Watching some Richard Pryor lately, I stumbled across footage of Native American comedian, Charlie Hill in the ’70s.
Pryor and the Star Wars Bar
Charlie Hill on the Pryor Show
Tags: comedy
Archive for April, 2009
April 30, 2009
Off
Richard Pryor & Charlie Hill
By Ash in Random
April 27, 2009
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Blk Jks
By Ash in Musical MurmuringsBlk Jks
Blk Jks are rapidly shaping up to be my band of the year.
Check out this startling tune off their debut EP.
The band play Bardens Boudoir, May 6, 8pm, £7.50 adv
April 27, 2009
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Arriving part way into Blk Jks’ set at the spacious Dingwalls, I am struck by their close linear configuration. The South African foursome rock the building with their monstrously jazzy psychedelic dub numbers, all of which are wonderfully woven together by the intricate and intuitive drumming of Tsepang. Surely post-rock has never sounded or felt this good. They are, without any doubt, the most exciting band I have had the pleasure to see this year.
Camden Crawl – Saturday
By Ash in Music ReviewsThe King Blues
Preceded by what sounds like Derrick Morgan’s classic ska anthem, ‘Tougher than tough’, The King Blues storm Koko with discernible determination. Ukuleles and acoustic guitars are rarely associated with punk-ska outfits, but since contributing to the success of artists such as Manu Chao and Gogol Bordello it would seem improper not to use them. The energetic six-piece plough through the poppier tracks off their latest album ‘Save the world, get the girl’, with the biggest crowd responses reserved for ‘Come fi di youth’ and ‘Mr Music Man’ – both from their widely under-appreciated début.
Heading northwards to a packed out Barfly to see XFM favourites Gold Teeth, I find an impromptu rave taking place directly outside the venue. Not wishing to miss the band, I rush upstairs; where the band are in full swing churning out their eclectic mix of pop, afro-beat and electronica. Looking more like a sixth-former than a frontman, Joe Da Costa jokingly accuses his audience of being on drugs before launching into ‘Tasty’, yet these subconscious insecurities musically translate to mixed effect. Perhaps too quirky for some, the insistent lure of an illegal rave outside provides a platform for a more transient audience.
Heading northwards to a packed out Barfly to see XFM favourites Gold Teeth, I find an impromptu rave taking place directly outside the venue. Not wishing to miss the band, I rush upstairs; where the band are in full swing churning out their eclectic mix of pop, afro-beat and electronica. Looking more like a sixth-former than a frontman, Joe Da Costa jokingly accuses his audience of being on drugs before launching into ‘Tasty’, yet these subconscious insecurities musically translate to mixed effect. Perhaps too quirky for some, the insistent lure of an illegal rave outside provides a platform for a more transient audience.
Outside, and VV Brown is dancing with the people (and seizing the photo opportunity with both legs). It’s not long before the police arrive to invoke the Criminal Justice Act, smashing up the free party, killing the carnival vibe. VV disappears faster than you can think the letter ‘s’.
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Over at the Jazz Cafe, though, and Dizzee Rascal’s Newham Generals are simply giddy with the success of Manchester United’s 5-2 win. The grime duo’s DJ drops beats from their latest record ‘Generally Speaking’ along with dubstep hits like Chase and Status‘ ‘Eastern Jam’, while MCs Footsie and D Double E rap relentlessly over them. There is a palpable expectation that Dizzee might show. Sadly, he doesn’t, and though these two lesser proteges are fun, they leave without making much of an impression.
Arriving part way into Blk Jks’ set at the spacious Dingwalls, I am struck by their close linear configuration. The South African foursome rock the building with their monstrously jazzy psychedelic dub numbers, all of which are wonderfully woven together by the intricate and intuitive drumming of Tsepang. Surely post-rock has never sounded or felt this good. They are, without any doubt, the most exciting band I have had the pleasure to see this year.
- Blk Jks
Dizzy from the dramatic climax at Dingwalls, and it’s down to the Purple Turtle to host the final live band of my night: Three Trapped Tigers. This musically muscular trio play the glitch drum n’ bass normally associated with artists like Squarepusher and Aphex Twin – live. Where Blk Jks were free-flowing and organic, TTT are a comparatively taut and confined experience. With two of the band raging behind machines, drummer Adam Betts’ arms flail with absolute purpose as the unit realise each song’s dynamics with adrenalin-fuelled sweat.
Dropping into the Jazz Cafe to collect my thoughts and a final drink, I inadvertently witness Tim “big dawg” Westwood smashing the place to bits with an extravagant DJ set delivered from behind a plexiglass shield (to prevent drive-by shoutings no doubt). I sent him a tweet on Sunday afternoon, blaming him for my sorry state earlier that morning. Amazingly, he replied: “Play it on the alcohol”.
There’s something to be said for that.
