Girl Aloud: MSN Music Blog

Yesterday I was accused of 'selling out' and only going to big band gigs, like MBV and Radiohead. Which is fair enough. I am all about buying in and being punk as anything. So I thought I'd reassure myself that I've still got it and am down with the kids. Here is a selection of some lower-key gigs coming up which do not involve £40 tickets in advance. Oh and apologies to the Pre/Pens gig last night I didn't make, that would've been my number 1.

- Comanechi/Mirror! Mirror! - Tonight! But not going as I have book club. I'm not even joking. (Also tonight is Pivot supporting White Denim, bad night for gigs).

- Susan George Booth - 5th July, Dublin Castle.

- Micah P Hinson - 14th July, Puregroove Records instore. Love this man.

- Fu**ed Up/Shi**y Limits/Lovvers - 14th July, Old Blue Last.

- Sexfest (Dananananaykroyd, Pre etc) - Sunday 27th July, 93 Feet East.

- Dananananaykroyd/Mae Shi - 4th August, Old Blue Last.

- Rapturefest (Mirror! Mirror!, Omerta, Tubelord etc) - 9th August, Reading.

- Throats/Lakes/'Black Heart Kings' - 19 August, Underworld.

I am back in the game.

Playlist: Cat On Form, Thursday

Planes Mistaken For Stars have consistently been one of my favourite bands since I was about 18. Since they split up last year I've been anticipating any new bands members go on to form, and while there are a few others floating about it's Git Some who sound the most promising.

Git Some features Planes's ex-guitarist and ex-bassist and make the most satisfyingly filthy, sludgey punk rock 'n' roll you could ever really need.

If all this wasn't good enough news already there are already UK tour dates announced and an album on the way. No messing around here. 14th October at the Windmill in Brixton. Start getting excited now.

Playlist: God Is An Astronaut

Turned on the TV on Sunday afternoon to see Neil Diamond singing that song about someone called Caroline.

Website after Website is rolling out the pictures of Alexa Chung and Pixie Geldof.

YAWN.

Playlist: Chris Herbert, Versoma, Oxes

So MSN Music have done their annual Summer Tunes round-up which is all well and good but who really wants the best months of the year soundtracked by Bryan Adams and Deee-Lite?

Meshuggah and the Prodigy are usually what springs to mind immediately, bringing back memories of Download 2006 carnage. Jimmy Eat World, Why? and Pulp are usually up there too though.

Obviously though this year I'm feeling most inspired by prog-avant-garde multi-instrumentalists Kayo Dot whose 'Pitcher of Summer' track off Choirs Of The Eye unfolds like a lazy late summer evening and is much more evocative than LFO.

Compare:

One morning, before the leaves began changing
I caught a piece of summer and poured it into a pitcher;
This I placed in the cellar on a shelf collecting dust .
Autumn, then winter, rose up from the sea, and my
Garden was a garden filled with unbroken snow.

With:

New Kids On The block,had a bunch of hits
Chinese food makes me sick.
And I think it's fly when girls stop by for the summer,for the summer
I like girls that wear Abercrombie and Fitch,
I'd take her if I had one wish,
But she's been gone since that summer..
Since that summer

Whoever chose LFO did rightfully acknowledge the turd lyrics, but regardless, why does summer bring out the worst in music most of the time?

ALSO Kayo Dot have a new album out which will probably end up being one of this summer's best.

Playlist: The Breeders, Kayo Dot

Tonight I am going to see Melt Banana who will complete the Holy Trinity Of Japanese Bands I Have Seen Live This Year (them, Boris, Acid Mother's Temple. If only I'd gone to the Explosions ATP then I'd have Envy on that list too).

Melt Banana need very little introduction, and are often cited as being 'a bit nuts' and 'crazy' and 'ear-pummeling' live. My ears will probably never be quite the same after My Bloody Valentine on Friday so I'm not too worried about that.

Playlist: Crocus, Git Some