We have just got back from Berlin what an amazing city….I completely fell in love with it and am looking forward to our next mission out there. There is this sense of possibility and creativity there which is incredible and a feeling that time has not been ripped from you. We are now planning our next trip and possible writing batch.

Before all that happens however, there are some things up ahead. The big one being the Album release…

However next up is my solo support tour with Pete Molinari. It has been a long while since I played a solo tour and am sure I am going to feel very naked after so many months of band shows.

Below is the tour schedule so if you are around please come along:

Tour Dates:

27/09/08 TRANSFORMER – DUBLIN
https://www.tickets.ie/secure/booking1.aspx?event=35V3T

28/09/08 THE WHISKY – CORK
http://entertainment.ie/venue_information/The-Whisky/39532.htm

29/09/08 THE LOUISIANA – BRISTOL
http://www.thelouisiana.net/

30/09/08 THE PHOENIX ART CENTRE – EXETER
http://www.exeterphoenix.org.uk/september.php

9/10/08 DINGWALLS – CAMDEN, LONDON
More info

Last of all the VIRAL/VINYL idea is still travelling around click here to listen and feel free to send her on.

Download “Only You” MP3

xx Tallulah

Tallulah Rendall MySpace
Tallulah Rendall Official Website

How many times do you go to a concert and get four shows for the price of one? Well, this was the case at The Royal Albert Hall on Saturday, 24th May 2008. I have followed a-ha since the early days (23 years to be exact) and given my first concert was in 1988 standing up at The Portsmouth Guildhall dressed in ripped jeans and leather bootlaces on my wrists, things couldn’t get much better…could they?

The geniuses behind the mega success that is a-ha were performing as solo artists in their own right. A rare occurrence as the chance to do this has been difficult over the years.

First on stage was Magne F. An accomplished keyboard player, songwriter and all round established artist/sculptor. Magne emitted his own style upon us. In my words a kind of “rustic techno-pop” style with heavy undertones of what we know from a-ha.

Beginning with the title track from his new album, “a dot of black in the blue of your bliss”, he followed this with a fantastic song “Kryptonite” from his earlier album, ‘Past Perfect Future Tense’. His superb keyboard and guitar skills kept the audience wanting more. Later followed solo renditions of “Don’t Do Me Any Favours” and “Summer of our Youth” taken from the most recent a-ha album ‘Analogue’ finishing with “Come Back” again, taken from his latest album. Magne F is a critically acclaimed all round artiste worthy of all the success he has achieved.

Following Magne F came Savoy, a band led by a-ha guitarist Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, his wife Lauren Waaktaar-Savoy and drummer Frode Unneland. Again, Savoy have recognisable connotations from a-ha but complimented by what only can be described as angelic vocals from Lauren. The sounds of Savoy create a harmonious melodic sound which is …amazing!

Performing from the new album, ‘Savoy Songbook Vol. 1′ their set contained earlier songs as well as recent ones. Lauren sings on the song “Star” which is just beautiful. A wonderful song worthy of so many plaudits. “Whalebone” is a haunting sounding song followed later by the explosive track “Foolish”. Intermingled in this we find “Velvet”, a true classic featured on the a-ha album ‘Minor Earth, Major Sky’ Savoy have sounds reminiscent of Depeche Mode but execute their music in their own unique style.

Then followed Morten Harket. As he entered the stage, predictably the crowd erupted with screaming women (shades of 1988 entered my mind). Once the dust had settled, Morten began with songs from his forthcoming album, ‘Letter from Egypt’. One song in particular, “Movies”, has Morten at his very best. His vocal range and capabilities are probably one of the very best in the last 40 years or so. “Spanish Steps”, a song from his first solo venture ‘Wild Seed’ followed soon stirring memories of past years. “Shooting Star”, “Darkspace”, “There Are Many Ways to Die” and “The One You Are” came next, again from the forthcoming album. Morten truly commands the stage with his amazing vocals and constant relationship with his audience.

