British Summertime Hyde Park London 21.06.2015- Day 3 Kylie Minogue/Grace Jones/Nile Rodgers & Chic/Mika/Years & Years

British Summertime- Hyde Park London 21.06.2015

DAY 3 

Kylie Minogue/Grace Jones/Nile Rodgers & Chic/Mika and The Years & Years 

 

 

Its Saturday it's not exactly bursting with sunshine,but I'm here ready for Sunday's show.

 

 

Early Sunday morning I get ready to leave my hotel at 7.15am to meet up with one of the #KylieMassive and later the whole gang, I decide to walk to whole length of Bayswater Road (Bad Idea it took me 30 minutes to get to Marble Arch #knackered its the equivelant of 10 highstreets in 1).

 

My Mate catches up to me at 'Hyde Park Corner' so we stroll around looking for the Early Entry queue,the right gate, on our way we see lots of squirrels, its beautiful they stop to look at us so tame so it's good 10 minutes before I remember I'm not at the zoo.

 

We hang out around the gates chatting and eating til gates open at 12pm, when security arrive they tell us not to run when we go through (the usual patter "There's plenty of room at the barriers for everyone to see.." yardy ya but when some don't take that advice everyone starts running so you have to stress out about these things its not simple its about stratergy) so I get athletes stress lol. 

 

Lots of my friends are here today and few other gig buddies so it's a good vibe more relaxed than the normal Rock gig,me and my mate got a great spot on the left barriers at front of stage.

 

First act on is 'Londoner' 'Secana Hudson' a young vibrant girl in red sports top, playing keyboards and drum machine,its basically R&B but chilled dance beats,I particularly liked her 'Madonna' tribute when she sang a mash up of 'Pure Shores' by 'All Saints' into an interpretation called 'Frozen-Shores', I  think I was 1 of the loudest cheerers at that point ha.

 

Next up London's successful band of this year ' Years & Years' a bunch of 3 young guys with singer 'Ollie Alexander' sporting Bleached Blonde hair, they kick things off with 'Desire' it's a bouncy dance beat classic with a great 90's fresh feel to it, the sun is out summer is here at last , perfect atmosphere, 'Years & Years' doing a perfect job onstage with a 'Blu Cantrell' cover and new song 'Gold', 'Ollie' bounces around the 'Oak Stage' dancing and looking like the cat that got the cream. 

 

 

The energy they give out when performing live is infectious,the crowd enjoying them,everyone is talking to each other its relaxed not like your usual gig, The band ended with No1 single 'King' it was great to watch their enthusiastic set I see big things for them already, Top Notch!!  

 

Next 'Mika' I really have to tell you he annoyed me, I always thought he was a bad pop tribute act of 'Freddie Mercury Vs Matt Bellamy', so everytime he hit a falsetto I just wanted to ring his neck! He wore a Navy Blue suit with Stars and Shapes on it, his 7ft frame flailing about like a daddy long legs refusing to stop flight (did I tell you I hate them too ...yuck) or perhaps it would be more polite to say that he looked like a childrens TV Presenter which appeared to be his act in a nutshell. 

 

He kicks off with 'Grace Kelly' then says "Hello Hyde Park, The sun is shining on us (puts hands together in pray mode)" and then plays on with 'Big Girls You Are Beautiful' (Cringe #Muser in need of rescue here have Mercy lol), he stands atop a piano and plays a new song he has a new album to plug, it was then back to the chart hits 'Take It Easy' another high pitched falsetto I'm itching to yell "Get Off your not 'Musey' enough for that Voice !! I held back.. just the end song was 'Love Today' the most irritating song ever written, its the first time all day I've frowned a lot #Headache,  Then he goes off waving I Cheer phew....

 

Finally my excitement is back on par, onstage whilst the crew are sound checking, on walks the legendary 'Nile Rodgers' to the 'Oak Stage', he's standing in front of us waving, smiling in a White Suit "How you all doin' ? were just getting these amps set we'll be ready soon" we all cheer.

