Thursday 28 April 2011

This Week's Playlist

Bananarama- Venus
PJ Harvey- Working For The Man
Melissa Auf Der Maur- Taste You
Daisy Chainsaw- I Feel Insane
Flyleaf- Breathe Today
The Donnas- You Make Me Hot
Echobelly- Great Things
Kim Wilde- Kids in America
Bjork- Earth Intruders
L7- Let's Lynch The Landlord
X Ray Spex- Oh Bondage Up Yours!
The Cardigans- Starter
Goldfrapp- Ooh La La
The Slits- New Town
Dream Aria- Labyrinth
ArtGruppe- Ugly Boy Ugly Girl
Sassy!!!- You Can Have Him
Thomas Tantrum- Shake It Shake It
Marnie Stern- Every Single Line Means Something
Dresden Dolls- Girl Anachronism
Patti Smith Group- Privilege (Set Me Free)
Candy Panic Attack- What's He Got That I Haven't?
Pat Benatar- Heartbreaker
Imelda May- Big Bad Handsome Man
Soho Dolls- Stripper
The Wendy Darlings- Enormous Pop
Republica- Drop Dead Gorgeous
Horrorpops- Walk Like A Zombie
The Runaways- Cherry Bomb
Guano Apes- Big in Japan (Space Jazz Dubmen Mix)

Sunday 24 April 2011

Bands you might not have heard of, but NEED to hear!

I'm just as passionate about new, upcoming bands as well known classic bands, it's the ones that you don't hear that tend to really have something to say. It's the bands that really need the exposure through shows like mine and others, so we can make REAL music the norm and not the diluted pop crap that the mainstream media seems to think we want. In my time as a radio presenter, music fan, gig goer and writer I've discovered lots of amazing bands I really think you NEED to hear.

Death of the Elephant


Trash Monroe



Le Monnier



Catherine Elms

no videos as yet!

Ten Tigers


Candy Panic Attack




is there any bands you think everybody should know about, let me know in the comments! :)

Thursday 21 April 2011

This Weeks Playlist

Hole- Heaven Tonight
An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump- The Past Between Us
Ladyhawke- From Dusk Till Dawn
Carol Bui- 'Geisha' Means Open Minded
Robots in Disguise- Can't Stop Getting Wasted
Call the Doctor- Little Bones
Bat For Lashes- Horse and I
Blood Red Shoes- ADHD
Tom Tom Club- Genius of Love
Ace of Base- The Sign
KT Tunstall- Boo Hoo (acoustic extravaganza version)
Kittie- Everything That Could Have Been
Alice in Videoland- We Are Rebels
Alanis Morissette- Eight Easy Steps
Be Your Own Pet- We Will Vacation, You Can Be My Parasol
Little Fish- Lord's Mistake (acoustic)
After School Sports- Almost Left My Boyfriend For His Casio
Babes in Toyland- Blood
586- We Got Bored
Cling- Groovyshoes
The Duel- Jump
Alchemy Divine- I Just Can't Stop
Sassy!!!- So Bad It's Good
A Brokeheart Pro- Pink Mischief
Propaganda- Duel
Siouxie- Heaven and Alchemy
Chicks on Speed- Plastic Surgery
The Breeders- Divine Hammer
Lily Allen- Oh My God

Sunday 17 April 2011

Buyers Guide: Kathleen Hanna

Kathleen Hanna
Kathleen Hanna, whether she likes it or not, is the poster girl of riot grrrl and feminist flavoured music. Her bands have influenced many of the current wave of female fronted/all female bands.

She has inspired women in many ways, not just through music but also through being creative- for example with zines, and also inspired and continues to inspire women to be activists for women's rights and more.

With many zines and feminist related flyers, you will find iconic images of Kathleen Hanna and her lyrics are used often on feminist blogs.

For any person first getting into female music, finding Kathleen Hanna's music tends to be life changing. For myself, it was hearing 'Rebel Girl' that first led me on the road to feminism and ultimately what got me to explore this kind of music more, scratching below the surface of what the mainstream music world had to offer.

