Jeff Buckley walks amongst us again. Irwin Sparkes, vocalist of a three-piece Indie band from UK/Sweden called The Hoosiers definitely can match Buckley in range and pitch, so it’s no surprise that Buckley was the first comparison that I drew upon when listening to this track. The enchanting keyboards and stealthy drum beat accompany Sparkes voice in a similar way that you would expect from a galactical-band such as Radiohead. But The Hoosiers are not galactical – yet – though they have traveled the globe… the name of the band comes from time spent in Indiana (two of the band membees earned ’soccer’ sholarships at the University of Indianpolis!)

The video above comes from the “Live From Abbey Road” television series, check it out if you ever get chance – the studio footage and ad libs brings you closer to the band than what otherwise is available in a more traditional music video or live performance.

One of my favourite comedians Mark Watson recently wrote on his Twitter page how he thought Kings Of Leon’s Sex On Fire sounded like the Stereophonics’ hit Dakota. It sort of got me thinking about which songs I thought were similar to others.

And so, after much searching and listening through the wonder that is Spotify, I noted the following:

Lily Allen’s Not Fair sounds a fair bit like Doves’ Kingdom Of Rust.

Take That’s Greatest Day could easily be mistaken for a Snow Patrol song. Chasing Cars springs to mind.

Green Day’s Boulevard of Broken Dreams is the musical twin of Travis’ Writing To Reach You.

Keane’s Better Than This has echoes of David Bowie’s Ashes To Ashes.

The Hoosiers’ Cops And Robbers reminds me of The Cure’s Love Cats.

And Scouting For Girls’ She’s So Lovely sounds like, er, every other Scouting For Girls song.

I am fully aware that at least one other person has made the same observations of one or two of the pairs of songs I’ve mentioned here. However, listening to them one after the other has made me even more convinced of the similarities between them. And in no way am I saying that the fact that these songs are identical to others constitutes a bad thing. In fact, I happen to like most of the songs I’ve mentioned here.

EDIT : If you can think of any other songs that sound identical to other songs, then please feel free to leave a comment. Or tell me how much you agree with me on the ones I’ve mentioned. Or how much you  disagree with me and think that I should have my ears syringed. I can take it.

This band is fantastic—the spandex in the music video,their accents,the drummer’s mustache…can’t get much better than that.  These guys need to be more well known in the States!

From:   London, England

Genre:  Alternative, Rock

Albums:  The Trick to Life

SIMILAR ARTISTS
-The Fratellis               
-Mika               
-The Holloways                   
-Razorlight

Recommended Songs
“Goodbye Mr. A”
“Cops and Robbers”                      
“Rules”

“GOODBYE MR. A”-THE HOOSIERS

photo from LastFM

http://www.myspace.com/thehoosiers

I blended some of my favorite new sounds into a mixtape for your pleasure. Its pretty heavy on the indie sweetness and like Volume One is efficient and beautiful, seven enviably gorgeous tracks in less than fifteen minutes – Perfect for trips to the store, walks around the block, getting dressed to etc.

Drums Please!

Volume 2 starts with the minor key, pop-twee stylings of The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, who try to shake something loose from your heart and hips before handing the baton to Los Campesinos!.  Los Campesinos! are all class! Perfect synth melodies layered over guitars, layered over glockenspiel, layered over witty, passionate lyrics and sick beats. Whitest Boy Alive takes over with one of the best tracks off their recent release, “Gravity”;  their laid-back soulfulness folds into into the complex, rhythmic sounds of Emilíana Torrini’s “Dead Duck” off her excellent 2008 release, “Me and Armini”. The Hoosiers then inject some beautiful, stirring melodies into the mix before melting into a surprising remix of Cazals‘ hit, “To Cut the Long Story Short”; A tight orchestral arrangement with lush strings, wind instruments and delicate harps.

What are you waiting for?

Seven More Wins (Zshare)

Tracklist:

Phil – The Bird and The Bee

Young Adult Friction – The Pains of Being Pure At Heart

We are Beautiful, We Are Doomed! – Los Campesinos!

Gravity – Whitest Boy Alive

Dead Duck – Emilíana Torrini

A Sadness Runs Through Him (Instrumental) – The Hoosiers

To Cut A Long Story Short (Vicarious Bliss Mellotron Mix) – Cazals (Hot Shit!!!)

