Marc A&R Scout’s Neighborhood

Made pizza with the gf last night. I decided it would be cheating to buy ready made bases. I stubbornly stuck to my guns after it being explained to me that it might be easier. 3 hours and three failed pizzas later I was in a kebab shop in Camden contemplating the benefits of pizza bases and nostaligically looking back at the recent gigs I had attended (see how I linked that, good eh?)

I went to see Glass Shark the other day. I was completely off my face on legal over-the-counter cold remedies convining myself that I didn't have a cold and it was hayfever. Glass Shark is a punk disco three piece who make much of very little in the way of sound. The drummer is the main vocalist/front man which makes for an interesting stage show. Historically, I've never liked the whole drummer/front man thing as it tends to look crap and be the product of a drummer not being happy at the back of a stage. If you want to be a front man, do it, if you want to be the drummer do that.

Anyhow, for me this group is the exception to the rule. I liked the stage set up too as it seemed they had though about how they were going to be perceived. Their mic stands were decorated with strip lights which gave the them a stark monochrome/80's discoteque feel.

Vocally and sound-wise they remind me a little bit of Lightningtype in places (one of my favourite bands from last year). Also the drummer/singer had a really sparse kit. One snare, Bass, Hat/crash and a couple of small roto toms which played a heavy part in the songs. The guitarist was armed with a couple of cowbells and another tom in addition to his guitar. This let them go a bit crazy with percussion sections in their tunes and there were moments of LCD Soundsystem in there for me (though that may have been the beechams) as well as a more distinct sound they could call their own.

As a unit they were really tight, great backing vocals and really use what they've got to the maximum potential. This doesn't mean firing on all cylinders throughout the set. They use clever arrangements, breakdowns and write disco tunes rather than being a tired indie band playing at it for a new angle.

Falsetto vocals, thumping 4 to the floor drums and tongue in cheek belters are the order of the day for Glass Shark. 'Toni Collette' was one of my personal highlights. Be sure to see them live as the myspace doesn't necessarily do them justice. If you want the full experience be sure to take masses of sudafed, beechams, zinc suppliments and dyorlyte when attending.

The showcase at the studio went really well. It's a great place. There's several studios dotted around the residential streets of the area. The one I put the band in is known as the Cottage. As it has a lounge reminiscent of my nan's attached and a little patio area outside. It was a lovely day so met the band outside with manage and crew (engineer and roadie). Was great to sit in the sun and talk about the various festivals they're involved in an such. Chewed the fat, discussed the set they were going to play then headed back to the office to prepare to take the label head over there.

Whilst at the office I think I was probably more nervous than the band were as I really want them to do well. I was seriously full of cold and everything that came out of my mouth that wasn't a sneeze, was some nonsensical faux muso comment that just made me look like a tit infront of the boss. Damn. Have had several cringeworth recollections of that day since.

They hammered through the set and really blew all in attendance away. Plus they really showed the depth of their material which is important. I'm really looking forward to seeing more of them. Leaving the studio a colleague and I agreed that we've probably got one of the more fun jobs out there.

Think I might head back home as I feel like something has hatched in my head.

Hope all is well with you.

IB

So everyone is Glastonbury-ing.

There's is a lot of really really good stuff this year, but none of it on the main stages which I think is better in a way.

It's interesting to see the difference in ticket buying behaviour this year. After last years' crap sound, crap weather and crap provisions for punters the Dunkirk spirit was replaced by miserable soggy crowds and many leaving early. I stuck it out and left on the last day to face the 11 hour drive home. All a bit crazy really. My highlight that year was seeing Fionn Regan. But overall didn't really like it.

Other than those who have work commitments, I don't know anyone who went last year who's going this year. Many are heading for other UK or European festivals. Which is sad as Glastonbury had become an institution.

Anyway, enough whinging. There's plenty going on which is worth comment.

The Chapman Family are playing for one thing and they are truly great. To date, I've found what they've had recorded a bit lacklustre, but only because I don't think they've been with the right production team to translate what they achieve live into record. I was talking to Kingsley a couple of weeks back and he mentioned the difficulty they'd had getting the sound they wanted. It seems he really likes the chaotic noise elements you'll get from the likes of Sonic Youth and such but wants enough control over it for the music to be accessable rather than too art rock/avent garde. I wouldn't know which tracks to recommend as I keep hearing different versions of everything so just get yourselves to the BBC introducing stage.

