I’ve now sorted myself out with promoting gigs regularly (once or twice a month for the rest of the year) and am starting to book up bands to play them. I’m starting to compile a pretty sizable list of bands I want to put on but I’m always open to suggestions and was hoping people could recommend me some live acts that are genuinely gonna excite me
I’ve got a fairly eclectic music taste but what probably links the bands I like together are that
a) They appear to have fun in doing what they do.
b) There’s something unique about them - in the sense of being naturally different rather than quirky for quirkiness’ sake
c) They’re trying to sound like themselves rather than the sum of their influences
d) They’re more interesting in entertaining audiences rather than showing off how cool, sensitive or good at playing an instrument they are
e) Due to a general love of a good lyric I tend usually not to be too keen on instrumental stuff. Whilst this is almost certainly narrow-minded of me, I might as well be upfront about it.
f) On the whole I tend to put on music that you can dance/enjoy yourself to rather than slower contemplative stuff (simply ‘cos I personally prefer to listen to that kind of thing at home rather than when I’m out)
To give you an idea, acts I’ve put on so far include Tim Ten Yen, Friends of the Bride, David Cronenberg’s Wife, Horsebox, Jimmy from the Bobby McGees, Spinmaster Plantpot and Extradition Order. We (ie. Paul Hawkins & Thee Awkward Silences) also play at each night.
More well known acts that fit in what what I’m looking for include:
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Grinderman, the White Stripes,, Belle & Sebastian, Suede, Smiths, Hefner, Los Campesinos!, Misty’s Big Adventure, the Polyphonic Spree & the Divine Comedy.
Sorry if this sounds like I’m being lazy and asking other people to find bands for me! As I say I do have a considerable list of people I want to put on but at the same time I’d like to believe there are some great acts out there I don’t know about yet.
PS Feel free to jag if you want but I’d be really grateful if you’d think about whether you fit in with what I’m trying to put on first.
.
Mills And Boon
KateGoes
I heard some KateGoes a while back
I liked them as I recall.
Will check the rest out later!
.
They easily satisfy a), b), c), d), e) and f).
Mills And Boon http://www.myspace.com/deadmeatboutique
KateGoes http://www.myspace.com/kategoes
Photos that I took:
Mills And Boon:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1254/670979256_888a233b03_o.jpg
KateGoes:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/196/441263086_9b2bfa0fa1_o.jpg
Can't check Myspace for about half an hour
but these both look very promising.
i want to jag
but i don't think we would fit
my friends might do it tho
www.myspace.com/thesugars
(i think thats right)
don't look at the dis reviews of them tho - they don't like them much!
that is right
yes!
winner!
so... you're looking for some anti folk?
;)
.
c'mon
don't try and confuse the poor folks at time out..
They won't get confused.
They'll just carry on using the word regardless!
2 jags in 1 day
really sorry but the bands kinda fit:
www.myspace.com/thePRK
^^
Book these!
aww
Someone likes us, and you saw the messy gig of extreme tired wrongness, I like you!
Tired?
you could still scream!
4 hours sleep the night before
plus drinking since midday. Messy messy, and i thought I was a bit quiet TBH!
Ohh PS
tracks on the myspaz for the downloading. x
Awesome stuff
x
I quite like you guys
Have added and downloaded to see if I still like later.
Also like KateGoes up above. Must listen to some of these other bands mentioned..
yay!
I like nice people. I'm also drunk, oh mercy!
my first Jag ever..
www.myspace.com/bluespring
recordings of varying quality.
we should fit in with your
requirements:
www.myspace.com/fridaysghost
would bands like
bearsuit, das wanderlust, retro spankees or balor knights fit your bill? all in that kooky indie vein like misty's :)
and we'd love to obviously y'know hint nudge http://www.myspace.com/amyblue
Bearsuit fail on the basis of the criteria I forgot to mention
We tend not to make too much money for the gigs
This is partly on purpose - some of them we don't charge for entry to, the others we don't charge much for entry.
