On The Radio: Faithless
Heard this a while back on the radio whilst driving, and I haven’t heard played on the radio for some time either yet it’s always a firm favourite and always a joy to listen to. It’s one of those songs that you cannot fault. Insomnia by dance-trio Faithless. I can remember when this track first came out in the mid-late 90’s and have loved it ever since and no matter much it gets played I just can get bored of it. Insomnia is one of those dance-tracks that helped define a moment, not just for the group who made it, but also for the UK music scene as it helped carve the path for other dance artists to. Maxi Jazz, Sister Bliss and Rollo, I’ll forever salute you for making one of the best dance anthems of all time EVER!!1
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Noel Gallagher on The Graham Norton Show
This was from a performance, last week, by the better (in my view) Gallagher brother Noel, courtesy of his new band High Flying Birds on BBC1. Noel was performing his latest single ‘Holy Mountain’ and I have to admit I liked it within the first few seconds. Fresh, original, upbeat not to mention it’s quite vibrant to but there’s also something a bit 70’s rock to it as well which gives it just that little bit extra. Let’s not forget it’s testament to his ability as a superb songwriter. If the rest of the album sounds anything like this song does alone, I’m definitely getting the album
Also on the sofa with funny-woman Dawn French and funny-man, and Tenacious D singer Jack Black and Dwayne Johnson (The Rock). And yes plenty of laughs followed, but then again add Dawn and Jack it’s all laughs ahoy from there onwards.
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Employable Me on BBC2
This is just something that I wanted to give some special attention to at the moment, it’s on BBC2 and it’s called Employable Me. It’s about people with various disabilities who are struggling to find work. The people in the featured programme suffer from a wide-range of problems from tourettes, partial sight and Autism. I myself have a disability called Asperger’s which is a mild form of Autism so have first-hand experience of how challenging it can be to live with a disability which can affect numerous aspects of your life. From socialising, making friends, work to basic living. I’m thoroughly proud that the BBC allowed for a programme that challenges one of the biggest social taboos of our time. I myself have friends with various disabilities and have met people with various disabilities so have seen first-hand of how much of a hurdle it can represent for them, and how some people in society both view and treat them. All I ask is that that next time you see someone with a physical or learning disability don’t view them like they’ve escape from some mental institution or some strange weird being, but view them as a person. People with disabilities are no different from those whom are able-bodied or no learning disability and deserve your love, respect, care, time and attention as much as the next. For further reading on disability head to the Autism and the Arts page
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Kesha on The Graham Norton Show
Saw Kesha perform her latest single on The Graham Norton Show on BBC1 last week, Learn To Let Go, which I have to admit was actually quite good. It sounded quite melodic and just that little bit different to what she’s in the past. As always Kesha’s voice sounds as energetic as it does soothing, unless you could put it down to just that one particular song. Now I openly admit that I’m not really into her sort of music but that’s not to say I don’t enjoy her voice.
Also it was quite entertaining watching new Strictly judge Shirley Ballas perform a small dance routine with comic actor Will Ferrell. Seriously, they’ve both got the moves.
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One To Watch: Beckon Lane
Another from the One To Watch feature from the Nottingham Post. May I introduce Nottingham band, Beckon Lane. For full Q&A head for the Published Pieces page
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Listen To This… Thunderian Summer
Dave, Alex, Tim, Matt and Pablo, these five guys are from all over the East Midlands and form the newest band to get into the music scene. These guys produce much of their own material as well as the odd cover song but non-the-less are still worth checking out. If you like listening to melodic rock riffs and upbeat vocal check these guys next time they’re in town. Listen to Just A Soldier, The Man I Want To Be and Lion Bear Tiger Mama (live in Nottingham, you won’t be disappointed.
Who are you guys?
Singer – Dave Thomas (DT)
Guitar – Alex Lee (Big A)
Guitar – Tim Stone (The Juke)
Bass – Matt Morley (Pops)
Drums – Pablo Fernández de Dios (Pabs)
How did you get together?
I was in jamming with a couple of mates who had a covers band that was sort of on hiatus, that didn’t really lead to anything but in the mean time I’d recruited DT and Pops to join us. So a couple of adverts and we got Juke and Pabs in.
…. And your musical influences?
