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Run... I tell you...Don't walk and snatch up the Arcade Fire's debut album called Funeral released in the UK tomorrow on Rough Trade.....Released last year in North America, the album was on every who's who of music critics top five albums of 2004 and is projected to take to the UK like wild fire. All I know is this album is my number one most played artist and track on my audioscrabble list and I have had the disk only since Christmas. I love it.....Even more exciting is that they will be town this month to play two small venues in London and then will return in May to tour the whole UK. This is what has been announced so far:4th May Manchester MDH5th May Glasgow Debating Chamber6th May Birmingham Academy 8th May Bristol Academy9th May London Astoria They put on a great show I have heard...This October they went to CMJ festival in New York and played a small gig which my sources said was one of the best shows in ages. They were the darlings of CMJ... A few months later, the buzz around them was so great that the record company moved their original venue at the Bowery (Astoria sized) to two shows at Brixton sized venues. Both shows sold out no problem......No Brakes now! The other upcoming band of the moment in the UK.... The Bravery will play an instore gig at HMV on Oxford Street at 6pm tomorrow, 28 February 2005. Most of their shows are already sold out the next couple months so this might be your only chance to see them for awhile!
Today, Babyshambles put on a vibrant and kinectic show at the famed 100 Club on Oxford Street (gawd, the last time I was there was in the early 90's to see a big band play swing.) Anyways, Babyshambles seemed to be having a grand ole time playing at this small, smoky basement venue. There was a much nicer vibe than the Brixton show, even though there seemed to be just as many celebs: Jonny from Razorlight, the guy from Primal Scream and a few faces I recognize from somewhere but I am not a native to the land so the names escape me...
Babyshambles shows are always better when they are closer in proximity to the fans...
Pete also seem to be in a better mindset. He joked around with Patrick and even made an attempt to leap into the crowd but the hired muscle pulled him quickly back...He even quietly wished me happy birthday in between sets* as write this I begin to giggle like a school girl.....
Enough gabbing... I actually need to rush off....I am off to catch the Metro Riots at the Barfly and then the secret guest (?British Sea Power?)at the Frog. Sometimes, London is too much fun...
Here are some photos of the show:
I love the next photo of Pete. It really captures how I think he must feel. It is very honest.
It is cool also in black and white...
Iz fo all beothches who wanna find shiztnit! Just gizoogle it:GizoogleDo it Snoop doggy style.....Even hotter iz thiz mizup of Snoop Dogg ft. Pharrell - Drop It Like It's Hot + Huey Lewis and the News - Power of Love=Drop It Like It's Huey
So, it was another two shambolic nights with Pete and the gang of gin....The Garage on Monday was a quiet, intimate little affair but with a element of speed dating involved....
The evening started out with the following support acts General Khaki, The Cazals and Alan Wass. All played quite good but rushed sets in order to ensure that Pete finished in time to meet his curfew of 10 pm.
Pete showed up tonight to the venue with a slightly different entourage than usual. Instead of the hangeron harpies, assorted drug dealers and groupies, it was his mom, manager and court appointed security guards. Pete looked good but as good as some one in the throes of getting over an addiction X 2... He cheeks seemed flushed and his eyes were unglazed... (It has been awhile since I have seen him this alive and aware looking.)
At one point in the show, he flashed us his implants (makes you think at first when I said that that he had a little silicone action done.. man breastages like in Fight Club!) His implants are part his rehab treatment and will help him get over his addiction to heroin.
Overall it was pretty good show, not their most energetic, but I think it is a little hard for them focus when all this other stuff is going on and with the paparazzi and the critics watching every move.
Moreover Pete has to contend with so much going on physically and emotionally, I think he must be so overwhelmed, confused and exhausted by the last few weeks, oh hell the last year....
One interesting thing I noticed was when Pete made a gesture that he was going to stage dive into the crowd and you should have seen how fast the hired muscle moved to intervene. I guess one of the conditions of his bail is that he is not allowed to leave the stage who he does a show. I think Pete was pretty frustrated by this because he could not interact with the crowd on his terms. His relationship with the crowd and his fans is a real important component to his success with both the Libertines and Babyshambles. He seems to feed off their energy and adoration...
I tried to get a some good photos of Pete but he seem to pogo in and out of my photos and then my battery went dead (of course!) But I do have a nice shot of Alan Wass who you may have also read in tabloids as Pete's partner in crime. He played a nice bluesy set between the always enjoyable Cazals and Babyshambles:
Brixton, on the other hand, was more of a circus...
