Kids Love Lies

It's a busy show tonight...
Make sure you listen on BBC Radio Kent from 8pm (or on the iPlayer after the show, if you miss it).
I can reveal (ooh exciting) that the hottest record on the show this week comes from a band called Kids Love Lies.



You can hear them on their MySpace profile - their latest single is Switch Off and it was released yesterday with a classy launch party at the New Cross Inn, involving cupcakes and live music.

They're a five-piece band with a strong female vocal provided by Ellen Murphy... I got the chance to ring her up the other day and have a chat. Here's what happened:



Expect great things.

An excuse to show you another pretty picture

Following on from yesterday's post about nothing in particular, here's another photo.


Absolutely no parking - a photo of a backstreet garage, by me... see it on Flickr.
Creative Commons attribution license applies.

So first of all, Nic Bennett can't be in my mixtape of songwriters called Nick from Folkestone... Because he's a Nic not a Nick. I don't think I'm allowed to make an exception for phonetics.

And for the TV presenters mixtape, how about:

• Derek [Gibbons] Don't Deliver by Billy Wears Dresses
• Tracey [Cox] by Floors And Walls
• Bella [Crane] by Star Chamber

Mind you when it gets into the realms of people you've never heard of, it could be stretching the rules a bit. I know they're all real though - Google told me.

So for the next seven days...
Today I've got my driving theory test. Exciting. (I'll let you know how I get on, not that you care particularly).
My schedule from then on consists of a couple of interviews tomorrow, recording stuff tomorrow and Saturday, and then on Wednesday we're off to Maida Vale for the Tom Williams And The Boat session. Difficult to not be excited about that.

In the show this Sunday...
Can't give too much away (otherwise you wouldn't bother listening), but you can expect some Los Salvadores and Nick Harrison among many others... and you might be surprised to know that Polka Party and Tom Williams And The Boat are in the playlist too...

Jacob being creative

Path - a photo of Lower Leas Coastal Park, Folkestone, by me... see it on Flickr.
Creative Commons attribution license applies.

I've had a bit of time off recently - which is rare in itself - which means I've found the time to do some interesting things for no particular reason. Which is rare.

One of the first things I've had time to do is listen to more music. As you can probably guess I'm a big music fan, go to lots of gigs, and own loads of promo T-shirts. And I like listening to new music, which is why I'm the producer of a show about new music. This week I finally took up suggestions from friends to join last.fm, which is a site about new music...

One effect of this is that you can now see what I listen to from my iTunes library (and that's my personal music collection, not my work one, so all the music you see me listening to is stuff I like). My last.fm profile is at last.fm/user/producerjacob - add me as a friend if you like. I'll also add one of the clever sidebar things into the sidebar of this blog so you can keep a stalkerish eye on my music tastes.

Rocks - a photo of the sea at Folkestone Harbour, by me... see it on Flickr.
Creative Commons attribution license applies.

Another thing I've been up to recently is taking pictures of things (I don't like calling it 'photography' because that makes it sound like I know what I'm doing or I'm good at it). I'm only doing it for fun and to improve my technique, it's not something I imagine myself ever being able to do properly. Some of the stuff I've done so far is scattered throughout this post, and you can see more on my Flickr profile at flickr.com/photos/rampant - again, feel free to add me as a contact.



Other Side Of The Fence - a photo of a fence. Duh. ...by me... see it on Flickr.
Creative Commons attribution license applies.


I've been doing a bit of web design work too - which could actually be seen to be a proper job. I've even redone my own website (I would call it 'beautifully simplistic' or 'inspirationally sparse', others would call it 'boring'.) See it at jacobrickard.co.uk. Exciting.

In between all of that, I've been trying to come up with more mixtape ideas for the show. So far they're all rubbish, look:

• The 'singer-songwriters called Nick from Folkestone' mixtape
  So far there are two (Harrison and Bennett). Do you know of any more?
  
• The 'condiments' mixtape
  So far I've got Drenched In Salt by Los Salvadores, and Pass The Pepper by Kouncilhouse.
  
• The 'TV presenters' mixtape
  What about Mariella [Frostrup] by The Anydays?
  Or Nick Grimshaw, You're The Boy For Me by Poppy And Tom?

Maybe I need some more time on that one.

Party In The Yard

So I said I'd do a video blog. I didn't forget, but I decided that because there was loud music everywhere and my phone's camera can't cope with anything louder than someone talking, it wasn't really worth the effort.

