Sanguinearts Network Journal

Check out the new single by The Streets: The Escapist.
free download: www.myfreedownload.co.uk/thestreets
video of Mike Skinner walking across France is on You Tube:

Just a quick note to say I've added some of my short phone-films to the website, so check them out here

Anyone on the South Coast is likely to know that its the Stokes Bay Festival this coming weekend, with a bit of an old skool crusty line up featuring the Saw Doctors, the Alabama 3 and the Levellers. I hear that the latter's new record is out in a couple of weeks and is something of a return to form: edgy and political along the lines of 'Levelling the Land'. www.stokesbayfestival.co.uk

Meanwhile in London the Innocent Smoothies Village Fete will be taking over Regents Park. I know where I would rather be, even if it isn't where I end up. www.innocentvillagefete.com

A bit further in the future is a weekend of music on the Southbank celebrating Heavenly Recordings reaching its age of majority. Names mentioned include Doves, Beth Orton, St. Etienne, Ed Harcourt, Edwyn Collins, Dot Allison and more. 12 - 14 Sept www.southbankcentre.co.uk

The Serpentine Gallery's Park Nights (in the Frank Gehry-designed Pavilion) feature a night of lectures, film and live music and performance from artists Steve Claydon, Lis Rhodes and Emily Wardill. 8 Aug from 8pm £5/4 www.ticketweb.co.uk / http://www.serpentinegallery.org/2008/05/park_nights_steven_claydon_lis.html 

Screenings at the Roxy this week include Julian Schnabel's The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (Weds 30th 8pm), and a Heath Ledger tribute double bill on Sunday. Thursday night there is their monthly live night with datapuddle, Tom Munday, Matt Stevens and Blinkin' Lab. www.roxybarandscreen.com

The Courtauld will be bringing together all their Cézannes for a show opening in October. Also in Somerset House from 17 Sept will be a show called Wouldn't it be Nice... Wishful Thinking in Art and Design: seemingly a playful crossover between said disciplines, installation environments and objects created by artists in a spirit of experimentation and play. Features Tobias Rehberger, Ryan Gander and Alicia Framis, amongst others. www.courtauld.ac.uk / www.somersethouse.org.uk

Did I mention Johnny Cash already? well anyway, he is the focus of a photo show at the Proud Central Gallery until 14 Sept. www.proud.co.uk

I hope you're enjoying the Sanguinearts Muxtape: www.sanguinearts.muxtape.com This was a mixed bag of things I had to hand from our broad back catalogue (I think it holds together though), but we hope to make more sound files available soon. The sound archive has stumbled a bit as the free hosting got bought out - we're doing this all on a budget you see - but there are other resources out there when I get the time to look into it...

Some Sanguinearts news: the screening at Tate Modern of the film of Duncan Ward's performance 'Antlers' sadly did not come about. We will still be making this available on DVD once edited and it may be screened elsewhere in future. Duncan continues to work on new performances.

More Sanguinearts music news: there has been some progress on the White Cliff Sands 3rd album, as some editing has been taking place of the recordings made last summer, with plans for some overdubs and further recording. On a similar line, we've been working with some of the negative PANDA archive material to put together a kind of best of sampler. We hope to have something to offer later in the year.

I've made some minor changes to the blog design, and there might be more to come, now that the technology and opportunity seems to be available. One thing you might not have noticed is that you can now receive our blog entries by RSS, direct to your computer desktop via gadgets, on your phone or other such readers.

Being at home with the boy has given me some interesting radio time: With Dizzee's danceable anthem currently at no.1 in the UK charts, and Wiley's 'Wearing my Rolex' tune doing the rounds, its like the grime scene has taken a strange old skool trip and reinvented hip house. Meanwhile my next door neighbour has been working on a comeback for the Rebel MC (remember Street Tuff?). I won't pretend to hate McFly's single, but at least its not like that awful Pigeon Detectives rubbish.

I was pleased to find you can read Art Review magazine online from their website for free. I hope a few other art/music magazines follow suit (although how can they make it economically viable? I suppose the advertisers still get the exposure, and it tends to be 1 issue behind the print version in shops).

