http://mobile.musicratty.com/feed/bfcee5e1811795d9770ed20250b0c8ff Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:14:17 +0000 iRatty Engine http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://mobile.musicratty.com/article/f9f741df99e0d050b98c16ea1fd63adf http://mobile.musicratty.com/article/f9f741df99e0d050b98c16ea1fd63adf MGMT The Kids Review by Andrew Williams Following the anthemic ‘Time to Pretend’ and the Prince-indebted ‘Electric Feel’, the release of ‘Kids’ seeds MGMT’s Oracular Spectacular album plundered of its most obvious singles. It’s a bouncy, poppy number that, thanks to the main off-kilter synth rifff, has something of the air of a childrens' TV programme theme tune about it. However, MGMT's consistent, pleasantly squarked vocals and electro-infused 60s vibe keep the song within the band's usual mainstream alternative remit. It's catchy, with a chorus that would be at home delivered as part of a effusive, drunken singalong. The B-side, a mix of the song by giants Soulwax, is less impressive. It's off-key treatment of some of the song's elements come across as so much thoughtless noodling rather than particularly considered moves. When the beat kicks in, it still does the job, but the most successful parts of this remix have little to do with the source material. Related Links Buy tickets to see MGMT MGMT MySpace MGMT Official Website Buy and sell concert tickets ]]> Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:57:15 +0000 mgmt concert tickets song tickets kids review source material off-key treatment giants soulwax 60s vibe SINGLE REVIEW: MGMT http://mobile.musicratty.com/article/ab6f9acce02effb2c2413bfa3d833ce6 http://mobile.musicratty.com/article/ab6f9acce02effb2c2413bfa3d833ce6 Honey Ryder Soho Avenue Bar London. Review by Rhose Ejobe It’s warm and busy for an October Wednesday night. Directly outside there is a big commotion for a film shoot, a Bollywood movie; cameras, lights, wires - a big setup , a very similar thing is happening inside on stage; guitars, microphones and drums, a crowd too and its for Honey Ryder. The underground music scene is very exciting, much better to follow than the manufactured one we are presented with on TV, you know the shows. Here tonight in this swanky place one can feel a real connection between success and perseverance. I’ve met with Honey Ryder before on CD, but today it’s in person. I thought they were alright, okay to listen to, however I’m curious to know if they are better in the flesh, this being there their debut album plus their first time in this venue I’m expecting something special. Thinking back to their album, I know a studio recording can never compare to a live performance, either for better or worse. Honey Ryder open with their first single of their album Rising UP, the single which, bears the same name of the album. Coincidentally the opener is very similar to their performance on the night, starting slow but rising up. The open song I thought to be mediocre; the voice barely making it over the music, but I give praise to the ad-libs in this track. The concert started, mediocre which held on through the opening track– the result, the sound man changed the vocals microphone setting at the bands request. The next song’s performance Numb – very well pulled off, a 100%. Numb is one of my favourite tracks in their album and the change in the mic settings did the trick. Here the music and voice were in sync and clear. Towards the end of the show Honey Ryder announced they’ll do a cover track, a cover on Prince, at this point my eyes gleamed with joy as I thought: “What song? What song?" When Doves Cry I hoped, and hope was rewarded, to my surprise their spin on it was fantastic, unfortunately it was wasted on an audience who didn’t seem to appreciate it. It made me wonder if Honey Ryder could perform better depending on the songs they choose. In conclusion the concert started slow then picked up with some good music, I do feel they had very little crowd control and very little presence, in the back and on the sides many people were talking, chatting away and having drinks completely unaware of the band. Honey Ryder concluded their concert classically with a bang, their track Fly Away, performed very well. Seeing them made me realize the band's singer has a better live voice than a studio version, confirming my initial impression that they have very good musical pieces, however the vocals tend to lag behind the songs they sing. Their Debut Album is out 17th November titled Rising Up check for tracks: Fly Away, Numb, Coming Around Again, Years From Now and Rising Up amongst others. Related Links Buy concert tickets Honey Ryder MySpace ]]> Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:21:46 +0000 honey ryder live performance