Mancunian Journalism Roundup

hi fellas & dames,

Back again. It's been a furious few weeks of gigs, writing and whatnot, and so it continues. Just got my first commission to write for The Guardian this week, and been uncovering lots of musical discoveries in my job as News Editor over at God Is In The TV.  From the current crop, I'd recommend:

• School Of Seven Bells: Blissful female vocal retro 80s/90s stuff, reminds me of Madchester era music, glorious 80s electro touches, Cocteau Twins, and a whole bunch of other stuff. Their new album is streaming here. And they play Manchester on the 16th of this month, I believe. 
• The Young Veins: Ex Panic! At The Disco members have done their own record with Bryds, 60s girl group, French influences. Their new album is streaming here. 
• I was quite liking the sound of Dead Confederate http://www.myspace.com/deadconfederate
• Liking The Joy Formidable http://www.myspace.com/thejoyformidable rated by the Graun.

Anyway, the reason I came on here to post my music journalism. Here's a roundup of the most recent stuff I've done, as requested by my mate John, who makes a bloody good point, that I should put it in one place.

• Here's my review of Kele's new album, The Boxer http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/content/content_detail.php?id=4459&type=Albums
• A long deferred interview with Esben And The Witch http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/content/content_detail.php?id=4440&type=Interviews 
• We Are Scientists album 'Barbara'http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/content/content_detail.php?id=4420&type=Albums
• My Interview with house DJ, Sonny Wharton http://www.skiddle.com/news/all/Interview-Sonny-Wharton/6347/  
• Live review of The Gaslight Anthem's recent performance at Manchester Academy http://www.skiddle.com/news/all/Review-The-Gaslight-Anthem--Manchester-Academy-/6335/
• a review of hot new Laurel Canyon inspired female singer, Lissie at Night And Day http://www.skiddle.com/news/all/Review-Lissie--Night-and-Day-Manchester-/6279/
• Band of Horses expansive performance at The Ritz http://www.skiddle.com/news/all/Review-Band-of-Horses--Manchester-Ritz/6245/
• An interview with The Undertones  & former That Petrol Emotion http://www.skiddle.com/news/all/Interview-The-Undertones/6162/
• Live review of my favourite punk folk duo, Slow Club http://www.skiddle.com/news/all/Review-Slow-Club--Fac251-Manchester-/6096/
• My interview with The Gaslight Anthem, http://www.skiddle.com/news/all/Interview-The-Gaslight-Anthem/6085/
• My Interview With the Mystery Jets http://www.skiddle.com/news/all/Interview-Mystery-Jets/5947/
• Interview with Jacob, the guitarist from The Drums http://www.skiddle.com/news/all/Interview-The-Drums/5837/
• Scottish Festivals roundup http://www.skiddle.com/news/all/Festival-Guide-Scottish-Festivals/5835/
• Interview with Oxfords' nu folksters Stornoway http://www.skiddle.com/news/all/Interview-Stornoway/5816/
• Interview with Mr Scruff. http://www.skiddle.com/news/all/Interview-MR-Scruff-/5789/ 
• Gogol Bordello live at Manchester Acdemyhttp://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/content/content_detail.php?id=4349&type=Live
• Live review of Ash http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/content/content_detail.php?id=4330&type=Live
• Live review of Dot To Dot Festival for Clash Magazine http://www.clashmusic.com/live-review/dot-to-dot-festivalmanchester

Theres plenty more floating about, but that's all I can get hold of for now. That's about 3 months, and 2/3 of the work I've done, not counting daily news stories for GITTV, and a few movie and TV reviews. Busy indeed. Anyway,thanks for reading, and enjoy.

Tuesday night, In The City

Wow. So I survived it. 3 days of bands, talk, and interviewing. My brain is friend, and my body is broken. Just got back an hour ago from seeing May68 and The Drums at Night And Day.

May68 were a band in the making, still finding their way, defining their sound and identity. The lead singer had obviously styled herself on Karen O, and the songs were lacking a dynamic quality, a clear distinction between verses and choruses, to give them a sense of direction. They were good though, and got better as the performance went on, and they're definitely ones to watch on the local scene, following in the electo footsteps of Delphic and The Whip.

Florida via NYC'sThe Drums had been hyped to high heaven as the band to go and see. Their myspace and the little press they'd done suggested they are in the same lineage as early Factory bands, and they'd obviously done their homework in this respect, but they left me cold, leaving me with a feeling that they were incredibly cynical, and had put together their look and sound in order to be 'cool', and hip according to a music scene / press definition, but weren't actually that good. Members of the audience told me that they were brilliant on their current E.P.but I refuse to buy it. The whole thing stank of the emperor's new clothes to me, so I left to fight, and write another day.

It's now time to sleep before writing up my interview with Mark Ronson, and the performance of The Dead Weather at the Academy on Monday. Nite!