Todd is God

Thea Gilmore is still only 29. Hard to believe, but when you record your debut album at 16, the 13 years just zip by. Gilmore took to the stage at Bloomsbury flanked by Husband/Producer/Occasional Co-writer Nigel Stonier on guitar/piano, and 'Fluff' on Guitar, Chello, and Violin and iinformed us that she wanted to play us quite a few songs from her new album Liejacker. She kicked off the set with Old Soul, followed by Seen it all Before (from Rules for Jokers), Rosie, and Dance in New York (for which Gilmore aplogised that it was nearly 7 minutes long, and hoped we'd not be bored by the end) The rest of the set was indeed based around the new album, but still included space for the likes of 'This Girl is Taking Bets'; 'Avalanche'; 'Call me Your Darling'; 'December in New York'... If that wasn't enough we also got an all new tune: 'God’s Got Nothing On You', which was played by just Thea on guitar, and sounded like another winner. ...

Another year, another Weakerthans gig. After two trips to the Mean Fiddler and one to the Borderline, this year is was a trip over to the Scala. Fellow Winipeger, Christine Fellows opens up the show with some quirky keyboard based songs, followed by some folk from Dawn Landes - who also provided some added comedy value when her guitar fell off mid song. She handled it all very well and with a laugh. And so to the main act. Regular readers will be aware that the Weakerthans are one of my favourite bands. They are one of the best to come on the scene in the last decade, and in John K Samson they have one of the most interesting lyricists. I have loved all three previous gigs, but this may have been the best yet - certainly the best since the first time I saw them. This was down to a mixture of the band being on form, John's vocals being on form, and the guy at the mixing desk 'getting' the venue and delivering a sound that allowed guitar solos and vocals all to be heard as t...

Was looking for something unrelated and came across these excellent clips of the Hold Steady from 2006.

'Could you be the one' Yes indeed. Bob Mould is one of those artists I have kept saying I'd go and see without actually doing so. I did consider it a couple of years back but he was doing an acoustic gig and I wanted to see Bob loud and rocking. His latest album, District Line, seem to indicate that he was back in rocking mode, so I decided to go. Hearing that he was playing some Sugar and Husker Du songs in the set only made the prospect sound even better. Bob did not disappoint. This was a loud ear tingling gig, the kind you need ever now and again to remind yourself you're alive. Mould himself looked happy to be on stage and whilst keeping the chatter to a couple of random 'thanks' he was full of energy and giving it alll 100%. As most of my friiends were more interested in the Husker Du and Sugar tracks, I'll say he played Hoover Dam, My Favorite Thing, A Good Idea and If I can't change your mind from the Sugar days, and Makes no sense at all; Divid...

Had always liked the idea of seeing Bruce and co live, but had never manged it until tonight (last night). As is the way of the world to see the band required a stadium gig, with this one being at the home of Arsenal football club. I'm not a big fan of stadium gigs, and this didn't change my mind. However, this is not to say it wasn't bloody good. These guys know what they are doing and Bruce knows how to play these size of venues. The sound was a bit hit and miss - or at least the mixing was, with if often hard to make out guitar solos from background and other band noise. But this sounds like I am moaning. They played a great set, kicking off with Tenth Ave Freeze-Out and Radio Nowhere, with some classics, old and new along the way before Dancing in the Dark, and American Land tied things up two hours and fifty minutes later. Bruce sem to be enjoying himself, and Little Steven always looks like he is having a ball. Lots of jumping about, audience touching, and a happy sm...

Jesse Malin is one of these artists I have been meaning to see for a while, and have just missed getting tickets a couple of times. There was an additional attraction this time, the appearance of Holly Brook as support act. Sadly, Brook had to pull out of the dates and was replaced by Dave Bielanko and Christine Smith of the band Marah (Smith is only a recent joiner) Bielanko and Smith turned out to be a real treat. Bielanko's gritty, dirty, alt rock/country/springteen tinged sounds, sounding great banged out on an acoustic with Smith's fine piano playing and backing vocals adding a nice depth to the songs. Two performers to check out. Indeed, Smith was in for an all-nighter, as she was also providing the same backing vocals and piano accompaniment for Malin himself. Malin is an energetic, funny and engaging performer (if not the greatest singer) - as happy and comfortable, chewing the fat between songs as he is playing them (something you could not say for his friend Ryan ...

Click HERE to get the new full-length nine inch nails record: the slip The message from Trent Reznor is " thank you for your continued and loyal support over the years - this one's on me"

The Hold Steady have confirmed the tracklist for their forthcoming LP Stay Positive due out July 15 on Vagrant. The band plans to launch a tour following the record's release. Stay Positive Track List: 1. Constructive Summer 2. Sequestered In Memphis 3. One For The Cutters 4. Navy Sheets 5. Lord, I'm Discouraged 6. Yeah Sapphire 7. Both Crosses 8. Stay Positive 9. Magazines 10. Joke About Jamaica 11. Slapped Actress

Buffallo News' Jeff Miers can't connect with Fee Waybill, so interviews himself playing waybill instead Meanwhile John Hood in the Maimi New Times explains why you should get yourself alkong to the Todd Gig. Hilary McRae , who has just put out her debut record, finds herself opening for Fergie, Natasha Beddingfield, Huey Lewis & The News And Todd Rundgren. A mixed bunch indeed, but after a quick listen, I think the Todd tie-up is a good one.

