Celebrating Macedonian Independence with the Queen of the Gypsies (Qype does London)

Celebrating Macedonian Independence with the Queen of the Gypsies
Chris Osburn

Qype does London
September 9th 2008



The event was my first BYOT (bring your own tambourine) concert, and I was much impressed with the variety of dancing and gesticulating offered by the audience in response to Esma’s performance. Heck, I even wriggled to the music a bit too. It would have been impossible not to have danced – the steady rhythm laid firm foundation to the flittering melodies as Esma’s voice soared. The song tempos darted from frenetic to insanely frenetic, while every now and again dipping into mournful.

Read the complete Queen of the Gypsies post at Qype does London.

Make a ROCK GOD fool of yourself at Lucky Voice (Qype does London)

Make a ROCK GOD fool of yourself (or let out your inner DIVA) at Lucky Voice
Chris Osburn
Qype does London
September 3rd 2008











I lost my voice and still have a creek in my neck more than 24 hours later. But I’d be happy to make a ROCK GOD fool of myself again at Lucky Voice’s new Islington location again. What’s Lucky Voice? It’s a private karaoke club with rather plush air conditioned karaoke rooms, drinks service (just a press of the button away) and a decent list of songs (but not nearly enough AC/DC for this man’s tastes!).

Read the complete Lucky Voice post on the Qype does London blog.

Thou Shalt Always Kill" - Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip

London in Song and Video ...

London Short Film: Henry Moore at Kew Gardens

Video from a February visit to Kew Gardens in London during the "Moore at Kew" exhibition, which runs until March 30th. I highly recommend checking it out, especially on a sunny day.



henry moore at kew gardens
a short film by chris osburn featuring music by the pandas

Click here for info about Moore at Kew, a landmark exhibition of monumental works by the internationally acclaimed sculptor Henry Moore featuring twenty-eight outdoor sculptures sited within the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew's unique World Heritage landscape.

Photos from the "Notting Heaven" Group Exhibition at Sartorial Contemporary Art

Photos from the December 12th opening of the "Notting Heaven" group exhibition at London's Sartorial Contemporary Art in Notting Hill. Music provided by Mr Solo, dancing by Sparkle Motion.

Click here for more shots over at Flickr from the opening of "Notting Heaven."

Photography by Chris Osburn © 2007

Led Zeppelin London Gig YouTube Clip (Stairway to Heaven)

Nope. I didn't take this video. I sure wish I had. Anyway, this clip of "STAIRWAY" (!!!) was posted on YouTube by HugoDeLeonMorais. Lucky (black) dog.

Rapping about Fire Safety is Hot!

London fireman raps about safety
A London firefighter is using a hip-hop rap video to educate young people about installing fire alarms.
By Debabani Majumdar
BBC News
Last Updated: Tuesday, 11 September 2007, 12:27 GMT 13:27 UK











[Rapper/fireman Stephen-remell Coleman] said it took him half an hour to come up with the lyrics for the rap, using 'free-styling'.

Click here for complete article.

Click here to watch the video and listen to the song.

Roc Roc Radio - Kid Acne

London in Song and Video ...

Cool song by Kid Acne set to a great video directed by London artist Dscreet. Brilliant shots of East London, especially the bits on Sclater St.

Denying the Nineties with Fascination

Thanks to the recommendation of a close friend (you know who you are), I found myself this past Thursday at the Betsey Trotwood listening to a band's debut performance. The show was about an hour. Every song delivery solid. The audience of mostly mid-thirties Londoners bopped about with glee, with everybody appearing to be really glad to relive some very fun memories.

Free one inch badges were on hand too.

The band, called Fascination, is a two-piece: a vocalist and a chap behind a synth with a laptop. The sound? Pure Eighties (on their MySpace profile, they list "The B-52's, Madonna, Blondie, Tom Tom Club, Duran Duran, and Roxy Music" among their influences). The influence of Duran Duran and Roxy Music was especially evident to my ears. However, Fascination has a much heavier synth/electro-pop sound (Human League and Missing Persons come to mind). Lyrics are refreshingly vapid and fun. For example, according to the song Topshop Radio, here is Fascination's take on success:

I'd never dream that we made it until some teenage girl is trying on clothes to our sound ... taking off clothes to our sound.

Click here to visit Fascination's MySpace profile, where future gig dates will be listed and four songs are available for your listening pleasure.

Rude Boy - The Clash

Rude Boy is not a great film. However, it does have some brilliant footage of several live performances by The Clash. According to IMDB ...

Rude Boy is a semi-documentary, part character study, part 'rockumentary', featuring a British punk band, The Clash. The script includes the story of a fictional fan juxtposed with actual public events of the day, including political demonstrations and Clash concerts. Filmed over a period of years, the written dialog takes on the appearance of improvisation.

