New shit that came to light

Right, we have been woefully inadequate at keeping up with New Shit and for that we are truly sorry. Here is an quick overview of what the Birds have been up to recently. From (sort of) top left: Shenanigans at the Chap Olympiad; Sarah and her new ears; Sheffield comes to Somerset House thanks to Richard Hawley; the wonderful Jean; Laura and Neil; Chap ladies; Punchdrunk, The Drowned Man (couldn't get a photo of the secret passage that Neil found!); birthday cake for Jean, made by Laura - in tact after its perilous journey across London; screening of NT's Frankenstein as part of the Shuffle festival; Laura with refreshments watching The Boss; Laura and Jess enjoying the rays, bubbles and opera at Glyndebourne; ice cream cupcakes on Primrose Hill; Strawberry Shortcake aka Jean.

Much Love,

Liz xXx and Laura X

Huey and the New Yorkers- The After Hours EP

"It wouldn't be a night at Birds On A Wire Towers if no Huey Morgan was played" said one of our friends at dinner recently. It's true- we've been massive Fun Lovin' Criminals fans since we were teenagers, and we're no less enthusiastic about Huey Morgan's most recent outfit, Huey and the New Yorkers. A combination of some of the charismatic front man's best Big Apple buddies (plus Frank from FLC), the New Yorkers have released an impressive album (Say It To My Face) on the independent label Naim and played a sell out tour (yes, we were on the front row of both London gigs...) so it's a big surprise to us that we haven't blogged about them much before now.

Their recently released 'The After Hours EP' (which features five fantastic covers) seemed like the perfect excuse to praise their musical genius and to share some of the photographs Liz took of them at the Half Moon gig in Putney. And the best news? If you buy the Deluxe edition of the album on iTunes, you'll get the EP thrown in for free (click here).  It's sixteen little minutes of heaven, and if you don't believe me, read on...

1)Guns On The Roof The Clash

A completely riotous start to the EP- The New Yorkers bring an insistent beat and some driving guitar strumming to this Clash track. Despite Huey saying that the lyrics " put this song in play today and its relevance resonates prolifically", what this track really communicates is just how much these guys love making music together. The joy of their jam is incredibly infectious, and you'll find it hard not to bust a move (or at least not to tap a foot). For those that have loved the New Yorkers live, this serves as a reminder of their incredible on-stage chemistry. Listen out for Chris Scianni's guitar solo. 

2)Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker) The Rolling Stones

Wait- The Rolling Stones? What? Scianni's dirty guitar riffs and the way Huey busts out the line "THE PO-LICE IN NEW YORK CITY!" will leave the less musically knowledgeable wondering if FLC have written a new track. Pete Levin's considerable skill on the Hammond doesn't help. Except it does, because it is oh so very good. The New Yorkers' version of this classic from the Stones' '73 album Goats Head Soup does exactly what every cover should -it injects a completely new (pretty damn funky) vibe and makes us hear everything about the song in a completely fresh way. This is really the standout track of After Hours.

3)Draggin' The Line Tommy James and the Shondells

This is a re-working of the kind of track that you can be confident will pop up on Huey's Sunday afternoon show on 6 Music, and it will leave you with a massive smile on your face. Some old school tinkly piano and jazz-style drums are the perfect backdrop for the sexy, Tom Waits inspired vocals. Huey aficionados will notice that he inserts the name of his sadly deceased dog, Sugar, into the first verse.

      4)My Funny Valentine Rodgers and Hart 

Recorded by Huey in his 'Man Cave' as a gift for his wife (read their beautiful story here) this is an intimate musical love letter. Raw and far from perfect (because, as Huey has said of the track, "neither is love") you'll feel lucky to have heard something with as much emotional honesty as this. It kind of feels like those nights when you've had too many Brooklyn beers, and just need to tell your loved one how into them you are.

5)Don't  Think Twice, It's Alright Bob Dylan

Huey has labeled this "The best break-up song I've ever heard" and I'm guessing most Bob Dylan fans will find it difficult to disagree. Eric Clapton recorded my favourite ever version of this song at Bob's 30th Anniversary Concert in '92- a fast moving, carefree, riff-laden rock number that screamed "I'm totally over you, and there's nothing you could possibly say that would interest me ever again." Huey's version is worlds away, but definitely rivals it for emotional intensity. There are no other New Yorkers here- it's just Mr Morgan and his beautiful, room-filling acoustic guitar skills. The warm, melodic strings and Huey's hard-edged Johnny Cash bedroom vocals go down easy as ice cream, and would surely convince any girl that she'd made a hell of a mistake in messing him around. There's just something about Huey's "So long, honey babe" that makes it difficult to be objective, but if nothing else I've said about this EP has convinced you, buy it for this track alone. Oh, and maybe it's just me, but listen for the cheeky twinkle when he croons "We never did too much talking anyway..."

Much love,

Liz xXx and Laura X

A wander round East Dulwich

The Birds had a Tower guest last week; Liz's brother came to visit. For most of Andrew's stay, we exposed him to the horrors of our social circle, forcing him to reconsider his hypothetical move to London. 

On the eve of Andrew's departure, Liz had the bright idea of going to have a little look at some of the graffiti- type stuff that has cropped up around us recently.

Actually, some of this isn't that recent.....and some of it's not graffiti. Oh well.

