Life In Bearwood is crap at the moment…

stinking cold that WILL NOT SHIFT!!! Go away cold your work here is done. However, it did lead me to have my first ever sauna and steam bath thingy. Hubba bubba, where have they been all my life? And at my local swimming baths. New weekly treat for me I think. All this means I’ve been listening to lots of music. Not a review but go check out http://www.myspace.com/theblowus part lo-fi singer songwriters/electronica/hip-hop even. Very good!
TaRaAbit

The First Review

So finally I’ve started. I’m going to be doing this a lot more regularly picking out new stuff and older records from my collection. I’m quite excited to be doing this actually as it means taking some time to myself and really listening to an album/artist properly!

Iron And Wine – The Shepherd’s Dog

Sam Beam returns with his 3rd full lp. He’s joined as ever by his sister Sarah but also with an extended band. The results are startling. A truly articulate lyricist and storyteller, the songs presented here are given a room to grow and breathe by the band who bring a kaleidoscope of new sounds and instruments.

Starting off with Pagan Angel And A Borrowed Car, a rollocking country song the lp continues, almost with the same beat, with White Tooth Man, steel guitars to the fore and a quite brilliant vocal performance. Next up is Lovesong Of The Buzzard, which to these ears there is a hint of Belle & Sebastian with Sam and Sarah harmonising and the organ making it first appearance.

Things slow down a bit with Carousel, a gentle piece of music that seems to be a statement of current America and the war(s) and the sense of loss both personal and as a citizen of the USofA. House By The Sea has hints of Simon & Garfunkel in the delivery and is a very literal song, you picture yourself right where he is singing about. Innocent Bones is up next with biblical references to Cain and Abel set in modern day America with a nice breezy vocal and banjo accompaniment.

Wolves(Song of the Shepherd’s Dog) is my favourite track. With a slightly David Essex Rock On intro (this is good – trust me!). To be honest I haven’t a clue what he’s on about here but there is something that conjures up dustbowl America that I love.

Resurrection Fern is next, a nice relaxed song Nick Drake comes to mind. Boy With A Coin picks up the tempo, bongos and steel guitar to the fore and carries on, what now seems to be, the thematic theme of America which runs through the lp. The pace really picks up with The Devil Never Sleeps with a boogie woogie piano intro and Sam’s urgent delivery, Peace Beneath The City drops the pace and reads like an analogy for the war on Iraq and we finish with Flightless Bird, American Youth a beautiful falsetto vocal delivery with a great melody that will stick in your head.

This is a brilliant album, Sam Beam is an articulate, literal songwriter who conjures up images of America, particularly the south, and has the rare quality of placing you right in the middle of his songs. The album also seems to be a statement of an America past and of where America is now, with the war on Iraq foremost in this. However Iron And Wine don’t politic, there is no obvious political references or oblique criticisms of the current regime, rather they leave you with the feeling they don’t like what is going on. And sometimes that’s enough.

To hear and read more go to: and where there is loads of songs to download

What to blog…

I’m taking a bit of time off from Atticus, mainly to find some paid employment (Anyone?). So I met up with some friends last night for a few pints at the Old Contemptibles in Brummagen city centre. It’s been refurbed to somewhere near it’s former glory and was looking very nice.

Anyway a friend of mine commented on the blog and specifically the Seasick Steve post. This friend knows his music so it was with some surprise that he said he hadn’t heard of Seasick but went on a search listened to some stuff, loved it and bought the abum from I-Tunes. He then suggested I perhaps change the scope of the blog away from Cultural issues (there hasn’t been any yet before you ask!) as there are numerous bloggers out there all doing it fantastically well, but I should concentrate on music and reviewing music. Now I know there are thousands of such blogs and music is such a personal choice for us but I might have a go at this and just start reviewing things I listen to and put some background info about artists and links to their sites etc and see what happens. Whadda ya reckon?

As I was thinking about this Dubber has been talking about mp3 blogs and this is worth a read over here http://newmusicstrategies.com/

Yes, It Is Me!

I’ve read on a couple of blogs mentioning this blog and there seems to be, confusion is too strong a word, about who or what is responsible for it. For those that know me Jez Collins is writing the drivel on here. I’m co-owner of Atticus but I’m also, am, was, involved in the creative industries in Brum (not writing I guess you can tell) so I like to keep my hand in there as well. Hence I’ll be aiming to keep you up to date with all things cultural in the region mainly with the help of Pete Ashton and his fantastic blog www.createdinbirmingham.com and Russl’s blog http://russl.wordpress.com. As I get better at this I’m hoping to be able to feed links through on a daily basis as opposed to the rather haphazard current regime.

Seasick Steve Review…

Very apt title as the entire Collins clan have been laid up in various states of sickness this weekend. Fear not though, we’re surviving, just.

