Legend!!!

I know everyone will be talking about Michael Jackson and his death on Thursday 25th June 2009 but I just wanted to say that when I was younger I was a masiive fan. I have all of his albums including Jackson 5. It';s just a shame didn't go out with a bang.

He is, in my eyes the greatest pop artist the world has ever seen.

Michael Joseph Jackson; 29th August 1958 - 25th June 2009.

Nine Black Alps, The Duchess, York 22/06/2009

I just got in from York. I am not drunk, just a little bleary eyed and my ears feel as though they have been listening to a foghorn from point blank range for a lifetime (not as deafening as Hell is For Heroes though).

Due to the constant ringing in my ear but mainly, the euphoria from Sam Forrest and Co, I am unable to sleep. Today was Sir David of Laley's Birthday and what better way to celebrate than by making ear drums bleed!

Tonight was a night where all acts were great. Local boys The Federals (minus a couple members) were rough and ready. A very accomplished performance that put the rest of the night in good stead. Second on were Airship, who, to my surprise didn't turn the volume down. Again, another very good set although there were a couple songs in the middle when the keyboard came out and they starting crossing into Keane/Coldplay/Snow Patrol territory. But, they pull it back with the last few songs. I especially enjoyed 'So After All'.

Tonight though, was about a little Manchester outfit called Nine Black Alps. My second time in their attendance but the atmospheres and venues couldn't differ anymore. The first time I saw them (it have been through beer goggles) was on a beach and it was quite tiring being in a crowd that would not stop jumping or shouting. This time it was in The Duchess (York). No breeze, no fog, no fucking sand between my toes just the expectation of a great night ahead.

They hit the stage and without introduction, began and straight into the next one and the next. They were getting down to business. It was evident they were testing and enjoying playing material from their forthcoming third album.

After four or five songs in I turned around to my one year older friend (I wouldn't embarrass him by mentioning his age) and we had exactly the same thoughts. Why wasn't anyone moving? There we were watching a rock band with their music on their sleeve and no one was moving or dancing. We weren't at a goddamn Kenny G concert.

Anywho, Nine Black Alps were relentless and killed a whole lotta brain cells tonight. The softly spoken Sam Forrest thanked us half a dozen times in between songs (why? I don't know). The crowd or statues started shouting "one more, one more". I didn't want one more though, I wanted five more, ten more, however many but more than one. They didn't return for an encore but who can blame them.

An underrated class act.

I'm going to go to bed now.

Stephen 'Kokanez' Caines

22/06/09 (but now it is 23/06/09)

My 50 Playlist

Here is a a list of the last 50 songs I have listened to:

1. Thursday - Ian Curtis

2. Thursday - Times Arrow

3. Bear Hands - Long Lean Queen

4. Bear Hands - Golden

5. Enter Shikiri - Juggernauts

6. Broken Records - If the New Makes You Sad, Don't Watch It

7. Broken Records - Until The Earth Begins To Part

8. Broken Records - A Promise

9. Broken Records - Thoughts On A Picture (In A Paper, January 2008)

10. Broken Records - If Ellert Loevborg Wrote A Song, It Would Sound Like This

11. Broken Records - Wolves

12. Broken Records - Ghosts

13. Broken Records - A Good Reason

14. Broken Records - Slow Parade

15. Wave Machines - You Say The Stupidest Things

16. Wave Machines -I Go I Go I Go

17. Wave Machines - Keep The Lights On

18. Wave Machines -Punk Spirit

19. Wave Machines - The Greatest Escape We Ever Made

20. The Soft Pack - Call It A Day

21. White Denim - Shake Shake Shake

22. White Denim - Mess Your Hair Up

23. White Denim - Heart From Us All

24. Cursive - In The Now

25. Cursive - From The Hips

26. Cursive - I Couldn't Love You

27. Cursive - Donkeys

28. Cursive - Caveman

29. Cursive - We're Going To Hell

30. Cursive - Mama, I'm Satan

31. Cursive - Let Me Up

32. Cursive - Mama, I'm Swollen

33. Cursive - What Have I Done?

34. Cursive - Universal Shrug

35. Passion Pit - Make Light

36. Passion Pit - Little Secrets

37. Passion Pit - The Reeling

38. Passion Pit - To Kingdom Come

39. Passion Pit - Sleepyhead

40. Discovery - So Insane

41. Creedance Clearwater Revival - Born On Bayou

42. Manchester Orchestra - The Only One

43. Manchester Orchestra - Shake It Out

44. Manchester Orchestra - I've Got Friends

45. Manchester Orchestra - Tony The Tiger

46. Fight Like Apes - Jake Summers

47. Fight Like Apes - Tie Me Up With Jackets

48. Fight Like Apes - Do You Karate?

49. M83 - Graveyard Girl

50. The Veils - Sun Gangs

LINK!!!

The link is for the playlist I have created, so if you have Spotify (and if you don't, why not?) you will be able to listen to all the tacks I have listed. Enjoy!

Stephen 'Kokanez' Caines