Whatever happened to etiquette?

You turn up to a gig to an army of 14 year olds with an assest of hyperactivity that seems to push all boundaries of politeness aside; sure they are only young but when the older crowd seem to act the same way you start to wonder what happened to the rules of gig etiquette.

Ten years ago if I'd have got tussled up in the pit at the gig at least the person who accidentally punched me in the face/knee'd me/or accidentally tipped their beer over me would at least be apologetic about it; nowadays you'd get a pint dunked over your head without even batting an eyelid.

Ok so perhaps one should argue that I should expect to get tussled about, barged in to, punched in the face, and soaked if I'm standing in the pit. But I do expect it, I wouldn't be in the pit enjoying the gig armed with my camera if I didn't expect it a bit; it's more the arrogant, cocky attitude of the gig crowd that irks me.

Perhaps it's because I'm a veteran of the 90's; when I could stand in the pit as a gleeful 14 year old getting knocked about but with a crowd who were enjoying themselves and weren't there to essentially cause a ruckus and kick shit off.

Ever since I scraped past the riots at Leeds festival in the early 00's I've had a wary attitude to the crowds appearing at gigs. As much of an inspiration, and breath of fresh air that the nu metal scene at that time was, it also brought a fresh new attitude to gigs and music, a crowd who seemed to come along with an attitude more befit of riots, than the general beer swilling, harmless drunk who'd headbutt you in a drunken cheery haze.

Perhaps it just through the haze of a gig veteran (only in my late 20's I must say), but it does feel as if the rules of gig etiquette have been long lost on this new generation of gig go'ers, or perhaps I am just the cranky old lady stood at the side of the stage complaining that her Paul smith flats are getting trodden on.

Moving music for buildings..

Back in the 90's I always eagerly awaited evenings in the week, knowing that I'd get a good slab of alternative music courtesy of the Evening session followed by John Peel on Radio one. Those few hours of decent music on the airwaves paved my introduction to further bands, hell if I hadn't have left John Peel on that evening in '95 I may not have even been sleep seduced by Pulp.

Those few hours were my saving grace in the late 90's, they introduced to me to long favourites currently in my collection; Idlewild, Kenickie, Elastica, & Eels. Ever since the Evening session gave way to, urgh Zane Lowe I was grateful when 6 music launched, the BBC's staple channel for all things alternative and a little bit obscure.

Since then it's my daily staple whether it's in the form of podcasts from presenters shows, or leaving Lauren Laverne's show on to get me started in the morning. The recent addition of Jarvis Cocker to Sunday afternoon's slot has also been a wonderful breath of fresh air.

After spotting reports last week that 6 music is underway to be scrapped to sort out the BBC's 'expenses' (i.e spending too much on a new building). It seems that the only alternative on the BBC's airwaves is potentially underway to be scrapped only a few years after it first launched.

Sure we have alternative stations on digital radio; (although the only good station personally is Absolute of those for Dave Gorman's show & Matt Berry's comedic ads) but surely the BBC shouldn't be axing an entire demographic from it's listings. 6 music fills the space where us mere 25+ 'odd bods' just don't fit in with the other music stations on the BBC.

It's a breath of fresh air compared to flicking through other channels, and surely the 2,300+ complaints registered so far about the potential closure of the station should speak volumes enough, considering some comedians get axed from shows over a mere 80 complaints.

I'd hope that when the BBC do speak up about their expense cuts that they really don't go closing a couple of stations for the sake of saving a few million. Why not cut corners on some of the appalling shows on BBC 3 instead?, or cut back on some of the not entirely needed digital effects on the news channel?

Heres hoping we get another few good years out of 6 music yet.

-Image: Evening session, BBC -

It's all about the self promotion dharling!

Record label won't fund your latest idea?, dropped like a fly from your label?, so what?!

Lately I've been adoring the return to diy asthetics within the music industry. With bands turning their hands to self promotion, & even funding and producing their own albums.

With the rise in bands turning to sites such as Band stock; enabling fans to invest in the band and their latest album in return for stock, or an advance release of the album. With the ever wonderful Patrick Wolf, & Idlewild turning to self funding their latest releases allowing more creative control over their work.

Now theres also Pledge music; a site where bands can create a pledge to raise recording funds and do it their own way with you getting a plethora of choices dependant on your donation. The rather marvellous Robots in disguise have recently signed up for their own pledge where you can donate as little as an albums worth to a fully blown house party gig. You can of course donate here & make your own mark on the music industry.

This diy approach within the industry is a wonderful return to the days of old. When I used to pick up self released singles by bands in the mid 90's, theres a feeling of more self control from the bands over their music without an industry insider poking them with sharp pointy sticks to 'try something different'. Lets hope it sparks more bands taking their own music literally into their hands.

The weeks playlist

With a zen in my handbag, and an abundance of cds to hand heres what I've been listening to on a loop over the past week:

The young knives "I can hardly see them" - the bass, the drums; all utterly perfect. The one track you can utterly loose yourself in, even on appauling british transport.