After, a small interlude with harpist Erin Hill. She played a-ha greats such as “Minor Earth, Major Sky” and “And You Tell Me” as well as David Bowie’s classic “Space Oddity”.

Then, to rapturous applause emerged a-ha. Back together for a small set, the crowd went wild. The early pop sounding track “Train of Thought” was amazing and this was followed by a surprise. Two new tracks from a brand new a-ha album currently in production giving us all something to look forward to later this year.

Then that was it! But after much clapping, cheering and stomping, the boys return for one last song. It could only be… “Take on Me”. I felt 17 again, smiling, singing and dancing in my own little world but with a few 1000 more. I have watched these guys perform at small venues to Wembley Arena and they never fail to provide.

Overall, a rare and unique insight into the singer/songwriters that are a-ha. They have pleased so many over the years and may they long continue to do so.

Morten, Paul and Magne, I salute you. Roll on this year for that new album.

Magne F

Savoy News fansite

Morten Harket

a-ha Official Community

Tonight Friday, March 14th, 2008 I’ll be playing one of my few shows this spring. Recording and writing have occupied most of my time, but so has an utter obsession with Neil Gaiman’s graphic novels.

I’m retiring from this musical dream-realm for a very special evening with some of my favorite people. I’m joined by The Bowmans and The New Familiars (of NC).

I will also be making my debut on the Banjo, in honor of both Banjo Jim’s and Debe Dalton (because I’m missing her birthday bash).

Friday, March 14th, 2008

Banjo Jim’s

700 E 9th St. (@ Ave. C)
New York, NY 10009
Price: Free (Tip me!)

8:00 – David LK Murphy
(With some special guests)

Followed by The Bowmans and The New Familiars!

Banjo Jim’s Official Website

Sweet dreams, the heart’s steam, this engine runs all night.

xo,
LK

David LK Murphy on Myspace
David LK Murphy Official Website

“I’m down with what Moshpit Tragedy is doing 100%,” stated Mike Williams (EYEHATEGOD and ARSON ANTHEM vocalist). “Younger, newer underground bands need to be heard and noticed in these modern digital days without signing their lives away to some bloodsucking record label right outta the gate. It’s a very honorable and DIY way to get things done.”

OZZY OSBOURNE bassist Rob ‘Blasko’ Nicholson (whose favorite bands on the label includes THE SKUDS, HULLUUS and FILTHPACT) even goes so far as to say “This model could very well be the future of all indie labels.” Co-founder Rayny Forster agrees, “RADIOHEAD and NIN have done a similar thing, so we just took that and tried to improve upon it.”

Staying true to their motto ‘Burning down the record industry’ in an increasingly digital age means taking advantage of falling CD sales and disillusionment with big-name record labels.

In a recent interview in Metal Edge, MOTORHEAD mainman Lemmy Kilmister says “It’s killing itself, isn’t it? I mean, they (record companies) are too dumb to realise. They just kept on overcharging and kept on f@!*ing people over, and now the chickens are coming home, you know? I think they’re all gonna be out of business in 10 years.”

Soon announcements will be made regarding some major bands who are already known and loved by many, who have chosen to join them in this campaign against paying too much for music.

For more info visit:

Moshpit Tragedy Records

Age 0 – Winnipeg, Canada, the coldest major city in the world. I’m born in the dead of winter 1987. My birth completes the band lineup of Dave 4, and Kyle 2.

Age 5 – Because there’s not much else to do when it’s -40C, my brothers and I become obsessed with our Dad’s old vinyls in the basement. The Rolling Stone’s “Get Yer Ya Ya’s Out” is our introduction to rock n’ roll, followed by “Who’s Next”, “London Calling”, and “Something Else” by The Kinks.

