Archive for the ‘music’ Category
romantic high jinks
old books
Calling all you lovebirds, dreamy eyed courtesans and poetry aficionados, this ones got your name on it. James Veitch has brought John Keats’ Hampstead pad to life once again this summer with a flurry of amorous productions celebrating Blightys most famed romantic poets and artists.
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The Romantics which runs from Saturday the 16th of July to Sunday the 31st is a culmination of our love-struck literary heroes, honoring luminaries such as William Blake, Mary Shelley, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, Robbie Burns and, of course, Keats himself.
So head down to Hampstead on a balmy July evening armed with a picnic brimming with goodies for some classic odes and unplugged music with your one and only in tow.
(3 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)
Loading ...from jakes to giants
young the giant
giants and men
Young The Giant are one of the latest summer-sound bands to hit our shores, coming to prominence on legendary music shows like BBC’s Later With Jools Holland, and have recently announced that they are to play at Chicago’s Loolapalooza festival, alongside luminaries like Muse, Foo Fighters, My Morning Jacket and Coldplay.
Following the release of their debut single, ‘Apartment’ in the UK earlier this year, one member, Francois, took some time out of the European tour to catch up with Ed Schofield…
How would you personally describe your music?
I always have a hard time pinning down what I think we sound like. For the most part, we try to keep our arrangements tight, energetic, and groovy.
So how did the band come about? Where did you all meet?
We all went to high school in the same school district and were each involved in the local music scene in some way or another. With the prospect of time spent at different universities looming, we decided to come together and see how much we could accomplish before heading our separate ways. Once we had all started taking full course loads, we realized it was still possible to pursue the band if we could adapt to using more unorthodox writing methods.
Having played shows with names such as Kings of Leon and Cold War Kids, there must be some amazing memories from your time so far as a band, What are some of your biggest highlights?
I don’t know that I speak for everyone, but a highlight for me was the first show of our first national tour with Minus the Bear. I had been a fan since early high school and there was a very surreal quality to the entire night. It really hit home for me that we were actually making a serious go at this thing.
Do you remember the point when you all realized this could well be more than a hobby?
I can’t say that there was a specific point when it all clicked. It was more of a chain of events over a few months (getting picked up by a management agency, playing with the Kings of Leon and getting some early interest from a few labels). After that, we realized that we needed to make a decision about whether or not we could continue devoting enough time to both school and the band in order to succeed in either.
Originally you were called The Jakes but changed to Young The Giant, what was the reason for the name change?
We felt as though the name “The Jakes” really didn’t reflect where we wanted to be musically. It seemed as though the writing process was becoming clouded by our own preconceptions about the band, some of which were focused on the name.
Where do you all draw your main inspirations from as a band when you’re writing, recording and creating ideas?
I think a lot of the inspiration comes from the earliest writing method we were comfortable with. For a while, we would cram ourselves into a practice space and jam until something cohesive emerged. Although it wasn’t perfect, there is something to be said about trying to merge five creative minds into a focused voice. Working with Joe Chiccarelli also taught us to listen to one another and to back out when someone else has a good idea.
We also listen to a lot of music together and try to analyze influences, tones and songwriting technique.
You guys lived together in a house in Newport Beach. Did you get a lot done in this time towards the band? There must have been a lot of parties and distractions all the time!
Our parents and management would probably like us to tell you that we were productive and deserving of our position of luxury by the Pacific. That would be a lie. Although we did spend most of our time lounging by the beach, drink in hand, we like to believe that the experience helped us in the creative process later on. Yeah, that sounds good.
What bands are you all listening to at the moment? Any recommendations for us?
I’ve been listening to a lot of Bowie and post-Beatles McCartney (Ram is a favorite of mine). LCD Soundsystem recently released a set of live sessions, which is pretty fantastic. Kanye is also pretty amazing.
(4 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...ibiza re-opens…
Ibiza coastline
ibiza’s rugged and seductive coast
The new season is beckoning and Ibiza is yawning and stretching to warm itself up for another summer. Cue a chain of excited whispers about the office. Whilst everyone loves a night or ahem…three on the dance floors of DC10 et al or a day recovering on the beach at Cala Jondal, we thought it was a good time to share a couple of out hottest alternative Ibiza tips for 2011.
