My Tiger My Timing...

are great, and they play Amersham Arms this Thursday 28th January. That's tomorrow. You should go. Also, check Anna and Seb from the band chatting to Tom Robinson on last Monday's BBC Introducing programme. Don't they sound lovely? Yes. Wouldn't you like an almost-Friday dance? Yes, of course you would. So go to their gig. As the French say, simple.

www.myspace.com/mytigermytiming

in a way...

"We’re all actors in a way. Sometimes you have to act as if you like someone’s blouse or something." - Matt Dillon

Please people, keep buying the Mail - so it can keep subsidising the Metro, and its quality journalism.

Kate McGarrigle

I grew up listening to Kate & Anna McGarrigle, on scratchy vinyl, and copying in crayon the cover of "Dancer with Bruised Knees" in an effort to convince myself I could draw. I couldn't. I've just dug out this album this week, after hearing the sad news about Kate's death on Monday. In all the tributes, different songs emerge as favourites - aged 8, the title track off this album was mine:

When I first knew her she was a dancer
She'd leap (confidently)
Knowing that should she fall
It would be into the arms of her partner
She never failed to get a curtain call

For years we had been one with the stars
A Pas de Deux of reknown
I'd leap and he'd catch me on the fly
But once I came crashing down

Now I'm a weaver
Wall-hangings if you please
In everyone I feature
A dancer with bruised knees

You can read tributes to this astonishingly talented woman here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/jan/20/kate-mcgarrigle

i have just listened to this song 9 times in a row

http://www.matadorrecords.com/mpeg/shearwater/leviathan_bound.mp3

wow.

Brilliant - an even later Best Of list than mine

http://thetorturegarden.blogspot.com/2010/01/songs-of-2008.html

You can stream tracks from here and from www.saidthegramophone.blogspot.com and they're both really really lovely places to listen to new things. That's what I'm doing now, while tracing down obscure broadcasts from years ago on Radio 3.

(NB Thanks Rob for showing me these first - I am in no way claiming them as my own discoveries)

Tim at the Roundhouse!

Yeh so a few days ago *this* was one of my top things to do this month:

25th - Beggar's Opera: Reborn at the Roundhouse
http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/whats-on/productions/charles-hazlewood-s-4107
As part of the Reverb series - this is Charles Hazlewood's rethunk version of the Beggar's Opera - an all-star gig including those delicious Unthank girls and Adrian Utley. It will "reclaim our musical heritage for now"- so we should probably be there to witness it. Reverb runs from the 23rd and this ain't the only good fing in it.


Well, apart from sounding pretty good in and of itself - it's only gone and got a whole heap better. Because now, added to that all-star list is one TIM DICKINSON. That's right, our Tim Dickinson. Playing Macheath, no less. So go buy your tickets and see you there.

NB FYI re: c.28'57 Episode 4

Have noticed an error in episode 4. Tim asks me what the theatre is on St Martin's Lane where No Man's Land was performed. I, in my infinite stupidity, say, "The Duchess of York", as if I know what I'm talking about. I don't - it is of course "The Duke of York". My mind was befuddled by painkillers and I misspoke, and for this I apologise.

Just to clarify:

The Duke of York's Theatre is a West End Theatre in St Martin's Lane, in the City of Westminster. (That’s in London)

Sarah, Duchess of York (née Sarah Margaret Ferguson; 15 October 1959) is a charity patron, spokesperson, writer, film producer, television personality and former member of the British Royal Family. She was married to Queen Elizabeth II's second son, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, from 1986 to 1996.

Now I will try and sleep soundly.

Episode F***ing Four

Hello Poddingtons,

Here's what's happening - January's podcast is ready and hand-hot, so handle with care. That's all.

Sorry it's late - the February episode will be both on time and full of ROCK!

So.