Mumford and Sons seem to be playing all over the damn place, good thing too. Their day job is as Laura Marlin's backing band but they have struck out and gone it alone with their M&S project. I saw them a month or two ago and really liked the stripped back, rootsy folk sound they play around with. The strength of their songs rely almost entirely on melody and strong lyrics rather than overly elaborate arrangements, which they could do as they're all fantastic musicians. On record their sound is a little more rounded and deep with lush vocal overdubs and a lot of subtle but

The Fox Cubs, remember them?!? One of our first submission on the Vox platform and how far they've come since then. It seems like only yesterday the were sleeping on my lounge floor surrounded by beer bottles n such after playing an End of Camden night. Really matured as a band and everything about them is very slick as regards presentation. Their newly recorded stuff out of Dave Eringa's studio has really nailed their sound and I'm envious of everyone who will see them today. I think they will come accross really well. I certainly hope some of my colleagues from Columbia or RCA will be there.

There's plenty more but I'm in danger of waffling too much.

Has rapidly turned into one of those weeks.

I'll be going to see the Matthew Bennett Band this Friday at the Water Rats, between now and then I'm in hiding from my housemates.

After living like passing ships in the night for years I think everyone has developed that couldn't give a s**t attitude as our lease is coming to an end. I have one of those note-leaving/text-grievence sending housemates. That's something that gets on my wick a little. But I'm sure I annoy them more I guess.

However, with any luck I may be moving into my mates place in Camden. Currenlty I live near no venues, or civilisation of any kind out in Brentford. So living near most of the venues I end up visiting regularly would be great. Plus there are parts of Camden that are lovely with plenty of parkland to go to. Which is important for me.

Meeting up a with good friend of mine who works for a music law firm as a new business/talent scout. She's lovely and looking forward to a good catch up on what's happening and where. She just got back from India too so no doubt she's got a few tales to tell. I really need a holiday, going to try and make it to Cornwall this weekend. It's my birthday and I fancy seeing my grandparents, plus lazing on a beach or some fishing or something. Cider will probably be involved somewhere along the line too.

Decided to hit the physical submissions today, do my bit for the environment and recycle a load of CD's. The funny thing about demos coming in that way is the cover letters/biogs/naked pics haven't changed since I opened my first demo when I booked acts for the Water Rats. In fact, apart from the format, demo packages probably haven't changed since the late 70's. In fact, some of the packages came in during the 70's and were only opended today by the looks of it. I still get sent cassettes. Can you believe that?

Was training with my new coach last night. My new competition is in a week and a bit and I'm trying to get up to fitness n such so I don't get a beating of an UmpahLumpah again.

Anyhow, going to get some work done. Hope all is rocking with you.

IB

I spent about an hour yesterday writing one of those proper industry type posts that'd generate a few comments. Then my PC conked out on me and I lost the lot. Bum. Really p'd off about that. Took two dark chocolate KitKat's to sort that one.

Sorry for the delay in posts, I've been pulled in all sorts of directions.

The biggest thing I'm on at the moment is an act that came to me through one of the online scouts that Columbia is coming to see. I've booked a local rehearsal room to showcase them to the label head. It can be really frustrating getting an act, A&R and label head in the same place at the same time. I guess the better a band get the more busy they are so I can't complain. Anyhow, it's booked now, I've cleared the time with the boss's PA and the band are up for doing it. I've been asked to suggest what I'd think is their 'best of' set. Which is a big responsibility. Do I think what I would want to hear? Or maybe try to guess what the label head would want to hear? Or maybe all the tracks I'd see as 'radio tracks'? It's a toughy. But I think I will go for what I think is great live rather than gunning simply for the three and a half min belters that would get played everywhere on radio. Hmm, quite excited about that.

I've spent the past few days listening to Sparrow and the Workshop. Think I've mentioned them before but I really love her voice and the overall feeling of the tracks. There's a real charm and sensitivity to the vocal and style to the song. They're based in Scotland but the singer is from the US and has a wonderful twang to her accent which gives the songwriting an authenticity which I think is lacking in a lot of female songwriters of the moment. Check out 'The Gun', which is a great track.