Firstly, getting to the white isle just became a whole lot easier – we were thrilled to discover that BA have upped the ante, offering up to 8 flights a week from City Airport meaning more flexibility and super convenience.
dreamy balearic sunsets
On arrival, the good news continues – the trendy Ushuaia Ibiza Beach Hotel reopens in May with an amazing opening party hosted by Luciano (Black Tomato’s Sophie’s favourite.) This is a great place to escape the surrounding mayhem when necessary. Alternatively, to keep the party going 24/7 we’d recommend gathering up a whole load of your close friends and heading to Villa Vella up in the hills close to the chi-chi rural village of Santa Gertrudis. This palatial residence has 13 bedrooms, a tennis court and infinity edge pool. Perfect for an early morning swim to clear the head.
The village of Santa Gertrudis itself takes Bohemian chic to a new level; populated by artists and sculptors, this unique little spot offers a rare opportunity to experience a snippet of truly traditional Ibizan life. Try Bacchus, C/ Venda de Parada for a cooling afternoon drink.
For some sophisticated beach action, our Balearic’s guru Alex’s pick of the bunch is Ses Salinas. A classic, but a goodie, these crystal clear waters and laid back vibe offer so pretty unmissable people watching ops. Plus possibly the best restorative pizzas emerge from the ovens at the Jockey Club.
For a dining experience away from the crowds, we’d have to recommend El Bigote near Cala Boix for a tinto de verano and a slice of Serrano with the wildly moustachioed owner.
Adrenaline junkies fear not, there’s more to Ibiza than pounding the dancefloor don’t you know… The island has been officially recognized by PADI as the best spot in Europe for scuba diving, so grab your flippers and take the plunge to see a side of the island that few of us have even considered. Land lubbers fear not, as Kate will tell you, there is some incredible horse riding trails across Ibiza’s untouched northern beaches.
Want to get there? No problem, just drop us a line.
(8 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...go wild outdoor music festival
tafta rocking on the slopes
We caught up with AP Childs who’s been chilling on the sun-drenched slopes of Avoriaz, bringing us exclusive and up-to-date gossip from the go wild outdoor music festival. Bien sur…
The premature summer continued to dictate where the concerts would be held due to the unplanned closures of various pistes across the resorts. It was back to Les Crosets in Switzerland for a home show by that country’s favourites Tafta. A five piece that play very well and craft a magnificent keyboard sound as almost as big as the mountains themselves.
French mock Libertines outfit BB Brunes rounded the week off on Saturday on the French side of the Alps. The band are touted for great things though I am not so sure. However, they draw a decent enough crowd and round the week’s event’s off with fervent festival gusto.
The tourism office at the central Portes du Soleil resort of Avoriaz have confirmed that next year they will programme the festival to commence a few weeks earlier in expectation of more snow. But if this year’s inaugural event is anything to go by then I doubt there will be any problem with the festival being a runaway success. Try it out, why not.
(5 votes, average: 3.80 out of 5) Loading ...go wild outdoor music festival
Jamaica rocking on the slopes
AP Childs is back with more musical tales and alpine antidotes that will have our minds drifting off to the sunny slopes of Avoriaz for the weekend.
Tuesday saw the blazing alpine sun return and joyful skiers heading off early morning in their droves to catch the fresh and crisp layering. Festival wise it’s an exciting prospect as there is significant ground to cover between the two shows of the day. First up Joyce Jonathan, a young singer-songwriter and recent winner of music sensation of the year here in France at the NRJ Music awards. To catch her show it involved tipping yourself down a blue moving up to red run from the resort of Avoriaz to Les Lindarets! A hairy trip for a beginner and quite understandable to see some members of the press hitching rides on skidoos that would take them round the long way through the lush pine forests.
Madalena
No time to hang around as a ski across the border into Switzerland is on the cards in order to catch big indie promise of the festival, Jamaica. This involves a big lift over Pointe De Mossette by chair then down a fast, and sometimes precarious run into Les Crosets. The French duo Jamaica is on stage and it is immediately apparent they possess a pure pop sensibility. One is reminded of Haircut 100, or Joe Jackson until the ravishing lead guitar breaks of Antoine Hilaire splinter the mountain air bringing the vibe right back into am almost grunge-like rock territory. Again, hats off to whoever is controlling the sound as Jamaica continue to soar as the show goes on. Accessible pop with killer tunes!