1.

Live and Fresh Rock & Metal – in Staines

Kamikaze
Test Pilots
Mar 12 2009
Hobgoblin
Staines

With ABSTRACT GENIUS

KamikazeTest Pilots mostly come from a country called Zimbabwe which is why they have the funny accents, although they have been living in the UK for near on a decade, so the accents are funnier still.

Ryan (aka Beans) plucked up the courage to ask his grandfather, a 6 foot plus ex-cop, if he could have a set of ancient jazz drums to fulfill a dream thought up during the long and hot african summers. His request granted, he set off forming a band with his younger brother Wes. It was soon obvious that Wes had a natural gift for the drums, so Ryan picked up the guitar, learned a few chords and slowly progressed to writing songs. They took their “band” to the boarding school they went to and it was then they met Martin.

Martin started on 6 strings, learning the very few licks and chords that Beans knew and with a revolving door of bassists, a band was born. However, turmoil created within Zimbabwe forced all matters of music to be put aside and for us to take stock of what options were available to us. We decided that it was time to spread our wings.

Kamikaze Test Pilots was eventually formed in 2005 by Beans and Wes. There were a number of member changes, with Martin joining the band as bassist in January 2006. The last of the changes happened in January 2008 when the band were joined by Jim Davies (ex-Loki) on guitar. To date we have enjoyed local radio and internet radio airplay, have self released a six track EP (“Into The Sun”-BUY IT NOW!) and are constantly gigging some bar somewhere. . .

Link:

www.myspace.com/thekamikazetestpilots

http://www.buckleuppromotions.com

2.

See these Local Punks Reborn…  Live at Egham

No Lip
Mar 13 2009
Compasses
Egham

“OLD SCHOOL PUNK FOR OLD SCHOOL PUNKS.”

After a long time of thinking of a new name (better) No Lip was born out of Sux Pastilles. With more shows upcoming No Lip are looking for fans to come to shows and go back 30 years to when punk was great. Doing covers from Ramones to The Damned and more obscure ones like the Wasps and Wire with a healthy smattering of Clash,Pistols and Ruts

Playing with our very own local STAINES faves : New Assassins

www.myspace.com/nolipband

If you don’t catch ‘em at The Compasses this week (shame on you) try to see these punksters at:

Apr 17 2009      8:00P   The Phoenix             Staines
May 2 2009       8:00P   Dog and Partridge     Staines

3.

Melodramatic Art-Pop Band – Live in Staines

A Genuine
Freakshow
Mar 15 2009
Hobgoblin
Staines

With oompah sounds, creaking violins,  rumbling cellos,  screachy guitars, burbling bass and scatty drums this lot are a genuine freakshow…lots of fun and experimentation. Cool as ice and twice as nice… see ‘em now for a truly freaky experience…

With ACACIA SNOW

If you miss the HOB Freak Show (and please DON’T)  then I suppose you can catch ‘em here:

Apr 11 2009      8:00P  The Peel supp/ Cats and Cats and Cats    Kingston
Apr 12 2009      8:00P  The Oakford Social Club supp/ Vessels     Reading
Apr 24 2009      8:00P  Reading University     Reading

Links:

http://www.myspace.com/agenuinefreakshow

http://www.buckleuppromotions.com

4.

Three Piece Power Trio- Live Windsor

The Indie
Killers
Mar 14 2009
Old Ticket Hall
Windsor

The Indie Killers are a 3 piece power trio, covering songs from the best Indie and Rock bands in the world today. With 5 record deals between the 3 members as well as extensive world tours and several charting records, these guys know how to make any party take off from the very 1st minute! The Indie Killers recently performed at The Killers latest album launch party where they were joined by members of Snow Patrol live on stage for a rendition of ’Mr Brightside’! + DJ PLAYING 80’s & 90’s HITS – BAR OPEN TILL 2AM

If you LIKE the KILLERS you are gonna LURVE these boys !

03-14-2009 21:00 at The Indie Killers
THE OLD TICKET HALL, WINDSOR, SL4
Cost: £3

Link:

www.myspace.com/indiekillers

5.

