I’ve been a fan of social networks for awhile now, and over the years have tried a few. Some stuck, some didn’t. Twitter seems to be one that’s sticking. So far so good. I like Twitter. I like it a lot.

By using Twitter as a networking tool, I’ve been meeting some interesting people. Mostly music related because that’s my main interest, but there are also some people that I’m following just because they seem interesting. There are also some tech related twitterers that I follow because I like to keep up-to-date with the online tech industry.

Before I found Twitter, about a year ago, I knew that I wanted something like it. Because I’ve been spending more time lately publishing press releases and other people’s music reviews, my blogging has been lacking. Which is disappointing really, because I do enjoy it. The good thing, though, is that Twitter has allowed me to keep up with blogging – just on a different platform, and with shorter entries. Much shorter. 140 characters per tweet.

So Twitter has helped me to get back on the blogging saddle as well as meeting some cool people. Its become a great place for community. Special almost.

Through Twitter, I was asked by Oxford City Guide (@OxfordCityGuide) to review Swedish band Baskery at The Jericho Tavern in Oxford. It ended up being a great night out and I really enjoyed their music.

In the review, which included a short write-up of local Oxford band InLight, I noted that it would be great to see InLight play as a full band, as that night they were there as just a 2-piece. Well. Lead singer Charlie happened to see this, got in touch with me, and then invited me to see the full band play, which I did, and that then lead to an interview with Charlie for Band Weblogs. That’s just two bands as examples, that I’ve been turned on to because of Twitter.

My latest Twitter story is not affiliated with music – but baseball. I’m following someone (@GallagherMeow) who tweeted that he made a list of his ten favorite Red Sox players of all time. After following the link back to his blog, I noticed, in my opinion, a couple players were missing, so I replied to him on Twitter asking “Where’s Jim Rice and Fred Lynn?” because they happen to be my favorite Red Sox players of all time. He didn’t reply back, but that’s okay…he pretty much answered that question by writing up his own personal top 10.

The next day I opened up my email and saw that: “Jim Rice (Ask14) is now following your updates on Twitter”. I just sat there for a minute and had to digest the information. I re-read the sentence and clicked on the link. I was pretty excited.

I added a message on Twitter – “I can’t believe it. Is that the REAL Jim Rice following ME??? @Ask14″ hoping that I might get an answer.

Sure enough, a couple hours later I received a tweet from the real Jim Rice, “Yes. How are you?”. I was walking on air for awhile after that. Growing up in NH/VT area, when I was very young, Jim Rice was like a hero, along with Fred Lynn. Probably because my dad and my brother really liked them.

So, my “inner child” certainly came out the day Jim Rice unexpectedly got in touch and asked me how I was. Warm fuzzy childhood memories came rushing back, and the feeling of what me as a little girl might have felt like if I had met Jim Rice then.

The meeting wasn’t in person, and some might think Twitter is just a silly site they can’t figure out, but it’s because of Twitter that these wonderful experiences have happened.

Jim Rice – Ask 14 Official Blog

Jim Rice on Twitter

Follow me on Twitter!

Jenny May on Twitter

By: Jenny May – BandWeblogs.com

Larry Reddington isn’t a new kid on the block. Not by any means. At age of 67 (68 in July) he’s been spicing up people’s lives musically since the 1950’s. From Oxford, England and originally a drummer, Larry has some pretty interesting rock n roll stories to tell, and often does if you visit him in his guitar shop (The Music Box).

When I asked him who influenced him to start playing he said, “No one really. Basically I couldn’t write songs on the drums so I decided to learn the guitar and I suppose working in a guitar shop is a good place to practice.”

Download track: “When You Gonna Learn” MP3

Last year Mr. Reddington travelled to America and went to Nashville. He was taken by the place. That country bug had bit him hard, and not too long after, he returned once more to the home of everything country. This time he recorded a CD – ‘When You Gonna Learn?’ – to take with him. While there, he visited the Elvis house in Memphis – which he was not impressed by. He only wanted to see the toilet that killed the king. But it wasn’t on the tour.

While in Nashville Larry got to play a couple of gigs. He played one night at The Full Moon Saloon and the second at The Nashville Palace. He also flogged a few CDs too. So not a bad outing after all.

‘When You Gonna Learn?’ is a 3 track EP and starts off with the title song, which when you think about it, Larry only started to dabble with guitar and vocals 5 years ago, and he sounds as good as any cowboy from Texas with or without a horse. Larry doesn’t need a stallion when he has the Cowley Flyer bus to take him home in an evening, but I digress. “When You Gonna Learn” has some brilliant lap steel guitar courtesy of Simon Tuke, who also plays bass on the EP. Coming out of retirement for Larry, is one Dave Herbert who performs lead guitar duties on the first track. Why would you retire when you can get the guitar to sound like that? And following up the rear on banjo and dobro is an ex band mate of mine Mr. Stefan D Hamilton.

