See that lonesome figure on the right (click to enlarge)? That’s me, that is, in online virtual world Habbo. It’s one of those social networking sites, but it’s for younger folk around the age of 13 - 16. I’m a bit older than that, which is why I had to don a disguise of bunny ears and sunglasses. Now I resemble a twisted predator. Such is life.
Habbo is going to host a gig by punk-pop lot The Subways from Monday, which was recorded at Hammersmith Working Men’s Club recently. It will be streamed on Habbo from Monday 25th August to Wednesday August 27th, so if you want to see it you’ll need to make your own wee avatar like me. I’m just stood staring at the wall at the mo, so I could do with a friend.
If you’re wondering what The Subways’ new song sounds like, you can check it out over the page in videotacular fashion. It’s called “I Won’t Let You Down”, reassuringly. Visit Habbo
I love this version of Neil Young’s song, to the extent that the original just makes me impatient for the plinky-plink-plink-plinky of Saint Etienne’s cover. I’d never seen the video until just now, and-
Oh my God. Sarah Cracknell in the shower.
Time was when bands on the road would spend their “downtime” in debauched pursuits, hardly any of which required the use of pencils, paper and rubbers (well, maybe rubbers). In case you were in any doubt that those days are gone, check out what Girls Aloud have been up to in between tour dates.
On their recent “Tangled Up” tour, after entertaining zillions of people of an evening, the girls rushed offstage to get their pencil cases and started scribbling away to create designs for t-shirts that would best represent them as “personalities”. The t-shirts are in support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation UK, which is a charity for sick kiddies.
She’s showing off her huge ring at “National Sausage Week” in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain. (click to enlarge, if you’re weird like that)
[image: Rex Features]
Posted by
Stuart Waterman on
Wednesday August 20th, 2008 at
10:00 am
Orange unsignedAct, the competition with the curious approach to capitalisation, flung open its doors to unsigned acts last week - and has already been deluged with over 1,000 entries from bands keen to make their mark in the filthy, disgusting, soul-destroying music industry.
Supported by Sony Ericsson, Orange unsignedAct allows bands to upload their music to the contest’s website before the billions of hopefuls are whittled down to a mere fifty. These lucky souls will then sing and dance before a panel of judges, to feature barefoot seductress Jo Whiley, cheese enthusiast Alex James and The Man’s Simon Gavin. I think this is the bit where the TV coverage may begin, because it provides the best opportunity for ritual humiliation.
Blimey, this passed me by. I know Glasvegas have been hotly tipped for a while, but they’ve somehow failed to register with me until recently.
“Geraldine” - released as a single a couple of months back, apparently - is one of those “ahh!” songs. You think it’s going to be a love song, see - and in a way it is I suppose, just not the kind you expect.
The verses contain the standard kind of reassurances you’d find in a ballad - helping someone in darkness, pulling them back from the edge, and so on. Then comes a line delivered in the singer’s broad Scottish accent, clear as day: “My name is Geraldine, I’m you’re social worker.”
Good old V Festival occurred this past weekend. Many people deride this heavily-sponsored event, but you can’t deny it pulls in some good acts - this year saw Amy Winehouse, Kings Of Leon, The Prodigy, Duffy, Girls Aloud and Sugababes among the performers. Click the image below to see a gallery of this year’s acts…
[all images: Rex Features]
Posted by
Stuart Waterman on
Monday August 18th, 2008 at
11:40 am
I went to a Halloween party dressed as “Catman” once. Hilarious story, right? I’ve never dressed up as “Batcat” though, and to be honest I’m not quite sure where I’d start. I think I’d keep the wings of the bat, and the eyes and tail of the cat, but it’s a tough call.
Well let’s not get bogged down in that, anyway. Mogwai’s new tune is called “Batcat”. The song’s the same old “atmospheric” guitar stuff they’ve been doing for years to these jaded ears, but the video is pretty bloody creepy. Dead animals, masks, kids, woods - all that good stuff.
Poo your wee pants after the jump.
What you up to this Friday, 22nd August 2008? Big Brother AGAIN? Forget that. Soulwax are playing one of those MySpace Secret Shows in London, see. Now, it’s at an as-yet-undisclosed venue, but you know it’s going to be somewhere nice n’intimate, because that’s what these MySpace things are all about.
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The Priscillas@ Left 4 Dead 2 launch, Old Blue Last, London 19.11.09