Age 8 – We discover a cassette of Green Day’s “Dookie”, and buy our first guitar! It’s a cheap old Yamaha Spanish guitar. This crappy little orange instrument becomes a hot commodity in the house and we lose interest in anything else…we sell our Nintendo. With that guitar in our hands we begin writing our own songs, one of which was called “inward eye”, the song is scrapped but the name sticks.

Age 9 – After saving up our money from clearing snow from driveways and mowing lawns all year we buy our first electric guitar, it’s made in Korea so you know it is good. A Fender bass soon follows. Dave and Kyle, being older, manage to keep the guitars away from me so I’m forced to be the drummer. I beat on plastic kitchenware, pots and pans as we jam in our basement. Due to the amount of broken cookware and splintered wooden spoons in the house, our parents break down and buy me a drumset for Christmas!

Age 12 – We play our first show at our community center’s winter carnival in February 1999. We play five 40-minute sets playing originals and classic rock covers. I can barely see over my drumset. They pass around a hat at the end of the night and we get a hundred bucks, we like being a band. We quit hockey.

Age 16 – We realize we’ve been playing in this band for most of our lives and we’ve only ever played with each other…no member changes! The musical chemistry and genetic pre-disposition to like the same music makes our band special. As a 3-piece, there’s nowhere to hide so we perfect our technique and learn to fill out our sound. We start gigging heavily in our hometown and build a local following. I become an expert at sneaking into clubs underage. I have especially fond memories of opening up for amateur strip nights at a Winnipeg Club called “the Zoo”. The gigs get better from here…

Age 18 – By the time I get to my senior year in high school, they want to kick me out of school for always being away on tour. I manage to convince the school principal to allow me to study while on tour and I squeak by and graduate. Dave and Kyle are patient and wait for me to finish high school while holding down part-time jobs. We keep the band going by playing any and every show we can find. Two months after my final exam, we go into the studio.

Age 19 – We write and demo songs for a year with our friend and mentor Arnold Lanni. We get to open for our musical idols the Who on their Canadian tour! We keep touring across North America and road-test our material.

Age 20 – In the fall of 2006 we set up home base in Temecula, California for the next year while making our record and touring wherever they’ll take us. Now the album’s finished and we’re heading back out on the road!!

Download “You Know I Know” MP3 by Inward Eye

Inward Eye on Myspace

Handsome Alcopoppers, meet Jamie, Jason, Darren and Neil from Oxford town – collectively known as The Family Machine. Mixing blissed-out melodic pop hits with indie-folk sensibilities, their particular brand of acoustic loveliness has been reported to have “made love to my ears in a sample infused urban folk dream” by one enthused onlooker.

What’s more, Alcopop Record’s most recent signing will be releasing their forthcoming ‘Got it Made’ EP on December 3rd, 2007 via digital download (on iTunes and all the regular sites), but even better, the whole EP will be FREE for download on the official Alcopop Records and Beard Museum websites with full artwork – for just one week. And if you like it, look out for the album coming in early 2008.

The EP and album have been recorded with producer Ian Davenport (of The Away Team, credits include Badly Drawn Boy, Supergrass and Athlete) at Radiohead’s Courtyard Studio. And if the name already sounds familiar, there is a distinct possibility you may have shared a wide-eyed moment of wonderment in the past with these boys.

Family Machine have played with Midlake, The Young Knives, The Leaves, Mojave 3, Blondie, Cherry Ghost, Jim Reid and Glenn Tillbrook, and have recently appeared at Truck, Cornbury, Charlbury and Oxford Arts Festivals.

Here’s just a few collected quotes about them…

“Acoustic guitars, bass, drums, multi-part harmonies and a sampler stuffed full of goodies…Post hedonist, pro-community warped genius” – Channel4.com

“My new favourite band” – Tim Bearder, The Download, BBC Radio Oxford

“Exuberance that makes Supergrass sound like The Cure on a wet Tuesday night in Grimsby. Is there anyone left who doesn’t revere the Family Machine?” – Nightshift Aug ‘06

You are the Family Machine!