 

 

  Wow!  'Nile Rodgers' producer of some of finest disco classics of the late 70's and 80's legends, in his reportiore  responsible for Madonna's Like A Virgin album, Duran Duran's Notorious, I'm excited as the 2 girls of 'Chic' walk on they play 'Dance Dance Dance' and some great covers of his work 'Sister Sledge' 'We Are Family', 'Diana Ross' 'Upside Down', here's what sealed the deal for me 'Notorious' by 'Duran Duran' and 'Daft Punk's Get Lucky, as 'Nile' walks down the walkway, his shades on he cuts a cool image up on the walkway, the place is jumpin!!  I've not danced so freely at gig since 'Prince' last year , he even gets his band to play 'Lets Dance' by 'Bowie' yes he produced that too, there's a real party atmosphere now .

 

They play my absolute fav 'Le freak' so funky and groovy,my god what a show, just when you think I cant get better than that, all these people come onto the stage dancing with Chic and 'Nile Rodgers' for 'Good Times' then 'Sam Smith' walks on greeting 'Nile' and hugging him before joining everybody dancing and then this older guy wearing a leather jacket and cap doing a crazy dance and it's shock horror only 'The Edge' from U2 I had to pinch myself.

 

 

I almost cried with joy what a ride that was but I'm coming down as I'm not sure what to expect with the next act enter One ... 'Grace Jones', shes always been a bit of a strange cookie very Avant-Garde and a diva, she started her career as model actress in James Bond Movies with a musical career in the 80's with equally visual bizarre stage image to match her personality so I'm unaware what to expect and it's not at all what I expected !!! 

 

 

 

She arrives onstage in a Gold Mask and Long Black Gown , she takes off the gown and with Body paint up her legs, and a beige tunic (at least she's wearing something thank goodness), she wraps her legs in a criss cross motion over and under the metal bar constructed bent into a shape ,she continues with this bizarre ritual singing 'Nightclubbing' with her deep terrifying tones and staring eyes she wanders off stage speaking to us in an even deeper voice "Yeah Man ,how many you been to Jamaica?? GRRR Yeah Man!!!.

 

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She appears with out a shirt body paint her chest painted in White tribal marks leaving not a lot to the imagination and what looks like a tutu on her head and flowing netted skirt banging a small tambourine, the crowd many quite young look on puzzled, she also had a guy with body paint climbing a greasy pole whilst whipping at him with a tribal like whip the theme here is 'Tribal' but a bit wacky of course, she waves her whip at the crowd as she comes down the walkway.

 

 

She then continues talking to us Growling  my god she's loud ,as she changes offstage it appears that the staff want her to cover up as she wears a Jacket with sparkly Green bowler hat, another change later she wears a tall white head-dress and as she goes to walk on jacket-less ...staff throw on a Green fur jacket she tries to pull it off, but they insist she plays 'Pull Up To The Bumper' and rolls off ungracefully off the walkway to jump on security's shoulders (I had to watch this on the screen it was all going on behind us what a palaver)  anything to meet her public at the back rows ,and its Bonkers Time!!

 

Another change later the highlight for me was 'Slave To The Rhythm' on the main stage she brings on a hula hoop "I Been doing this since I was a little girl" she laughs and keeps the hula hoop going through the whole song very impressive perhaps how she keeps so fit power to her shes in her 60's !! Puzzled by it all we cheer she put a interesting show shall we say.  

 

 

 Kylie Time !!! 