Crystal castles "Courtship dating" - such an astoundingly perfect clutter of synths and static noize.

Yeah yeah yeahs "Zero" - with such a perfect build up and chorus, Zero is a stunning album opener and stand alone track.

Franz ferdinand "Ulysses" - again a marvellous album opener, the bass is utterly stunning.

Vnv nation "Tomorrow never comes" - take a pinch of synthpop, mix with a dash of guitars, and more of Ronan's moody vocals; marvellous!


-Image: The commons, Flickr-

Her love is a sham, he is dancing somewhere

The most influential band in my life at any time; Pulp were the band that turned me onto the phenomena of Britpop, moulded my young mind, & were responsible for my very young venture into vintage attire.

Unlike most musicistas I will actually openly admit that their most known song was the first that I heard. The wafts of the first few note into "Common people" was my first listen to britpop as it emerged like the multi-limbed bastard child of 80's indie, and the result of rebellion against the awash of grunge in the UK. The delightful combination of moogs, and guitar cheered me no end and at a time when my only other musical venture was (the rather fabulous) Shampoo; Pulp was the band that initially opened the floodgates for me to a new genre, and music that I could actually identify with.

There was something seductive about the hint of 60's nostalgia in their music; the images of green velour sofas, delightfully nasty wallpaper, and wafts of musky amour. Seeing Jarvis's slinky hips hypnotically thrusting himself across the stage was my welcome party into a new genre, lifestyle, and style all at the age of 12.

Little did I know at the time how much of a musical phenomena I'd wandered into, that the 2nd wave of great british guitar music was wafting across the country and further around the globe. I was so immensely moved to find something I identified with, and fitted into that I delved into every crevice of their back catalogue I could find.

Soon after their music had that affect on me that I could easily loose myself in any single track; the vintage nostalgia for the 60's-70's had me experimenting in vintage attire, dusting off second hand velour jackets, & cord flares topped off with skinny tees and a trusty pair of docs; not as glamorous as the music depiced but at 12 I wasn't too fussy about my footwear being high and pointed, more classic and understated. I must have looked like the bastard daughter of Jarvis and Louise Wener (Sleeper).

But they've continued to make a mark on me well into my 20's; I still loose myself in those first notes of "Common people" with a nostaligic glow and with a taste for the kitsch, vintage & quirky on my wardrobe. I have so much to thank them for.

We live in urban hell

We destroy rock & roll..

One of the most influential bands to ever affect me; Manic street preachers managed to draw me in musically, affect my wardrobe decisions, and grew my collection of books and art by no bounds.

The first rolling beats of "La tristessa Durera" were the first snippet I heard of the Manics, the sweeping melody into the heavier beats drew me in and had me rendered unconscious. It would be another year before I got into them seriously but those first few bars were forever ingrained on me.

At the time when I first listened to them they were just embarking on what at time was unbeknownst to me as the pinnacle track of their career following the disappearance of Richey Edwards. I hadn't heard "Design for life" at that point, but it was to gain my interest further into the band.

Soon I was drawn into not just the music, but the style and culture of the Manics also. A band not one to shy from their intellect and influences, finding references to artists, novels, films, and music within their songs that influenced my interest in culture further.

But it was also the style that hugely influenced me in my teens; Nicky Wire being the only male to look completely stunning with a flick of turquoise across his eyes and glitter across his brows, topped off with a wonderfully kitsch plastic tiara. Of course I myself dabbled in coating my eyes in glitter, shopping trips whilst wearing a tiara, and lashes of diy aesthetics in my wardrobe; all under the influence of Nicky Wire.

Their music has changed in many ways over the years; my personal favourites over the last decade being "Know your enemy"; for the stunning mix of synths, guitars, and experimental notes, & the recent "Journal for plague lovers" not just for the obvious reasons but also the return to a classic hammering gothic sound.

A band I hope to see still donning the leopard, fur, and mascara well into their 60's; besides who else could pull it off so well.

We've got class

Music has always been a strong passion of mine; when I first truly got into music it was during the great outburst of Britpop in the summer of '95 and from there it rather spiraled out of control.

I discovered most of the bands I got into initially through decent music press; how I miss the days when you could pick up NME, & Melody maker each week, grabbing Select each month and flicking through for new finds. Of course the latter two publications now cease to exist and I can't say much for the NME these days I only pick it up on the odd whim.

So in 2010 I find myself without much of a great source for music press. Picking up the odd issue of Artrocker here and there, theres much else available that's charmed me. Online press tends to focus more on bands/solo artists of note, the same you can find in print so I've found most of my current musical purchases through word of mouth; friends recommendations, and of course the fabulous Phonogram (that's worthy of its own special post sometime soon).

With this lack of press to hand I thought I'd blog out my own findings, musical muses and sources. From bands of past, and bands of current.

Image: Arthur Kales c/o The commons.