Maps, The Strange Death of Liberal England, Caribou, Ulrich Schnauss & Sonic Cathedral DJ's.. How's That for a Line Up?

So much happening down here! What I feel I must explain in this little edition is the sheer amount of what's going on in the music department and everywhere else in this contemporary outlet.. My diary can't nearly afford me to see everything that's going on down here, and there have already been things like last Saturday's psychedelic 'Our Technicolor Dream' that I have had to miss. Gutting. It would be hard not to want to interview people and take pictures at 'a night of light shows, avantgarde theatre, Q and A's with the leading lights of the London Underground and a range of bands both old and new'. This weekend I won't be able to catch both parts of the 'ATH-LDN sonic voyage showcasing some of the most innovative musicians, sound artists, producers, performers & Djs working in Greece today'. Gutting again. Anyway, my point is simply this; even if you could easily deny yourself Psychedelia or a night with the most up to date European visuals and beats, or even if it's that you only like hot new bands thank you very much, there is a big chance that whatever it is you do like musically will come up at some stage in the not too distant future at the ICA; quality, variety and volume are seemingly, amazingly, intertwined.

Ok enough; enough of that. Let's talk about when I was there, at the Maps with Support night on Monday. The Maps gig was a chilled out, friendly affair with some quality musicians to please the crowds ears.. We were spoilt for DJ' s with Sonic Cathedral Dj's,
and Ulrich Schnauss on the decks in the bar,

and Canadian Caribou pumping out a very decent selection of records indeed on the main stage. This stuff was particularly up my alley so I felt very honored to wait for Strange Death and Maps with as classy an interlude soundtrack as this.

The Strange Death of Liberal England (yes it is a mouthful) provided an energetic, musical and epic sounding set that gave those smart enough to realise that often the best things happen in the warm up, a very happy half an hour. May I introduce you to the band...

On lead vocals, Adam Woolway,

Andrew Wright singing it OUT

Andrew Summerly with Will Charlton


Will,

Kelly Jones
Will and Adam in syncarama

Mr. John Earls on Planet Sound said that their eerie silent placards

are an odd move when the sounds they are making are so 'joyfully noisy'. I'd agree there are a few contradictions going on stage with this lot, changing of instruments, swapping of roles and all sorts of sound twists, but that is what gives this band their edge and charm and I like most things that make people think a little outside of the box. Maybe it will be ideas like these that will give them some staying power in what, as discussed with the band before the gig, can be a dog eat dog world in the sometimes fickle music industry..Here they are doing a little warm up singing before the gig...


All in all a group to keep and eye out for; now
signed to Fantastic Plastic Records they have already been playing 2000+venue gigs in Europe and there is talk of Reading, The Great Escape Festival, Brighton and all sorts else...Check out their myspace, http://www.myspace.com/tsdole

And then there was Maps..

Maps were a chilled crew, Jamie and other band members let me take pictures of them just moments before going on stage, I like that attitude..




Tongues out to you too Jamie...

This talented young songwriter/music producer
and his committed live band members Ben, Phil, Matt and Andy ,

played a slick set that gave the sold out audience what they wanted..

It felt as though I blinked and it was over with this music that you sort of melt into, but a good gig it was all the same..
I'm sure that ex-members Drew and Craig would have been proud of the boys on stage.. After chatting with these two about Craig's likeness to Jack Dee, Hello? One must agree...me being a sponge and various other particularly UN-muso things, (a girl should have SOME fun after all) I did talk a little business regarding Drew's role as visuals and video artist for the band these days...Judging by the graphics from the latest album cover,'We Can Create', he might just have the eye for artwork. Here is the man himself,
please check out his website www.redwhiteproductions.co.uk for news and information about the creative Drew and what he can do for you! I'm worried that I took down that website wrong so Drew, if you're reading this - let me know what's up with that please...
I would recommend you not to miss Ben, Phil, Matt and Andy with James at future gigs all posted on their myspace, www.myspace.com/mapsmusic..And I distinctly remember seeing them available on ITunes the last time I looked...

And to finish, the man that engineered the monday's soundz, the ICA's main man Rich..

Sorry honey I could not resist but to put this mischievous portrait in.. You were a crucial part of the evening after all. Big up the ICA technical crew! Salut!

Jack Penate gives the ICA a party..

It was a mutual hats off to Jack Penate at his gig last Wednesday. It was this young mans first time to the venue and he told the crowds it was his favourite gig yet! O.K, so we might all exaggerate and embellish truths when we are excitable and running on adrenaline fuelled energy, but it certainly was an excellent show. It all began with a very cool support line up.. First up was Adele from London. This lady has a HUGE voice, it's really wonderful and strong, and after a few teething problems with a few of her new chords..

her set was fabulous, she speaks the truth and I would definatly recommend people to watch this space.. www.myspace.com/adelelondon


Next up Late of the Pier with their makeshift instruments (that's pretty popular these days it seems) and 'music to have asthma to' (you can't breathe with the thrill of it?) These boys thrashed around and had some good stuff going on with their sound and rhythm. I appreciated the way they slickly bounced in an out of what seemed like improvised jamming moments. I liked it.. and this dark side of the moon picture I took of the little cheeky one by the name of Jack (I think!) - all looking artistic, abstract and a bit crazy which I'm guessing might be there intention..