 

It's still light at 8.30pm, the famous KMO lips are on stage, Kylie's backing singers arrive in Huge White Bows on their chests, dressed in Black , she emerges from the side of the lips in a Royal Gown and Crown dressed like a Queen erm er I mean.. Princess,theres only 1 Queen etc...,

 

 

 

It's 'Better The Devil You Know" the crowd go wild, bouncing and screaming "We Love You Kylie!!"  the gown comes off  a new stage outfit underneath a little frilly Black dress  and sandals with Roses at the toes ,she has the letters of her name on stage in Glass shapes that dancer move around so she goes all cheerleader on us "Gimme a K, (K) Gimme a Y (Y) Gimme a L (L) Gimme a  I (I) Gimme a E (E) what does it Spell (Everyone "Kylie !!!") she smiles back at us and walks over to the steps "Hyde Park.. London ,You all look so Wow!! she sashays down the walkway wiggling as she goes she plays the hit song to the full, packed with screaming fans she goes into 'In My Arms' and surprisingly my fav Fever song not heard live in ages ' Its In Your Eyes'.

 

Change of scene now 3 central Disco Balls glimmer atop the stage as 'Kylie' re-appears in Glittery Red dress and Red Beaded thigh high boots with a cute black tie,her hair is blonder than usual, then she plays a whole section on the walkway from the KMO Tour with dancers as toy shapes its the same setlist so I don't need to tell you about this bit much in the medley 'Step Back In Time/Spinning Around/Your Disco Needs You/On a Night Like This, and then 'slow' with the amazing flipback male dancer on the tour.

 

It was back to the main stage for a superb live version of 'Bette Davis Eyes' and back again to pop dance 'Kylie ' for 'Cant Get You Out Of My Head' followed by an audience singalong of 'Neighbours Theme' there was no doubt who everyone came to see, she then did a 'Grace' by going round the shoulders of a security bloke she greets her crowd sadly for me its the back again getting all the special treatment, she sings an accapella of 'I Should Be So Lucky', then a bit of 'Locomotion' before another costume change.

 

Into a lovely Satin Gold Catsuit for 'Get Outta My Way' and 'Love At First Sight'  her dancers dressed a bit like flamboyant suited wrestlers or a tribute to 'Pussy Riot' it looked great onstage she played a superb version of 'Celebration' and 'All The Lovers' .

 

 

 Encore time....   Another change of outfit Bodysuit White shirt and Black jacket, Black thigh high boots, she wanders over to the side of the 'Oak Stage' in front of me and sings 'Into The Blue', crowd are loving the show and it's all over... time for 'Goodnight' the KMO reunion a success as I say good night to everyone.

 

 

 

I  leave bound for my hotel getting ride home on Bike Tandem Carriage from outside the gates with music blasting from the speakers playing ...'Bitch I'm Madonna' and with onlookers looking baffled and me doing all the actions in back carriage...  I head off through Notting Hill, Goodnight London.

 

*Galleries will be up soon and Kylie Gallery up separately also

 

LMi   x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Download Festival Saturday Day 2 13.06.2015

Download Festival Saturday Day 2 13.06.2015

 

Ok you know the score music fans. 'Download Festival' is the U.K.'s premier Rock Festival spawned from the "Monsters Of Rock" in Donington now in its 12th Year.

 

 

The weather is shit, its not stopped raining so hood up, gripping the barrier I'm ready for battle.

 

 

 First band on are 'Heart Of A Coward' from Milton Keynes, its absolutely belting it down,they try to keep our spirits up before the next band 'Funeral For A Friend' take to the stage,they've been going since as long as 'Download Festival ' itself,they announced last year that they were wrapping up but have played a couple of dates this year since,they played 'Download Festival' a long time ago and asked the crowd if anyone was there a few signalled they were ,I obviously wasn't but the crowd seemed responsive, but not yet jumpin!! (Not Yet).

 

 

At 1' O Clock Cambridge's ' Mallory Knox' take to the stage, they are playing the singles 'Lighthouse' 'Ghost In The Mirror' and 'Shut Out The Moon',singer Mikey is in grey vest and black jeans he utilises the Runway like excitable kid at his first gig,these guys have got quite a following since I last seen them in Leeds back in 2013 I'd been looking forward to hearing them play again despite the rain which kept getting worse,everyone had plastic macs on and wellies of course essential ,Thankfully I packed mine.