Soul Funk Disco Party -  Live at Ascot

Citizen Soul
Mar 14 2009
Jagz
Ascot

Citizen Soul is the ultimate soul, funk, disco and motown covers band for your party, wedding or corporate event. The fantastic vocalists and rhythm section are complemented by a 6,piece horn section, guaranteeing a sound like you have never heard before!

The band comprises some of the very best young musicians on the London music scene. All of the members of the band have studied at London’s most prestigious music colleges, such as the Guildhall School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music.

The band’s repertoire has something for everyone, from classics by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Earth Wind & Fire and Michael Jackson to contemporary hits by Joss Stone, Jill Scott and Jamiroquai. Whether you want the newest tunes or the cheesiest anthems, Citizen Soul can meet your needs.

Saturday, 14th March JAGZ ASCOT
Show will start at 8.45
Ticket cost: £8.00
Doors open from 7.30pm. £26 for 2 courses and entrance (£30 for 3 courses). Entrance for the bands is £8 but is strictly limited and on a first come first served basis. Entrance for dining or just the band INCLUDES free entrance to the nightclub

Links:

http://www.jagz.co.uk

-Visit AdPontes-Staines Regularly for Staines Arts-

Programmation dédiée à 3 groupes mais comme je me presse pas particulièrement, je ne vois pas du tout Hugh Coltman. C’est donc avec Joseph d’Anvers que j’entame la soirée. Je connaissais seulement de nom cet artiste parisien et en creusant un peu, c’est assez alléchant.

Sa vie musicale a commencé en croisant le chemin de Daniel Darc puis de Miossec, le public le découvre un peu lorsqu’il est choisi par les Inrocks pour la compile CQFD 2005. Pour son 2ème album, on sent le changement de calibre avec Mario Caldato aux baguettes, producteur notamment de Beck ou des Beastie Boys (d’ailleurs, Money Mark participe au premier single de ce disque). Il sera nominé pour le prix Constantin 2008.

En live, il me semble qu’ils étaient 3 (j’en mettrais pas ma main à couper mais je crois pas qu’il y avait de batteur, il me semblait que c’était des samples). Les chansons sont pas particulièrement explosives mais plutôt bien posées, avec une certaines recherches dans les arrangements. Sur la droite de la scène, le clavier sert aussi à lancer les samples, voire même à scratcher un peu. En tout cas, il assure un p’tit spectacle de son côté, très orienté vers le public ce qui contraste avec le chanteur plutôt introverti qui chante sans jamais élever la voix.

Au final, difficile de rentrer vraiment dans le concert, on a la vague impression de pouvoir mettre les paroles d’une chanson sur n’importe quelle autre et que ça marche sans souci. Après quelques écoutes du dernier album plutôt plaisant (surtout la production subtile), c’est sûr que ça passe beaucoup mieux affalé sur un canap’ que dans une salle de concert. Dommage donc parce que c’est pas vraiment inintéressant mais pas accrocheur pour autant.

A noter quelques chansons qui sont sorties du lot : Le funambule, L’amnésie (qui a son petit côté Indochine) et Le continent.

MySpace
Site Officiel

Changement de scène pour accueillir The Hoosiers, juste histoire de voir que des barrières (!!) ont été installées au pied de la scène pour empêcher la foule de monter. Vu la tête du public, le pire qui pourrait arriver, c’est une ado hystérique qui voudrait essayer de se pendre au coup d’un des membres du groupe… Bref…

Pour mettre quelques mots sur ce trio, les anglo-suédois ont fait la news en 2007 avec leur album The Trick To Life qui a reçu un bon accueil outre-manche et qui se laisse bien écouter sans atteindre des somments pour autant. Comme tout groupe qui veut se faire respecter, ils aiment dire qu’ils ont un son bien spécifique, odd pop, à la croisée de plusieurs genres. Au final, leur son a été plus sujet à controverse car les singles ressemblent étrangement à des tubes des Cure ou autre Electric Light Orchestra. C’est probablement pour ça qu’ils ont reçu le titre de Pire Groupe 2008 aux NME Awards. Mais bon, c’est pour ça aussi qu’ils sont devenus populaires, particulièrement chez les jeunes et les gens qui aiment le rock fleur bleue.