performance debut album album songs performance numb songs underground music scene music GIG REVIEW: Honey Ryder http://mobile.musicratty.com/article/5eeedfdc8b2e1cd2c41769ac73044698 http://mobile.musicratty.com/article/5eeedfdc8b2e1cd2c41769ac73044698 Last Week in London Likely Lads & Lovely Ladies Review by Peter Coulston Hello and welcome to what looks like being a mixed bag of goodies in the classy clubs of live music here in the big city. I made an early start this week for a very acoustic night at the Electroacoustic Club at the Slaughtered Lamb pub in Barbican. Owen Nicholas This guy was a last minute addition to an already excellent line up, but there are no complaints from this reviewer on that score. Mr Nicholas has an interesting voice which fits well with the psychedelic English folk that he writes and performs on his guitar, accompanied beautifully by Tom Newell on mandolin and violin. Songs like “The Gilded Bay” and “Orchestra In June” went down well and are on MySpace. Lampwick This solo performer has very strong vocals, pretty good songs and mentions Scott Walker as an influence on MySpace, which I must admit left me puzzled. His set was a mix of upbeat and ballad acoustic pop, some of which was quite catchy. “Help You Out” was an example of that, and “Village Secret” and “Grand Hotel” are nice ballads that are on MySpace. Maryland Another solo performer that sounds like a band, name wise that is, who performed some good songs with, at times, delicate vocals which could be down to him having a cold. His songs are acoustic alternative and, for me, there was something about them that I can’t define after one listen. They were earthy and interesting, like “Sweetheart Revolution Part 2”, which is on MySpace and I will check this artist out again, though I am not sure why. Turner Cody Here in the UK only briefly as part of a European tour, this Brooklyn, New York based performer was worth catching. As a singer, songwriter and guitarist he cannot be faulted, and he has good audience rapport as a bonus. He is a master of finger style guitar picking and moves easily between folk and blues and a lot in between. The lyrics are thought provoking and audible and the overall quality of the material is first rate. When he isn’t picking, he is gently jamming jazz style like Dylan does on “Love & Theft” and “Modern Times”. He has a MySpace with “First Light” and “Underground” among others on there, and I cannot emphasise enough how crucial it is that you visit. Lights Action This was the first of a three band line up that was concluding a five day UK tour at the Barfly at Chalk Farm on Tuesday night. For all three bands, the sound was poor with too much percussion and lack of balance between the other instruments, which resulted in the vocalists having to scream themselves hoarse. These guys did pretty well for openers but the singer had to work hard on occasions to get the above average material across. They were good on the rockers and were not afraid to tackle the odd rock ballad or get a bit jazzy to show their stuff off. The basic guitar line up, with one of them doubling on keys, was fine and the vocalist can sing and inhabit the stage well, with the overall look of the band being good. The drummer could be a little more adventurous, there are a few guys (and girls) out there expending that much energy and achieving far more. I subscribed to their mailing list which means I must have liked them, so give “Signals to Radar Rough” a listen on My Space. Canterbury Another young, good looking five piece rock, indie pop group with very good vocals and an obvious desire to be different. There are lots of influences here and I am not certain that they have a firm direction as yet, but they will find it I am sure because they are basically a fine band. They are very loud and energetic, which can distract from the actual music in live performance, so they may do well to bring it down a tad so that we know what they are about. “Take Me out the Wall” is on My Space and is a part of what they do. Enjoy Destroy As far as the band name is concerned, we did and we didn’t, as the Barfly appeared totally intact when I left. These young, rock alternative boys look as good as boys of their age should, and move easily between metal and power pop, with the odd Guns ‘n Roses style rock ballad thrown in because they can. The singer managed well and the songs were pretty good and certainly commercial. A good tight band overall with an EP titled “Little Dreams” out soon, which features “When I Choose”, the aforementioned ballad which is also on My Space. The set was unfortunately short and we were denied an encore, though this may have been because the gig was open to 14years old plus instead of the usual 18, and subject to strict curfew. Lotte