An Interview with one of my favourite bands of all time.

Hello everyone,

Earlier today i conducted an online interview with Charlotte Cooper from the Subways. This band are one of my favourite bands. I have loved them for nearly 6 years. I sent an email off, with very little hope that anybody would get back to me, and I was wrong. To interview this band was a dream come true and also shows that if you work hard and take risks then dreams become reality. so please enjoy the interview as much as i did.

1. You have a small intimate tour coming up, how does it feel to be back on the road again after so long?We're so excited to be playing gigs again! We've really missed being onstage; it's where we feel we belong.

 

2. Where is the best place you have played a gig and why?

I always find the shows in more obscure places fun to play, because you get a really different experience. One festival in the middle of a forest in Czech Republic springs to mind. It was really dark and not many people knew us, but as the set went on, it got crazier and crazier! It felt like we were hidden in the forest!

 

3. If you could make up your own super group who would you have in it? Dead or alive.Oooh difficult question! I'd like to be in it (because it sounds like loads of fun!)....so me on bass, Taylor Hawkins on drums, Charlotte Hatherley on guitar and PJ Harvey as front woman.

 

4. Well done for completeing the London marathon. How did you find time to train for that whilst having all your other projects to still do?I'm naturally an early riser; my favourite time to run is sunrise, so it wasn't too hard to fit in the training. A lot of my training was done while we were recording the third album. We were staying in a B&B only 1 mile from the Thames. It was absolutely stunning running along the Thames path every morning. The best day, was when it snowed, Billy was with me and we were like little kids jumping in the snow! I just had to say no to another glass of wine a few times...that was quite hard ;)

 

5. If you could learn any instrument what would it be?I'd love to play the double bass or cello. I think both sound beautiful.

 

6. How have you found recording your 3rd album compared to the previous 2?I felt a lot more confident in the studio this time round, which I think is mainly a sign of being a bit older now. We've been so lucky to work with three amazing producers in Ian Broudie, Butch Vig and now Stephen Street. All quite different studio experiences but all equally as rewarding. Working with Stephen was amazing - he's obviously a very talented producer but also a really cool person to hang out with.

 

7. What is your favourite song to play live and why?I love the reaction to "I want to hear what you've got to say". Everyone sings it with such passion!

 

8. Where has inspiration come form for the new album?Music wise, I think we've kind of combined the first and second albums; the pop melodies from the first, with the heavier more energetic feel from the second. 

 

9. Out of the places that you are visiting onthe upcoming tour, where are you looking forward to playing the most?The most difficult question so far! I'm excited for it all :-)

10. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

I'd like to think we'll be on tour in support of the 4th album. When I think we released Young For Eternity 6 years ago, a lot can happen in 5 years! Maybe we'll be on album number 5!

 

Thank you for taking the time to interview me, Rochelle. See you in Leeds! Love Charlotte x

a live review of a bandcalled Belle Ruch

hello everyone

this is a live review of a band i recently went to see again it was restricted to a word count but they were really good.

Belle Rouch – live – HiFi Club 20^th May 2011

Down in HiFi’s small, intermate venue, where many names have graced the stage in the past years such as, The Courteeners and Mylo. Tonight though is the night that Belle Ruche take to stage. This nu jazz/ electronic and soul group are here to play an intimate gig, not just to their fans but to regular Friday night club goers. The crowd is already excited after, the warm up band Point Call got them interested and more interactive.

 As the time is close for Belle Ruche to take the stage, the crowd have moved closer to the stage to get, up close and personal with the journey and experience they are about to take. Kathrin DeBoer has a captivating voice, with a hint of 1950’s soul, mixed with the funky electronica beats, from the moment she sings the opening lines of the first song; the crowd are feeling the vibe and clearly want more. The next song “fuzz face” is a definite crowd pleaser, with heavy bass overpowering the guitar and mixed with dirty beats, but still fitting in time with the rest of the show. Straight after they launch into “minor Swing,” this again gets this happy and fun loving crowd moving and shaking.

Although the sound quality was not at its best, the band did not try and cover this up, and the show was still outstanding. This group should certainly return to Leeds in the very near future.  

a review of a local Leeds band called Yonderboy

Hello everyone

Yep you guessed it another short review but this band are something to read about.

Yonderboy:

With clear influences, that are drawn from the likes of the smiths and the wedding present. This latest offering form Yonderboy, is them moving in the right direction and developing as a band. “All Bob Minor” has an upbeat, foot tapping rhythm that does not disappoint at any point throughout the song. The entrance of the brass sections only adds excitement and diversity to this already sweet tasting song. The second and final song is just as good as the first, with finger picking bass, intertwined with a delicately played guitar, giving the listener a sense of where they are on their journey. A very short but extremely sweet single, from this 5 piece band that seems to be what British indie music is actually all about.

a review of a local Leeds band called Excenteric Legs

Hello everyone

again another short post as it is a limited word count

Executive legs:

When you first hit play with this band you will hear the fast, heavy, funky keyboard beats that are heavily apparent throughout the whole E.P. “comics” leads you in with a sound that would be heard at a funfair as you were walking round. Singer Gwen’s voice is punchy, with a subtle screeching to it, which is a good contrast with the Casio funk beats they are pumping out. Once you have heard the first few songs you can hear how they are going to continue to sound throughout the rest of the E.P. “Ride a horse” is a battle with sounds and lyrics as they each bounce off each other rather than working together, strangely enough this works and you can’t help but have a bit of a dance. If you like Brody Armstrong’s voice mixed with Eurovision, then band are for you.

a review of a local Leeds band called Local girls

Hello everyone,

only a short one as i know have to work to a word limit but thought i would still post them up here as weel.