Auto Italia South East gallery has a new show on until 3 August: A History of 2 Mountains / One the Original / Two a Copy / Both Equally Heavy II; featuring copies of works by Duchamp, Broodthaers and others. Its off Old Kent Road in a former car garage, opens Sats and Suns. www.autoitaliasoutheast.org

Union gallery has a new show called Tonight Forget About Your Houses and Cars, all about the idea of apocalypse. On until 13 Sept www.uniongallery.com

Catch Susan Hiller's The Last Silent Movie at Matt's Gallery this weekend and next. www.mattsgallery.org

See Mat Collishaw's installation show Shooting Stars at Haunch of Venison before 31 August www.haunchofvenison.com

2007 Turner Prize-nominee Nathan Coley has a sculpture/installation show at the De La Warr Pavillion in Bexhill on Sea until 14 September www.dlwp.com

See a survey of paintings by Keith Coventry (1990s to present day) in the café of the Hiscox insurance group in the city, until 6 Sept http://www.hiscox.com/ViewCMSPage.aspx?viewmode=Live&viewtype=ViewPressReleaseDetail&pressreleaseID=51f8c51a-7f07-4a9a-b8e1-be2b3d26d87e

Two exhibitions at the Camden Arts Centre on Finchley Road: Chantal Akerman film works and Anya Galaccio's sculpture. Both end 14 Sept www.camdenartscentre.org

The Barbican has some interesting music planned for the Autumn: Tricky plays 6 Oct, and a kind of Scott Walker tribute act: his songs from Tilt and Drift, his band, but guest vocalists ( 13 - 15 Nov incl); Herbie Hancock 19 Nov. www.barbican.org.uk

Those of you who know the East End's George Tavern will be pleased to note it escaped being made into trendy flats; This weekend is the Acid Gallery Festival with 3 days of psychadelic soul-pop-punk; and coming up next weekend is the GoMad festival - "3 days of Music, Art and Performance". Find the George Tavern on Facebook or at www.myspace.com/georgetavern (or something like that, they're definitely on there).

Check out the inaugual Sanguinearts Muxtape: http://sanguinearts.muxtape.com

featuring Sanguine, benjamin_sanguine, New Low, White Cliff Sands, Mr Teeth and Saneman

Ok people, it's been a little while so a few things I wish to mention so hopefully I wont take up too much of your time.

Well last night despite locking myself out the house and taking an unexpected day off as a result was pretty good fun - it was open mic down the Fawcett, my good friend Marsha decided to at the last minute step up for her live singing debut and took to the mic with myself on acoustic guitar along with Nick (Cool Bananna, Spiral Architects, Self Inflicted) on the tenor sax and Paul (Spiral Architects) on conga drum part way through. We played a very short improv set of a bluesy nature and it seemed to go ok so hopefully we can try again another time!

Spiral Architects have also been asked last minute to support Self Inflicted tomorrow night (3rd July) again at the Fawcett. We're planning on playing pretty much all our set I believe, and the last time we did so was the post-solstice party recently to a pub full of people who hadnt slept since arriving back from the previous nights antics up at stone hendge, this also included five of the band. Bizarely from what I can gather we seemed to play really well, for the most part, without the sleep deprived passing out which was a bonus. There is a recording so will advise once available for your listening (dis)pleasure.

More music this weekend also comes in the form of a day on the farm with Neil Young, which I will be attending and is mentioned elsewhere on these pages. Neil Young recently has been playing in the region of 2.5 hour sets combining both acoustic and electric performances, so along with an eclectic mix of other bands playing (Primal Scream, Guillemots, Supergrass, Rufus Wainright and more) it should be a great mini-festival.

The recently attended Ministry gig was, although really good, some what lacking in the cross section of all there material as originally billed - instead focusing mainly on the last three anti-Bush driven albums before ending on the classic NWO. The encore should in my mind pulled out the bag some old school Ministry but instead was a number of covers including What a Wonderful World (which lets face it no-one is ever going to do better than Joey Ramones version!). So fairwell to Ministry.