And that was all before Jack came on.. And of course he pulled it out of the bag in a big way too. He had a large backdrop on stage revealing the quirky, bright graphics from his latest Album Cover Spit and Stars, which in it's colourful slighty absurdist nature mirrored his act, and his mannerisms on stage.



Jack's myspace title reads "Living With No Reason, Dwarfed, Alone, Imprisoned" and while ok yes, he is not Shaquille O'Neal, his voice, his music and his moves certainly compensate.. and as for the 'no reason, alone imprisoned' stuff, well I just don't believe him. He was certainly not alone on Wednesday and there was surely reason.
If you haven't heard Jack before go onto his myspace www.myspace.com/jackpenate and have a listen - he has all sorts of gigs going on this summer if you didn't catch him this last time... Will these future gigs be recorded live? Will you get
bubbles? a crowd surge onto the stage? celebrity guests? free badges and posters? I'd like to think only the ICA can provide such fun packed escapades (!) but you should check him out anyway.
Bonus pics.. A peek at Late of the Pier and Jack backstage.. enjoy!



For more pictures of all the gigs check out www.speyerdesign.com under bands and gigs for artists and parties and events if you were in the crowds....

Pat and Trevor - Visionary nights and Magical Music

This night will really speak for itself through the pictures I took - so much colour and cool going on I didn't know when to stop... But as I like to ramble I would like quickly to mention a few of my highlights from that evening.. and don't worry if all these pictures and words leave you feeling frustrated that you missed such an event; Pat and Trevor is back with a vengeance on the 12th of May to support Au Revoir Simone so it's all good, more musical mayhem this way a comin'...

I enjoyed meeting Jimmy Jules and Jack; the brains behind the Pat and Trevor phenomenon. Whether it was their enthusiasm, their musical and artistic talent or Jimmy's hair that got me most excited, it doesn't really matter.. these boys are in it to win it and provided a night to be proud of.. In a time when Pink Floyd covers pronounce again that 'we don't need no education' these boys take a newer, fresher approach where school is obviously doing something right.. They are all studying at the London College of Communication in Illustration or Interactive Design and it would be hard to ignore the influence that these passions take on their musical escapades. The Pat and Trevor night is as much about music as it is live arts - an interactive experience of sound and vision and all power to them for joining the two so well. While waiting for the venue to fill up, at no point did I drag my heels..
I was either caught investigating possibly the coolest toy/lighting piece/antique memorabilia I have ever seen. Not only a wonderful little piece in its own right, it created a cunning effect as it was projected onto the stage area window..The projected image changed depending on which on-toy camera was used for the live feed. Hard to describe, but visually entertaining on all accounts..


And just as you turned your head while marvelling at this, within a few feet of each other were two screens that not only projected an image of yourself as you walked by (a large scale re-creation of the experience you have when you enter into Curry's on the high street, seeing yourself but hunting for the how, where?..) Well this was that, but it also doubled up as a screen throwing out silhouettes of various performers as they stood behind it and danced and moved ..



There were shoes in the hall but not any old shoes, looooong shoes; pink lights flooding the hallway,
wigwams and old school exercise bikes..And that's before we start on the music..

In the Dj booth we were graced with the mixed genre selections on The Holy Triangles. These boys refused to be musically labelled but I distinctly remember a Led Zep track playing alongside some hip hop and punk - eclecticism clearly key here.. I can't find their pictures! I'll have to post them with next one.. as a preview to...
the next chance you have to see these boys play. Their Crystal Vision night hits the ICA in the not too distant future.Keep up to pace with this lot through their myspace.com/theholytriangles..........



In the DJ box we also had the Coconut Twins giving it a little cha cha with their gold chains.. definitely respecting their style,
but visually my eyes were tiring after the spectacle that was Yoko Ohno! and Dandi Wind. Yoko and Dandi took full pride in making the most of the space flying here there and everywhere.. Dandi wearing feathers and Yoko dashing, darting, downright demolishing the space..he is representing 'all the colours of the rambo' after all..It was all quite the vision..




Couldn't resist to show you his take home outfit too - full brownie points for this universal number..


Dandi's entire act impressed me much - as it clearly did this promiscuous bystander,

So much fun...
I couldn't get enough of all the fabulous expressions Dandi pops out from somewhere deep in that big person little package gig.. but here are a few of my favourites..and hello? Hot outfits.







I think that's about it.. Just remember not to miss the next one ladies and gents - who knows what will be up next time.............

If you were one of the many beauties there that night - patience please my people's blog IS on it's way.. And it will be worth the wait. Full marks to much of the dressing from that night - when was the last time I saw a beehive this impressive? Outside of an ITV 50's drama, that's a negative.


www.myspace.com/dandiwind
www.myspace.com/patandtrevor
www.myspace.com/yokoohno
www.myspace.com/coconuttwins