2010 in review

I had a think the other night when I was lying in bed, you know, that little twilight time Macca describes right before you fall asleep and strange thoughts come into your head. (at least that is his explanation for 'Yellow Submarine'. a likely story...) and thought it might be nice to have a "best memory" of each month of this year.

January - this is a tie: 1) standing in front of Johnny Marr, jaw on the floor, as he played with the Cribs at the 9:30 on 19 January. he really is that amazing on guitar. and 2) interviewing We Are Scientists backstage at the Black Cat. they are so, so funny. and I got to enjoy the gig with my good friend Catherine, who enjoyed their show even she had no idea who they were / what they sounded like previous to the gig. score!

February - this is probably going to sound a bit strange, but the highlight of February was seeing Delphic's 'Halcyon' video in all its full colour, wide screen glory on a tv display at DC9, 19 February. I had only ever seen it on a computer screen and being able to see it in front of me, huge, brought a smile to my face. that and MB and I were singing along to it and dancing to it like loons, even though no one else there had a clue why were acting that way. (ohhhh, the ignorant!)

March - watching the xx play a sold-out gig at 6th and I Synagogue, 28 March. what a gorgeous, intimate venue to see such beautiful music being played.

April - witnessing Two Door Cinema Club's debut appearance in Washington, at Constitution Hall, 26 April 2010. they could have been scared and apprehensive playing one of the bigger stages in DC, supporting heavyweight Phoenix, but they showed no signs of worry. they were friggin' amazing. I was happy I wasn't the only one dancing along to their tunes but golly, just 5 months prior I'd received a sampler from Kitsune with 5 tracks of theirs (absolutely loving them) and now I was getting to see them live.

the best part was afterwards, when I went right up to Kev Baird and said hello, showing him I knew who he was (he was very surprised!) and when I gave him my business card, he said, "IT'S YOU! you're the woman who writes lovely things about us!" and we hugged. since then I have been sending friends to see them all over the world, and the band know this, b/c inevitably, they meet my friends after and they say, "Mary sent me!" haha

May - Laura Marling at Iota (16 May). I'd just come back from Philly seeing Two Door and was feeling ambivalent about this gig - I'm not a big fan of hers. live, she is WOW. how is it possible someone so young has so much talent?

June - meeting Conor O'Brien (Villagers) and seeing him do a solo show at DC9, 21 June. I wasn't sure if it was such a good idea going to this gig, just days before I had to leave for Denmark, but I am so, so glad I went. we had a nice chat. he wanted to know about me b/c I had said I had learned about him from Steve Lamacq (um, of course!)

July - Roskilde. professionally, this was a major coup, being the only American invited to be an official blogger for the festival. (seriously, I now get the "you went to Roskilde???" gasp from most bands when I tell them I saw them there. probably the best gasp was from Dougy Mandagi of the Temper Trap, whose mind was blown when I told him I had stood behind him as he smoked during the Kissaway Trail's set at Odeon and since he was chilling, I didn't want to bother him. this discussion went on outside the Boston House of Blues, see September.) I saw so many bands gig there that I may never get the chance to see in my lifetime, and I feel truly blessed for the opportunity. personally, I met two English musicians who I think will be friends for a very long time. if their band doesn't get too big and they forget the little people that helped them at the very beginning of their world domination, that is :)

August - I bought my first amp! it's only a practise amp but it signalled my first real foray into bass playing. I am teaching myself how to play electric bass guitar - I started the week after I got back from Roskilde - and it's become a wonderful hobby. I used to sing alto in the school choir, so it's coming pretty naturally to me to play a harmonising instrument than a lead melody one. also of note: I have learned how "sensual" an instrument the bass guitar is. (and yes, that is all I will say on that subject!)

September - travelling to see Temper Trap and Delphic in Philly (26 September) and Boston (29 September). such great shows. forget the money and traveling, I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat for similar amazing experiences. probably the two best moments were 1) interviewing Matt Cocksedge of Delphic, b/c he's such a funny, intelligent, and talented guy and 2) getting hugged by Dougy Mandagi after the Boston show, he'd had such a high after meeting a large group of girls from Indonesia (where he is from) who had travelled all the way to Boston to see their show, because up to that point, they had not played in his home country. I am really glad to have seen them before they start playing stadiums, b/c I'm sure that's where they're headed next. Delphic had a good if not great reception, which is pretty good, considering not too many people know who they are on this side of the pond (hope this will be rectified soon, b/c I've tried my darnedest to promote them over here).

