A Tribute: A Year In New York.

I've always said that it's not hard to make New York City look good. There is so much to love about that city, the aesthetic, the culture, the attitude and the best part is that it's all so diverse.

This video filmed by Andrew Clancy is lovingly shot and edited and with the beautiful James Vincent McMorrow track sitting comfortably behind the visuals, it forms a tribute to the city. It does not aim to show how cool or fashionable the city is. Instead, it shows that it a home to real people. Somewhere where people live, work and travel every single day, and I think that makes it somewhat unique. Enjoy.

Bands In Transit.

I'm a firm believer that there are few things better sounding than a man and his acoustic guitar and it was just my luck that I happened to stumble across Bands In Transit's Youtube channel. Rarely is a brand's involvement in a project so subtle and so well suited, but Ford have managed to do it with this project. Bands In Transit, predictably, involves bands playing in a Transit van. But what makes this project so special to be is the quality of artists involved and surprisingly the quality of the locations picked, culminating in some beautiful sounding and looking videos. Featuring some of the hottest and most talented singer-songwriters, take a listen to the likes of Bombay Bicycle Club, Ben Howard, Ed Sheeran and Ghostpoet, amongst a few other of my favourite videos. Bombay Bicycle Club - Beggars Ben Howard - Old Pine James Vincent McMorrow - Follow You Down to the Red Oak Tree Ghostpoet - Survive It Benjamin Francis Leftwich Ed Sheeran - You Need Me, I Don't Need You

City And Colour: Royal Albert Hall

Just over a year ago I journeyed to London town, Kentish Forum to be precise, and witnessed one of the best gigs I had ever been to in the form of City and Colour. I expected it to be good, I knew the man had talent and had seen him perform with Alexisonfire, but I did not expect the performance I got that night. The power and emotion in his voice surprised me and ran shivers through my spine. A year later, I traveled back to London, but this time to an even more illustrious venue, The Royal Albert Hall, to see the man Dallas Green again. And the night more than matched the night in Kentish Forum. I was expecting his incredible voice this time, and I expect more magic, and that is what I got.

It was slightly weird as the venue filled with tattoos, piercings, fringes and skinny jeans, a crowd very much juxtaposed to the venue. This is not a place for Alexisonfire and City And Colour fans. Just being sat down as opposed to being jostled around in a sweaty moshpit, in such a venue, seemed a little surreal and even uncomfortable for most. This is the job of support, to warm up the crowd and get them ready for the main act. That night the support was provided my a new favourite of mine, James Vincent McMorrow, much more suitable than Sharks who had supported the previous year, and he more than stepped upto the mark. It may have been daunting warming up a crowd of Dallas and Alexisonfire adorers especially when he's very much in the same singer-songwriter category, but it did not show. James' voice was just as powerful and emotional as the one that would follow, you could feel the songs and lyrics. Boy did good.

Then it was time for Dallas Green as City and Colour. As he walked onto the stage with his band, the noise level went up with cries of adoration and admiration from the crowd. It was soon clear that Dallas only gets better. I hate to repeat the words powerful and emotional, but those really are the words that can't be avoided when you hear Dallas live. The set followed a familiar format, with band, by himself and then rejoined by his band of hometown friends. It is when he holds the stage alone that you get sucked into the performance, it's memorizing and intense. His performance of Like Knives (video I filmed below) was one of the highlights for me, he told us that it was one of the first songs he wrote and played it to his mother for her approval.



Between songs Dallas spoke to the crowd with his usual shyness and humanity (saying "it's not me up here and you down there, we're all here together"), yet he proved he has wit and humor to match many. (As he asked for the house lights to be turned on to see the venue and crowd someone yelled "I've got an erection!", only for Dallas to reply "Well it's taken 9 songs to find the funny guy in the audience".) There was one stage, just before Body In A Box, where he asked the crowd to put away their phones and cameras, just for one song. Not because he had a problem with people filming or taking pictures, but because he felt that everyone tries so hard to make memories on an event, they forget to enjoy the event as it happens. Very true. He then apologised for sounding like a Dad. His setlist was a perfect mix of some of his earliest songs to tracks of his new album, out in June. Although one of the surprises of the night was his cover of Adele's Hometown Glory (below). Covers are often overused, and just seem like they are performed for the sake of it. However this cover seemed perfect, Dallas even said he wish he had written the song himself, not just in terms of a match of incredible voices but you could feel Dallas sing the lyrics, though it not his own song.



The gig could have gone on and no one would have minded apart from the Albert Hall staff, though there are worse ways to be earn a living than watch Dallas, but it had to end at some point. Even in the encore Dallas surprised the crowd with his song choices. He turned the end of Comin' Home into James Blake's Wilhelm Scream, a nice touch. And he then sat down at a piano for the first time that evening and performed a "sort of cover", Happiness By The Kilowatt, by his other band Alexisonfire (below). It was a special moment to see him draw on a song he helped write so many years ago, for a band so different to his solo performance, to end a special night. It's hard not to love Dallas Green, he's talented, emotional, funny, shy and humble and puts on a wonderful night on a consistent basis it would seem. I simple can't wait for him to come back this autumn.

Music Monday 37: Bumper Edition

It’s one of those weeks, where songs just seem to creep out of every oriface of the internet and as usual I am in no way complaining. Some new stuff, some new remixes and a couple of cool videos for you this week.

Jay Electronica - Jazzamatazz



This is familiar territory from Jay Elec, but in no way, as with anything this man produces, should be ignored. There’s a famous speech (brought to you by Martin Luther King this time), a looping beat, kids laughing. And, oh yeah, Jay Electronica bringing it as strong as every. I’m happy in this territory.

Lupe Fiasco - The Show Goes On



So here’s the first of the cool videos, ok it’s not incredible but the editing and cinematography is pretty sweet in parts. But more importantly the song behind the video is pretty special. This song has been around a little while but it’s only recently that I’ve been hitting repeat for it. It’s got a nice beat, it’s inspirational and it’s Lupe Fiasco. It should not be ignored.

Panic At The Disco - The Portrait Of Mona Lisa



Remember Panic? My teenage years certainly do. The pop-rock band that took camp to a new level, that could not be ignored for their catchy tunes and lead singer’s Urie’s voice. Well, they’re back and it’s almost like they’ve never been away. A nice slice of delicious pop-rock, I’d expect nothing less.

The Go Team - Buy Nothing Day



The Go Team. How do you describe them? Pop, indie, hip-hop, funk? Yeah all of those I’d say. The Go Team have seemingly been around for every, but in no way is that a bad thing. They have produced numerous hits of the years, including one of my favourite tracks ever, LadyFlash. They’re unique and that’s the best way for them to stay.

James Vincent McMorrow - Follow You Down To The Red Oak Tree



Benjamin Francis Leftwich - Pictures



A bit of a change of pace from the treble-barreled named singer-songwriters. I’ve put these two together, not because of they are any less than the other songs, but because there is little to say other than to appreciate the beauty of these songs. Lovely videos too.

Sleigh Bells - Rill Rill



Now let’s ease you back up. Amazing video and amazing song from Sleigh Bells. That’s all that needs to be said.

Tame Impala - Why Won’t You Make Up Your Mind? (Erol Alkan Remix)



A great combination of two great artists. It takes the dreamyness of Tame Impala with a pinch of Erol Alkan’s dance vibes and it works very, very well.

Adele - Rolling In The Deep (Jamie XX) Ft Childish Gambino



Yeah it may only be one verse different from the original (original remix, that is) but wow. What a verse.

Ellie Goulding - Lights (Wired Remix)



Wow, this is dubby.