Two versions of a song I had on heavy rotation today. First the loud and pounding studio version with the drums driving it on:
Second the “unplugged” version with the drummer switching to vocals and Ellie’s beautiful lead vocals:
I love both versions.
That went quickly, the third and final entry of this short series is already here. After The Mysterines, Dream Wife we last but by no means least come to The Big Moon (Wikipedia entry) from London. Of these three bands I believe they’ve been around the longest, so I’m rather late to the party. They certainly make brilliant videos. Let’s start with one where they play every single role, Sucker:
They get rather colourful in Cupid, must have been fun making that, despite the mess:
Silent Movie Susie is a beautiful stop motion video with dolls taking on all roles. There’s also a cameo of the band, both as dolls and real people. Can you spot the previous video they are quoting?
From their second album is Your Light. With lots of cycling. And puppets. What more could you want?
To close a cover version. I discovered The Regrettes via their appearance on The A.V. Club, interesting to see that The Big Moon also played a cover at The A.V. Club, Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler from 1983:
I hope you enjoyed this little series and maybe even found a band or two you’ll like. Maybe let me know via the comments?
Having started this introduction of bands I discovered for me this year with The Mysterines I’m now moving on to the second band I found: Dream Wife (Wikipedia entry). Formed while at university in Brighton they have since moved to London. Let’s start with Hey Heartbreaker from their debut album:
Also from their debut album is Somebody (with a very memorable chorus line):
Moving on to their second album, released in 2020, with Hasta La Vista:
Another one from the second album is So When You Gonna…. with a quite interesting video:
To close a live performance mixed with an interview on KEXP:
Again I hope you enjoyed the music, I love the variety in Rakel’s singing and Alice’s guitar play, brilliantly supported by Bella’s bass. The third and last band in this series to follow tomorrow.
Over the last two years the two main new bands I listen to were (and still are) The Regrettes and Skating Polly. In addition to them I also discovered Jade Bird. A few weeks ago I decided to go on a hunt for a few new bands (new to me, not necessarily new to the scene) I might like. That hunt turned out very successful as I’ve found three bands (all British) that have been on heavy rotation since and I expect will remain for some time. So I thought I share some of their music, starting with The Mysterines from Liverpool (introduction in the NME), opening with Take Control:
Moving on to Love’s Not Enough:
A quite fast version of Gasoline:
To close just Lia Metcalfe on her own with an acoustic guitar (incl a much slower version of Gasoline):
I hope you enjoyed the music, more in the second part to follow tomorrow.
Having only taken pictures from my windows for a few weeks I ventured out along the Kennet and Avon Canal when the lockdown restrictions were eased a bit. I stopped near Frouds Lane to try to take a few pictures of birds crossing the canal. That wasn’t very successful. I was just about to leave when I got lucky, although not with a bird. I noticed some motion on the other side of the canal and suddenly a Grass Snake swimming across the canal came into view:
I must admit I didn’t know that snakes can swim until I saw this one doing it. This snake had to cross the canal twice (and did it quite easily it seems): It came across only to realise that on the other side was a retaining wall about 2 ft high, so it couldn’t get out. It had a brief look, then turned around and swam back where it disappeared into the undergrowth (no wall on that side). The tongue was nicely visible several times and the head nicely reflected/mirrored on the water. I hope you like and enjoy these pictures. I certainly enjoyed the moment and watching the snake.