En tout cas, c’est plus les fleurs bleues de Raymond Queneau qui ressemblent à ce qui se passe sur scène : un grand fouilli avec des monstres poilus, des gens qui sautent, habillées avec des costumes anachroniques (classiques avec des p’tites lumières, du plus bel effet pour l’entrée sur scène dans le noir d’ailleurs), fouilli qui se retrouve d’ailleurs au niveau musical avec une orchestration qui évolue au fur et à mesure des morceaux. En tout cas, l’album ne souffre pas du tout du passage à la scène, au contraire. Beaucoup plus énergique, avec l’aspect visuel un peu déjanté en touche supplémentaire, c’est plutôt réussi !

La foule a plutôt bien réagi au concert en général (surtout la tribu de groupies du premier rang), se permettant même de chanter quelques refrains au passage. Evidemment, les titres qui ont le plus provoqué de bazar étaient Goodbye Mr A, Worried About Ray et Cops and Robbers.

De l’énergie, un brin de folie et de fun, un bon feeling avec le public. Bref, une très bonne prestation !

MySpace
Site Officiel

1.

UK Blues Legend at Staines

Jan 22 2009      8:30P  RIVERSIDE CLUB – PAPA GEORGE & STEVE SIMPSON

One of the musical highpoints of 2008 was the visit to STAINES of the legendary bluesman Papa George- to the Riverside Club.  Over 30 years Papa George has forged a reputation for stunning performances on the blues circuits and at festivals.

Recognised as one of the top blues guitarists and vocalists of our time and described by THE TIMES as “a mean axeman”, he captivates audiences playing Fender Stratocaster, or bottleneck blues-style on Amistar and National Steel guitars, with a passionate vocal style delivered with absolute conviction.

See him THIS WEEK in STAINES for less than a fiver with the sensational STEVE SIMPSON who is a musical legend in his own right!

Steve Simpson was the lead guitarist with ’Ronnie Lane’s Slim Chance’ group and general all round multi-intrumentalist taking on the part of fiddle and accordion in addition to his stunning lead guitar roles.

Links:

http://www.papageorge.co.uk/

http://www.stevesimpsonmusic.com/

2.

Dutch Pop Exponents – Staines

Jan 25 2009      8:00P STAINES – The Hobgoblin GRAVITY IS DEAD

One of the UK’s most promising new bands are set to explode in 2009 with their refreshing and authentic blend of energetic English rock.

Putting the reality and the power back into the UK’s rock scene is what Gravity Is Dead are all about. They’re ready to explode their way through the crowds of the ‘emo’, ‘screamo’, ‘electronica’ masses and show the world that their blend of original passionate dynamic rock music can stand out at the front.

The time is indeed now for these Surrey teenagers to make it all happen so watch this space Ladies & Gentlemen, and remember where you heard them first!

Links:

http://www.gravityisdead

3.

Dynamic nine-piece Rock and Soul band – Windsor

24 JAN 2009 9:00P at THE OLD TICKET HALL, WINDSOR
THE AVERAGE CHALKY WHITE BAND with the ‘Sister of the Bands’

The Average Chalky White Band is a dynamic nine piece rock and soul band with a horn section, playing up-beat songs from artists such as Van Morrison, Zutons, The Stones, Madness, Stereophonics, The Blues Brothers, James Brown, Scissor Sisters, Sam & Dave, Paul Weller and more…………..They feature 4 different lead vocalists, and for the this gig at The Old Ticket Hall they will also have a very special guest vocalist, Sissy Vincent – the very soulful “Sister of the Bands“

Cost: £3
LIVE BAND + DJ PLAYING 80’s & 90’s HITS – BAR OPEN TILL 2AM

Links:

http://www.myspace.com/veenex
4.

Channel 4’s  “SKINS” band – Live in Windsor

Paper Heroes Jan 23 2009      8:00P Firestation  note: 14+     Windsor

Famed for their appearances on Channel 4’s cult show Skins and now signed with the Skins label, Paper Heroes peddle rapid fire rhythms, growling vocals and inventive guitar riffs with songs staying hooked in your brain ready for rapid replay this is Indie-pop-rock at its exciting best.

With FRAN & JOSH

Fran and Josh’ is the sound wave form of the term one size fits all.

They were recently the first unsigned band to play on the ‘Live Drivetime’ session on ‘XFM Manchester’ where they covered the song “Better off Alone” by Alice Deejay. They have since been invited back to play at Clint Boon’s wife’s Tea Party in November!