Here's some more proof that my phone's camera isn't up to much:



That's a photo of some little shiny overexposed UFOs flying past during Monday Street's set on the BBC Introducing stage at Party In The Yard which took place in Maidstone yesterday afternoon...

Incidentally look at the speakers either side of the stage... they don't look like anything particularly special but they made an obscene amount of noise. You could feel the bass numbing your mind from all the way across the main road down the alleyway. Because they were so powerful, it meant lots of people were drawn into Rose Yard from the neighbouring streets and by the end of the day an impressive crowd was amassed in and around the Source Bar.

In the end - following various re-arrangements and cancellations - the stage lineup looked like this:

• Hydraponic
  Local lads, making catchy songs with a nice electro feel to them (very Stone-Roses-esque).
  I'd never seen them in the flesh before, so it was good to finally hear them play live having played them on the show back at the beginning of June.
  All the tracks are free to download on their MySpace - so if you like the sound of them make sure you get them!
  myspace.com/hydraponic
  
  
• Monday Street
  We've been fans of Bexleyheath band Monday Street for a while. They were on our BBC Kent Introducing tour, and also on our stages at Sellindge and ZOO8... They're a really tight live band with a great collection of catchy and rocky songs (including Sweet which was our hottest record last week). Great to see them play again.
  myspace.com/mondaystreet
  
  
• Mr Basista
  Complete with colourful plastic shades (with 'Tesco' painted on the sides in Tipp-Ex) and a very retro-looking keyboard, Tunbridge Wells rapper and producer Mr Basista took to the stage. He's another one of our favourites (and he's also appeared on the BBC Kent Introducing tour), but despite having seen him play live countless times we still didn't know what to expect. A really fun live act with plenty of audience participation and general thunky stuff. Awesome.
  myspace.com/tomberculosis
  
  
• Outa City Committee
  A really genuine and very down-to-earth bunch of guys, with loads of random and pretty exciting new projects up their various sleeves... As well as the commercial hip-hop sound we heard from their earlier material, they've mashed up all sorts of genres into something crazy involving grime, house and indie. And it makes for a really good party.
  myspace.com/outacitycommittee
  
  
• Los Salvadores
  A six-piece folk-ska-punk-rock band who only just fitted on stage (and still found a little bit of room to jump around a lot without breaking things). Despite their album being absolutely top-notch, they're one of those bands who you really need to see live to properly appreciate. Having been one of the many highlights of our stages at Sellindge Music Festival and ZOO8, Los Salvadores are making a name for themselves and developing a loyal fanbase online and via the Corndog label who released their album.
  6th September will be a busy night for the band's new bassist Jim, who will play in Los Salvadores as well as Folkestone's Battleska Gallactica who are sadly gigging for the final time.
  myspace.com/lossalvadores

In between all of that, Twisted DJs were playing...
And occasionally this was happening:



That's Jim (from the show) wondering what to play next.
I would have helped him, but I was too busy taking pictures of him.

We enjoyed playing records in between the bands, and felt very at home and well catered-for by the venue (and possibly got away with looking like we knew what we were doing).

Overall, a really good day out with good weather (just about) and some great live music.
Well done and thank you to all the musicians, DJs and promoters involved (and the loyal and very supportive audience of course).

Party In The Yard (video blog)

This video was filmed on my mobile phone as part of the BBC's Shoot The Summer project. If I get a chance I'll film some of the action at Party In The Yard on Sunday which I can also contribute to the project.

Here are the details of the gig

The only live BBC Kent Introducing event for August is THIS SUNDAY.
We'll be putting some of Kent's finest bands on stage in Maidstone.

Party In The Yard is a FREE event and takes place in the Rose Yard.
Basically it's the WHOLE STREET in front of the Source Bar in Maidstone (get directions).
They take over for a day of Bank Holiday weekend partying and fun.

There'll be DJing from 12 noon with the first band on at 1.00pm, including:

The Help Movement
[see MySpace]

Monday Street
[see MySpace]

Outa City Committee
[see MySpace]

Los Salvadores
[see MySpace]

Mr Basista
[see MySpace]

Plus Jim and Producer Jacob (that's me) will be trying to DJ as well. A must see surely.
Date: Sunday 24th of August 2008
Place: Rose Yard, Maidstone (outside the Source Bar)
Time: 12 noon onwards
Bands: 1pm - 6pm
Cost: FREE, and open to all ages

Tom Williams And The Boat at the Forum

G'day pop pickers, I've just come back from a great gig in Tunbridge Wells. Local indie-folk band Tom Williams And The Boat were opening the show for Tokyo Police Club who are not from Tokyo and not a Police Club.