April 25, 2009
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Danny MacAskill
By Ash in RandomFor the first minute of this video, all I could think was – why?
But then it went all amazing, and I just had to share.
April 25, 2009
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World Malaria Day
By Ash in Random
Today is World Malaria Day.
A child dies every 30 seconds from this entirely preventable disease.
You can fill this form out in less time, and pledge to count malaria out.
If you Twitter, then add @malarianomore.
Tags: 2009
April 24, 2009
2
Best Small Festivals 2009
By Ash in Musical Murmurings
After my rant about Glastonbury, and on the first day of the urban sprawl that is the Camden Crawl, it’s inspiring to see so many high quality festivals around this year.
This useful article in the Guardian today should help you to navigate the grassy, mud-hewn earth of this musical land.
Some other additions for consideration:
Truck Festival
Secret Garden Party
Cornbury
Shambala
End of the road
Beautiful days
April 17, 2009
4
AC/DC live at the O2 arena
By Ash in Music Reviews
After the worst day at work ever, my commute to the O2 arena was made particularly difficult after the spectacular failure of the deeply un-Rock N Roll tube, resulting in a quite unnecessary detour through the Lewisham badlands. So distressing was it, that I ate fried chicken.
Arriving at the O2, and completely missing support act The Answer, I was relieved to learn that the venue hadn’t been flattened by a giant mutant frog, and was still stocked with over-priced beers.
AC/DC‘s stage is beset by amplification, ramps, lights and screens. The lights dim and the animation of a runaway train thunders across the screens to announce the band’s arrival. The open chord riff to ‘Rock N Roll Train’ echoes around the arena, and clenched fists are predictably raised and pumped in time to the churning rhythm. ‘Back In Black’ arrives minutes later and any who were seated rise. If ever there was a link between hip-hop and rock, it is this song. Forget Aerosmith, forget Anthrax: when Jay-Z hit Glastonbury last year – what did he flay the crowd with? ’99 problems’ – which featured the iconic Angus Young riff.
Each song is terminated by the 54-year-old guitarist as he runs wildly across the stage and leaps to cue the song’s demise. Darkness ensues with only the glittering runway stretched out in front of the stage remaining lit. ‘Thunderstruck’ comes out of the darkness, and the word “Thunder” is bellowed by 23,000 fans as a lightning flash cracks across the giant screens. Easily one of the greatest living blues-based guitarists, Angus’s epic solo work on ‘The Jack’ (featuring daft live camera shots of women in the crowd) sees him performing a striptease before flashing AC/DC branded underpants and raising a single finger to each temple emulating his signature devil horns.
As ‘Hells Bells’ sounds, a comical, AC/DC branded, out-sized bell descends from the ceiling and lead singer Brian Johnson hurls himself down the runway reaching into the crowd to slap hands with those blessed with unnaturally long arms. Introducing us to an “old girlfriend”; a giant, inflatable Rosie rises from the floor and provocatively straddles the priapic train. Before needing to sing the intro verse, Brian finds it is already being sung directly at him.
The band return for an encore with ‘Highway to Hell’ and ‘For those about to rock’, complete with pyrotechnics and cannons. AC/DC aren’t the type cool, hip band that the NME frequently spunk their load over. AC/DC play iconic rock n roll; the type that will exist as long as life does.
If you weren’t there, you can still buy the stunning No Bull live DVD.
Setlist:
Rock N Roll Train
Hell Ain’t A Bad Place To Be
Back In Black
Big Jack
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Shot Down In Flames
Thunderstruck
Black Ice
The Jack
Hells Bells
Shoot To Thrill
War Machine
Anything Goes
You Shook Me All Night Long
TNT
Whole Lotta Rosie
Let There Be Rock
Encore:
Highway To Hell
For Those About To Rock
April 14, 2009
0
Thunderheist – Interview
By Ash in Interviews
Hailing from Canada, Thunderheist find themselves teetering on the edge of global acclaim. Signed to Ninja Tune affiliate, Big Dada, and with a song featured in The Wrestler, I was fortunate to snatch a few moments with the team of Isis (vocals and lyrics) and Grahmzilla (producer).
So where are you now, and how was SXSW?
Grahmzilla: I’m at home eating leftovers, preparing to tour, and loving sleeping in my own bed. SXSW was a blur, but I do remember some crazy gigs and maybe too much Texan BBQ.
For those of us who have yet to witness the live show, can you outline what to expect?
G: Sweat, blood, screaming and pregnancy.
Favourite TH tracks right now?
G: The new stuff we’re working on…
Are you working on your own individual material? As I understand it, you didn’t start out together as TH.
G: I do remixes whenever I get a chance. I’ve got some coming up for Little Boots and Erup. Truth be told, I cant really commit to much more because of the TH schedule right now.
I heard you were conceived in the Olympic Village. How do you think that’s influenced your steez?
