Where the Wild Things Are

Tentacle Moo!

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:44:34 GMT

I went to collect my SEXTACULAR (I love making up words) new tent from Argos in Southside shopping centre yesterday. I am always amazed at how many screaming kids there are in there at any given time of the day. There was one particular little darling when I was waiting for the tent to come out of the storeroom (AKA Aladdin’s Cave) who was rolling on the floor screaming as if she was being sacrificed to some kind of heathen god. Of course her teenage mother was in no way interested, she was too busy perusing the “stylish” bling on sale. What I want to know is what could possibly be so wrong in your life at 3 that leads to such wailing. Someone else dresses you, feeds you, bathes you and entertains you. You have no bills, no dodgy exes, no fears of being left on the shelf, no concerns that you are wasting your talent in a job that doesn’t fulfil you. You’d think it would be a pretty satisfying existence. I do wonder about the mother’s commitment to her job. As my mum, who is basically the child whisperer, always says, a child who is having a fit of some sort just needs a distraction.

I know I have mentioned this before… but I have the best friends in the entire world. Josh came around last night to collect the tent (which I have named Tentacle Moo) and I managed to convince him to cook. How do you like that… invite someone around for dinner who is doing you a massive favour and then get them to make their own food! Josh makes the most incredible pesto pasta from scratch. It is literally in my top five things to eat so I couldn’t resist. Luckily Josh is such a good sport.

We decided to pitch Tentacle Moo in the lounge to see if she was in good working order. Since we both have the mental age of 3, we climbed inside and sat there. She’s a lot bigger than I expected. I am so enamoured that I am considering just pitching her in the backyard and living out there from now on. Gigantic hugs to Josh who came all the way to Earlsfield to collect Tentacle Moo so he can drag her all the way to Reading tomorrow on his own and pitch her in preparation for my arrival on Friday morning. Dude… you RAWK!

Excitement level on a scale of 1 – 10?… where 1 is just before your own execution and 10 is just before you finally go on a date with the person you’ve been crushing on for a year… 12!!!!!!

Today’s band to love is Metallica. I have to warn you that I am not a long-term obsessive dedicated Metallica fan so I may not do this the justice that a worshipful lifetime fan might do… but I do count them in my list of rock love so I’m doing this anyway. Formed in California in 1981 by drummer, Lars Ulrich, these thrash metal legends have had an illustrious career. Despite a bit of line-up jiggling and occasional band infighting (original lead guitarist, Dave Mustaine, was booted and went on to form rivals Megadeth, bassist, Cliff Burton was tragically killed and subsequent long-term bassist, Jason Newstead was also booted) they have released 8 studio albums, 2 live albums, 2 EPs and 40 singles. Front man James Hetfield’s voice is unmistakable and their grinding screaming guitars and frenetic drums make them the perfect band to leap around like an idiot to while playing air guitar (or is it just me that does that). After deviating somewhat from their metal roots in the mid-90’s there have been claims that Metallica have sold out (although I loved Load) and most recent offerings have been greeted with scepticism (mine included), however it is impossible to deny the sheer power of some of their past hits. The new album is just around the corner and I continue to hold out hope.

Must-have album: Metallica (also known as the Black Album) and also S&M which is a live double album recorded when they performed with the San Francisco Philharmonic Orchestra… it is one of the most intense and beautiful things I have ever heard

My favourite song: Ugh, how to pick, I can’t choose one… One, Nothing Else Matters and Hero Of The Day

For fans of: Avenged Sevenfold, Trivium, Bullet For My Valentine

http://www.myspace.com/metallica

If I am going to be in a field, I want to look like a cow

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:24:16 GMT

Kelly returned triumphant and in one piece from V festival yesterday with tales of straw fights, mud, solo missions, vodka overloads and strange encounters of the random kind. Of course this has spurred on my excitement for Reading which is now just two and a half days away.

This is my first Reading, which adds to the giddiness… plus the line-up is SICK. It includes: Rage Against The Machine, Metallica, Queens Of The Stone Age, The Killers, Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet For My Valentine, Elliot Minor, Kids In Glass Houses, The King Blues, Biffy Clyro, Taking Back Sunday, The Raconteurs, Tenacious D, Slipknot, Pendulum, Plain White T’s, Alexisonfire, Mindless Self Indulgence, Vampire Weekened, MGMT, Foals, Less Than Jake, The Audition, All Time Low, You Me At Six and Black Kids.

There are clashes. Some big ones… so there is no way I get to see everyone I want so I have devised a hierarchy based on abject adoration (as in there is no way I will miss TBS… it wouldn’t matter if Frank Iero was playing naked on one of the side stages at the same time), bands I have already seen (sorry to QOTSA but I am missing half your set for Vampire Weekend) and bands I am soon to see (hence missing Pendulum for Slipknot). Of course all of this is dependent on me not getting too drunk to find my way from one stage to the next but I normally get too absorbed in the show to actually drink that much. At the moment my greatest anticipation is for TBS, MSI, Metallica, RATM and A7X (Abbi likes abbreviations).

Tonight I am off to collect this little beauty of a tent which I will hand over to Josh, who is going down on Thursday and will be pitching it for me so I have a guaranteed space when I arrive early Friday morning. The big tent is too much for one person to drag all the way down there and pitch unassisted. We will be joined by Matthew and I am going to meet up with Colin and Nat. I predict chaos… I cannot wait!

Today’s band to love is Forgive Durden. Named after Tyler Durden, a character from the book and film, Fight Club, this Fuelled By Ramen band had a burst of success in 2006, touring with Panic At The Disco. With their dramatic often trumpet infused sound, they are very intense. Their debut album Wonderland was an explosion of oddly named songs protesting against a capitalist consumerist society. It all looked very good… and then the wheels fell off. Vocalist, Thomas Dutton had a few Axl Rose-esque moments of authoritarianism which pissed off the rest of the band so much that they left. He appears to be very sorry about this now and is working on new material with his brother and Gatsby’s American Dream drummer, Rudy Gajadhar. Time will tell if anything materialises but Wonderland is gold so go get.

Must-have album: Wonderland

My favourite song: Beware The Jubjub Bird And Shun The Frumious Bandersnatch (cookie for anyone who knows where that name comes from)

For fans of: Gatsby’s American Dream, Taking Back Sunday, Monty Are I

http://www.myspace.com/forgivedurden

Sweet dreams? You tell me...