 

Next up 'Hollywood Undead' I wasn't actually looking forward to them as they looked a bit like 'Slipknot' for my liking but they arrived onstage in masks, the drummer has wild fuzzy black hair  and a like a tribute to 'kiss' mask on,they were actually quite amusing and the masks came off and they were humanised,the band rap a lot so the walkway was good way to reach the crowd a few  other people across the way had come to see them and joined the crowd , they were fun to watch and one of my highlights, the crowd were cool too.

 

Scrap that notion now 3.00pm still raining, the mood is beginning to change around us, something is occurring as 'Parkway Drive' take to the stage, then it begins

 

**SHIT**

 

"I wanna see a circle pit to the left a circle pit to the right, lets go Donington",ok I think reassuring myself its behind us , intense shoving ...no worries 3 songs in I'm hanging on for dear life as legs arms Boots lots of Muddy size 9's dragged over my head, my hood is still up my only saving grace from the mud flying,as my chin hits the barrier and the nerves in the back of my neck prick up and scream "What the Fxxk! are you doing here"! as another guys legs drops on my neck ,the security guys who btw do a great job making sure it dosent happen again, one bloke he kept asking me if I am ok ?? Yes I say and duck again for safety,well what do you say ?? all I was doing now was watching for feet and arms flying over to me without bobbing my head up, I couldn't watch it in peace, it was carnage I originally thought nothing could be worse than the crowd from 'Chase & Status' in 2013, Bad judgement.

 

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he singer encouraged more crowdsurfers to come closer "I wanna see legs in the air", I'm exhausted not moved, but now I'm fxxxked If I know how I'm doing this,it feels like duck and hide,finally they finish their set, I just know things are going to get worse for me, but I MUST Not be moved, MUST Not be moved...

 

Draped across the barrier watching for the boots of security to haul off more crowdsurfers, the crowd ease away not much but a slight gap between my chest and barrier, and at this point I'm angry frantically grabbing at shirts and now helping Showsec to pull out fans to get them off me. 

 

Next up 'Rise Against', still raining, I'm Spent ,Crushed, Wet, Angry, ready for the next round, a guy has come from Orlando Florida to watch 'Rise Against' and if his signs are noticed he tells me he could get vip backstage access from the band,it works they notice him, he's really excitable and 3 songs in it's passable they are ok but its cranked up again already and back to defending myself so  Pxxxed off I carry on where I left off as mud flies, I've lost count of how many bodies have come over and people are getting carried off stretchers ...reassuring. 

 

 

I tell myself only 2 more bands to go...I'm nearly there ,Next up 'A Day To Remember' I know its going to be a day to forget, and just want the next band on, it begins with shooting fireworks its very hot (testing the pyro for the main act) ,it's a rough crowd again, getting really squashed, this guy who was looking like an extra from a 'My Chemical Romance' video dressed in strange animal print suit and fuzzy wig was running around with a pump gun shooting out parcels that are t-shirts wrapped up (everyone wants one so it seems , I didn't).

 

 

A bit of respite now at last 7pm turned 'Faith No More' take to stage with a set of pastel coloured flowers all accoss the front of stage it looks bizarre but beautiful, let me explain this band was one of the first rock bands I'd got into after 'Guns N Roses' popular in late 80s-early 90's, their 'Real Thing' album a solid fav of mine, they've all got older and wiser and now dressed all in white, almost Tibetan looking they play new tracks from 'Sol Invictus', 'Superhero' and some classics the massive 'Epic','Mike Patton' sets the scene singing my fav 'FNM' song "You Want It all But You Cant Have It yeah yeah yeah" awesome though I never pictured the more calmer scene of the stage scenario I never dreamed I see this band live they split years ago . 