New music...

Aidan Moffat has released an amazingly depressing yet beautiful album in the form of I Can Hear Your Heart. It's a short story, which you have to read the accompanying book in order to set the scene for the spoken word audio disc. It really is amazing, the guy (who for ten years wrote and performed as one half of scottish miserablists Arab Strab) is a genius and as he is also working on a project with Stuart Braithwaite from Mogwai there can only be more in the pipeline.

I had a copy of No Age passed onto me recently too, they are a great band whom prove you can judge some things on appearances. The cd artwork contains lots of old metal bands albums on tape (remember cassettes kids?) and although not a metal band themselves the rawness and catchy riffs make this an album that I haven't got bored of listening to.

Will Oldam has also released a beautiful masterpiece in Lie Down the Light, again under the guise of Bonnie "Prince" Billy this album provides very stripped down songs yet you almost hear something different with each listen.

Sigur Ros have a new album out, which I can't believe I haven't bought yet... I do believe however it will be damn good. It contains their first track sung in English and is produced by either Flood or Youth (I always get those two confused).

Any way, before I start reviewing albums I am yet to purchase I will sign off.

Peace, love, unity.
Mr Teeth

I hope Glastonbury is going well for you. Or any other of the myriad festivals going on right now... I think there is one in my neighbour's garden.... Here's some things to be looking forward to:

Forthcoming Southbank spoken word (as part of London Literature Festival): Mark E Smith (16 July) and Polar Bear (18,19 July) www.southbankcentre.co.uk

Hop Farm Festival in Kent (6 July) looks good: Neil Young, Primal Scream, Supergrass, Rufus Wainright, Guilemots, Laura Marling etc www.hopfarmfestival.com

Hydro Connect festival in Argyll, Scotland (29-31 August) looks good too: Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, Sigur Ros, Manics, Goldfrapp, Grinderman, Spritualized, Mercury Rev, The Coral and many others. www.connectmusicfestival.com

There's still just time to catch the Brockley Open Studios this weekend: www.brockleyopenstudios.co.uk

Whitstable Biennale is on now until 6 July. www.whitstablebiennale.com

Visit the AutoItalia South East Gallery (Old Kent Road) before 5 July to see the show Alles Ist In Ordnung. NB: only open Fridays and Saturdays www.autoitaliasoutheast.org

I'm quite excited that a Richard Prince show has just opened at the Serpentine (until 7 Sept). I'm going to have to explore the easiest route to get a baby in a buggy over there on public transport, without it taking a week. www.serpentinegallery.org

The paintings of Chantal Joffe are at the Victoria Miro Gallery until 2 Aug. www.victoria-miro.com

FutureBluePerfect is a group show at Café Gallery Projects in Southwark Park with the unwieldy moniker of 'new relevancy in outmoded ideologies plucked from the historical recycling bin'. Meanwhile Silentium is a sound installation meditating on Benjamin Britten and Arvo Part. Until 27 July www.cafegalleryprojects.org

This Time Last Year is a show by New York artist Danica Phelps at Ritter/Zamet, featuring a 60ft drawing recording her travels bringing together time, space and emotion. The drawing will be divided up into sections for sale at the end. Until 26 July. www.ritterzamet.com

The Barbican has a show of extravagant Dutch fashion designers Viktor and Rolf, until 21 Sept. Also the film Sid and Nancy starring Gary Oldman is showing there on 8 July www.barbican.org.uk

On now at Tate Modern: Cy Twombly, which is an interesting contrast to their other show Street and Studio, so a full day's worth. until 14 Sept www.tate.org.uk/modern

Martin Creed has been commissioned to produce a work in the central Duveen galleries in Tate Britain, open from Monday www.tate.org.uk/britain

If you're in the South West check out Adam Chodko's neo-conceptual works at Tate St Ives until 21 Sept. I met this guy and he was very pleasant and I like his work. www.tate.org.uk/stives