I was there in my usual capacity as a promotions whore for BBC Kent Introducing, and although I didn't have the times of the show branded on my forehead (a fair mark, m'lord) I managed to shift a significant amount of our little cards. I was also there to enjoy the gig, which I did.

I snuck round the back at half-time to catch a glimpse - and even a quick word - with hero of the night Tom Williams. You'll be pleased to know that despite the 6music airplay, Radio 2 airplay, Radio 1 airplay and... er... Radio Kent airplay, the fame hasn't gone to his head and his feet are firmly on the ground (although he certainly seems to be enjoying it all).

Here's what happened...

Overdosing on the 21st century references

This will be a post unrelated to Kent music or the show for a change. Sorry, just need to get a rant off my chest.


Photo of James, the screamy vocalist from Hadouken!, by Flickr user alex_lee2001 (used under license)

Something I've noticed in the music released in the past few weeks has been a sudden increase in the amount of references to technology, particularly social networking and the way people download music.

A perfect example is Crank It Up by Hadouken! (pictured above), which would be a perfectly good song were it not for lyrics like these, which for some reason really annoy me:

Rip the tune off the compact disc and drag-drop into your favourites playlist
Convert to MP3 and give it 5 stars in your iTunes library
Set as your profile song and show the hipsters your first quote this one
Bluetooth the file to your phone and set this track as your default ringtone

I think what frustrates me the most about it is that they're trying to sound cool about it and not doing very well. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big Hadouken! fan and this song gets a fair amount of plays in my iTunes library (although I didn't give it 5 stars). But the lyrics still annoy me and I can't decide why - maybe because it's all so specific and makes it sound like they're trying to get in lots of 'modern stuff' to appeal to a younger audience.

Another culprit is In The Summer which is the new single from ex-Roll-Deep-rapper Wiley - another amazing song (even better than Crank It Up, in fact). But the lyrics go all cringey halfway through:

Let 'em know that it's nice to know them, and I've also got an internet modem
MySpace, Facebook, take a look, leave a comment on my page, got new beats to show them

Arrrgh. Why is it neccesary to list social networking sites?
And why does Sway have to do it as well on Upload, and go so over the top about it?

I'm on Facebook. I'm on MySpace. I'm on Hi5. Type me in Google.
Buy me on iTunes, buy me on Amazon, and 7digital, see me on YouTube.
I'm on Bebo, and Wikipedia, nuff reviews on online media
I am practically living in your house... and we bring it to ya house

That's just silly.
I hope I've made my point, sorry for the rant.

Various bits of news

First of all, commiserations to Kent band Floors And Walls (pictured above) who didn't get through to the final four of the Road To V competition this week. To our knowledge they were the only local band in the competition and we were all very confident they'd get into the last round, but unfortunately they were beaten to the post by Imperial Leisure, Matt Trakker, The Rebs and Walk. Don't Walk (well done).

Tom and I concluded today that the judges were probably looking for something with a bit more mainstream and commercial appeal than the edgy and alternative sound of Floors And Walls. Which is a shame but it makes sense.



While we're on the subject of feeling sorry for people... unfortunately Bexleyheath band Monday Street didn't make it through the judging panel on Huw Stephens Introducing last week, which meant that a band called OCD from near Manchester were given the slot at Underage Festival.

Monday Street have recorded some awesome new material (I reckon it's awesome anyway!) which you'll be able to hear on the show *next* Sunday, but tune in tonight because we're replaying Echoes which is the first track we heard from them. (And that's also a great song).



Another bit of news, this time generally a bit more positive:
The date has been confirmed for the Tom Williams And The Boat session for Huw Stephens Introducing at Maida Vale.

The Tunbridge Wells band will be recording their tracks on Wednesday 3rd September in the legendary BBC studio complex which has been used by none other than Led Zep and Nirvana among many other huge names. Just last week The Verve were in there performing a live session for Zane Lowe.

As you'll hear on tonight's show we hope to be there too (it's not confirmed yet though), and so the following Sunday's show will hopefully feature the live session tracks from the band and some interviews with the people that keep the studios running (and of course they will be the ones with lots of interesting stories to tell).