This troublesome doublesome of whippersnappers will soon be hitting the screens of MTV on ‘Living on The Edge’.

You will also be able to catch them on MTV’s Brand spanking new music website!

Their latest success has been an interest from 14th Floor Records in London.

Originally their music developed from a love for flamenco, admiring artists such as Paco De Lucia, Rodrigo Y Gabriela and Tommy Emmanuel. By studying their fast paced and skillfull guitaring techniques they began to teach themselves from day one.

‘Fran and Josh’ have combined flamenco with true party music. In doing this they continue to cover many genres through the use of an acoustic guitar, for example;
Hip-hop, house music, dance, trance and D’n'B.

Links:

http://www.myspace.com/paperheroesmusic

5.

Six Piece Miodern Rock Outfit – in Staines

Jan 25 2009      8:00P STARS OF THE SEARCH PARTY
STAINES – hobgoblin with ‘We Know John Doe’

Stars of the Search Partu are a hard-working  6-piece rock band from Guildford in Surrey. They play music which ties together all your favourite modern genres,
ultimately creating something that can appeal to the majority of music fans out there.

-Visit AdPontes-Staines Regularly for Staines Arts-

Musical propaganda is at an all-time high. Websites, the radio, magazines and TV shows bombard us with information and well, let’s be honest, lies about one sensational new talent after another.

The seed for all these musical wrong-doings is the band or artist press release / biography. And what better way to examine just how inaccurate they are than by looking at three randomly chosen samples, and by randomly chosen of course I mean viciously pinpointed because they angry up my blood. Let us begin…

Having read hundreds of the things I most definitely buy into to the Aereogramme philosophy “No crappy press release has ever made me want to listen to a band. It’s all smoke and mirrors”.

First up is a singer / songwriter who if her press release was more truthful would state “her ability to fuse Vic Reeves-style club singing with pie-gargling is second to none” or “lyrically she uses words” and maybe even “sure to sell well to bored mums who watch Loose Women”. Yep you’ve guessed it we’re talking about Amy Burger King, sorry Miss MacDonald.

Accompanied by an air-hoovered photo, the first line of her biography, and I promise I’m not making this up states quite clearly “It’s all Pete Doherty’s fault. No, it’s down to Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Or do we finger Fran Healy of Travis?” I know what you’re thinking, “Sounds great, I’m off to iTunes to download Big Mac’s debut before it sells out.” But wait, what does it mean?

Let’s get it out of the way and deal with the final part of that statement first “do we finger Fran Healy of Travis?” The answer is no, we most definitely don’t. One McNugget fan did try but the Travis bassist blocked the advance with his nose.

Sure taken out of context it sounds like an open invitation to participate in some deviant behaviour. The image is overpowering – the thought of those two chinny crooners harmonising as a group of people – it did say “we” – perpetrate the deed is one that, let’s face it, none of us want to have to deal with. So we’ll move on, backwards to the beginning.

“It’s all Pete Doherty’s fault”. “Fault” seems a strange choice of word when you’re trying to be positive about someone, but laying the blame at Pete Doherty’s vomit-strewn door actually makes sense, after all most post-Libertine Doherty-inspired bands and singers have been woeful. Personally I’d like to blame Kate Nash for no other reason than she has a vocal style that makes me want to invent, own and sell cement earplugs.

As for the rest of Fillet O Fish’s bio it’s as illuminating as a Top Shop teens fading glow stick at a Klaxons’ gig. I got as far as “Instead of buying a tenner’s worth of ice-cream she bought a CD: The Man Who by Travis”, then lost the will to live.

When you go to countless gigs it’s fair to say you have to wade through a lot of shit to find the odd golden peanut. For every The National or Twilight Sad I’ve had to endure a Dykeenies, Paddingtons, Joe Lean or I Was a Cub Scout. But November 2007 I discovered possibly the most irksome group ever to step foot on stage – The Hoosiers. While the idiots around me danced, laughed and cheered as if possessed, I was left to wonder why, why and oh my God why?

According to their bio “what The Hoosiers have created is a shiny great dollop of what the band like to call Odd-Pop”. Again I partially agree with what’s being said. The “great dollop” is apt but “Odd-Pop”? Surely “plagiarised pop-pap” would be a better fit. What they should have said was “what The Hoosiers have created is a steaming dollop of what the band like to call Odd-Pop but what others, who can hear, are more likely to call Diet ELO”.

