Tapes 'n Tapes could be forgiven for wondering why their gig isn't generating the same sold-out ticket action. After all, their jerky jams, with a smidgeon of hi-life guitar, are eerily close to the formula on which their New York rivals have rollercoasted to fame. However, Tapes 'n Tapes' juxtapositions of dynamics and texture tend to lack impact, and take longer to lure you in. Influenced by Pavement, Pixies and possibly Pere Ubu, they play quirky rock fronted by a singer who sounds like he just got out of bed, and propelled by a drummer who resembles a headmaster dispensing corporal punishment. They should turn Matt Kretzmann's keyboards up and trim the more unwieldy jams, but songs like Headshock and the pulverising The Dirty Dirty have oodles of appeal. The bittersweet Say Back Something shows that they can write simple, disarmingly lovely pop songs: perhaps they should more often. At one point, the lights go off and on again, prompting cheers, which T'nT must hope is an omen for what is still a hugely promising career.
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Friday, 6 June 2008
Tapes 'n Tapes, City Academy, Manchester
Minneapolis band Tapes 'n Tapes have followed the customary route to indie stardom: rave reviews on blogs such as Pitchfork, an A&R feeding frenzy at South by Southwest and an enormous buzz. However, only two years after their The Loon debut looked set to catapult them to household-name status, second album Walk It Off has received less euphoric reviews and they are struggling to keep up with other bands - not least the one playing the larger venue upstairs. This has not escaped singer Josh Grier. "Good evening, we're Vampire Weekend," he quips.
At least 3 jurors chosen for R. Kelly trial
The wife of a Baptist preacher from R. Kelly's hometown, a business executive and a telecommunications company employee were the first three jurors chosen Monday for the R&B superstar's child pornography trial.
The executive, a middle-aged man, called child pornography "the lowest of the low" during questioning by the judge and attorneys. But he said he felt he could give a fair trial to the 41-year-old Kelly, who is accused of videotaping himself having sex with a girl as young as 13.
At one point, Cook County Circuit Judge Vincent Gaughan said nobody in the room condoned child pornography and Kelly appeared to nod his head in agreement.
Kelly, known for sexually charged hits like "Bump N' Grind," has pleaded not guilty. The alleged victim, now 23, says it wasn't her on the videotape.
The preacher's wife from Olympia Fields, where Kelly lives, said her religious beliefs would not affect her service as a juror. The judge reminded her that the trial involved "laws of man, not the laws of God," and she said she understood.
Potential jurors who were dismissed included a man in his 50s who prosecutors said clearly was awe-struck by Kelly's celebrity and a security guard who said Kelly would have "some explaining to do" if he was on the video.
Sixteen jurors, four of them alternates, are to be chosen for the trial. Court officials have said questioning and selection from the 150 potential jurors is expected to take about a week.
The alleged victim's denial that she is on the videotape will present prosecutors with a unique challenge once the trial is under way. And Kelly's lawyers -- including prominent Chicago attorney Ed Genson -- haven't admitted it's Kelly in the video.
Prosecutors say the videotape was made between Jan. 1, 1998, and Nov. 1 2000, and that the alleged victim was born in September 1984. Kelly was indicted on pornography charges June 5, 2002, after the tape surfaced.
If jurors find the Grammy-winning artist guilty, he could go to prison for up to 15 years.
Kelly's lawyers had argued any jury pool has been irrevocably tainted because of pretrial publicity.
But Gaughan denied a defense motion to postpone the trial, which had already been delayed for six years, suggesting jury selection could weed out any tainted jurors.
Although Kelly won a Grammy in 1997 for the gospel-like song "I Believe I Can Fly," his biggest hits are bawdy ballads like "Ignition" and his current single, "Hair Braider." He is due to release a new album in July.
The executive, a middle-aged man, called child pornography "the lowest of the low" during questioning by the judge and attorneys. But he said he felt he could give a fair trial to the 41-year-old Kelly, who is accused of videotaping himself having sex with a girl as young as 13.
At one point, Cook County Circuit Judge Vincent Gaughan said nobody in the room condoned child pornography and Kelly appeared to nod his head in agreement.