G: Well, I think that being the son of an Olympian has taught me that you can do anything if you give it your all. Fuck all the haters, just do it!
And in terms of production influences, are we talking electro, pop, hip-hop, rave?
G: We’re talking 15 years of DJing! I’ve played raves, hip-hop shows, skid bars. You name it; I’ve played it. That’s the biggest influence on me.
Isis, how long have you been MCing, I understand you stole your brother’s rhyme book? Did you steal his style?
Isis: I’ve been MCing since I was about 13, and yes I used to bite from my older bro. Later, MC Lyte , Nas, ODB and whoever else I was in love with then. When I hit 18, all of those styles came together to give you what you hear now.
Apart from Nas’s Illmatic, are there any albums we should hear to understand TH any better?
Prince - Purple rain
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Elephant Man - Let’s get physical
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
Isis – any female MCs you especially admire?
MC Lyte, Roxanne Shanté, Invincible, Jean Grea and Lauryn Hill
Musically, what’s good in Canada at the moment? How do you rate K’Naan?
G: K’Naan is dope! He’s being himself and people are listening.
You enjoying using Twitter?
G: cant talk right now need 2 twitter about my breakfast also i had to stop using punctuation and proper grammer in order to fit inside the 140 char limit i think this is the death of society
I: Under 140, the answer then is ‘Yes’
We’re looking forward to seeing you at the Secret Garden Party in the UK – you been to any UK festivals before and are you looking forward to touring?
G: Naah! No festivals yet… definitely looking forward to those! I know the UK is like Mecca for music, so I’m sure it’ll be a blast!
I: I’m looking forward to playing somewhere other than London, and it’s always exciting to play outside of your own city - much less country.
Are TH up on the UK grime / dubstep scene? Thoughts?
G: There’s definitely some ill stuff coming out of the UK right now. Dubstep is making waves over here, but it’ll be interesting to see if it really crosses over. I mean, they said grime was gonna be huge but it never really went global.
Thunderheist’s debut is out now.
Thanks to Grahmzilla, Isis, James at Ninja Tune and Tash at Future Classic for their help in putting this together.
April 14, 2009
0
3Mix can fuck right off.
By Ash in Musical Murmurings
Don’t know if you caught this today. There’s an Asian boyband on the loose. And they like hot pink, motherfunker! The BBC brought them to my attention in this piece which quotes their manager, EMI A&R man Aadil Rasheed, as saying “Black music has had 40 years to evolve, Asian music feels like it’s had about 15 minutes”. Apart from being a fragrant diss to all those hard-working Brit-Asian artists who, unlike his previous successes Jay Sean and Raghav, didn’t appear on TOTP, I’m assumuing he’s also referring to the ‘black music’ that has been in the UK for over 60 years. Still – he’s an A&R man, dude! What do I know about immigration and the effects of Afro-Caribbean culture upon the British nation?
Still, even to let one discrepancy go, I cannot allow Rasheed to walk away unscathed from his remark that:
“Asians are long established in Britain – let’s face it, everyone loves curry – but there is a perception that Asians are just not cool”
Everyone loves curry. EVERYONE loves curry. EVERYONE. LOVES. CURRY. Is that what this comes down to? Is this still the premiere port called at when looking at the effects of British-Asian culture today? That’s, like, what a member of the BNP would say, innit? What about cornershops, motherfucker? No? Well how about Mosques? They’re well cool, too! Speaking of cool – who holds this perception that Asians aren’t cool? Have you researched this, empirically or otherwise; or is that just how you feel when you’re down on your knees at EMI?
Fucking hell. It aint half hot, mum! If you take a look at one of my earlier scribblings, the fab Nasha compilation that came out earlier this year, shows that that there’s already a proliferation of exotic, tumeric finger-stained, paki produce already out this year. I’ve nothing against the hot-pink sexed up look of the all-dancing and all-singing puppets Rasheed’s dug up – hell, it’s even co-written by Lee ‘used to be in Blue and battered a taxi driver’ Ryan, so you know it’s gotta hit!
The song itself isn’t bad – it’s pop music with ringing dhol bhangra drums and a female hindi-vocal sample. Woah! Break those boudaries, boys. Obviously, the only way Asians in the media get anywhere in the media is by accentuating just how Asian and proud of being Asian they are by using a primarily ‘black’ style of music to convey that message.
So, with this first signing to Rasheed’s label, Gorgeous Brown (“Gorgeous Brown has the potential and aim to become a kind of Asian ‘Motown’ but hope to take things one step at a time…”), I can only wish it all the bitterness I can possibly inspire. May all that sail in her cry tears of rusted nails into their shit-stinking, halal balti bowls of aural death as they enjoy a black cock of death up their communal rectums.
Cos, clearly, that’s all Aadil Rasheed believes we’re fucking capable of.