Mullen The week so far had been dominated by male performers so, talented as they all were, it really was time on Wednesday for the girls to get a look in. This was achieved with a visit to the Bedford in Balham where even the host was a pretty young lady. Yes, Rita was in charge of things and presented a brilliant show in her, as always, professional style. It all began with some great country/rock/soul from Lotte Mullen, a very talented singer/songwriter guitarist. With her red hair and nice lilac (I think, it’s hard to tell with the stage lights on!) dress she captured the audience with her raunchy voice and good songs. “Valentine Song” was pure 50’s country rock ballad and “Thinking Isn’t Cheating” was fun, especially as it was written by her cousin who works for a porn magazine. I leave it to your imagination. The closing song, “Suzie’s Back in Town” had everything a good ballad needs including impressive guitar picking. I really must catch this lady again. Jaz Ellington Mr Ellington has a great soul voice and uses it well on the jazzy/soul numbers that sometimes remind us of Stevie Wonder. His brilliant jazz guitar man and his great looking girl backing singers add to what would always be a good set. “Platform 23” was classic soul and “One Way Ticket” was good, but did not justify the amount of time spent on it. “Brown Eyes” did the business and the whole set proved without doubt that this man is on top of his craft. He’s at the Jazz Café soon, so try to get there if you like your soul sweet and cool. Halflight/Sarah Howells This is a lady that I am starting to like very much, having seen and heard her twice before. Sarah Howells is from Milford Haven and is one half of Halflight, though I have never seen or heard the other half. I first saw Sarah on her own at the Half Moon, Putney last October and then early this month at Ginglik dueting with Al Lewis. The truth is, I don’t care if I never see Halflight, as I thoroughly enjoy her solo sets. Another pretty redhead, she looked stunning in her gold dress and cowboy boots and performed some classy songs with her delicious earthy voice and good guitar licks. “Lifelight” was an excellent ballad and “Freewill” was folksy, rocky and great. A terrific set well rounded off with confident and warm audience rapport. Pete Edwards This performer is part of the Red Bullets band but was performing solo with his keyboard on this occasion. He is an exceptional vocalist and certainly no novice on the keyboards so I am loath to criticise his performance, especially as the audience appeared to enjoy it immensely. My problem is that he sounds much too much like Elton John, not to mention looking like him. Despite the fact that he was performing original material, which was very good, this was, for me, to all intents and purposes an Elton John tribute show. So great was the similarity, he may as well have been performing “Your Song” instead of “Too Many Barriers” and “Legal Criminal”, which you can find on the band’s My Space. This is a very talented performer that, in my opinion, must break out of this mould if he is to succeed as an artist in his own right. So there you are, another week over and some exciting things to look forward to next week. Forget the credit crunch, whatever that is; if you are really skint, the government will bale you out; especially if you are a bank. So stay safe and well, keep gigging and see you somewhere soon. Related Links Buy concert tickets www.myspace.com/owennicholas www.myspace.com/lampwickuk www.myspace.com/marylandish www.myspace.com/misterturnercody www.myspace.com/lightsactionband www.myspace.com/canterbury www.myspace.com/enjoydestroy www.myspace.com/lottemullen www.myspace.com/jazellington www.myspace.com/halflight www.myspace.com/redbullets ]]> Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:13:10 +0000 myspace guitar basic guitar line band audience rapport audience band line finger style guitar ballad LAST WEEK IN LONDON: Likely Lads & Lovely Ladies http://mobile.musicratty.com/article/9b76f529989ec56a9193b562785aa525 http://mobile.musicratty.com/article/9b76f529989ec56a9193b562785aa525 Ironik No Point In Wasting Tears Review by Oli Simpson Oh dear. Sloppily-sick love songs from a gormless UK MC that sound so much like what has come before it that they have almost no reason to exist. Backed by a production consisting entirely of bargain basement chipmunk-synth buffoonery that's as irritating as getting a headache right in the middle of a migraine; Ironik's mindless chav-(c)rap sets low goals for itself and still fails to reach them. Even the CD case smells faintly of despair. Banging away with all the subtlety and lyrical vision of a lobotomised Craig David, 'No Point In Wasting Tears' drones on for a full sixty two minutes of wasted