 

 

 It seems some of the crowd didn't get the legendary  status and weren't too fussed as 'Mike' plays 'Midlife Crisis' and 'Ashes To Ashes' he then confuses them more by singing 'The Commodore's 'Easy' as he takes to walkway for a singalong,he finishes the song but he spots a girl in the crowd very young "Hey you cheer up Smile, I'm talking to you" he points the camera zooms in on the screen everyone can see her but shes still oblivious, 90'000 people look on. 

 

 

 My only complaint not enough hits played they should've just gone for it, they played 'We Care a Lot' a really old song their first successful single in US at least it was break from crowdsurfers, and good news it's stopped raining.  I'm in triumphant mood ,stood firm it's nearly time its gets squashy dosen't matter anymore flashing lights and dry Ice , waft over the stage, I'm replaced by my alter ego, MUSE TIME !!!!

 

 

There are some nifty lights around 'Dom's drumkit, as Morgan, Chris,Dom, and Matt walk on stage to 'Drill Seargent' I'm strapped in ready for take off , they hit us with 'Psycho' on the backdrop a huge screen of the video to it displayed in massive formation. 

 

 'Matt' shouts "How you doing Donington as the crowd go wild, we get the first airing of 'The Handler', it's awesome Chris stands over to the right looking serious with his chunky bass bottom heavy noise, the crowd are loving it as they surge on forward 'I'm alive right now' ...I'm almost leaping up totally immersed, Matt walks over to his white 'Akai' piano it can mean only one thing 'New Born' he plays the keys of the intro grabs the Manson and goes for it ' Guess what Donington they've arrived' the crowd is bouncing now they keep the momentum with 'Hysteria'and then my god 'Microcuts' a psychotic rock opera from 'Origin of Symmetry' not played on tour for years.

 

Then gasps as 'Matt's next venture begins ..ripping into 'Dead Star'  (I'm lucky I've heard this many times some haven't and are awestruck) I can hardly believe what riffs I'm hearing tonight I never expected this they said they'd do a heavy set but nothing could prepare me for 'Agitated' I've always wanted them to do that live I lost track if I heard it before in a gig its awesome and I've seen them almost 20 times. 

 

The surprises keep coming with 'Origin' fav 'Citizen Erased', just takes me back, then more 'Drones' tracks 'Dead Inside' sounding like a sequel to 'Undisclosed Desires' lyrics filled with emotional venom, 'Matt' really gets into the delivery of it as he does with 'Mercy', it wouldn't be a 'Muse' show without 'Supermassive Black Hole', before the encore seen the return of the big black balloons of 'Hullabaloo' era, this is followed by 'Time Is Running Out' and the Blistering 'AC:DC' influenced 'Reapers' my fav track from 'Drones' and nicely brought into 'Stockholm Syndrome' nice Riffage. 

 

Sadly on the Encore although we a get teasing of 'JFK' we don't get 'The Defector' which I would so love to hear played live, they pick up pace with 'Uprising' and a special moment involving a conversation from 'Matts Manson guitar which could only lead in onto 'Plug In Baby' as I know every tune up, I must drive people mad being bang on after one string gets played lol, there was the predictable ending of 'Knights Of Cydonia', Red and Grey ticker tape descends................... its all over sob...

 

What a headline Performance for 'Download' they smashed it all the pain and shit going down was worth it for MUSE they make it all better !!! 

 

However back at the hotel tell that to my legs my back legs have pumped up muscle so much I could be a Marvel character and bruised everywhere but still no broken bones at least lol, cant wait for the tour next year ....Bring it On !!!

 

LMi xo

 

assisted by Lady Muse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Muse - Drones The New Album Track By Track- REVIEWED by LMi

Muse Drones

Full Review Of New album

by Lmi

 

Well finally its landed, and what a mighty bombastic affair it is too,at the start 'Dead Inside' lulls you into a false sense that a dance beat driven rythmatic 'Muse' has been reborn of 2012's '2nd Law' (their last album)... but scrap that forget that theory this is simply a façade that pulls you into the much darker mind of the lyrical mastermind of 'Matt Bellamy'.