So here's a guide to help you with the albums you should listen to involving the feminist icon.

Essential Classics

Bikini Kill- The C.D version of the first two records
Bikini Kill is where it all started and this compilation album has all the classic tracks on it, that make them such essential listening. It's shouty, angry, feminist lyrics may not be like anything you've heard before if you're new to the genre, but trust me, with a few listens you'll grow to love it.

Le Tigre- self titled
Kathleen Hanna's second band, now with a more tuneful, electro fused sound that you can dance to. This album contains some of the best tracks and was even listed as one of the songs in the 1001 albums you must hear before you die book.

Good- Worth Exploring

Julie Ruin
Julie Ruin was Kathleen Hanna's solo project which she has now reserected so hopefully we might hear more of this kind of music soon. It's also electro flavoured, but slightly more downbeat than Le Tigre.

Le Tigre- This Island
more fun electro with a feminist flavour!

Essential Playlist- the songs

Bikini Kill- Rebel Girl

Julie Ruin- Radical or Pro Parental

Le Tigre- TKO

Bikini Kill- Jigsaw Youth

Le Tigre- Deceptacon

Bikini Kill- Distinct Complicity

Le Tigre- I'm So Excited

Le Tigre- On The Verge

Bikini Kill- New Radio

Bikini Kill- Suck My Left One

Thursday 14 April 2011

This week's playlist

Bif Naked- Let Down
The Fervour- Crazy for the Feeling
The Gossip- Listen Up!
The Joy Formidable- Greyhounds in The Slips
Tiny Masters of Today- Hologram World
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas- Dancing in The Street
MEN- Off Our Backs
CSS- Let's Make Love and Listen To Death From Above
Metric- Gimme Sympathy
Cyndi Lauper- All Through The Night
Bikini Kill- Star Fish
Crystal Castles- Alice Practice
Feist- The Park
Alisha's Attic- The Golden Rule
The Brownies- Stuck on You
Yeah Yeah Yeahs- No No No
Koogaphone- White Trash
Heather Nova- Valley of Sound
Ladytron- Runaway
The Lovecats- Tainted Red
Exotica- Oceans
Sassy!!!- Wild Summer
Blondie- Atomic
Annie Lennox- Walking on Broken Glass
Paramore- Crush Crush Crush
X Ray Spex- Oh Bondage Up Yours!
New Young Pony Club- Get Dancey
Sixpence None The Richer- There She Goes

Sunday 10 April 2011

Heavy Rotation-what I've been listening to

24 Songs that I currently think are awesome:



01 Off Our Backs- MEN
I know I've been going on and on about this band, but honestly they are amazing!Not only do they have the awesome JD Samson (of Le Tigre fame) on vocals, but their songs are amazingly catchy and feminist. I defy you not to get this song stuck in your head!


02 Crazy For The Feeling- The Fervour
A band I discovered thanks to Wears The Trousers, this band has a really unique sound that I love.

03 You Can Have Him- Sassy!!!
a really fun rolicking pure rock n roll all female band that mixes heavy rock with 60's style all girl band vocals.

04 Drowning- Catherine Elms
unsigned but wonderful, I especially love the dramatic edge of this song, very powerful

05 Cups- Lulu and the Lampshades
cute and quirky, sweet fairytale like folk music, not my usual taste but I love this.

06 Carol Bui-Mira, You're Free With Me
Another discovery thanks to thegirlsare, Carol Bui mixes eastern dance with indie rock to an exciting, unique sound. This is a definite stand out track on her album 'Red Ship'

