Possibly the inspiration for my never-ending search for a decent pair of stripey socks. Funeral For A Friend may have changed (quite drastically), from their early years, but this still remains one of my favourite songs. It might be emo, but its good emo!
For their new work, check out their new video for the absolutely stomping ‘Nails’ here.
Have a great weekend everyone!
RC xx
Well I’m off out tonight, and I hope you are too! Here’s a few of my favourite rocky (this is a word now) dancefloor anthems. Because there really is nothing better than dancing like an idiot along with some of your closest friends. Or alone in your room. Whatever takes your fancy really!
Jimmy Eat World – Sweetness
Back when I was a student, me and my housemate made a name for ourselves at the Uni rock club by spinning around the room every time this song came on. As a result, the DJ played it at every night (this was a monthly thing, otherwise it would’ve gotten old pretty fast). I’ve been told the night just hasn’t been the same since we left.
Head Automatica – Beating Heart Baby
This is my favourite song to dance to of all time. Even if there’s no-one on the floor yet, I’ll be the one person braving it if this track comes on. Who cares what anyone else thinks..
Paramore – Misery Business
All personal relevance to the lyrics aside, this is a great track to dance to. Combine that with singing along as loud as you can (as long as no-one can hear you..) and you’ve got yourself a party!
Have a great night whatever you’re doing!
RC xx
Aldershot trio Reuben went on an indefinite hiatus back in 2008. It seems to be pretty definite, considering there’s been nothing but re-releases from the band since. Having grown up in the Aldershot / Camberley music scene, this break up was pretty disappointing for me. Reuben were local heroes, selling out shows at Christmas, being spotted around town. They inspired many of the (more successful) bands that followed – Hadouken, Enter Shikari, Canterbury..
Starting out more post-hardcore / grunge influenced, the band released their final album of new work, ‘In Nothing We Trust’ back in 2006. It showed a deeper side to the band, focusing on themes including racism and parental abandonment.
Here’s one of the band’s classic tracks ‘Freddy Krueger’, showcasing their brilliant, self-depreciating humour.
What are they up to now?
Drummer and bassist Guy Davis and Jon Pearce play in Freeze The Atlantic. Singer and guitartist Jamie Lenman works as an illustrator for clients including The Guardian and Doctor Who magazine.
RC xx
Dave Grohl is definitely on my list of people I’d like to have a drink with. He comes across as so nice, so normal. Plus he’s got some real credit from the fact that he’s (quite possibly) the only drummer in existence to become successful in his own right. I should be talking more about the other band members I know (sorry Taylor, Nate, Chris and Pat), but you can’t say the words ‘Rock God’ without thinking of the bearded, cheesy smiling face of Grohl, peering out from the cover of whatever your favourite music magazine is. Let’s face it, he’s probably fronted them all.
You know when its a Foo Fighters song. There’s that beautiful optimism about it, combined with a simple but catchy tune. The videos are filled with self-depreciating humour (Learn To Fly, featuring Tenasious D is one of the best). The songs are touching too, when you really hear the lyrics. Take this one for example ‘what do you do when all your enemies are friends’ has summed up my life more than a few times..
RC xx
Tonight I’ve been having a quiet night in, watching The Runaways. The film, starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning is based on the early life of Joan Jett (played pretty well actually, by Stewart) and her first band The Runaways.
It’s quite a good insight into the lives of bands in the 1970s, particularly the rise of female bands in rock and working the publicity machine. Not to mention the soundtrack is amazing. Its definitely inspired me to check out some of The Runaways and Joan Jett’s early work.. Especially for tracks like this:
RC xx
I’ve been a fan of Finnish ‘Love Metallers’ HIM since my early teens. It must’ve been one of my first un-adult accompanied gigs when I went to see them at Portsmouth Guildhall. Thanks to a brief sound problem (causing many over 18s to head straight to the bar) we managed to squeeze our way close to the front. Lead singer Ville Valo prowled the stage, cigarette in hand, rich baritone voice echoing the room like some untouchable rock God.