Chart Attack talk to the Al Doyle of HotChip about the new album and Todd Rundgren I read that you were the Todd Rundgren fan who introduced the band to the Rundgren spoken-word sample that appears on "Shake A Fist?" Alexis was a fan of that album, Something/Anything? too. We didn't know we were both fans until later. When we were soundchecking, I would go to the mic and do that sample and annoy the crap out of everybody in the room. You know, we're planning to go see Todd Rundgren in concert this year. Really? He lives in Hawaii. The label is trying to get us to go and do something with him. I'd love to. He sounds like a totally crazy dude.

Anthony Quinn is today's Independent has an article about screams in songs. "When I think of my favourite moments in pop and rock, it's surprising quite how many of them can be distilled to a singer throwing his or her head back and letting rip a lung-bursting scream". His list of his top 10 includes Todd: 'LOVE IS THE ANSWER' Todd Rundgren I owe a debt here to Giles Smith, whose magisterial essay on Rundgren in his memoir Lost in Music first alerted me to this formative moment. This pop hymn originates from his experimental sideline outfit Utopia, on their 1977 album Oops! Wrong Planet, and features one of those gospel clap-along endings that would usually make me duck for cover. This being Todd, however, he sings over the crescendo like a man possessed, and on the line "If you need a friend" his voice cracks into an impassioned scream (time 3:02) the likes of which could probably never be repeated: believe me, I've tried

Funny how you can almost forget about bands. I saw FSM a couple of times back at the start of the naughties. It was the Buffy the Vampire Slayer soundtrack that introduced me to them and a few others - Bik Naked, Splendid, Rasputina. Those first two gigs were both at the Garage in Islington, and I remember James Marsters (Spike from Buffy) joining the band on stage that first time. No TV guests this time around, and the band are now relegated to a much smaller venue. With a 4th album out last year, showing that they still knew how to craft catchy pop/rock tunes, this was the first chance in around three and a half years fro UK fans to see the band. The set mostly comprised new material from @Hello it's Me'  and songs from their classic ' Thrown to the Wolves'. Also nice to see that their cover of the Cars' 'Just what I needed' is still in the set too. Highlights for me were 'Dilate', 'Pain' and 'Long Way Down'. Good solid support was ...

It's been a while since I listed the latest purchases on the music front, so here's a few things I have bought so far in 2008: Johnny Flynn and The Sussex Wit - Tickle me Pink (EP) Fatally Yours - An Almost Sacred Triumph Laura Marling - Alas I Cannot Swim (Songbox edition) Dolly Parton - Backwoods Barbie Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend Aretha Franklin - The Best of Aretha Franklin Adele - 19 New Young Pony Club - Fantastic Playroom Ingrid Michaelson - Girls & Boys Laura Barrett - Earth Sciences (EP) Alison Moorer - Mockingbird Shelby Lynne - Bob Mould - District Line Motley Crue - Dr Feelgood SaraBeth Tucek - Sarabeth Tucek Sia - Some People Have Real Problems Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig Lazarus Dig Blogged with the Flock Browser

Jamebase reviews the debut album from Liam Finn, son of Crowded House's Neil Finn, as says Forget that his dad is Neil Finn and just listen. This is the whole panoply of pop displayed with peacock flair. Liam Finn's debut, I'll Be Lightning (Yep Roc), has the mix of unbridled imagination and tasteful restraint one associates with debuts like Todd Rundgren's Runt and Nick Lowe's Jesus of Cool. But unlike those artists, Finn doesn't have a Nazz or Brinsley Schwarz under his belt to help him with the fundamentals. Apparently, this youngster just gets hooks and heart-strong verses in the way most of us understand breathing or walking - a natural, largely unconscious rightness that keeps things moving along nicely.

Tim Cain at the Illinois Herald & Review joins those who think Todd should be in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. "The biggest problem with Rundgren’s career? He’s too talented ... Rundgren could have kept mining the “I Saw the Light”/”Hello It’s Me” style of song, and potentially been an American rival to Elton John on the pop charts for the rest of the 1970s. But he decided to go in other directions. Thus, he created an odd fan base - some loved his pop music, some loved the progressive rock direction he took, and a select few loved it all. (And if you get around any of those people - I know a couple of them - you’ll learn quickly that they love a lot of different kinds of music, and they’re extremely passionate about it.)" Yep...and I'm in that 'select few' group of people who have loved it all, and does - as those looking deeper into this blog would find - have very varied taste in music.

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That's what Google/Blogger thinks this site is apparently. Love to know how that works.

I love this album - still available free on their website a year after I bought it. But to be honest, it is worth buying.

She may only be 18 but Laura Marling hit upon an interesting idea for the release of her debut album, Alas I can Swim. Why not offer a version that contained a free exclusive gig ticket, the cd and other goodies. Tonight's gig was the second London show to allow those in the south of the country redeem their free ticket, and on tonight's form I don't think she'll have much trouble selling tickets in the old fashioned way, even if her stage presence could do with a little work - she does seem to be staring intensely at a spot on the floor for most of her short set (surely not her lyrics?). But what matters most is the music, and as she reels off the tunes form her debut album one by one, it is hard not to reach the conclusion that you are witnessing someone with a lot of talent and frightening potential. Whilst her voice may lack some variety of emotion perhaps that it may find in a few years, it is still quietly powerful. The likes of Adele and Duffy may be taking m...

I thought this was kind of nice.