Horse News | CROSS THE POND -

Canada high

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:39:54 -0500

Nickelback talk about their latest album Dark Horse

Critics’ Choice: New CDs

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:30:22 -0500

Nickelback seems eager to shed at least a little of its politeness on “Dark Horse,” its sixth album — by far its loosest and most jagged in years.

Macherel fillets with horseradish cream

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:25:17 -0400

RECIPES don’t come much simpler than this, the success or failure of this dish lies in the freshness of the fish so buy the best quality that you can find.

Dig For Victory

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:29:55 -0400

City Life contributor Jon Grant has dibs on a night called Dig for Victory taking place on the last Sunday of the month at The Bay Horse in the Northern Quarter.

Jordan rides out at horse event

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:56:43 -0400

Model Katie Price gives a dressage demonstration at the Horse of the Year Show at Birmingham's NEC.

R.E.M. / We Are Scientists @ Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:40:00 -0400

Within six hours of stepping foot in Spain, I was en route to see Madrid's legendary bull fighting arena, Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas. Just stepping out of the Metro and seeing the building is overwhelming. Then walking into the stadium and stepping on sand where Spanish tradition continues every week gave me goose bumps.

It was just an out of body experience seeing one of my favorite bands of all time in such a special place. You don't plan on these things happening in your life and sometimes you're in the right place at the right time. If the stadium didn't elate me, R.E.M.'s performance did. Truth by told, I thought they would have called it a day after Around the Sun. Now with an album that is worthy of being called an R.E.M. album, Accelerate, one of the most important bands in modern music looks like they'll make it into the next decade.

Even with your favorite band, you tend to listen to their music in fits and spurts. Then when you see them live, it all comes back to you and you can sing along to every lyric.

The setlist:

Living Well Is the Best Revenge
What's the Frequency, Kenneth?
Drive
Circus Envy
Animal
Man-Sized Wreath
Ignoreland
Just A Touch
Strange Currencies
Hollow Man
These Days
Walk Unafraid
The Great Beyond
Staring Down The Barrel
One I Love
She Just Wants To Be
I’ve Been High
Let Me In
Horse To Water
Bad Day
Imitation Of Life
Orange Crush
ENCORE: Supernatural Superserious
Losing My Religion
Accelerate
It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
Man On The Moon
I Wanna Be Your Dog

As much as Michael Stipe is a quiet, at ease type of guy in interviews, he's a rock 'n' roll star in every sense on stage. He prances around on stage, strikes poses and likes to ham it up. During one of his crowd participation exercises, he asked everyone to raise their hand if they were born after 1975. He raised his hand and said, "I'm raising my hand because I look good for my age." No argument here, sir. Just by the way he was soaking in the great Madrid crowd, you can tell that he still gets a kick in being R.E.M.

The band have played their standards like Man on the Moon, It's the End of the World, Losing My Religion or One I Love more times than you can imagine. The truly great, legendary bands are the ones who can make those songs seem like it's the first time you're hearing it live -- fresh and new. Stipe, Buck and Mills don't phone in those songs.

One of the images that sticks in my mind through the show is the whole crowd jumping up and down for "Man on the Moon". It's a slow song about a dead comedian, and people are going nuts for it like it was "I Want To Rock N' Roll All Night." I didn't see the show in New York, but I doubt the MSG crowd didn't respond as strongly as they did in Madrid. It's one of those shows where I spend a lot of time looking around to see massive amounts of people in flickering stage lights. It's surreal.

The encore was special as well, with the We Are Scientists crew joining in on the final three songs, including a cover of Iggy & The Stooges "I Wanna Be Your Dog." I'm sure it was a "somebody pinch me, I might be dreaming" moment for the guys.

Again, I don't think I'll see an R.E.M. concert as thrilling as this. As a band, they only created indie rock. The music hasn't always been perfect, but their body of work speaks for itself.

Tried as I might, I couldn't get permission to shoot R.E.M. as well, but I snuck some shots in among the crowd.

Michael Stipe said during the show, "We only bring great bands with us and We Are Scientists are a great band." Damn, that's an A+ compliment there. It's like being pleased by the Pope.

I'm watching these guys do their thing as the opening act, and I'm thinking to myself I've seen them so many times. This time around, these guys are a bona fide popular rock band. I've seen them on the modest stages of NYC and Philly, but never on such a massive stage. It's an instance where a band seizes the moment and they rock the damn house. Being around New York, it's great to see the progress of bands make it from playing small stages to massive amounts of people.

While Keith and Chris have become hit makers with "After Hours" (which Mike Mills joined in on) and "Chick Lit", they guys still seem to be the same people making the round in the indie music scene. The two may be rocking the stage and getting into the rock star zone, they still crack silly jokes between songs. Chris spoke some phrase in Spanish, I think he said something along the lines of "I am a sexual beast." Yo soy una bestia sexual.