Kelly, known for sexually charged hits like "Bump N' Grind," has pleaded not guilty. The alleged victim, now 23, says it wasn't her on the videotape.
The preacher's wife from Olympia Fields, where Kelly lives, said her religious beliefs would not affect her service as a juror. The judge reminded her that the trial involved "laws of man, not the laws of God," and she said she understood.
Potential jurors who were dismissed included a man in his 50s who prosecutors said clearly was awe-struck by Kelly's celebrity and a security guard who said Kelly would have "some explaining to do" if he was on the video.
Sixteen jurors, four of them alternates, are to be chosen for the trial. Court officials have said questioning and selection from the 150 potential jurors is expected to take about a week.
The alleged victim's denial that she is on the videotape will present prosecutors with a unique challenge once the trial is under way. And Kelly's lawyers -- including prominent Chicago attorney Ed Genson -- haven't admitted it's Kelly in the video.
Prosecutors say the videotape was made between Jan. 1, 1998, and Nov. 1 2000, and that the alleged victim was born in September 1984. Kelly was indicted on pornography charges June 5, 2002, after the tape surfaced.
If jurors find the Grammy-winning artist guilty, he could go to prison for up to 15 years.
Kelly's lawyers had argued any jury pool has been irrevocably tainted because of pretrial publicity.
But Gaughan denied a defense motion to postpone the trial, which had already been delayed for six years, suggesting jury selection could weed out any tainted jurors.
Although Kelly won a Grammy in 1997 for the gospel-like song "I Believe I Can Fly," his biggest hits are bawdy ballads like "Ignition" and his current single, "Hair Braider." He is due to release a new album in July.
Giovanni Marradi
Artist: Giovanni Marradi
Genre(s):
New Age
Discography:
Treasures Of Time
Year: 1999
Tracks: 14
Alone
Year: 1998
Tracks: 10
Nocturnes
Year: 1997
Tracks: 12
Quietude Forever
Year: 1996
Tracks: 10
Passion
Year: 1996
Tracks: 9
Only You
Year: 1995
Tracks: 12
Tapestries Love Letters
Year:
Tracks: 15
Gracefully
Year:
Tracks: 12
Shane MacGowan
Errors, Johnny Foreigner & More Join Latitude Line-Up
Even more names have been announced for the Latitude Festival next month and tickets are selling fast.
New bands confirmed for the Lake Stage, which is part of BBC Introducing are: Errors, James Yuill, Johnny Foreigner, Gideon Conn, Jonquil, Cheeky Cheeky And The Nosebleeds, Sky Larkin, This City, Voluntary Butler Scheme, Kabeedies, Swanton Bombs, The Wave Pictures, The Cocknbullkid and Lovvers.
BBC Introducing will be curated by BBC Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens.
Latitude festival will be held on July 17th-20th in Suffolk and weekend / Saturday day tickets have already sold out, leaving just Friday and Sunday day tickets.
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Lindsay Lohan: Stolen Fur Coat Update
While owners of a New York nightclub have offered to settle a legal battle between Lindsay Lohan and Masha Markova over a fur coat which the actress allegedly stole while partying in the city, PETA have asked for the garment to be donated to the homeless.
Lohan is being sued by the New York student, who claims the Mean Girls star swiped her $12,000 (£6,000) mink coat in January.
John Englebert, owner of top Manhattan hotspots Prime and Suzie Wong, has offered to buy Lindsay a new $11,000 (£5,500) blonde mink coat, as well as settle the lawsuit against her as a thank you for being such a valued customer.
A spokeswoman for the club boss says: "Lindsay has always been a fixture and a party girl in his establishments and John does not want her to catch a cold in this frigid start to the summer."
Englebert adds Access Hollywood: "I am offering to take Lindsay on a mink shopping spree with me, to have the coat of her choice. My motto has always been, `If the coat fits, buy it.'"
Anti-fur activists at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) won’t be too happy with LiLo’s potential purchase - they are already urging Masha, the original owner of the mink coat, to donate the dead animal to someone more needy.
