Liam Gallagher is back. After a year at the helm of his Pretty Green clothing label, the ex-Oasis mainman has returned to the world of music with his new bandBeady Eye. Bring The Light - the first song to be taken from next year's as-yet-untitled debut album - was made available to download this morning and is the first new music to rise from the ashes of the Oasis funeral pyre.
So, what's it like? Well, it's not great, but it's not awful either. For a start, Gallagher's previous assertion that "a lot of it sounds more like T. Rex or really old rock'n'roll like Jerry Lee Lewis," is startlingly borne out. The oily whirlpool of guitars that defined the last decade of Oasis albums has been replaced by a boogieing, barrelhouse piano riff and a lean production that reminds us of a glammed-up Status Quo or a Jim Jones Revue minus the ear-exploding, psychobilly edge. Producer Steve Lillywhite has even found a soupçon of Elvis-reverb for Liam's lead vocal.
The change seems to have done Liam the world of good. The last time we heard from Gallagher Jr he sounded bored out of his mind - listen to the utterly dreary Soldier On from Oasis's Dig Out Your Soul for evidence of a singer bereft of energy. Those attempts to draw on the British psych upsurge of 1966/67 seem to have stopped (no Noel, no anthems?) which means that on Bring The Light Liam and his reconfigured band sound pared-back and peppy.
So here's Gem Archer, employing his Paul McCartney guitar fills to spiky effect in the breaks, while Andy Bell and Chris Sharrock use their prior experience as Noel Gallagher's purposefully unfunky rhythm section to tap into the song's pugilistic pulse. Let's remember that Sharrock - arguably the star of Oasis's final world tour - gives the other three something they've never really had before: an exciting drummer to work off. In the annals of Oasis history, only Zak Starkey comes close. Alongside the female backing vocals, it's Sharrock - dusty snare drum snap in tow - that fuels Liam's sneers of "baby, c'mon" and really seems to make the choruses swing. Liam Gallagher may have rocked and roared, but he's never, ever swung.
After almost 20 years slapped across the Oasis frontpage, it's going to take a while for Liam to blast free from his history - particularly if he insists on song titles like Bring The Light (how Oasis is that?). But as a stripped-bare statement of intent, Beady Eye could have done a lot worse.
The Who, Richard Ashcroft to play gig for killing cancer charity
The Who are set to play a gig at London's HMV Hammersmith Apollo in aid of the Killing Cancer charity next January.
They will headline A Concert For Killing Cancer on January 13, joined by Richard Ashcroft, Debbie Harry and Jeff Beck.
The gig will raise money for the Killing Cancer charity, which helps to fund research into Photodynamic Therapy (PDT). The therapy destroys cancer cells with a single treatment.
Speaking about supporting the charity, Beck said: "Any new breakthrough in cancer treatment should be taken very seriously and we want as many people to know about that as possible. The concert is not just going to raise funds to pay for new PDT trials, but will also help raise public awareness."
Organisers Harvey Goldsmith and Bill Curbishley say they hope the concert will increase public and corporate donations to Killing Cancer, and in turn speed up the launch of PDT trials for heart and arterial disease, cervical, vulval and penile cancer.
Them Crooked Vultures bassist John Paul Jones has hinted he will make a guest appearance at Foo Fighters' Milton Keynes gigs next year.
The July gigs sees Them Crooked Vultures' drummer Dave Grohl's returning to his main band, as Foo Fighters gear up to release a new album next year.
"I might gatecrash one of their gigs I think… If he asks!" Jones told BBC 6 Music of his plans for a guest spot, before adding that Foo Fighters' return does not spell the end for Them Crooked Vultures.
The bassist indicated that the supergroup, led by Josh Homme, were already planning an album.
"Some stuff we've worked on, but we're gonna write pretty quickly and just put it down," he said. "We may be a year or so."
He added that the album "will mainly be excess material from the first album".
Meanwhile, Jones is due to play bass at London's Royal Opera House for an opera entitled Anna Nicole.
The production, which opens next February, focuses on the life of former Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith.
Brian Wilson has announced details of a UK tour set to take place in September 2011.
The Beach Boys' songwriter will be performing material from his 'Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin' album, which sees him reworking songs by George and Ira Gershwin.