October - seeing the tragedy of DC9 scared the heck out of me (it took a couple weeks before I would even go back downtown again) and First Aid Kit's show was cancelled (boo), the highlight of the month was seeing Delphic there on 8 October, a week before that drunk guy got killed outside the club, is bittersweet.

it had been pretty much a perfect night, the weather was wonderful to hang out on the rooftop bar. (nearly) all my local friends had come for the show, and they were not disappointed. even weirder, one of my cousins was there celebrating a friend's birthday (I had not invited her, she just happened to be there and was surprised to hear there was a band playing that night). before the night was out, I'd introduced her to Rick Boardman - her first rock star encounter (insert proud older cousin smirk here). before the band left, we were able to have a moment with them for catch-up so I could wish them well for the second part of their campaign across our continent. there was mutual appreciation and hugs all around.

aww, now I'm getting teary-eyed! haha.

November - two things. 1) emotionally, I needed to see the Script at the 9:30 on 2 November. (don't you dare laugh.) a lot of people think they're too commercial but I like their sound and they are v. good live. I was amazed how the crowd sang along to every song. what a great night. however, 2) I also needed a good rocking out / kick in the pants this month, and that was delivered by the Joy Formidable at Black Cat Backstage (11 November). it is with some amusement that I remember almost getting hit in the head several times by Ritzy Bryan's guitar. haha.

December - interviewing Brian Briggs of Stornoway at the Black Cat and telling him how much 'Beachcomber's Windowsill' meant to me, and he was touched. before I left the venue, the whole band signed a set list for me, "to Mary, with love from Stornoway, and thanks for the praise online! Oli, Brian, Jonathan, and Rob". I feel very grateful that my "job" allows me opportunities like this.

I am now looking forward to seeing what 2011 brings - more amazing gigs, interviews, and meetings, surely, but I also wish for love. blogging as a single woman is a very, very lonely experience. you just don't know how lonely it is until you actually do it for 2 years and go to most (if not all) gigs by yourself. everyone else is at a gig with their significant other, or at least their friends.

I've travelled alone to all sorts of places for gigs and I wouldn't trade the experiences I've had in places near and far, meeting bands and seeing them gig. but most of the downtime, wandering around an unfamiliar town, is pretty lonesome. it'd be nice to find someone who loves music as much as I do and be able to share that important part of my life with him.

well. it is time to bid adieu to 2010. if you are in DC, London, Manchester, New York, LA, or further afield...I hope you have exciting plans for tonight to say goodbye to this eventful year.

roll on 2011! and happy new year!

Mary x

top gigs of 2010 - TGTF - winner: the Postelles
top albums of 2010 - TGTF - winner: 'Acolyte', Delphic
top 'lists' of 2010 - Popwreckoning - posts tomorrow, 01.01.11

Manchester slide show with 'Red Lights'

completely random slide show of another tourist's snaps of Manchester taken on holiday, set to 'Red Lights'. v. nice.

my own holiday snaps from 2006 (though not put to the music of Delphic b/c when I last visited Manchester, I did not know them and therefore I had no idea the hotel I was staying at was metres away from their flat in Castlefield...?!?!?) are here.

Two Door Cinema Club - Virgin Red Room interview

here is a Boxing Day special in the form of a Virgin Red Room (not Virgin Red Rom as it's misspelled on the Web site) interview with the fabulous Two Door Cinema Club.

female interviewer's a bit of a ditz (is this why everyone in the music business looks at me dubiously when I say I'm there to interview a band???) and the "twinkle twinkle" whispering before the actual bit goes on is a little creepy. but the guys are as adorable as ever. enjoy.

and I recognise Sam's scarf. that must be Kitsune issue, b/c I've seen it around two other musicians' necks, haha ;)

xmas wishes from Two Door Cinema Club

I was thinking to myself Tuesday, wow, maybe this Christmas I'll be healthy! then a couple hours later I succumb to probably the worst incidence of flu I've had since I was small. blehhhh...

so instead of me saying thank you to everyone who's ever come by this blog, as I'm too ill to do so right now, here are Two Door Cinema Club's wishes to all their fans b/c I melted reading them.

n'awwww...I wanna give Kev, Sam and Alex the biggest of hugs right now.

watch the video too!