In any event, I bow down to them for making great new songs and always putting on an entertaining show. I am their huckleberry.

Here's a few shots of the stadium. The guy in the white jacket was selling ham sandwiches in the crowd. There's bull-fighting there on Sundays, which I wasn't there to see. It's a brutal sport, art and ritual all in one. I think it's the only concert I've even stood in sand to watch. Luckily, they didn't let the bulls out during the show.

Marvel Team-Up: Clare & the Reasons, My Brightest Diamond to Tour U.S.

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:51:00 -0400

You know MusicSnobbery will be all over this one. After a European tour (theirs, not Chris's), Clare Muldaur and those Reasons will roll across the U.S. to close out the year with My Brightest Diamond. Here are the tour dates:

Oct 27: The Space, Hamden CT
Oct 28: Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton MA
Oct 30: Space, Portland ME
Oct 31: Narrows Center for the Arts, Fall River MA
Nov 2: Big Orbit's Soundlab, Buffalo
Nov 3: Oberlin College, Oberlin OH
Nov 5: The Ladies Literary Club, Grand Rapids MI
Nov 6: Royal Theater, Danville IN
Nov 7: Schubas, Chicago
Nov 8: Orpheum Theater - Stage Door, Madison WI
Nov 11: Cicero's, St. Louis MO
Nov 13: Larimer Lounge, Denver
Nov 14: Paradise Theater, Paonia CO
Nov 15: Urban Lounge, Salt Lake City
Nov 16: Neurolux, Boise
Nov 17: The Red Room, Kennewick WA
Nov 19: Triple Door, Seattle
Nov 20: Doug Fir Lounge, Portland OR
Nov 21: WOW Hall, Eugene OR
Nov 22: Swedish American Hall, San Francisco
Nov 24: Rio Theatre, Santa Cruz CA
Nov 25: Casbah, San Diego
Nov 26: Hotel Cafe, Los Angeles
Nov 30: The Cooperage, Albuquerque
Dec 3: Granada Theater, Dallas
Dec 5: The Bottletree, Birmingham
Dec 9: Orange Peel, Asheville NC
Dec 10: Gravity Lounge, Charlottesville VA
Dec 11: Rock and Roll Hotel, Washington DC
Dec 12: First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia
Dec 13: Le Poisson Rouge, New York

Previously:

Kneelin' to the Diamond: My Brightest Diamond @ Blender Theater

Disco Jail: Clare & The Reasons @ Joe's Pub

Goth Talk: Nightmare Before Christmas Covers Album and What Single Goths Are Listening To

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:01:19 -0400

One of favorite series of sketches from Saturday Night Live is Goth Talk. The skits featured Chris Kattan and Molly Shannon as hosts of a goth-centric public access show from St. Petersburg, Florida. It's funny because its a spot on ribbing of the culture. It's funny because it's true.

Fast forward to the internets age, and goth scene is still funny. "Bela Legosi's Dead" is still funny. Goths working at Cinnabon is still funny. With YouTube, goths can make endless video diaries like Rob Lowe did on the show. Goths shopping for Nightmare Before Christmas at Hot Topic in the mall is commonplace.

So the Disney peops are cashing on the 15 years of Jack Skellington merchandise by releasing an all covers version of the Danny Elfman soundtrack. Here's the tracklisting, at least Amy Lee (the patron saint of goth chicks) is getting work these days:

DeVotchKa, "Overture"
Danny Elfman, "Opening"
Marilyn Manson, "This Is Halloween"
The All-American Rejects, "Jack's Lament"
Amiina, "Doctor Finkelstein/In The Forest"
Flyleaf, "What's This?"
The Polyphonic Spree, "Town Meeting Song"
The Vitamin String Quartet, "Jack And Sally Montage"
Sparklehorse, "Jack's Obsession"
Korn, "Kidnap The Sandy Claws"
Rise Against, "Making Christmas"
Yoshida Brothers, "Nabbed"
Rodrigo Y Gabriela, "Oogie Boogie's Song"
Amy Lee, "Sally's Song"
RJD2, "Christmas Eve Montage"
Plain White T's, "Poor Jack"
Datarock, "To The Rescue"
Shiny Toy Guns, "Finale/Reprise"
Danny Elfman, "Closing"
The Album Leaf, "End Title"

Also, some forward thinking web entrepreneurs are cashing in on goth's loneliness with their own dating site called Goth Scene. Now, the forsaken outcasts in Oklahoma who aren't busy making crystal meth in their basements can go online and find similar brethren.