Back in Avoriaz it’s Wednesday morning and the glory continues to shine down from on mountain high. Today is the turn of young French songstress Madalena. A percussive acoustic sound with additional accordion ensuring the mountain is awash with an ethereal atmosphere one would imagine for an event of this nature. Madalena sings in a mix of French and English which I suppose hints at a desire for international recognition. She encapsulates the growing midday crowd with a sensual performance and cool and dreamy delivery.
Considering we’re dealing with a good few shows around many resorts across the Portes du Soleil region the organization of this festival seems to be running along quite effortlessly. The current weather they say is that of late April/early May which of course cannot be controlled, and of course it has altered a few of the plans so far where the pistes are concerned, but it doesn’t seem to be taking anything away from the festival as a whole. As long as the skiing remains good, and further up the mountains and the music keeps flowing then one can only look forward to enjoying the next few days.
More to follow…
(3 votes, average: 2.67 out of 5) Loading ...go wild outdoor music festival
We’ve sent AP Childs UK photographer and music publicist to the glorious Franco-Swiss Alps to check out Europe’s one of a kind Go Wild Outdoor Music Festival. Watch this space for exclusive music and ski news straight from the slopes to our blog, just how we like it.
keziah jones
The place is Portes du Soleil in the middle of the Franco-Swiss Alps. The summer seems to be arriving a little too soon across the 12 beautiful resorts either side of the French border that have linked up to host the inaugural Go Wild Outdoor Music Festival. For one week, from Abondance and Avoriaz to Morzine and Les Crosets good vibes will be cast across the crazy mountains. The powder maybe turning to slush in places but that isn’t going to stop the fun.
The Go Wild Outdoor Music Festival is like no other major festival in Europe, in that it is not ticketed and all festival goers need to see the concerts is to show is a lift pass.
Saturday afternoon and festivities commence with an opening show in Morzine from London based rock outfit, and appropriately monikered After the Ice. Fronted by the conceptual painter Paul Lisak the band fuse a heady influence of 60’s and 70’s stoner rock with a tinge of keyboard driven indie. Imagine The Cult hopping into bed with Guy Garvey for a night, well, the conclusion of such an event could possibly be found in this four-piece. Considering we’re half way up a mountain the sound is well constructed balanced and contained. A big Chapeau! to the soundman as this I suspect is no easy task. After The Ice thump, lick and swirl their way through a set that not only excites but beguiles the crowd in equal measures. A great start from a promising group.
Keziah Jones takes the main stage
Sunday afternoon moves up a level in the shape of established international artist Keziah Jones. Way up high in the resort of Alvoriaz steam rises from a fast gathering crowd of worked-out winter sports enthusiasts. Jones is a top draw and the cable lifts are bustling and skis and boards are stacked up high around the concert area. Jones makes for a fine afternoon festival slot. His laid back approach to soulful rock infused on occasion with afro-rhythms coupled with the beaming alpine sun perfectly harnesses the chilled out atmosphere. Lovely.
It’s Monday morning and things have changed quite dramatically. Following a night of rain I open the curtains to find the magnificent alpine view obscured by the most wonderful blizzard. It seems the festival gods have spoken and Snow Queen has cast her magic spell. Summer will have to wait a few more days yet as this festival is set to move up a gear.
More bands to follow, more words to follow..
(5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...fat freddy’s drop (in for a chat)
fat freddy's drop
Ed Schofield caught up with Chopper Reedz, the saxophone player from one of New Zealand’s top bands, Fat Freddy’s Drop. If they’re not on your playlist yet, we’d recommend taking a look.
