Just a little picture I did a while back, what do you think?
Adam’s Journal
MusicNotts Talks With… Temples on Mars
Another from the MusicNotts Talks With… series, and this one’s with Nottingham boys James, Gerald, Daz and Dean, better known as Temples on Mars
http://musicnotts.com/musicnotts-talks-with-temples-on-mars/
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SHVPES backstage (and a live)
I’m just sharing this for the sake of it, and cos I’m in a generous mood. Two backstage head-shots I took with two members of British band SHVPES from one of their gigs earlier this year, including one from their actual performance on that night.
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MusicNotts Talks With… Evil Scarecrow
An interview I did a while back with Nottingham/Derby band, Evil Scarecrow. Think K.I.S.S meets gruesome slasher with full-on screamo vocals you get these guys. And some strange dance-moves (just go to a gig you’ll get it)
http://musicnotts.com/musicnotts-talks-with-evil-scarecrow/
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Colt 48 + support @ The Albert, Nottingham 7/3/19
The doors opened at 6pm and the people gradually poured themselves in for to one of Nottingham’s night spots. Live music and beers all round for everyone. Colt 48, who are nearing the end of their current tour with Cotton Mouth, 10 Gauge and Down in One. The night was held at The Albert, formerly known as Spanky Van Dykes. The name of the venue may have changed but the general vibe of the place hasn’t. No introduction was needed for Cotton Mouth, mainly cos they did it themselves, but these guys let their music do the talking for them. Local lads, and all from Nottingham, they’ve been around for at least three years but are showing promise and definitely know how to get the crowds going. They are a fusion of rock, metal and grunge along with strong vocals and energetic presence and took the stage with ease. Now 10 Gauge, I’m just going to go out there and say it sound like legendary pros and even their lead man who is from our side of the Atlantic sounds like he like an American export.
Vocally he just hits all the right notes. By this point the adrenaline was rising, as was the sweat from the excitement of people punching their fists in the air. He got everyone to get on the floor at one point. Down in One were as game for a laugh as they were for creating riffs, the lead singer made a couple of jokes about their drummer being the next 007. Now that’d be interesting. Front-man, Gon, was literally a whirlwind of energy as he just wouldn’t stop moving from either side of the stage.
Colt 48 closed the night by singing a mixture of original songs as well as a Gotye cover, ‘Somebody That I used to Know’, just in case you were wondering. I admit it’s always interesting when bands pull-off song covers as you never know where they’re going to take it. Throughout the gig he switched between two microphones and was just a ball of energy throughout and the crowds got up close and personal by this point. Lead singer, Adam Jerome, closed the set on ‘Enemy’, a track so new it’s not even been recorded yet. Overall, a great night. Keep your eyes on these guys, they’ll be coming to a music venue near you.
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MusicNotts Talks With… Chai Larden
An interview I did with upcoming musical talent, Chai Larden, for MusicNotts magazine/site, and she’s even part of The Invisible Orchestra. Have a read and enjoy
http://musicnotts.com/musicnotts-talks-with-chai-larden/
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In The Spotlight: Vic Mensa – Down on my Luck
Now this record came out ages ago but is still, in my opinion, an amazing dance/hip hop record, with a mixing of deep house. Down on my Luck came out in 2014 and even though it didn’t do spectacularly well it still received quite a lot of airplay on various mainstream radio stations such as Capital and Radio 1. Continuing on that note though I’m surprised it didn’t stick around for just that bit longer as with the right amount of enthusiasm it could’ve got even higher. It’s one of those tracks where even though it lacked in one element it certainly made up for it in another.
Song-wise, the lyrics don’t seem to match what’s happening in the video, also they contain references to Hollywood culture.
If you’ve ever seen the video it actually has its moments in terms of comedy and scenarios, also it includes moments time rewinding. In the video there’s a girl who he notices and tries to make his way to her and in doing so ends up in various scenarios including being punched in the face, being stopped for a selfie. At one point in the video he’s vomited on by a girl and run over by a vehicle.
By the time you’ve got to the end of the video he’s outside of the club having a smoke whilst walking away. Lyrically the chorus acts as a sort of hook and just seems to go around and round, “When I get down on my luck I hide behind my eyes in Hollywood”. The song itself ends in with a sort of in-your-face style ending as it’s kind of a ‘screw you’ type of statement “Cause they told you to, why you listen to ’em Hands up, middle finger ’em Fuck that get down”.
If you ever get the chance to, watch the video cause even if you don’t quite get what’s going on the antics are to some degree laughable.