Anything we make we try and give to the bands but there still isn't a huge amount. Bearsuit are beyond our means at the moment.
Das Wanderlust and the Retro Spankees are on the right lines though. DOn't know the Balor Knights.
I'll obviously see you live in August so may well put you on after that...
of course :)
long gone are the days they said they'd play my wedding for £400... (didn't, went for the "safe" option instead...dammit!)
of course, duh, you'll see us in august JAG 14th JAG at the rhythm factory JAG etc. That's both ^^^ Him, and >>>Us.
you know I'll say
the Sleeping Years
Orouni
Milk & Fruit juice
So you did.
Actually I'm getting involved with a more acoustic night too. Would those bands be more suitable for that do you reckon? (I've not seen 'em live so can't really say!)
the Sleeping Years play acoustic
Orouni and Milkman weren't when I saw them but might do it sometimes...
Superman Revenge Squad
If you after acoustic acts, then I'd recommend Superman Revenge Squad. One half of the now defunct 'Nosferatu D2'.
Yes, he is a friend so this is a sort of JAG. I don't think he would personally do this kind of JAG'ing thing, but he really is good in my opinion. So anyway...
www.myspace.com/supermanrevengesquad.
For something non acousitic, i'd personally recomment the brilliant 'William'
www.myspace.com/williamtheband
is my band on your list?
My list must remain confidential...
for no other reason than that I was just reading the sports news and love how so many football managers just deny anything until it's actually happened.
But obviously I've seen you before and know what you do live...
Ballcock
The Adawi's
The Zenabs
The Don'tbie Brothers
Fat Snatch Raincoat
BilsterFist
Ice Rink
Fat Snatch Raincoat said no.
The want more money.
i'm biased
the evenings
Did the Evening's play Brainlove's birthday thing
or am I thinking of someone else?
they did
drummer, upright bass, keyboard. that day they did a song that sampled channel 4 news (for the first time in 2 years)
Ah yes.
My memory does serve me correctly :)
good
i expect to hear about the booking shortly :-)
check out...
gertrude's storm
and
buttonhead.
both have pretty ace recordings, but it's the live shows where their natural charisma and charm really shine...
hello,
can you book gossamer albatross please. please!
www.myspace.com/gossameralbatross
Anytime really, maybe septermber/october time. that would be so so so so nice.
x
I probably won't put you on for this
but your on my "people to put on in the future" list for other nights I co-run.
Where are you putting the shows on?
www.myspace.com/ginpanicnet :)
The Good Ship monthly
and the George Tavern every now and then. Might use the odd other venue sporadically too as things develop.
I would JAG
But I don't think my band's 'there' yet, I like your criteria though.
THE BEST OF BRITISH LUCK TO YOU!
These guys will fit your descripton
Heartwear Process
www.myspace.com/theheartwearprocess though it may be www.myspace.com/heartwearprocess
It's one of those anyway.
And if you don't mind a mini JAG, we may fit as well, though we may not - www.myspace.com/thejonesradio
I'm aware of the Heartwear Process
The guy from the label I release stuff on is a fan and has suggested them to me before. I'm pretty sure I'm doing a gig with them anyway in August so I'll probably see what I think then...
Will check out your stuff later.
Cool
Feel free to let me know what you think, good, bad or indifferent.
TLF
The london fractures. best band i've seen in a small venue by a million miles
.
www.myspace.com/ladytandthelostboys
Not dance-y, but good-y.
Try this on for size:
http://www.myspace.com/thydeepanddreamlesssleep
JAG
But we fit the bill, methinks: www.myspace.com/kingfurnace - live vids should make it easy for you!
Thanks for all these suggestions!
Do keep the coming. I met with the person I co-run this with last night (taking some suggestions I particulalry from here with me) and we've started to map out many of the bands for the rest of the year (assuming people say, yes, of course) but we plan to keep this doing, and even do them more often if there's enough bands we like, so it's good to keep getting names...
we'll play for nothing
and we'll be so fucking loud.
www.myspace.com/thetupolevghost
oh, and book johnny foreigner. they're the best unsigned band in the uk.