Moving on, who do you think the writer is talking about here? “They have delivered a record that is resiliently upbeat in sound, and yet delves deep into the soul – posing questions and answering them in one swooping, rushing, head-spinning melody.”
Yes you guessed right, it’s chart-topping Elvis-denial monkeys Scouting For Girls, a band so insipid they make Keane look positively edgy. Exactly what questions does their album pose though? The only ones I can think of are “who the hell is buying this crap?” and “how easily can you sneak a firearm into one of their gigs?” As for “delves deep into the soul”, well that’s just plain silly.

There are mixed reviews flying round about The Courteeners.  Hotmail music man Tom Something-Or-Other-Knob-Head , calls them flat pack indie, and has the balls to compare them to the likes of The Hoosiers and Scouting For Girls. Others, such as Nme have hailed them the “Manc Messiahs”.

 St. Jude, their debut album was realesed earlier this year, and singles Not Nineteen Forever and That Kiss have been playing around the charts and catching peoples attentions, including Mat and myself. The songs are super catchy, with fun lyrics which tell snippets of storys about love and life. A personal fave of mine, is Acrylic, which was made as a demo in 2006. They can hold a beat and rhythm, but still make it legiable. They sing songs that mean something, but that don’t bring you down. They have a cool northen manchester accent, but you can still hear the words.

So say what you want about them. They are the new Marmite. Love them or Hate them. Think there new and exciting, or blasse and sound the same as everything else. Personally, i hope they stick around!

8/10

Top songs

That Kiss

Acrylic

No You Didn’t, No You Don’t

By Sally

It’s a typically wet, cold and noisy day for Glasgow, yet outside the beautifully structured Carling Academy, you’ve got scantily clad Wonder Woman chatting away to a girl with cat ears. You have a devil girl with large black wings, Supergirl and several bunnies, not to mention a cascade of robbers and pirates, a Batgirl or two and you even have me in a revealing Gothic dress under a large white lab coat in the role of the evil mad scientist. But why are we doing this? Why am I and a whole crowd of teens and pre-teens standing in the cold and damp in fancy dress sixteen days before Halloween? I’ll tell you why – we’re all here to see The Hoosiers, the beautiful odd-pop sensation who are Worried About Ray and love to play Cops and Robbers. (I know, I know, I’m sorry; I couldn’t resist.) Ahead of me in the queue I can hear a cats’ choir (a bunch of girls dressed like neko-girls) singing Worried About Ray at the top of their voices. Under my breath I’m singing Run, Rabbit, Run. We are hyped. We want the Hoosiers and we want them now! When we finally get in, unsurprisingly, a whole host of “normally dressed” people head straight for the bar. I, meanwhile, go directly for Stage Left. I know where the band’ll be standing and from here I will get many a wonderful photo of Martin Skarendahl. Which I did. They’re quite delicious.

 

Swedish native Martin Skarendahl is the bassist for The Hoosiers

Our first support band whose name sadly escapes me tries rather unsuccessfully to win the crowd over (though I liked them. Electric violin? made of utter win). I cringe for tham as the crowd whoops with delight that their last song will soon be over and we get that little bit closer to seeing The Hoosiers.

As the interval music comes back on (all Queen, very good choice following the Queen featuring Paul Rodgers concert earlier this month) I have to empathise with Mr Mercury – I too am going slightly mad; with all the waiting.

Our next support band (Alto Elite) take their sweet time to get onstage, but any frustration caused is quickly forgiven because they’re actually pretty good. And their singer is pretty easy on the eyes, if you get me. However, once again, “this is our last song” receives a response of “oh-thank-god” style cheering from the Hoosierites as they realise that OMG the next band on is their favourite people in the whole wide world.

Anticipation soon rises, you could cut through the atmosphere with a knife, but it might take you quite some time. I myself feared I might vomit all over the kid in front of me. To be perfectly honest my train of thought was running on the “OMGOMGMARTINMARTINMARTINOMG!!” rails. Finally, everything looks to be ready beyond the big black curtain, which yes Irwin, we did notice. It was a very beautiful thing for us, the curtain. Oh, how we talked about it long after.