Also in the West, at the Arnolfini in Bristol there is a show on called Far West which turns the gallery into a 'concept store' with an Eastern flavour, exploring the global cultural and commercial shift to the East. There are also off-site events and films as well as an offsite shop in the Broadmeads shopping centre. www.arnolfini.org.uk

There isn't usually much going on in Portsmouth that catches my attention, but there's an event next week at the University (er, where I work) that looks like it should be worth attending.
As part of the 'British Culture & Society in the 1970s' conference there will be a screening of British avant-garde film. It will be introduced by David Curtis and Steven Ball, and will be followed directly by an interview between Ken Russell and Mark Kermode.
This will be kicking off at 4 pm, with the screening finishing at 5 pm and the interview starting at 6 pm. It will take place in Portland Building at the University of Portsmouth. Entry to the screening is free of charge, but I beleive there is a £5 charge for the interview.
Think I might go along to that one, providing they let me out of work early...

I don't get much in the way of new music these days, but I have been enjoying an album called 'V is for Viagra: The Remixes' by Puscifer. This 'band' actually seems to be a solo-project for Maynard James Keenan, better known for his full-time band Tool. Not that fussed about him or Tool, but I wanted to check out the remix work of people like Paul Barker, Danny Lohner and Dave Ogilvie.
Although it's fairly firmly rooted in 'Alternative Rock', the remixes allow the songs to drift into a nice dark electronic space that owes more to ambient dub and more left-field electronic music.
The two mixes by Lustmord are amongst the most played on my iPod right now.

The Baker Boys - Piedmont Log Rolling

Father and son play beautiful old english folk ballads (with a Norwegian twist?) on guitar and ukelele, accompanied occasionally by a lady also of the Baker clan: a real family affair. Even the sepia-toned artwork with old photos and adverts is by a Baker! They list all the original sources including Slim Dusty and English Folk Dance and Song Society. Its a complete package, and a lovely one at that.

Kluster B: Patton

This EP is now sold out, which is not suprising as its very good, but a shame for those who missed out: you'd better look out for new releases by Kluster B. The tracks seemed to be themed around World War Two: the cover comes from sections of old maps of France (my copy has a bit of Normandy judging by the names, and a circle pencilled around Izel-les-Hameau); the first track is portentiously titled 1937 and the title track has a movie sample I'm sure others will know, featuring an American general briefing his troops for battle with the Nazis. I particularly like the Torque remix of this track, so look out for Torque too.

Thanks Alan and Bearos!
http://www.bearos.co.uk/  www.myspace.com/bearosrecords

Coronary Crumpage 3, The Montague Arms SE15

Having very much enjoyed Coronary Crumpage 1, and having the opportunity of a Thursday night free (and not being bothered to treck up to 93 Feet East for some electronica while the East London Line is closed), Duncan and I dropped in to the Montague for some more Crumpage. This time's flyer looked a the drawings from Duncan's Bone Reverie book. We didn't know any of the bands - Normal Gimbal, The Final Terror and Fulborn Teversham - but members of Acoustic Ladyland and Polarbear were mentioned. In fact it was more like the same band with people coming and going: Normal Gimbal had the woman who seems to be kind of partly running things (who might be called Alice/Alison) and another girl who was the bass player in The Final Terror; Also in TFT was a saxophonist and drummer who also were in Fulborn Teversham with the first singer; keeping up? It seems that the saxophonist and drummer are both from Polarbear and 'Ladyland. Is there some relevance to the FT initials?

We both quite liked the NG songs; I thought there were a bit samey with more than a nod to Bjork, but pretty nonetheless and nice harmonies. I really liked Final Terror, Duncan less so but still liked them; such musicianship without being pretentious. They reminded me a bit of Morviscous, although funkier and heavier. The guitarist pulled some slightly off-putting soloing faces but played a bit like Tom Morello. The bass player was fast and hard with a metallic timbre in a late 70s/early 80s vein. Rochford the drummer is in a special class: funky and hard. At the front was a great sax player who was fond of effects, but sometimes I think he twiddled the knobs a bit too much. They played an very tight and intricate Messaien piece (or at least an interpretation), which really excited the crowd. All round impressive. I didn't stay for much of Fulborn Teversham. They were joined by a very nice keyboardist , who was - in Duncan's opinion, as I wasn't there - a good factor in the otherwise mediocre Invisibles, who played at Crumpage 1 and will headline next month. The Fulborn Teversham songs I saw were a bit warmer and more accessible than Final Terror and not unpleasant. I wasn't amazed, and I'm not sure about the singer, but all praise to them for putting on another great event.

