Kingdom
Tickets: http://www.livenation.co.uk/

Saturday, March 15
La Bule Noire
120 Boulevard
Rochechouart
Paris, France
Tickets: http://www.gdp.fr/index2.php

See you at the Borderline show!

Glucky x

*Current Playlist

2008-01-09T04:55:00.000-08:00

Adele - Hometown Glory
Alice Smith - Dream
Battles - Leyendecker
Biffy Clyro - Who's Got A Match?
The Blow - Parentheses
Bright Eyes - The Middle Man
Frazey Ford - In My Time Of Dying
Gregory & The Hawk - In Fact (Carousel Remix)
The Jealous Girlfriends - Lay Around
The Jealous Girlfriends - Mother May I
Jenny Owen Youngs - Things We Don't Need Anymore
K-os - Crucial
K-os - Crabbuckit
K-os - Man I Used To Be
Kimya Dawson - You Love Me
Kings Of Convenience - Misread
Kings Of Leon - My Party
Lupe Fiasco - Superstar
Metric - I.O.U
The Moldy Peaches - Anyone Else But You
Motion City Soundtrack - Everything Is Alright
Of Montreal - Cato As A Pun
Operator Please - Leave It Alone
PJ Harvey - This Is Love
Pony Up - The Truth About Cats And Dogs (Is that they die)
The Reason - This Is Just The Beginning
The Reason - We're So Beyond This
Robyn - Handle Me
Robots In Disguise - Turn It Up
Ryan Adams - Halloweenhead
Ryan Adams - These Girls
T2 - Heartbroken
Tegan and Sara - Back In Your Head (RAC Remix)
Tegan and Sara - Missing You
Tellison - New York, New York
This Providence - My Beautiful Rescue
Those Dancing Days - Those Dancing Days
Tokyo Police Club - Box
Toshi Reagon - How Long
Tracy Bonham - Naked
Tracy Bonham - Whether You Fall
The Wombats - Moving To New York
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Phenomena

Glucky x

(Picture: London at night as seen from clever machines in the sky)

*Need To Know - Those Dancing Days (Band)

2008-01-08T11:37:00.000-08:00

It's been a good time for Sweden recently, musically of course, clogs have not become any more popular. With Peter, Bjorn and John, Robyn, Jose Gonzalez, The Hives, The Knife, Shout Out Louds and Jens Lekman, can there be any more to add I hear you shout. The answer is of course YES.

Please welcome 'Those Dancing Days' an all young, all female, all talented group here to demolish whatever bad connotations you had attached to the phrase 'girl band' in your head.

'Those Dancing Days'

Those Dancing Days are:

Linnea Jonsson - Vocals
Rebecka Roifart - Guitar
Cissi Edraimsson - Drums
Lisa Pyk - Synth
Mimmi Evrell - Bass Guitar

'Hitten'

It's Linnea's (the one with a fantastic head of curls) vocals that make this group really stand out, while their melodies and overall sound could be compared to a lot of quirky indie and some of the more pop-electro out there, her northern-soul tinged vocals draw the ear in a little closer. A soulful, deep voice over beeps and keyboards and feverish drums makes for a very exciting new band with some very good press photos: (see below)

'Those Dancing Days' - http://www.sendspace.com/file/9cgrez

'Hitten' - http://www.sendspace.com/file/lln5mi

*The Most Serene Republic Interview

2008-01-08T06:34:00.000-08:00

Interview with The Most Serene Republic (Jan 6th 2008)

"At the rate they’re going, whether they mean to or not, the Most Serene Republic will alter the way in which people appreciate rock music. It might sound like a lofty achievement for an unlikely band of 20-somethings bred in the Toronto suburb of Milton, Ontario but if you pay close attention to their discography—particularly 2007’s Population—you’ll hear something entirely unique. Don’t disregard their dense art-pop breakthrough Underwater Cinematographer (A&C 2005) or the transitional tour E.P. Phages (A&C 2006) completely; these are the keys to understanding how the Most Serene Republic came to form the masterful achievement that is Population, which might seem superficially sugary if it weren’t for the poison lurking under its remarkable layers of sound."

Courtesy of: http://www.arts-crafts.ca/themostserenerepublic/story.php

LG: How did you all originally meet?

MSR: Adrian, Nick and Ryan all went to elementary school together, Adrian met Sean at university, Ryan and I met through some possibly random or possibly fateful sequence of choices on each our parts, and Simon and Tony came along much later through mutual acquaintances.

LG: Did the band all come from similar musical backgrounds or is everyone's story pretty different?

MSR: We're about split down the middle as far as musical education is concerned, some are self taught while others attended musical programs at post-secondary. As far as musical influence growing up, I'd say we're as different as anyone really. Of course, some of our parents were the prog listeners who grew up in the 60s and 70s, my dad is one of them, has a huge record collection and really shaped my understanding of what makes music great.

LG: The Canadian music scene is producing a lot of well-received artists/bands recently and has been getting a lot of positive press, does it feel like it's helpful to be a part of it? Or is there any pressure because of it?

