Django Django Live @ The Ritz, Manchester

Iv'e been waiting to see Django Django for a while, by the time I realised I wanted to see them that bad, they had sold out their venues in London! I even bidded for a ticket on ebay to see them alone, but unfortunately missed out, and then realised I'm pretty sad. Anyway I had a week off and some friends in Manchester kindly bought me a ticket to see them at the HMV Ritz. 

They were supported by Egyptian Hip Hop, who I hadn't researched, but there were pretty decent! However are neither Egyptian...nor hip hop. They are sort of 80's synth music with good beats. For one of the songs, the lead singer very bravely got into the crowd and sung the whole song from within in. 

Egyptian Hip Hop

I have just got a Sony DSLR A200 as a present from my dad, but unfortunately know nothing about photography! I did however manage to sweet talk my way into bringing it into the venue, but out of about 30 snaps, there was only one decent one of Django Django! 

They were very good live, however it seemed they only found their feet after a couple of songs, this is not a bad thing though I feel, as it only made them sound better! I love the Ritz as a venue because it's neither too small or too big, and I easily managed to squeeze to the front for a couple of photo attempts. They kicked the gig off with the clear choice of Introduction, which was a cracking opening. As they only have one album out, they managed to fit all of their songs into the hour set. My personal favourite was WOR, the western cowboy guitar rift was amazing live and got everyone in the crowd moving. Default was a tad disappointing live, but this could be because it's my favourite and the song that first got me into them, so my expectations were vey high!

If you missed out on tickets for the tour, then I feel for you, because you missed out. If not, you're in for a treat!

Jake Bugg: Bob Dylan and Alex Turner's love child?

There's another hype in Capital City! I only looked into Jake Bugg after seeing a poster, and the first song I listened to was Taste It, which is definitely my favourite and currently on the iTunes 'Song of the Week'.

Iv'e started downloading an album a week from iTunes, as admittedly I used to download illegally, which is easy as fuck, but also ruining the industry in which I want to work in! Iv'e also found myself getting very frustrated recently with ticket touters, as tours such as The xx, The Rolling Stones and Mumford & Sons have been selling out in about 3.5 nano seconds, then the tickets are instantly available on getmein.com for twice the price! WTF?! It's just not fair on actual music lovers such as ourselves. 

Anyway, back to Jake, my album download this week was Jake Bugg's self-titled album, which is very much a good investment.  I have actually convinced myself when listening to him that he is Bob Dylan and Alex Turners love child. His influences are Donovan, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles and Bob Dylan, and you can hear a little bit of them all in on his album. He's only 18, which is quite unbelievable after hearing his voice, and has been playing since the age of 12 and songwriting since 14! He's originally from Nottingham, and sings quite a lot about to trying to get out of there! There is quite a variety in the style of his songs, which is always a good thing (ahem, Oasis), and are all pretty unbelievable. Check you Someone Told Me, Lighting Bolt, Troubled Town, Not To Self and Fire! 

Unfortunately his November UK tour has sold out (but you can get tickets on getmein.com for twice the price and more!) However, there are tickets still available to see him next year! 

Alt-J

Probably a little overdue, but better late than never! I got an email from my editor in July asking for an album review on Alt-J's album, as I hadn't heard on them, I stupidly and regrettably ignored it. What a mistake, only recently have I found myself listening to the glorious sound that it Alt-J. Being nominated for the Mercury awards 'Album of the Year', they obviously have big things coming their way.

The album is incredible. Personally they sound similar to Django Django (whom coincidentally are also nominated for the same award), but perhaps not so folky. They are a different sound, and a lot better than a lot of the shite the music industry is producing these days (not mentioning any names *cough* Ne-Yo, Conor Maynard, Taylor Swift, Leona Lewis...oh god, this list could go on and on). Radio 1 are also big fans, although Fern Cotton would bum her own arse if she could pull her head out of it, but don't let that stop you! Check them out in the Live Lounge playing Tessellate.

They all met whilst studying at Leeds University (one of whom knew my sister as he lived in the flat below in halls), however apparently this isn't a good enough connection for her to ask them for an interview on my behalf!

They also played at the Station Sessions Festival in St. Pancras train station in May (something else I also stupidly and regrettably ignored). This is my personal favourite, Breezeblocks. Also be sure to listen to Matilda, Fitzpleasure and Something Good.

Unfortunately all tickets for any gig this year and January have sold out, but there are still tickets for their tour in May. Be sure to book now, incase they win the Mercury Prize!

Ellie Goulding live @ the Jazz Café, Camden

At 6pm on Friday night I get a text from a friend;

'What are you doing tonight, reply ASAP! x'

I was in the process of cooking roast pork, and had Lord of the Rings at the ready.

'Chuck it in the bin, I have a spare ticket to see Ellie Goulding x'

As quick as I could, I made it to the Jazz Cafe in Camden just on time. Now if you've ever been to the Jazz Cafe, which I hadn't, it's pretty amazing. The venue is tiny, only accommodating 350 people, which means the was a very intimate gig. Just as we walked through the door, Ellie came out...and she was incredible. She has to be one of the most talented singers around, she silences a whole room with her voice. 