Larry says he will be recording more tracks soon to turn the EP into an LP. But before that he is drumming with a reformation of a band called Steam who were originally around in the 1970’s. They will be playing at The Regal on Cowley Road, Oxford, Saturday 30th May 2009. Now that is well worth checking out. Go see Larry Reddington and his friends and tell them Dave Tommo sent you!

This is a CD that should be in the collection of any avid country fan.

By: Dave Tommo

You know when you’re drinking, and you find yourself somewhere you never planned on being? Well that happens to me quite often these days. I had no idea I would end up at The Cellar Bar in Oxford last Saturday for instance. But when you go out on the lash with Greig Stewart this is what happens. So we go down the stairs and there’s our old mate Jimmy at the sound desk and a band on stage.

“Who are this lot?” I ask. “They’re called Desert Storm” Jimmy replies. “They don’t look old enough to have stormed any deserts though.” I reply. But then I’m distracted by Greig clambering on to the stage while the band are in mid song, grabbing a spare drumstick from the drummer and starting to thrash a cymbal on the side of the stage. Fair go on the band. They carried on playing without a flinch as Greig made his way around the stage. I by now am at the front, head banging and enjoying their sound. They’re heavy but original with it, which is hard these days because there are billions of bands playing this type of music. Yeah heavy, but not heavy, if you know what I mean.

Matt Ryan has a powerful voice, growling over the music wearing a big ex army coat on stage. He says they’re from Oxford. They are doing the support slot tonight. But they must stay with it because I don’t think it will be long before they are pulling big crowds and playing high up on huge platforms.

There are twins in Desert Storm too. Twins are my next favorite thing to dwarves. There is Elliot Cole on drums and his brother Ryan on guitar. Twins must have so much fun confusing people. Sorry digression. Their bass player is very good at keeping it tight with the drums. This job goes to one Chris Benoist. Their other guitarist Chris White was absent tonight, but it didn’t distract from the sound. I look forward to seeing them in the future with full ensemble.

Desert Storm are newish to the scene, born in 2007 and should grow in confidence as they gig. You watch this space, because at this moment in time I am a fan. It takes a lot to get my toe a tapping these days. But Desert Storm managed it.

Find them at their MySpace page and say hello to them for me.

Desert Storm on MySpace

By: Dave Tommo

Ben Walker, best known around the internet for his “The Twitter Song” is getting ready for the innovative Ben’s Big Gig event, taking place in Oxford, England on May 1, 2009.

I first ‘met’ Ben on social networking site Twitter, and after reading a few of his ‘tweets’ and learning about Ben’s Big Gig, I was curious to find out more about the humorous singer/songwriter based in Oxford.

Watch The Twitter Song – “You’re No One If You’re Not On Twitter” video:

Ben Walker exclusive interview with Jenny May:

Jenny May: How and when did you discover Twitter?

Ben Walker: I first tweeted at 6:07 PM Apr 18th, 2007 and apparently I was “up too late”. It took a while to get into, to find the good people. I got a real boost when I met a whole room full of interesting Twitter people at the Tuttle Club in London in early 2008. They still meet every
Friday morning at the ICA, and I go along whenever I can.

Which social network are you currently using the most and why are you using that particular one the most?

Twitter, for sure. Because that’s where all my people are. I talk to people I know on Twitter every day (and plenty I don’t). For video updates, I’m really into 12seconds.tv. I guess there’s something about having to create something short and succinct that appeals to me.

Are there people that you’ve met in person after first meeting on Twitter? If so, can you give one or two examples of how that happened?

Absolutely. When I first went to Tuttle I met a guy called Steve Lawson (@solobasssteve), who is a bass legend and social media enthusiast. He introduced me to dozens of people on Twitter (musicians, techies or both) whom I later met at events like Amplified09 and Twestival. For me Twitter is about finding and engaging with like-minded people, so they are often the people you are likely to meet in real life too.

What is the best pop song written in the last 20 years?

Complicated (Avril Lavigne). Pure cheesy pop. I’ve been studying pop songwriting for a while, and that’s the song I go back to every time for the perfect combination of formula, hooks, production, beat, lyrics and attitude. It’s certainly not the best song, but it’s the best pop song.

What has the response been like to your song “You’re No One If You’re Not On Twitter” aka The Twitter Song?

It’s been huge. I still get a couple of comments and 10-20 new followers/subscribers on Twitter and YouTube every day who find me through that song. It was written as a bit of a joke, to amuse the people I knew on Twitter, but at the same time it was a bit of a cheeky experiment. I tried to write the ultimate Twitter song: open with a hook, have a funny video, make some in-jokes. Now it’s had 300,000 views and I have a lot of nerdy fans.

How would you describe your music?

English, quirky, satirical pop. I try to make all my songs entertaining. They are not always funny, but there’s always an undercurrent of humour.

You grew up in Oxford. Have you played/collaborated with many bands/musicians here?

