Don't ask me why I used a picture of Wayne and Garth on this post I just... well the roadies in their movies were the most memorable, and this post is about touring and stuff, and I couldn't find a picture of a Wayne's World roadie quickly so I thought fuck it. Anyhow, two bits of news: Meursault are touring the UK and Europe as Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's main support. Rob St. John is playing SHHH Festival and opening for Bonnie Prince Billy in Oxford [...]
For this podcast I am joined by Ian, who is now a member of the Song, by Toad Records team, to go through a bit of a run-down of what's going to be happening on the label this year. We've got a couple of our more recent releases, like Rob St. John and Lil Daggers, as well as some of our confirmed and ready new albums for next year, by the likes of The Leg, Jesus H. Foxx and Yusuf Azak. I've also got a couple of tracks from bands we'll be releasing on a split [...]
It's hard for friends to understand when I try explaining to them this absolute nausea I feel about New Year's Eve. I go out, I appreciate being around the friends... I'm happy enjoying the moment with them, yet in the back of my mind is a swelling sadness, a wave so huge that by the [...]
As per last year we shall once again be streaming the Song, by Toad New Year's House Gig live for those of you who are either at home sick or in a different time zone and hence grateful of the entertainment. Again, as the player slows the whole page down I'll put it below the break, so just click through and you'll be able to see Kev from River of Slime play a short set around 10pm, Neil from Meursault play solo acoustic from about 10:45pm and then another half hour set (or so) from Kev at about [...]
The guys from La Blogotheque have been incredibly supportive of both Song, by Toad and, in particular, Meursault over the last few years, but due to their living in Paris and I in Scotland I've never actually met them in person. Nevertheless, on their last European tour Meursault managed to finally take advantage of their long-standing invitation to record a session, although it was something of a stretch to actually manage it. Having played their last show in Berlin the night before, and with a ferry booking later in the afternoon, Sam drove for eleven hours [...]
Okay, angry mob of the Toad readership, do your very worst. Today, as promised, is the day we vote on our five favourite songs of the year so there will be no foolish questions as per usual, but what there will be is the chance for you to write down your favourite songs, in no particular order, and I will count them up and find out which songs the readers of Toad have enjoyed the most this year. There aren't any real rules, although the song should have been released in 2011. And also, just to help me [...]
When I was initially asked to take part in the Blog Sound of 2012, which was being presented not as a criticism of the BBC Sound of 2012, but as an alternative, I had my reservations. Was it really necessary? In light of the unveiling of the BBC list today, I would have to say that, yes, it probably was. Just to calm down and put things in perspective quickly; the world is still revolving. The "BBC Sound of" is not, despite the claims of George Ergatoudis, "the definitive annual list of exciting new artists to look out for", it [...]
Well the BBC have their list, the BAMS sort of have theirs and now we have ours: hot tips for bands to make it big in 2012, in this case as chosen by a selection of music bloggers designed to give a decent cross-section of opinions and some sort of reasonable alternative to the pap peddled on the Beeb. Now, to be entirely fair, although it is easy to make fun of the BBC's Sound of 2012 list ( here it is , so you can compare, contrast and make snide remarks on Twitter), it's not something I [...]
Every year the BBC makes up a list of what it thinks is "the definitive annual list of exciting new artists to watch out for" - as the list has been created by a number of industry "tastemakers". They've been doing this for years, and I've been commenting at various points along the route. This year, however, 32 of the finest music blogs around have come together to pick our favourites for the coming year. We've been wading through neck deep in the hype, and each picked five highlights for the next year, and [...]
If you're not a fan of end of year polls, then I would suggest you give this site a wide berth for the next month or so, as I have loads of features coming up. Don't say I didn't warn you! To kick it all off though we have a special feature which was organised by The Von Pip Musical Express blog, who asked me to be involved in a project where a number of UK bloggers were asked for their tips for 2012. The poll was organised to coincide with the BBC's official sound of 2012 which [...]
Over the last 15 days Breaking More Waves has been publishing its very own selection of artists, musicians and bands that it believes are Ones to Watch for 2012 . New act tip lists seem to get more numerous every year and none is more ubiquitous than the BBC Sound of list, which we will be posting our thoughts on separately in a few weeks, after our traditional run down of our favourite ten albums of 2011. [...]
