Here's a quick update on The Black Keys, everyone's favourite rock n rollsters from the States.
Firstly they have just put up a new tune from their forthcoming LP 'Brothers'. This tune is the only Dangermouse production from that LP and it's a typical bluesy funk rock number check it either here or here.
The new LP is called Brothers and is due for UK release on May 18th 2010, looking foward to getting a bit of that!
Also they have a few European Dates lined up for the summer:
June 23, 2010 - Roundhouse - London, UK June 26, 2010 - Le Rock dans Tous Ses Etats - Evreux, France June 27, 2010 - Rock ârjn Park - Nijmegen, Holland June 28, 2010 - Paradiso - Amsterdam, Holland July 2, 2010 - Les Eurockacennes - Belford, France July 4, 2010 - Rock Werchter - Werchter, Belguim July 5, 2010 - Academy - Birmingham, UK July 6, 2010 - Academy - Manchester, UK
Right then I went to The Roundhouse up in Camden last Friday night, which incidentally is a wicked venue. It's kinda like a concert hall but with the big screen and lighting system set up it reminded me more of the main tent at last years Glade festival, only nowhere near as loud. I didn't get there til late so missed all the support acts on beforehand, apparantly Ryoichi Kurokawa's live audio visual set was a treat and I kinda wanted to check out Kidkanevil too but it's my own fault for sitting around getting stoned all afternoon and not getting on the train sooner.
When I eventually rocked up, the bar was absoloutly packed and it was at least 20 minutes before, beer in hand, i began to investigate proceedings. There was no-one on stage at this point but some dodgy daft punk-esque electro house was playing, to pretty much everyone's confusion, and the lighting guy was fucking about with all his effects. Various theories were flying about as to what the hell was going on, I reckon it was either Doom tormenting us with some shit tunes to get that extra impact when he finally strode on or the soundguy badly misjudged the audience for the show. That went on for at least 40-45 minutes and eventually I got bored an nipped outside to the freezing balcony for a quick smoke, which by the law of sod meant the show was bound to start.
True to form soon as I stepped out the lights had gone down and things kicked off, he was into his second tune by the time i was back in the room and i'd missed comedy imposters and god knows what else. Don't you hate that? I didn't mind at all by this point, Doom was onstage, probably. Doom! It was wicked, people were definately up for it and getting lively. Doom was banging through a varied set list: All Caps, Antimatter, Ballskin, Curls, Fazers, Gazillion Ear plus a bunch of other tunes i've forgotten, touching on pretty much all of his projects in the last 5 years. I was loving every minute, been jabbering on about him to anyone who'll listen for years so this was some kind of zen shit for me. Over on the BBC some guy is saying it wasn't Doom, well i'm not really sure what he's saying to be honest. The guy onstage knew all the words to the songs, he looked just like the guy in the obscure photo's on my record sleeves, the sound system wasn't crystal clear but he sounded pretty similiar too. I've never met him in the flesh though so I couldn't say for certain but the dude onstage seemed pretty Doom-ish.
Whether it was the real Doom or not, I still loved it, Doom's tunes could be performed by a tone def, grumpy, one armed siberian dwarf and i'd still be loving them, so perhaps I was always destined to enjoy this evening. Anyway if you didn't go you're clearly crackers, UK needs more Doom!!
Here's a little video I shot of him performing figaro.:
On 5th and 6th March, Sonar will offer a new “Taste of Sonar” at the Roundhouse in Camden, in London.
It will be two nights to savour in pure Sonar style, containing a small-scale version of the intense festival experience - a sampler featuring two prestigious names as confirmed artists: the enigmatic North American MC and producer DOOM, in Europe for the first time, and the French artist Laurent Garnier. More artists will be announced soon.
This year, for the first time, Red Bull Music Academy will programme the Studio Theatre Stage solely from its participants, representing some of the most exciting emerging talent from around the globe.
Tickets for 'A Taste of Sonar' London already on sale.
DOOM
"A Taste of Sonar" London / Friday March the 5th 2010
A key figure in hip-hop, in Europe for the first time
DOOM is the new alias of the New York producer and rapper Daniel Dumile Thompson, who has previously worked under various pseudonyms including MF DOOM, VIKTOR VAUGHN, DANGER DOOM (with Danger Mouse) and MADVILLAIN (with Madlib). An essential figure for those with a taste for underground hip-hop on an outlandish tip, he always hides behind a Doctor Doom style villain's mask. His creation of his own universe based on old superhero comics and the mythology of Japanese monsters has given him a legendary aura and won over all types of fans. Among these are names that are more closely linked to rock: Thom Yorke, the main man in Radiohead, has remixed his track "GAZZILLION EAR" as a sign of his devotion to the masked superhero of rap. Sonar is bringing DOOM to London for his first live show in Europe, at the festival’s London event. His live shows are always a surprise wrapped inside a mystery, so it may well be a night to remember.