Yes and no. I’ve been around the Oxford music scene for ten years now, but always on the edges. I’ve guested on keyboards with A Silent Film. Once. I had a year-long residency at the QI Club, playing with my band every Sunday night, and we jammed with loads of local musos there.

Where is the first place in Oxford that you would want to take someone new in town to?

The Firry Mic. I just discovered the Tuesday night open mic at the Fir Tree (Iffley Road), and it’s brilliant. It’s just a room packed with positive people, and the friendly atmosphere gives the songs a real boost.

Why did you choose Summertown in Oxford as the location for Ben’s Big Gig?

I chose Summertown for a few reasons. First, I wanted to see if it was possible to put on a Big Gig in a theatre as an independent musician, and the North Wall is the perfect venue. Everyone’s downsizing and playing house concerts these days. I love a house concert, but I wondered whether we couldn’t try upsizing too. Second, Summertown is my spiritual home. All of my songs have a North Oxford vibe (posh, green, jaunty). Third, I needed a venue that could handle my social media requirements. I needed wireless, a projector screen and cabaret tables. Again, the North Wall is perfect for that. And they love to be involved in interesting, experimental and fringe projects.

How have you been planning Ben’s Big Gig; what is on the agenda for the day?

I’ve been Twittering, crowdsourcing, blogging and videoing my heart out for the last couple of months, and it’s all starting to come together. The most exciting thing for me is that I have a couple of really talented performers to share the stage with. George Chopping has been touring with John Hegley, and is one of the funniest people I’ve ever seen. He’s compèring the evening. And Tom Greeves is opening the second half with a set of genius stand-up comedy. It’s going to be a real variety show. And along with all that, we will be broadcasting the whole show live on the internet and feeding the responses from Twitter, 12seconds, Flickr etc. back into the venue on the giant screen, so the internet audience will be able to interact with the live audience.

Who would you want to spend the day with – someone that you haven’t met in person – and what would you do?

Ben Folds. I would get a piano lesson from him. And drink tea and chat in the breaks. I’m a legendary pianist, but I envy the control he has on the keyboard. In the nineties I learned every Ben Folds Five song note for note. I recommend it for anyone who wants to play pop piano.

Do you have any musical influences? If so, who?

Ben Folds. The Band. David Bowie. Ray Davies. Julian Cope. Little Feat. Queen. Avril Lavigne.

How do you prefer to record music? What equipment are you using?

When I’m taking it seriously, I use Pro Tools on my MacBook and an MBox. I rarely need more than two channels, because I’m always recording alone. If I’m recording with the band, I borrow stuff. But these days more and more I’m recording on my phone (the Nokia N95 has great video) or the camera and internal mic on my laptop and uploading it straight to YouTube. My music isn’t “sit down with headphones and a candle and appreciate the production” music. It’s “check out this link on tinny headphones at work” music. It’s not that I don’t love well-produced music. It’s just not what I’m doing. I need a quicker turnaround.

How often do you write songs?

When I’m writing, I write every day. And I’ll usually write, rewrite and record a song in four or five hours over two or three days. Last summer I wrote 50 songs in 90 days as part of an online challenge. Half of them were great. The other half are crap but amusing. I’m not writing much at the moment, but once the Big Gig is over I’ll get back on the horse.

Do you really hate mornings?

No. I love mornings. I get up at 6am most days to work on music stuff. But not when I registered the domain five years ago. I’ll keep using it, though. It’s fun, and it’s a name to which a lot of musicians can relate.

How would you like to see the future of music?

I like the way it’s going. I want to see musicians weaned off the old record company model and rediscovering the real connections that can be made with music. In my ideal future, musicians would concentrate on making better music and connecting with people. At the moment they tend to do one or the other. I have much more to say on this, but I’ll save it for my blog.

For more information about Ben’s Big Gig, which takes place on May 1, 2009 in Summertown, Oxford, go to:

Ben’s Big Gig Official Website

ihatemornings (Ben Walker) on Twitter

Ben Walker’s blog on ihatemornings.com + music and more

Ben Walker press on Band Weblogs

Band Weblogs Podcast Show #28 features music by Oxford band InLight and their song “Bridges”, and chat with Jenny May and Dave Tommo.

Dave was in a “snappy” mood…with a lot of snapping happening, and as always, random banter and laughter with Jenny and Dave.

They discuss Swedish band Baskery, InLight, Benjamin Taylor, Emma Deigman and more.

Listen to Podcast – Download MP3

Subscribe to Podcast – RSS Feed
Subscribe by Email

Music played on the podcast:

Band: InLight
Song: Bridges
InLight MySpace
InLight Official Website
Oxford, England

Tune in to Band Weblogs!

Oxford born singer-songwriter and YouTube sensation, Ben Walker, is truly a modern day bard. His careful exploitation of web based communication tools and social networking sites have gained his quirky and satirical songs a worldwide following.

Since 250,000 viewers tuned in to YouTube to watch his song “You’re No One If You’re Not On Twitter”, it has become the unofficial anthem of Twitter worldwide.

