Stereo Jealousy

The king is dead. R.I.P. Michael Jackson, 1958-2009.

Photo: Richard E. Aaron

Gig Of The Week – Stag & Dagger @ 93 Feet East

I know Stag & Dagger is a multi-venue, many band extravaganza but I’ve got to pick the Fact Magazine line-up at 93 Feet East as gig of the week. They hold court with Everything Everything, TEETH!!!, Dananananaykroyd (pictured), The Twilight Sad and Kicker Conspiracy – easily the best of any of the venues. Tickets still available at a relatively reasonable £16.50 – and are valid for any of the venues across town.

Elsewhere Ladyhawke rolls into Koko surely on her final bit of touring around her stupendous debut, likewise the Ting Tings (only without the stupendous debut bit) at Brixton Academy. Idlewild provide a twist on the ‘play an album as a gig’ schtick as they plump for a comprehensive review of work old and new over three nights at Dingwalls. I’d pick the middle night of 100 Broken Windows and Warnings/Promises. Other picks: Metric, Vivian Girls, Datarock and especially The Soft Pack!

Dananananaykroyd – Black Wax
The Twilight Sad – I’m Taking The Train Home
Everything Everything – Photoshop Handsome
TEETH!!! – If I Ever (Video)

Photo: sugicy

For all the recommended gigs around town this week read on…

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Gig Of The Week – Sonic Youth @ Scala

I’d have given anything to get a ticket to this gig. Anything. The bastards at See Tickets put them on sale early – meaning that when we went to check at 9:50 (tickets due onsale 10am) they were already sold out. I wasn’t happy. Anyway, for those luck enough to be at this ’secret’ show I reckon it promises to be one of the events of the year. I mean how often do you get to see behemoths of music such as Sonic Youth play cupboards like the Scala? Once in a lifetime… If any of you are heading to this, I’d love to hear how it was – let me know via a comment!

Elsewhere this week I’d recommend heading to Matter on Saturday to catch Miss Kittin & The Hacker. Last time I saw the Kittin was on a beach at Benicassim and it was pretty damn good. Also, Doves play a couple of big ‘uns at Brixton Academy the Juan Maclean follow their Ether festival performance with a slot at Madame JoJo’s and somewhat bewilderingly Friendly Fires play the cavernous Forum.

Sonic Youth – Pay No Mind

Photo: Bryan Bruchman

Read on for the full listings this week…

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Gig Of The Week – Bat For Lashes, School Of Seven Bells @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire

A week of fantastic gigs, including Ether 09 – a South Bank festival that has drawn the incomparable David Byrne to our shores to play a show based on his two collaborative efforts with Brian Eno. Unfortunately there will be no Eno involved, but still should be fascinating. Also in a festival-style this Saturday sees International Record Store Day, and two of London’s greatest host sparkling instore line-ups. Rough Trade East sees a plethora of new young things including the fantastic Joe Gideon & The Shark. Pure Groove settles for a bit more experience, with Graham Coxon taking a break from the Blur reunion to play a solo set, backed up by Patrick Wolf.

Gig of the week though goes to the sublime Bat For Lashes, with Natasha Khan picking the excellent School Of Seven Bells as support. Two Suns is setting most critics gabbering, including me, and I’m really looking forward to the gig. Her support slot with Radiohead last summer gave glimmers of a special set, and on her own terms I’m expecting a theatrical adventure – it’ll be intriguing to see if she performs as her two aliases! School Of Seven Bells’ Alpinism should have received much greater admiration than it did last year, and they should provide a perfect electric counterpoint to Bat For Lashes’ more traditional instruments.

Bat For Lashes – Siren Song
School Of Seven Bells – Half Asleep

Here’s a glimpse of how the rehearsals are going for Khan and co.

Bat For Lashes – live in Rehearsal

Photo: Rose X

Read on for the rest of the week’s gigs in the capital…

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There’s been a survey done and apparently the thing that annoys London commuters the most about their fellow travellers is loud music. The survey, carried out on behalf of Jetsleeper, placed audio abuse higher than broadsheet-splaying toffs and drunken head-droopers. No mention of mobile shouters, pushing pikeys or “scuse me ladies and gentlemen, sorry to interrupt your journey…“…

Granted, hissy cymbal rushes and caterwauling R’n'B divas are pretty damn toe-curling in the most serene of times. Listening to the various snatches of London’s collective musical selection isn’t annoying in itself though. Londoners have been used to it for years – when was the last time you last walked down Oxford Street without hearing some godawful Eurotrance blaring out from one of the shops?

What depresses and annoys me about the proliferation of the little white ear-buds isn’t so much the diabolical taste of my fellow Londoners. It’s the terrible sound you get from those shitty little headphones, cutting out all low end and turning the rest to some hideous mid-range sludge. Not only that but the reduction of music from artform to sonic pavement – how many of these i-drones are actually loving (or even know) what they’re listening to?

On my regular commute I’ve seen suited middle age men stare blankly into middle distance while the Sugababes whirl dolefully in his ear. Occasionally you spot someone in the zone -  I clocked a girl once mouthing the words to Kelly Watch The Stars as the train whizzed through Clapham. For my sins I’ve been told several times to turn my music down – most memorably drawing the dreaded commuter stare as Vex Red’s Can’t Smile penetrated the packed rush hour carriage.

I don’t mind your music, London. Just get some decent headphones, start loving what you listen to and we’re all square.

Photo – Orhantsolak

Commuter Love – The Divine Comedy