Let's Get Lost Bruce Weber's film tribute to the jazzman Chet Baker has been rereleased and is in cinemas now, including the Barbican. Also on there this weekend is a Tribute to James Brown. www.barbican.org.uk

Next Thursday night at the Whitechapel looks like an interesting one (although lots of great things go on there). There is a film programme called In Media Res, plus the music and spoken word event Littlest Birds, featuring some people we know, including Rita Evans DJ set. www.whitechapel.org

the June Coronary Crumpage at the Montague Arms (Queens Road SE15) features another great line of djs and bands, including The Final Terror (with a member of Acoustic Ladyland) and Fulborn Teversham (with Polar Bear's Seb Rochford) . 5 June from 8pm, £6 or go to www.myspace.com/coronarycrumpage for a flyer.

All the month's Tuesdays the National Gallery are having lunchtime talks at 1pm with a hint of English traditional folk music - sounds amusing.
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/what/events/jun/0306_hiddenvoices.htm

Duncan is to perform at the closing night of the Durling Ward Gallery - 14 June - but I think its going to be invite only. Also there will be bands and other mayhem in the tiny space.

...well kind of: the film of Duncan's performance may be screened at Tate Modern, along with a live improvised Samneric soundtrack, sometime in late June or July. Only a shame its not something we can invite anyone to...

Nice to see Dave a Keith last night, on their way to a Ministry gig at the Forum: we hope to hear all about this soon. Duncan is in Berlin for the Biennale right now, so hopefully we'll hear more about that as well. I tried to visit the Psycho Buildings show at the Hayward yesterday, which looks quite interesting; except that it only opened today. I did enjoy the May 1968 posters greatly, though. www.southbankcentre.co.uk

This Saturday night Jim Bob and Fruitbat are performing in their various non-Carter guises at the infamous Windmill in Brixton. From 5pm, £5 adv./£6 door inc. free bbq. www.wegotickets.com

Venn Festival in Bristol is on 5-8 June featuring Matmos. www.vennfestival.com

See the classic Donnie Darko at the Roxy Bar and Screen on Sunday 1 June from 8pm, then the Kite Runner at the same time on Monday www.roxybarandscreen.com

Just as taster for the full film - not sure if this will be on the web or DVD - here's a little fonefilm of Duncan adjusting his horn in preparation for his performance at the Montague Arms, Peckham 8 May 2008. Sorry if you get a crick in your neck...

Ok, I'm sorry… but self promotion time again people:

SPIRAL ARCHITECTS _ Live! SATURDAY 24th May @ FAWCETT INN SOUTHSEA
FREE ENTRY
Plus Support

For those of you in the know, the Fawcett pub is my second home, and having now played Castle Field and Havana this will be our first full gig at the Fawcett, more than the regular Wednesday night performances as part of the open mic nights. So if you fancy it, and you want to see some hippies, please make yourself known by stepping forward and coming to support the local music scene.

Other info:There's a beer garden
10 minute walk from Fratton train station
We will have power!

Feel free please to invite the world via phone, email, text, facebook, word of mouth, smoke signals, carrier pigeon etc.

Thanks to any one who attended Oxjam where we may have spiralled in and out of randomness due to lack of power after our third song, but hopefully you all enjoyed our set and had a good day out regardless of if you saw us play.

In other Spiral news a September gig is in the pipeline (tbc) supporting Cool Banana @ Havana bar which I will promote nearer the time.

We will also be playing a lunchtime gig in honour of the Summer Solstice, again at the Fawcett, on Saturday 21st June basically for those whom are travelling to the pub having spent the night at Stonehendge - which will include at least half the band… I believe therefore this may be invite only for Stonehendge people and Fawcett regulars - however if you're interested I can find out…

…in the meantime, have fun, be happy.