Watch “The Twitter Song” video:

Now Ben is using the internet to create a new gig concept.

Ben’s Big Gig will be a concert with a difference at the North Wall Arts Centre in Summertown, Oxford on 1st May, 2009.

Not only will the gig be streamed live over the internet for his global fan base to enjoy, but screens within the venue will display real-time messages, photos and videos from fans around the world who want to join in. Ben’s Big Gig promises to be a truly interactive experience that is already a hot topic on Twitter!

Musician and social media expert Steve Lawson describes Ben as “a very clever man. He writes wonderful catchy songs, and then comes up with funny, engaging and interesting ways of letting people know about them. Once you’ve found him via one of his myriad internet presences, it’s all about the songs. Fortunately, they’re fantastic. I’m a big fan.”

Ben’s satirical songs explore the characters that are close to his heart: the North Oxford greenie, the lovelorn geek, the frustrated trendoid, and even celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley- Whittingstall. The gig will feature Ben on the piano and guitar, backed by bass and drums and joined by many special guests – not forgetting collaborators and audiences from around the web and across the globe.

Ben comments, “Cabaret 2.0 is the working title I’m using for the gig. Not only is it going to involve lots of live connections to and from the internet with video, Twitter messages and photos, but the most interesting part is that they have ‘crowdsourced’ all the planning and promotion (even this press release!). My fans are a smart bunch of people, and I’m asking each of them to help with the promotion in their own way.”

Ben has already got his online fan base involved in helping him to promote his Big Gig. Within 24 hours of issuing a request on Twitter, fans from America, Canada and France had used a publicly editable wiki page to help write his publicity copy for the event. In the same way that he’s conducted live video song writing sessions on the internet in the past, Ben will also be documenting his progress and the results of his Big Gig to help other musicians.

Ben comments, “It’s the creative and collaborative attitude of social media users that has propelled my songs across the world. I’m using the same medium to give something back. I’ve already streamed live song writing sessions to inspire budding songwriters and I’m documenting my Big Gig experience to help other musicians who are looking to do something similar.”

Of course, Ben’s Big Gig, is not just a virtual concert. For those attending the gig at the North Wall Arts Centre on the 1st May, it promises to be a very entertaining and interactive experience.

Tickets for Ben’s Big Gig are on sale at £5 for students or £10 for adults. They can be purchased by phone from the North Wall box office on 01865 319450 or online:

Ben’s Big Gig tickets

The gig will also be streamed live on the internet at the same address.

Ben Walker – ihatemornings.com Official Website
Ben Walker / ihatemornings on twitter
Ben’s Big Gig on tumblr

Last Sunday night I went to see InLight at The Bullingdon Arms in Oxford. After watching two members of the band play an “acoustic” set last month at The Jericho Tavern when they supported Baskery, I was looking forward to seeing them as a full band.

It’s quite interesting hearing the stripped down version of a band first – with limited instrumentation. With InLight, when I saw them the first time, I was able to get a clear feel for their songs, and how the songs have the ability to hold their own without the need for ‘more’. Then, to go and see them as a full unit, songs colored in with drums and bass and more energy exuding from the stage, was even more of an uplifting experience. An enthralling performance.

Guitarist Mike Riddle is certainly one to watch – an unlikely guitar hero who from the start may seem like your normal “boy next door” is far from that, with his guitar technique and entertaining stage presence. With Riddle’s melodic guitar riffs in amongst frontman Charlie Cooke’s endearing vocals, exceptional piano skills and songwriting, makes for a clever combination for a pop band.

The rhythm section, bass player Johnny Hunter and drummer Pete Lawless, is just as important especially on their brilliant song “Bridges”, with Charlie’s pleading voice and emotional lyrics. “Space” and “Icarus” are great songs as well, that show just how good a band InLight is.

From what I gather, InLight is a band made up of nice people. I know that for some, nice isn’t the coolest thing to be called, but nowadays in my book anyway, it is. A band with so much talent and what seems, so little ego…is refreshing.

Charlie was cool enough to answer a few questions.

Jenny May: Have you lived in Oxford your whole life?

Charlie Cooke: Nope! I’m actually from Cambridge, which means that I’m now an exile in both places and have to hide quietly under the stairs and in neutral colours on boat race day. But I’ve been in Oxford for four and a half years. I came to University here and didn’t have particular plans afterwards but, when I heard Mike play guitar, I was determined to stay. I think when we first played ‘Paranoia’ was the moment I knew that this was going to get serious. We all looked at each other and thought ‘ok!’.

Where is one of your favorite spots in Oxford?

I love to walk around the back of Queen’s and New College. It looks the same as it must have five hundred years ago and hardly anybody knows it is there.

Does the band have plans to tour around England? Any festivals this summer?

Watch this space!

“The Butterfly Tattoo” trailer:

How did it come about that you would have your song “Bridges” featured in the Philip Pullman ‘The Butterfly Tattoo’ film?