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:04:56 GMT

Does anyone else get that thing where some of your drunk memories only appear a day or two later? I was gathering up my clothes to do some washing this morning and I found a grey Quicksilver beanie behind my bedside table. This suddenly reminded me that when we left the Puzzle I had been talking to some boys outside (not sure if they were boys I knew or not) and one of them was wearing a beanie. I decided I wanted to wear it and of course snatched it off his head and put it on. If I was still wearing it when I got home, clearly I never gave it back. Once again Abbi commits clothing theft while drunk. Bad, bad, bad! If anyone reading this is the owner of, or knows the owner of the beanie, please let me know and I will return it.

I am also wondering if anyone else experiences odd dreams if they make themselves go back to sleep in the morning? I find the more times I go back to sleep the odder the dreams get. This morning I woke up at 6.30 and thought screw this and forced myself back to sleep. In between 6.30 and waking up again at 7.45, I had a dream involving an old mansion, a terrorist plot that my mother had inadvertently gotten mixed up in and having to put together a rescue plan that somehow involved an Eastern European woman trapped inside a giant chocolate rabbit. Theories on what that one means are most welcome.

In other news The Academy Is… release their new album Fast Times At Barrington High tomorrow. Because I am cool (or more likely because Jen is cool), I already have a copy of this little powerpop gem. I’ve got to say it is a total return to form for young Bill Beckett and his band of long-legged, skinny-jeaned nutters (they are completely deranged… just watch TAI TV). I never thought their second album, Santi, measured up to debut, Almost Here but Fast Times is GOLD. Go out and get!

Today’s artist to love is Anthony Green. Anthony is a very busy young man. Having started and left Saosin, he moved onto Circa Survive where is still providing vocal duties. While all of this was on the go he also did stints with Zolof The Rock ‘n Roll Destroyer (who sound nothing like Lordi, which is what the name instantly conjures up for me) and The Sound Of Animals Fighting. It’s not surprisingly that he has been lending his talents to so many projects since his vocal range is breathtaking, rivalled only by the incredible Craig Owens. 2008 has brought us a solo project and it is gorgeous. With meandering, wistful indie-folk songs powered by Anthony’s crystal clear flawless vocals this one of the most soothing things I have ever listened to.

Must-have album: Avalon

My favourite song: She Loves Me So

Hot or not: With those eyes? Totally hot!

For fans of: Jack’s Mannequin, Something Corporate, The Format

http://www.myspace.com/anthonygreen

The Neanderthal effect

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:59:25 GMT

As I have said many times before in the history of this blog… the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Yesterday before Barb, Mich and I headed out we made a pact not to get too drunk, not to egg each other on to drink more and not to do any shots. All of these good intentions I am sure you will agree.

When we got to the Puzzle for Ant’s farewell and to watch the rugby we realised that everyone in the greater South West London area had had the same idea. The place was so packed that people were standing around the doors watching from outside. The game was a travesty. I don’t want to talk about it apart from possibly that was the context for us drinking so much snakebite… we were, um, drowning our sorrows.

The atmosphere at the puzzle was positively electric yesterday and there was an unusually high number of cute boys. I had the heart-shaped sunglasses on. Those things are a walking pick-up line. It’s nuts how many people came to talk to me and ask where I got them or if they could try them on. One guy in particular was fascinated with my entire outfit (I had on a star-spangled dress and my blue cowboy boots) but then he was wearing snakeskin loafers with shorts. I was way too busy flitting around though to focus on attempting to attract boys. I did get one very ironic offer. A girl came to me and told me her friend really liked me. When I asked her to point him out he was the hugest steroid slugging monster I have ever seen – a proper Neanderthal man. I am sure there are girls who find that attractive but it is the polar opposite of my type so I politely declined going to chat to him.

From there I remember being involved in the following activities:
•    Agreeing to go and see In Flames with a very cute, very young guy with an afro
•    Taking photos of Michelle and Raoul with the pig’s head that was on display on the side of the bbq
•    Doing a whole bunch of shots (sigh)
•    Walking around to everyone I knew who was there (which was a lot of people) and offering hugs
•    Sitting with a whole bunch of people at one of the covered tables in the beer garden giving them my opinions on the nature of the self and the power of choice (I am such a philosophical drunk… it’s very strange)

Eventually Barb tried to get me to agree to go to Barazza with her but I was adamant that I was staying at the Puzzle. I didn’t stay for too long though since Tam and Bobby lured me to Majors with the promise of a chicken burger. None of us had any cash on us so we sat with all our change counting out enough to buy our food. Why no one just went and drew some money from the cash machine next door, I can’t explain to you. I also can’t explain why when Bobby and Tam offered to let me share their cab, I insisted on walking home.

I woke up this morning feeling rather unwell and looking a bit like a strange exotic bird. I had gone out with my fringe up and clipped back with bobby pins. When I got home I just crawled into bed with the pins still in. When I woke up half the hair had escaped from the pins and was sticking straight up. I still feel pretty nasty.

Today’s band to love is The King Blues. They’re a ska-punk band that has carved out an interesting little niche of their own and while they’re very definitely ska they also have strong elements of reggae, blues and folk and the addition of a ukelele makes them really unique. They write powerful little protest songs and their intense live performances mirror just how passionate they are. Known for starting their gigs by spray painting their name on a sheet an encouraging audience participation, you never know what you’re going to get with these guys from human pyramids to diminutive front man, Itch, spitting acapella. People are definitely taking notice of this little punk powerhouse since they recently opened for Hard-Fi at Wembley Arena and also sold out 500 capacity Dingwalls.

Must-have album: Under The Fog
My favourite song: Come Fi Di Youth
Gigs attended: Barfly, Dingwalls – both 2008
For fans of: Sublime, King Prawn, The Clash

http://www.myspace.com/thekingblues

Tent watch and Abbi gets starstruck by the man in the mirrorball suit

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:50:19 GMT

I have touched the arm of greatness. I was sitting at my desk today when Ryan, who works with me, mentioned that Noel Fielding was hanging around in the Pret below my office. I attempted briefly to remain calm. Anyone who reads this blog regularly or has spent any time with me will know that I am in totally, utter and complete awe of Noel Fielding… artist, comedian and the only man who can wear a feather boa and not look gay. After failing to remain calm, I decided to take a little wander down to Pret to see if he was still there. He was… looking like a very skinny, slighty scruffy god amongst men. Being the colossal stalker/nutter that I am, I strolled up to him, put my hand on his arm and told him I thought he was amazing. And then I rambled a bunch of stuff that I am not sure was even in English. To his credit, Noel smiled, said thank-you very much and was utterly charming. He was a god amongst men. I was an idiot amongst sandwich buyers. Sigh. Working on the West End has its perks. For those who don’t know. This is Noel.