Local girls:

They describe themselves as posh girl vocals; this certainly is not an understatement, with the lead singer having vocals that, would normally be heard on a west-end stage.  enlightening the listeners about the trails and tribulations of love and life as a girl. The first song “polished,” sets the tempo for what is to come from this band, implying how “IT” girls actually act. Apart from the stereotypical lyrics, this band makes sure they have loud, piercing guitar riffs, which will entice the listener in and make them want to listen further. Track 3 is interesting upon first listen, as you will hear an argument between a couple it is very amusing at first, and then you hear the acting between the singers. Overall the music of this band is good, and promising it will leave you craving more.

charlie sheen - riches to rags

Carlos Irwin Estevez also known as Charlie Sheen, is currently hitting all the headlines and not for the right reasons. This has seemed to have countries hooked on the public breakdown of this TV and film star. Fans and followers have been eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the saga that has been unfolding before all of our eyes. The question that needs to be asked is “is it right for the media to keep publicising this breakdown?” the answer to this question will differ from one person to another, some say they have the right to know what is going on, others state that he should have the right to be able to deal with his problems in private.

Sheen’s career has spanned over 3 decades with accomplishments such as Wall Street in 1987 to both the Hot Shot’s! Films. On top of the films came the TV career such as spin city, which was on from 2001-2002, where he won a golden globe for best actor. After this he shortly landed the role of Charlie Harper in Two and a half Men that has won a hole handful of awards, which started in 2003 and is currently still running although filming, has ceased since the sacking of Sheen due to his breakdown, it is not clear whether filming will resume with a new cast or when Sheen is better. In 2010 Sheen was one of the highest paid actors in business raking in £1.6 million per episode.

So what has caused this fortunate mans breakdown for the entire world to see? Was it a case of too much too young? Was it a cry for help? Attention seeking maybe? Or is it that Sheen is it just that sheen is a troubled soul who needs help and looking after. Whatever the problem is deep down the huge following that he has acquired at the moment is down to nothing but people finding happiness and self-contentment with other peoples downfalls and problems in life. The Media have kept the show wagon that is Sheen’s life alive, by following him around waiting for his next crazy comment to be captured, to then put out to not just the nation but to the world.

Some parts of the media will give Sheen the ammunition he needs to flare up and give the world something else to talk about. This was evident a small radio station who was desperate for some publicity thought it would be a good idea to hire a plane and have a sign trailing a banner that announced their love for him and included the stations phone number. It also read, “call us 4 ur nxt role” Charlie being in his current mental state did this. With parts of the media doing this it’s no wonder that he carries on and plays up to them even more.

So who will sort out Charlie Sheen and help him out of this web of mental destruction that he seems intent on keeping going. If the media carry on one of the worlds most loved comedy actors will no longer be with us, only a distant memory and what will be left will be the bad memories and the crazy comments he has recently come out with.    

bringing the sound of folk to the youth

Some say that the age of folk music is dead; whilst others will disagree, it is hard to ignore the new wave of folk that is coming through the current music scene, such as Mumford and Sons. It is not something that you will read about often unless you buy the specialist publications but it is still a very popular type of music genre here in ol’ blighty. Although two of folk’s most renowned performers are from across the pond (well one and a half John was born in England and moved after attending university) they do like to spread their wings and come to England and do a tour.

 The current tour of Debra Cowan and John Roberts has got the attention that is needed. The pair are not duo, but they do perform together on stage. They have been in the UK doing a small tour that see’s them going all over the country entertaining people who appreciate the sound of folk music. With 15 dates under their belt in the UK getting the sound across will be easy for this pair. Although Debra very rarely works to a set list (only when she has other instrumentalist with her) and John never works to a set list, John says that “at least one of you must know what you are doing”. This only brings more spontaneity to the show that will be happening right in front of you, giving you value for what you paid for.

This was ever so more evident when the pair descended on the Leeds City College Technology campus for a small press call. Whilst giving the audience a captivating interview where they learnt about how folk came about and how they both got in to it, they gave an “experimental” performance where Debra was playing guitar to “where the drunkards roll” and John suggested going up a fret whilst picking up his concertina. Although they were put on the spot and the key change came in to play they pulled it off with ease, giving the students and other faculty members a very good show. Throughout the remainder of the press call, students were given the opportunity to ask questions, questions hat would give them more insight in to this old genre of music that was different form today’s current chart toppers.

Debra also does not write any of her own songs as she has set the bar too high for herself, also she says there are “better writers out there.” When she does take on a new song she makes it her own she “see’s the movie” when she sings it. This is ever more so when she sings “alcohol” by Ray Davies from the Kinks. The performance she gave to the college was both entertaining and enlightening, for if you have heard the original then you will hear how Debra has made this her own. You can hear her own influences run high all the way through her album version, which again creates her own folk sound and takes it away from that Kinks sound that it originally had.

It is important that today’s youth still get to hear this type of music as in theory it is what inspired today’s chart toppers to get inspired and make something unique, that will get people interested in and talking. This is what Debra and John will go on doing over and over, year after year as it is what they love and feel passionate about. By giving this gift to the youth will get them heard by new potential fans, to them though this is about making people realise the power that folk music holds, whether you write your own songs or not.