Welcome to my World

Lovely Reading and The 1234

Filed in Welcome to my World by Tom Artrocker at 11.50am on 22 July 10
Artrockers,
I had a lovely day in Reading this week, yes you did read right, I did say Reading, not a name that comes naturally to the lips when talking of lovely days out I must admit, but go there with somebody who knows the place and the hidden delights are revealed. We're based in Shoredith's Rivington Street but our design department resides in the aforementioned Reading, that's why I was there, we're in the process of re-birthing the magazine into a new and groovier product for a September re-launch, and the process starts with design. And having spent a sweaty day at the computer-face we decided to toddle off down the road in search of sustenance, ideally delivered in a pub enviroment. And right at the bottom of the road is The Kennet and Avon canal where it leaves the Thames, and right beside the canal, with a fine view of the disused gasomoeter is a fine little hostlery with it's own ale. Sure, this is a post-industrial area since Huntley and Palmer moved out, it's not some sort of rural idyll evoked by near neighbours like Datchet, Oxford or The Cotswolds, in fact it reminds me of Leicester or even parts of Salford, but those are the places I like, as a child of post-punk and a refugee from the Midlands I revel in empty factories and crumbling warehouses - they smell like opportunity, they are devoid of ponsification, they are, in short, real, and sometimes London, and specifically Shoreditch, is anything but.
However, this weekend there'll be a mighty ruckus going on there, something very real, it's The 1234 Festival featuring the Artrocker & Jagermeister New Bands Stage with; BO NINGEN / VERONICA FALLS / FLATS / DARK HORSES / THRUSH METAL / MARIA AND THE MIRRORS / THE PRE NEW / THE RULING CLASS/ RANDOM IMPULSE / NECRO DEATHMORT / PULL IN EMERGENCY / INVASION / TURBOGEIST. A full festival program is available on the festival web site: http://www.the1234shoreditch.com

I seem to recall there's something similar that happens in Reading every year....But the 1234 it aint.

Tom Artrocker
Beach Boys Videos For A Summer’s Day

Filed in Welcome to my World by Tom Artrocker at 13.35pm on 19 July 10
Sloop John B

Don't Worry Baby

I Can Hear Music

Forever

Little Deuce Coupe

Good Vibrations

In My Room
Silly Season

Filed in Welcome to my World at 10.24am on 15 July 10
Artrockers,
every summer the music biz goes into a hiatus, a kind of reverse hibernation, we tend to blink at the light (we're not used to it, spesh the bright stuff that tends to be around this time of year) so we burrow down and wait for the return of more rock'n' roll weather. You will see music biz types in the daylight, but it tends to be daylight filtered through the awning of a festival backstage bar where we sit and sweat and watch the band on the mainstage via the backstage monitors. Meanwhile, down in the burrow the biz is planning for the autumn when, traditionally, we all return to spending money on stuff un-releated to flip-flops and ludicrous shorts. This was always a good time to release a record cos the students all had their grants burning a hole in their pockets. I'm not sure that's the case these days, when you know you have to pay it all back, unlike the old grant system, you may be a little more careful about how you spend it. Anyway, that demographic expects everything for free these days, so they're not the cash-cow they were.
So it's all a bit quiet out there, it's the phoney war that precedes the end of year sellathon, we know the bombs are coming, they're being primed in silos right now, but for now we can only watch the skies and count the ammunition. Folks are bound to get bored and restless, youngsters might start a few fires, drink a few tinnies, throw up on your shoes, that sort of thing. In fact you might, in your boredom, wonder which band can do the most forward rolls, such are the thoughts of the idler in summer. But you might draw back from dedicating two pages in a weekly music mag to the subject. You might, I certainly would, but they didn't.
They call it 'the silly season'.
Bring on the snow

Tom Artrocker
Electric Videos

Filed in Welcome to my World by Tom Artrocker at 13.09pm on 07 July 10
Here are a bunch of videos featuring 'Electricity' - for no good reason other than 'what the hell?' And what have I missed?

First up, Oakey and Moroder, together in electric dreams;

OMD get Electric on their first single, origianlly released on Factory;

Suede get kinda funky, must be the 'Electricity';

Electric Avenue is just around the corner from my gaff - never seen Eddy Grant there though;

The good Captain gets Electric on a beach - sounds dangerous - it is!

Electric Six endorse the Danger message;

Gary has some problems with his friends, mayvbe they need to be grounded?

Tribe Called Quest call for some Electric Relaxation - I'll take their advice I reckon, so that's me out of here - more themed videos soon
Is This What We Fought The Punk Wars For?

Filed in Welcome to my World by Tom Artrocker at 10.02am on 01 July 10
Artrockers,
Louis XIV was famous for his parties, totally decadent, with people (serfs) playing the part of statues scattered around the grounds of Versaille, painted in gold and silver from head to foot. Such were the excesses of Louis XIV that the seeds of the destruction of the monarchy, which would come to pass after 1789, were planted during his reign.
In the 1920s and 30s there developed a group of rich, spoilt ninnies known as The Bright Young People who, despite slump, recession and depression (the like of which we can have no concept) held lavish parties themed around childhood and such like. Champagne, gin and caviar abounded as they partied their way toward the looming abyss of 1939. They were deplored and pilloried for their selfish, 'let them eat cake' attitude towards the starvation that surrounded them.
Reg Dwight held a party last week: “It’s a Lady Gaga Wonderland,” said Sir Elton, as he mingled in the grounds with 650 guests, many of whom appeared bemused by the strait-jacketed performance artists dangling from the trees, and the “men-in-white-coats” and “bandaged” waiters serving cocktails in medicine bottles, and canapés in metal surgical tray' More here
Plus ca change eh?
But seriously - is this what we fought the Punk Wars (1976 - 78) for?
Time to chase a few souls down Park Lane with dripping knives? I think so.

Tom Artrocker