MSR: It is helpful more than anything to be a part of this collection of artists being recognized, and we definitely have pride in our country and are thankful for the government support of developing artists such as ourselves, it feels like a great place to come from musically.

LG: For someone who has never seen your live shows before how would you describe them?

MSR: I guess I should start by saying that having never exactly seen one of our live shows in the same sense that an audience member has seen one, all I can really describe is how I feel on stage and how I perceive the connection to be. Our shows are usually manic, unyielding, and unpredictable. We are all working our asses off the entire time to try and include as much as we possibly can from the recordings while trying desperately and hoping that we are reaching an understanding with the crowd.

LG: What were some of the first live shows you went to see when you were younger?

MSR: To be honest when I was younger I didn't really attend very many concerts. Of course there was Charlotte Diamond at around age 5, and I vaguely remember going to see the TSO when I was about 7, next thing I remember is going to Warped Tour when I was in high school and seeing Bjork a few years later.

LG: What most impacts your songwriting? (people, places, other music etc) and has the rise of the internet and websites like Myspace, changed the way you think about making music or just the way you promote it?

MSR: People in the collective sense, or a person if they are philosophical and forward thinking, places if they have a rich history and other music if it was groundbreaking. Mainly I would hope that our own ideas are what impacts our songwriting the most. If anything the rise of such websites has made us realize even more the vast and urgent importance of actually creating something, in the sense of, making something from nothing, something new and exciting yet still extremely emotionally provocative, not trying to make a recreation of things that have come and gone in a haste with lack of thought as it seems so easy to do these days as everyone has garageband and a myspace account.

LG: (From the website biography) "I want people to put on the record and I want them to stop what they're doing and just listen to it," Lenssen says.
What records make you do this?

MSR: It's too hard for me to answer that question specifically without being too revealing, so I'll just say that records that pull me in different directions at every passing moment, that have a diverse terrain running from despair, to struggle, to triumph, to ecstasy to defeat; records that tell a story or idea in an intensely passionate and unique way.

LG: Considering there is an art school background to some of the members, would you place your records closer to music or art?

MSR: We've been asked this question before and it puzzles me, I've always thought that music was art. Perhaps I haven't kept up with the times and music has just become purely commercial? I should hope that anyone with the right intent who is creating music is also creating art, although I will admit that it seems the amount of this is dwindling.

LG: You contributed to the Stars, "Do you trust your friends' record, if you could have any living artist or band cover one of your songs who would it be?

MSR: I would love to hear Radiohead or Bjork take on one of our songs, also having an orchestra play a version of the entire Population album would be interesting to hear.

LG: You've toured with the Strokes, Metric, Stars, and Broken Social Scene – which has been your favourite tour and why? Can you share any funny anecdotes from the road?

MSR: Picking a favourite tour would be like trying to pick a favourite child. They all had ups and downs, moments of pride and moments of disappointment. Of course, going to Europe for the first time was amazing and having the privilege of playing stadium shows with the Strokes was unforgettable. Stars brought us on the road for the first time and really taught us a lot about the lifestyle, as it is something that really does require a lot of adaptation and learning.

LG: Will you be touring the UK/Europe anytime soon?

MSR: We hope to be back in Europe sometime in the spring.

'Population' is out now folks..

*Adele - Chasing Pavements (Video/Tourdates)

2008-01-05T14:27:00.000-08:00

Our lovely friend Adele is finally releasing her first single and album. The first single 'Chasing Pavements' is out January 21st and we can't wait to celebrate.

For now.. here is the video:

We know a lot of you have been asking for the 'Chasing Pavements' mp3 but as it is yet unreleased we can't put it up, plus Adele is a friend and we want her to do fabulously well so don't want to give away the single for free just yet...

If you haven't already seen, Adele is touring!

Tour Dates:

Jan 27 2008 8:00P
RNCM (Manchester) SOLD OUT

Jan 29 2008 8:00P
Bloomsbury Theatre (London) SOLD OUT

Feb 2 2008 8:00P
Classic Grande (Glasgow)

Feb 3 2008 8:00P
Glee Club (Birmingham) SOLD OUT

Feb 10 2008 8:00P
Duo with Jack Penate (Tokyo)

Feb 11 2008 8:00P
Club Quattro with Jack Penate (Osaka)

See you there

Glucky x

*Juno (Soundtrack)

2008-01-04T14:21:00.000-08:00

We heart Juno.
We heart Ellen Page.
We heart Kimya Dawson.

Thank God for intelligent/touching/witty films with intelligent/touching/witty soundtracks.

*New Kids On The Block - Part 9 (The Epochs)

2008-01-03T12:41:00.000-08:00

Hey! Isn't that Brooklyn I can see? And in the distance.. THE EPOCHS

Please, for the record, state: 

1. i) Name and Current residing/Music making location?
Ryan Holladay - The Epochs - New York City.

ii) Please share a fun fact about you (Music related or otherwise)
We started in New York but moved to Seattle and lived there together for a year and a half.