Gate on North Cross Road.
It's not actually pink, but maybe it should be?

As above, but its actual colour, which is lovely.
Would look great in our garden.
Hint *cough* hint.

Side wall of The Bishop.
Complete with view of the men's loo.

Think this is on Frogley Road.
Will check that. 

Blackwater Street,
on the side of Mrs.Robinson's.

Again, Blackwater Street, on the side of  Mrs.Robinson's.

This one is pretty recent (we think),
kind of opposite the EDT on Spurling Road.

There are more bits on and around Lordship Lane, but for some reason Liz's camera stopped working properly at this point. Minor panic ensued. Wine was required. Camera remains un-fixed.

Tip: if one runs dry
of wine,
beer in a knickerbocker
glory glass has
(almost) the same effect.

Much love,

Liz xXx and Laura X

New shit that came to light

Crap. This is the only word that can describe our blogging efforts recently. This may be because the sun keeps making fleeting appearances and everybody knows that when the sun is out, it is our human duty to drink as much alcohol as possible. So, this is a record of our human duties this week, from top left: Liz and a White Russian, cocktails at Seven, beer in the grass, cider on a table, Mexican mezcal, Aperol, the most confusing corkscrew in the world, the most confusing corkscrew in the world in action and consequence of using the most confusing corkscrew in the world. 

Much Love,

Liz xXx and Laura X

Primavera

Much of the recreational time the Birds find themselves with is used doing something music related. Gigs, opera, biographies of ridiculously cool musicians and rockumentaries all feature in our 'perfect weekend' scenario. 

Because the night

The Band et al. Ruling

So, with summer approaching, you may be forgiven for thinking that we would be first at the gates for several of the thousands of festivals that seem to be appearing. Spending a few days listening to our favourite bands with our favourite people, dancing away into the wee small hours. Sounds great right? Unfortunately, the reality for most of the festivals that we have been to over the years is mud, rain, people pissing on our tent, bands that you can't hear over the crowds of drunken fools and running away from riots.

I for one thought my festival days were as distant as my early twenties.

Music events OUTSIDE?!

Of course I had not factored in the persuasive skills of my good friends Saz and Sarah when it came to ending this chapter of my life and so ended up with a Primavera Sound ticket. The idea of hanging out in Barcelona for a week was tempting and the no camping aspect of Primavera sealed the deal. Oh, and yeah, I thought the bands might be good and that.

YAY!

Leaving rainy London on a cold May morning we were upbeat, joyful and optimistic about our week in the 

Spanish sunshine. We had sunglasses, bikinis and passports. By 8pm that same day we were locked out of our apartment. 

Doing a Dylan.

Guys! It hasn't started yet.

We made it.

With the main festival not starting until the early evening, there was plenty of time for us to explore. La Sagrada Familia, Park Guell and Parc Montjuic were visited and much cafe con leche was consumed. Spending our days trecking up massive hills was only slightly regretted after spending our nights dancing on concrete. 

Guys! I've found us somewhere
to live!

Barcelona treats! Thanks Sazzie!

Something had amused us.

You, me and a bottle of....

Amusingly named cafe.

For the first evening of the festival, we made a real effort to stick together. Which lasted for most of the Savages set. After that it was was every woman (or Mark) for themselves. We were all armed with band lists, maps and a vague plan to meet under a beacon/moon/orb thing that we were quite partial to.

Light up move-y sign.

Meet at the
beacon.

In a crowd.

I'm not even going to attempt to review the bands we saw. They were all awesome - the festival gave very generous sets and the sound quality was superb (even if that beardy bloke at Four Tet disagreed). I have provided a very crude overview of who and what we saw in pictorial form.

Thursday.

Friday.

Saturday.

Of course, I will provide a list of my personal highlights:

• Damian Abraham (Fucked Up) attempting to hug every member of the audience - and his assigned security who evidently clocked off moments after his epic meet and greet started.
• Four Tet and his little red rucksack. 
• The Breeders - you know when you think you will never see a band live, but then you do?
• Being the only girl at Neurosis.
• Nick Cave and his sexy snakey hips walking over the crowd.
• The Knife.
• Being papped for some Spanish fashion thing.
• Dancing till 5am every morning.

Hello!

The Knife.

Being papped. Thanks for holding my coat Sarah!

Wall of sound, minus creepy/murderous producer.

Oh Sarah!

Nope.

Oh Nick!

Group matador.

       

   Once the festival was over and the bones had started to heal in our feet, we headed to Stiges for a day at the beach. As one of our party is a die-hard Crystal Palace fan, we were able to live up to the Brits abroad stereotype by camping out at a beach bar to watch the play offs. Oh, and I got a bit sun burned.

Primavera aftermath.

Sun! Sea! Sand!

Happy campers.

Brits abroad.

After the obligatory raid of the local vintage shops and run-ins with various members of the waiting profession (hint - never try to mime your order through a window in the rain) it was time to leave. Sad faces all round.

Oooo sweets.

We didn't get very far.

The glee.

Street jumping Sarah.

Street jumping Liz.

The Blue period.

In London it was STILL raining. 

Lack of mojitos in the sun.

Oh well. At least I got to see iamamiwhoami the day after we got back. That was pretty good...

Jonna Lee and a light box.

Much Love and thanks to Sarah and Pip for letting me use some their aweseome photos,

Liz xXx