Wild Winter 10 year anniversary gigs

I'm not usually a fan of the looming irritant that is the festive period, however when it involves gigs (like the Slow Club Xmas gigs I was lucky enough to be a part of way back) it lightens the load and this year there are gigs! Smoke Fairies Xmas gigs. 

Firestations have been added to the Jill Lorean gig at the Old Library which is cool, Jill's new album is incredible, you should listen to it right now, and come along to the gigs.

And here's a playlist of some hot new tunes

Xmas Bleakness

Every year, xmas barges its way into our lives completely uninvited, derailing whatever shit you've got going on. Capitalism on overdrive. It's more horrifying than Halloween. The crushing inevitability of hearing 'those songs' again, the same bunch of tired, ubiquitous tunes, like a pair of socks with holes in you probably should have thrown away years ago. Then there's the panic and stress, it's such a difficult time for so many, and for what? Maybe it's time to reframe xmas?

On that note, I've compiled a bleak xmas playlist featuring the alternative delights of Smoke Fairies, The Sonics, Eels, The Wandering Step, The Handsome Family, Anita Bryant, The Fall, Billy Nomates, Au Reviour Simone, Holly Golightly, Viv Albertine, The Long Blondes, The Sinclairs, LCD Soundsystem, Andrew Bird, Frightened Rabbit, The Walkmen, Khruangbin, Six by Seven, PINS, Christopher Lee, Sparks... 

HAVE A LISTEN

MERRY XMAS

Shattercones - In the Bleak Midwinter

 

                                

Hot on the heels of October’s This Septic Isle EP, Shattercones gift us a slab of Christmas cheer(?) with their take on the popular school hymn ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’. Pedal steel guitar floats over a bed of insistent, woozy drones, chugging guitar, deep, pulsing, and a vocal that’s almost as cold as the song title itself. Recorded specially for the Joyzine Advent Calendar, the song is a warped but soothing missive for those who prefer their Christmas tunes with a slice of Brexit canapés and some homemade rocket fuel. It’s also a potent taster for their forthcoming 3rd EP, due next year. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS. LISTEN TO SHATTERCONES!

Download ‘In The Bleak Midwinter‘
Find out more on Shattercones’ official website.

 

Christmas indie super bands

It's getting rather festive round my way.

Last weekend I layed down some lush and not so lush viola parts on Viv Albertine's Christmas single 'When It Was Nice' which, despite the fact it was only recorded last weekend, has already been mixed, mastered and is currently skipping it's way around the internet and the radio. You can download it here for free!

And tonight I will be playing a couple of Darlene Love Xmas songs with Slow Club at their chrimbo party at the Union Chapel. I'll be providing the massive Phil Spector strings along with Nicole and Rhiannon from The Monroe Transfer. The awesome thing about this is that Jonny from The Wave Pictures and Jeremy Warmsley are also playing on these songs which means I'll be in an INDIE SUPER BAND! which is totally ridiculous and totally sweet in equally huge measures.