time that you'll never get back. After the saccahrine candyfloss of single 'I Wanna Be Your Man', Ironik must have decided that Richard Blackwood karaoke was such a fantastic niche that he would knock out eighteen (eighteen!) near-identical tracks. It's a cheeky move, sure, but who'll ever notice when the results are this insipid? In fact, it's possible to write all the good things about 'No Point In Wasting Tears' on the back of a stamp. But why would you do that? You'd only ruin the stamp and waste your time. Much better instead to attach the stamp firmly to your copy of Ironik's debut album and post it to the furthest reaches of Alaska, where it need never bother you again with its gurning tosh and unfettered rubbish. Overall, Ironik doesn't so much over-egg the pudding as throw a whole battery farm into the mixing bowl, crafting the sort of sonic afterbirth that you would put on at a party if you wanted everyone to leave immediately. 'No Point In Wasting Tears' couldn't be more medicore and hamfisted unless it featured a guest rap from Tim Henman. But then UK hip-hop clown Sway appears and you'll still be laughing long after your head has exploded and grown back. Related Links Buy Ironik tickets Ironik MySpace ]]> Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:21:35 +0000 tears ironik tears review stamp firmly stamp sloppily-sick love songs richard blackwood karaoke fantastic niche debut album ALBUM REVIEW: Ironik - No Point In Wasting Tears http://mobile.musicratty.com/article/ab27b18cd358de95c9c3d732d308cac7 http://mobile.musicratty.com/article/ab27b18cd358de95c9c3d732d308cac7 Lil' Chris What's It All About? Out Now Review by Christopher Carruthers There is no getting past the blatant commercialisation; this is the true meaning of music being a product. The very nature of this re-packaged release which ‘coincides with the premiere of Lil’ Chris’ new saturday morning show’, is a distinct departure from the kind of talent the industry once upon a time was built on. ‘Kiddie Pop’ very specifically designed towards a certain younger market is understandably hard to appreciate, and I’m sure to look at his potential competition, Lil Chris is perhaps a step ahead, however you can’t avoid feeling that anyone with that cutesy family friendly middle class rebel image could sit in his place with much the same effect. Musically in the more ‘genuine’ tracks, there is a distinctive feel of a garage band, a school gig, and not just because of his whiney vocals, but the Avril Lavigne style teeny Punk, bland unimaginative riffs and huge amounts of ‘Pop production’, in a desperate attempt to milk this ‘product’ for all its got. Overall its generic, commercial Pop/Punk focused towards a specific (young) demographic. However, admittedly there is moderate variation here and there. Tracks such as ‘We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off’ lean towards the Dance/Pop side with melody lines you’d expect to hear in a Kylie track and vocal effects so thick the Lil man is barely recognisable. One can’t budge the feeling that this is a label milking an effective product for all its got. An unfortunate result yet it was almost doomed from the start. Related Links Buy Lil' Chris tickets Buy and sell concert tickets Lil Chris MySpace Lil Chris Official Website ]]> Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:03:40 +0000 lil chris chris lil effective product product tracks chris tickets bland unimaginative riffs genuine tracks ALBUM REVIEW: Lil Chris - What's It All About? http://mobile.musicratty.com/article/756fb041c7142995ec432c21daeb1156 http://mobile.musicratty.com/article/756fb041c7142995ec432c21daeb1156 Florian Meindl 8 Bit Romance / Marble Release date: 24th November 2008 Review by Charne Jones There are so many reasons to go straight to your room after a long day and turn Florian Meindl up loudly. 1) You lost your metronome and need someone to keep time consistently, repetitively and without the danger of an actual melody kicking in. 2) Your neighbours are arguing for the eighth evening in a row and you feel the strong urge to compete. 