TSL x

Past Podcasters - where and when to see them live

Oliver Talkes: 24th @ The Birdcage (E2 7QB); 31st @ Twickfolk, The Cabbage Patch Pub (TW1 3SZ) and 1st Feb @ The Wilmington Arms (EC1R 4RL)
www.myspace.com/olivertalkes

Clare Blackman: 1st Feb @ Chequers, Billericay (CM12 9BQ)
www.myspace.com/clareblackman

Mary Bowers & the Wrong Collective: 28th @ Proud Galleries (NW1 8AH)
www.myspace.com/wrongcollective

TSL's top 10 things to do in January

This is basically going to be i) later and ii) better than ever other To Do To Be Cool list that you'll see. Because I don't care if they make you cool or not - I just know I'll be there so if you fancy coming down too, that would be lovely. It's basically me just asking for company...

14th - Kenny Wheeler 80th Birthday Celebration Concert
http://www.ram.ac.uk/events/Pages/default.aspx?View=concert
Actually, a bit of a sore point this one. I'm not going. Neither is Jonny. It's sold out. Tim and Amy are going though. And they are well lucky, because it's going to be incredible. Kenny Wheeler, Dave Holland, John Parricelli, Norma Winstone, Stan Sulzmann, Julien Arguelles, Evan Parker. And more. And no less than is deserved - happy birthday, KW.

18th - John Escreet & Bojan-Z Tetraband Double Bill at Ronnie Scott's
http://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/performances/view/186-double-bill-john-escreet-and-bojan-z-tetraband
This will be giant. Trust me. Or don't, and turn up yourself to have me proved right. I'd like that better, actually. PS There's a xenophone involved.

19th - Local Natives at Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen
http://www.myspace.com/localnatives
These guys recently supported Of Montreal and were lovely - sweetly mournful and violin-y.

21st & 22nd - Another Timbre Festival at Cafe Oto
http://www.cafeoto.co.uk/AnotherTimbreFestivalDay1.shtm
A two day festival run by the improvisation and contemporary music label - featuring Stephen Cornford, and we're friends with his bro. Hear his sound installation stuff here: www.scrawn.co.uk

22nd - Way to Blue: The Songs of Nick Drake
http://www.barbican.org.uk/music/event-detail.asp?ID=9914
Pretty self-explanatory but no less lovely for that - with Vashti Bunyan, Lisa Hannigan, Scott Matthews, Teddy Thompson and others - and bassist Danny Thompson (yes, he of Pentangle) who played with Nick on the original recordings.

23rd - Nick Mohammed in Bits
http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/shows/nick_mohammed
You really shouldn't need to be told how funny Nick is by now. Just find a way to see him live - like this! When he records his new R4 show. Do take oxygen with you though, as it is likely you'll struggle to breathe. He is that funny.

25th - Beggar's Opera: Reborn at the Roundhouse
http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/whats-on/productions/charles-hazlewood-s-4107
As part of the Reverb series - this is Charles Hazlewood's rethunk version of the Beggar's Opera - an all-star gig including those delicious Unthank girls and Adrian Utley. It will "reclaim our musical heritage for now"- so we should probably be there to witness it. Reverb runs from the 23rd and this ain't the only good fing in it.

27th - Laura Veirs at the Union Chapel
http://www.unionchapel.org.uk/events.php/259/laura_veirs_plus_guests_cataldo_and_old_believers
Well, because she's brilliant. That shouldn't need explaining. And in a place like the Union Chapel, where I would like to live, please, this will be luscious.

28th - All The Fires at The Bedford
http://www.allthefires.co.uk/
Oh they're lovely. And they're from Cornwall. Which makes them even better. Winter blues? What blues? The Bedford is in Balham, by the way.

30th - And Also The Trees at The Luminaire
http://www.theluminaire.co.uk/live-music/January/2010/1127/AND%20ALSO%20THE%20TREES%20+%20%20Katharine%20Blake%20&%20Nick%20Marsh
An acoustic set off the back of a tour around Europe playing toy museums and chapels. We've been trying to do that for a while, so I'm basically going just out of jealousy. Also because I like Nick Cave and PJ Harvey, and they're in a similar boat. Or at least, in the same marina.


And then it'll be February, and Shrove Tuesday, and Valentine's Day, and Episode 5.