And as Jim explained to me today, "there are pictures of The Beatles on the walls and stuff" - which is another brilliant reason why we should try and wangle an outing there.

If you've never heard Tom Williams And The Boat before, it's time you did... we'll be playing their new single Got Fuel tonight on the show so that's your perfect chance.



Finally, Sittingbourne-based thrash rockers Shadow Aspect provide us with this week's hottest record. The track is brand new and it's called Hate This - and it's almost as awesome as their last single Stand To The Front (which was pretty damn high on the awesomeness scale).

I think I've given you enough reasons to listen to the show tonight then...
It goes out at 8pm GMT on BBC Radio Kent. Click the banner below to go straight there.
And let us know what you think of the show, using the messageboard (also on the site!).

Making things a bit more visual

Photo of Gillingham Pier by Flickr user edvvc, used under license.

One of the most difficult challenges for radio broadcasters these days is giving things more appeal by bringing your content onto new platforms. Put simply, that means that in some people's lives the radio is dying out in favour of more interactive or visual media. That means ways of getting people involved apart from getting them to listen to the show now involves things like the BBC Kent Introducing tour... and this blog.

Like the true stereotype of media luvvies, we've been brainstorming some ideas for new forms of online content. And one of the things we've come up with is the idea of the viral video: a short video clip posted on one of the many sharing sites which gets sent by email across friends and family, building up into something that - in theory - everybody in Kent might have seen.

How about one of the bands we've been playing on the show venturing out into their hometown of, say, Gillingham, giving us a little tour of their favourite cafes and live venues and chip shops and record shops, then settling down on the pier (as cheesily depicted above) to perform for us a little acoustic song? Reckon it would work?

Midweeks

Photo of Tunbridge Wells station by Flickr user Paul Englefield, used under license.

Woah, it's Wednesday already. Scary.

We seem to be going through a good patch... Kent bands are getting a lot more widely noticed nationally. Maybe the phrase 'going through a good patch' sounds a bit pessimistic - things can only get better!

As you already know, Tom Williams And The Boat were on Steve Lamacq's 6music show last week. Following the success of that interview, rumour has it the band have been invited back to do a session at the legendary studios at Maida Vegas Vale.

On Thursday Jo Whiley played Oi Rude Boy on Radio 1, which is the single from Folkestone singer-songwriter Nick Harrison. According to a comment on his MySpace, he's also been played on Asda FM which is possibly even more cool.
Nick is appearing in London's Victoria Park this Friday for the Underage Festival.

On Huw Stephens's Radio 1 show a panel (who will include The Mystery Jets) are choosing out of all the young Introducing bands put forward by the local Introducing shows to find one band that will be playing at Underage. In the final are Bexleyheath band Monday Street. They've got some amazing new material recorded and uploaded too, and you can expect to hear music by them not only on our show but on Radio 1 in the very near future (listen to Huw Stephens tonight... *hint*).

Yet another Kent act playing to the teen crowds at Underage Festival on Friday will be indie-ska favourites Underground Heroes (off've Chatham). Not to mention Medway's Kid Harpoon. It's an amazing lineup; not just with local acts but with some very high-profile names.

All the media attention centred on Kent's music scene at the moment seems to be rubbing off on the most important people in the equation: the music-buying public. This week the messageboard for the show has been full of positive reviews of the tracks we've been playing.
Make sure you keep posting on that messageboard as well as the comments on this blog: every comment gets read and we will read out the highlights on the show.

Also, if you reckon there's someone we should be playing on the show who we're not, make sure we know about it because we do listen as is proven there. (The Lovedays and Under The Thumb are on our show for Sunday 10th, for a start).
Incidentally I'm selfishly proud of the reaction to both those bands because it was me who pushed to get them played on the show. When The Lights Went Out wouldn't have been Hottest Record last week had I not stuck my oar in. Funny how my ego works.

Reaction to this blog has been good too. Although individual page impressions and comments will inevitably take a while to build up, people have been very positive and shown a genuine interest in what I'm putting here which is a bit disconcerting. But again, it works wonders for my ego.
According to my geeky visitor tracker, people from all over the UK as well as France, Bosnia and Turkey have been clicking through from our MySpace profile.

Voici un petit message pour les Français lecteurs de ce blog, mais ne vous attendez pas à moi de parler bosniaque ou turc.