3) Your girlfriend is a screamer and your mum (who's a good listener) is over for the weekend. There is nothing too expert or technical about Florian Meindl. On first listen, it's pencil-tapping, second-hand-on-the-clock ticking boring. Yes, yes, before you come after me in your lumo Dance gear with one of those neon glo-in-the-dark sticks, I admit that England and pretty much every European over the age of twelve, might not agree with me. By the age of twenty one,while most of us were enjoying our new found escape from the perilous grasps of teen acne and curfews, Florian Meindl had already released tracks on Stil vor Talent, Resopal, Trapez, Session Deluxe and Kling Klong. While we were making cheese toasties at three am and passing out on our mates couch with a Gameboy between our thumbs, Meindl was running late nights working on his own label, Flash Recordings, together with Oliver Koletzki. Not that the young Flo wasn't up for a good party, its just that the kid would rather be throwing the party, than waiting around for an invite. Born in Austria, Meindl moved to Berlin in 2005, and quickly got on the Berlin party bus, crafting tracks for Resopal, Trapez and Session Deluxe. An interview in German electro magazine De:Bug followed, and suddenly Meindl was all over the Berlin club scene. But the young producer swapped Berlin for London quicker than you could say minimal-techno-melodic-electro-with-a-repetitive-monotone-undertone eleven times without vowel spillage. Once in London, Meindl took on a course in music production, but listening to the track 8 Bit Romance, I'm really not entirely convinced that it did him any good. I did listen to 8 Bit Romance five times before I pass judgment, and I am left wondering what else is out there in the same kind of genre - nails on blackboards, melodic teeth grinding, or my personal favourite- the pleasant sound of a constant single drop of water from a half-closed tap into a basin full of nothing. Now that would really shift some records. There is some repose, I suppose, in the fact that the track Marble shows glimmers of sharp brilliance, cleverly snapped together like a rubiks cube. Pity about the title track though. Girls named Pearl, with facial hair and a bald spot, will tell you that sometimes a pretty name alone just isn't enough. Visit Meindl's MySpace page, and you'll notice that he's hailed a professional, a perfectionist but most of all, a workaholic. If that's true, may I suggest that Florian Meindl gets himself a day job. If you'd like to experience the Florian Meindl effect, visit MySpace or tap your head lightly against a wall in repetitions of ten. 1...2...3...4....... Related Links Buy concert tickets Florian Meindl MySpace ]]> Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:23:35 +0000 florian meindl meindl florian meindl effect visit meindl berlin club scene berlin berlin party bus bit romance meindl moved SINGLE REVIEW: Florian Meindl http://mobile.musicratty.com/article/0d9e1a8f083a1be3ccdb3c4d3e80f845 http://mobile.musicratty.com/article/0d9e1a8f083a1be3ccdb3c4d3e80f845 The Invisible Monster’s Waltz Review by Zarina Raja Monster’s Waltz is a chaotic but accessible sounding single. The mis-mash of sounds seem random, but fit together perfectly creating an eclectic mixture of vocals, crashing guitars and is almost danceable. It needs to be played loud for its full capacities to be heard. The echoing vocals float over The Invisible’s layered sound. Repetition of play also seems to invite new sounds that have not been heard previously; hearing this song live is bound to be pretty exciting. With its plucky beginning, heavy middle and jangling finish, The Invisible’s Monster’s Waltz is a colourful single that exposes itself differently on every play. Related Links Buy concert tickets The Invisible's MySpace ]]> Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:13:18 +0000 single invisibles invisibles monsters waltz colourful single vocals vocals float concert tickets song live heavy middle SINGLE REVIEW: The Invisible - Monster's Waltz http://mobile.musicratty.com/article/0bd922bb107da5c7f41d96afc4d0f77d http://mobile.musicratty.com/article/0bd922bb107da5c7f41d96afc4d0f77d Honey Ryder Soho Revue Bar Review by Amir Ahmed I was really looking forward to the show tonight. The group have taken the novel approach in offering shares in the bands sales, merchandise, touring etc to fund their attack on the music biz and they have the backing of a former EMI CEO and count Annie Lennox amongst their fans. Honey Ryder's material on their MySpace page is really promising. Dreamy pop in the vein of William Orbit produced All Saints or Morcheeba. Unfortunately live, the band don't deliver on this promise. They perform their singles, but without the production, whilst the singer, Lyndsey has a strong voice, the songs sound derivative and without originality. The group are touring with Michael Bolton at the moment and will then be supporting Will Young, on his national tour, but I can't see either of those artists' fans warming to this groups rather luke warm performance. The really cringe worthy moment of the evening comes when they incredibly attempt a cover of When Doves Cry by Prince. Now that's a mammoth song for anyone to pull off convincingly and Honey Ryder really look and sound like a bad karaoke act with their tepid version. I've got to say the venue is brilliant though. A labyrinthine set of nooks and crannies set on several