Peace, love, unity

Spiral Keith/Spiral Lolly

Photos from benjamin_sanguine @ Flux=Rad Friday 28 March 2008 (courtesy of Aaron Shah).
 
 
 
possible benjamin_sanguine/Samneric performance/film action at Tate Modern in June - watch this space to find out more.
 
 
MAY 1968:
STREET POSTERS FROM THE
PARIS REBELLION
This show is at the Hayward Project Space until 1 June.
http://www.parismai68.net/

Artist and film-maker Jesper Just is at the Victoria Miro gallery until 14 June www.victoria-miro.com

Go to the Jerwood Space before Sunday 18th and see the Contemporary Painters show featuring Nadia Hebson. http://www.jerwoodspace.co.uk/documents/AprilE-LETTER08.pdf 

Maria Lassnig's paintings are at the Serpentine until 8 June. Described as 'Bold and Introspective' whilst being avant-garde and feminist, this Viennese has been producing great works in Paris, New York and Vienna for over 60 years.  www.serpentinegallery.org

See Paul Rooney's exhibition La Décision Doypack at the Matt's Gallery until 15 June  www.mattsgallery.org

Moriceau + Mryzk Quantam of Solace is a show at Ritter/Zamet until 14 June and takes its title from the next Bond film. This french art duo have created an environment of circular framed drawings and wall-painted works, silhouettes and illustrations. www.ritterzamet.com

We had a great night at the Montague Arms this week with Duncan giving an excellent performance - film to follow soon.  www.myspace.com/montaguearms

Massive Attack's Meltdown at the Royal Festival Hall features:
Gong 14 June
Yellow Magic Orchestra 15 June
Elbow 16 June
Vangelis' Blade Runner soundtrack played live by the Heritage Orchestra and mixed live by MA 17 June
Stiff Little Fingers, Mark Stewart and Adrian Sherwood / Martina Topley Bird  18 June
Grace Jones / Future Sounds of Hip Hop Featuring Dalek 19 June
Gang of Four 20 June
George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic / Tunng and Leila 21 June
Silent Disco featuring outdoor sets by Kieren Hebden (Fourtet) and Peaches 13, 14, 19-21 June
Also many BFI film screenings including Blade Runner (naturally) and The Night James Brown Saved Boston
All book-ended by performances by MA on 14 and 22 June
http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/festivals-series/meltdown 

Mogwai play the Queen Elizabeth Hall on Monday night, but not surprisingly its sold out. But Seb Roachford's post-jazz group Polar Bear play there on 12 June
http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/music/productions/polar-bear-40691
Next Saturday (17 May) Schlomo and the Vocal Orchestra will perform a 14-piece beatbox choir.
http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/music/productions/shlomo-and-the-vocal-orchestra-39081

For those of you on the south coast, look out for Le Couteau Jaune (my basic french tells me that's The Yellow Knife) will be playing the Southsea Festival in September.
Or if you're in London go to the Vibe Bar (19 May), Brixton Windmill (24 May), Beaconsfield Gallery (with Matmos 7 June), Wetsound Festival Hackney (19 July); and they're at Glastonbury www.myspace.com/lecouteaujaune

Duncan will be doing a performance at the Montague Arms on Thursday 8 May from about 8.30pm. I understand it involves antlers and soap.
www.myspace.com/montaguearms

See you there!

(more blog to follow later in the week)

Well, here I am currently on a train of sorts, I say sorts I know not why as it is a train but the journey is long and after having watched Juno thought I’d write this ‘ere blog.

So Juno, quite a good film, although fairly straightforward storyline. Teenage girl falls pregnant, decides to have the baby but give it up for adoption to a happily married couple who split up for no particular reason and the woman adopts the baby any way whilst the teenage girl realises she is in love with the father but it doesn‘t matter that they no longer have a baby… the end. If you haven’t seen it already I’ve just spoilt it for you, but cool soundtrack so keep an ear out for that.

