One Night Only - Dingwalls

It's so nice to have One Night Only gigging again. I was really sceptical about their new stuff but it's all really grown on me and I can't stop singing it now.

I went to see them at Dingwalls on Thursday. We queued up for ages like losers and then it really didn't matter because for the first time ever we didn't try to get to the front but stood up on a second level....it was a good idea at the time but meant I got shit photos and the atmosphere wasn't as good up there. The crowd were shit. London normally really goes for it but I didn't recognise half the people there and it showed a lot of them weren't proper fans. Having said that we did see a few familiar faces which was so lovely and met a few fans that I've spoken to online. I also saw my mate Dougie who I forgot was a good friend of Andy Burrows, ex-Razorlight, now of I Am Arrows who were supporting and really really good.

One Night Only were great, a couple of the slower songs didn't go down as well but I think that's because people weren't hyped up to begin with. After the gig we acted like complete idiots and got our photos taken with George...which is always so weird because he knows us but I'm not going to stop now. I said, "can we be losers and have a photo?" he said, "are you ashamed to have your photo taken with me?" and I said, "no, obviously not!". He then asked how my fella was and asked about the wedding (I don't know how he knows I'm getting married), we had a little chat then gave me a hug goodbye. It was really sweet.

Photos.

One Night Only - Bush Hall

They've been away for what feels like an age and on Monday One Night Only were finally back in London! I first started following ONO in 2008 and I was in a really happy place back then, my job was good, we'd just moved back down to London and I was getting to see them play every couple of weeks which was just crazy. I loved those few months and although they always felt like a guilty pleasure to me, because they were so young and their music was just light and fun, it was sad when suddenly it all stopped and they started to record their new stuff.

Their new album is out in August and I'd only heard a couple of the new tracks which didn't really blow me away but after seeing them on Monday in Shepherds Bush I can safely say the new stuff sounds much better live than it does recorded.

Now two years ago we'd have been queueing outside the venue from 10am like proper weirdos. We arrived closer to 5pm this week and were shocked to see that the queue was pretty long and made up of quite a few blokes rather than the 14 year old girls we'd normally expect. The venue itself was odd. Bush Hall was lovely but had carpet in it which seemed to make the whole place a rather too well insulated sauna! There were two support acts. First up was Drive Like I Do who I really really liked and would definitely go and see again. Second was Leah Mason who plays the guitar unbelievably well but just wasn't doing it for me. Her set went on forever and was crazy dull.

ONO finally took to the stage and played a really good mix of old and new stuff. I wasn't too keen on the new arrangement on some of the older tracks and the drums were quite overbearing but the show was so much fun and when they played Just For Tonight the place just exploded! I did miss seeing Sam at the drum kit (he was always such a doll) and Dan had been styled into some kind of dandy with a rosary a look I've not seen for a few years now but his "stylist" is obviously trying to bring back. George, Mark and Jack all looked the same though and watching them was really great.

I grabbed a tour t-shirt designed by Zoe Jervoise and then we headed outside which is when it got really weird. There were paparazzi waiting for George and when he came out they were running to get a picture! Plus he had a bodyguard! Having met George a million and one times this just seemed so surreal to us but the weirdness must of rubbed off because I regressed into the fangirl I once was and got a photo with him. It was sweet of him to say hi and ask how I was before I grabbed him for the piccie though.

So that's it for a little while longer, there are murmurs of an October tour so I hope they're true.

Say You Don't Want It

The new One Night Only video premiered today. The single is called Say You Don't Want It and I quite like it. The lyrics are rather repetitive and I don't like the weird guitar bit in the middle but it is catchy and I'm looking forward to hearing more. The video looks great although Emma Watson's acting isn't really doing it for me. The bit with the dogs ruins it too in my opinion.

Catch them on tour in July.

2010 Will Be My Year...I Hope!

Sorry for lack of updates yet again, although I don't have many readers so I'm sure it's no big deal. I think I'll be packing a few things in this blog post I'm afraid.

Firstly, happy new year! Last year I wrote a blog post saying how great 2008 was and how 2009 didn't hold as much promise. It did and it didn't I guess. Nothing hugely exciting happened to me in the first half of the year, the second half was definitely more eventful! Due to a few changes at work I managed to progress further in my job than I'd expected and things have gone from strength to strength there in the past 3 or 4 months. A good team of great people is a valuable thing indeed and I'm proud to work in one.