All the way home they were the only thing we could talk about. Did they wander about Portsmouth before the show? Had they stood where we were standing now? Years later, when I briefly moved to the city, walking past the Guildhall on a night out would still bring back happy memories.
‘Buried Alive By Love’ has to be my favourite song of HIM’s (and one that I used to have playing on repeat on the bus to college). It features the beautiful Juliette Lewis (of Natural Born Killers fame).
What are they up to now?
The band are releasing their eighth album ‘Tears On Tape’ on April 29th. They’re touring pretty constantly from April onwards. More info on their facebook here.
RC xx
I was going to write about things to buy today, like I usually do on Wednesday. Today though, its the birthday of one of my favourite musicians, taken far too long before his time: Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain, the frontman of Seattle grunge trio (and hugely influential band) Nirvana would’ve been 46 today. I can’t think of a better example to remind people of what a loss his tragic suicide at 27 was than this cover of ‘Where Did You Sleep Last Night’, a traditional folk song.
I guess the lesson we can all take from this, is to seek help if you have a problem. Call the Samaritans (or your country’s equivalent). Don’t deprive the world of what you have to offer it.
Happy birthday Kurt Cobain. 19 years on, you are still greatly missed.
RC xx
Ok, so I’m not leaving you guys with a classic tonight. Its more of a great tune to start the weekend off to.
Fightstar were born out of the flames of singer / guitarist Charlie Simpson’s first “band” Busted. Possibly the only popstar to credibly re-invent themselves into the rock sphere, much respect goes out to the guy for even braving to try it in the first place.
I think my best memory of Fightstar is watching them on the Radio 1 stage at Reading festival the first year that they came out. There were a lot of bottles being thrown. “Busted” being chanted. They didn’t shout anything back though. Simpson just lowered his head, closed his eyes and screamed into the microphone like his life depended on it.
After a while, the barrage stopped. People actually listened to the music. It was good. Very good.
RC xx
The soundtrack to my (and many others’) teenage angst, Pts.OF.Athrty is Linkin Park at their best. I’m sure I wasn’t the only teenager to have their first album, Hybrid Theory playing on repeat, loudly whilst I hid the in the darkened corner of my room.
Its hard to believe that the band are actually in their 17th year of existence. They’re one of a very few number of bands to mature gracefully, with a progressive sound that doesn’t alienate their original fanbase. (11 years on and this sci-fi themed video still looks modern too!).
What are they up to now?
The band are still going! They released their fifth album ‘Living Things’ last year and are about to embark on tour of Australia and New Zealand. Keep up to date with their goings on through their Facebook here..
RC xx
Admittedly, The Cure had their moment in the spotlight while I was a bit too little to take notice of them (I was too busy being born in 1988 to really pay much attention to the workings of the music industry). However, I’m going to feature the West Sussex five piece for several reasons:
a) They inspired many, many of my favourite bands – AFI, Hell is for Heroes and, according to Wikipedia, My Chemical Romance (can’t see the resemblance to be honest)
b) They’re amazing
c) I have a soft spot for any bands from South East England. Its not known for fostering a strong music scene..
d) It’s Friday. Who doesn’t think of ‘Friday I’m In Love’?
Despite the typically Gothic following of the band, they’re actually quite hard to define. The albums are almost conceptual, drifting between upbeat pop melodies, snarling social comments and lovelorn ballads (see ‘Burn’, used in The Crow film). They’ve recorded an impressive thirteen studio albums and in my mind would definitely be one of the greatest British bands.
I was lucky enough to see the band play Bestival two years ago and spent most of their set stood perfectly still, transfixed in the moment of seeing such a legendary band in person.
Rather than go with the obvious choice for today’s name, let’s pick another upbeat one. This one was an obvious choice after I remembered it features kittens.
RC xx
The Rock Chic 