This is our first attempt at a stunt podcast, live from a festival.  We go to festivals and I am trying to figure out how much work I can make for myself without taking the fun out of the festival for myself, or just generally trying too hard.

I didn’t really set up any interviews this time around – no, not even Billy Bragg – but I did manage to grab Mark from emerging Glasgow band The Seventeenth Century for a chat.  The audio is terrible, I’m afraid, but it should be just about audible.  If I’d been able to locate the keys for the Toad van at that point we’d have gone in there, just for a respite from the wind noises on the recording and the colossal amount of bleed from the main stage.

In any case, it should be entertaining enough, I hope, and with a bit of luck subsequent attempts at the same thing will be a lot better.

Toadcast #79 – The Wickerman

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01. The Cave Singers – Beach House (04.04)
02. Julian Plenti – The Fun That We Had (07.31)
03. The Second Hand Marching Band – Mad Sense (15.37)
04. The Seventeenth Century – Mid October (22.59)
05. Celebrity Chimp – Pornstar (35.37)
06. The Lemonheads – The Outdoor Type (40.00)
07. The Human League – All I Ever Wanted (47.11)
08. The Go Team! – Feelgood by Numbers (50.25)
09. Meursault – Lament For a Teenage Millionaire (59.16)

Celebrity Chimp are more of an experience than just a band.  Watching them play live, as they basically act like total bastards towards one another, and as the pink and black-clad crowd leap around like muppets, I am actually reminded of what music was like when, instead of the internet destroying recorded music, recorded music was destroying live music.

Because Celebrity Chimp seem to be about more than just putting their albums on the record player.  The extreme piss-taking mixed with the tiniest hint of seriousness in their songs actually requires that they become a shared joke.  Watching the band bicker amongst themselves like an old, married threesome on stage, that wink of understanding between audience and performer again becomes obvious.  If you get them, you actually almost have to become one of them.

For those of us who do not live in London, however, the music has to survive on its own merits, which it does with aplomb.  You can, actually, just stick ‘em on like a pop song and hum along.  The hooks and the rhythm are infectious and basically the whole thing is just one fucking great pile of boisterous fun.  You can’t avoid the lyrics though, and the first time you listen you will inevitably find yourself thinking ‘What the fuck are they going on about?’  But then, that’s a large part of the point.

This is a five-song EP of banjo punk joy, and you’d be a fool to miss it.  And if you can see them live you really, really should.

Celebrity Chimp – Porn Star

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Celebrity Chimp – Kasia (This isn’t on the EP, but I wanted another song to give you more of a taster, and two from a five-track EP seemed a little cheeky.)

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Hello You.

This Wednesday 24th December (Christmas Eve, naturellement), at or around abouts 10pm GMT (USA: 2pm PST + 3pm MST + 4pm CST + 5pm EST; Europe: 11pm CET), splashed all over the interwaves via the usual birdshit splatter pattern, for your listening consideration, will be The Waiting Room Christmas Eve 3hr Best Of 2008 Round-Up Show.

On this very (quite, in this case, literally) Eve we, one half of Drunk Country & The Woman of The House, will be dishing out thoughtfully considered Gold Guitar Pick of Excellence ‘Awards’* to the lucky Nominee(s) what is found to be the Best Of in their particular category.

It’s almost like a real end of year music award’s show but with less drinking & no Gallagher brothers.

Below, then, is the list of Categories & Nominees, 34 Artistes + 34 Songs. We have rather cruelly (although this is clearly a cynical attempt at injecting some tension into the proceedings) refrained from listing the Nominees in the last 2 Categories. Those will be revealed on the night. Mwah, I believe, Ha Ha, indeed, Ha.

So, there you go.  This took us AGES to compile from thousands of songs listened to & playlisted over the whole of this past year. *PHEW* just does not cut it. 2008 was simply awash with brilliance, surprises, genius & plain old breathtaking musicalisation. Oh, & singing.

The list, then:

Best “What The Fuck Was That?!”