Going back to the train thing I was on one last Friday too when I made it up to Clapham to see Benjamin_Sanguine perform on stage in what was a rather compelling performance. Nice crowd and a nice little venue, with nice beer which I forget the name of but that’s not important right now… On stage with nothing but combinations of himself, an acoustic guitar, four track mixing desk, harmonica and voice Ben took the audience through a wide cross section of what he is capable of and there wasn’t a track I didn’t enjoy being created in his own personal way. At this point I will also make a quick reference to the guy from Seafood, who’s more straight forward musical approach was also compelling, with the highlight being the slowest cover version of I Wanna be Sedated by Ramones ever.

Talking gigs, Spiral Architects took the Havana audience through a forty minute musical journey the other weekend performing our complete repertoire and it seemed to go down pretty well with only a handful of minor hiccups (too much feedback during the tabla/didgeridoo track). It was well received and thanks to any one who made it. I am also pleased to announce we are playing Oxjam festival on Castle Field Southsea on 26th April, which is gonna be so cool. Although it’s not long off I’m not sure exact plan or line up as yet so will leave that to another time. I may just be out of touch but for a raising awareness gig in honour of Oxfam it doesn’t seem to be particularly over publicised so please check out www.oxfam.org to find a number of other events set to take place across the country.

What else have we had recently, well Dave and I went to Buck 65 which I think he should do the review for but needless to say neither of us were disappointed. Other recent musical listens/purchases have come in the form of Ministry, which is really great album but just slightly hindered by the fact they have got to a point of just churning out the same ole thing. The new un-cheery album by Malcolm Middleton is fantastic, and I’ve lost count how many times I’ve played it. Bizarrely I’ve only just got into Seasick Steve recently, who’s raw honest and lo-fi blues have given me faith that there are other true blues players out there waiting to be discovered… although once upon a time Ben did point out one mans blues is another mans hip-hop and such like.

Right then, the ticket man is coming to check tickets so on that note I shall sign off for this blog I think.

Laters
Mr Teeth

Jim Bob gigs coming up...

A big thank you to everyone who came to see my performance at Flux=Rad just over a week ago. In particular thanks to Sangiunearts affiliates Matthew Douglas (aka Matty Windup from early Samneric recordings) and Keith Sandys (aka Mr Teeth, with whom I collaborated on a tape/distance project, also of White Cliff Sands and Spiral Architects, who played a gig at the Havana in Portsmouth - Keith: how 'bout an update on how that went?).

I played a few songs from my previous recordings:
1. acapela and maracas version of Bowie's 'Oh You Pretty Things'
- Keith: I still forgot to give you the maracas back! mistaken taken last July when recording towards White Cliff Sands III, which will come out eventually...
2. tape/guitar/voice improvisation using samples from Windows and 'Panic in Needle Park (an early Pacino film).
3. spoken word version of Utopias from the aforementioned tape/distance project 'Fabricated Memories and Future Notes', accompanied with tape noise and samples (including Brian Eno).
4. a version of Hand to Mouth (Duncan's Organ) [from my album Bontempi 9 recorded for Duncan], without the organ, just guitar vocals and harmonica. I had to play the harmonica, drop it and then continue playing the guitar still in time - I managed to thump the mic and give a massive feedback howl! Unfortunately I also messed up the third verse which goes:
This is it, Duncan's Organ:
It's better than a TV,
but he's got one of those too,
but he doesn't use it
5. Finished with Find Your way Home - a straight guitar and vocals song which I've been playing around with for several years.

The feeback from various quarters was good, and I was invited to come back by my good friends in Flux=Rad; but I'd like to have been less nervous and made less mistakes. It was certainly very different for the beautiful but straight and traditional fare offered after me; which might be why some of the audience were not so into the tape stuff. But that's what I do, so perhaps there are other nights or other forums for my stuff. I definitely plan to do more gigs in time, and have practised more...

If you were there please send us your photos!