I saw a MySpace advertisment saying that the movie was being filmed in Oxford and that they were looking for bands and for music. So I e-mailed the director and sent him ‘Bridges’, saying that I thought it would be perfect for the film. He agreed and said it was exactly what he was looking for and the rest is history! It is now in the trailer and the film’s climax, which is fantastic. When we went to the premiere at BAFTA I felt like I’d written it for the film, but it was actually written looking out at the Brooklyn Bridge in the cafe on Ellis Island in New York City.

Has your music been featured in other films/TV etc.?

Not yet, but if anyone’s listening we’re interested! I think our music does have a film-like quality, it often sounds ‘widescreen’.

What is the writing process for the band? Do you write together?

I tend to sit down on my own and write out what I would call the ’song’; the lyrics, melody, chords and basic structure. I leave it a few days and see if I can remember it, and if it’s strong enough to work stripped down. For me, that’s the test: if someone can’t sit at home and play the song with just an acoustic guitar and vocals then it’s not good enough. If you look at a band like The Beatles, there’s not a single song of theirs that you couldn’t gather people around a piano and sing recognisably. Once that’s done, I will then bring it to the band and we’ll work out how to arrange it. And that’s when it becomes an InLight song.

What kind of guitars are you and Mike playing at the moment?

Mike’s main guitars at the moment are a rare Gibson semi-acoustic (a CS336) and his recently acquired Strat. He’s also got an imported paisley Fender Telecaster, but there isn’t usually room on stage for that many guitars.. I’m playing Mike’s old acoustic and have done since day one. I’m also using a big red Epiphone 335 to play Icarus live.

Does Mike have his eye on a particular guitar that he would like? Do you?

Mike is currently enjoying the idea of a Les Paul. But when is he not?! I quite fancy a 50’s style Gretsch, but they don’t come cheap…!

Do you guys have any guitar heros? If so, who?

All the band are big fans of Matt Bellamy and Muse. Mike and I both grew up with the Beatles records, so George Harrison is a big influence. And more recently Kings of Leon have been doing some really interesting stuff.

Any plans to record an album?

We’d love to. We have enough songs now – and enough light and shade in them – to record an album. But we’d rather wait until we’re signed so we can do it properly. I love the recording process, and I have very definite ideas in my head of how things should sound. There’s a lot of perfectionism in this band. I think that’s why it works, but it does lengthen processes. Besides, I find it difficult enough to let go, and would probably need a label to drag me away from the mixing desk, buy me a drink and tell me it’s over!

What bands/artists would you love to tour with one day?

R.E.M, John Mayer and, of course, U2. I think our audience is theirs; they are all very song based and difficult to put into a particular ’scene’ category.

Are there any other projects outside of the band that the band members are working on?

No, this is our focus. Although we have combined other pursuits with InLight; we hand draw all the covers for our second EP ‘Postcards’. It’s time consuming, but well worth the effort! And we designed a lot of the stage show for our big showcase ‘Space’ back in May last year: video art, lighting, etc. That’s something we’re very into. I think growing up you’re either into one of two ideas of music. Some people like the stripped down bands who could just walk into a pub and be great, and others like the Pink Floyd approach. We’re in the latter. We can’t wait to take a big show on tour.

Have you been in other bands?

I was previously in a band called The Shambles which, after I had left, went on to become GoodBooks. But I’ve always played music and this is what I’ve wanted to be doing ever since I was a child. My parents gave me a portable tape machine when I was about four years old and it had an in-built microphone. I used to record myself playing piano on it and write ‘Parlophone’ on the tapes because that’s what it said on most of my Dad’s records!

How long has InLight been together?

Three years in various forms, but one year with this line-up. I really count us as being a year old as it’s since then that it has really clicked and we had a solid, committed, professional group of people whose main focus was the band.

You’re not currently signed to a record label…do you want to be?

We are currently unsigned. We’ve had some brushes with labels, including a day recording at Universal in London last October. We absolutely want to be signed. I think there is a lot of confusion in the industry at the moment as to where it’s going, and we’ve met an awful lot of bands which don’t want to be signed. We totally respect that, but we think we’d work best on a major label, and that’s what we’re aiming at.

InLight Official Website
MySpace

By: Jenny May – BandWeblogs.com

Last night I had the pleasure of attending one of the best shows that I’ve seen in a long time. I was looking forward to going to The Jericho Tavern for a change – as opposed to the Carling Academy now the O2 Academy in Oxford. Actually, after listening to Baskery’s music on their MySpace page and watching one of their videos, I was quite surprised that their show was being held at the smaller venue, The Jericho.

From what I had heard before seeing them live, I thought either the Swedish band isn’t quite known here yet and the venue won’t be very busy on a Tuesday night, or the place will be packed to the rafters with fans. Unfortunately the place wasn’t very busy – but made for an intimate night of music.