In other news, young Kelly is heading off to V for her first festival. Having attended a couple of festivals I felt somewhat responsible for her well-being. Hence I lent her my tent and we practised pitching it in the garden much to the amusement of my dad, fellow housemates and Donovan who were on “Tent Watch”. It reminded me of a bizarre nature programme.

“The redhead appears to moving towards the poles. Notice how the blonde appears to be puzzled by the colour coded guy ropes.”

I have also inspected her wardrobe and checked that she has all the essentials. When she left this morning I stood like a proud mother bird watching her baby fly out of the nest. I of course have terrible festival envy but luckily Reading is only a week away.

I also said goodbye to the dad who flew back to SA today. It was a farewell of mixed feelings for me. I love my dad and it’s so nice to have him come and see my life and meet my friends and spend time in my house and my city… but he also drives me mad. It’s funny how your family knows exactly how to push the buttons that will turn you into a lunatic witch. The last time I actually lived in the same house as my dad was 10 years ago and so him being around all the time is strange for both of us. A wonderful time was definitely had by all and I will miss him very much… but I look forward to returning to normality.

No band today. I have started working on a novel called Lucy Gray which is inspired by the Envy On The Coast album of the same name. Consequently I have been listening to nothing but Envy On The Coast. I promise I will get myself back in gear and have a band for the next blog.

Bad personal hygiene, topless photos and lip synching scandals... welcome to the Olympics

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:56:16 GMT

So the grande spectacle that is the Olympics is in full force in Beijing and if I am completely honest… I have watched none of it. Partly because we have no Sky signal and well mostly because I have the attention span of a weasel on speed. In order for me to spend time in front of the TV the broadcast content has to include one or more of the following: someone being made over, Simon Amstell, a man in mirror ball jumpsuit crimping or a bunch of hot guys carrying guitars.

I do know a few things about what have been going on in Sportsland:

· The Aussies are accusing the British swimmers of being soap dodgers. It’s good to see the time honoured ideals of good sportsmanship and losing with grace are being adhered to.

· The Chinese have shown just how deep they are. Rather than showcasing the amazing talent of gap-tooth singing prodigy, Yang Peiyi, they stuck her in the back where no one could see her and got a prettier little girl to lip-sync. Fuck inner beauty, we’ll go with image.

· With all the conflict going on between Georgia and Russia, it was ironic that the two nations met on the, um, beach volleyball court (cos there are so many sunny beaches in Siberia???). It started out amicable but when the Russians lost they refused to acknowledge the defeat since both the Georgian players were actually born in Brazil. Well, at least they steered clear of mentioning their personal hygiene.

· The Germans have gone with the “if you’ve got it flaunt it” approach and four of their athletes, including hockey player Katharina Scholz, have decided to get their kit off for German Playboy. I suppose if they win any medals they can put them in the trophy cabinet next to their beaver shots.

Grandchild: Wow, granny, you won an Olympic medal.

Granny Scholz: Never mind that, look how firm my boobs used to be!

· American swimmer Michael Phelps has proved you can come back from anything including a drunk driving conviction, hitting on George Bush’s daughter, having ears like a trophy and your goggles filling with water during a race. Despite all his challenges the boy has won 11 medals and is the most successful Olympic athlete of all time. According to his trainer this is because he has a freakishly large torso and giant feet. Hmm… sexy…

So there you go… your Olympic round up… Abbi style… so much intrigue and it hasn’t even been on for a week yet!

Today’s band to love is Guns ‘N Roses. Where to even start with these guys… with the height of their popularity in the late 80’s and early 90’s they were a dirty, gritty, angry, raw, messy, bluesy hard rock band and there was no one like them. With lead guitar provided by living legend, Slash and vocals from the uber-charismatic Axl Rose, what could possibly go wrong? Well… everything… drugs, sex, violence, band infighting, misogyny and alcoholism are just some of the “issues” that plagued them. The fact that there was anarchy behind the scenes seems to have done nothing except fuel their creativity and there is no denying that GNR have given us some of the most iconic hits of our time in Sweet Child ‘O Mine, November Rain, Paradise City, Welcome To The Jungle… and the list goes on… Unfortunately the advent of grunge made their rock excesses seem very uncool and the decline in popularity drove Axl into dictatorial madness and rendered him impossible to work with. As band members slowly disappeared, were fired or moved onto other projects, including the massively successful Velvet Revolver, GNR still exists in some form… they just haven’t released an original album in over 15 years. The stuff from the ’87 – ’93 period is absolute rock gold though and you have to have it in your collection or you’re missing out on brilliance.

Must-have album: Appetite For Destruction

My favourite song: Patience (odd choice, I know but I LOVE that song)

Hot band members: When he was very, very young… before all the bad plastic surgery, Axl definitely had something

For fans of: Velvet Revolver, Avenged Sevenfold, Aerosmith

http://www.myspace.com/gunsnroses

Kill the witch!

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:30:47 GMT

Last night the dad and I hit theatreland to take in Wicked. The Broadway and West End smash hit tells the story of Oz pre Dorothy from the perspective of the Wicked Witch of the West who may not have been as wicked as we all thought. It touches on very modern themes of the nature of truth, how the media creates perception as well as nature vs nurture. The Wizard Of Oz was one of my favourite books as a child so I had high hopes for the play, which I hoped would be suitably dark. On the plus side it was beautifully produced. The sets were mind-alteringly good and I want to go and live in the Emerald City. The cast were also wonderfully talented and awesome to watch. BUT... as with all musicals you cannot escape from the cheese factor and I can’t stop spotting the plot holes. I know I should be able to just relax and enjoy the spectacle… but it’s just not me. So next stop… more serious theatre for Abbi. But if you are a musicals fan, you will love Wicked.

On other news I sat next to a woman on the train today who smelled like she had rolled in a barrel of sardines. It was like being in a fish market at 5pm. And every time a breeze blew through the train, I got a full nostril-full of her impressive stench. The mind boggles that there is no one in this lady’s life who might pull her aside and say, I love you but, seriously, you smell. I would like to put this out to all of my friends… if at any time my scent is less than glorious, please inform me immediately.

