It seems that right now everyone is going collaboration crazy. In this week’s NME there’s a joint interview with Ian Brown and Jay-Z, which possibly outweirds Jay-Z’s friendship with Coldplay’s Chris Martin. There’s also the news that Brown and multi-band guitarist Johnny Marr are making a soundtrack for a TV show, and Radiohead’s Thom Yorke [...]

Posted on September 30th, 2009 by Max
Filed under: Five Songs | No Comments »

After the crushing disappointment of last night, it is up to Mariachi El Bronx, side project of LA hardcore band The Bronx, to cheer us up and that is what they do in the lunchtime sunshine. After the final trumpet note of this enjoyable opening Main Stage band, it’s over to the Festival Republic Stage [...]

Posted on September 2nd, 2009 by Max
Filed under: Reading Festival 2009 | No Comments »

In the second of three special posts previewing this month’s Reading & Leeds festivals (if you missed Part 1 it can be found here), I start by looking at where the big hitters and potential surprises lie on the Arctic Monkey headlined day. The big rumour as we enter the final stretch of preparation for [...]

Posted on August 19th, 2009 by Max
Filed under: Features, Gigs | 1 Comment »

Oh hi there. I am back. Having just spent most of the last two weeks having a good time in Finland (where the weather was surprisingly summery and way better than anything in this crummy country we like to call the United Kingdom), I am now back and sort of recharged and sort of jetlagged. [...]

Posted on August 3rd, 2009 by Max
Filed under: News, Odds & Ends | No Comments »

What a turnaround – in 2007 Patrick Wolf was signed to Universal and ready to release The Magic Position, which would be his most successful album to date. Two years later he is no longer on their roster but going solo, releasing this new album, The Bachelor, through Bandstocks. Much has been already said about [...]

Posted on June 1st, 2009 by Max
Filed under: Albums, Reviews | 2 Comments »