So first and foremost…what’s the story behind Fat Freddy’s Drop? How did it all begin?
fat freddy's drop
It kicked off about 10 years ago as an informal jam based around DJ Fitchies sets in various Wellington nightspots – he was one of the go-to guys on the turntables back then. He started dropping more instrumental joints and musicians would get up to jam over the top… among the first to get invited back were Antonio Chang aka Toby Laing our trumpet maestro and Joe Dukie aka Dallas Tamaira on vocals. Bit by bit the cast of players grew and Fitchie moved into production, live dubs and effects until it reached a critical mass.
Your live sound has a more improvised and jam style feel to it when compared to your studio recordings…Can you tell us a little bit about the difference between the two for the band?
Well that’s where the band started… and still feels most comfortable now to be honest. The vast majority of our music is worked out on the road in live situations and then our studio time is spent trying to tame the tiger. It can be really difficult trying to capture the spirit and spontaneity of our live approach when you’re locked away in a dark studio but we’re getting better at it.
wellington, new zealand - the band's hometown
When you released the Midnight Marauders EP in Europe in 2003 it did pretty well. With a lot of DJs particularly in Germany dropping it in their sets. Since then you have toured around Europe almost every year up to now. Do you have any particular memories from your time spent on the road?
Yeah, Marauders has a lot to answer for. Come to think of it so does Germany… and Berlin in particular. If you’re talking about bad habits on tour look no further. I mean that in the nicest possible way of course – they know how to party over there. Actually, we’re very lucky to be hosted by some amazingly generous people on our trips… and most memories come from either killer gigs or sampling some beautiful food and wine. Food and the social aspect of sharing a meal together have been a constant part of our tour ritual, though that has been joined by fishing, digging for records and playing golf in the past couple of years. Jetlag Johnson (guitar shredder extraordinaire) has a pre-show “Jäger ” ritual that is threatening to become a bad habit…
hopepa, tony chang and chopper reedz
The sound of Fat Freddy’s Drop seems to be built and layered out of a diverse range of sounds and vibes, where do your draw your influences and inspirations from when doing what you do?
If nothing else, we are all very open in our listening to and appreciation of other music. We pick up new (and old) music wherever we go and one of the great things about coming from a young-ish (and pretty open) musical culture like New Zealand’s is that we are quite comfortable grabbing ideas from whatever takes our fancy, we’re not locked into any rules by having a really hardcore dub, disco, soul, roots etc scene to please. The vast majority of gigs we play, we can drop a roots/reggae influenced tune without having a section of the crowd turn their backs on us.
What’s in your headphones at the moment? Can you tell us anything about Fat Freddy’s Drop in 2011?
Well, I’ve spent the last year or so on the road picking up disco 45s and afrobeat LPs, so a lot of that. I’ve been getting into 80s boogie too – and a lot of music influenced by those sounds – Dam Funk, Nite Jewel, Onra. On an NZ tip I always check out my man Julien Dyne (he’s got releases on BBE Records), Ladi 6, Shapeshifter and Lord Echo. The other guys in the band? Your guess is as good as mine… but I trust them, they’ve got good taste. I can’t wait to get back in the tour bus for an iPod challenge now.
(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...a hindilicious handful
India beguiles like no other. From the majestic peaks of the Himalayas to the shimmering waters of the Indian Ocean, India is our ‘King of Countries’, a vast expanse of colour, intense spirituality and unforgettable human warmth.
Each of India’s 28 states offers something different. Destinations are tricky, but we don’t want you heading off to the obvious haunts. We’ve come up with a handy top 5 to take you from festival bustle to bucolic bliss, stepping high into the mountains and way back in time. This is India as you’ve never seen it, as you’ve always dreamed it could be.
get away from it all in ladakh
ladakh. a haven in the himalayas
Ladakh, in India’s northernmost state Jammu and Kashmir is about as Bollywood as Mount Everest. Indeed, Ladakh itself is known as ‘Little Tibet’ and it’s not hard to see why. Nestled in the Himalayas, Ladakh is where to head if you’re looking for India at its most remote; the antithesis of heaving Delhi, the roof of India at the roof of the world.
behold the bustle in glorious varanasi
varanasi. worship with the masses
On the banks of the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi is henna hands down our choice for festive spectacle and holy bustle. The devout come aflocking in a modern day exodus of Buddhists, Jains and Hindus. This last group regard the ancient city as the holiest place on the planet and the very centre of Earth according to their laws of cosmology. Special just doesn’t do it justice. There’s definitely something in the air here and a trip to Varanasi is truly something akin to magic; an unforgettable encounter with the holy soul of India.