We can hear the music, the soft, gentle, The Mighty Boosh reminiscent music that signifies that The Hoosiers are back there, and just faintly beyond the big old curtain we love so much we can see the letters which spell out HOOSIERS.

Then the curtain drops. The fans go into a rabid frenzy; the band crash into the debut album’s title song, the amazing The Trick To Life. I can’t help screaming myself hoarse, and with the way I’m looking at him, probably scaring the living daylights out of Martin Skarendahl, whose eyeline I am standing within.

I also take note how dead the fans seem to go when Martin starts singing the harmonies and refrains. I can barely contain my excitement. I don’t know, is it his accent? Because it leaves me breathless too. I think that wonderfully stereotypical but soft Swedish accent is just charming. Even my stoic, Vulcan-esque sister agrees.

Irwin Sparkes’ showmanship is incredible. Flattery will probably get him a lot of places – calling us fans beautiful is quite the self-esteem boost. He’s got a cheeky smile and acts like he should be the centre of attention – this is his show and we all know it. That’s one hell of a Napoleon Complex little Irwin has. But it’s ultimately forgivable; he’s such a sweet looking little imp, and his voice is haunting. He knows how to work a crowd and he’s not shy about it. During Cops And Robbers, lickle Irwin calls upon we unworthy audience members to play the role of the robbers. All it really involves is shouting “Robbers!” after he yells out “Cops!”, but we’re all pretty excited about it. And we scream ourselves stupid because irwin tells us to. Now that’s pretty powerful stuff there. Forget Billie Joe Armstrong, hailed as one of the best showmen in rock, Irwin Sparkes is bouncy, friendly but also in-your-face and childlike. Having seen both on stage, I seriously prefer Irwin. Simply because Irwin speaks as though the audience are his best ever friends, whereas Billie Joe Armstrong lacks that “I love you guys <3″ attitude. I like being loved <3

Irwin Sparkes is the lead singer and guitarist for The Hoosiers

Martin is an excellent secondary showman. The kind of “straight man” to Sparkes’ “I’m cute, funny and crazy!!”… guy. I’m not sure what his appeal really is but I do love that accent. I will run away with his accent and marry it. (I say I don’t know what his appeal is but, erm, I’m not quite sure I can write down what I really think without the post turning… questionable) He interacts well with the others in the group and especially Sparkes. Upon announcing “we’re going to do a new song now…”, Irwin is drinking water. It was probably the set up to a little skit from Martin’s subsequent reaction (“I told you we were doing the new song today!”) but whether or not it was and failed miserably, we don’t care, we’re entertained!

The new song (Sister, Sister) is a fun song that sounds like when cleaned up could be an indie-level hit. I cannot honestly decipher any lyrics other than “Sister Sister” but I already love it. The subject matter could be punching puppies and I’d still love it. There’s no better way to describe it than “delicious.”

Martin coming in too early on his refrain in Worried About Ray was priceless. Wish I’d managed to get a picture of his reaction.

Keyboardist Sam Swallow obviously gets into his role. I worried his head might fall off. Seriously.

Sadly, I couldn’t really see Al properly, but he was going at those drums like a crazy, crazy man in love with his own instrument. (Minds out of the gutter, darlings…)

The covers they chose to do were fabulous. They covered We Didn’t Start The Fire by Billy Joel and boy did they make it their own! I never did like WDSTF but The Hoosiers could sing Never Gonna Give You Up and make it awesome. I wouldn’t mind getting Rickroll’d by the boys. The other cover they performed was With Every Heartbeat, originally by Robyn. Another song made into a Hoosierific singalong, something I used to hate but cannot get enough of by The Hoosiers. I think these guys are made of magic.

The encore consisted of the gentle ballad-like Money To Be Made, sung beautifully by Sparkes in the most amazing voice. His range seems to go from a medium to high but it’s still incredible, his singing sending shivers down my spine. After that, they riled us up again with an incredible performance of Goodbye Mr A. Martin’s one man band area was a blur as he abused the equipment to bring us all the gorgeous Hoosier sound… of abused equipment. But it’s all good, the equipment still makes a wonderful, wonderful sound. I believe the word Irwin would use is “mmmm”. 

Finally, Martin throws his plectrum into the crowd and the less said about that painful moment the better, really.