2. A little summary of your sound? Any artist comparisons to help people fit you into their mental record collection?
Intracite pop songs that lean heavily on electronics. There are also two lead singers.

3. What was the first ever concert you attended? (Preferably no lies, even if it's embarrassing, my first was The Spice Girls so no judgement here)
Ryan: My brother Hays & I went to see Veruca Salt when we were in 6th and 4th grades respectively.

4. Which artist/band would be a dream collaboration for you?
The Ink Spots

5. Where can we find/hear/buy your angelic music?
If, by the time this comes out, there are still some record stores out there you can find our self-titled debut there. Otherwise, on February 18th it will be available through most online retailers.

For instant listening *Get Glucky Recommends*
- Mouths To Feed
- Tug Of War

*New Kids On The Block - Part 8 (The Dodos)

2008-01-01T15:18:00.000-08:00

Please welcome, very much still alive and not extinct...

The Dodos

Please, for the record, state: 

1. i) Name and Current residing/Music making location?
Meric Long, The Dodos from San Francisco

ii) Please share a fun fact about you (Music related or otherwise)
I got my black belt when I was 12, but I can't hurt a fly.

2. A little summary of your sound? Any artist comparisons to help people fit you into their mental record collection?
Big drums meet John Fahey wannabe.

3. What was the first ever concert you attended? (Preferably no lies, even if it's embarrassing, my first was The Spice Girls so no judgement here)
The Posies, Seattle

4. Which artist/band would be a dream collaboration for you?
I want to start a band with Paul Humphreys of OMD.

5. Where can we find/hear/buy your angelic music?
Buy our music at www.dodosmusic.net

*Get Glucky on the move!

2007-12-30T09:36:00.000-08:00

Hey Kids!

Glucky is going on a musically inclined trip to...

CANADA, well Toronto to be exact

and then a little play time in New York City.

with any luck we shall be bringing you interviews/features/reviews with Digitalism, The Reason, Vivek Shraya, Kate Nash, The Most Serene Republic and hopefully more to be added.

Give Glucky a shout on the email if you're a Toronto local and going to be at any shows or if there are any great local bands I shouldn't miss out on...

xxx

*Christmas

2007-12-23T16:52:00.000-08:00

Hey Kids,

Just a quick note to say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all.. hope you are all warm and cosy somewhere with people you love or people you love but have a big fight with once a year at Christmas.. as long as you can all kiss and make up, eat and drink too much and fall asleep together in front of the fire...it's all good.

Love,
Glucky

See you late December...Get Glucky is about to take a trip...

*Adele - Rough Cuts (mp3)

2007-12-22T09:32:00.000-08:00

Because I get the feeling that you've all been good boys and girls this year, I wanted to give out a little reward.. lots of you have been asking for some Adele mp3s so I thought i'd manage to reward you without pissing anyone off, and post some of her demos/rough cuts for those of you who weren't on the Adele train all that time ago...

Enjoy and Merry Christmas/whichever holiday you celebrate!

http://www.sendspace.com/file/fp16yf
- Best For Last

http://www.sendspace.com/file/yxv17t
- My Same

http://www.sendspace.com/file/ywkrxs
- Hometown Glory

http://www.sendspace.com/file/4wldrd
- Daydreamer

Peggy Sue & The Pirates @ The Barfly, London (Live)

2007-12-21T05:57:00.000-08:00

Peggy Sue & The Pirates

Used to touring by now after various support slots including Kate Nash and The Gossip Peggy Sue & The Pirates have finally come to take their own victory, and victory it was. With a sold out Barfly and a room full of very excited people it's hats off to the girls for all their hard work.

They deal in the slightly quirky but beautifully arranged; their harmonies are usually near perfect and their simple set up of acoustic guitars and stools really allows their vocals to shine. However there is still a commanding stage presence that isn't quite there, the crowd refused to stop talking in parts which made it difficult to appreciate the simplicity of their set, but songs like 'The New Song' 'Spare Parts' and 'Television' show off their inventiveness along with their ability to make quirk reachable by all.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/xb8jpx - Shot of Tuaca (DEMO)

*Need To Know - Pony Up (Band)

2007-12-16T11:11:00.000-08:00

Ah Montreal. You bring us yet another present to put under the tree.

PONY UP

"is your existential dream team. Laura Wills (vocals/keyboard) is the neighbour-girl you watched metamorphose from a heartbroken teen into a cynical sensualist of fully fledged femininity. Sarah K. Ruckus (vocals/guitar) is the hard candy that broke your teeth when you chewed instead of sucked. Lindsay Wills (drums/vocals) is your every secret misery and ecstasy at midnight with the lights out. And Lisa J. Smith (bass/vocals) is the perfidious lover who mends your heart by moonlight only to break it again over breakfast."

http://www.sendspace.com/file/oymaqj - The Truth About Cats And Dogs Is That They Die

http://www.sendspace.com/file/6w5ktk - What's Free Is Yours

http://www.sendspace.com/file/0mba5n - Possible Harm

*Need To Know - Greg Laswell (Artist)

2007-12-15T12:08:00.000-08:00

In the ever growing world of the 'singer-songwriter' species it is sometimes hard to distinguish a good from a bad, an original from a carbon copy BUT here at Get Glucky I like to think we have a reasonably good ear for the good, original kind.