Today’s band to love is Daphne Loves Derby. This dreamy little Seattle emo-pop trio was formed when original members Jason Call, Kenny Choi and Stu Clay were still in high school. In fact Jason was only 14. Undeterred by youth and inexperience they set about playing local music festivals and giving away bedroom demos on their MySpace before being picked up by an indie record label and putting out an EP. Shortly after their second album was release Jason quit the band to go to school and become a missionary. The band is still going strong with David Sparks taking over bass duties. They have recorded a new album, which is due later this year so we wait in anticipation for more gorgeously laidback angst ridden tunes.

Must-have album: Good Night, Witness Light

My favourite song: Deserts Eating Oceans

For fans of: Dashboard Confessional, The Format, The Apathy Eulogy (who are clearly fans since they have a song called Daphne Doesn’t Love Derby… She Hates Men)

http://www.myspace.com/daphnelovesderby

Birthday celebrations and migraine hangovers

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:18:57 GMT

I have to start this by wishing our lovely housemate Kelly a very happy birthday for yesterday. She has been a very spoilt young lady. First Donovan arranged her a surprise BBQ for Sunday. That it remained a surprise is a miracle since Hilton all but told her that it was happening. The fact that Kelly didn’t guess after Hilton apologised to her in advance for not attending her party, reinforces my belief that if you are not expecting something then it takes more than a few hints to let the cat out of the bag. Even mother nature was in celebration because after lunch (which was somewhat rained out) there was a massive rainbow across Wandsworth.

The celebrations were rounded off last night with a delicious dinner cooked by Barb and a chocolate cake that Michelle insisted on ramming 27 candles into. Even with the lights turned off we could see by the flicker of the flames (I am only allowed to tease because I am already 27). The photos of Kelly blowing out her candles are fabulous since she is giggling like a little girl. The present bounty included Topshop vouchers, The Mighty Boosh season 1 & 2, Scouting For Girls tickets and an ipod dock/radio/alarm clock.

I would like to apologise for the fact that this blog is blurry and badly written. I had a migraine yesterday and today I have migraine hangover. Those who suffer from migraines will know the joys of migraine hangover. Even though the stomach churning, eye-popping agony of the actual headache is gone, your head still feels like it is under some kind of weird pressure and there are the ongoing visual and auditory disturbances. Conducting a conversation with me today is like talking to a slightly eccentric carrot.

Today’s band to love is Sugarcult. This Californian foursome, named after the lesbians that lived near vocalist/guitarist, Tim Pagnotta has been rocking for ten years. Starting out with more pop punk, they’ve gained focus and complexity as their sound has matured putting them firmly in the alt rock camp. Sugarcult are fabulously catchy and from their early bounciness to increased seriousness they’ve never lost their talent for writing a good hook and a sing-along power chorus… so much so that a number of their songs were used in 2002’s Van Wilder movie. With their endless tour schedule they show no signs of stopping and hopefully we can expect a new album some time in the near future.

Must-have album: Start Static

My favourite song: Bouncing Off The Walls

Gigs attended: Opening for blink-182, Wembley Arena, 2004

Hot band members: They’re all kinda cute

For fans of: Simple Plan, Lostprophets (new school), Angels And Airwaves

http://www.myspace.com/sugarcult

Journey to the inside of the viper

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 08:00:50 GMT

Our last day in Brighton was a bit of a bust. We started out by investigating the Laines, which I like this cool markety area and then went on the Royal Pavilion. The Royal Pavilion is pretty awesome. It was built by George IV in the 18th Century as a pleasure palace. He was a bit of a wild one notorious for boozing, womanising and running up gambling debts and the Pavilion was where he entertained his friends.

The décor is astounding. It’s done in a style called Chinoiserie, which is basically Chinese style. What makes it kind of ironic is the fact that neither George nor any of his architects or decorators had ever been to China. It was just their take on what that style would look like. It’s all ridiculously opulent but incredibly beautiful. My favourite was the music room where the ceiling is make of thousands of gilded cockle shells and makes you feel like you’re inside a giant snake. If you ever go to Brighton, it is definitely worth checking out.

Unfortunately after that it rained like the Armageddon was upon us. My dad, in all his wisdom, had declined to borrow an umbrella from the B&B and left his rain jacket behind. We made a miserable trip around looking for somewhere showing the rugby but there was nowhere to be found, so we had to admit defeat and hole up inside to prevent drowning. This morning as we pack to go, the sun is out… sigh…

Today’s band to love is Straylight Run. Now believe it or not, this is ANOTHER band born out of Taking Back Sunday’s soap opera history. How do you like this… former members John Nolan and Shaun Cooper left TBS because of personal reasons and recorded some songs with drummer, Mark O’Connell who is still actually in TBS (imagine that!). They then recruited Will Noon as a permanent drummer after his band Breaking Pangaea split up. The twist? Breaking Pangaea’s vocalist, Fred Mascherino went on to join and then leave TBS! Anyway, back to Straylight Run... they then recruited John’s sister Michelle DaRosa for to complete the line-up. They’re hard to genre-fy but I’d say they were indie rock that spans everything from Shiny Toy Guns style electro to Format-esque folk. Of course once you’ve been in TBS the soap opera taint never leaves. After an EP and two albums, they record label chucked them and Michelle did a runner to pursue a solo career. All is not lost though, they have an album coming out in next month and we wait with great anticipation.

Must-have album: Straylight Run
My favourite song: Existentialism On Prom Night
For fans of: The Format, Something Corporate, Shiny Toy Guns

http://www.myspace.com/straylightrun

I found Nemo

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 07:14:01 GMT

Brighton is a spectacularly random place. The people are odd, the shops sell all manner of things and the boys shout at you out of their vans. This morning we went on one of those city sightseeing buses and discovered that St Ann’s Well Garden (which was apparently formed by the tears of a Saxon woman) once housed a monkey house and a hermit living in a cave. From what I’ve seen of the city, there is nothing strange about that at all. I definitely want to come back down here with a bunch of mates some time.

In the afternoon I made my dad go to the Sea Life Centre. I ignored all his grumbles about the admission price and stuck out my bottom lip until he acquiesced. There are some parts of being a child that I’m still willing to take advantage of. I am a total sucker for aquariums. The minute we were through the door I regressed to being about 10 and shrieked, “nemo!” like all the kids when we passed the clown fish tank. I even stood there pulling Jack Sparrow parrot faces at the Nautiluses. They had these weird-tongue like things and one of them kept swimming at me. They are the weirdest things… like giant rolled up prawns.