Spent the weekend painting a bedroom, I think I'm turning into my dad. I found the process of filling gaps with lightweight filler most satisfying and kept standing back with my hands on my hips to admire my work. I was thinking about doing some kind of mural but stuck with sanitorium white instead. The better option methinks. Ended up listening to Anchorman three times as a result. I love that film, I had the urge to hone my guns afterwards. ;-)

My First Phone

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I didn't have any internet access or mobile phone this weekend. I went into a panic. After much pacing and Woody Allen-esque monologues I decided to think back to 1996, when the internet was a new thing you used in college  to look at Gillian Anderson and mobile phones were huge, pay as you go brick-like things. When I used mine it looked more like I was calling in an air strike than talking to mum. So I didn't really bother with mobiles. How did I cope. I decided to buy cider and chocolate before heading to the park in the end. Who needs Facebook anyway?

Been speaking to a colleague of mine about formalising an online scouting process. Currently I have a few scouts dotted about who regularly send me great stuff because they love music and want to see the acts they love become successful, which is great. But rare.

There are some great filter platforms out there such as slicethepie, which really do a great job. I do find limitations in their effecacy because of their reactive nature. The acts you tend to find on there are the sort of act that register with all online platforms and spend a lot of time marketing, which is great. But what about those acts who feel that simply having a myspace (or vox ;-) is enough? You end up getting the best of one type of artist demographic (ooh check my terminology). You need to work both ends and have a function which is hunting out talent. This is pretty much the tao of traditional A&R. I'm thinking the future of this is a hybrid of both methods. Open door for submissions, whist at the same time having an educated, targeted filter network in place who's job it is to seek out the best stuff. The higher up the chain it goes the more it's filtered. You can't depend on artists to champion other artists as they're too busy with their own careers, as so they should be.

With that in mind I've just got the info I need of Vox to skin and update the pages of the A&R platform. I wont bore you with the details of the new platform structure, I'd rather just do it and explain afterwards.

So what it gwanning out there, anything good. Haven't got much in the way of interesting messages recently. Just the usual "You don't know me but..." or "CHECK THIS OUT!!!xxxx" sort of thing. Come say hello.

Hope all is well with you.

IB

A couple of weeks back I went to the Covstock Festival to see some great acts. Managed to film some of it too. I will do a proper posts of it once I get the video together (same old story, waiting on video stuff I know).

THought I'd write a random post as I've been neglecting the blog.

Ok, I'm giving in. I'm getting an iPod, or similar generic MP3 player.

Walkman

I've never had a regular 'portable music device' since my Walkman (which I miss I must admit). I did use my PSP for a while but after watching how excruciatingly geeky guys on the tube look playing it, I thought it'd be better to stick to reading Derren Brown/Ray Mears/How To Stop Being a Nerd and Score with Hot Babes books. Any of which look so much better than the frowning, tongue-biting "I'm so going make the next level before Picadilly, I'm frickin amazing" look.

The main purpose of searching to this new toy is I'm actually going to the gym more and can't stand the eurovision reject soundtrack. As soon as I hear it my chest goes tight, neck feels stiff and I get palputations before I start excercising. Don't get me wrong, some of the videos for that kinda stuff are great. Usually involving scantily clad females doing stuff. Benny Benassi's MOS Satisfaction (it's rude stuff) video is probably the best example. Everyone I spoke to who'd seen the video couldn't remember how the track went. Strange that.

Anyhow, this got me thinking about playlists n such. I was thinking what would be a good grrrrrr workout soundtrack. Then I thought, why do I have to think for myself when there's the internet. Was wondering if there were any suggestions? I'm aiming for it to be as varied as possible regarding genre and style, but the one running theme being it makes you a bit grrrrrr for running and lifting heavy stuff. Imagine the montage scenes from Rocky or The Karate Kid, or Team America and you'll get the idea. :-)

So far I've got:

Just got a phonecall to tell me Anthony Kiedis has been seen in Camden this afternoon. Oooooh.

Probably one of the few parts of London where he'd look totally normal and not be recognised, even if he was wearing nothing but a sock over his tackle. They're playing on Saturday so that would make sense. My bro is coming down to London to watch em so will try and get some quality time in consisting of beer and noodles.

Rocket_launcher_v2_desk

I will now spend the rest of the afternoon dodging missiles fired by my co-workers USB controlled rocket launcher. (*sigh*) I'm only annoyed because I want one too. Maybe I could get a remote controlled tank or something.

Ooh, I've just found one that fired 20 feet and has a camera on it. Ha! I'm guessing this is how an arms race starts. By november they'll be sandbags and seachlights around our desks.

Hello,

Listen to Seventeen Days

Twas at a gig the other day in Kentish Town and I saw the Matthew Bennett band, and jolly good they were too. They joined the blog a few months back and I've been hearing good material from it since. They have a track called Seventeen Days that I'm really into.

