Category: music

Bastille – Pompeii (Acoustic)

Posted on

Yes, we’ve all heard the fantastic acoustic version of Bastille’s Pompeii already – a version augmented by the… er… acoustic qualities of the venue, the Petit Palais dans le Musée des Beaux-Arts de le Ville de Paris, no less. Mais oui.

But there’s no problem with hearing it again and marveling at Dan Smith’s soaring voice echoing around les belles salles, now is there?

Beautiful, although as Scroobius Pip would say of Kyle “J” Simmons (far left) “I’d rarely seen someone look quite so uncomfortable in their own skin”. Hopefully there will be a bit more energy from him when they come over here in January, and it won’t turn into another lifeless Alt-J set. Colour me worried.

Incidentally, you may also enjoy Hannah Reid and London Grammar‘s acoustic version of Wasting My Young Years (and indeed, Hannah Reid), done for the same people, but in a different (sadly less echoey) room, here.

Of The Night

Posted on

Bastille (coming to Cape Town in just about two months, although we’ve got quite a bit to fit in in the intervening period) have only gone and covered DeBarge’s 1985 hit Rhythm Of The Night (see also Corona, 1993). And I’m really not sure what they bring to it.

For me, it’s a bit of a nothing version of a bit of a nothing song. Rather disappointing. Even the video never really takes off.

Thoughts, Bastille fans and ticket holders?

Putting it Bluntly

Posted on

James Blunt (as mentioned previously here and here), continues to respond to his critics on twitter with wonderfully dry humour:

 

 

As that bottom one suggests, he does have a new album out. You might want to be brave, swallow your preconceptions and give it a listen. No-one has to know. And who knows, you might like it.

Stay With Me For The Weekend

Posted on

No, it’s not an offer – it’s the tagline from the Pet Shop Boys’ track Thursday, which, when reviewing the album, I decisively described as:

my favourite, I think

Now there’s a video to go with it, featuring the guys doing a concert in Shanghai, and it would surely be rude not to share it:

Lovely stuff. This has been a great year for good music.

Post concert blues?

Posted on

It’s probably just full on exhaustion, coupled with the disbelief of what actually occurred last night, but I’m not really able to function today. That said, we did take the opportunity to enjoy a childless meander back from Rocking the Daisies. And I’m back home in one piece, so it can’t be that bad.

Suffice to say, Skunk Anansie’s performance last night comprehensively knocked the Manic Street Preachers’ 2003 Glastonbury set from its comfortable spot on the throne of Best Gig I’ve Been To Land.

image

Being right down at the front is always a bonus, and I was ready to be impressed after dreary Alt-J and the zany warm-up from The Hives. But Skin and the boys made it extra special, with a breathtakingly energetic and interactive performance, including her standing on my shoulders and holding my hand – this one here, goddammit! [holds up left hand] – while she belted out Weak.
I went back 15 years in an instant.

There was stage diving (some organised, most not so much), there was power and presence, and there was even some classic rock’n’roll violence as Skin ended the band’s one year tour by putting her microphone stand through the drum kit after their final song.
The gaggle of disbelieving road crew gathered round the damaged kit pointing and taking cellphone pictures afterwards suggested that it was a wholly impromptu and unexpected act.

This morning, I woke up with this in the room:

image

A piece of memorabilia that I will certainly cherish and quite possibly frame.
If you look carefully, you can even make out the print of Skin’s studded silver boot. Sadly, having checked, there’s no such print on my jacket, but I’ve still got the memories.

I Hope You Get To Meet Your Hero they sang; last night, I kinda think I did.