They have this Amazon section that has a mirror maze. I got so disorientated, I kept wondering who the woman was who was coming straight at me and then realising it was me. It was very cool in there with giant trees and waterfalls and piranhas and poison dart frogs.

The best part though was the giant sea life tank that had sharks and sea turtles in it. We got to see the turtles being fed before walking through a tunnel in the middle of the tank where the sharks swim over your head. I am not sure if my dad had fun but I had the time of my life!

We had dinner at this gorgeous little tapas restaurant that had the best cake ever. The cake was not the most entertaining part of the evening though. There was a couple sitting behind us who were very clearly on a first date. I think it started quite well but from the look on the girl’s face by the end of it she wanted to run screaming down the road. I would not have blamed her since her date discussed the following topics:
•    How much money his family had and how regularly they got new cars when he was a child
•    His workout routine and how much time he spends in the gym
•    His collection of Rocky DVDs
•    His ex-girlfriends

Today’s band to love is Gatsby’s American Dream. Named after the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, The Great Gatsby (which incidentally I had to read at school and didn’t particularly like), this Seattle sextet is hard to pigeonhole. They’re a bit punk, a bit pop, a bit emo and a bit post-hardcore. Their music is guitary with texture and complexity with the addition of keys. The songs are quite dark and their most recent album is basically hate mail directed at the music industry at “trend” bands. It’s a pity that no one seems to know what they’re up to since they appear to be on permanent hiatus and the band members all have other projects on the go. I will comfort myself with their back catalogue.

Must-have album: Volcano
My favourite song: Your Only Escape, plus they did an AWESOME cover of The Cure’s Just Like Heaven
Hot band members: Vocalist, Nic Newsham and bassist, Kirk Huffman
For fans of: Envy On The Coast, Forgive Durden, Tonight Is Goodbye

http://www.myspace.com/gatsbysamericandream

Blame it on the fairies

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 07:21:41 GMT

My dad and I are currently in Brighton staying in a B & B near Hove. It is actually a miracle we got here since my dad had a near-death experience before we even left. That’s right… I nearly killed him. He was washing his socks in my sink since apparently twice a week is not often enough for laundry and when I came upstairs the basin was full and my toothbrush was floating in the water.

What made it even more distressing was when I asked him what the hell was going on he said it wasn’t him. That the plug must have fallen directly into the hole. I am still trying to figure out who turned the taps on? Must have been the fairies that are now clearly residing at the bottom of our garden.

We had dinner at Love’s Fish Restaurant, which is one of the eateries that was rescued during Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares. It was lovely so thank-you to Betty for the recommendation. There were quite a few interesting diners there. I particularly take my hat off to the guy who was clearly over 50 and still dressed like a gay emo teenager.

We rounded off the evening with a visit to Brighton Pier, which must be THE tackiest place on earth. It’s so gaudy that it’s almost charming… however if you are on acid it is probably wise to stay away if you want to avoid spending the rest of your life stuck in a bag trip that involves giant fluorescent, plush lizards.

Today’s band to love is Streetlight Manifesto. Born out of the New Jersey third wave of ska scene these guys have a history of line-up changes and inter-band dramas that rival Taking Back Sunday. Fronted by the infamous Tomas Kalnoky, they have a saxophone and trombone fuelled ska sound that puts them in the same league as Reel Big Fish. There is definitely something openly darker about Streetlight than the endless psychotically upbeat satire of RBF, which come down to their wide range of rock influences. If nothing else Streetlight have personality and their electric onstage performances match their blistering albums.

Must-have album: Keasbey Nights
My favourite song: Dear Sergio
Gigs attended: Opening for Reel Big Fish, Astoria, 2008
Hot band members: Tomas
For fans of: Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake, The Specials

http://www.myspace.com/streetlightmanifesto

The inevitable is unavoidable

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:53:23 GMT

The honeymoon is over! Anyone who has been reading this blog for a while will know that I am notorious for locking myself out of my house. I locked myself out of 48 on the night of the new years eve of doom. I had to get the neighbours to climb in through the window at the Taj Mahal (and contrary to Dawn’s version of that story I was not naked or in my PJs when that happened). When I locked myself out of Clinique Towers I had to get a cab to Dawn’s school to get her keys at a cost of about £50, much to the amusement of her class.

It’s been 18 months since we moved into The Playboy Mansion (which was of course not always The Playboy Mansion cos we used to have boys) and I had not managed to lock myself out… until today. Today the dad and I had decided to head into Wimbledon to buy a gift for his girlfriend. We had just gotten out of the house when he realised he had left his Oyster Card behind. This was the moment I realised I had left my keys behind. Sigh… I suppose it was inevitable.

Our handyman neighbour attempted to help us climb in the window but fortunately/unfortunately Michie had the security locks on on in her room. Luckily it was already later afternoon so once we had been to Wimbledon and back we only had a short wait in the pub for Barb to come home.

Exciting purchase of the day: Mighty Boosh Season 3 DVD… *glees*

Today’s band to love is The Brute Chorus. This London foursome is so unique, I don’t really know how to describe them. They’re an indie-alt-garage-southern-rock whirl of noise tempered with all kinds of mental percussion (including a kazoo) and limitless enthusiasm from the band members. They have a kind of vintage sound to them and their style has a real “story” aspect to it and their lyrics create a clear visual image of what they are trying to convey. Their live show is enthralling mostly due to vocalist/guitarist, James’ Steel’s lunatic dancing and posturing. I am totally in love with them and I predict great things.

Must-have album: None released yet but get the Chateau and Grow Fins singles
My favourite song: Grow Fins
Hot band members: James should not be sexy but onstage he so is
Gigs attended: Opening for The King Blues, Dingwalls, 2008
For fans of: The Cold War Kids, The Raconteurs, Kings Of Leon

http://www.myspace.com/thebrutechorus

Slimed by the small hand of the Clyde

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:40:23 GMT

My dad was keen to go to Harrods yesterday so we headed off to Poshville AKA Knightsbridge. I am not the world’s biggest fan of Harrods. I always feel like someone is going to come and ask me to leave. My dad seemed to be enjoying it though and he even bought a fridge magnet.