The newest delight to our ears has been Greg Laswell; his song 'Sing, Theresa Says' has literally been on repeat for the last few weeks and as he is now releasing it as the first single from his album 'Through Toledo' we wanted to present it to you for your aural delight. If you like songs that sound like they belong in your car as the soundtrack to a night time road trip or you just like a lot of acoustic guitar and shuffling drums then reward yourself..

Song:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/6g8whz

Video:

Extra Listening:
*Same As You
*What A Day
*Amazed
*Girls Just Want To Have Fun

*Bloc Party/The Cribs/Foals @ Alexandra Palace (Live)

2007-12-15T06:16:00.000-08:00

The view from Alexandra Palace is a beautiful one, placed high on the top of a hill, from the outside you can see night time views out across the entire city of London. The view from inside was slightly odd. These huge venues always feel slightly clinical.. obscenely bright lights and a half a mile walk to actually get to the room with the stage and you know.. the bands?

First up were a band I was really excited to see:

Foals: Hyper, energetic songs with jagged guitar parts, they were a perfect support act for Bloc Party jumping around the stage like they themselves were plugged into the amps. Think Bloc Party meets Klaxons with a little sprinkle of electro.

Essential listening: 'Hummer' - http://www.sendspace.com/file/rdtt7q

The Cribs: I really like The Cribs; songs like 'Hey Scenesters' 'Men's Needs' and 'I'm A Realist' are all the sound of a great British music scene and therefore I was excited to finally hear them live. I don't know if it was the fault of the massive vaulted room we were in (which is quite possible) or if they were having a bit of an off night but I wasn't very impressed. It felt like they shouted their way through a good majority of the set and the best songs didn't redeem them. However my resolution is to go see them in a smaller venue - they got lost in Alexandra Palace.

Essential listening: 'Men's Needs' - http://www.sendspace.com/file/fra91v

Bloc Party: Were.. in a word EPIC. I'm not a die hard Bloc Party fan, I mean i think they're brilliant I just don't know every song they've done. But boy oh boy was I so impressed by last night. The set list was amazing, running through all their well known songs as well as some songs released very early in their career and some lesser known B sides. The lighting was fantastic and the fans were going crazy for them.
Songs like Banquet, The Prayer, Hunting For Witches and Flux filled the room reaching all the way to the people at the back. They did two encores giving everyone their fill and making sure to play fan favourites 'Two More Years' 'Sunday' and 'So Here We Are'. Hats off to Bloc Party, for a band that is constantly hyped it's nice to see one who can live up to it.

*Best of 2007

2007-12-13T10:29:00.000-08:00

Hey Kids,

this year was a pretty darn good year for music, yes I said darn. These are a collection of my favourite records and live shows from the year. Feel free to add others on to the list that were your favourites in the comments section... but I thoroughly recommend giving a little listen to any of the albums below that you don't already own, they make me giddy.

Tegan and Sara - The Con
Stars - In Our Bedroom After The War
Land of Talk - Applause Cheer Boo Hiss
Band of Horses - Cease To Begin
SIA - Some People Have Real Problems
Jenny Owen Youngs - Batten The Hatches
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
The Reason - Things Couldn't Be Better
Au Revoir Simone - The Bird of Music
K-os - Collected
Paramore - Riot!
Feist - The Reminder
The Blow - Paper Television
Tokyo Police Club - A Lesson In Crime
KT Tunstall - Drastic Fantastic
Kings of Leon - Because Of The Times
Motion City Soundtrack - Even If It Kills Me
Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
Silversun Pickups - Carnavas
Biffy Clyro - Puzzle
Tellison - Contact! Contact!
Tunng - Good Arrows
Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
Jamie T - Panic Prevention

Live Shows:

Jan 16th - Amy Winehouse @ Joe's Pub NYC
Jan 26th - Joshua Radin/Ingrid Michaelson @ Bowery Ballroom NYC
Feb 15th - Jenny Owen Youngs @ Mo Pitkins NYC
Feb 15th - Imogen Heap @ The Box NYC
Feb 20th - Amos Lee, Rachael Yamagata, Pete Townsend & Lou Reed @ Joe's Pub NYC
Apr 18th - Adele/Jack Penate @ ICA London
Apr 27th - Laura Marling @ The Old Blue Last London
May 1st - Cold War Kids @ ULU London
May 15th - Teitur @ Bush Hall London
June 7th - Dizzee Rascal @ Proud Galleries London
June 9th - Adele @ The Social London
June 9th - Paramore @ Frog Club Night London
Sept 7th - Regina Spektor @ Royal Festival Hall London
Oct 9th - The Blow @ The Phoenix Manchester
Oct 21st - Tellison @ In The City Manchester
Nov 27th - SIA @ Night and Day Cafe Manchester
Dec 11th - Jenny Owen Youngs @ Night and Day Cafe Manchester

*Jenny Owen Youngs (Blog)

2007-12-13T10:14:00.000-08:00

Our favourite Montclair resident has just released a Chritmas song, I usually don't like modern Christmas songs...maybe because I was scarred by the Destiny's Child Christmas album once up on a time. HOWEVER this song is beautiful and delicious and smells like burning wood, all the things Christmas is about. Here is a little stripped down video version and for the full shiny version visit her myspace (/jennyowenyoungs).