floors, I'd always thought it was a seedy strip joint. Turns out it's a seedy club/entertainment venue, with comedy on one floor and this showcase headlined by Honey Ryder on the third. Brilliant little stage with a great PA and of course, pole dancing stages, flanking the main stage. No actual pole dancers tonight though. Though there are quite a lot of 'bankers'. Apparently guitarist and chief songwriter, the enigmatic - read silent - Martyn Shone, used to be a banker. Which is maybe where the idea for Honey Ryder offering shares in their group, originated. That would explain the afore-mentioned merchants. Wonder if they're getting a good return in these worrying times? Related links: Honey Ryder on MySpace. Honey Ryder concert tickets. http://www.seatwave.com ]]> Fri, 17 Oct 2008 08:26:19 +0000 honey ryder seedy strip joint sound moment seedy songs sound derivative cringe worthy moment luke warm performance bad karaoke act GIG REVIEW@ Honey Ryder http://mobile.musicratty.com/article/09d9ae4198171e30d87c8bcc06b2fe69 http://mobile.musicratty.com/article/09d9ae4198171e30d87c8bcc06b2fe69 Oasis 16th October 2008 Wembley Arena Review By Zarina Raja “Didn’t all British teenagers in the 90s grow up listening to Oasis?” my Spanish friend asked me before the gig. Yeah, I guess…but growing up with something doesn’t mean that you have to like it, right? As we entered Wembley Arena the lights exploded over the stage and the highly excitable ‘mad fer it’ crowd roared in appreciation. It seemed a positive way to kick off a gig that was not particularly well suited to one’s musical taste. The atmosphere buzzed but lacked the frenetic hype that one might expect for a band that so publicly blows its own trumpet. The standing area was full, but oddly enough not packed. Nevertheless, beer sloshing, jumping and singing reigned through Wembley as Oasis burst into their first song (F***** In The Bushes was played over the PA system to warm up the crowd) ‘Rock N Roll Star’ followed by ‘Lyla’. Liam, with his trademark ‘hands behind the back’ pose, tore his way through the set, ripping into ‘The Shock Of The Lightning’, ‘Cigarettes and Alcohol’ and ‘Meaning Of Soul’. Vocally Liam was on top form and Noel didn’t seem to suffer too much discomfort from his two broken ribs. Wembley pulled out all the stops to create a decent sound system for one of the most talked about gigs of the year. Oasis included more acoustic guitars than normal, used on ‘Wonderwall’, ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’, ‘Songbird’ and ‘The Masterplan’, possibly to cushion the sound for the MTV recording. ‘To Be Where There's Life’, ‘Waiting For The Rapture’, ‘The Masterplan’ and ‘Songbird’ were next on the bill. By this point the gig was in full swing and the crowd, who resembled a bunch of football fans ecstatic after a victory over their enemy, were drunk with appreciation and expensive beer. Admittedly, the set itself was faultless. Their songs are anthems for their fans; uplifting and annoying singable. I for one, was shocked at my own back catalogue of Oasis lyrics; they flowed quite freely from the teenage backlog wedged deep within me. The gig, however, definitely lacked visual impact. A few bright lights and some screens didn’t hit the spot, but the crowd (mostly screaming all the words to their mates) didn’t seem fussed. Catching Oasis in a venue 1/5 of the size they normally play was obviously pretty special. The new songs went down particularly well, especially ‘I’m Outta Time’ proving that Oasis still have something to offer. Personally, Oasis seem rather static, but if it’s working, then good for them. The rest of the set included ‘Slide Away’, ‘Morning Glory’, ‘Ain't Got Nothing’, ‘The Importance Of Being Idle’, ‘I'm Outta Time’, ‘Wonderwall’, ‘Supersonic’, ‘Don't Look Back In Anger’ (acoustic), ‘Falling Down’, ‘Champagne Supernova’, and to the delight of many, ‘I Am The Walrus’, which Oasis rarely play live. Personal highlights included ‘Wonderwall’, ‘Morning Glory’ and ‘The Importance Of Being Idle’. Apparently, yes, even teenagers that worshipped the likes of Sonic Youth still have a little bit of time for the Gallaghers. Related Links Buy Oasis tickets Oasis MySpace Oasis ]]> Fri, 17 Oct 2008 08:02:40 +0000 oasis wembley arena oasis lyrics wembley oasis 16th october gig oasis burst wembley arena review system GIG REVIEW: Oasis http://mobile.musicratty.com/article/7bd5b8da752b23b6899c284ce1e4fe04 http://mobile.musicratty.com/article/7bd5b8da752b23b6899c284ce1e4fe04 Alberta Cross Interview by Katie Spain You know you're on to something when Noel Gallagher calls up to personally ask you to support Oasis. New York-based band Alberta Cross has every excuse to be perched high up on cloud ninety-nine; after all, if Oasis likes you, you're cruising. It