I was introduced to some great music last year and I hope it continues in 2010. My new favourite band has the be The Darling Buds who did a great acoustic set at Victoria Gate a few months back. Their music is stunning and you should check them out immediately. I managed to go and see Skint & Demoralised quite a lot and that's just always great fun, I can't wait to hear new stuff from Matt Skint this year. My two favourite bands, My Chemical Romance and One Night Only have had quiet years but should be back in 2010 with a vengeance! I can't wait. So far this year I'm all set to go and see Gallows (I'm very excited about this gig) and Rolo Tomassi. I still plan to get a Gallows inspired tattoo this year if I can afford it and get an appointment with the amazing Valerie Vargas.

Talking of music, have you seen the Lady Gaga video for Bad Romance? Best video of 2009 by far...

Things got really great for me just before new year week when my gorgeous boyfriend of 7 years proposed to me! Having spent a fortune on amazing xmas presents for me he waited until 1am Boxing Day morning to present me with a card (with a photo of Bob Dylan on it) declaring that we were going to Rome for 3 days. He popped the question next to a beautiful ancient fountain on the Palatine Hill and of course I said YES! So it looks like 2010 will be filled with bridal magazines, wedding shows and money saving for me. Bring it on.

That's it I guess. Maybe I should set a new years resolution to update on here at least once a week and make it more topical....I think I'll fail outright but I'll give it a go.

Goodbye 2008...

It's New Years day and I'm sick in bed debating whether to go to the doctors tomorrow or not...and I'm a little bored to be honest. I feel I've neglected my blog for a while so I'm going to try and get something down.

2008 was a good year for me, I'm not sure 2009 holds as much promise so far but then I am the worlds biggest pessimist so we'll see. "What was so great about 2008?" I hear you ask, well let me try to tell you.

First off things took off for me at work. I started at Band & Brown in September 2007 as an admin assistant and I can honestly say it was the best job I've ever had and I think I ever will have but in 2008 I got promoted to the CEO's Research Assistant, it was a huge leap for me and it's a role that has since opened a lot of doors for me and seen me take on yet another new role as a Project Manager for Brando Digital. After spending three and a half years in limbo living in Coventry and feeling I amounted to nothing 2008 really made me realize I could achieve something in my career. Plus I work in Camden which is home to me, I swear I spend more time there than I do in my own flat. On that note the Hawley Arms was rebuilt! After the terrible Camden fire in February the iconic pub's future was really uncertain but it reopened at the end of October and I couldn't be happier. All our friends are back and I can enjoy my favourite houmous and a pint of chips every lunch time again. I even managed to have my birthday party there and it was brilliant.

Secondly my favourite band, 'My Chemical Romance', had a quiet year for the most part which meant I had a lot of time to listen to new stuff. In April I found 'One Night Only'. Now I've said it before, they're not the best band in the world but they make me happy AND it's not just about them it's everything that goes with them. Through going to their gigs I've met some amazing people that I can't imagine my life without now. Friends that I now wouldn't dream of going to a gig without and that I spend hours talking to online and texting when I don't actually get to see them. I've also met friends that I can talk to about music and tattoos and share stuff with and I know they won't judge me, friends who have really inspired me and continue to try to introduce me to cool music. So through a band that nobody else seems to like I've really gained something in my life.

But I've not forgotten 'MCR' and I've had two new 'MCR' tattoos done this year that mean a lot to me. I think I'll write a post about the meaning of all my tattoos later but I just want to say that in a year where 'MCR' have been really quiet, doing their own personal stuff and just getting on with their lives they've still managed to be important to me, inspire me and keep me sane.

2008 saw some awesome films come out too. 'Dark Knight' was out of this world and I'm so gutted that we'll never get to see Heath Ledger play the Joker again. The Joker is the best villain ever...EVER, and I think I'll be getting a Joker/Harley Quinn tattoo at some point in the near future. 'Twilight' was cool too, although the books are a million times better. The film was a pretty honest adaptation and I think any flaws with this one will be ironed out in time for 'New Moon' which should be ace.

I never usually do new years resolutions but I think this year I may try. I'm going to try my hardest to move to Camden by April at the latest, this will give me more time to spend with my friends and loved ones rather than being sat on a train commuting. I'm going to lose a few pounds, the diet has started and my new tattoo on my ribs is the perfect excuse to get trim and toned for the Summer (not that I'll be flashing my ribs off, I stopped all that when I hit 21). I'm going to work my arse off at work to really try to prove myself and get the most out of having a career. Most importantly I'm going to stay true to myself this year, I'll stay the same little tattooed, pierced, obsessive little Camden freak that I've always been and not care what anyone thinks of me. Maybe 2009 won't be so bad after all.