After that we needed serious coffee. My dad has decided the only place to have coffee is at Pret. This is my fault though since he asked me where I like to get my coffee and I said Pret. So we ended up walking all the way from Knightsbridge to Charing Cross to find a one. There was a silver lining though since they were handing out free Gu brownies on the way… YUM!

The final stop on our journey was Camden. I thought it was only fair to show my dad the place where I feel most at home on earth. We went on a wander around the markets, which is always a painful experience for me. I want to buy EVERYTHING! I particularly wanted a shirt with the moon from The Mighty Boosh on it. In the end I did buy one absolutely gorgeous little thing… but it was not for me… it is a gift for someone who does not know they are getting a gift.

After the markets we met Josh at Belgo. There was a couple in there with a toddler, named Clyde (who names their poor kid, Clyde? It sounds like a horse). Clyde inexplicably took a shine to me. He had some colouring pencils that he thought I should have so we ended up having a complicated game that involved him passing the pencils between me and his dad… when he wasn’t chucking them on the floor. Eventually their food arrived and I turned back to my table and went back to adult conversation. I think Clyde took this as a bit of a slight and once he was almost finished eating his mashed potatoes by hand, he reached out and grabbed me by the shoulder of my white jumper. Sigh… yup… I was slimed by the small hand of the Clyde.

Josh was being very brave and decided to try the chocolate beer. This time bravery was not rewarded. It was quite potentially the nastiest thing I have ever tasted. You know the beer is bad when even Josh can’t finish it.

Because we were re-enacting a typical Camden night we had to get £2 Chinese and go to The World’s End. My dad was in his element. He completely felt like one of the kids and since we were all a little tipsy at this point, everyone was filled with merriment. Big props to whoever does the music at The World’s End because they played the whole of The King Blues album from start to finish with help on the choruses from me and Josh. “Mister muuuuuuuuusic man…” he he!

Today’s band to love is Dashboard Confessional. Dashboard write very serious, emotional, melodic acoustic indie rock songs. It’s hard to box them because they could also belong in the emo/alt genre. Whatever they are their sound is fuelled by Chris Carrabba’s powerful soaring vocals and his absolute connection to what he is singing makes their songs so touching and relatable. Dashboard are known for really intense and participatory live shows. I have not had the fortune to see them live yet but I have bought tickets for Jen’s visit in December so the two of us will get to immerse ourselves in Chris’ magic very soon.

Must-have album: Dusk And Summer
My favourite song: Don’t Wait
Hot band members: Chris is lovely
For fans of: Jack’s Mannequin, Anberlin, Cartel

http://www.myspace.com/dashboardconfessional

Breaking Dawn, breaking hearts?

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:50:08 GMT

I had to go in to work yesterday so I left my dad to find his own way into town while I finished off my monthly stats. Despite being slightly astray of the meeting point we agreed on, he did very well and had actually walked some kind of crazy sight-seeing route from Waterloo. I had already had plans to go to the Hare Krishna temple for some tasty veggie food with Josh so my dad just came along.

The lunch was a bit of a comedy of errors. There was a lady at the table next to us with her baby in a high chair. It was actually quite a cute baby but the high chair completely took up the space between her table and ours and I had to keep climbing over the baby to get in and out. Then my dad managed to put his tray down at an odd angle on the table, sending his entire lunch crashing to the ground. I suddenly knew what it felt like to have a toddler. Luckily the Hare Krishnas seemed to think this was bad karma and quickly brought a new plate of food. Lucky dad!

The big excitement for yesterday for me was the release of Breaking Dawn. Now I realise that I am the only person I know other than Jen who is excited about this but it’s the final book in the Twilight series. For those who’ve been reading them, this is equivalent to Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows. The first three books had me in complete emotional turmoil and I’m nervous for my sanity even reading the fourth and final one. Stephenie Meyer is just too good. I feel almost unworthy to even read what she has written. I am one part in and apparently I am in for a huge twist. Jen, the little maniac, is miles ahead of me and keeps sending me garbled messages that are just enough to make me wish I had more time to read but not enough to give away any of the plot.

Today’s band to love is Boxcar Racer. A side project of Travis Barker and Tom DeLonge during the blink-182 era this emo-punk/post-hardcore band only put out one self-titled album before going on permanent hiatus. It was a pretty damned good album though. They’re a bit of a mixed bag… one minute they’re having a big emo wail about their feelings, then it sounds a bit grungy, then it’s full on punk and then it has kind of a dreamy quality. Tom and Travis are both so distinctive that no matter what they put out together it would always sound like them and in fact the subsequent and final blink album is so Box Car Racer influenced that it’s kind of tough to distinguish. Now I might sound a bit negative but the thing is these guys are so talented that even if every thread of what they put out will always be entwined, it is always so good. With Mark Hoppus and Travis now together in (+44) the only outing we haven’t seen yet is Mark/Tom but somehow I don’t think that is EVER going to happen.

Must-have album: Box Car Racer
My favourite song: Cat Like Thief (which was guest vocaled by Tim Armstrong of Rancid and Jordan Pundik of New Found Glory)
Hot band members: Ah we all know I love Travis
For fans of: blink-182, (+44), Sugarcult

http://www.myspace.com/boxcarracermyspace

Things that go bump in the night

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:33:26 GMT

There is no such thing as a quiet night at the Playboy Mansion. After I had eventually gotten my dad to go and sleep in his own bed, I figured the craziness was over. I was wrong. Somehow Michelle forgot my dad was there and he was wandering about, apparently trying to figure out how to turn on the light in the downstairs loo, and happened upon her cooking an early morning snack, half in her underwear. Fortunately he didn’t see much and Mich has a great sense of humour. Both have come out relatively unscathed.

We decided to head down to Kingston to visit Justin and Alex and show my dad the lovely pub in Canbury Gardens. Ended up being a nightmare getting there since there were engineering works on the train line and the buses were running on some kind of mental delay. It was all worth it though since Barb, Hilt, the father and I had a lovely lunch with Just, Alex and Just’s sister Caroline. The weather was grim but it did nothing to dampen my dad’s spirits and he merrily regaled everyone with anecdotes and exceedingly rude jokes. Luckily my friends are used to putting up with me they’ve had practice.

