Video Killed The Radio Star

On April 1^st 1981 at 12.01 am the words ‘Ladies and gentlemen, Rock and roll’ were announced over footage of the launch of Apollo 11. This was the launch of MTV, a revolutionary idea which transformed music and television history forever. The concept of a television channel which played music videos 24 /7 was designed and created by Robert W.Pittman. It gave music a new found visual literacy and way of promotion for record companies and artists. In its early days MTV helped to launch and introduce artists to the public and was able to influence the music industry. It helped bands and artists with a visual aesthetic as it gave them a way of distributing there music in its intended context.Industry expert , editor for ‘Hits’ magazine, Leonard J.Beer quoted that “MTV is the most powerful force that's ever happened in the music business. You know, you can make a star overnight if they make the right video, and if the right magic happens.” MTV finally broke the colour barrier in 1983 when it played its first video by black artist Michael Jackson with ‘Billie Jean’. Its impact on popular culture also meant that the youth of the 80’s were given access to different genres of music which had previously been avoided on radio stations. However with the expansion of the network over the years, creating sister channels such as VH1, MTV2, MTV Dance and MTV Base, the innovative television channel has undergone a lot of changes. The frequent rotation of music has been replaced by the likes of awards shows and reality TV, which leads to the theory that by the law of nature everything eventually gets replaced. Although music fans now tend to head towards online websites such as MySpace and YouTube to engage with the artist’s work, music videos on television are still relevant even if they are no longer common. With the creation of MTV and its impact on popular culture, videos haven’t just become a source of marketing, neither are they a way of just complimenting the music, they are now an art and can influence how we interpret music. 

Music Moment- Music Journalism

Givers. The Green Door Store Brighton. 6.11.11

So after hearing much hype about this band recently from the likes of the NME and other music mags I decided to go and see Givers. It was the first time I had been to The Green Door Store in Brighton so I was intriqued to see this new venue hidden in the backstreets. The venue is a really unique and initmate place with a warehouse feel to it. As soon as I walked in, I felt I had been let into secret and questioned whether I was in the right place.

Unfortunately the support band wasnt even memorable enough for me to now say what they were called, however they did rip of bands such as The Subways and Nirvana. Badly. Givers, indie-pop band from Louisiana, however deffinately lived up to the hype. These guys may look abit awkward and preppy on first appearance but dont let that fool you. Every song was bursting with energry and positivity. Every tune full of spontanaity and frantic changes in time signature, key and genre which leave the audience wondering where the songs are going to go next. Givers are the kind of band that want to make sure their audience is having a good time by constantly smiling, dancing and intteracting with them too. They seem to be enjoying their time in the UK as they repeatedly tell the audience how they all want to move here which gets a overwhelming response from the crowd watching them tonight. There single 'Up, up, up' is deffinately the stand out track of the night with its afrobeat influences and catchy chorus. Described as cajun-flecked indie pop these songs are the kind that make you want to get yourself a coctail and reminise about sunnier times. Destined for big things and if you like your indie this is deffinately the band of the moment to brighten up your lives.

Bombay Bicycle Club, Brixton Academy 19.10.11

After the recent release of their third album A Different Kind Of Fix with its diverse change of sound, this was bound to be a big night for Bombay Bicycle Club. There was no doubt about the boys not filling up the 5000 capacity venue with their loyal followers who have stuck by them through three very different albums. The only question was how this difference in genres would go down with such a large audience of fans old and new? 

They opened the set with ‘Shuffle’, the first single from the new album, an immediate crowd pleaser which got the audience ready for what the new songs had to bring to the night. The first half of the set revolved around the new album with its more electronic and calming feel to it. However new songs such as ‘Your Eyes’ with its 30 second ‘rock out’ at the end added towards the enthusiastic atmosphere of tonight’s gig. The band then paid a very nostalgic but well received visit to the 2009 first album ‘ I Had The Blue But I Shook Them Loose’ which added to the more energetic attitude from the crowd with old indie favourites such a ‘Evening/Morning’, ‘Dust On The Ground’ and ‘It’s Always Like This’ accompanied by trumpets.  Just as the audience thought they had a treat with these songs being played early in the set, the biggest surprise of the night then came from the 2007 EP track ‘Open House’. As soon as the song started people pushed themselves to the front and it was easy to see that the night had taken a different direction from when the set first started.