Stevie One Bloke, One Mandolin opened the show. His name speaks for himself – except that “harmonica” isn’t included in the title. Stevie seems like an interesting character, with his colourful stories about life and friendship along with his descriptive lyrics and the unique combination of mandolin and occasional harmonica. It’s no surprise that he has a busy tour schedule this year.

InLight was next. The Oxford based band was stripped down to an acoustic set with just two members, Charlie Cooke and Mike Riddle. I’m not sure why they used the term acoustic though, since they were playing electric guitar and keyboard. Mike played an acoustic guitar for a couple songs – maybe that warranted the term? They sounded good, with witty banter at times, nice vocals and instrumentation. “Bridges” was a stand out song. I would look forward to seeing the full band at some point.

After their set, my anticipation high, I looked around the room and was surprised to see that people weren’t flooding in for the final act, Baskery. I had to keep reminding myself that they’re a new band and that not many people know about them yet.

As the girls were on stage, tuning up their instruments, something caught my eye. Why was the banjo player, Greta, setting up the snare drum on its side, on the floor, next to the kick drum? Well, as I soon found out, get this, she plays SLIDE banjo while sitting at the drums, playing the kick drum and the snare with her bare feet, sometimes while playing harmonica, and sings brilliant harmonies alongside her equally talented sisters, Stella on upright bass, and the youngest, Sunniva Bondesson on acoustic guitar.

The minute they started playing and singing their self-described “High voltage, Killbilly, Banjopunk, Blues-grass, Mud-country” music, with the tightest harmonies that I’ve ever heard live, I knew that I was in for a startlingly great night of music. That anticipation that I was feeling before they played was there throughout the set, after each song. Sometimes they would switch lead vocal parts, but thankfully, would always come back to those harmonies – harmonies so good that if you could see them, they might have looked like gold dust sparkling in the air.

That night we were treated to a Grammy Award winning performance by a very talented band that hopefully a lot more people will know about in the near future.

Baskery on amazon.co.uk

Baskery on amazon.com

Baskery Official Website
MySpace

By: Jenny May – Band Weblogs

The Baskery review is also featured on Oxford City Guide

The Tommos will be playing an acoustic set at the Obama Inauguration Party at Brookes University (Gipsy Lane) in Oxford, England on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 8:00pm.

Formed in Oxford, The Tommos features Jenny May and Dave Tommo. They’ve penned a new song for the upcoming event, “Celebrate, Obama”, and will be performing it on the night.

“We’re honored to have been asked to play at such an exciting event – on such a special occasion,” said Jenny May. “It’s incredible that Barack Obama has been elected President…we’re definitely ready for a change!”

Jenny May and Dave Tommo’s other musical projects include The Babylon Cowboys; hosting the Band Weblogs Podcast Show and the Trendy Bands Podcast with shows airing on CBS owned KYOU Radio and 1550 AM in San Francisco; recording with Greig Stewart and Fyfe Dangerfield from Guillemots on Jenny May’s song, “I Ain’t Got The Time”, and appearing in the Guillemots video for their hit song, “Trains to Brazil”.

Listen to Jenny and Dave’s random chat – Band Weblogs Podcast Show clip:

For music and more information, go to:

The Tommos MySpace

Barack Hussein Obama II is the President-elect of the United States of America, and the first African American to be elected President of the United States. Obama was the junior United States Senator from Illinois from January 3, 2005, until his resignation on November 16, 2008, following his election to the presidency. His term of office as the forty-fourth U.S. president will begin on January 20, 2009.

Barack Obama Official Website

Oxford based band the Keyboard Choir is a unique collaboration of musicians that, in their own words, “make music with the turbulence and dynamics of traditional ‘ensemble’ performances from purely electronic sound sources and ‘found sound’”.

The group recently released their debut album ‘Mizen Head to Gascanane Sound’ on Brainlove Records, and word has been getting out about their music and strange on-stage antics (that have included cardboard robots).

Their music has been receiving rave reviews: “It borders on the celestial” – DiScover Album of the Month, drownedinsound.com; “this is a beautiful and endearing album that proves that when you take away all the visual elements of their live performance, the music is still what makes them truly special.” – musicomh.com; “a piece of challenging, different and overwhelmingly beautiful electronica, with an industrial edge…” – subba-culture.com – and I wouldn’t be surprised if one day they pop up on Later…with Jools Holland or even late night at the Glastonbury Festival.

In case you’re wondering about the interesting album title, the name was taken from a map that was on the wall in the room where the band was recording in Ireland.

Exclusive interview with Keyboard Choir keyboardist Seb Reynolds:

Jenny May: How long have you been playing music?

Seb: Since I was 4 or 5, I was obsessed with the idea of playing the theme from the Pink Panther on the saxophone, so I stuck at recorder all through primary school…then went onto sax and piano, got into keyboard at about 15 I think, so I’ve been at it for 10 years….

Where did you grow up?