Bands and Social Media....and my Youtube videos

I'm not one of these people that searches through Youtube for funny videos to send to my friends, although I do enjoy receiving them from time to time, but I do use it to keep up to date with my favourite bands. One Night Only have just introduced ONO Wednesdays where they post a new video every week to keep their fans happy now that they're off tour. They film and edit the videos themselves which adds that extra personal touch. I think they're a band that uses (or who's label uses) social media really well, giving the fans plenty of stuff to look at, enter, take part in every month be it through Myspace, Facebook, Bebo, e-newsletters or Youtube.

My Chemical Romance have also just started to really use social media. They've always had a Myspace and a website but they've just launched their new site which is basically an aggregated blog and Twitter stream (along with Twitpics). As I write this lead singer Gerard Way has over 9,000 followers and I can tell you with a fair amount of certainty that at least 80% of those had never even heard of Twitter before the band joined. Some of the guys are responding to fan Tweets but mostly they just post funny little random comments and messages to each other. The blog isn't really giving the fans any update right now but the guys are writing really humorous, geeky posts about reality tv, Star Wars and video games that say far more about them as people than any interview I think I've ever seen or read with them has ever done.

Band communities are often very strong online and they love to share videos, music, pictures etc. I have come to realise that I was born without a shame gene, that's right, I have no shame whatsoever and it is because of this that I feel I can share the fact that I like to make fan videos. Nothing too weird, just some pictures of MCR edited together to their music. I mainly do it to rare songs or b-sides, things that some fans might not have. Really it's just a bit of fun for me when I'm bored but I was surprised to see that one of the videos I made to one of their songs has nearly 65,000 views and another one, to a song from their album, has nearly 43,000 views. My videos are not great (see for yourself below) but fans will cling to any bit of band related content they can get. If that content is actually supplied by the band, or at least fuelled by the band themselves then even better!

Favourite Bands and Artists

I wrote about my favourite films last week so I'll carry on the theme and do favourite bands/artists this week. I will get to books eventually too. I don't think this will be as long as my last post you'll be pleased to hear, with the exception of maybe one or two. I find music really hard to talk about, I know nothing about it really. I play no instruments, although I do have grade 1 recorder, woo hoo! I have a really odd relationship with music because in some ways it affects me far more than film but I never have the time to listen to it much so I'm quite limited in what I listen too. I have an amazing friend who is trying his hardest to make me listen to stuff he thinks I'll like and I'm slowly working through it all....slowly, maybe if I update this list next year there'll be a few new entries.

So here we go, in no particular order BUT starting with my all time No.1!

1) My Chemical Romance
I can't seem to write a single post without mentioning this band but that's because, and I say this in all seriousness, they are my life. It's become an 'MCR' cliche to say 'they saved my life' and it's so melodramatic but they really got me through some awful times and I so wish they'd been around when I was a teenager.

I used to catch my boyfriend watching their videos from time to time, I'd seen the 'I'm Not Okay (I Promise)' video and I just didn't get it. I loved the song and thought I might like them but I assumed they were teenagers that had been overstyled by their record company and that just turned me off. Then I was driving home from work in Coventry one day in 2006, I lived there for a few years and had managed to lose any sense of who I was or wanted to be, Scott Mills had a new record of the week - 'Welcome To The Black Parade'. That was it, I was hooked. I went out and bought all of their albums and any magazines I could find with them in, I did it all wrong and listened to the albums from newest to oldest but by the time I'd finished my life was turned around. This was the band I'd waited for my whole life. Suddenly I didn't mind getting up in the morning, it was a excuse to find out more about them and listen to more songs. I realised that they really were their own band and were much older and smarter than I'd ever realised.

Within a week I had my first 'MCR' tattoo, it's just MCR written on my wrist. People think I'll regret it, trust me when I say I could never regret it. It's not just their music, it's them, it's what they say, what they stand for, how they treat their fans, it's an aesthetic, an attitude. Everything. They've changed my life and I want that documented on my body. I now also have a piece of artwork form their 'I'm Not Okay (I Promise)' single on my arm and I'm planning many, many, more. Because of 'MCR' I've found my own sense of style again, I've found myself again.

People either love or hate 'MCR', there are few people that sit on the fence. I'm a true believer that you can't simply hate something because you think it's cool to hate something and also you should listen to as much as you can by a band before you make up your mind. People judge 'MCR' on two things. One, the fact their classed as emo. They are not emo! They're what the media classes as emo. Read your music history books and you'll soon see what emo is/was. Two, 'The Black Parade' album. Yes it was over the top, yes the singles appealed to the 'emo' *rolls eyes* crowd but that's not all the album was and that's certainly not what their other albums are like. So I'll give you a little overview of each of their albums so that you can understand this point a little better.