hasn't been an easy road for the lads though; when Petter Ericson Stakee and Terry Wolfers formed the band they came from very different geographical directions. Petter travelled between England and Sweden while Terry called East London home. The music formed a bond and the path looks set to be a good 'un. Performances with Bat for Lashes, Simian Mobile Disco, The Shins and Findlay Brown lay behind them and the path ahead is paved with Gallaghers. We caught up with Petter ahead of the big dates. Set the scene for me, where are you now? I’m in the Lower East Side, New York City. What’s your first musical memory? My first musical memory? Whoa, probably going to see my dad’s band when I was a kid. He was playing in a Blues/Rock band. You travelled around with him quite a lot didn’t you, as a singer/songwriter. What you wanted to when you grew up. I think I have dreamt about being in a band my whole life really. I started bands with my mates when I was eight or nine. We had dance routines and stuff, early Michael Jackson and Prince. You’re based in New York now right – why the Big Apple? You have spent time in England and Sweden, so why New York this time around? We felt like we needed a change. With the music and the response that we were doing over here it seemed like the right thing to do. There’s a tight knit musical community over there isn’t there; musicians seem to heavily support one another. Have you found the place inspiring? I think so, definitely. I have been here for less than a year now. It’s quite relaxed over here really. Are you excited to be heading back to the UK? Will you have a lot of catching up to do with people? Yes, the Oasis show is going to be great. We are doing some club shows in London too. We have been recording over here and will continue to do the album when we get back. It’s going to be a good little break. You have some big gigs coming up – Oasis obviously, definitely a biggy. I hear that Noel asked for you personally. Yeah, he called one of the label people in London and said that we were his favourite band at the moment. It’s really cool; I didn’t really expect it. He said he had been listening to us non-stop and that we are the best band that he has heard in ages. What a compliment! Have you met the guys yet? No not yet but I’m sure we’ll hang out. You have a gig at the Hoxton Bar and Grill on the 20th. Can we expect a lot of new material? Quite a bit I reckon. It will be half and half but I am sure we will try out some new stuff. Your release is scheduled for early next year. I bet you're itching to get it out there. Yes, but it has been good to get it out there. It has been a good break though; we were quite drained. We had to leave our label, there were loads of problems. It was good to have a little break and to get cracking on the third album. It will be much better for it. I hear that there is going to be a change sound-wise. I read online that there’s going to be some French influence in there? French?! Haha. Well, it is definitely a wider sounding album. The response to your debut mini album, The Thief And The Heartbreaker was great in the UK; the future of Alberta Cross is looking very promising. Has there ever been a time when the lows have out weighted the highs? Yes, definitely. You have to be quite strong. When you’re touring, you’re on a high, but when you come back, you do nothing for two weeks. That is the biggest low for me. The band has been described as ‘sincere, sweet and sublime,’ by NME. Tell me the truth; do your personalities match that description? Haha. Maybe that’s Terry. I hear Terry got chased out of a venue at Union Square by a big crack-head version of Dolly Parton. Yeah, that was kind of crazy. When you’re old and grey, what memory will you look back on most fondly from your music career so far? Probably that! Or being chased out of an Oasis gig by a big crack head Dolly Parton look-a-like maybe? Yes! That would be the best one. Do you have any secret ambitions outside of music? Hmn…I don’t know. I like to travel and stuff. I am trying to find a new hobby at the moment actually. I don’t really have that much time though. What was the last band that made your heart skip a beat? Last band…hmm… I saw a band called The Wigs at a festival in America. They were amazing. They had some great bits in their set. Oh no, wait, Iggy Pop & The Stooges. I was standing there at the side of the stage, two meters from Iggy. Related links: Alberta Cross concert tickets. Alberta Cross’ official site. Oasis concert tickets. The Wigs on MySpace. Iggy and the Stooges concert tickets. ]]> Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:14:17 +0000 favourite band band alberta cross dads band bluesrock band gig oasis gig band alberta cross oasis INTERVIEW: Alberta Cross