You know those days where everything’s coming right, you’re enjoying a happy evening after a great weekend, and then the perfect email pops into your inbox. Maybe it’s from a pal you haven’t heard from for a while who’s got guestlist for a great gig/party, a girl you really like suggesting you get a little fruity that evening – or just maybe it’s from the inspirational Andrew WK (I swear this is true) himself – telling you that your label name is great and asking to hear more about what you’re up to.

Via BSM records, these are Andrew’s exact words – presumably typed in a brief few seconds between partying ever so damn hard!

From: “Andrew W.K.”
To: “Kevin Douch (founder of Big Scary Monsters Records – co founder of Alcopop!)”

Also, will you tell me more about Alcopop? I really like that name a lot. Is that another one of your label imprints?

Much love,
Andrew

Mr WK – Alcopop Records salute you sir…

Welcome The Eye The Ear And The Arm! So we promised there’d be some news and it has been well worth the wait. We’re happy to officially announce that Portia Records will be releasing The Eye The Ear and The Arm’s debut full length titled ‘Paths’. The first wave for this release will be through all digital retailers worldwide on January 29, 2008.

This will be followed by a cloth-wrapped digipak which will include a download card allowing you to download the album as well as a bonus track or two and some other exclusive treats. This edition, limited to 100 units, will be released on February 19th, 2008 exclusively through mailorder (and at shows, of course).

Check out their myspace page:

The Eye The Ear and The Arm on Myspace

The Morning Benders Love Los Angeles!

The Morning Benders have been on the move lately and lucky for us there’s been a lot of action down here in Southern California. After playing some packed houses up in San Francisco and hitting up the YouTube offices, they recently played an Indie 103.1 show at the Viper Room and are now coming back for more in December. Make sure to keep an eye out for these guys – you’ll be hearing a lot with the release of their debut full length this spring!!

Watch video – The Morning Benders playing “Crosseyed” at YouTube offices:

The Morning Benders December 2007 tour dates:

December 1 – San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop (all ages)
December 12 – Los Angeles, CA – Silverlake Lounge (21+)
December 14 – Los Angeles, CA – The Echo (18+)

The Morning Benders Blog
The Morning Benders on Myspace
The Morning Benders Official Website

Intricate Industries Podcast Episode 12 is now up online.

The podcast features an interview with Comeback Kid where they talk about their record label, Canadian bands and being on the road.

On top of that there’s music from And You Will Know Us By The Trail of The Dead, Riot Like Words and The High Court.

Go to Intricate Industries Podcast Episode 12
Get Podcast on iTunes
Intricate Industries Official Website

By: Tom Clarke

Initial impressions of the ensemble on stage were of lounge music. But only if your lounge is painted a deep terracotta, you have a nightly group of Latino beauties dressed in tight black dresses tossing back large glasses of red wine until four in the morning threatening to steal your soul and replace it with a never ending madness of melancholy and passion.

From beginning to end there was no defining lead person, all of them extremely adept at their relative instruments with attention shifting from sax to keyboard to bass to guitar to the singing. The band had left any egos at the front door to concentrate on the music.

Dave Webster’s head was lost in the sound created by his keyboard nodding in time to the audience’s reciprocating appreciation, so smoothly and timely executed. This was complemented by Sherman Watson on acoustic and lead vocals, a charismatic presence despite his shambolic appearance. The drums and bass provided the backbone of timeless soul shaking grooves and the funk needed, holding back to add a more subtle flavour to the slower numbers. The bass guitarist was all over his instrument, especially when the strap fell off his shoulder appearing to propose to the drummer on one knee for the rest of the song. The horn section added that final harmony. The sax was (I can’t believe I’m writing this) a tranquil yet also a powerful force driving the band, while at other times entirely uplifting.

A refreshing change to guitar bands, their maturity and obviously studied dedication to their craft created layers of warmth of sometimes up beat jazz and reggae to despairing sadness. Think Ruben Wilson, gypsy violins, Miles Davies, filterless French cigarettes, The Bosstones, bull fighting and Ray Manzerick and you’ll probably wonder what the hell I’m talking about.

