A USUAL TUESDAY afternoon in early November - raining, dark and cold and I find myself sitting in a booth in the infamous Techno Cafe at the Science Site…24 hours later, I was zipping down the A1 to Leeds to meet, interview and see one of the most critically acclaimed bands of 2008 hitting the Carling Academy.
THIS HAS BEEN a fantastic year in music, plenty of strong albums from all walks of music and to suit all tastes. You might not find Leona Lewis’s offering or Kanye’s latest release mentioned but these are my personal highlights from this year that should be added to any music lovers shopping list.
NEWCASTLE CITY HALL is a comforting place to spend a cold Monday evening in October. Unlike the intense atmosphere of the Newcastle Academy or the soullessness of the Metro Radio Arena, the City Hall has a rich history with everyone from the Rolling Stones to Genesis having trod the boards here. On the 27th October, it was time for one of England’s newest song writing partnerships to take their turn - The Last Shadow Puppets.
THE TING Tings are not everyone’s cup of tea - the brash, upfront attitude of lead signer Katie White will ensure many potential punters will put their wallets away immediately. Simply mentioning the name in musical debates can split opinions…I discovered who the Ting Tings have taken great inspiration from. A band who were in their prime twenty years ago - the Tom Tom Club.
LISTENING TO Dig Out Your Soul, I am optimistic that Oasis have matured from the dubious days of Be Here Now and Standing On The Shoulders of Giants in the latter days of Britpop.
The first piece I wrote for Palatinate was this mini-review of Oasis’ first album in three years. Overall, it is a positive [...]