The other brilliant aspect of this film is its footage of late 1970s London (as bleak as it seems to have been). I found this DVD is good to have playing while doing other things around my flat, stopping when a particular scene catches my attention or when the band comes back on to play.

The Chauffer - Duran Duran

London in Song and Video ...

Great shots of London - along with some ridiculously wonderful dancing - in this clip! It's kinda sexy too (in a very goofy 1980's sort of way).

Kon-Tiki screening with live music by Tron Jensen

Tron Jensen Live + Kon-Tiki
Thursday
March 29, 2007
8:00PM
ICA
The Mall
London SW1


Dedicated to the memory of Norwegian scientist and explorer Thor Heyerhahl (featured in the Oscar winning 1951 doc screened at this event), Tron Jensen's new LP 'Ocean' is a triumph of both influence and reference for the fisherman singer songwriter. Blending blues, folk and rock, Jensen’s passionate, raspy voice plays homage to the great man. In 1947 Thor crossed the Pacific Ocean on a balsa wood raft, named the Kon-Tiki in 101 days to prove his theory that the Polynesians undertook the same feat over 1000 years before.

Click here for more information.

Singing? On a bus? In London?

Spend any amount of time anywhere near public transport in London, and you'll know why the following clip is absolutely absurd with no basis in reality whatsoever.



Wondering why the above clip even exists?

BBC London's Anthem for 2012
We know London is the greatest city on earth, so why doesn't it have an anthem?
BBC News
last updated: 07/03/07








It's simple, we want an original song with inspiring lyrics which capture the spirit of the capital and get people to sing.

Click here for complete article.

Waterloo Sunset - The Kinks

London in Song and Video ...

I am in paradise





Here's another clip of the song, this one featuring Ray Davies singing and playing an acoustic guitar and accompanied by a pianist.

LMF (Last Friday of the Month)

Last Friday of every month is LMF at Jaguar Shoes - a night of music based on the six degrees of separation, hosted by Lord PMH and his battalion of DJ's from all arena's. It’ll make your eyes water and ears bleed.

Next one is 23 February.

London Calling - The Clash

London in Song and Video ...

Live by the river? Then, you'll appreciate this clip of The Clash performing their classic "London Calling."

Legendary record shop to close - scavengers take note

Record collectors' shop faces the music
After more than 30 years in business, Europe's biggest second-hand record shop is in the throes of a huge closing-down sale.
By Robert Plummer, Business reporter
BBC News
Published: 2006/12/20 23:19:11 GMT

Beanos, in the south London suburb of Croydon, sent shockwaves through the world of music collecting when it announced in July that it was no longer profitable and would have to shut.

Click here for complete article.

How was the Pogues concert?

Last night's Pogues concert - the first of three nights at London's Brixton Academy - was good fun. The band was tight and at ease. The audience, a jolly lot of drunks. Shane MacGowan, toddling and mumbling between songs, delivered as heartfelt and gritty a performance as only he could.

Honestly, the sound was terrible. But, no one seemed to mind as virtually everyone in the sold-out venue knew all the lyrics. Of goosebumpy noteworthiness was the crowd's sing-along drowning out the band during "Dirty Old Town," a song which (along with "Fairytale of New York") I have been whistling and humming all groggy morning.

Click here for information about Brixton Academy and the Pogues tour.

How was the Morricone concert?

Saturday's second and final night of Ennio Morricone's rare appearances at Hammersmith Apollo Theatre was brilliant! Lots of flare. Plenty of encores. Standing ovations from a full house of appreciative fans (many of whom were Italian and ecstatic).

Although his music is so closely associated with the films he scored (more than 300!), his pieces stood on their own without a cinematic backdrop and allowed this listener's mind to roam a range of moods from solemn circumspection to impending doom to raw courage.

Conducting the ninety-plus member Roma Sinfonietta Orchestra and the seventy-plus Crouch End Festival Chorus, which featured soprano Susanna Rigacci and pianist Gilda Buttà, Morricone was in full command and appeared fit as a fiddle at his 78 years of age.

Share your Christmas with the Pogues

UPDATED 21 December 2006: Click here for a review of the Pogues 17 December performance at Brixton Academy.

The Pogues to perform two shows at Brixton Academy this December:

For the fourth year running, Christmas means the return of The Pogues to the live circuit. The perfect start to the festive season, this show is like having St. Patrick’s Day in December. The Pogues remain a huge influence to musicians and fans; they are for sure, one of the greatest live bands you are ever likely to see.
(From Carling Academy Brixton's website)

SUNDAY 17TH & MONDAY 18TH DECEMBER

Carling Academy Brixton
211 Stockwell Road
London SW9 9SL
Tel: 020 7771 3000
Fax: 020 77384427

CUSTOMER INFORMATION LINE
0905 020 3999 (25p min)

Ticket Sales
0870 771 2000 24 hours

For more info visit the Brixton Academy online or the Pogues official website.