Wednesday 27 February 2013

5th birthday party starring Birdie, Amor de Dias, Hacia Dos Veranos


We're celebrating our 5th birthday on May 26 with a very special gig and you're all invited. Three of our favourite bands, all of whom we've released records by, are playing upstairs and electric:

Birdie
Only their fourth gig in over ten years, this is going to be very special. The chance to see Debsey Wykes and Paul Kelly on stage as Birdie doesn't come around very often. You can't miss this.

Amor de Dias
The very first Amor de Dias gig with a rhythm section. Not only that, this is Amor de Dias' only UK gig following the release of their wonderful second album, The House At Sea.

Hacia Dos Veranos
Limay is a masterpiece. Don't believe me? Amor de Dias' Alasdair MacLean said: "Their guitarist is a maestro: economical, precise, lyrical. His rolling, arpeggiated style will remind you of Felt’s Maurice Deebank or Vini Reilly, but he also possesses a faint echo of Johnny Marr, in that for all his sense of space and harmony he’s playing tunes first and foremost."

You want to come to this gig. I know it. Well, you can. Buy tickets.

Tuesday 26 February 2013

Coming Down in March


We didn't do one of these for February. It wasn't because we are too lazy or disorganised, that would be unthinkable. No! It was because we were SO BUSY making groovy things happen. We're still slapping ourselves on the back (and burping a bit) about the Lost Weekend stuff, it was amazing. But onwards and downwards is the way, and here's what's coming along the rough old road of the Hangover Lounge in March. March hares of the dog, if you will. I hope you will. 

Tell you what: the Hacia Dos Veranos LP has arrived. Come and buy a copy off us. It's so good and it looks beautiful.

Tell you what else: we've still some of those Black Tambourine In Dub / Owl and Mouse picture discs left, and we're giving them away each week, a few at a time. All you have to do to get one of those is to come and ask. 

MARCH 3: the month starts with a bang! It's POPFEST 2013 and please to arrive extra early for the highlight of any calendar year, the M J Hibbett and Carsmile Steve pop quiz. Prizes! Laughs! The lot. Then Popfest does its feisty pop thing upstairs (we think there are a small handful of tickets left, though the weekend season tickets are now sold out, bad luck snoozers). We'l be doing our regular Hangover Lounge thing downstairs so fee free to pop in and say hello. It's likely to be a lively one. 

MARCH 10: not one but TWO new special guest DJs! The excellent James William Hindle will be playing records for us, and more importantly for you, and so will the equally but differently excellent Tom Huddleston, who writes for Time Out amongst other things, those other things including playing with the rather listenable The No Sorrows. Rumour has it that there may be a birthday among the HL regulars also. It's possible that beer may be on the agenda. By "agenda" I mean "shirt". Talking of "shirts" there'll be one of those cool jumble sales upstairs that day!

MARCH 17: You know Frances and John from Clay Pipe Music? If you do, you'll know they're delightful people with exquisite taste and you'll be wanting to come along to hear the records they play. If you don't, yet, you should come along and hear the records they play. They're a bit of an inspiration to us and we're looking forward to having them along.

MARCH 24: Our chum KEVIN PICKERING is coming along to play records for us, and that promises to be laughs. Kevin used to be in Saturn V, you know. People with in-a-band pasts! Don't see many of them round here! Because a couple of the HL team are liable to be away that day, we might well have some extra, cherry-on-the-top special guest DJS too, but nothing we can tell you about yet. 

MARCH 31: Two words: BANK HOLIDAY. Sorry, three words: BANK HOLIDAY SUNDAY. There are excuses for not coming to the Lounge and hanging out but I can't think what they could be, off the top of my head. Five more words: PETE BARAN and ROB BRENNAN, ace guest DJs, we've probably asked them back more than anyone else because they're always good value and always great company. 

We've got so much more coming up but that's all I can tell you for now. But keep Sunday free. Which Sunday? Every Sunday!

Monday 18 February 2013

Sunday went a little bit like this

Here's Flowers in rehearsal, which you won't have seen:
And here's Moxham and Halliday in action, which you should have seen:

Sunday 17 February 2013

Me and you could maybe use a lost weekend

What a first day! Withered Hand showing real class by opening with No Cigarettes with its signature salvo "me and you could maybe use a lost weekend".



Hacia Dos Veranos were led by guitarist Ignacio who marshalled a band of ace musicians.



The Understudies featuring A Little Orchestra filled the Union Chapel with classic pop, sumptuous strings, woodwind and horns.


Thanks to all 550 people who came along. Extra marks to The Understudies' new bassist Thom who waved to the crowd as he took the stage (I thought he might shout "hello Wembley"). Afterwards Thom told me, "This band hadn't played a venue this size before I joined". The Understudies and A Little Orchestra are playing the Buffalo Bar on March 28.

It was great meeting Dan Willson's dad, Andy, in the pub afterwards:
Andy: "There's a lot of lines in the songs that I get and I understand the meaning behind."
HL: So, about that futon in Religious Songs, then...
Andy: "Oh, I know all about that futon. But I can assure you that it wasn't in my house."

Wednesday 13 February 2013

Amor de Dias join the Lost Weekend


This Sunday Amor de Dias will be assisting Hacia Dos Veranos in the fine art of Latin American instrumentals. They'll be abetted by ace violinist and Lounge regular Gwen Cheeseman.

This is not one you should miss.

Sunday stage times: 3pm Flowers; 3.40pm Hacia Dos Veranos; 4.20pm Moxham & Halliday.

Saturday stage times: 12pm Understudies; 12.40 HDV; 1.20 Withered Hand