If you have time to kill today, browse the site. It's choice. That picture to the left -- the guy looks like James Franco and the girl looks like the runner-up in the Miss Tori Amos pageant. Out of curiosity, I wanted to see what their musical tastes are. For some reason, a lot of profiles mention that their favorite show is That 70s Show. Strange.

I left the spelling as is....

Single, Dark & Lonely -- 24 -- Nox Arcana, Renholder, Lamb of God

sleep, those little slices of death.-- lynard skynard, usher, michael jackson

Is looking for deep dark passionate love -- Buckcherry, Seether, Julien-K

Eat your hear out!!! -- Metallica, Pantera, Disturbed

Smart calm deathmetal fan...-- Gojira, Necrophagist, Queens of the Stoneage, Mastodon

Dark Lord looking for Dark Enchantress -- nothing, I just like the headline

I think everybody goes through a goth phase at some point. That hottie, Christina Hendricks from Mad Men, was a goth chick back in the day. Now, she's like super glam. I mention it because it's just an excuse to post a picture.

Pulled Across The UK: Leeds rockers release debut single, hit the road

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 05:43:59 -0400

Ace Leeds rockers Pulled Apart By Horses release their debut single next month on the Big Scary Monsters label

Horse Whisperer author taken ill

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:00:12 -0400

The author of the Horse Whisperer book is in hospital in Aberdeen after he was taken ill on holiday.

Horse Whisperer author taken ill

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:57:01 -0400

The author of the Horse Whisperer book is in hospital after he took ill while on holiday in Scotland.

Bowerbirds - Hymns For A Dark Horse

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:50:42 -0400

Raleigh, North Carolina trio Bowerbirds’ debut LP is the sort of slow-release indie-folk almost-masterpiece that seems anything but the first few times through

Bowerbirds - Hymns For A Dark Horse

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:48:20 -0400

Raleigh, North Carolina trio Bowerbirds’ debut LP is the sort of slow-release indie-folk almost-masterpiece that seems anything but the first few times through

Watch: new video from Bowerbirds

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:36:41 -0400

Hymns For A Dark Horse, the superb debut album from North Carolina trio Bowerbirds, earns an expanded re-release via Dead Oceans on Monday

Pulled Apart By Horses in session

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:18:54 -0400

Plus Eugene McGuinness in the studio on Huw Stephens' Introducing show

'Shit hits the fan: Ohio band demand record is destroyed

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:10:14 -0400

After releasing ‘New Wave Hippies’ on Monday, Psychedelic Horseshit are demanding the record is destroyed

GZA, Tortoise, Del the Funky Homosapien Do Forecastle

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:55:00 -0400

Back in January, we were Halfway to Forecastle, and now, we're just days away regular ol' Forecastle-- the fest so nice they hold it twice.

GZA, Tortoise, Del the Funky Homosapien, Extra Golden, Devlin & Darko, Snowden, Film School, Catfish Haven, Dr. Dog, Unwed Sailor, Z-Trip, Margot & the Nuclear So and So's, Pomegranates, People Noise, Del McCoury Band, and oh so many others will hit the Riverfront Belvedere in Louisville, Kentucky for three days of fun, sun, and feverishly brainstorming the next Forecastle.

Just make sure to enjoy this one while it lasts, everybody: July 25-27.

Thao and the Get Down Stay Down Get Out on Tour

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:50:00 -0400

Thao Nguyen and her Get Down Stay Down backing band will hit the road this summer in support of their Kill Rock Stars debut, We Brave Bee Stings and All. This marks Thao and company's first headlining tour, and their opening acts include Horse Feathers, David Schultz and the Skyline, Pepi Ginsberg, and Tune-Yards.

The tour kicks off this weekend in Columbus, Ohio and continues across the U.S. for a month afterward.

Band of Horses at Sheffield Leadmill, Fri 11 Jul

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:06:25 -0400

When, exactly, did Band Of Horses get so popular? The last gig here we attended that was this oversubscribed: The Pigeon Detectives

Sigur Ros, Vampire Weekend Do Splendour in the Grass

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 07:00:00 -0400

Australia's Splendour in the Grass festival returns to Byron Bay's Belongil Fields on August 2 and 3 for another couple days of splendid music. Despite its name, we can't imagine it's any easier to smuggle weed into this place than, say, Bonnaroo. Wait, so... it's really easy?! (Don't do drugs.)

ANYway...Splendour in the Grass' 2008 lineup includes Band of Horses, Sigur Rós, Vampire Weekend, Albert Hammond Jr., Robert Forster, the Drones, Devo, Tricky, MSTRKRFT, Wolfmother, Lightspeed Champion, Lyrics Born, Ben Lee, Cold War Kids, the Polyphonic Spree, the Grates, the Wombats, the Vines, Van She, and New Young Pony Club.