When we got home Candice and Mich had already decided we were watching The Notebook. I was told it was epically romantic and tragic. I’m not going to lie, I was instantly concerned that it was going to be dreadful. In fairness it wasn’t dreadful but it was incredibly predictable and not tragic at all. I’m not going to give away the story for anyone who might want to see it and hasn’t, but seriously… the ending was what happens when you get old… duh! I suppose I am not conventionally romantic. There are some love stories I really like… Baz Luhrman’s Romeo and Juliet, The Crow, Moulin Rouge, Stardust, 10 Things I Hate About You… hmmm… in most of those either someone dies or is already dead or the characters aren’t entirely human. I may need help.

Today’s band to love is Rancid. Born from the demise of Operation Ivy, these ska-punk legends have been around for 17 years. With vocalist Tim Armstrong and guitarist, Lars Fredriksen at the helm, their sound is unmistakable. Noisy, messy, packed with frenetic guitars and drums and angry lyrics it is everything that punk is supposed to be. Music for jumping around and kicking things to. Rancid is the third part of the trio credited with bringing punk back into the mainstream in the early 90’s (the other two are Green Day and The Offspring) and thank god they did. After a hiatus from 2004 – 2005, Rancid are back with Branden Steineckert (former member of The Used) on drums and due to put out an album later this year. I can’t wait.

Must-have album: …And Out Come The Wolves
My favourite song: Ruby Soho
Hot band members: Branden
For fans of: Green Day, The Offspring, The Clash

http://www.myspace.com/rancid

My dad, the boy magnet...

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 07:41:09 GMT

My dad’s introduction to The Puzzle was surprisingly successful. After watching the rugby, Michelle, who is never quite content just to sit around, decided we should play supersize Jenga. So we went outside and racked it up. It didn’t take long before the guys at the table next to us started yelling advice and making smart comments. Michelle, my dad and I immediately took this as a challenge and insisted that they join the next game.

They turned out to be pretty cool guys, despite the fact that one of them was over flowing with arrogance and insisting on wearing my sunglasses. By the time we decided it was time to head home the lawyer, the engineer and the tiler were angling for an invite back to The Playboy Mansion but we weren’t having any of it and they had to be content with getting our numbers. I’ll admit that I kind of fancied the tiler who is a Portuguese, stoner from Cape Town. Yup… my taste knows no bounds. He promised to call me so we’ll see. Who would have thought my dad would be a man-magnet?

When we got home I cooked dinner and my dad, Cands and I attempted to watch Disturbia. The dad was a bit sleepy though so he went up to have a nap on my bed. When we finished the film I went to wake him and send him down to his bed but I ended up in a total role reversal where he wouldn’t wake up and go to his own bed. Isn’t that supposed to be what the kid does? I did eventually manage to shift him but not without a few giggles on my behalf.

Today’s artist to love is Tracy Chapman. I know a female solo artist playing acoustic blues-folk music is a bit of a departure for me but I love her. While Tracy is not massively prolific her hit songs are absolutely iconic. Who doesn’t know Fast Car, Talkin’ Bout A Revolution or Baby Can I Hold You. Her gravelly voice is absolutely unique and her lyrics so heartfelt and so relatable that they stay with you. With guitar and harmonica as her main instruments her music is stripped down but beautiful in it’s simple elegance, relying on words and lyrics rather than fanfare. If you’re looking for something to make you feel peaceful you can’t go wrong with a little bit of Tracy.

Must-have album: Tracy Chapman
My favourite song: The Promise
For fans of: Alanis Morisette, Sheryl Crow, Counting Crows

http://www.myspace.com/tracychapmanfolk

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:23:51 GMT

The eagle (or in his own word’s the sparrow since he is quite a diminutive fellow) has landed. My dad arrived this morning from Johannesburg for a two-week holiday in Londres. Since the flight came in verrrrry early I had to get up at 6am. I am not good at 6am. I am not even human. I kept falling asleep on the train. Eventually I was roused by the ticket checker but I don’t know who was more out of it, me for giving him the wrong ticket or him for not noticing.

Of course, despite me getting up at a crack of dawn, I was still late and the dad had been waiting a little bit when I eventually turned up. He didn’t seem bothered though. Luckily my dad is very easily entertained and he was happily people watching. We have already introduced him to the joys of 377 breakfasts and Michelle has now convinced him he wants to go to the Puzzle. I fear for the Puzzle.

I do have to mention that my dad has already documented his arrival in his journal… and here I am doing the techno version of just that. So now you know where I got it from!

Today’s artist to love is PlayRadioPlay! PRP AKA Daniel Hunter is only 18 but he has a lot to say. Making all his own electropop music by self-confessed “geek methods” out of what he claims to be boredom, Dan’s lyrics cover some pretty serious subjects. Despite the fact that his topics include his father’s death and his own drug addiction and subsequent stint in rehab, the songs are upbeat and fun and their floaty, multi-layered sound blended with Dan’s sweet vocals is awesome chill-out music. He appears to be deeply introverted and has a stutter but somehow with a keyboard he is transformed into this “stop and listen to me” quality. What I am trying to say is that he is different in a way that makes him worth noticing. So notice. (Oh and in the picture below he has mastered my Godzilla pose which means extra love)

Must-have album: Texas
My favourite song: I’m A Pirate, You’re A Princess (is that not the best song-title EVER?). He also does an awesome cover of The Killers’ Mr Brightside
For fans of: Shiny Toy Guns, Wendell Snakebites, Kill Hannah

http://www.myspace.com/playradioplay

If you don't have anything nice to say... say it anyway

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 06:58:37 GMT

Some time ago I wrote a blog about wanting the right to hand out little notes to people giving them tips on improving their lives, for example: The top of the escalator at rush hour is not a good place for a conversation. That blog (which you can read here) was quite popular. After much people watching during the summer, I have decided that it’s time for the Summer 2008 edition:

• Just because you CAN wedge yourself into an outfit does not mean you are obliged to. If last summer’s frock is a bit too tight then there is a huge selection of new ones at Primark… bargain at a fiver a pop.
• Sunscreen is your friend. No one looks good bright pink.
• If you are going to wear open-toed shoes please groom your feet. Ladies, this may mean painting your toenails. Gentlemen, this may mean actually cutting your toenails. If your toes look like fat little hairy caterpillars, maybe flip flops are not for you.
• If you travel on public transport, you are obliged to use some kind of anti-perspirant. If I am going to be wedged under your arm and I smell three day old mine worker, I am going to whip out my Shield Aloe Vera and give you a shot of it… I’m not kidding here.
• This brings me onto our female friends from the continent. If you shave under your arms, there is nowhere for the odour molecules to get trapped. Also most summer frocks look better if you don’t have gorilla pits.
• We are not all on holiday. Some of us are on our way to work. If you are a summer tourist and you do not know where you are going, it is not my problem. Get out of my damned way or I will not be held responsible for my actions.

