Tuesday, June 01, 2004
As 3voor12 have reported this evening, Pixies are heading back to Netherlands to play Heineken Music Hall on July 6.
Nice of Mojo to sit on that news until now in a desperate attempt to salvage Pinkpop ticket sales and cover for an otherwise dreadful line-up.
:: Posted at 12:06 am by Steven McCarron ::
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Sunday, May 30, 2004
TV on the Internet.
Admittedly stolen from Slashdot a couple of days ago, the PBS documentary The Way The Music Died is now available for streaming online. The whole package comes together as a busy website, featuring complete interview transcripts and information, so there is a lot to explore.
While I think a documentary about the state of the music industry is an important one, there's good and in bad here. For one thing, the concept that "In 2004, roughly 30,000 albums will be released, but only about 100 will be hits" is all very well, but belittles the fact that there are lots of indie bands and indie labels who aren't seeking to be inside that top 100, and that doesn't mean their release hasn't been a success.
Obviously there's also a major American bias here, but it's worth checking out for the perspectives offered.
:: Posted at 12:10 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Friday, May 28, 2004
TV on the Radio may not have their album officially out in Europe yet (around June 7 is when that happens), but you can now watch their latest video for 'Staring at the Sun' online. Click here to watch.
:: Posted at 7:38 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Thursday, May 27, 2004
There are some slow changes taking place on Stayfun. Those of you with bigger monitors will see the beginnings of extra info appearing on the right hand side. It's just a way to provide some additional information and fill the white void that exists due to my stunted monitor growth and dependency on 800*600 resolution. At the same time, it's designed to be unobtrusive to those faced with restrictions like myself.
'Song of the Week' should be fun, at least. Expect it to change on impulse rather than just weekly. Whenever something instantly surprises me and makes me happy, that can be a song of the week.
Of course the site is still growing in total. There is the shop and the weekly broadcasts, as well as the usual stuff. With another idea waiting to be unleashed on the public, I am pleased with the shape Stayfun has taken over the past five months.
Now enough about the site, get to finding some new music. There have been plenty of new additions this week, so check them out and enjoy.
:: Posted at 4:17 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Wednesday, May 26, 2004
If Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea was the aural representation of a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis, then PJ Harvey's new album Uh Huh Her is what happens when the butterfly finds itself flapping around in sticky mud.
It sounds great on initial plays, and although it should be available in Dutch shops over the weekend, half of the album is also available for preview on the official website. Nice idea. Shame it sounds like someone played the songs in the house next door, recorded it through the wall, and then digitized the results. Fans are probably better waiting for the CD actually.
:: Posted at 8:15 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Tonight Snow Patrol (Scottish/Northern Irish) visit the Melkweg for an Amsterdam showcase. Having been going for years, the success they've achieved in the UK last autumn and this spring is a little unsettling. However, as commercial as their recent album Final Straw (review from Sept 2003) is, it's impossible to deny that there some really infectious rock songs on there.
Many will be familiar with the work of The Reindeer Section anyway, which is held together by Snow Patrol songwriter Gary Lightbody. If you are less familiar with Snow Patrol, then here is a nice website which includes acoustic session tracks as well as some weird cover songs to start you off.
:: Posted at 2:34 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Have The Thermals lost their sparkle? A bit. A lot has happened since their whirlwind Dutch tour last summer and the fun has faded. However, they are returning this July and August for gigs in Rotown, Tivoli, Vera, and the Paradiso (at the very least) to try and regain some of that passion and chaos.
:: Posted at 2:25 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Lovely British record label Kabukikore, supplier of quality underground music, has now branched out into an online magazine. It's very new - barely online in fact - but articles are already appearing on there. It should provide an interesting new source for discovering underground artists, as well as reading some entertaining rants along the way.
:: Posted at 2:22 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Yesterday finally brought the release of the new Scout Niblett single, featuring three tracks led by her cover of 'Up Town Top Ranking'. It's available on CD, 7" or digitally here. A streaming sample of the song is also online here.
:: Posted at 2:11 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Friday, May 21, 2004
A selection of new gigs for your pleasure:
Modest Mouse
The Bees
Ben Kweller
Kings of Convenience
MC5
Cheech Wizard / Cyozlab
The Von Bondies
zZz
Gary Jules
Mondo Generator
Magnus
The Sheer
Skik
Envy the West
The Bees
Spider Rico
Blues Brother Castro
Norma Jean
Oceandrive
Zita Swoon
Peter Pan Speedrock
Daryll-Ann
Also heading for Rotterdam is the Primitive! Festival, which is happening at Waterfront on July 1-3. Featuring garage rock from all over the world with bands like The Von Bondies and The Remains, there are also plenty of smaller Dutch bands too.