07 Isa and The Filthy Tongues- Big Star
dirty rock n roll indie at it's finest

08 The Naked and Famous- Punching in a Dream
indie that makes me want to dance..

09 The Tiny Masters of Today- Hologram World

10 Le Monnier- Save Yourself

11 Skunk Anansie- Weak
a classic old track but I still love it.

12 Klaxons- Gravity's Rainbow

13 Kasabian- Fire
the schizophrenicness off this song never gets old!

14 The Kabeedies-Lovers Ought To

15 Rilo Kiley- The Moneymaker

16 Call the Doctor- For Your Leisure

17 Suzanne Vega- Blood Makes Noise

18 The Joy Formidable- Greyhounds in the Slips

19 Plasticines- I could rob you

20 Lissy Trullie- Ready for the floor
awesome hot chip cover

21 Die Mannequin- Hand in Hand

22 Scanners- Low Life

23 Slant 6- Soda Rip Off

24- My Gold Mask- All Up in the Air

Thursday 7 April 2011

This week's playlist

Mother Mother- Body of Years (album version)
Working Class Heroes- When You Finally Stop Pretending
Thomas Tantrum- Mum's The Word
Howling Bells- Into the Chaos
PJ Harvey- I Think I'm A Mother
The Vincent Black Shadow- Control
Skunk Anansie- All in the Name of Pity
Isa and The Filthy Tongues- Big Star
Elastica- Hold Me Now
Daisy Chainsaw- Love Your Money
Meredith Brooks- Bitch
Guano Apes- Ain't Got Time
Flyleaf- Breathe Today
Horrorpops- Crawl Straight Home
Massive Attack- Tear drop
Roxette- It Must Have Been Love
Joan Jett and The Blackhearts- A.C.D.C
Jessica Allyn- Mother Goddamn
Dead Weather- Treat Me Like Your Mother
The Bird and The Bee- Again and Again
If Not For Dreaming- Joyous Rush
Sour Apple- Eileen Mac
Sassy!!- Honey Bee
You Say Party- Downtown Mayors Goodnight, Alley Kids rule!
Patti Smith Group- 25th Floor
Jennifer Justice and the Trilogy Sun- The Final Stand
Rasputina- Tourniquet

Sunday 3 April 2011

The Australian Pink Floyd @ Hammersmith Apollo, 20th March 2011

Rating: *****

I had higher than normal expectations for this gig, more so than any other tribute act I've seen. Because they were playing somewhere as large as the Hammersmith Apollo, prices were higher than the average tribute act ticket and I had heard nothing but positive things about them. In fact, I had read that they were probably the closest thing to the actual Pink Floyd. I've not been lucky enough in my lifetime to see the real thing, but my husband Miguel has, and for them to be described like that, is rating them very highly.

When we arrived at our seats, there were 3D glasses waiting for us, and a sign on stage saying that we would be needing them in the second part of the show. There was no support act, as like the real band, the show was set to be a long one.

They started off with the stunning 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' complete with images of the band on the screen on stage, and of course a large focus on original band member and creative genius Syd Barrett (RIP)

The Aussie Pink Floyd continued to amaze with their accurate portrayal of Pink Floyd's music, even as far as to having many of the original videos from the concerts used in their own tv screen.

The first part of the set was very much focused on the older songs of Pink Floyd, and some not so well known tracks like 'Sorrow' from the album Momentary Lapse of Reason I would say the first half of the show was more dedicated to hard core fans.

After a short interval, we came back and put on our 3D glasses. 3D images started to appear on the screen and we were treated to several Dark Side of The Moon tracks- 'Speak to Me', 'On the Run', 'Time', 'Breathe' and 'The Great Gig in the Sky' all back to back.

The second half was much more well known Pink Floyd tracks, as well as the songs from Dark Side, there was also songs from The Wall and of course 'Wish You Were Here' Every song was musically spot on. The 3D imagery was an interesting feature, although possibly something they need to work on a bit more, as sometimes I didn't really feel it looked that 3D, also at times there was 3D and laser lights going at the same time, which was a bit unpleasant on the eyes. I loved the inflatable teacher during 'Another Brick in The Wall'

There was an encore as well, there was a brief soundtrack of Australian related sound bytes including Skippy and Neighbours, before a giant inflatable pink kangaroo (the band's logo) appeared on stage, jumping up and down to final song 'Run Like Hell'

Overall, a fantastic gig and certainly lived up to the expectations I had about them. My only complaint would be the choice of songs in the first half, but the second half was a lot better.

The Australian Pink Floyd are currently still touring all over the world. Their next gig is tomorrow at the Salle Erasme in France.