Last year my good self ( Andy Von Pip) Robin from "Breaking More Waves" and Simon from "Sweeping The Nation" were discussing the merits of the BBC's annual "Sound Of" taste-maker predictions. It was forensically dissected and we expressed pleasure yet also horror at some of the artists long listed – but the question that kept coming back was thus - did they really reflect the zeitgeist? Did they represent the best that new music has to offer? " I mean seriously, is Jessie J the sound of anything other than a badger going through a mincer [...]
The BBC Sound Of 2012 poll has been described as " the definitive annual list of exciting new artists to watch out for ". It's a poll that The Recommender has proudly been asked to vote on for the last three years, which not only helps confirm music blogs as an established media within the music industry, but more importantly it helps us to do the one thing that we're here for - to help people discover great new music. However, this year there exists a parallel poll, a non-definitive list if you [...]
Firstly, a big, big thank you to everyone who came out to see Withered Hand, Samantha Crain and Mike MacFarlane (who now goes by the name of Flash Jr.) last night. It was bloody amazing. I want to start a campaign to get more big bands to Henry's to play a wee sweatbox gig with the crowd standing mere inches away from them. Anyway, due to Thanksgiving dinner and parental visitation reasons, I didn't get the chance to record the podcast this weekend, so I shall do it this afternoon, once I have posted this. And [...]
So, the 200th podcast. I remember a couple of years ago when the 100th ticked past, it happened to be a Toad Session, and as those are pre-recorded with little idea when they'll fit into the sequence of Toadcasts I never really marked the milestone in any sort of a way. This time around I was very much conscious of it, but still couldn't really think of a way to make it interesting and, on Thursday night, with no real plan, I just sat down to have a go at editing a compilation consisting of at least one [...]
In this special, Friday edition: The Wiggles get Rewiggled , discover Analog Rebellion, and we resume our Blogophilia re-posts with Volume 18. Rewiggled? If you've had a child in the past twenty years (or if you've been one in the last twenty), it's hard not to go by a bowl of fruit salad and proclaim it as yummy, yummy. Thanks to the Disney Channel, The Wiggles have left an indelible mark on children worldwide. It's hard to believe this Aussie act is 20 [...]
Malky from eagleowl asked if a friend of his could come along to Rob St. John's album launch the other week and take some pictures. Well he did, and despite the lighting being a bit of a challenge, they've turned out beautifully. The gentleman in question is Iain Stewart, whose website is here , and here is a small selection of pics from Pilrig the other week. Thanks - they look fantastic!
If you get this in time, then turn off the internet and scarper down to the Queen's Hall right now, as they will be screening the Sigur Ros movie INNI tonight, starting at 19:30, with live performances by Meursault and Withered Hand immediately afterwards. And as for the rest of the week's gig round-up, it's actually quite an eclectic one this week, with noise, classical and antifolk on the calendar, all within a few days of one another. But enough chit-chat, I need to shower and get out the door quick-smart or I shall miss the [...]
Photos by Sarah Dorman It's been a while since the Edinburgh based band Meursault released their fine second album All Creatures Will Make Merry , and tonight's gig, which comes at the end of a string of dates in Europe, gives them a chance to showcase some songs from the follow-up. Before all that though, main support Dark Captain treat us to a well received set of melodic indie-folk. It took a few songs for them to make an impact on me, but the current single 'Submarines' [...]
The above photo is of the Palm House in Edinburgh's Botanic Gardens, and was taken and passed on to me by Dylan, of Blueback Hotrod legend. And given that the weather outside is all kinds of shit I thought there would be a sort of bitter irony in using it today. See - that's how nice Edinburgh can be, so what the fuck is this pissing rain all about? Anyhow, traditional British whingeing aside, it's going to be a pretty bloody mental week this week. Thursday is going to be a particular swine, what with the awesome David [...]
Song, by Toad
Heycoolkid!
Not Many Experts
The Blue Walrus
Peenko
Breaking More Waves
The VPME
THE RECOMMENDER
The Dadada
The 405
The Best Whitney Houston Covers: A Tribute
Clive Davis Cancels Pre-Grammy Party After Whitney Houston’s Death