Unsurprisingly the boys avoided songs from their second album with its more folk experimentation and only played the singles ‘Ivy & Gold’ and ‘Rinse Me Down’. This came from the help of Lucy Rose, with her light tones which gave a different quality to the songs. Never mind her awkwardly hanging around on stage just distractedly swaying for the rest of the show. The rest of the set showed the band jump between songs from the first and third album being shown equal appreciation from the audience. 

The set was ended with a beautiful encore of ‘Still’ played acoustically on an upright piano, alone at the back of the stage by Jack Steadman. It was the quietest but most magical moments in tonight’s show as it showed the raw talent of the shy and awkward frontman.  The rest of the group then came back on stage for a contrasting finale song ‘What if’. Loud and releasing chaotic energy within the audience, this was a brilliant ending to tonight’s interesting and varied mix of song choices. 

Its seems that Bombay Bicycle Club have come a long way since their indie beginnings but tonight’s performance was flawless and the bands hard work has definitely paid off. I’m personally looking forward to seeing what genre the boys choose to experiment with next.

Reviews on their way....

Saw Bombay Bicycle club last week at Brixton Academy and The Maccabees at Oxford Town Hall on Monday. Two of the most amazing gigs I have ever been to so reviews are currently being done and on their way. Looking forward to seeing The Vaccines and Arctic Monkeys this Sunday and Wu Lyf tommorrow. Oh and everyone check out the new M83 album !

SBTRKT @ Audio, Brighton 5th October 2011

Sometimes artists who wear masks do so to distract you from the music. Sometimes artists who wear masks do so to create a persona of anonymity which lets the music speak for it self. The latter being SBTRKT.  London DJ and producer SBTRKT also known as Aaron Jerome knows how to get an audience dancing with his soulful vocals layered over post-dubstep and tribal like beats.  Tonight’s gig is at Audio, one of Brighton’s top music venues especially for electro and dance music. It’s a typical small ‘clubbers’ club. With the gigs held in the basement, there’s a dark, intimate atmosphere. The size of this venue allows you to get as close to your idols as possible and immerse yourself in every part of the performance.  With a new club night being launched after the gig this was just the beginning of the night for most of the audience although you could tell by looking around this was a room full of fans only.   As the performance starts and the strobe lights come on they reflect that of the colourful trademark mask the man who emerges from behind the decks is wearing. The set starts off with a few albums tracks which automatically get the crowd moving. Every track is different but full of energy which contributes towards the atmosphere within tonight’s audience.  This energy from the audience continues to stay constant as SBTRKT mixes his way through his own tracks and remixes. The catchy rhythms and electronic beats are covered with smooth vocals which compliment without dominating.  The audience continue to sing along to every word and move to every beat.  After around 45 minutes of build up the set then comes to a climax with SBTRKT playing his two biggest singles to date Wildfire and Pharaohs. With the help of Sampha on vocals on both these tracks the energy levels of the audience implode and there is not one person in the room not dancing.  The night then ends with SBTRKT giving the audience a polite thank you and smiling behind his mask as he gives his fans high fives. He then walks off stage safe in the knowledge that with his songs, every one in the room is now fully prepared for what the rest of the night has to bring.

Oh and

A review of SBTRKT at Audio in Brighton last week will be up here by the end of today ! Hopefully....

First blog post...

So I've been blogging for a while but its has mostly been my photography work therefore I thought now iv entered a new chapter of my life, studying Music Journalism, I thought it was about time I started a new blog. It will still feature some photography but I will be mainly reviewing music on here now. Albums, artists, bands, gigs and up and coming new music. Having not done much of the writing side of music journalism before I may be a bit rusty so bare with me please and i promise I will try come up with some interesting stuff for you all !