Posts Tagged ‘Dave Smith’

There’s plenty of new talent out there to get excited about this year. The likes of Palma Violets, Haim, Tom Odell and Savages have already caused a gaggle of eager music publications to pin their colours firmly to the mast, and should at least spark the usual ‘Next Big Thing’/'Hyped Up Bollocks’ debate when they release new albums in 2013. Here, some of Live4ever’s writers reveal what they’re hoping for from some of the more established acts out there, including the latest project from Thom Yorke and the plans of a few Manchester legends.

Let us know what you’re hoping 2013 will bring by leaving a comment below.

Now you’ve been through our extensive Essential Listening 2012 series, which includes all our top choices from a past twelve months of albums, gigs and tracks, here some of our frankly super talented band of writers pick out their own favourite album of 2012, each making a convincing argument for the selected records in the process.

With the Sex Pistols’ classic album ‘Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols’ about to get a wide-ranging reissue, we’ve gone back over our original 2009 feature to present a more extensive look at the record and the Seventies punk scene as a whole, complete with very rare photographs which are set to feature in the super deluxe box-set edition of the re-release.

Ah it’s nearly that time again.

Up and down the land, pubs are being decorated with stories-high crosses of St. George, each trying to outdo the other with enticing special offers in a bid to convince the locals to choose their own establishment for England’s latest underwhelming 1-1 draw against the group minnows.

On the balconies of council estates, this month’s washing is being moved from its perilous perch to make way for yet more – but slightly smaller – red and white banners. Soon, the nation’s cars will be adorned with bite-sized versions, each seemingly mere seconds away from ending its days in an evidence bag after causing a major road accident. Yes it can all mean only one thing: it’s Christmas in Corfu for the chief executive of Britain’s leading flag making company.

Oh, and a major football tournament is about to kick off somewhere in Europe.

Debut albums. Get them right, and their impact can change the world. Some mark the starting point for even greater things to come, others make such a lasting impression their legacy becomes an almost unbearable burden on the shoulders of its creators.

Many bands have got it very right on their first attempt; defining eras, inspiring generations, or simply becoming cult classics for an instantly dedicated fanbase. Here, we’ve sorted through the long-list of enduringly classic debuts to present 25 of our own essentials, all of which have left an indelible mark on the musical landscape.

When you’ve been through our rundown, leave a comment below letting us know which debuts you keep going back to time after time, and which records not included on our list you feel deserve a mention.

Bit of a stink going on at the moment. There’s probably a not inconsiderable queue stretching out of your local garage forecourt thanks to David Cameron’s gentle nudge in the direction of a Jerry can led to the nation rushing out to petrol stations up and down the land to avert the disaster of a possible walk to work. If you’re over the age of 65 or partial to a Greggs pasty, you might not be too happy either. If you’re still on over 40 fags a day and enjoy the odd can of cheap supermarket beer, well, it doesn’t bare thinking about…

But in these times of economic cutbacks left, right and centre, should we also be sparing a thought for the poor, over-worked festival organiser? Today, the Sonisphere festival became the latest event to pull out of this summer’s UK season despite having Brian May, Roger Taylor and some fella who used to be on American Idol booked as their headliners. Oh, the humanity!

Since the release of modern indie classic ‘Heavyweight Champion Of The World‘ put Reverend & The Makers at the forefront of a guitar-led charge on the charts in 2007, the band’s frontman Jon McClure has proven himself to be one of the most engaging characters to burst onto the British music scene in recent years.

And while many contemporaries have already fallen by the wayside since that rock surge of a few years ago, McClure’s spirit of diversity and willingness to experiment has kept him right at the edge of the many changes which have re-shaped the music industry forever, with the band’s embracing of social networking ahead of the release of third studio album ‘@Reverend_Makers‘ on May 7th another strong symbol of their desire to welcome new trends with open arms.

In this exclusive Live4ever interview, Jon discusses the social network boom and its value for interacting directly with his fans, the revolution of the music world he’s witnessed during the last decade, how being chased by the cops on Facebook helped to fill in time between albums, and why he’s giving political commentary a miss this time round.

What do you say we cut teenagers some slack?

They get a lot of stick these days, if not for perpetuating the sparkly vampire craze, then for having Justin ‘Kick Me’ Bieber among their ranks or impregnating each other on a whim. Pish and posh and syrup-soaked waffle, the lot of it.

Especially in the face of a talent like Jake Bugg.

Today we celebrated the 66 th birthday of one of the UK’s most celebrated musicians, here we take a look through the ever-changing, and ever-brilliant career of David Bowie.

Born David Robert Jones, Bowie moved to Kent with his parents at the age of six where he was educated at Burnt Ash Junior School and later Bromley Technical High School. Like most musicians of his generation, his love of music was cemented while listening to early American rock n roll stars at a young age. By the age of fifteen, he had formed his first band The Konrads, and after performing with various groups in his teens, released his first single, ‘Liza Janes‘ in 1964 with The King Bees.

Lock, Stock, and Three Smokin’ Barrels…

Well, it’s that time of year again when everyone starts telling you who is going to break through and become the biggest thing since The Beatles.

Usually, such predictions fall short and never fulfill the grand expectations that are bestowed upon those special chosen ones. Brother were once hailed by some as the next Oasis but, in the end, they didn’t even scratch the surface. So what about 2012? We’re not going to insist on telling you who is definitely going to tilt the world on its axis, but a bit of gentle guidance never hurt anyone.