PETA boss Dan Mathews has written to Markov, explaining: "That coat belonged to dozens of animals that were electrocuted, gassed, strangled, drowned or beaten to death just so you could try to appear wealthy."
Mathews suggests Markova watch an anti-fur video hosted by former fur-wearer Martha Stewart and then donate the fur, which was a gift from the student's grandmother, to the homeless.
Do you think there is too much fuss surrounding this fur coat incident? Be sure to leave your comments below.
Lohan is being sued by the New York student, who claims the Mean Girls star swiped her $12,000 (£6,000) mink coat in January.
John Englebert, owner of top Manhattan hotspots Prime and Suzie Wong, has offered to buy Lindsay a new $11,000 (£5,500) blonde mink coat, as well as settle the lawsuit against her as a thank you for being such a valued customer.
A spokeswoman for the club boss says: "Lindsay has always been a fixture and a party girl in his establishments and John does not want her to catch a cold in this frigid start to the summer."
Englebert adds Access Hollywood: "I am offering to take Lindsay on a mink shopping spree with me, to have the coat of her choice. My motto has always been, `If the coat fits, buy it.'"
Anti-fur activists at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) won’t be too happy with LiLo’s potential purchase - they are already urging Masha, the original owner of the mink coat, to donate the dead animal to someone more needy.
PETA boss Dan Mathews has written to Markov, explaining: "That coat belonged to dozens of animals that were electrocuted, gassed, strangled, drowned or beaten to death just so you could try to appear wealthy."
Mathews suggests Markova watch an anti-fur video hosted by former fur-wearer Martha Stewart and then donate the fur, which was a gift from the student's grandmother, to the homeless.
Do you think there is too much fuss surrounding this fur coat incident? Be sure to leave your comments below.
Christensen says Ledger was 'enigmatic'
Model Helena Christensen has spoken about the loss her friend Heath Ledger, who was found dead at his New York apartment on 22 January.
Speaking at the Y-3 fashion show in New York, the model told People magazine that she has "only good memories" of Ledger.
Christensen said that she had been travelling to visit Ledger when news of his death broke.
Speaking about how she is coping since his death, she said: "Time passes. It's doesn't make it easier, but you try to do the best you can. When you have a child, they kind of bring you back to the moment in a really comforting way."
"Losing any friend is horrific, but he just has this thing about him - this special, enigmatic thing that I have never met in anyone before."
She also said: "That's what all of his friends are saying. They are totally devastated by losing someone who gave them so much. He gave everyone so much."
Speaking at the Y-3 fashion show in New York, the model told People magazine that she has "only good memories" of Ledger.
Christensen said that she had been travelling to visit Ledger when news of his death broke.
Speaking about how she is coping since his death, she said: "Time passes. It's doesn't make it easier, but you try to do the best you can. When you have a child, they kind of bring you back to the moment in a really comforting way."
"Losing any friend is horrific, but he just has this thing about him - this special, enigmatic thing that I have never met in anyone before."
She also said: "That's what all of his friends are saying. They are totally devastated by losing someone who gave them so much. He gave everyone so much."
John Mayer: 'Guitar Hero Fans Are Fake Wannabes'
John Mayer is not a fan of the game Guitar Hero, because he thinks it makes it easy for untalented people to pretend they are good at playing the instrument.
Jennifer Aniston’s bitter new man claims no game could ever match the enjoyment gained from playing the axe for real.
He tells Rolling Stone: "Guitar Hero was devised to bring the guitar-playing experience to the masses without them having to put anything into it.
“And having done both, there's nothing like really playing guitar. I mean, what would you rather drive, a Ferrari or one of those amusement-park cars on a track?"
He may be able to play a guitar, but that doesn’t mean his songs are any good.
Jennifer Aniston’s bitter new man claims no game could ever match the enjoyment gained from playing the axe for real.
He tells Rolling Stone: "Guitar Hero was devised to bring the guitar-playing experience to the masses without them having to put anything into it.
“And having done both, there's nothing like really playing guitar. I mean, what would you rather drive, a Ferrari or one of those amusement-park cars on a track?"
He may be able to play a guitar, but that doesn’t mean his songs are any good.
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