There appeared to be a fairly large fan base with them and rightly so. It was not just a gig but a celebration and a chance to party.

A joy to watch and even better to listen to.

By: Chris Catley – Live Music Direct

Das Contras on Myspace
Das Contras Official Website

We bring you tidings of comfort and joy. Our new single, “One Christmas Wish” is out Monday December 3rd, 2007 on our very own Beehive Records via Cargo distribution.

(Read The Priscillas interview!)

Feel free to do what you will with it – play it on your radio show, write about it, put it on your Christmas compilation for your friends…or just plain LISTEN to it. Fill with joy at the key changes, and weep a tear of festive joy at the use of TWO types of bells.

2007 has been a great year with live appearances at the Camden Crawl, Bestival, Port Eliot Literary Festival, the NEC, Camden Electric Ballroom to name a few and radio plays by Gary Crowley, XFM, Rob Da Bank, Radio 1 and 2 and lovely press from NME to The Independent to Vogue.

Thank you to all of you who’ve been to our shows, bought our CD and 7″ vinyl singles, booked us, worn our T shirts, emailed us, played us on the radio, written about us, taken pictures of us, blogged about us, befriended us on MySpace, bought us drinks, or supported us in any other way. Thanks also to the support of all our London friends who voted for “(All The Way To) Holloway” to be XFM’s Song For London.

Merry Christmas Everyone and Best Wishes For 2008!!!

The single, “One Christmas Wish” was recorded and produced by Marc Waterman.

Come and see The Priscillas live – 2007 show dates:

November 15 – Gaz’s Rockin Blues, St Moritz, Wardour St, London W1
November 22 – Islington Academy, London N1 with Electric Eel Shock
November 29 – The Priscillas and Alex Zane turn on the Holloway Road Christmas lights, Nags Head, Holloway Road, London N7 at 5.30pm (broadcast live on XFM 104.9FM and via www.xfm.co.uk)
December 2 – DJ set at the Mucky Pup, London N1 from 4.30pm
December 7 – Dirty Water Club, The Boston, Tufnell Park, London N19
December 15 – Clerkenwell House, 23-27 Hatton Wall, EC1 with Kevin Rowland

For more pictures/information/show news/hair care tips, go to:

The Priscillas Official Website

Talk behind our backs at The Priscillas Message Boards

Add us to your Myspace Friends!

“It’s a new day for our company, DRUM! itself, and the drumming community,” says editor in chief, Andy Doerschuk. “Over the lifespan of DRUM!, we’ve always tried to be open to change in terms of content, design, and now distribution. DRUM! Digital carries on our editorial philosophy and will make it possible for us to extend our worldwide readership.”

The first issue of DRUM! Digital features stories from the magazine’s special Urban Music October issue, featuring The Roots’ Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson on the cover. It includes all of the features from that special issue. In addition, there are multimedia extras that make this version of the magazine more useful to an online audience.

As with all of Enter Music Publishing’s print magazines, DRUM! Digital is diverse and loaded with innovative, content-rich material. “There are ten embedded videos in the issue,” says publisher Phil Hood. “And most of the ads are linked, so an online user can visit the advertiser’s web sites, view instructional videos and interviews, or zoom in and read the stories.”

DRUM! Digital is produced using technology developed by iDigital Editions, a Temecula, California-based software company. iDigital’s technology made it possible to publish DRUM! Digital to look just like the print version with the editorial advantage of being viewed by anyone, anywhere, anytime over the Internet. “We looked at many software solutions but felt that iDigital provided a better reading experience than competing solutions, as well as superior marketing and advertising opportunities for our clients,” says Hood.

The iDigital Edition digital magazine does not require users to download and install additional client reader software. They can access it through their current Internet browser and the standard flash plug-in already present in nearly every Internet-enabled computer today!