Loads, Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, Gaslight Anthem, Kings Of Leon, Foo Fighters… the list goes on. All five of us like different stuff and we sort of meet in the middle.
How would you describe the band’s style?
Loads of Reverb!
What’s the story behind the band name?
It’s what happens when five guys who should be doing more important things have a Whatsapp chat and start geeking out about Thundercats.
On a scale of 1-10, how rock are you?
Dunno, 7 maybe… depends what 10 is really.
Best gig so far?
Probably the Sausage and Cider Festival, weather was great and in the daylight we could see the crowd singing along to our stuff, which was cool.
Your dream gig?
Sunday Night, Glastonbury.
How’s life in the band?
Normally it’s a lot of fun.
Have you played abroad yet?
Not yet, got some plans for 2019, but still some work to do here.
Have you had much airplay at all?
Some internet stuff, there’s a few stations who are really supportive of unsigned bands who’ve played us.
And lastly where can fans listen to your music?
Soundcloud for now…. There’s been much debate in the band about the merits of putting the songs up for sale at this stage.
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Kelly Clarkson on The Graham Norton Show
Not long finished listening to Kelly Clarkson (her from American Idol) perform her latest single Love So Soft The Graham Norton show on BBC1, and I have to admit that even she’s not my type of artist her song wasn’t too bad. Kelly just carries a note with pure ease and possess a good vocal range. Unfortunately it sounded a little too pop/pop-rock for me which is a bit of a shame, I mean don’t get me wrong she’s a good artist and a talented singer to say the least it’s just that she doesn’t really appeal to me and this latest song isn’t actually doing anything for me I’m afraid.
Jason Momoa, Khal Drogo from GoT (Game of Thrones) provided quite a bit of entertainment, as well as eye-candy, demonstrating his battle skills with a trident from his role as Aquaman in the upcoming film Justice League. Let’s put it this way both rugged looks and toned physique (despite not taking his top, apart from a brief look at televised clip) didn’t go unnoticed.
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St Vincent on The Graham Norton Show
American music supremeo (in my opinion) St Vincent performed her new single Los Ageless on The Graham Norton Show on BBC1 right now, and I have to say it sounds really good. The lyrics are great and her voice is fully charged with masses of energy and passion, you couldn’t expect anything less from her. Mind you St Vincet’s one of thise artist whom can’t seem to do no wrong. What I liked about the song is that it had a 80’s electro sound to it combined with electro-rock. Los Ageless sounds like an amazing song and one that could easily grow on me. Also Johnny Depp and Judi Dench were on the sofa along with the rest of the cast of the new film Murder On The Orient Express, seen the trailer and it looks good.
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The Good Doctor
This is a new US TV medical drama which I’d quite to talk about mainly due to the subject matter which I’m more than familiar with, mainly because I’ve got the same problem as the main character in it. The new drama in question is called The Good Doctor which is broadcast on Sky Living and stars British actor Freddie Highmore (Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, Bates Motel) as Dr Shaun Murphy, a surgeon with suffers from Autism, and Savant Syndrome. After watching the whole of the first episode I found it utterly compelling and took great pride in the fact that a TV show like this had even been made, even more so that it’s the main character whom suffers with a learning disability. In the first episode his character, Dr Shaun helps save the life of a young boy who’s suffered a serve accident whilst on his way to a job interview at a hospital. Even though numerous people write him off as a weirdo his medical skills enable him to save the life of the young boy and is eventually given the job at the hospital. I myself suffer a form of Autism known as Asperger Syndrome, and as a result was able to identify with the lead character, and to a degree, some of his plight. There was a scene which stood-out to me towards the end of the episode in which numerous members of The Board have doubts about hiring him to his problems. There are many people in the world, some of whom may or may not have watched this series whom have various learning disabilities and as a result find it difficult to understand the world around them and as a result find it hard both fitting in with any peer group and of course communicating with others. As a fellow Autism sufferer I myself have had similar sorts of problems when I was growing up. One of the things it did give me was the ability to help and understand the world of those whom do suffer such disabilities and gave me ways of helping them to find their way in the world. Overall I found this to be an amazing series on would whole-heartedly recommend it to anyone.
For further reads on Autism go to the Autism and the Arts page
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Adam's Journal 