As it was such an intimate gig, I thought she wouldn't play her classic's, but she wowed everyone by playing Lights, Starry Eyed and a very special acoustic version of Guns and Horses. She also played her new song, Explosions, which you should definitely check out.

Iv'e never seen Ellie Goulding live before, but after Friday night, I would definitely go again if another opportunity arose. She's talented, cool, gorgeous, polite and sweet...Skrillex doesn't know how lucky he's got it!

CARL BARAT INTERVIEW 2.26am on 15/09/2012

When I told my editor that I was attending festival No.6 at Portmeirion, he asked if there was anyone I would be interested in interviewing...erm, yeah!Carl Barat please! Iv'e always been a fan of the Libertines, and discovered that he would be there showing a special screening of the Libertines film 'There Are No Innocent Bystanders'.

After his acoustic set post the screening, I went to meet the stage manager to conduct the interview, as she had told me earlier, however when I got there she said he would not be doing any interviews. As disappointed as I was, I decided to drown my sorrows at the Kraken rum tent. At roughly 2.20am, my friend approached me claiming Carl was in the tent and that he would do the interview for me!

Probably about 5 double rum and coke's too late, we sat on a hay bail outside and had a long discussion about the history and the future of the band, and about his personal journey through his time in the Libertines and the Dirty Pretty things.

(please bare in mind that we are both highly intoxicated)

CARL BARAT INTERVIEW

2.26am on 15/09/2012

K=Katie Bentham

C=Carl Barát

K: Why did you make the film?

C: When we were getting back together, so many people, like Vice magazine and hand made films, all these different companies, wanted to make a film about it, with all the different pictures

K: Why?

C: I guess to do with the nature of the band, and it being so tumultuous, it was all dancing girls, bells and whistles, and there was just violence, drugs and tabloid notoriety, its the most obvious and boring concoction

K: Not a lot of other band have this kind of publicity!

C: Lucky them I guess

C: With all that stuff on offer, people wanted to make a movie about it, we weren't about to be ripped for people encouraging us to fall out, it was to have somebody we knew and trusted to come along and film it, honestly, with none of that fur coat and no knickers business, who we know will make a decent movie...I found this visor on the toilet floor, do you want to try it on?

K: What is it??

C: Looks like a Nike visor, I would never normally wear it...how is it?

K: It looks great!

C: I feel really bad that you got shunned earlier

K: No, don't worry about it!

K: Why did you decide to show the film here?

C: Well it's been all around the world, Amsterdam, Argentina, Madrid, Brazil...

K: Do you like Portmeirion?

C: I love Portmeirion

K: Have you been here before?

C: Never, only in my imagination

K: Isn't it beautiful?

C: It's beyond beautiful. I used to watch The Prisoner, as a child, on video

K: Has the film been shown across the whole of the UK?

C: It was in cinemas for a while. It's a good film, but I wouldn't expect anyone to really fall head over heels, who didn't know the band before, but I think its a honest dictation of some pretty troubled times

K: Do you think the band are ever going to get back together?

C: Inevitably one day, it's just a matter of when

K: Do you miss it?

C: The boys?

K: No, everything.

C: As a whole, absolutely. Individually? No man, I mean I love them and miss them, but what an annoying bunch of boys, each and every one of them, but together we do something which is beyond each individual.

K: Do you think you were better playing in the Dirty Pretty Things or The Libertines?

C: If you define 'better' I can give you a better answer.

K: As in you personally, your music writing.

C: In The Libertines, I grew in a way which is natural, things occurred, troubled times, each album was a snapshot of the day it was written and recorded. The Dirty Pretty Things...yeah it was good, I played harder than ever, with more attention than ever, everything that was played was played as if the last time I would ever play it, but is that better than The Libertines? I mean it's a whole different thing. Dirty Pretty Things were slaughtered from the start because people wanted it to be The Libertines, that was a very difficult thing to answer to.

K: So you met Pete (Doherty) through his sister?

C: Yes, his older sister.

K: Is it true he wrecked your flat while you went on tour in Japan?

C: Yeah, he did burgle it yeah.

K: And he stole a laptop and a guitar?

C: Thats not everything. Sorry I don't really like talking about that, it's quite a horrible time.

K: Sorry

C: But yeah, it's well known that thats what happened

K: Are you still fiends with him?

C: Yeah

K: Thats good

C: For life, for death, forever

K: Whats he doing now, is he music writing?

C: In a sense, he's in Paris. He's got a good life, he's got a bad life

(...then goes on to interview me)

K: So what did your parents do?

C: My dad worked in a factory and my mum was a hippie

K: Your mum was a hippie? Thats cool, in London?

C: No all around, in communes

K: What did she do?

C: Hippie shit...drumming, smoking. Anyway, enough about them

K: What do you think will happen in the future? A solo career, or join another band?

C: I really don't know, just music and following the right path!

(we then go onto the prospect of him having more kids, and discussing Fifty Shades of Grey)

By the time we were finished, all the bars in the arena had closed, so my friend and I offered him some Jack Daniels and coke from out tent, however Carl had a better idea, get the booze and hang out on his apartment balcony, who can resist that offer?! We ended up playing Libertines classics and any song of our choice with his guitar on his balcony until roughly 6.00am. I was one of the most exciting experiences in my life, and definitely something to tick off my bucketlist!