In a really idyllic little village called North Hinksey, on the outskirts of Oxford. I have really fantastic memories, fields, rivers, summers that go on forever, isn’t it hmmm, jumpers for goal posts? etc etc

Where has been your favourite place to play live and why?

I think the Trailer Park stage at Truck Festival has been an awful lot of fun, playing 1st thing on the Sunday morning has been great. The upstairs room at the old Zodiac in Oxford used to be a real treat too, cos we could bring our robots and have visuals and make a proper huge show of it.

When did the Keyboard Choir form?

Feb ‘04, I did it as a 21st birthday present to myself. Shit, we are almost 5 years old, well, that’s certainly our mental age…

How did it come about that you guys decided to form the band (are you a “band”)?

We are a band, it works best with the current five piece line up. Although, we have played at least two really great gigs this year with different people standing in. Me, Guy and Ady have been in it since the very first practice, James has been around for quite a while, Alex is the newest member, has been in the band since the summer. The story of how we met is far too long to go in to here… I’ve got to save something for the bestselling autobiography coming out at Chrimbo… Although I will say, being keyboard players, we felt like getting together and making a big racket… and it was fun… so we kept doing it.

What is the inspiration behind the concept of the Keyboard Choir?

To make passionate, emotive, powerful, spontaneous music with electronic instruments.

Any famous fans?

Brian Eno, Emma Watson, Peaches Geldof, Greig Guillemots, Moses, Saddam before they got him…

Will you be hitting the festivals in 2009?

We will be hitting them hard…

Who are some of your most influential artists?

Godspeed, Kevin Shields, Dr Dre, Autechre, Mozart.

Where did you record your latest album? What was the recording process like?

We did the bulk of the recording in two weeks in a house on the south west coast of Ireland. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life so far. Then Ady spent untold hours editing and mixing the album, literally months. It was a learning process for all of us, I certainly hope that the next one will get done alot quicker… Dr Dre’s gonna record it. hahaha.

What gear is the band currently using on stage?

Me and Alex use slightly shit old keyboards through knackered guitar pedals. A couple of micro korgs, a laptop with Ableton live, it’s the best software that we’ve found for what we do. James has a Triton work station, I forget what Guy has, a DW8 I think and some Yamaha thing. I also use a Boss sampler fed through a Kaoss Pad, that’s where I trigger alot of the vocal samples and atmospheric shit from.

Craziest incident on stage so far?

The laptop broke at a gig at the Port Mahon in Oxford. Woody started playing the music from Worms and Beethoven’s 9th and we had a massive spazz, it was very amusing. NOT!

Keyboard Choir live dates for November:

8 Nov 2008 4Talent Stage (Dragon Bar) @ Gigbeth Festival – Birmingham, Midlands
21 Nov 2008 Last FM @ Cargo – Big Smoke, London and South East

‘Mizen Head to Gascanane Sound’ on amazon.co.uk

Keyboard Choir MySpace

Brainlove Records

Photo: Keyboard Choir

A special fundraiser benefit gig for the Oxford based Buddhist charity group, So-Wide, will be taking place Sunday 19th October, 2008, at the dining hall of Wolfson College, Oxford.

Featuring performances from atmospheric acoustic maestro Padma and a special, ambient set from Oxford based electro soundscapists Keyboard Choir.

Watch Keyboard Choir “Bugs” video:

Plus, cosmic DJing courtesy of Pindrop Soundsystem.

About So-Wide:

So-Wide (http://www.so-wide.org) promotes the accurate understanding of Buddhist wisdom and tradition in academic research teaching and in, clinical research, teaching and training in mindfulness based applications through its activities and sister Charities, The Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies (www.ocbs.org) and the Oxford Mindfulness Centre (www.oxfordmindfulness.org).

£6/£4 concs

19 October 2008
19:00 – 22:00
Wolfson College
Linton Road
Oxford

For more information, go to:

So-Wide Official Website

The talented young band Behaveya is set to play at the Temple Bar in Oxford, England Saturday 27th September, 2008.

When not out gigging, Behaveya have been spending time in the studio recording songs for their album.

The band members, who live near High Wycombe, are Becca (Vocals + Bass), Stephen (Guitar), James (Guitar), Phil (Drums) and Ayla (Keyboard) – ages 10-17! They play punk/rock originals and covers.

In December 2007 Behaveya entered an XFM competition, they got through to the final 10, played live on the radio and were interviewed by Alex Zane. Quite an accomplishment for such young band!

For music and more information, go to:

Behaveya MySpace

There’s a PIRATE Party in town and you’re invited!

That’s if you’re in the vicinity of the beautiful and historic Iffley Village in Oxford, England on Wednesday 17th, September 2008.

At the Prince of Wales Pub to be exact.

The Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre is raising money in aid of Cancer Research and there’s a Fancy Dress Party being held at The Prince of Wales, including a prize for best costume.

Party starts at 8:30pm – w/ live music by Jim Driscoll & Jenny May. Playing acoustic/alternative/folk.