As soon as I arrived, I saw Mick Jones saunter by and I knew it was going to be one of the shows. Flash, dash and bells and whistle.....
Usually, it is the presence of Kate Moss at a show that heralds this response but considering the events of the last few weeks, I don't think she will be making an appearance anytime soon. Plus, she probably has heard the Bravery are playing in few days and needs to tart herself up for the newest "hot thing with guitar strings."
This was my first time at the Brixton Academy. I tend to avoid bigger venues unless they are festivals. But Brixton was not bad at all, it reminds me of Roseland in New York. Most of the people I talked to in the crowd had never seen Babyshambles or the Libertines, so, I guess all the hype introduced Babyshambles to a new fan base.
The line up consisted of the Paddingtons who have a Sex Pistol ethos about them, the Cazal who are really solid, interesting band, Alan Wass who has a real strong bluesy voice and Babyshambles...
Tonight, the show did not feel as rushed as the night before but people seemed pretty anxious for Babyshambles to play but considering their past track record no one ever feels truly assured that the gig will go on until Pete is actually on stage with mike in hand. Even sometimes that is not a guarantee.
Mick Jones came on stage and introduced Babyshambles while in the wings stood one of those Gallagher brothers (I was living deep in the jungle in an indigenous village in Central America as Peace Corp volunteer when they became huge and never really learned how to distinguish the two because by the time I reemerged into the Western world their time had passed.)
When Pete entered on stage looking more and more like the rock legend that he could become, the crowd surged forward screaming his name and reaching out for him. It always surprises me how much Pete can incite such devotion and raw emotional outburst from the crowd. I have seen girls cry by his mere presence and always the boys jump on stage in hopes for a hug or handshake. There is something about him that is very charismatic.
About a song into their set, the crowd became a little unruly and overexcited and a portion behind me (I was in the front) fell to the ground. Many of those trapped seem to be very young girls who could not pick themselves out of the pile while the crowds from behind were pushing forward thinking this open space was theirs for the taking. People were really getting trampled and no one seem to be helping them. Pete had to stop the set and tell people to move back so those who had fallen could get up. (What has happened to crowd/pit ethics where everyone is responsible to ensure that the person next to them stays safe* I say as I think about the good ole days of yesteryear when I used to slamdance, not mosh!)
Then a few songs later Pete seem to have a scuffle with Pat. All I saw out of the corner of my eye was Pete lunge at Pat and pop him in the face. Then, I had someone stagediving land on my head so I did see what happened after the initial spar. When the person finally was pulled of me, the stage had been emptied. I am not sure what went on but I have seen Pete and Pat wrestle with each other before on stage... They kinda act like brothers... I also think Pete is still very on edge and still little hostile about situation. I think he is having a hard time coming to terms with all that is happened and expressing his anger in a productive way.... Reality can be quite a bummer!
But who cares really, the beauty of a Babyshambles show is that you never know what is going to happen on stage. Never a dull moment...
I guess they had a time out backstage because they came back all happy and buddies again. They played a few more songs without incident. The highlights of the evening were a very passionate version of 'Fuck Forever' and the reemergence of 'Gang Of Gin', 'Black Boy Lane', and 'Albion' to the set list.
Overall, it was not their greatest show but it is nice to see Pete play without having to worry if this will be last show ever.
Just in case, you haven't heard Paris Hilton's t-mobile was hacked this weekend and all her numbers, notes and photos were put on the internet for the whole world to view.....My favorite is her photo album her photo album It is so random. Paris with a little baby, Paris kissing a girl topless and Paris with an owl....The question I keep asking myself when I look at her photos is would I keep naked pictures of myself in my t-mobile. I do own two t-mobile (one for when I am in the states and the other for when I am in the United Kingdom)but they are the cheapest of the cheapest.. No features other than to make calls and text so I guess I will never know.In the spirit of cranker yankers, here is collection of prank calls that were made to all her celeb buddies. They are actually pretty lame but when you think about it most prank phone calls tend to be unless you are pretty wasted. Then, they are hilarious....Will there ever be a week without Paris being in the press?
Interestingly, they say his next court date is April 18th so I guess he will have to live under the strict conditions of the court's 10:00 pm curfew for at least two more months.... Geez, and I thought be grounded for two weeks was unfathomable when I was teenager. Well, I am off to the Garage tonight to see his warm up show.... (I have a strong feeling the audience will consist of me, loyal fan and the paparazzi vultures waiting to see any traces of bad behavior).