That's a great pitch
Pretty much my band's selling points too...
loud is good
new demo being recorded in 2 weeks. i'll send you a copy.
in the meanwhile, have a read of this:
http://www.drownedinsound.com/release/view/9664
and please consider giving us a gig. we've played london once before and i know a fair few people who'd come and see us again.. JAGging over and out.
^yes
to both.
le band extraordinaire
have their share of all your requirements, and tend to wear waistcoats. Fun and strange indie pop with sax and clarinet.
myspace.com/lebandextraordinaire
Not sure...
...if these fit the bill or are too well known/will charge too much or whatever, but what the hell this is a fun game so here’s my 2 pennies worth;
Fav unsigned band are Manchester’s The Answering Machine, debut single Oklahoma was top draw.
http://www.myspace.com/theansweringmachine
Also from Manchester The Courteeners are very exciting they have many an anthem up their collective sleeve.
http://www.myspace.com/thecourteeners
A little Closer to home though are the Brighton pair of Youngplan who are poptastic and I say Marvin who’s ‘Powerdown’ is single of the year so far for me.
http://www.myspace.com/youngplan
http://www.myspace.com/isaymarvin
London wise, Id say Look See Proof, Illustrated Youth, Bombay Bicycle Club, Assembly Now.
Probably not telling you anything new here but there you have it, good luck with the gigs Paul, cheers
Ps – Id agree with Jamesdenial, Johnny Foreigner are a great band who may not be unsigned for long, they add to an existing melting pot of midlands talent, (The Scarlet Harlots/Pint Shot Riot/Deluka/The Screening/The Displacements/The Voom Blooms etc…)
the answering machine
are fucking ace!
if you like mistys
definately put on Kate Goes!!! they are wicked
if you want to put some out of towners on, www.myspace.com/thesleepwells
also
dragonflies draw flame are incredible
http://www.myspace.com/dragonfliesdrawflame
Go for
The Chapman Family - http://www.myspace.com/thechapmanfamily
Battlekat - http://www.myspace.com/battlekatattack
Gggrits - http://www.myspace.com/gggrits
or The Fighting Cocks
http://www.myspace.com/thefightingcocks
Cheers for all these responses
I am going through them all and have heard some really good acts through this thread, some of which I'm gonna try and get on very soon and others are which are on my hypothetical list for the future.
for the love a good lyric
get hold of the new guys on the Divine Comedy's old label - The Tacticians -
their live set used to be a bit touch and go but since they've got themselves a permanent line-up their gigs are a lot more fun.
I like a lot of the Beans on Toast guy's lyrics although he seems to be picking up a bit of a wanky following.
The Standards are a good bunch too.
Good luck with your nights. I've done some nights in London, it's hard hard work, so much competition, nothing better than when it all works, nothing worse than when it all goes wrong!
Thanks for that
Them being on the Divine Comedy's old label makes it tempting...
You're right - the nights do seem to be hard work. So far we've mostly managed to book bands on % profits rather than upfront fees so the risks are pretty low but nonetheless it is stressful but it's been pretty rewarding so far at least!
is there
a MySpace for your nights? they sound interesting. I think I might have to pop along to one, that's if I haven't already
We just started a Myspace on Saturday
It's www.myspace.com/silenceisawkward
.
Tracy Is Hot & The Clap fit all points!
check the xx
www.myspace.com/thexxarefun
Without doubt
sounds like www.myspace.com/subliminalgirls to me!
Cheers for all these suggestions
Been through quite a few of them and there's some really good stuff with occasional flashes of maverick brilliance.
Still got some more to listen to but there are definitely some great ideas here and some acts I definitely do want to put on (I don't want to say who 'cos I figure it'd be kind of disrespectful to the people I don't plan to do).
If anyone has any other suggestions (especially tending towards the maverick brilliance end of the spectrum)feel free to keep 'em coming.