For phone number and directions go to:

Prince of Wales

Shearwater is set to play Carling Academy Oxford Sunday 14th September, 2008. Other acts include Little Fish and Morrison Steam Fayre.

Described as a gem in America’s underground, Shearwater come to Oxford following the release of their latest album ‘Rook’. The band has just completed supporting Coldplay in the States. They’re a spin off of Okkervil River (who played Truck Festival this year) and they sound like a mix between a lot of things, with a Radiohead feel.

Watch “Palo Santo” video:

About Shearwater

Hailed as “almost impossibly majestic and beautiful” (NPR “album of the year”), Shearwater’s Palo Santo (2007, Matador), a suite of ethereal but oddly disquieting art-rock songs loosely centered around the life and death of singer Christa Paffgen (aka Nico), marked the Texan quartet’s debut on the national stage. Several publications, including The New York Times, named it one of the year’s best, and the band’s singular combination of sonic abandon and restraint, spun around the soaring, otherworldly voice of part-time ornithologist Jonathan Meiburg, drew comparisons to late-period Talk Talk and both the lovely and anxious moments of Eno’s early solo work.

This year’s much-anticipated ‘Rook’ takes the band into realms both richer and stranger. Though a similarly haunted, elegaic mood – punctuated by flashes of dread and menace – pervades the album, ‘Rook’ is its own animal, at once more accessible (the near-title track, “Rooks”, anchored by Thor Harris’ thunderous kick drum, a booming organ, and a stately trumpet line, could almost be mistaken for radio-friendly) and more accomplished than its predecessor, with a depth and grandeur that seem improbably packed into the album’s tidy 35 minutes. Squalls of feedback have largely given way to sudden gusts of strings and woodwinds, though the band’s fondness for unusual instrumentation remains intact – harp, hammer dulcimer, and a curiously carved metal box all take featured roles.

Each song on Rook is a mini-epic, from the in-medias-res opening of “On the Death of the Waters” to the pounding (but drumless) urgency of “Leviathan, Bound”, the abrupt rock of “Century Eyes”, the crystalline depths and heights of “I Was a Cloud” and “The Snow Leopard”, and the final, elegant flourish of “The Hunter’s Star”.

‘Rook’ is unlike any other album you’ll hear this year – or any year. It has the vividness and ineffability of a waking dream, the strange beauty and internal logic of a fairy tale, and above all, evokes a vanishing world that may or may not be our own.

Carling Academy Oxford (Oxford Zodiac)
Sunday 14th September, 2008 7:30pm
£11
www.hitthetheatre.co.uk/shearwater
or to book on the phone 0207 1939050
or at the venue

For more information, go to:

Carling Academy Oxford

Shearwater Official Website
Shearwater MySpace

Little Fish

Morrison Steam Fayre Official Website
Morrison Steam Fayre MySpace

Coo Coo Club Presents: The Long Insiders, Little Lost David, Jim Driscoll & Jenny May at Jericho Tavern, Oxford Saturday 13th September, 2008.

Tickets can be purchased at WeGotTickets

The Long Insiders

The Long Insiders rise up to meet us from the darker underbelly of the clean crisp spires of Oxford to bring us songs of gin, lies, cold women and guilty men in smoke filled bars. A new incarnation of the long term musical collaboration between the Brother’s Kenny (Nick and Simon) and drummer, Dan Goddard, was born when Nick met Sarah (Vocals) in the corner of a theatre bar, the start of a fractious coming together that saw the re-emergance of some of Oxford’s finest musicians. A look through a half empty martini glass at a world of Ennio Morricone-inspired spagetti westerns and emotional alt surf melodies with a guitar style that is characteristically Long Insiders.
“a unique blend of tremelo surf guitar and breathy female vocals”

The Long Insiders MySpace

Little Lost David

Sheffield based singer/songwriter David Roch, isn’t little, or lost, but he does make highly personal, beautifully aching music. His self-titled EP – out now – was overseen by Arctic Monkeys producer Alan Smyth, and has received plaudits from Jonathan Ross, Q magazine, The Guardian to name but a few. Compared to the likes of Antony Hegarty and Rufus Wainwright – all three are influenced by the pathos of Billie Holiday and the Buckleys – but being English, David also credits such closer-to-home figures as William Blake, Simon Armitage and the painter David Shrigley for the dark, misty bent of his music. It’s a heady mix, and one that captivates those who happen across it.

Little Lost David MySpace

Jim Driscoll & Jenny May

Having played just a handful of shows in Oxford – including Iffley Lock! – Jim Driscoll & Jenny May have only been collaborating for a short time, and already there’s a buzz surrounding their music and intimate harmonies. Some may already be familiar with Jim as the keyboardist for local favourites The Drug Squad, and both Jim and Jenny have worked with members of Mercury Music Prize nominated Guillemots. Playing alternative/acoustic/folk/country. Not to be missed!

Jim Driscoll & Jenny May MySpace

The Coo Coo Club

The Jericho Tavern