:: Posted at 4:49 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Last Friday's concert at the Melkweg featuring Thursday and Aereogramme is now available online for streaming here.
:: Posted at 5:51 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Thursday, May 13, 2004
There is no official Broadcast Stayfun tonight. However, Expat-Radio keeps rolling on and you can still tune in to...
Contrarybear's Lair: 20.00-21.00
Melodic Hip-Hop and rap.
We Are OK: 21.00-22.00
A voyage into electronica and dance.
Matty's groove biscuit : 22.00-23.00
Anything is possible here.
Listen in from 8pm CET by clicking HERE
:: Posted at 4:47 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Some of the new gigs in Holland added to the database...
Beastie Boys
Gem
BR5-49
Myracle Brah
The Killers
Reigning Sound
16 Horsepower
Daryll Ann
Dillinger Escape Plan
Broken Social Scene
Myracle Brah
Sukilove
Lambchop
Urge Overkill
Grey de Lisle
Von Bondies
The Vandals
Life of Agony
:: Posted at 4:52 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Monday, May 10, 2004
Danish rockers Kitty Wu visit Nighttown in Rotterdam this coming Thursday. Support comes from Rotterdam's own Mono, and you could be there for free with Stayfun. Simply email Stayfun with 'Kitty Wu' marked in the subject.
:: Posted at 8:27 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Friday, May 07, 2004
Stayfun favourites Sons and Daughters have officially signed for Domino. It's no real surprise given a number of Domino appearances earlier in the year, as well as the recent Franz Ferdinand UK tour, however, it's still good news for the band.
:: Posted at 5:33 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Thursday, May 06, 2004
To tune into Broadcast Stayfun tonight, tune in directly HERE from 8pm CET or see the Broadcast area for further details.
:: Posted at 7:48 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Tonight Broadcast Stayfun is expanded to three short shows:
20.00 - Contrarybear's Lair - 30 minutes of fun Hip Hop, but not the kind you'll find on The Box.
20.30 - DJ Cynthusia - From Den Haag to Florida and back again. An electro-mix featuring Lemon Jelly, Ladytron, and To Rococo Rot. Finally a real DJ gets involved in the broadcasts.
21.00-22.00 - Broadcast Stayfun, tonight featuring music from Lawn, Audiotransparent, At The Close of Every Day, Envy the West, and plenty of other nice pieces of music too.
All times CET.
:: Posted at 6:44 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Wednesday, May 05, 2004
It's the twee-est show on Earth. Or at least in Scotland.
Saturday June 12 sees Belle and Sebastian playing a free show at Glasgow's Botanic Gardens. This of course means nothing to me. However, with a supporting cast of V-Twin, Trashcan Sinatras, Camera Obscura, Mother and the Addicts, and the James Orr Complex, it's almost worth an Easyjet weekend in Scotland...but then Belle and Sebastian...I guess not.
:: Posted at 12:06 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Tuesday, May 04, 2004
I just noticed over at Festival Info that this year's Parkpop lineup so far has Eleven, the Von Bondies and Supergrass on the rock front. Not bad.
It's just a shame that it clashes with Breda Barst, which this year has Anathema, Oceansize, and This Beautiful Mess.
Both are promising prospects. Especially for free gigs.
:: Posted at 6:44 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Sunday, May 02, 2004
With all the new updates recently, there's not really been any announcements explaining what's going on.
The two most recent album reviews are from Noxagt and Deerpark. Noxagt are quite ferocious and shall be appearing in Amsterdam in a couple of weeks time. Deerpark are from England, and their CD is absolutely lovely. Check out the review, visit their website, and download some audio samples, because it's really nice - one of the best things I heard in April actually.
There's also a bundle of MP3 recommendations, so if you haven't been checking them lately, go and catch up on some nice music from: Andrew Bird, John Guilt, Colin Kerr, Airbus, The Phoenix Foundation, and Homescience.
:: Posted at 2:44 pm by Steven McCarron ::
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Here are just a few of the new gigs added to the Stayfun concert database today:
Erin McKeown
Dandy Warhols
The Ponys
Eleven
The Gathering
De Kift
Foam
Explosions in the Sky
Alias
Broken Social Scene
The Ex
:: Posted at 11:41 am by Steven McCarron ::
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