The Girls Are Podcast No. 2

by Little Miss B, 17 April 2010... 

The brilliant Dee Sada returns with another treat for the ears: thegirlsarepodcast2.mp3

(Right click to download).

The Girls Are Podcast No. 2

Ultra Vivid Scene featuring Kim Deal - Special One

4AD late 80s band fronted by Kurt Ralske with lots of comparisons made between Velvet Underground and Jesus and Mary Chain. Kim Deal of The Pixies/The Breeders/The Amps is guest vocalist on this track.

Blue On Blue - Incarnation

Your dear podcast host's band. This can either be seen as shameless plugging or exclusive airing of a brand new track. Your pick. (ed. clearly the latter)

The Chills - Pink Frost

Ok so I snuck this on here but it is valid as the band had a female drummer. I'm completely obsessed with this track which was played to me last week by my friend Antti in Berlin. The Chills were a New Zealand band around in the late 80s.

The Amps - Tipp City

Kim Deal's side project whilst still in The Breeders. Her sister Kelley went off and did the highly underrated Kelley Deal 6000 project at the same time. I guess it must get too much being twins and in the same band. Thankfully they got great things out of their system and came back to The Breeders.

The History of Apple Pie - Out Of View

A brand new band by two friends of mine - Stephanie and Jerome. It's a perfect spring/summer track reminiscent of The Raveonettes and The Pains of Being Pure At Heart. I look forward to hearing a lot more from them!

myspace.com/thehistoryofapplepie

The Sapphires - Who Do You Love?

One of my all-time favourite songs from this 60s group. And the story of my life....

Madder Rose - Panic On

I am desperately seeking a copy of Beautiful John which is nowhere to be found so settled for the very good, Panic On. Madder Rose were a definitive female-fronted 90s band who never really got that far. Great band though.

Look Blue Go Purple - Cactus Cat

Contemporaries of The Chills who I played earlier, amazing female indie pop band from New Zealand who were also signed to the legendary Antipodean indie label, Flying Nun Records.

Shocking Blue - Hello Darkness

A woman with balls. Yes. What a voice! Infamous for the female lady shave ad (Venus) and Nirvana covering Love Buzz but this Dutch band are absolutely phenomenal.

Belly - Silverfish

The first band I ever saw live who I fully credit with putting me firmly on the path of rock n' roll. I love Tanya Donnelly - her voice, her lyrics, her guitar playing...This one of the many beautiful tracks from their fabulous second album, King.

One Take Wonderful - Ignite

Solo musician Michelle Hughes from New Zealand (3rd NZ artist to be played in this podcast) who records all her beautiful, eclectic music in one take. Reminds me of Stina Nordenstam and Devics. Amazing tunes.

myspace.com/onetakewonderfulmusic

Beastellabeast - Velvet

Stella and Beatrice are the duo behind cult London act, Beastellabeast. Velvet is a beautifully wistful and dark soundscape showcasing the band's musicianship and Beatrice's sultry, astounding singing voice.

myspace.com/beastellabeast

Bambi Stress - Sesamoid

Fever Ray dark style musings by London based artist Ida Adriana Popescu-Marnoch. Beautiful jagged punk jazz. I love it.

myspace.com/bambistress

Review | Vivian Girls

by Little Miss B, 1st Feb 2010. Photography by Gemma Trickey for The Girls Are.

Vivian Girls, Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, Tues 26th Jan 2010.
Support by Blue on Blue and Veronica Falls.

A vaguely idiotic friend of mine recently asked the vaguely idiotic question:

    "Vivian Girls: what's all the fuss about? Surely they can't be all that?"

Oh you poor, ignorant, ginger fool. How little you know. If there were ever a fine example of just how awesome the Vivian Girls are, or just how much 'fuss' follows them loyally, this evening was it. Over 50 people were turned away from the door after failing to procure tickets, and rumour has it that one chap even tried to bribe the doorman £100 to let he and his friends enter the inner sanctum.

After battling the queues and eventually squeezing ourselves into the rammed venue, we were dismayed to find we had only caught the end of support band Blue on Blue's set. What we did manage to see, however, was brilliant. After the truly disappointing news that An Experiment On A Bird In The Air Pump have disbanded, it is great to see former Experiment member Dee, back on stage, and firmly in her element. Blue on Blue are Dee, Mark and Billy and even though they've only played a handful of shows, they already demonstrate brilliant promise. Unfortunately, on this night, the band appeared to have lost their guitarist, but soldiered on regardless. Beautifully simple songs, with Dee's divine, languid vocals enveloping the audience in a mesmeric haze, Blue on Blue proved they are definitely ones to watch.

Veronica Falls

Shoegaze favourites Veronica Falls too confirmed their place as one of the best London bands currently in existence. The four-piece were as tight and driving as ever, with set staples 'Beachy Head' and 'Found Love in a Graveyard' pleasing the ever-growing crowd. This dark and somewhat cavernous venue lent the band a slightly moodier sound than previous gigs they've played, setting a new spin on a often heard set. A crying shame, then, that Roxanne experienced difficulty with her mic levels. A minor distraction in an otherwise faultless and captivating performance.

Vivian Girls

Low-fi sweethearts, Brooklyn trio (and current apple of London's eye) the Vivian Girls played to a rapt and energised audience. Having thought Cassie seemed a little weary during an interview the day before, I was thrilled at the spirited and relentless set that played out. Old favourites 'Wild Eyes' and 'Tell The World' still sound as good as ever, with new material 'When I'm Gone' and 'I Have No Fun' carrying a great deal more punch live than new album Everything Goes Wrong itself promises. Barely taking time to breathe, the girls launched into the next song with relish, and meant that we enjoyed the fullest set list they could have possibly offered. The real higlight of the evening, however, was the mid-set acapella version of The Chantels 1957 hit 'He's Gone'. Sweet, sensitive and effortlessly beautiful, this song is the perfect response to my foolish friend's question: the Vivian Girls? Yes, they really are all that.

Cassie, Vivian Girls

To hear the Vivian Girls interview with Ruth Barnes, head on over to the brilliant The Other Woman.


To see the full photographic brilliance from this night, click here.


myspace.com/blueonbluepop
myspace.com/veronicafallshard
myspace.com/viviangirlsnyc

The Girls Are Podcast No. 1

by Little Miss B, 1st December 2009...

The wonderful Dee from An Experiment On A Bird In The Air Pump is our very first The Girls Are podcast host, and we are mighty pleased to welcome her to the fold. Download half an hour of pure aural pleasure: thegirlsarepodcast.mp3 


The Girls Are Podcast No. 1

Fever Ray - If I Had A Heart
Mika Miko - Take Hold
Lydia Lunch - Spooky
The Shermans - Dumbhead
Dum Dum Girls - Ship of Love
Mazzy Star - Ghost Highway
Blue On Blue - See You In Day
Camera Obscura - Eighties Fan
Theoretical Girl - O Holy Night