Great on stage, songs are good and a reckon they're going to pick up a deal easily. Hmm, perhaps I should try to sign them? Any thoughts?

My intial reaction is the songs are strong but it would be difficult to place in it's current form as regards their sound. It would really fit the Radio2 market easily over here but in doing something like this I would really want to cross over in the David Gray type way. It's all in the interpretation. I guess the way to do that is with a really big radio hit that pluggers would be all over and then you'd get regionals aswell as national mainstream. Couple that with a good online campaign and you're onto a winner.

Now then. Champion. I came accross this band as a result of seeing a video on youtube of Bas Rutten kicking ass and 'No Heaven' was the soundtrack. It's a scarey video but then again Bas is a scarey bloke. Does show the power of user generated content though. I would have never come accross a French-Canadian live dance/blues/house/electro crossover act otherwise. ;-)

Hope all is well with you.

IB

Hello,

Was one of the funnest weekends I've had in a long time. Most of which I can't write about. ;-)

It was my mate Chalky's 30th on Saturday and he had it at his pub. The place was packed with a lot of familiar faces, family and geordies. He booked a Beatles tribute act and they were amazing. Performance-wise I was totally blown away by the on-stage harmonies and how they were on stage. But I imagine they probably play most nights of the week so be unrehearsed would be unforgivable. I wish I could see more bands that tight, understanding onstage sound and really kick the behind out of a venue.

After a few bevvies Chalky was up there and playing drums for a quick turn. Forgotten how good a drummer he is. Then again he was in one of the best bands ever ;-)

Anyhow, all was messy but well behaved. I find Facebook really scarey. No sooner have I recovered from the hangover I see "You have been tagged in a picture" on email and have to review the evidence of my sillyness. Anyone remember the times when you could have a debauched night out without having to find evidence of it on t'internet in short order?

Sunday was spent editing some video and I ended up mastering a track for a friend which took forever. I'd forgotten how scarily nerdy I get with stuff like that (it's good fun though). After using various compressors and clever EQ's, T-Racks24 still produces quick and really decent results. For all you techie types I'm sure that makes sense.

The shitty weather is getting me down and as I haven't had a holiday in about 4 years I think it's about time to escape. I fancy doing and few nights here and there in the UK first, then I want to get on a plane somewhere. Any suggestions? I'm the worst travelled person you'll ever meet and have zero knowledge of where to go/what to do. Not for lack of wanting to, just been a bit busy for the past few...erm...years. I was gearing up to heading to San Francisco at one point but that fell through because of busyness.

Anyhow, this is a rambling pointless post but I though I should say something as its been ages.

Hope all is well with you.

IB

Hello,

A while back I was investigating Secondlife for what it had on offer in the way of music. Crap was what I found with very little success in the way of live performances. Everytime I attended an arranged performance it was always dogged with technical problems and never a good musical experience.

After attending a couple of lame concerts and witnessing bedroom songwriting at it's worst I gave up for a while.

Now I've come accross Chouchou. This is pretty much exactly what I was hoping to come accross in the SL community. An act which exists only within SL and the entire product, promo etc exists only in this user generated world. Take a look at one of their videos, 'shot' in secondlife (wonder what camera they used? :-)

I find some of the piano work on there a bit reminscent of Stan Tracey's Under Milk Wood in it's very minimalist yet quite progressive nature. Generally a quite emmersive sound, epic in scale but not overpowering with the various layers of reverbarating piano and processed digital hisses. (What?!?!?! I'll settle down in a min, bear with me)

I guess rather than seeing this as involving records/albums/units/whatever you want to call them, I think Chouchou's approach is more focused on how people consume and interact with their music. For me I find their videos and music all part and parcel of the same thing, like an AV art installation. I will get back onto the whole SL thing just to get a look at what they are doing on line.

Be sure to take a look at their blog and have a listen to their stuff. Possibly lacking a place in today's commercial music market but definitely good to listen to at the right moment. I'll be sticking some of this on my MP3 for those quiet moments when I need some musical mescaline.

Too many gigs last night, made it to two in the end. Was a little ambitious in my planning of my evening of gigs n such.

The plan was to see Mumford and Sons at the Wilmington, then Freerun at Dingwalls and the Chap at Hoxton B&G. I've realised that without a car, more than two gigs in an evening is probably a but much and you end up running around a bit. Anyone remember Treasure Hunt?