*New Kids On The Block - Part 7 (The Age Of Rockets)

2007-12-11T19:44:00.001-08:00

The Age Of Rockets

Please, for the record, state: 

1. i) Name and Current residing/Music making location?
Andrew Hyperion-Dishwalla Futral from The Age of Rockets currently living and rocking babies faces off in New York City, NY.
ii) Please share a fun fact about you (Music related or otherwise)
The most fun fact about me would have to be that I have seen every episode of Futurama well over 20 times each.

2. A little summary of your sound? Any artist comparisons to help people fit you into their mental record collection?
I usually like to describe us as "The Postal Service having visceral dirty sex with Her Space Holiday while Sigur Ros and The Mates of State watch from a window ... a dirty sexy window" But our new CD is more like "Sufjan Stevens having visceral dirty sex with Sigur Ros while Death Cab and Múm watch from a window ... a filthy dirty sextacular window"

3. What was the first ever concert you attended? (Preferably no lies, even if it's embarrassing, my first was The Spice Girls so no judgement here)
My first concert was Smashing Pumpkins on the Mellon Collie tour in 1995. It was the one where their keyboardist died of a heroin overdose and the drummer died. It was fucking awesome. My friend Roy got the tickets for it and somehow got front row seats. He is a ninja.Though I also did see Britney Spears once, that wasn't near the first but it's a fun story; my friend worked for an internet teen magazine and got the tickets - she was actually pretty awesome.

4. Which artist/band would be a dream collaboration for you?
Right now there are a few people I would kill to work with. The first person that comes to mind is Uffie but as she has said already, "She's (currently got) the best producers" so that will never happen. A very close second would be Joss Whedon whom is not really known for music and I don't really have a project in mind but I just want to hang out with him and be funny .. together. I guess that really is more of a boy crush thing ... ok ok ... colabs ... hmmm ... someone like Kate Nash would be good because I love her quirky songwriting but really feel like she secretly wants her music to be a lot more intricate, challenging and pretentious. I guess I just want to work with girls I have crushes on. So let's throw Lily Allen in there too.

5. Where can we find/hear/buy your angelic music?
Itunes! Or any of those online digital stores. Also our website (http://www.myspace.com/theageofrockets). Also on tour.

*Coming up

2007-12-10T02:12:00.000-08:00

Hey Kids,

The end of the year is always a busy time, apologies for no very recent updates but coming your way in the next week:

Singles:
*One Night Only
*Lupe Fiasco

Live:
*Young Galaxy
*Noah and The Whale/Laura Marling
*Jenny Owen Youngs

and more from Tunng, Uh Huh Her, Tellison and other lovely people.

Until then..

Glucky x

*Need To Know - Tunng (Band)

2007-12-09T17:51:00.001-08:00

"Tunng play a mesmerising mix of folky acoustics and busy electronica, overlaying electronic crackles, gorgeous harmonies, bewitching mantras and synthetic beats that are reminiscent of early Beta Band, 'The Wicker Man' soundtrack and Four Tet."

They do kids it's true. Their album 'Good Arrows'

is definitely one of my favourite albums of 2007 and their second single 'Bullets' is beautiful; have a listen below..

http://www.sendspace.com/file/7zwonw - Tunng 'Bullets'

*Need To Know - Operator Please (Band)

2007-12-04T15:27:00.000-08:00

They look like fun don't they? They are! I'm generally not a fan of overhyping bands, especially when they're young so everyone is just playing the age card as some kind of novelty but Operator Please have released one of my favourite songs of the last few weeks - 'Leave it alone' is a kicking little punk rock/pop song with parts that remind me of Yeah Yeah Yeahs or Land Of Talk esque melodies, except they're Australian... and kids. Ok now we're over the age thing lets look at the brilliant video and listen to the wonderful song:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/82nlsd - Leave It Alone

*SIA @ Night & Day Cafe (Live)

2007-12-04T12:44:00.000-08:00

I'd seen SIA once before this night, at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City. I remember only knowing a couple songs, 'Breathe Me' ad 'Sunday' but leaving totally blown away by her. This occasion was no different. Seeing as her album was only floating around the internet and not officially released I went only knowing her past records, but kids, next time SIA is in town please make sure you go along. Her voice was consistently amazing, she had hilarious banter with the crowd the entire way through and at one point checked up on us all, 'Is everyone ok? Can I get you guys anything' to which an audience member replied, 'A Beer!' and SIA got her tour manager to bring up some beer from the dressing room and handed it out to the audience. Can you say aww? What a sweetie. She ran through some oldies but goodies, 'Sunday' 'Destiny' 'Somersault' and the stunning 'Breathe Me' and introduced her new album which, by the way, is fantastic. New songs 'Day Too Soon' 'Buttons' 'The Girl' 'Academia' 'Playground' and 'Soon We'll be found' are all lining up to go into SIA's best writing yet. Did I mention the intro song was performed in UV glow outfits by her and the whole band? no? magic!