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MusicNotts Talks With… Tom Shawcroft
Another one from the MusicNotts column feature, Nottingham’s own Tom Shawcroft. His music’s really good and another great artist to keep a listen out for. Enjoy 🙂
http://musicnotts.com/musicnotts-talks-with-tom-shawcroft/
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SHVPES @Red Rooms, 30/1/19 Nottingham
A review I did of SHVPES during at the Red Rooms in Nottingham for MusicNotts at the end of last month, read and enjoy.
http://musicnotts.com/shvpes-the-five-hundred-death-blooms-red-rooms-nottingham-30-1-19/
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Listen To This: Beans on Toast
An interview with veteran rocker, well I say that but he’s been active since 2005, Jay McAllister, and the next addition in the Listen To This series, also he’s playing at the Rescue Rooms tonight in Nottingham. Enjoy
Meet Jay McAllister, a one-man-band music veteran who’s been making music since 2005, or since Indie music got a breath of new air. Better known by his stage-name Beans on Toast, Jay McAllister is a home-grown solo musician with a soothing voice who sings about many aspects of life such as drugs, politics and love. Beans on Toast is an extraordinary musician in his own right who sings to you in a way that only a small handful can. A beautiful mixture of folk, rock and acoustic with a bit of heartfelt soul. He has ten albums under his belt, his most recent being A Bird in the Hand and countless tours and look forward to hearing much more from him in the near future. For your further listening check out Another Year, Magic, Here at Homerton Hospital, Bamboo Toothbrush and Miss You Like Crazy and let’s see what you think.
“I wrote my first song was I was 15 and I’ve been writing them ever since”
Who are you?
For all intents and purposes, my name is Beans on Toast. I’m a folk singer from Essex currently travelling around the country singing simple songs about life and Love.
What made you want a life in music?
It made more sense to me than pretty much everything else, it’s just how it’s always been. I wrote my first song was I was 15 and I’ve been writing them ever since.
Now you’ve been making music since 2005, about 15 years now, do you feel like a music veteran?
I feel like I’ve been around the block a few times yeah. Still enjoy it as ever as ever though.
Do you feel you’re at the stage where you feel like a pro or would you view yourself as someone who’s still learning?
I’m not sure the plan was ever to be a pro and you should always continue to learn, that said I’m pretty settled in what I do these days and feel like I know what I’m doing.
When you first began as a musician what music influenced you?
I played in a grunge band a school, so Nirvana, Placebo and the like were a massive inspiration. Around the same time, I also discovered The Doors and Jim Morrison and fell in Live with his attitude and magic.
Describe Beans on Toast in five words
Drunk Folk Singer
On a scale of 1-10, how rock are you?
5
Beans on Toast, how did that go from being an edible dish to your stage-name?
I think it’s a pretty fair description of the music I make. It’s English, cheap, easy and it does what it says on the tin.
Describe a Beans on Toast gig to the MusicNotts readers
A gathering of friends with some singing, drinking, dancing, thinking and forgetting.
As a musician describe to me how life on the road is as you’ve been both around the UK and Europe. What can you tell me?
That good people are everywhere and if you’re polite the world will open its arms to you.
Where are you top 5 music venues both in Nottingham, the UK and abroad?
I’ve played many, many times in Nottingham and 90% of the shows have been in the same building, just different rooms. So my top Notts venues would be Rock City, Rock City Basement, Rescue Rooms and stealth. UK venues I like include Gorilla in Manchester. Brudenell Social Club in Leeds. The Trades in Hebden Bridge. Omeara in London and The Phoenix in Exeter. Worldwide. Amnesia in San Francisco. Rockwood music hall in NYC. De Roma in Antwerp. Die Wohngemeinschaft in Cologne. The Bank Rooftop in Cape town and Smiles Saloon in Bolinas.
What reactions do you get from your music compared to both here and abroad cos I imagine the musical tastes are a bit different.
I’m generally surprised how well it goes down outside of English
speaking countries, turns out it was my ignorance I was worried about.
Now you’ve got a gig later this week at the Rescue Rooms, what can we expect from it?
Same as above: A gathering of friends with some singing, drinking, dancing, thinking and forgetting.
And will you be performing songs from your recent release ‘A Bird in the Hand’?
Yep, and a bunch from the back catalogue too. This is my first tour with a new band, we’ve reworked a bunch of old tunes into a full band affair. Which is fun.
The last time you performed in town you played at Rock City, how did it go and are you excited to be coming back?
Yep, I Love Nottingham. Can’t wait to get a Mocky D’s before the show too.
Something that people might not know is that your last album was produced by Ben Lovett, would you be open to collaborating with him in the future, either as a musician or producer?
Ben produced my first album and I was lucky enough that he found the time in his mental schedule to produce my 10th. Maybe in ten years, he’ll do the 20th.
Has your music been played on The Beat or any other radio station yet?
I have no idea. 6music plays the odd song here and there as does Radio X.
Lastly where can fans listen to your music?
Wherever they normally listen to music. I’ll be there. Or Google Beans on Toast. It took me a while to get above the food on the search results. But I did it.
https://twitter.com/beanstoast?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
https://www.facebook.com/beansontoastmusic/
http://www.beansontoastmusic.com
Adam's Journal 