Having to return home was heartbreaking. I was all set to latch onto the tourbus in my most evil scientist fashion and follow them to Aberdeen. And all over the world. Oh yes.

All in all, 11/10, a concert that cannot be paralleled. And I’ve seen quite a few “epic” concerts in my short life.

What? I'm not allowed to love him while you all go gooey over the little one?

Segunda entrega de las, posiblemente, 25 mejores canciones indie del año.

Mystery Jets – “You Can`t Fool Me Dennis”

The Enemy – “You’re Not Alone”

The Pigeon Detectives – “I Found Out”

The Hoosiers – “Goodbye Mr. A”

The Fratellys – Flathead

Elbow – “Grounds for Divorce”

Death Cab For Cutie – “I Will Possess Your Heart”

The Kooks – “You Can’t Fool Me”

Bloc Party – “I Still Remember”

White Denim – “Shake, Shake, Shake”

We Are Scientists – “Impatience”

GoodBooks – “The Illness”

Scouting For Girls – “Elvis Ain’t Dead”

The contents of this bag is… shameful…. (And the bag itself is pretty old now too…. But I have a new one, exactly the same, ready for when this one croaks heh) I hardly ever get rid of the receits and tickets I accumulate. My purse is almost as bad… but I moved alot of the accumulated stuff to another purse lol.
And my bag isn’t that big… its about 9×6x3 inches. (I forgot to take pic… can’t be arsed now…) There is no room in my bag for a portable games console of any sort because I always have my water bottle in there. I wish I could bring a figma or any mini fig with me places….

List of stuff in bag….
1 Handmade Tamagotchi pouch, now holds badges lol.
2 Hairbrush
3 Lip Balm
4 High Chew wrappers, strawberry or grape flavour, can’t remember…
5 Breaking Dawn release card
6 Naruto bookmark (was freebie lol)
7 Orbital Manga advertisement postcard
8 Christmas Card from….. eon’s ago… year 10? 11? (age 15/16)
9 My Radar key!! (Sounds cooler than it actually is lol)
10 Zelda pin badge
11 Halo pin badge
12 One AAA  Duracel battery
13 Homemade Raito-kun badge
14 Ice Cream Lid from school trip to see some Shakespeare thing. (lol)
15 Two for One ticket for Sealife Center
16 Ticket for Clerks 2 at Cinema City in Norwich.
17 Oblivion Keyring (From Alton Towers 08 road trip.)
18 Magnum stick
19 My Neighbour Totoro pin badge
20 SOS Dan pin badge
21 Monokuro Boo badge
22 My skagged-out Nokia 3510i, with uber-scabby Hello Kitty Graffiti Fascia.
23 Gachapon prize list-things.
24 Ticket for the Hoosiers at the Norwich Arts Center
25 Pretty Butterfly present tag from a present from my Grandma last birthday. (December lol)
26 Ticket for The Tiny Dancers at the Norwich Arts Center
27 Train tickets, Attleborough to Norwich returns.
28 Alton Towers tickets, from the 07 school trip, and the fast pass from 08)
29 Ticket for Indiana Jones 4.
30 London Underground ticket, probably for a school trip.
31 Purse(because I dont like the wallets even though I own like…3…lol)with a Monokuro Boo keyring/dangley thing attached.
32 Pen and Pencil, my fave kind of pen that dries really quick!
33 Pretty pink lighter for gigs, I bought it for the Feeling gig in Thetford Forest Park and didnt use it…
34 Packet of Burger King salt. (LOL)
35 Rubber (in the UK we call Erasers, Rubbers.)

Was a shame not to be at today’s first game of the season but I’d already booked tickets for V 2008 at Chelmsford before the fixtures came out. Was hoping for a relatively straightforward three points at Carrow Road.

At Chelmsford, with my 14 year old daughter and some mates, we saw the likes of

Muse
Sterophonics
Duffy
The Hoosiers
Shed Seven

My first festival and what a great day. Took my 14 year old daughter, a massive Muse fan. With the right line up I would definitely go again.

Back on the pitch, in their new strips sponsored by Aviva (Norwich Union of course!) I got the text informing me that we were one down from a penalty. I feared the worst. But Daryl Russel to the rescue and salvaged a point. Not good enough today against a side that could go down.

Poor start …