Entries Tagged 'Music' ↓

About a year and a half ago I was introduced to a Birmingham-based Acid Jazz band called Kanopus. The band was made up of Leo Altarelli and Lizzy Parks on vocals, Tom Robins on guitars, Rob Norman on keys, Ryan Trebilcock on bass, Alan Gardiner on drums and Andy Isherwood on horns. Although I have nothing against Jazz I’ve never been drawn towards it, instead favouring Heavy Metal/Rock, IDM and some experimental music. After listening to the song Only Time will Tell I was hooked. However, like many bands that I’m discovering this band had been defunct for over a year! I got my investigatory hat on to find out what the main players are up to, in the hope that I can discover some similar music!

I did a search online and could only find an abandoned website (currently down) and a MySpace that hasn’t been updated since early 2007 (you can even see a comment left by me). I went to their official website and downloaded a few of their tracks.

I did a bit of snooping around their Myspace page to see if any of the members had joined other acts. I came across Sugar Beats on Myspace (their official website is down), which features almost all of the Kanopus lot, minus Lizzy Parks, and learned that they were doing a gig with Giles Peterson and the Town Hall reopening. Before that, however, through Leo Altarelli’s Myspace page I found that he was doing a gig at The Tower Of Song supporting The Beautiful Word. I managed to go to that gig and it was great! Since moving down to Brighton he’s now getting ready to release his solo album, which is preceded by the release of the song Cabin Fever. He also recently did a gig at the Songwriters Café

I next found some information about Lizzy Parks (again, through Myspace). All I could find when I visited the site in 2007 was that she was releasing an album at some point. This actually happened recently with the album launch as part of Resonance Events. Unfortunately I couldn’t go, but will be getting her album as the previews sound good.

What about the band? Y’know the ones that play instruments. Following the departure of their vocalist Leo Altarelli, Sugar Beats performed at Gigbeth 2007 as The Sub Ensemble. They’ve recently released an EP that features Leo on vocals and also Sara Colman, who performed with Kanopus at ArtsFest in 2006.

So, the next crumb in this trail comes in the form of Leo playing a gig at The Cross in Moseley on 14th. I’ll be going! Maybe through that I can find some other great funk/jazz artists.

All of this investigation is really just an attempt to try and understand a genre of music that is quite alien to me. I’m sure there are many other great Jazz/Funk/Acid Jazz acts out there in the world, and probably quite a few in Birmingham, but I haven’t found them yet…

Gomez, originally uploaded by hellocatfood.

This is how I spend my time, seeing the amazing Gomez! They played an awesome set and it reminded me how much I love their first album

Queens Of The Stone Age, originally uploaded by hellocatfood.

I was at Reading Festival this year dontcha know. It was a great lineup this year, though I’d seen most of the bands already so didn’t both seeing much after RATM and QOTSA on Friday.

What I always find funny is watching the gates to the arena open and the rush of people dashing to the stage:

Dear Birmingham.

In response to your recent plans to demolish the Flapper: I do not want any more fucking shops or luxury apartments or restaurant. Seriously, how many H&M’s or Nando’s’ do you need within a mile radius? Please, just go away and leave our entertainment venues alone!

He is a genius! And here’s why:

Bran Van 3000, originally uploaded by Susan Moss.

Bran Van 3000, who are my all-time favourite band, were playing together for the first time in many many years in Montreal on July 1st. I have to see them before I die, liek srsly! Here’s a video for y’all:

Stars of The Lid, originally uploaded by hellocatfood.

I’ve never really listened to ambient/drone music and never have I seen it performed live. That said, the Stars of The Lid gig at Hare and Hounds was awshum! I think it only lasted about 3 songs, but with each song weighing in at about 8 minutes it’s a good thing that anymore weren’t played.

Definitely great music to sleep/relax to.

kthxbai

Despite not being old enough to have heard it the first time ’round it would seem I really am in love with everything from the early 90’s

This isn’t to say that everything being produced now is a big pile of rubbish. Times change and sounds change. This is just one sound I’d like to hear more of.