1) Celebrity Chimp – Celebrity Chimp

2) The Just Joans – Hey Boy… You’re Oh So Sensitive

3) Aidan John Moffat – Cunts

4) Eagleowl – Motherfucker

5) The Theatre Fire – Coyote

6) Joe Rodger & The Velcro Quartet – Suddenly They Realised…

Best Cover Versions

1) Robin Grey – There’s A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis (Kirsty MacColl cover)

2) Erlend Ropstad – 7 (Prince cover)

3) The Miserable Rich – Over & Over (Hot Chip cover)

4) Taken By Trees – Sweet Child O’ Mine (Guns ‘n’ Roses cover)

Best Contenders for a Bond Theme

1) Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan – Come On Over (Turn Me On)

2) The Last Shadow Puppets – In My Room

3) Get Well Soon – You/Aurora/You/Seaside

4) Hour Of The Shipwreck – Unclouded Eyes

Best Emotional Blackmail

1) Porlolo – Turning On Heels

2) Samantha Crain & The Midnight Shivers – Beloved, We Have Expired

3) The Dø – Stay (Just A Little Bit More)

4) Meaghan Smith – 5 More Minutes

5) Ane Brun – Don’t Leave

6) Plants & Animals – Bye Bye Bye

Best Pound Down The Back of The Sofa

Nominees 1-8 = a big fat question mark

Best Song of 2008

Nominees 1-6 = a bigger, fatter question mark

The podcast will be available, as we say, sometime tomorrow around 10pm (we have very limited access where we are headed for the holidays, so bear with us).

It remains only for us to wish every one of you all the very best this Christmas holiday & to remind you that our 3hr New Year’s Eve 2008 Jukebox show will be on (just like the title reads) Wednesday 31st December, from 10pm-1am GMT. See the New Year in with us, why don’t you?  (Yah, fucking right…).

Thanks for tuning in & listening. It’s been a heck of a year.

MC & a HNY,

½DC + TWoTH

*when we say ‘Awards’, what we really mean is  we will email a picture of a solid Gold Guitar Pick of Excellence – we’re not that unhinged that we’d actually fork out for 6 solid gold plectrums. Jesus, no.

Remember my pals Celebrity Chimp who played at the Toad Records launch night, back in July? Well they have a very shiny new video indeed for their song Not a Man. It was directed by Alex Puigcerver – pronunciation guesses, anyone? – and is bloody brilliant. Their Chimp Nights in London look like they’re doing incredibly well, and there are rumours of an EP release in the not too distant future.

MySpace video doesn’t embed on WordPress unfortunately, so you’ll have to click here to view it, but have no fear – it will not be a wasted trip. For those interested, here is a demo version of the original song:

Celebrity Chimp – I’m Not a Man
Celebrity Chimp – Pornstar

In other videographical news Love.Stop.Repeat, who played a private pre-opening party at the Bowery, Ediburgh’s splendidest new venue, the other week are back to play the actual opening party on Saturday. They have a mini album available from Fence Records (currently sold out, but more available here shortly) about which I was initially a little ambivalent. Their performance at the Bowery was so lovely, however, that I am now revisiting the record, and I think I was far too hasty. It’s really rather lovely and you should buy one as soon as they make some more.

Anyhow, they have a video blog on YouTube about their trip to Edinburgh and Anstruther last week, which includes footage of the Bowery show and an excerpt of an excellent Neutral Milk Hotel Cover. Watch enjoy, then come and see them on Saturday.

Love.Stop.Repeat – Secrets & Slumber
Neutral Milk Hotel – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

Gosh, that was fun. Exhausting, nerve-wracking and monumental hangover-inducing, but it was certainly fun.

The Meridian is a small place, so it filled up pretty quickly (which was an enormous relief). Then again, that was the precise reason I chose that particular pub – I’m not daft! Morgan – the man who is Song, by Toad TV – helped me charge round charity shops during the day frantically accumulating china tea sets, old lamps, anything that would give the place a bit of Toadly character. The piece de resistance ended up being an oddly sinister-looking doll in a large bird cage but, erm, oh just don’t ask!

The teacups were put to use as gin receptacles. For a tenner you could buy a teapot of gin & tonic (five shots – bargain) and then you helped yourselves to cups and thus was gin imbibed in biblical quantities. It was a bit fucking ridiculous, but then that was the idea. We wanted it to be fun. Apparently the mix was a little strong for some but that, I’m afraid, is how an amphibian takes his medicinals.

The place looked brilliant, loads of people came, the atmosphere was great – I had a fucking brilliant time.  The only blot on the landscape was the fact that the carefully constructed between-bands mixes I asked my friends to make were nixed by a computer meltdown, so we had to be rescued by Alex the sound guy’s iPod.  Fortunately, this more than did the trick, but apologies to JC and Andy for wasting all your effort.

The performances were excellent.  The Byrons made a right fucking racket to wake everyone up, Meursault‘s largely acoustic set was gorgeous, and then Celebrity Chimp rounded off the night superbly.  I’ve never seen them live before and I’ve been humming their songs ever since.  Fucking brilliant they were, and it was great to have the chance to bring something a bit different to the Edinburgh live circuit.  As I said to a few too many people at the time (I was very drunk and clearly pleased with myself over the turn of phrase) ‘none of yer agit-folk here, lads’.