Pictures below; videos to come.

*Adele - Chasing Pavements (Single)

2007-12-02T06:08:00.001-08:00

Adele - Chasing Pavements (Beggars)

The first time I saw Adele play was in an oddly themed 60s bar in Soho about a year and a half ago. She was incredible then, and one and a half years later she is still incredible and this time, available to the masses. Her earlier songs have been floating around the internet for awhile – ‘Hometown Glory’ ‘My Same’ and ‘Best For Last’ and they are all hidden soulful gems. At 19 years old many people are already trying to squeeze her into the same box as Kate Nash and Lily Allen but that is purely lazy journalism. The only thing they have in common is youth and hometown. Her new single ‘Chasing Pavements’ has a glossier sheen that previous songs, but is still another slice of her refreshing London soul. The most rewarding thing about Adele is her voice, it is flawless and rich and bubbling over the top of her acoustic melodies seamlessly. The chorus of ‘Chasing Pavements’ is bigger than it needs to be; with the sound of full string orchestra behind her, she could have easily carried the song without it, but it’s a minor complaint in the overall Adele picture. The B-side, ‘That’s It, I Quit’ is more loyal to Adele’s previous style; harking back to older soul sounds with a modern acoustic sound meshed in, a staccato style of singing flowing through the track with regular guitar and vocal stops to give you time to catch up.
The great thing about new talent like this is that while there is no doubt to Amy Winehouse’s talent, her reliability isn’t exactly her selling point. Adele possesses as much soul; granted a different kind but as much never the less, and best of all Adele will always show up.

8/10

*Coming up

2007-11-28T07:57:00.000-08:00

Sorry for another few blank days kids, have had work up to my earlobes.

HOWEVER. Joy. Coming at you very soon...

- SIA live @ Night & Day Cafe (review, pictures and video)
- Adele A/B Side single review
- Jay-z new single review
- Noah & The Whale live @ Night & Day Cafe

plus any of you fine people who are going to see my friend from across the pond, Jenny Owen Youngs (the Kingston/London/Manchester shows) I will see you there. Cheer loudly and yell things (nice things).

www.myspace.com/jennyowenyoungs

Glucky
xxx

*Tegan and Sara - The Con (Album)

2007-11-24T18:33:00.000-08:00

I realise this album came out a little while ago, and therefore this review should have gone up a while ago but thought i'd dig it out and post it seeing as T&S are touring here soon and if you don't have a ticket.. what are you waiting for silly?

Tegan and Sara - The Con (Maple Music)

Sometimes along comes an album where a band has grown so much, lyrically, melodically and personally that when it’s laid out in front of you bare boned on a record there is nothing left to do but sit down with a pair of headphones, put the record on and press repeat.
The talent of Tegan and Sara has never been in doubt, with four previous records underneath their belts including the very successful; ‘So Jealous’ and countless numbers of honest, catchy and often heart wrenching songs, they are clearly accomplished, but with their new record ‘The Con’ they have taken everything to the next level.
Somewhat like a perfect lovers’ mix tape; the songs deal in heartbreak, longing, coping, realisation and speaking out - and that’s only on the surface, dig deeper and there is a hoard of intricate and intimate moments to be found.
While both girls are intense songwriters, interestingly, while they perform together, it is well known that they write alone, which is maybe why their individual sounds are becoming more distinct. Songs like; Nineteen, Call It Off and The Con are clearly Tegan’s – direct, passionate and allow you so much access, you wonder if you’re listening in on something that was meant to be private. Singing over an intense drumbeat on ‘Are You Ten Years Ago’ she takes the sound of Tegan and Sara into an entirely different territory. Equally Sara’s ‘Like O Like H’, ‘Burn Your Life Down’ and ‘Floorplan’ are full of intricate parts, quirky vocals and subject matter stretching far beyond some of her previous songs, now incorporating inspiration from childhood, marriage and even coping with death.
What’s so unique is that their records never seem to display a stronger writer/lyricist, you are never made to choose between them, they both have their accomplished individual songs but together, they have a fantastic record. So no matter who has written what, like a musical ying and yang they have managed to intertwine their styles to produce a record that everyone can relate to. Whether it’s love lost or gained, self-realisation or self-confusion, every song on this album resonates.
With their live shows garnering a reputation for hilarious storytelling along with fantastic musical performance, it’s clear these are woman of great talent and substance and in a musical world where unfortunately that can be a rarity, thank Canada for Tegan and Sara.