Before the various ailments fell on us, myself and Jen(that’s a poor introduction to my wife) went to see Seasick Steve at the Academy 2 on Wednesday past. I suspect that this will be the last time we’ll see him in such a (relatively) intimate venue. He was everything and more I expected. Gut bucket vocals, tales of hardship, women and drink, a sound most 4 piece bands would struggle to achieve and with only a 3 string guitar to make it on! Being anal, I wished I could have experienced him in some godforsaken shack in the Appalachian Mountains rather than Birmingham but it was memorable. Even better was the way he dealt with a consisent talker. After asking the women to be quiet numerous times in numerous different ways (“I’m a equal opportunities kind a guy, so don’t think jus cos you’re a lady I won’t come down there and drag you out”) he simply got her up and stage and made her sit there through a few songs. Class.

My wife had to tell a couple of blokes to please be quiet as well, why do people go to gigs and then talk all the way through it without even trying to be a bit quiet? Ban em I say.

On the subject of gigs, dropping a mate off on Thursday after football at the Academy for the Twang only to watch a couple of lads kicking the hell out of the barriers and threatening the security staff. Why lads? You could have seen the Twang or Neon Twang loads of times around Brum in the last couple of years!

Time is Precious

Owning/running a bar is time consuming, no really it is. Having two kids 3 and under is time consuming, no really it is. Having a bar and two kids…you get the message. So any time off spent with your betrothed is rare and not to be sniffed at. So it is with great pleasure that my wife secured two tickets for Seasick Steve for tomorrow night www.seasicksteve.com if you want to have a look. He’s a venerated hobo, blues,grunge musician. As an avid music lover/consumer getting the chance to go to gigs recently has been scarce so I cannae wait. I’ll even do a blog review on Thursday.

Rather Tawdry

Behaviour from myself with a lack of bloging. You quickly realise that there really only 24 hours in a day. Anyway, had a lovely weekend down at the bar, rounded off watching Carvelho and the Extended Family do a brilliant 4 song set of uplifting, righteous and political funk and reggae. Well worth checking out.

As is this blog from my friend Andrew Dubber over at www.andrewdubber.com. All I will say is that this is a very funny account of an horrendous journey from New York back to blighty, almost feel guilty for laughing!

This week at Atticus: Tues: The best quiz in Bearwood on a Tuesday Night 8pm Free!!

Fri: Sole-Ful with Chris Messem, soul, funk, hip hop and the like

Sat: Parties galore with great food, it’s gonna be a good un

Sun: Professor Firestick’s Acoustic Afternoon with: Prussian Blue, Gary O’Dea, Adam Daly, Dan and Chris   4pm Free!!

The Comedy Improv Show great comedians trying out new material and doing Improv  8pm £2

W ow – who said Bearwood was a sleepy hamlet?!

Thanks…

very much to the Bearwood Crew who have welcolmed me to the Bearwood Blog fest – I shall get better at this!!

At Atticus

This weekend for your pleasurement…

Fri: Beat Boudoir – Quality Lounge and Bar Grooves with Justin B and John Harris

Sat: England v Estonia Football, England v France Rugby

Sun: The Acoustic Brew 7.30pm £2 Mezzotonic and Giovanna Olvera

We have a small menu available on the weekend, all homemade and cooked to order and organic meats where possible

Homemade 12oz Organic Beefburger, garnished with Roasted Tomato, Mature Cheddar Cheese and Baby Leaf salad, served with homemade chips and mayo

Italian Herb Sausages with Puy Lentils and Salsa Verde

Thai Noodle Soup with Scottish Salmon

Filo Parcels with Butternut Squash, Feta and Mint Yogurt

Homemade chips and mayo

Ted came and went and won’t be coming back….

So the Legend returned to play a packed Atticus Comedy Club. He left many bemused and myself a little bit sad.

Having first seen Ted 20 odd years ago, he was a part of a briefly great Birmingham scene that included We’ve Got A Fuzzbox, The Nightingales and Napalm Death. Playing places like the Acocks Green Baptist church, The Mermaid, The Barrel Organ and other such venues. Ted was unique, a true ‘alternative’ comedian who should have been destined for great things. This never materialised. Comedy and comedians have moved on. Alternative is now part of the mainstream and audiences are more sophisticated as a result.

Watching Ted doing his routine it was if we were back those 20 odd years but it wasn’t funny anymore. We’ed moved on but Ted hadn’t. I suppose you could argue that that is Ted always the anti joke comedian always doing what he wanted and not pandering to audiences. For me though it didn’t work and was painful to watch, Ted just wasn’t saying anything. Talking to him after though, he enjoyed himself so I guess you make of that what you will.

As one punter put it, once you’ve been a ground breaker what else is there for you. So, so long Ted thanks for the memories but I doubt we’ll be seeing you back at Atticus