escape into the hills at the rawla narlai
remote narlai. cloaked in colour
Rajasthan. India’s greatest state and palace-packed ‘Land of Colour’. The first of our two picks from this romantic rainbow state is the secluded hillside village of Narlai. A 17th century fortress turned hunting lodge whose latest renaissance has seen it transformed into one of the nation’s most magical hotels, The Rawla Narlai has welcomed the likes of Mick Jagger and Italian surrealist Francesco Clemente through its illustrious doors.
meet the bishnois in rohet
skip the crowds. meet the locals
Secreted away in rural Rajasthan, Rohet is our top tip to really get under the skin of Indian culture. Sidestep the crowds and see so much more than you would in traditional tourist hotspots, meeting the semi-nomadic Raika shepherds and those great guardians of nature the Bishnois. A stay at Mihir Garh provides a gorgeous dollop of luxury, a regal retreat that is as much a part of your experience as your encounters with the locals.
8,250 feet above anywhere at wildflower hall
sumptuous silence in the home of the gods
Bordering Jammu and Kashmir is the state of Himachal Pradesh, aka Dev Bhumi, ‘Home of the Gods’. The state’s capital Shimla is a gorgeous Hindu city in the Himalayan steppes. Wildflower Hall, the former residence of Lord Kitchener, is one of our favourite hotels in northern India. 8,250 feet above water and set amid virgin pines, Wildflower Hall is perfect for a taste of cool clean air, utter escape and sumptuous old colonial.
(12 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...dance to the music
Here at Black Tomato we are always on the lookout for something a little different, and although we love the glamour of the Tango and the sexiness of the Salsa, we like to see something a little more unique. So here are our top 5 alternative musical and dance performances from around the world:
getting ready to dance through fire
1. The Baining Fire Dance, Papua New Guinea.
When night falls and the fire is lit, the men of the Baining tribe don enormous decorative wooden masks and start to dance. But this is a dance like no other. The routine is complicated, involving jumping through fires to the rhythm of about 20 musicians, but the main thing is to give the fire a good kick. Kids beware- the Bainings do not hesitate to take their young ones through the fire to ‘cure’ bad behaviour. A dance and a hot, fiery spectacle not to be missed.
a dance scene from a kathakali performance
2. Kathakali Dancing, Kerala
Combining dance and (a lot) drama is something that comes very natural to India, take Bollywood for example. The Kathakali dances present the famous Hindu stories of Rama and Krishna, in a dance form. Traditionally lasting all night long, it is now possible to see these performances condensed into (just) 3 hours. Dancers are heavily made up and dressed in bright costumes accessorised with bells, which they stamp and jangle in time to a small band of musicians. A real foot stomper of a performance.
princess sita waiting to be rescued
3. Kecak Dance, Bali
Originating from a traditional Balinese trance dance, Kecak is theatrical and deeply moving. Depicting the Hindu epic of Prince Rama rescuing his long lost love Princess Sita, lavishly costumed dancers perform a dramatic series of moves to a musical accompaniment. But, there is not an instrument in sight; all the music is performed by a choir of about 150 bare-chested men and boys. This is a truly unique musical experience.
jumping high, the maasai tribe
4. The Maasai Adamu, Tanzania
The Indigenous Maasai tribes in Africa hold music and dance close to their hearts, and are excellent performers. The Adamu (or Jumping Dance for the non-Maasai among us) is a coming-of age ceremony and can last up to 10 days. The dance holds a competitive element and combines a series of lofty jumps accompanied by singing and chanting. A beautiful dance from one of the world’s most special regions.
acting fierce during a traditional aboriginal dance
5. Aboriginal dance, Australia
Australia has its fair share of trendy nightclubs, but there is far more to the dance scene down under. Australia’s Aboriginal people have a history deeply embedded in traditional dances, and to catch one is a veritable pleasure. Varying from tribe to tribe, but usually imitating animals or birds, each dance is fun, light-hearted and lively. We guarantee you’ll be joining-in in no time.
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