Mercury Music Prize 2007

Okay, before I get onto the meat and potatoes, if you could spare 30 seconds to vote for my blog in the BT Digital Music Awards that would be amazing. Obviously this is a lame popularity contest but last year, I was voted 23rd best music blog in the UK which was mega nice. You should be able to vote by clicking the fancy button below. Thanks!


So I was considering keeping schtum and retaining my 100% record at predicting the Mercury Music Prize winners (see this entry for evidence of my psychic powers [link) but no, I will stick my neck out ever so slightly and plump for Bat For Lashes. Admittedly, as my choice of Arctic Monkeys were last year, Natasha Khan's outfit are strongly tipped by the bookies to win. I'm a big fan anyway, ever since hearing a demo track of hers on a Drowned In Sound podcast many moons ago. In fact, I featured that very song on Keep Hope Inside podcast number deux (still downloadable here [link]).

I actually think Amy Winehouse would have won but for all her current drink(/drug?) related problems. Although the judges seem to court controversy at times, remember the whole Antony and The Johnsons = not British debate? The Go! Team obviously should have won anyway. So she still has a good chance and 'Rehab' remains one of the finest pop singles for some time and here's a nice little cover of it by those crazy popsters Girls Aloud from a BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge session. If only the new Girls Aloud single was this good!

Girls Aloud - Rehab [Yousendit d/l link]//[Sendspace]

Another act I think is in with a strong chance of winning is a fella who's been mentioned here a couple of times but not for a looooooooooong time. It's quite weird to think it's been about two years since I saw a very grubby looking Jamie T sitting on a stool, bass guitar in hand. He's pretty much just as grubby now but he has written some excellent tracks and even though the album has some filler, he would be well deserving of the prize. Here's some live tracks (apologies for the quality, I had to rip them myself) that illustrate his versatility and ear for a good song.

Jamie T - Calm Down Dearest (Live At BBC Electric Proms) [Yousendit]//[Sendspace]
Jamie T - Ike & Tina (Live At BBC Electric Proms) [Yousendit]//[Sendspace

So, who do you lot reckon will win? Surely not t'Monkeys or Dizzee again? Klaxons for heading a new NME fabricated movement?

Indie/alt karaoke!

I was reading the esteemed Sweeping The Nation [link] a while back and they found an amazing indie/alternative karaoke website. Bust out the likes of 'Helicopter' by Bloc Party, 'Bandages' by Hot Hot Heat along with more obscure tracks like Fugazi's 'Waiting Room'. Awesome. And if you're German or a fan of German music you may appreciate it even more as it offers some German tracks too! Go forth and have fun [link]

On a slightly related note, I came across a weird covers artist performing under the guise of Kermit the frog (yes, the one from the Muppets) and calling himself Sad Kermit.

"Soon after the death of Jim Henson, Kermit the Frog turned to a life full of drugs, alcohol and sex. His fall to rock-bottom was quick and unrelenting. These songs document Kermit's pain during these years...and years to come."

It's a nice enough idea but the brilliance of the video made for his cover of 'Hurt' (originally by Nine Inch Nails but also subject to a poignant cover by the late Johnny Cash) really helps showcase some actual talent. Can't knock 1.2 million YouTube views.



Other covers are also available on Sad Kermit's website [link]. They include an Elliot Smith cover and the almost inevitable Hallelujah reinterpretation. I think there's even a section where you can request your own "sad" song for Sad Kermit to cover. My money's on 'Candle In The Wind' being attempted at some point.

Sad Kermit - Hurt (Nine Inch Nails cover)
Sad Kermit - Creep (Radiohead cover)

And again on a slightly related note, this time in a more Muppets meets the Banana Splits way. I was directed to the promo vids for Herman Dune's 'I Wish I Could See You Soon', which is their current UK single - one has green men [link], the other has them green-screened out or whatever the technical term is [link]. I'm liking the one with green men more just because it seems even more silly.

And for something I find is even more bizarre, Bob Hoskins is in the new Jamie T vid for his re-release of 'Sheila' [link]. Didn't Robert Downey Jr do a similar thing for an Elton John vid? Nice walk along the South Bank in London anyway.
-----
By the by, if you like subscribing to feeds so you don't have to keep checking blogs then please subscribe to mine - http://feeds.feedburner.com/keephopeinside - copy and paste it into your feed aggregator or however you want to do it. Also, I'll have a podcast out very, very soon so if you'd like to do likewise with my podcast feed, then that feed is - http://feeds.feedburner.com/keephopeinsidepodcast. Thanks!

Free is a magic number

I've plucked this track by The Jane Bradfords straight off the BBC Radio 1 unsigned site [link], which is usually on the money about new artists. The Jane Bradfords are in fact one lad (Deci Gallen) and a laptop, with a band joining him for live performances. It's all sounding a bit Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly isn't it? Never fear, this is unashamedly bright pop countered by gravelly vocals. It's lovely and the intro even reminds me of The B52's or something.