Today’s band to love is Monty Are I. Not be confused with the cartoon character, I Are Baboon, Monty are a five-piece skacore band from Rhode Island. What is skacore, you ask? Well take one times post-hard core band, stir in punk guitars and sprinkle with trombone… For me it’s the best of both worlds. I love the hyperness of ska and I love the intensity of post-hardcore. The mix of the genres gives Monty a bit of a prog flair and with Steve Aiello’s powerful voice and mad guitar solos, there is sometimes a cartoon theme tune sound to it. Whatever they’re doing, every song sounds different and they rock hard.

Must-have album: Wall Of People
My favourite song: Just In Time
For fans of: Coheed & Cambria, Chiodos, Less Than Jake

http://www.myspace.com/montyarei

An Itch to scratch

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:30:29 GMT

Last night I met Josh, Robert, Dom (girl Dom not Cambridge Dom) and the famous Markus Darkis, who is visiting from Greece, in Camden. Of course, we decided to convene at Belgo for mango beer as per the great tradition. We were somewhat to distressed to find that what we thought was mango beer, what had been sold to us as mango beer for about a year, was ACTUALLY mixed fruit beer and had been formally changed on the menu and everything. It turns out they had gotten in real mango beer. When we got over our feelings of betrayal, we decided to try the real mango beer. The real mango beer was not as good as the beer formerly known as mango… hmmm…

After that we headed off to Dingwalls where The King Blues were playing. It’s a venue I’ve never been to before. Definitely very cool. The audience was so eclectic… from indies, to Goths to seriously mohawked punks, but then so was the line-up.

I think the first act was called Luke Leighford. Although now I’m not sure because I can’t find anything on him. Not a MySpace, not on itunes, nada. I can’t find any gig listings with support either so I can’t check if I misheard. We came in halfway through his set and, well, it’s just him and his piano and while he has a lovely voice… it was a bit flat. He did get going big time for his last song, which I am convinced I have heard somewhere. I have no idea where though and it is driving me nuts.

When I saw the next band, The Brute Chorus, arriving I though we were in for some kind of rockabilly mayhem since the singer had a serious moustache and a quaff, the bassist had Buddy Holly Hair and the keyboard player/guitarist looked like a young Howard Moon… tucked in check shirts, winkle pickers, braces… What we got was some kind of psychotic garage indie punk onslaught. They were completely insane, the singer in particular. His dancing was out of control and he almost knocked out the bassist during the second song. They were WONDERFUL. Probably one of the best responses I have ever seen to an unknown opening act. I will be investigating any events where they are playing with great enthusiasm.

From the moment The King Blues came onstage and spray-painted their name on a sheet (this is their normal intro), the skanking began… and it did not stop. There was crowd surfing, audience percussion participation (they handed out whistles for everyone to blow) and human pyramids from both the audience and the band. The whole thing was just a protest punk ska reggae frenzy and I loved every second of it. For the encore Itch came out on his own and read a poem that he’d written about a world where there was no punk rock. It was absolutely brilliant. I am in awe. We left sweaty, exhausted and with Josh clutching the spray painted sheet. Can’t wait to catch them at Reading.

The soundtrack of my summer

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:58:53 GMT

With summer coming to what I am sure will be a dreary close, I have decided it’s time for me to give you my summer album picks for 2008. There have been some awesome album releases from some of our favourite bands (I use the word “our” loosely) so make sure you check them out:

Danger: Radio – Used And Abused: This new outing is even jazzier and dirtier than previous offerings. If you can listen to this album without wanting to dance, you have no soul. With Andrew Torres’ effortlessly soulful vocals it’s part piano rock, part electro-pop and just a sprinkle of R ‘n B. Abbi’s song pick: Slow Dance With A Stranger

Cute Is What We Aim For – Rotation: With their highly anticipated sophomore release, Cute have lost some of their rawness but gained a lot of perspective. Shaant has gotten off his high horse and decided that girls with questionable morals are not to blame for all the world’s ills and maybe it’s time to take responsibility for himself (Practise Makes Perfect). He’s also decided that sex is not all bad (“Navigate Me”… which is dirty enough to give The All American Rejects “Dance Inside” a run for its money). The addition of Dave Melillo on guitar and backing vocals and some instrument experimentation has added texture and less reliance on Shaant’s sticky moaned vocals. It’s just more of a good thing… Abbi’s song pick: Oddly I adore the random bonus track at the end

Go:Audio – Made Up Stories: I always find Go:Audio a bit hard to describe. It’s basically electro-pop and it’s so simple. But there is beauty in simplicity and all of their songs are catchier than nits at a summer camp. It takes about one listen to learn every word of every song and then you just want to jump up and down sing them. It’s foot-stomping, power-chorus driven riot of a debut that perfectly captures the enthusiasm of their super-energetic live shows. Abbi’s song pick: Made Up Stories

Kids In Glass Houses – Smart Casual: This has got to be the debut album of the year. Every single song on this album is a joyful rock frenzy. With their characteristic tongue-in-cheek lyrics and cheeky digs at themselves and everyone else, they’re smarter than your average band. They manage to be catchy and create a clear sound for themselves without being samey. They’ve taken their time producing the album and it really shows. I fall in love with a new song on it with every listen. Abbi’s song pick: Oh I am in love with all of them but if I have to choose, I’ll go with Easy Tiger.

Wendell Snakebites – Purple Lines On Blue: For an album made in a basement by one guy playing all his own instruments this is a surprisingly slick production. Wendell’s debut takes us on a psychedelic stroll through his head, which seems to be filled with a series of brightly coloured random 80’s tinged images… much like my head. His brand of acoustic/electro-pop is charmingly summery and packed with insightful coming-of-age lyrics. Some songs are stronger than others and Wendell is clearly still experimenting with his sound but this is a very promising start for a very talented musician. Abbi’s song pick: Snakebites

So what are we looking forward to in the Autumn…

- Kings Of Leon release their fourth album Only By The Night on 22 September
- The Academy Is release their third album Fast Times At Barrington High on 19 August
- Gym Class Heroes release their third album The Quilt on 2 September
- Plain White T’s release their fourth album Big Wide World on 22 September

I will keep you posted on what else is on the horizon so check back soon.