gonna pitch a wang dang doodle

So the other day I finished writing my pitch for doing a book in the 33 1/3 series. These are the little pocket books written about a particular album and I've submitted a pitch for The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin. I'll find out sometime in January whether I'm one of the people commissioned to do a book, and if I'm successful then there's the small matter of researching it, interviewing people and writing 30,000 words. The book would be published in 2007, or more likely 2008.

Another themed CD swap took place at Gappy Tooth last night. This time all the song titles had to feature a town or city. Mine was titled 'Highway To Hull' and featured a Multimap cover and the directions from Oxford to Hull. The design was all Helen's idea! Although Dan wasn't there (his probably isn't finished anyway!) I did receive 'Urbie Goes Bananas' from Richard (in real Ordnance Survey map packaging!), 'Boroughs In Arms' from Alastair and 'Tinseltownship Rebellion' from Mark. I may post their tracklistings later, but for now here's mine....

London - Richard Catalogue - Live at Gappy Tooth
In & Out of Paris & London - The Divine Comedy – Casanova (Setanta)
We're From Barcelona - I'm From Barcelona - Sing!! (self released EP)
Fake Tales Of San Francisco - Arctic Monkeys - Demo
Commerce, TX - Ben Kweller - Sha Sha (WEA)
The Chapter In Your Life Entitled San Francisco - The Lucksmiths - Warmer Corners (Candle Records)
The Brighton Concorde – Beezewax - Oh Tahoe (Firefly)
The New New Yorker - My Life Story - Joined Up Talking (It)
San Francisco - Scrabbel – Scrabbel (Kittridge)
I Love New York - Selfish Cunt - No Wicked Heart Shall Prosper (Horseglue)
Chicago - Sufjan Stevens - C’mon Feel the Illinoise (Rough Trade)
London Sky Tonight - The Bridge Gang - Demo
Denver - Minus - Jesus Christ Bobby (Victory)
Stockholm City - The Funerals - Lordy
Reykjavikurnaetur – Megas Loftmynd
San Francisco Blues - Peggy Lee - San Francisco With Fond Memories
Zürich Is Stained - Pavement - Slanted & Enchanted: Luxe & Reduxe (Matador)
Boston - Piney Gir – Peakahokahoo (Truck Records)
All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit - Half Man Half Biscuit – ACD (Probe Plus)
Bugger Bognor - Luke Haines - Das Capital (EMI)
In Cairo - Hot Hot Heat - Make Up The Breakdown (B-Unique)
O Little Town Of Bethlehem - Nat King Cole - Merry Christmas (EMI)
Galveston – Sparklehorse - New Sounds Of The Old West Volume 3 – (Loose)

Today's header is from Wang Dang Doodle by Willie Dixon

pick a card, any card, wrong!

Ok, so maybe this hasn't been the greatest start to a blog. Three posts and then two weeks gap doesn't bode well. But this will all change, fear not! Let us recap the last couple of weeks.

Sat 5th
A fairly quiet day, notable only for the foreign invasion by Matt and Nik, to pick up the Young Knives tickets I couldn't use and to trawl through my CD collection.

Sun 6th
Helen goes off for her second week of work experience at a school in Doncaster. This is all in preparation for taking the PGCE next year.

Thurs 10th
undertheigloo support Blackbud at the Zodiac. UTI turn in a great set, Springtime and Show Your Face being particularly immense. Also Circlesend, the title track from the album, manages to pull the punters back who went to the bar on realisation it was a slow song, a neat feat indeed. Cute slow dancing by the couple stage left. Tonight the band officially sign to Freedom Road Records.

Sat 12th
undertheigloo on the air as Bearder plays Show Your Face on his Download show on BBC Oxford. Then we're off to see the Cheesegraters at the Exeter Hall, a cracking set of covers despite being warned of a high funk and soul content. Tonight I also learn two things about Nik, he was in the Swedish Army and used to play sax. I don't think he was in the army band though...

Sun 13th
Another live appearance by a Freedom Road Records act. nervous_testpilot supports knifehandchop at The Wheatsheaf and Nailbomb Cults makes up the trio of laptop acts. It's a bass heavy night which sends Helen downstairs with a headache. Good to see Dan and Alastair there, Dan's thoughts can be read on his blog. Check the Munch link on the left somewhere. CDs on sale tonight but no takers.

Tues 15th/Weds 16th
Parents down to visit, which means an excuse to eat out and we do some Christmas/Wedding shopping too...

Sat 19th
Chaffeur nervous_testpilot to his gig in Banbury. Although this makes for a long night and we sell no CDs again, it's great fun as the promoters, soundmen and other acts are great guys. So I have to say, go to I Am Giant gigs at the Mills Art Centre Banbury and go see Harry Angel, Big Speakers and Joe Swarbick. With 2 of Harry Angel doing sound, it presented the oppurtunity to see the photos and talk to them about supporting the Quo and Girls Aloud at the Children in Need gig on Friday. If you know them, ask to see the photo of Chris and Nadine...


Today's header from Jacket Hangs by the Blue Aeroplanes

passing the gun from father to feckless son

We're releasing undertheigloo's album "Circlesend" soon and here's the blurb about it:



undertheigloo are a four piece from Oxford. Their music has taken in many genres to produce something truly special. Having nurtured a dynamic writing enviroment which affords them the ability to experiment, as well as posessing the confidence to challenge conventional song writing, they consistently produce material of breathtaking beauty that refuses to be pigeonholed but is genuinely accessible. As on record their live show mixes intricate drums, hypnotic bass, soaring guitars and effortless vocals to mesmerising effect. They naturally integrate keyboards and laptop-based sampling to open up near limitless sonic possibilities.

Their fundamental commitment to writing and performing has won them much praise, and gives them strong foundations upon which to grow into the national arena and beyond.

The band has spent the last few months independently recording its debut album with Jef Clayton. All instruments were recorded during a fortnight in an isolated lake district cottage and vocals have been recorded subsequently in their own studio.

undertheigloo’s debut album “Circlesend” is released on Freedom Road Records on November the 28th. It's available to pre-order now from www.freedomroadrecords.co.uk

The album is streaming on the band website www.undertheigloo.com



I've decided that rather than using inane titles for posts that I should just use lyrics I like. Most of them will have nothing at all to do with the post. Today's is from 'Leaders Of The Free World' by Elbow. undertheigloo photo copyright Brightside Photography 2005.

pen is mightier than the sword

So all my buddies are starting writing, doing stuff for the denture and the like. They look to me for inspiration but start to realise they have it inside them already. Basically they love music. They love the gappy tooth nights because they're open minded and enjoy the fact that they never quite know what they're going to get.

Nik is a rocker from sweden and quite insane in the sweetest way. He's one of the funniest guys i've ever met, sometimes intentionally, sometime not. This is him scaring Anton Barbeau at the Port Mahon


Matt is a kiwi who says rad and dude a lot. He reckons us english are too reserved at gigs and he's probably right. This is him with Mr Gappy Tooth at their last night:


Go and read their blogs listed in the links to the left, they're far more interesting than mine.