'I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love' - This album is pretty raw and their most 'punk' sounding, it's really uncommercial and was released under New Jersey label Eyeball Records. The band formed straight after September 11th and the song 'Skylines and Turnstiles' deals with this issue. The rest of the songs reference vampires and death quite heavily. The vampires often represent people who feed off of others for their own selfish gains and the death mentions often refer to bad relationships and breakups. It's a concept album and the story loosely centers on two lovers who find the world overrun with vampires and go on the run. There are also mentions of Gerard Way's (as well as other members of the band's) early drug and alcohol abuse.
My favourite songs are 'Our Lady Of Sorrows', 'Demolition Lovers', 'Early Sunsets Over Monroeville' and 'Headfirst For Halos'.

'Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge' - Certainly more commercial and released under Warner Reprise, this is where I'd say the majority of fans got on board but also where they lost some of their earlier, more underground fanbase. It's yet another concept album and takes off where the last one ended. The guy sells his soul to the devil, delivering the souls of 1000 evil men, in return for the soul of his damned lover who was bitten by vampires. It deals strongly with homosexuality, self esteem and most obviously loss. Gerard and Mikey's grandmother died as they were writing it and the whole album is dedicated to her.
My favourite songs are 'I'm Not Okay (I Promise)', 'Thank You For The Venom' and my all time favourite of theirs 'It's Not A Fashion Statement, It's A Fucking Deathwish'.

'The Black Parade' - This album was inspired by artists like Queen and David Bowie. It's a rock-opera and saw a real shift in sound and style. The concept is about a young man, 'The Patient' who's just died from cancer, and it's a look back at various episodes in his life. By this time Gerard was completely clean and sober and so there are references to his addictions and issues. Mikey, the bassist, went through a severe depression whilst recording and nearly left the band and this is spoken about on the record as well.
My favourite songs are 'Famous Last Words', 'Mama', 'Disenchanted', 'This Is How I Disappear' and 'The Sharpest Lives'. BUT listen to the bsides to all of the singles, they're amazing and 'Kill All Your Friends' is one of my favourite songs ever.

Wow I've written a lot here. Sorry. I've not written half of what I'd like to either! Just one last thing. 'MCR's' singer Gerard Way is my ultimate hero. He suffers from depression, has been a drug addict and alcoholic but he's cleaned himself up and never stopped caring about the fans or the music. He tells his fans to look after themselves, seek help if they have depression, are getting bullied or suffer from self harm and other issues, he also does a huge amount of work (along with the rest of the band) for the 'Make A Wish Foundation' and other charities. He turned a tragedy like September 11th into something positive for himself and the rest of the band. He's an amazing artist and comic book writer. I managed to meet him last year and he was a true gentleman. We also won some tickets to an exclusive fan only gig they played at KOKO, when they played 'Famous Last Words' Gerard came into the audience and held my hand as he sang. It was the best day of my life. Unlike other bands and singers, and despite what some people think, I honestly believe he's a decent person and he's changed my life.

2) One Night Only
This is the only other band I would queue for hours to see (and I do) and spend money on buying tickets and merch....and I know I shouldn't. They are my guilty pleasure. I know they're not the best band in the world and my friends rip it out of me for liking them but I can't help it, they're very different to anything I normally listen to and I don't really understand why I like them so much, I guess their music makes me happy, what can I say?!
ONO only have one album, 'Started A Fire', and they've not been around for very long. I started liking them in April this year and I've met them so many times they actually recognise me now. Most people I meet don't know them, they've only had one big hit 'Just For Tonight' but some of their new stuff is really good and fingers crossed they'll have another hit soon.

I know some of their lyrics are bad but I put that down to the fact their young and maybe trying too hard but their gigs are always really good fun, I've met some really great people and good friends over the past few months and you always see the same faces. The band always sign autographs and take photos with their fans which is really nice too.
My favourite songs are 'This Kingdom Perfect', 'Just For Tonight', 'Newby Road' and 'Time'.

3) The Killers
I remember driving in my car in Coventry (again) and hearing 'Mr. Brightside' and thinking it was great. I even ran into the flat and told my boyfriend I'd just heard he best song ever.

Everyone knows who they are so I won't go into loads of detail. I LOVE their first album 'Hot Fuss' it has an 80's feel and even the most upbeat songs can have a slightly darker edge. My dream in life is to learn to play the guitar and perform 'Glamorous Indie Rock And Roll', even though I can't sing, if anyone can make that happen then call me. I'm not so keen on 'Sam's Town' their second album, it has a bit of a 'Bruce Springsteen', all-American feel to it that doesn't overly appeal to me but there are still some amazing songs on there. 'Sawdust', their compilation of rarities and bsides, is ace. I didn't pay much attention to it at first but I'm listening to it more and more recently and really enjoying it. Their new album 'Day & Age' is out later this month and I think it's going to be more like 'Hot Fuss' if the singles are anything to go by so I'm excited.