Hey guys,

We think it’s about time we wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS, and with this festive greeting, we present to you a mashup of our year….it’s a bit of everything…clips from Reading Festival, T In The Park, the Carson Daly show, Shepherd’s Bush Empire, festivals in Japan, Sam wearing his brand new adidas tracksuit, Vegas, Jimmy Kimmel, Kev showing off his dance moves, music videos from Gran Canaria, France and West London, our first UK TV performance on Jools Holland, KCRW radio session in America…our amateur footage that we call ‘tour diaries’. See if you think you can spot yourself….



It’s been a huge huge year for us, and this all comes down to the support we’ve had from you, so THANK YOU. We couldn’t have done it without you [no seriously, we couldn't!] So we dedicate this compilation of moments to ALL OF YOU.

Thanks again everyone – you’ve made our 2010 properly amazing!

Kev, Sam and Alex

x

Two Door Cinema Club and Delphic answer Under the Radar Mag's artist survey

Kev from Two Door Cinema Club and all of Delphic answer some (admittedly American-centric) questions Under the Radar Mag sent them about their year in 2010. (FYI there are apparently more Delphic answers in the physical Under the Radar, but as I've been felled by flu I'm not exactly sure when I'll be well enough to venture out for it. and I'm only getting it if the magazine was smart enough to shoot another nice, 2-page photo of the guys for it, haha.)

Kev of Two Door Cinema Club

Top 10 Albums of 2010

Not really in any order...

Four Tet: There Is Love in You

The National: High Violet

Bad Veins: Bad Veins

Caribou: Swim

LCD Soundsystem: This is Happening

The Black Keys: Brothers

Phoenix: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Blood Red Shoes: Fire Like This

Stars: The Five Ghosts

Wild Nothing: Gemini

What was the highlight of 2010 for either you personally or for the band?

We’ve been lucky enough to be part of a lot of very cool things, but I think our highlight definitely has to be releasing our debut record. It was kind of like we’d properly laid down our intent.

What was the low point of 2010 for you?

When someone threw beer over my favorite effects pedal.

What are your hopes and plans for 2011?

We’re going to be touring until about April/May. Before 2011 is over we want to have the next record finished and well on its way or finished in the studio.

What are your thoughts on President Obama’s job performance in the last year? Has your optimism, if you were an Obama supporter, waned?

After studying American Politics in school I probably should have taken more of an interest. I think from touring all over the world for the duration of his presidency I have lost a lot of touch. He seems to be doing all right yeah! Doing a better job than I could.

What are your thoughts on the Tea Party movement?

I think in essence they have a point. It’s not a new idea. I think their demands would be rather hard to achieve, though. In these kinds of circumstances I think there are more important things that people should be putting their energy into. There are contradictions in their argument. How can a state such as the United States reduce its enormous debt by lowering taxes that its citizens pay? In my opinion it’s “perfect world ideal-ology.”

With the Internet making every artist’s music potentially available to a wide audience, is it now easier to find listeners or more difficult because you have to compete with so many other musicians?

It is definitely easier. These days you can post things you’re listening to on MySpace or last.fm directly to your Facebook where all 1,000 of your friends who you don’t even know can listen to what you are listening to. You don’t have to be an established band to get fans. If you know how to work the socials to your advantage you’ll benefit.

Who would you rather listen to—a totally original musician whose compositions are groundbreaking but difficult to listen to or a musician whose songs are immediately enjoyable but derivative? Why?

The latter. Music shouldn’t be about what’s cool or not. I listen to music that I enjoy.

In the race to find new bands, are too many unworthy bands being hyped up by music blogs and websites? How are music fans supposed to filter through all these new bands being hyped?

Things have come into this new generation. People are finding the music for themselves and less and less listening to the stuff they are told to by the big institutions. It’s definitely the age of the independent blogger. There are definitely a lot of terrible bands doing reasonably well because of hype, but hype is a curse as well. Hype seems to lower the shelf life of bands, especially if it comes around before they release a record.

If your house was on fire, what would you grab as you were running out?

I unfortunately don’t have a house. I have a suitcase so if that goes on fire I’m fucked.

If you could relive one day of your life, which would it be?

The day I was born so I could start over.

What’s the strangest fan encounter you’ve ever had?

When a whole class of medical students in Paris grew moustaches because I had one.

If you had a bucket list, what would be the Top 4 things on that list?

1. Go to the carnival in Rio de Janeiro.

2. Get a platinum record.

3. Punch an A list celebrity in the face.

4. Sleep with an A list celebrity.

Who was your first love and do you still keep in touch with them?

Beer and daily.

Is there anything that most people are able to do that you can’t (such as drive a car, swim, ride a bike)?

Draw.