Apart from that, it was really, really nice how many people turned up to support us.  Thanks to all of you for making the effort.  It was a bit like a wedding in the sense that I never got the chance to properly talk to half the people I wanted to, but I really am chuffed that you all made the effort to come along.  Nightjar album release party in July, everyone?  I promise to stay a little more sober.

Perhaps.

The Byrons – Azerbaijan
Meursault – The Furnace
Celebrity Chimp – Swingers

Of course there is one and only one gig worth attending in Edinburgh this week: the Song, by Toad Records Launch Party! It is the official line of this publication that no other gigs are even happening, never mind worth turning up to. Some arse has managed to sneak in some rogue listings at the bottom of the page, but believe me he will be hunted down and given a severe beating before the day is up.

It would be great to see as many of you as possible at the launch party. This is as nerve-wracking as it is exciting, so get there nice and early for your free sampler (only 25 to go round) and help us celebrate in a bit of style.

Wednesday 11th June 2008: We See Lights & Woodenbox & Emily Scott at the Wee Red Bar.
It’s all a bit folky at this month’s Trampoline gig. We See Lights are not a group I can tell you that much about, but Emily Scott’s stuff is gorgeous and Woodenbox were terrific at the T-Break Heats in Glasgow a month or so ago. It won’t be as much fun as the Toad Records Launch Night of course, but it will tide you over well enough.
Woodenbox – Situations

Wednesday 11th June 2008: Jonquil & The Occasional Flickers & Wounded Knee at Henry’s Cellar Bar.
It’s an eclectic lineup from The Gentle Invasion, with rising quirk-folksters Jonquil, pastoral indie band The Occasional Flickers and experimental soundscaper Wounded Knee all bringing something quite different to the evening. The one common thread is perhaps the laid back, comfortable vibe that should pervade, so for all it won’t be as good as the Song, by Toad Records Launch Night, it should be an enjoyable gig nevertheless.
Jonquil – Apparency
The Occasional Flickers – A Medal Won in ’84

Friday 13th June 2008: Alex Cornish at Cabaret Voltaire.
Having played material from his debut album When the Traffic Stops both solo and with a four-piece band, Alex has finally decided to procure a string quartet to bring the full depth of his sound to the live stage at last. It should be really good, this, but don’t get too drunk because you don’t want to be hung over at the excellent Song, by Toad Records Launch Party the following day.
Alex Cornish – Counting Chimney Pots

Saturday 14th June 2008: Rags & Feathers & Ziggy Campbell & Les Enfant Bastard at Henry’s Cellar Bar.
Of course none of you will be at this, as you’ll all be at the Song, by Toad Records Launch Party. But should you be so scurrilously disloyal as to go along, then feel free to swing by Leith afterwards and brandish your stamp for free entry. You may just be able to catch Meursault (10pm – unlikely) and Celebrity Chimp (11pm – probably) if you’re quick. Ziggy Campbell is the Found frontman, and Les Enfant Bastard are possibly the living embodiment of anti-folk. Rags & Feathers I know nothing about at all, but follow the MySpace link and enlightenment is yours for the taking.
Les Enfant Bastard – U R My Fucking Sunshine U Cunt

Saturday 14th June 2008: Celebrity Chimp & Meursault & The Byrons play the Song, by Toad Records Launch Party, at The Meridian, Leith.
There is surely no way I need to tell you any more about this, but even if you don’t give a shit about the label or my own endeavours or any of that stuff – and of course, there’s no reason that you should – then you may wish to come down to see the bands anyway, as this is a really excellent lineup. More details here if you want them; hope to see you there.
Celebrity Chimp – Plastic Girl

Sunday 15th June 2008: The Twilight Sad, Broken Records & Meursault at the Bongo Club.
What finer way to nurse your prodigious hangover after the night of your life at the Song, by Toad Records Launch Night than by spinning round to see Broken Records and Meursault, probably Edinburgh’s two best bands at the moment, supporting swirling noise-merchants The Twilight Sad at the Bongo Club. It won’t be as much fun as the night before, but then, you probably just couldn’t take that much joy in one weekend anyway.
The Twilight Sad – Watching That Chair Painted Yellow

Yes indeed it is finally that time, and we are about ready to kick off Song, by Toad Records.  Click on the flyer (right) for more details.

Basically we’re going to have a silly great party at the Meridian in Leith (basically head down towards the Foot of the Walk, and it’s on the left in that run of low red buildings) and I’ve invited some of my favourite bands to join in the fun.  I’m also going to be giving away about twenty or thirty free Song, by Toad compilations to the first arrivals, with sampler tracks from our own label as well as hopefully some contributions from Toad pals like Bear Scotland and Fife Kills.  Basically, it will be a bloody good CD, and I’ll do a nice cover for it too.