My favourite songs are 'Glamorous Indie Rock And Roll', 'Andy, You're A Star, 'Everything Will Be Alright', 'Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine', 'Uncle Jonny', 'Mr. Brightside' and 'Change Your Mind'.

4) Gallows

'Gallows' are just too good. I love hardcore punk and they've really bought it back and managed to get the feel of a band like 'Black Flag' but with a completely new edge. They come from Watford and have a reputation for staying away from their fans. Now I normally think it's important to interact with your fans but 'Gallows' do this in a different way, they use their Myspace and official website to give exclusive tracks and gig tickets to fans.

I managed to see them at Astoria and it was crazy, as Frank jumped into the crowd he was pulled down and nearly strangled. He managed to get back on stage and could hardly talk but he gave a great speech about how as fans we should never put musicians on a pedestal, it's about the music and nothing else. I should listen to that advice far more often but I do find it hard not to get carried away, especially when some bands music can be so personal so it's hard to know where to draw a line. Frank is also a tattoo artist and I'd love to get inked by him. My boyfriend keeps seeing him walking around Soho and I want him to kidnap him so he can tattoo me.

I wish there were more bands like 'Gallows'. They only have one album out at the moment 'Orchestra Of Wolves' and I'm wearing it out waiting for their new stuff. Head over to their Myspace to get a free download of a new song 'Gold Dust'.

My favourite songs are 'Abandon Ship', 'Orchestra Of Wolves' and their covers of 'Nervous Breakdown' and 'Staring At The Rude Bois'.

5) Leathermouth

This is Frank Iero from 'MCR's' other band and it's really different. They're hardcore punk and Franks screams his way through every song. Hardcore is Franks passion and it's so great to hear him go back to the music that has influenced him the most.

They don't have an album out yet but they've just signed to Epitaph and are due to release their debut in January which I just know will be out of this world. I'm hoping and praying they'll play some UK dates soon but I also know tickets will be a nightmare to get hold of.

My favourite songs are 'Murder Was The Case That They Gave Me' and 'Bodysnatchers Forever'.

I also love Franks old band 'Pencey Prep', they split up before 'MCR' started but I love their music. Frank sounds really whiney when he sings but the actual songs are great.

6) Amy Winehouse

I can't lie, I haven't heard her first album, well I've heard one or two songs but that doesn't count. However 'Back To Black' is fantastic. I love the old school sound with the modern lyrics and you cannot deny her voice is out of this world.

I used to hate Amy Winehouse, I thought her look was terrible and she was trying too hard. Then she went all 1960's beehive and tattoos and she became a Queen to me! I know that has nothing to do with the music but she just pulled the sound and the look together and it worked for me, she became a complete package. I really hope she comes up with some new tracks soon, she's certainly got enough to write about.

My favourite songs are 'You Know I'm No Good', 'Tears Dry On Their Own' and 'Back To Black'.

7) Backstreet Boys

My real guilty pleasure! I saw their first ever gig in the UK when they supported 'PJ & Duncan' (I won't go there) and I've never missed a show since. I even dragged my boyfriend along to a show in Birmingham once. He was not happy, especially when AJ said, " And now we're going to slow it down a bit," Adam was like, "Noooooooo! It's slow already!" Poor thing.

I know they're cheesey and I know they're manufactured but they're so polished and so dedicated to getting it right. I went to see them in concert this year and really wasn't expecting to enjoy it because they'd been away for so long. I went on my own and had the BEST time! They put on such a great show and I felt like I was 14 again....god that was so long ago! I won't go on about them, you know who they are and what they do.

My favourite songs are 'Shape Of My Heart', 'Drowning' and 'Anywhere For You'

I like other people too but I'm struggling to think of any I really care about at the moment. I love 'The Smiths', 'Joy Division', 'Misfits', 'Black Flag', 'Johnny Cash', 'Buddy Holly'....but those guys are all legends and I really don't know enough about them to write about their music. I also like 'The Libertines', 'Rise Against', 'Taking Back Sunday', 'Rancid', 'Paramore', 'Madonna', 'Greenday', 'Billy Talent', 'Air Traffic'.....oh and I won't hear a word said against 'Geri Halliwell'! I swear she tries so hard bless her and she's wicked! Oh and check this out.

So that's it. Next week you can read another essay on the books I like. They're getting shorter at least.