--
Delphic extra answers

With the Internet making every artist’s music potentially available to a wide audience, is it now easier to find listeners or more difficult because you have to compete with so many other musicians?

James Cook: The Internet is a junction of avenues that help people find their way to your band. Ten years ago there were no forms of social networking and now there are dozens, all with dedicated band/artist pages. It has changed the way we consume music, although not necessarily for the better. Whereas in the past people were forced to buy a few albums and really consume them, now the listener is spoilt for choice. It’s neither easier nor more difficult, as bands have always had to be competitive, it’s just now they have to approach it in a different way.

Who would you rather listen to—a totally original musician whose compositions are groundbreaking but difficult to listen to or a musician whose songs are immediately enjoyable but derivative? Why?

Matt Cocksedge: Music is dependent on mood—sometimes you want to be comforted by what you know, sometimes you want to listen to something groundbreaking or original because you already know what you know, if that makes sense. One category is neither more valuable nor less worthy than the other. It’s a big landscape and there’s room enough for everyone to find an audience, even Barry Manilow.

In the race to find new bands, are too many unworthy bands being hyped up by music blogs and websites? How are music fans supposed to filter through all these new bands being hyped?

James: The modern music fan has become savvy to the Internet, discerning which blogs or websites they trust, but inevitably it’s like it always was. You filter by listening. It’s easy to tell at that stage which bands are hot air and which bands are of substance. The press should always be seen as a guide rather than a rule.

Who was your first love and do you still keep in touch with them?

Rick Boardman: Delphine—she is our muse, so yes.

Is there anything that most people are able to do that you can’t (such as drive a car, swim, ride a bike)?

Rick: We can do all those things. In fact, we swim and cycle quite often.

Have you ever been starstruck when meeting another musician? If so, by who?

Rick: No.

What’s the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in the last year?

Rick: We don’t dwell on things enough to get embarrassed by them.

What or whom do you miss most when you’re touring?

James: Delphine

What moment made you maddest in 2010?

Rick: When we realized our football club in England was £1.1bn in debt thanks to the Glazers.

What was the first movie you saw in the theater as a child and do you still enjoy it now?

James: Peter Pan—you can’t better those Disney choirs. Of course I still enjoy it, it’s timeless.

In 2010, what was the best movie you saw, book you read, comic book you read, video game you played, and/or TV show you watched?

Rick: Movie—The Social Network by Aaron Sorkin and David Fincher. Book—Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick. TV Show—Mad Men by Matthew Weiner.

What are your thoughts on President Obama’s job performance in the last year? Has your optimism, if you were an Obama supporter, waned?

Matt: Obama has definitely changed the perception of America around the world, largely due to the symbolic nature of his initial policies (on human rights, health care, discrimination) which showed the determination and clear direction of his government. Of course there is a lot left to do, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan, and criticism is inevitable. However his hesitation is understandable given America’s relations with the Middle East, and the critical state the nation was in when he took the reins.

If you could give one piece of advice to an aspiring musician, what would it be? What was the best piece of advice that you’ve ever gotten?

Rick: Everyone and anyone can be a musician these days. Bedroom studios have taken over from commercial studios. All you need is a computer and you are officially a recording artist! But, in order to rise above all the thousands of applicants, you have to make sure you are making the best music with the best songs. There is a sea of bland music out there and only a few who are really doing something special. Work harder than everyone else and write better songs.

I laugh in the face of top 10 lists!

so of my top ten albums of 2010, only three of them made it on the This is Fake DIY writers' top 50 - the Futureheads 'The Chaos' at #47, Two Door Cinema Club's 'Tourist History' at #42, and Mystery Jets 'Serotonin' at #29. pretty disappointing not to see Delphic, Hundred in the Hands, Broken Bells, or Villagers in there somewhere. I don't like Kanye, I don't like the National, and I defo don't like Sleigh Bells! bah.

what HAS been rather interesting is reading independent (personal) blogs choosing Delphic on top 10 or 20 lists. there's too many to list here but I really liked this one from Denmark (I think) called the Idioteque. here is a blurb from their #5 placing of 'Acolyte' (I've left off most of the Pitchfork slagging):

So, Delphic hasn't exactly been the critics' choice. Rock with synthesizers just isn't as hot as guys with beards playing acoustic guitars, and perhaps it never really has been the shizzle this century, at least outside of Denmark, where bands like VETO, Spleen United and Turboweekend have been among the most prominent of the country's sudden surge in independent music.