10/10

*WIN - Tellison

2007-11-24T05:12:00.000-08:00

Hey Kids,

one of our favourite bands Tellison;

have finally released their single 'Gallery' on very very limited (500 copies) 7" vinyl;

and we have a lovely shiny new copy to give away.

To win, email the regular email (getglucky@googlemail.com) with your name and address.. points win prizes, or in this case emails do.

*Get Glucky*

*Remi Nicole - My Conscience and I (Album)

2007-11-21T17:29:00.000-08:00

Remi Nicole - My Conscience and I (Cool Delta)

The album opens with, 'Go With The Flow' and an unfortunately irritating over the top London accent. This seems to be a trend at the moment, but Remi is just arriving that little bit too late; it just feels tired now, where are all the females who are going to be offering something new? A bigger frustration though is that when it's the 'LDN' style of singing it's near impossible to tell if the artist actually has a good voice. A lot of the songs on 'My Conscience And I' seem to follow the same formula; none of them are offensive, or particularly bad, but very few song on the album are special enough in music or lyric, to stand out from everything else that's around at the moment.
First single 'Rock 'n' Roll' single is highlight, 'Tabloid Queen' sounds like the beginning of a Jack Penate song, but then as soon as she starts to sing about Heat Magazine, it all gets a bit embarassing. You get the feeling someone has put a lot of effort in to making Remi Nicole appear 'cool' when instead this intense pushing of current culture actually rubs off in a negative way. 'Fed Up' and 'Right Side Of Me' are more stripped down songs and suit her much better, it feels more comfortable - like she isn't trying so hard to be relevant. As a whole though the album just seems too simple, it's followed a pop formula and slung a guitar on the singer to make it feel a bit indie, but it ends up just feeling like some odd 'tween rock/pop' sent to give mothers someone their child can safely listen to.

3/10

*Kill The Lights - Buffalo Love (Album)

2007-11-21T16:52:00.000-08:00

Kill The Lights - Buffalo Love (Maple Music)

"Kill The Lights is four men and one woman making calculated noises to specific rhythms with amplified instruments." Band Bio

"Buffalo Love" is one of those albums with so much difference and variation to it that it takes a good few listens to start to understand what it is you might be listening to. This is not a negative quality by any means, unless you are an impatient listener. The album is definitely a grower - however 'Skinny White Girls' along with having an amusing title and being my favourite track on the album, has an instantly clear indie/pop appeal while remaining just on the edge to constantly make you re-consider whether that is anywhere near a correct classification.
The album is full of prominent stabbing guitar parts placed throughout, speedy drumming and a variation of vocal showcases - yearning, sleepy, and at times urgent; Kill The Lights is a hard band to fit into any boxes. Songs like 'Orestes' while still containing the feverish drumming seen so many other places on the album has haunting guitar parts and the kind of vocals on a chorus that make you shout right back. It's not the most consistent of albums, there are a few tracks that fall at the mediocre end of the spectrum, but highlights such as 'Skinny White Girls' 'Orestes' and 'Bombs' clearly show a band that knows what they want to sound like, even if we don't always share in that knowledge.

"Underlying it all, there is a sense that music should be an artistic venture that combines passion, musical chops, friendship, and self-challenge." Band Bio

6.5/10

*Silversun Pickups - Pikul (EP)

2007-11-21T15:59:00.000-08:00

Silversun Pickups - Pikul (Upshot)

Silversun Pickups are without a doubt one of my favourite new bands of this year. They manage to mix up their sound to be familiar yet completely refreshing. As a band their song is both quiet and loud, delicate and strong, and always in all the right places.
The EP originally released in 2005 has been re-released off the back of the success of the album. Since we have already done the 'New Kids on the Block" feature with their drummer i'm going to keep this short and sweet. This EP is great, the album is great, go show them some love even if you don't feel strongly about the colour silver, the sun or pickups in general.

8/10

*Little Noise Sessions - Jack Penate, Young Knives, Laura Marling, Joe Lean & JJJ (Live)

2007-11-21T09:50:00.000-08:00

First some pictures:

apologies for slightly crap quality of photos, but it was in church, so no flash and no sinning. Flashing... sinning.. god i hope that pun made sense or I just sound crazy. SO on to the gig.

For those of you unfamiliar with the "Little Noise Sessions" they are acoustic gigs done one every night for about a week in aid of a charity called MENCAP for people with mental disabilities. The venue was absolutely stunning, you'd be forgiven for thinking the acoustics of a church would be weird but it sounded fantastic and felt like a hugely special gig to be a part of even before the music came on.

Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong were on first.. unfortunately I really don't have a lot to say about them. They're hyped by NME which makes me almost immediately not want to listen but I ofcourse gave it a chance and just didn't hear anything remotely special, original or particularly interesting.

Laura Marling.. ah Miss Marling, she was primarily who I came to see and I was not disappointed. She really has a phenominally haunting voice, and as much as I hate to play the age card she is only 18, maybe even 17? But to think of all the growth she could acheive in the next few years when she's already so fantastic both as a lyricist/songwriter and as a live performer, is really exciting. She played most of the songs off her "My Manic & I" EP apart from my favourite, 'Typical' however she gave a beautiful rendition of "Ghosts" that more than made up for the absence of the former.

