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You are here: Live Your Life E-zine > Hostel Newsletters - 2009 > July E-Zine > Music Mashup

Music Mashup

“The sun is shining, the weather is sweet, makes me wanna move and dance” ‐ Bob Marley was certainly right as the weather is now warmer more often than not and it’s absolutely brilliant! Waking up to sunshine, sun filled days and lately lit evenings makes me smile, and now that it’s festival season I’m practically beaming 24/7! This month I grooved to Maceo Parker at the Jazz Cafe in Camden and Sister Mary & The Choir Boys, at Shunt Bar in London Bridge. There’s a plethora of new albums for you guys to check out and also, the latest club nights coming to a London borough near you soon. Phew!

Maceo Parker

I was lucky enough to see Maceo Parker at the Jazz Cafe not too long ago. He’s most famous for being James Brown’s saxophonist in the 1960s and it was a delight to hear him, and his band, cover some great hits ‐ all with the invocation: “Make it Funky!” He’s been releasing solo albums since the 1970s and is a well respected musician. The fashionable jazz crowd lapped it up and the evening reached fever pitch when Dennis Rollins ‐ the UK’s premier trombonist, came out as part of the line up! If you like this stuff then be sure to check out Blaze Music Festival, which is part of the Barbican Summer Jazz festival. It runs between July 2 and July 24, it features a tribute to Nina Simone and there’s a slew of contemporary jazz acts to boot too.

Sister Mary & the Choir Boys

Shunt Bar is the coolest venue in London Bridge and before it changes location (which it’s rumoured to do very soon) you really should go and visit. It’s worth the £10 entry and the mandatory I.D presentation! You enter through London Bridge train station and inside you’ll find a cavernous world of impromptu performances, with the best theatre, music and comedy sets around. Set in the vaults of the station, you feel far removed from the grey anonymity of London town. I witnessed impromptu comedy from two men suspended from the ceiling, a gothic alcove where you could get married, a mock beach, a caravan site complete with sand and paddling pool, and a tea room where you’re served toast by Vera Duckworth lookalikes.

Furthermore I was lucky enough to witness the glorious Sister Mary and the Choir boys ‐ a blues and soul performance that sent shivers down my spine and provided tunes to make you boogie, sway and hold on to your man! I particularly enjoyed lead singer Emine’s rendition of Jolene ‐ the country and western classic immortalised by the legend that is Dolly Parton. These guys are relatively new so check out their MySpace page for future gigs.

The Ones to Watch

Polarbear: This Brummie poet kicked ass when I saw him perform at One Taste in the Park. The best bits of his routine included catchy rhymes about growing up and being a father, and role model to his son. Catch him on the London and Birmingham poetry circuits.

MC Xander: Mc Xander is a beat boxing extraordinaire of a man. This dude has more than a touch of reggae in his repertoire and crosses more than one music genre to please the crowds.

Ebony Bones: I love Ebony Bones, their wild futuristic outfits, the eye catching headgear and their Electro beats. For me they are the sound of the 2000s. Apparently the name Ebony Bones refers solely to the lead singer but her band definitely help to cement the act. Check out the album ‐ Bone Of My Bones.

Albums to Buy

Maximo Park ‐ Quicken the Heart: More heart wilting, lyrical Indie Pop from my Geordie favourites.

The Maccabees ‐ Wall of Arms: Kooky Indie good times with lyrics that are a touch obscure and pretentious, but nevertheless good to dance to.

Maxwell ‐ Blacksummersnight: After eight long years, the soulful Maxwell is back to put the jones back in yo’ bones. Good tracks for summer loving.

Regina Specktor ‐ Far: New York’s answer to Kate Nash combined with Bjork. If any of that made sense to you then go and have a listen!

YOYO at Notting Hill Arts Club

Seeing as Thursday’s the new Friday, if you’re in London I suggest you go west and check out YOYO ‐ Your Only Young Once. This night presents a varied selection of fresh new music at a venue where the young and beautiful of West London come out to play. Sorry kiddies ‐ you can’t stay in Shoreditch forever! After a slew of gigs featuring Sam Ronson (of Li‐Lo fame) this is now where the party’s at.

‐ DJ Michelle