But how can you resist? When 'Clarion Call' kicks off in a massive crescendo at 1:26, how can you not be drumming your fists into thin air? How can you help nodding along to 'This Momentary''s insistent, four-on-the-floor beats and chanting, haunting vocals? How can you ignore the brilliance of the pivotal track, 'Acolyte' itself, which surges like a tsunami again and again, and clusterbombs you with swooning, rapturous synthesizers? Or when the album fades away with 'Remain', a post-crescendoic blissful nirvana?

Wearing its Haç-heritage pretty visibly on its sleeves seems to often override the fact that Acolyte really isn't exactly the floor filler it's often proclaimed to be. I see it more as a listening record, and while being sometimes slightly characterless; it cleverly manages the oft-attempted fusion of rock and electro, avoiding most of the pitfalls. So Pitchfork gave it a 5.0 grade? I bloody hell couldn't care less - this is one of the most menacingly intense and engrossing albums of 2010!

Why not swim against the tide, as the opening stanza states, we live in unconditional change anyway?

(read more here)

v. nicely said. the more I listened to 'Acolyte', the more I was convinced this was more of an intellectual record. like Jenny and Johnny's 'I'm Having Fun Now' that can be enjoyed superficially/simply as a surf pop record, 'Acolyte' can be enjoyed as a dance album. rave to it. if that's all you want from it.

but it's when you sit down with it long enough that you realise the brilliance. listen to the lyrics. they're spare but they do what they're supposed to - make you think and tug at your emotions. then consider what they do with the synths (the effects in 'Counterpoint' that sound like birds, for example) and you realise this isn't any record. the guitar riffs are awesome. they're not overbearing. they've been placed in just the right spots. just brilliant.

I have my own thoughts of what 'Acolyte' the song is supposed to represent. but I won't post it here b/c I will blush and embarrass myself, so sorry, you will have to come up with your own ideas on this one. I will say, start first by looking how the song is constructed. I got better acquainted with it, working out the bass line and figuring where the bass came in with respect to the many synths.

I often think about how the Pains of Being Pure at Heart sound is a great wave, awash of sound that you want to get swept up in, and 'Acolyte' runs similar to this, but with no lyrics. no lyrics except ethereal, heavenly sighing, as if from another world. if the music in heaven is anything like this...

this week's Roundtable (16/12; best of 2010 - part 2)

sorry this was delayed, but part 3 of our office party took place exactly during Roundtable yesterday (yes, I wondered myself, who puts on holiday parties that take place over 3 days?)

Lewis Bowman from Chapel Club, Alex Trimble from Two Door Cinema Club (pinch hitting, oddly, for his bass-playing bandmate Kev Baird) and journo David Quantick were the guests.

1. Mystery Jets - 'Dreaming of Another World' - the winner - this gave me such a big smile on my face the first time I heard it. I'm desperate to see them live.

2. Laura Marling - 'Darkness Descends' - she's very good live. it's completely a transcendental experience compared to listening to her recording. go see her.

3. Sleigh Bells - 'Tell 'Em' - I still think they're overrated. they're ok, just massively overhyped. are they going to be around in 2 years? I doubt it. ahahahaha Alex Trimble said "it's like a young girl who is singing along to Stomp!" ohhhh Alex. ::huggles::

4. I Am Kloot - 'Fingerprints' - it's all right but it's a bit meh to me (sorry Guy Garvey) compared to more emotional music like Stornoway's ::swoon::

5. Cee-Lo Green - 'Forget You' - it's ok. the only reason it's getting all this coverage is b/c of the controversy.

6. MGMT - 'Congratulations' - it's ok. I like 'Song for Dan Treacy' better. the album is definitely much better than the critics would have you believe.

7. Warpaint - 'Undertow' - again, don't understand the hype. in a way, I'm kind of glad they're on the BBC Sound of 2011. that kind of ensures they won't go anywhere (haha - sorry, I am a bit sore I was not consulted for it this year as Phil was last year...sucks they only consult with UK-based professionals only)

8. Goldheart Assembly - 'Last Decade' - I LOVE THIS. gorge. ::wahhhhh / sobbbb::

Delphic compliments Two Door Cinema Club...and more...

I like this sort of thing a lot. FANDOMS COLLIDING. THUD.

and I'd never heard any of the demos of 'Submission' :O you all heard it on this blog eons ago that 'Submission' was my favourite song on 'Acolyte'. obviously labour of love, I just knew it the best song ::smug::



in the second one, they comment on Phoenix, the xx, Sub Sub and Doves (ooh).