Duncan and I went to a night called Coronary Crumpage at the infamous Montague Arms in New Cross. Simon Bookish was playing along with bass, drums, farfisa and tenor, soprano and alto saxophonists (instead of just laptop): amazing! also amazing were the first band Micachu and the Shapes: drums, keyboard and a singer who was playing an amplified toy guitar. They had a flavour of post-punk, the singer reminded me of Justine Frischmann. I missed the main band, I think Duncan stayed on. I got a CD which is good, but as ever is not as good as they were live. I think we might go again next month (Thurs 1 May).

Lou Reed plays his full Berlin album with a full orchestra, choir and film backdrop at the Albert Hall 30 June

A Place to Bury Strangers tour the UK in May, including:
Barfly Weds 7th
Industry Thurs 8th
Koko (Club NME) Fri 9th
ATP Camber Sands Sun 11th
Legion Mon 12th
Madame Jo Jos Tues 13th
Brighton Great Escape Festival Friday 16th
...and others further afield.
www.aplacetoburystrangers.com

Whitechapel nights coming up:
Duke of Uke Fri 11 April - Acoustic sounds
The Delinquents Thurs 17 April -  spoken word
The Wire: Below the Radar Fri 18 April - featuring Jason Pierce from Spiritualized
www.whitechapel.org

Tindersticks play Royal Festival Hall on Sat 3 May www.southbankcentre.co.uk

Blood on Paper: The Art of the Book opens this weekend at the V&A. Artists featured include Louse Bourgeois, Damien Hirst and Robert Rauschenberg amongst many other notables. http://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/future_exhibs/blood_on_paper/index.html

Last chance to see Jarman at Serpentine and Rodchenko at Hayward this weekend.
www.serpentinegallery.org | http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/minisites/rodchenko/ 

Lucy Skaer 'The Siege' at Chisenhale Gallery until 4 May www.chisenhale.org.uk

Things that go Bump in the Night is a group show at the Cafe Gallery in Southwark Park, featuring The Centre of Attention.  until 4 May www.cafegalleryprojects.org

Michael Barney's Cremaster Cycle is on at the Barbican 18 May www.barbican.org.uk

Inka Essenhigh's mysterious paintings are Victoria Miro until 2 May www.victoria-miro.com

There is one name which is defining this spring and its Derek Jarman. See his films all across London including The Gate Cinema in Notting Hill and Picturehouse cinemas; go to the exhibition at the Serpentine curated by film artist Isaac Julien (until 13 April); see the films in the Lightbox space at Tate Britain (5 April to 1 June). http://www.serpentinegallery.org/2007/04/derek_jarman_curated_by_isaac.html

Coming of Age: American Art 1850s to 1950s is on now at the Dulwich Picture Gallery until 8 June.
http://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk

The Courtauld Institute's 8th East Wing Collection is on now, displayed throughout the academic areas, featuring Mark Wallinger, Antony Gormley, and lots of no doubt more interesting new artists.
www.eastwing8.co.uk

Contemporary painter Natasha Kissell's show The Hours is on at Eleven Fine Art from 26 March to 26 April. http://www.elevenfineart.com

Go to Tate Britain and see the Neoclassical Sculpture; or rather, don't look that close but just absorb the atmosphere of the darkened Duveen galleries; and see the greta Peter Doig exhibition.
www.tate.org.uk/britain

There is an exciting season of films on at Tate Modern as part of two concurrent themes: Paradise Now! Essential French Avant-garde Cinema 1890-2008 (from Dada and Duchamp to May 68 and contemporary artists), and 1, 2, 3...Avant-garde Film, Art Between Experiment and Archive (Polish avant-gardes over the last 80 years). Other film events include Warhol's Blow up (10 April) and Cindy Sherman's Office Killer (11 May).
http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/eventseducation/film/
Also on now is the latest Leve 2 Gallery show: Here We Dance.
Coming up in May at Tate Modern is an interesting-sounding photography show called Street & Studio: An Urban History of Photography, which features Diane Arbus, Beaton, Cartier-Bresson, Mapplethorpe, Tillmans and many more. 31 May Cornelia Parker will talk about her work at TM's Starr Audiorium