Celebrity Chimp are coming up from London, partly because Andy is also in Nightjar, which will be our first release.  Meursault are playing because a/ they’re fucking brilliant and b/ we’re looking to do a 7″ release with them later in the year.  And last but not least The Byrons are playing because, erm, well just because they’re fantastic really.

We’ve got the bar until 1am too, so there’ll be plenty of good music.  I’m going to try and steer clear of moaning indie rock too, however cutting edge, and ask a good friend of mine to make a Motown compilation, I’m going to ask my old mate JC from The Vinyl Villain to put together a rarities and oddities compilation, and there’ll be some good old circus mayhem music as well.  We may even get sensible later in the night and play some normal party music, but I kind of doubt that somehow.  Where’s the fun in that, eh?

So pass this on to your friends and please do come down and support us on the 14th.  It’s going to be tremendous fun, and I can’t wait to see the Chimps live.

Celebrity Chimp – Swingers
Meursault – The Dirt & the Roots
The Byrons – Azerbaijan

Well we know that Andy – one half of the Nightjar songwriting team – is currently banjo-bothering in London’s finest satirical drums and banjo combo Celebrity Chimp, but what of The Other One?  The Other One is a certain Mr. Jack Richold and he was responsible for the more delicate songs on that album.

Well I met up with Jack for the first time the other night to discuss the Nightjar release and he gave me a four song demo CD of the stuff he’s been working on in the past year, including two re-recordings of songs on The Moth Trap.  I don’t know much about Jack or his music beyond the Nightjar stuff, but these are absolutely gorgeous.  It’s a similar gently hushed folk music to his contributions to The Moth Trap, so perhaps not for the punk rockers in the audience, but for those of you who appreciate this sort of thing you won’t find much better.  The re-working of Lady of the Calico is utterly beautiful, and that little bit of female vocal he’s added is a masterstroke.

Without having seen him play live there’s not much more I can tell you, but I promise to sort that out as soon as I possibly can.

Jack Richold – Lady of the Calico
Jack Richold – Mary Morri

It took DC to introduce me to Langhorne Slim, when I first played Celebrity Chimp on these pages.  I don’t think I’d ever have explored him without some prompting because the name conjures up redneck cowboy country to me, and I avoid that music like the plague.  Thank fuck some people have more sense than I do.

It’s not redneck cowboy music by any means, but it’s got a touch of honky-tonk, a little country, some American folk and god knows what else.  It’s very traditional in that sense, but such a mish-mashed reinterpretation of those traditional things that the blanket term ‘Americana’ is about the best I think I can come up with.

This self-titled release is a truly great album.  The pace is so varied, you are taken from ragamuffin barroom clatter to wistful country-flecked balladry in moments – all engaging, spirited and powerful.  He’s a New Yorker, a couple of years younger than my little brother, but he gives the impression of a veteran with a significant back catalogue.  I was so fooled I went looking for one, and bar a few bits and pieces it just isn’t there.

His voice is forceful, but scratchy and vulnerable enough to make his sadder songs really touching.  For the most part however, the pace of this music is more driving than that, even the unhappier songs full of sound and pushing forwards with purpose, making it a real toe-tapping, swirling, joy of a record.  Huzzah for the Americana, this week.  I was sure I used to be an indie-kid.

Langhorne Slim – Rebel Side of Heaven
Langhorne Slim – Hummingbird

myspace | hype | amazon

My pals Celebrity Chimp have been up to mischief once more, with four new songs making an appearance on their MySpace page.

They’re bastards, Celebrity Chimp, because the songs they write border on being novelty tracks – Pornstar, Too Pretty For Prison, Swingers, you get the gist – but it is definitely possible to read each and every one as genuinely barbed social commentary.  Why is this bad, you wonder?  Well because it might easily be total bollocks.

Both Andy and Tom are quite capable of writing songs that are simply irreverent and daft just for the fun of it, with no satire involved.  That said, they are both equally capable of lacing more pointed meanings with just enough slightly surreal fluff to disguise it and keep you guessing.

More specifically, they are almost certainly reading this and sniggering to themselves, which is why they are bastards.  How serious are they being?  Well it’s almost certainly that quintessentially British approach of being both 100% serious and completely tongue in cheek at exactly the same time.  And then chuckling to yourself when people don’t quite know what you mean.  Like I said, bastards.

Oh, and the tunes are fucking excellent as well.  Total bastards.

Celebrity Chimp – Swingers
Celebrity Chimp – Celebrity Chimp