He will also play Beach Boys classics on the tour, which includes three nights at London's Royal Festival Hall.
Brian Wilson will play:
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (September 11)
Manchester Bridgewater Hall (13)
Birmingham Symphony Hall (14)
London Royal Festival Hall (16, 17, 18)
Thin Lizzy is one of rock music's most recognizable names. The fiery Dublin band exploded onto the scene with a fresh sound, look and attitude.
Lead by the incomparable Phil Lynott, the band reached many peaks and influenced generations of musicians with classic tracks such as 'Jailbreak', 'The Boys Are Back In Town', 'Still In Love With You', 'Cold Sweat', 'Emerald' and 'Don't Believe A Word'. Most rock historians would agree the pinnacle of their commercial success was in 1983, followed by the bands' premature demise, as they played their last gig in September of 1984. Just two years later, the world was shocked when singer/bassist and founding member Phil Lynott passed away at the age of thirty six.
Twenty four years have passed, the world has changed, but the amazing body of work that is Thin Lizzy still retains all of its vibrancy and influence. A new lineup has formed to take Lizzy's music to a whole new generation of music fans. Led by alumni Scott Gorham, Brian Downey and Darren Wharton (all of whom played in Thin Lizzy with Phil Lynott) the stellar lineup is completed by Def Leppards Viv Campbell (guitar), Bassist Marco Mendoza (Whitesnake, Ted Nugent) and The Almighty's Ricky Warwick on vocals and guitar.
Alongside the new lineup, Universal Music has committed to a series of re-issue, deluxe and special releases of classic Thin Lizzy material over the next 18 months. More details to follow.
Thin Lizzy have confirmed a 2011 UK tour. Full dates are as follows
Thursday 6th January ' Aberdeen Music Hall Friday 7th ' Glasgow O2 Academy Saturday 8th ' Newcastle City Hall Monday 10th ' Leeds O2 Academy Tuesday 11th ' Llandudno Theatre Wednesday 12th ' Leicester De Montfort Hall Friday 14th ' Wolverhampton Civic Hall Saturday 15th ' Manchester Apollo Sunday 16th ' Bristol Colston Hall Tuesday 18th ' Southampton Guildhall Wednesday 19th ' Ipswich Regent Friday 21st ' Cambridge Corn Exchange Saturday 22nd ' Hammersmith, London, HMV Apollo Sunday 23rd ' IndigO2 at the O2, London Wednesday 16th Feburary ' Belfast Waterfront Hall Thursday 17th ' Dublin Olympia Theatre
Doors will be at 7pm. On the UK dates Special Guests will be Seattle based Supersuckers.
Buy tickets here and if they are sold out try our partners here.
Gang Of Four, one of the most radical and important groups of the last thirty years, are proud to announce a headlining tour of North America beginning February 4th in Toronto, ON. The band will tour in support of their upcoming album, C O N T E N T, their first new material in 16 years. Set for a January 25h release on Yep Roc Records, C O N T E N T is every bit as powerful and insightful as their classic work that has influenced many.
From creating one of music's preeminent debut albums (1979's Entertainment) to influencing a wide range of punk, post-punk and indie rock bands (R.E.M., Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sonic Youth, Bloc Party, The Rapture, Franz Ferdinand and hundreds more), Gang Of Four have triumphantly defined their place in rock 'n roll and continue to influence a new generation of fans with their high energy, maximum impact sound.
Fans can hear first track NEVER PAY FOR THE FARM here:
http://www.reverbnation.com/gangoffour
February 4 Phoenix Concert Theatre Toronto, ON February 5 Theatre of Living Arts Philadelphia, PA February 7 Paradise Boston, MA February 8 Webster Hall New York, NY February 9 9:30 Club Washington, DC February 11 Metro Chicago, IL February 12 First Avenue Minneapolis, MN February 15 Venue Vancouver, BC February 16 Showbox @ the Market Seattle, WA February 17 Wonder Ballroom Portland, OR February 19 The Fillmore San Francisco, CA February 20 House of Blues Anaheim, CA February 21 Music Box Los Angeles, CA
Collection of your favorite one hit wonders from 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's. Hard to find one hit wonder, one hit wonderer of the period, The weirdest one hit wonder, two hit wonder, double hit wonder, onehitwondercenter