DRUM! Digital versions of the magazine will be available approximately 45 days after subscribers receive their print copies. Plans call for print subscribers to get early notification as to when an issue is available and, eventually, exclusive access to certain DRUM! Digital features.

“I don’t see the digital magazine as a replacement for print or for the web site,” says Hood. “In many ways, it’s completely separate, offering the great writing of print along with some of the interactivity of the web. As we post more issues, readers will have an easier time finding archived features. Also, advertisers will have a chance for their ads to keep pulling response, long after the print edition has been removed from newsstand shelves.”

With the launch of DRUM! Digital, Enter Music Publishing is well positioned to capitalize on the growing drum industry. According to figures from the American Music Conference and Music Trades magazine, the drum industry has annual global sales of approximately $1.25 billion, and the United States accounts for up to 45 percent of that total.

About Enter Music Publishing
Founded in San Jose, CA in 1992, Enter Music Publishing, Inc. is a leading publisher of drum/percussion magazines, with distribution in 40 countries. DRUM! is the flagship publication of Enter Music Publishing, Inc. and continues to set the industry standard for editorial quality and innovation. In addition to DRUM! And DRUM! Digital, the company publishes TRAPS and HOW TO PLAY DRUMS. Additional information about the company can be found at:

drummagazine.com
trapsmagazine.com

drumdigital.com

Click the logo to hear the brand new track “The Fall” from ‘Abandoned’ – the new album by PaRaDoX!!

PaRaDoX – Established in 1992, this Kent based band are bringing you a sensational mix of Rock and Progressive Punk. The guys pride themselves on writing all their own music and lyrics, they have recorded two outstanding albums and taken their tours across Europe.

Four guys, a never ending stream of original material, a united sense of humour and an army of fans, PaRaDoX is a powerful and unstoppable force that guarantees the ultimate live show!

Join us over on myspace – Paradox on Myspace

Or over on our brand new forum

An extract from the interview is below:

Bowling For Soup – We’ve had people tell us, the success of your band level 10 years ago would be the equivalent to 3 million record sales or something multi million, times are changing people aren’t buying as many records but are still getting the music. The thing for us is we want to make the music and get it out there.

Army of Freshmen – We get if you guys had existed and doing what you’re doing 10 years ago you would have at least had a deal. So it becomes you know 10 years ago sounds pretty kick ass.

BFS – Just in the time we’ve been on a record label in the past 7 years you can see the labels becoming more tight fisted. I mean we got to see some of that money being thrown about a little bit, not like hey have some, but got taken out and did the strip club thing and seen ridiculous money thrown around. Now if we can get a rep to take us out to dinner we’re like ohh cool.

AOF – It really is a trickle down effect, even before when labels were interested in us, even in a small level, there was dinner in it. Now it’s like hey let’s go to starbucks.

Episode 11 also features music from Lost On Landing, Two Hours Traffic and Off Broadway.

Listen to the full Episode 11 podcast and interview at Intricate Industries!

Intricate Industries is available in iTunes

Subscribe to Intricate Industries Podcast – RSS Feed

Tom Clarke – Intricate Industries

The Disclaimer are set to release their first single, “As Long As It Takes” on November 5th 2007 in the UK. “As Long As It Takes” is the North West London indie/pop trio’s debut release off of their self titled first studio album out on November 12th.

After their recent stint of London shows, the timing couldn’t be better for The Disclaimer to be releasing their upcoming single. The Disclaimer’s live show is one of the reasons for their recent jump into popularity – their harmonies are a treat, their live sound is tight and they unfailingly please the crowd with their extraordinary stage performance.

“As Long As It Takes” is a great example of the melodic harmonies that The Disclaimer produce. The single is so ‘now’ sounding with its ska/indie edge, that it could easily sit alongside songs like “Torn On The Platform” by Jack Penate and “Foundations” by Kate Nash in any self respecting pop lover’s playlist.

The Disclaimer on Myspace