UnionTV interview

I sometimes get nervous before doing a band interview and think I've gone down horribly and have made an utter fool out of myself afterwards.

in those cases, I will turn to this interview on what NOT to say during one.

this man has got to be one of the most ridiculous people ever allowed to interview Delphic. I mean, come on. firstly, that's one noisome leopard print hat.

the description of this video on YouTube?

LUC VALVONA INTERVIEWS SINGING SENSATION DELPHIC, TOPED (sic) FOR BIG THINGS IN 2010 - DELPHIC TRIO ARE FRESH OUT OF MANCHESTER AND PRODUCE A SOUND THAT IS UNLIKE ANYTHING BEFORE CHECK THESE GUYS!

dude. stop shouting! and punctutation marks are your friend, my man. sheesh. (sorry. once an editor, always an editor.)

poor James. he looks like he desperately wants to disappear into that champagne glass. then he finds the hair on his left wrist v. interesting...he later gets back at the interviewer with a smart aleck comment that goes completely over Leopard Man's hatted head though.

when Rick tries to get a conversation going about seeing Kraftwerk at Bestival, the interviewer tries to puff himself up, saying "I saw Kraftwerk there too!" LOL

umm..."what is the inspiration for the videos?" uh, which one? there are several of them. they're not identical. d'oh. and the t-shirt giveaway...argh, spellcheck, please? (sorry, editor hat is always firmly on my head.) TBH even if I won that shirt, I'd never wear it. I'd look like a safety hazard walking around town in that orange!

also, asking a group of guys to swap the direction they have their legs crossed is just a little weird. this could have been an amazing 6 minutes - I mean, right before 'Acolyte' was released...!

that said, I am rather jealous of the people who saw the band this night. they got 'Sanctuary'!!! (as you will see from the bits of it and 'Counterpoint' interspersed in the interview, kind of annoying) ::whimper::

this week's Roundtable (09/12 ; best of 2010 - part 1)

Join Lammo as he welcomes comedian Jeremy Hardy, 1965 Record's James Endeacott and former Pipette Rose Elinor Dougall among others into the studio to chat about the best releases of the year.

1. the xx - 'VCR' - joint winner - still a great tune.

2. Chapel Club - 'Oh Maybe I' - a local DJ friend of mine says they are miles better than White Lies. hmmm...well, when they come back to America and do a proper tour, I'll be the judge of that.

3. Darwin Deez - 'Radar Detector' - the only thing I can say about this - besides it being catchy to the point of being annoying - is that I will always remember being stood in the stairwell of DC9 with James Cook of Delphic and having this conversation:

::song comes on as we're stood next to the doorman::
me: oh dear, I'm sure you know this song!
James: yes, it's Darwin Deez!

there you go. make of that what you will.

4. Tinie Tempah - 'Pass Out' - I don't like hip hop. blah. it's gotta have a melody. gotta have one.

5. Chemical Brothers - 'Swoon' - the only really decent song on 'Further'.

6. the Neat - 'In Youth is Pleasure' - joint winner - I don't know what is going on, maybe I have missed the punk revival...but I only like punk in small doses, and I have to be in the right mood to appreciate it. in a word - UGH.

7. Slow Club - 'Giving Up on Love' - fun stuff. so joyous. I hope to see them next year.

8. Paul Weller - 'Wake Up the Nation' - it's ok. it's Paul Weller. I think he's past it. sorry.

Friendly Fires cover Depeche Mode

my old love has come back. and not a moment too soon.

Friendly Fires is scheduled to play at Bowery Ballroom in New York on the 7th of February 2011.

I had a strange dream 2 weeks ago where I dreamt they were going to play at the Rock 'n' Roll Hotel in DC on 5/2 and asked Jack Savidge if that were the case.

they haven't been back to DC since 24 March 2009 - yes, I remember that date well! - so I felt it my duty to remind him that they need to return (and see me of course).

@jackbsavidge 14 hours ago
@theprintedword hmm probably not. Soon though. Hope you're well!

you see, people don't forget me easily ;) and soon. this is exciting. it's been over a year since I've seen them gig, and nearly 2 years since they have been in town.

despite this frigidly cold winter in Washington, I am feeling rejuvenated hearing their interpretation of Depeche Mode's 'Strangelove'. YUM.

Matt Australian Splendour in the Grass MySpace interview

"there's no time for foreplay"

ummm...LOL. I know what he meant but sometimes you say something and it means something totally different. haha :)

short. but lushly produced. and Matt's gorgeous Rickenbacker, yay! enjoy below.