Band(s) of the Day(s) 29/30/31

Hi. No bus escapades recently, but rather being busy and rediscovering an uncontrollable passion for music. This has been helped by the following bands.

Kit Richardson

Courtesy of the lovely Ellie Coden from Fierce Panda, Cool For Cats is a regular night last Tuesday of every month, named after her very own offshoot label. She usually collects together a diverse and pretty good set of bands. Tuesday just gone she excelled herself with two incredible acts.

First up was Kit Richardson. I know very little about her, apart from she must like Jeremy Warmsley because I met her at his stint at the Lock Tavern last Sunday. This is uninteresting but her music is the antithesis of uninteresting. I've not been as exhilirated by an artist as I was by her performance that night. Announcing that she was "really fucking scared" one song in, she promptly chose not to show an ounce of fear. Diving into her high register, experimental delivery - backed by her own keys, a wonderful cello player, bassist and drummer - her songs weave, duck and dive like Regina Spektor's most tuneful moments while easily forging her own path. Clearly inspired by excellent musicianship, her songs never lose sight of the power and emotional potential from choosing a weaving path rather than a direct route.

www.myspace.com/kitrichardsonmusic

Violet Violet

Headliners this Tuesday, Violet Violet take riot grrl, have fun with it, turn it on it's head and make music that is unbelivably clever within its self-regulated punk template. The three ladies all use their vocal talents - sometimes to astonishing effect. One example is the clever "echo" effect they used during one song, or the indescribable backing vocals that seemed to 'dip' during a different one. They have plenty of completely brilliant songs that seem to run circles around contrived and pre-packaged "girl" music. Shudder. Anyway, so impressed I even let them keep my pen.

www.myspace.com/violetviolet1


Propagandhi

An update to my ealier post because, frankly, I hate rules and I don't play by them very often if I can get away with it. Here I can. So, for those who weren't listening first time (that's everyone because no one reads this thing), Propagandhi are back.
Why is this important? Well, try and comprehend this: Supporting Caste, their fifth full-length studio album, both excites and scares the shit out of me. It practically moved me to tears today...and it's a punk album. I ADORE the fact that the artwork has a graphic drawing depicting the band cooking and eating the remains of 'post-vegetarians'. Several times throughout the lyric sheet they make (semi) jokes about wanting to eat such people. The song Human(e) Meat starts with someone screaming as their limbs are sawed off. The lyrics are a frightening, detailed pastiche of, one imagines, the same reasons people use for eating animals but, in this case, for eating "fermenting-festishist" and chef Sandor Katz. It's incredible. I'm afraid to post lyrics word for word for the song Night Matters, about the separation of families and friends due to war through the eyes of refugees and survivors. I want to, because it's very moving. Again, try and imagine shedding a tear to punk rock.
Of course there's a great deal of humour in the record, as there has been in every record they've done. I must reiterate too: BUY Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes. Hell, it may even change your mind about a few things.
Anyway, expect a huge update about Propagandhi's return again when I feel I can publish lyrics etc. I adore this band. In the meantime, go to their website and read all they ask you to. It's all very interesting and may well inspire you to do more...