Jack Penate... bless him. What a trooper, he's used to playing live, loud, jump around gigs and here he was in a church playing his acoustic guitar and still jumping around the stage and dancing like a maniac. A genuinely nice seeming guy with catchy songs and envy inducing dance moves, the music isn't always amazing but there are a handful of great songs on his debut "Matinee" so it's worth giving it a listen and if you really hate him you're probably related to scrooge. I mean he talks about his mum and dad in his songs, and trainers, and Jack Kerouac. He's a nice guy ok?

Videos to come very soon...

Friends Forever
*Get Glucky*

*Example/Mos Def @ Roadhouse/Warehouse Project (Live)

2007-11-21T08:42:00.000-08:00

Well well, hi there kids.

After a computer death (still dead, using a replacement baby computer), I feel some updates are long overdue. Get Glucky had a weekend revolved around hip-hop. Yes, out came the limited edition trainers, the new era caps and the hoodies and off we went.

First up was "Example":

who played at the Roadhouse, I went without really knowing anything about him but came away with a new appreciation for witty rap, there's a whole different genre out there where no one has been shot, 'hustled hoes' ok now i just feel awkward typing this. Check him out for yourself if you enjoy well worded mock rap.

*Get Glucky* recommends:
You Can't Rap
Me and Mandy

Now on to the beautiful Mos Def:

There is just something about this man that is so impossibly cool. I think it's the fact that his speech is always relaxedly slurred, but then that would suggest that I would be impressed by very drunk people - which i'm usually not. Hmmm maybe it's the fact that he's a genuinely briliant rapper, doesn't flaunt an ego, doesn't wear obscenely large diamond chains and dances like a man with style. On to the actual music; warehouse project is an amazing setting. Literally an empty warehouse transformed into a concert space, lots of light projections on the walls, crammed full of people etc. Mos def came on to a huge amount of excited noise at 2am. The only problem was the first half of the set was semi-disappointing. At this point I want to stress that it wasn't really his fault, the sound was off, askew off, you could hear the music but the lyrics were pretty much lost. He did some weird thing for about 15 minutes where he just played other peoples songs, kanye west etc. Finally though he did get to his classics, Miss Fat Booty, Sex Love and Money and more that I can't remember the titles of but remember the crowd going crazy. So I will need to see 'verbal osmosis' again because he clearly has his brilliant moments, just at 3am when you've waited to see someone for a long time and he spends a quarter of his set playing other peoples songs something doesn't seem right!

*Death of computer

2007-11-19T12:57:00.000-08:00

My Computer has DIED. I CRIED. Ok I didn't, but it's incredibly annoying. Will have everything up and running again in the next couple days when you can expect glorius reviews from:

Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong, Laura Marling, The Young Knives, Jack Penate @ Union Chapel - Little Noise Sessions
Mos Def @ The Warehouse Project
Example @ Roadhouse
Kill The Lights Album

and more treats depending on how well behaved you are..

until fixed time..

Friends Forever
*Get Glucky*

*Ingrid Michaelson - The Way I Am (Video)

2007-11-18T09:52:00.000-08:00

1. This is Ingrid Michaelson's first official video, for her single 'The Way I Am'
2. I'm terrified of clowns, who are a main feature, so i'm not sure how I feel about the video.
3. My feelings on clowns should not sway your opinion on the video as I still think Ingrid is as lovely as cake.

*New Kids On The Block - Part 6 (Let's Go Sailing)

2007-11-16T09:08:00.000-08:00

Good Evening..

Let's Go Sailing

Please, for the record, state: 

1. i) Name and Current residing/Music making location?
Shana Levy/Let’s Go Sailing - Echo Park, Los Angeles, CA

ii) Please share a fun fact about you (Music related or otherwise)
When I’m an old lady, I want to be a professional poker player

2. A little summary of your sound? Any artist comparisons to help people fit you into their mental record collection?
I guess the sound is mellow and super melodic. I grew up playing piano and listening to classical music and I think you can hear that in the melodies. I also am really into lyrics and pay close attention to them. I was super influenced by the music I grew up listening to like The Smiths and Duran Duran and The Cure. I like to tell people we sound like the Sundays because I really love them and they’re a really good female fronted group

3. What was the first ever concert you attended? (Preferably no lies, even if it's embarrassing, my first was The Spice Girls so no judgement here)
My first concert was seeing They Might Be Giants with my best friend Miriam Cherry in Miami Beach where I grew up. I guess my first stadium concert was seeing Sting, also in Miami - with my Mom!

4. Which artist/band would be a dream collaboration for you?
I would really love to work with The Kings of Convenience

5. Where can we find/hear/buy your angelic music?
www.letsgosailingmusic.com

www.myspace.com/letsgosailing

itunes, amazon and retailers across the country

For instant listening *Get Glucky Recommends*
'Sideways'

'Icicles': http://www.sendspace.com/file/qvtpq8