The Jane Bradfords - Hide From The Cold
-----
Jamie T, the West London scamp signed to V2 records is spoiling us once again by offering up a new track of his for free. 'Oh My Girl' is up for download on his website [link]. New single 'If You've Got The Money' is out on 16th October.
-----
Manchester madmen The Longcut ("frontman-is-drummer-say-what?") have made a download of 'Spires' available on the XFM website [link]. New single 'A Tried And Tested Method' is out on September 21st and includes a remix by The Go! Team, sounds exciting.
-----
Finally, Mystery Jets-alike quirky popsters GoodBooks (not to be confused with Good Shoes) released a download only single ages back but here it is anyway. Artwork and lyrics and stuff can be found on their website [link].

GoodBooks - Turn It Back

Bits and bobs

I know what you're thinking - "oh no, not them again!" - but yes more Hot Club de Paris news for everyone. They're opening for fellow Northerners Maximo Park on some of their October tour dates, which is great news. Hot Club de Paris are heading out on their own tour as well in September following a performance at Bestival on the Isle Of Wight. New single 'Everyeveryeverything' (b-side is 'I Quit My Job') is out on September 25th and their debut album comes out on the 2nd of October. I'm not sure whether it's called 'Winners!' or 'Drop It Till It Pops' but no matter, it's almost destined for greatness.
Hot Club de Paris - Ouija Board

Buy debut single 'Sometimesitsbetter...' at Puregroove [link].
-----
Jamie T has announced an October UK tour. He's playing a fair few other dates before that, including V Festival and Bestival. All the dates are on his MySpace [link].
-----
Converse Music are launching a competition for unsigned bands to release 1000 7" vinyls, with promised gigs and promo support as well. Sounds like a good deal to me, for more details see their website [link].
-----
I got an email earlier telling me that Selector [link] is having another live showcase featuring the likes of Guillemots and Yes Boss on September 13th at the Islington Academy, London. Best of all it's free if you email theselector[at]britishcouncil.org and ask for upto four tickets. There's more info in the email so if you want me to forward it to you just leave your email addy in the comments or email me.
-----
Just a quick note to say there are a few posts round the corner, hopefully including a Los Campesinos! interview and a live review of The Sunshine Underground. Goody.

Quickie band news

The Foo Fighters are playing a surprisingly intimate gig at the Camden Underworld on Friday June 16th. Tickets are £25 and onsale from noon today at Gigsandtours.com

All tickets must be picked up at the Camden Underworld Box Office evening of show. Doors at 7:30pm. Foo Fighters 8:45pm. You MUST bring a valid photo ID and the Credit Card used for ticket purchase.
-----
Battle are also playing on Friday, returning to Puregroove after last year's fab instore. The first 2000 people to register here will get their mitts on a ltd ed cd sleeve promoting the release of Children, which is out this week. All three formats only £3 in Virgin and HMV stores.
-----
The Sunshine Underground need extras for their vid for new single Put You In Your Place.
"Extras needed for video shoot. Venue to be confirmed but will be London based. Looking for very energetic individuals prepared to get worked into a frenzy around the band while they perform. Hardcore dancers and all-night party people is the vibe we're after. If you're available from midday till late on Tuesday 20th June please email your photo, sizes and contact details to info@redrabbitfilms.co.uk"
-----
Jamie T has unfortunately had to cancel his gigs in Liverpool (June 16th) and Sheffield (17th). The Sheffield gig has been rearranged to 22nd July.
-----
Get yourself a Converse Music membership card to get free entry into some special upcoming gigs. Bands playing include The Rakes,Ladyfuzz and Good Shoes. Awesome.
-----
Finally for a laff, check out DiS vs Towers Of London. Well 'ard innit.

Jamie T

Wimbledon's finest Jamie T offers a free download of new track Do You Have The Time on his website.

Jamie T fuses many genres and although you'll see many people comparing him to Mike Skinner or even Lily Allen (who has apparently recorded a track with Jamie), the NME put it best for me:"An all-singing, all swaggering West London rudeboy specialising in tales of booze, birds and being broke."

Technical difficulties scuppered his performance supporting the Mystery Jets when I first saw him last September, so let's hope he avoids any misfortune when he tours with a full backing band throughout June!

Jamie T - Back In The Game (Demo)

You can hear the demo of new single Sheila and former single Salvador on Jamie's MySpace. Shiela is out on July 3rd.
-----
Keep Hope Inside also 'heart' Peter Crouch (or should we say Robocrouch - YouTube link) as much as we 'heart' Nickelodeon. Steven Gerrard diving wasn't too impressive but a goalie scoring from a goal kick is a great laugh (YouTube).
-----
Newsround
Having previously been 'unmasked' (or not) by The Sun newspaper, Eurovision winners Lordi seem to have actually been 'unmasked' in a couple of Finnish mags this week. Read about angry Finns here.

The Fly are opening a new venue on New Oxford Street in London. Sounds pretty good to me. You can also see the mag online now, which is great stuff.

Youthmovie Soundtrack Strategies support Forward, Russia! on their July UK tour. The Russians also play some sort of Leeds residency, read about it here. They've also put up next single Eighteen for your aural pleasure on their MySpace.
-----
Just a quick note to say after the Brighton Great Escape festival posts (over the next three days), I'm taking a breather due to exams. Thanks for looking upto now and there still might be occasional posts so keep checking back!