 

So get ready to Rock and Rock big with this album it will leave no #Muser disappointed, track 2 'Psycho' is the REAL prelude to start of 'Drones', which throughout has more than few nods to the old skool 'Muse' in it's first section it very much is a Absolution Vs Black Holes & Revelations journey into political corruption,Drone Warfare, and Mind Control by far my fav subjects lol.

 

Track 4 'Mercy' is very much like 'Starlight' the epilogue, but Chris's bass features heavier than before making it much louder than you think for it to be a ballad, my fav track has to be 'Reapers' first heard played live at 'Psycho Tour' this March, its got much more of an AC:DC feel to it..think 'Back In Black' updated to now!! this of course has a lot to do with 'Rob 'Mutt' Lange' producing it and Rich Costey also has involvement in its creation too, with 'Rob 'Mutt' Lange lending his vocals on 'Drill Sergeant' and 'Aftermath' and of course 'Psycho'.

 

'The Handler' is another fav showcasing the falsetto of 'Bellamy' in a euphoric chorus of wails and shrieks,recorded for the most part in the Spring/Summer 2014 its their most daring release yet !!

 

The Rock theme continues after 'JFK' with 'The Defector' involving a lot of reverb ,it's punchy hard hitting and teeters on the edge of Epicness, its not until after 'Revolt' the theme changes again back to 'Rock LoveSong' territory with the beautiful 'Aftermath' with its chorus "We're Bound Together Now & Forever" which stays in your head long after the song fades out .

 

It's only then that we venture back into 'Resistance' era with re-appearance of the classical piano on 'The Globalist' a 10 minute journey that starts Spaghetti Western 'Man With Harmonica part 2' back to Rock Opera like an updated version of 'Pink Floyd's 'Great Gig In The Sky' and back into Classical Overtures it should be in 3 parts like 'Exogenesis Symphony' it has such a split personality.

 

This is very much a mixed 'Muse' album it borrows from all other albums and constantly updates the listener with a new complex concept of what the band have previously put out before ,you have to be very clever and intelligent to repeat the success of all 3 albums without it sounding to samey and I think with this their 7th album they've actually achieved 'Rock Perfection' with 'Drones'.

 

We come to the end of the album with title track 'Drones' and its the most bizarre thing I've ever heard like a perfect pitch choral recital yes 'Matt' turns choirboy would you believe it !!, and you could actually use this as an alternative to 'Sunday Service' with 'Matt' being atheist it seems a strange way to end an album of Rock but that goes to prove that 'Muse' are a contradiction .

 

This album is their most experimental yet and will still sound fresh in 10 years time. You can pick up 'Drones' at all good music stores on Monday 8th June or you can download tracks from iTunes.

 

*This picture was not taken by myself or anyone connected to this blogpage.

 

 

Lmi  x



The Vaccines HMV Manchester Arndale- English Graffiti Signing 26.06.2015

                           The Vaccines

 

HMV Manchester Arndale- English Graffiti

 

Signing 26.06.2015

 

The Vaccines a band I first discovered at the tail end of 2010 due them getting quite a lot of airplay with the punky Ramones sound, selling out venues country wide , I first seen them play 'The Ritz' in 'Manchester' in 2011 and again in 2013 Brixton for Xfm's Xmas Gig although I couldn't stay for the full set .

 

Their debut album 'What Did You Expect ...' did extremely well at Festivals and seen them rise up through the ranks with kids and older punk fans across the country, signed to Columbia/Universal and under same management as our own 'White Lies' ('James Sandom' looks after both bands), second album 'Come Of age' saw much more of a Rock N Roll nod to the fifties with with 'Teenage Icon' referencing 'Frankie Avalon' and 'I Always Knew' with guitar riffs worthy of 'The Tornados' 60's E.Ps.

 

Today or rather Monday this week seen the new release of 'English Graffiti' the 3rd album, and I'm here today to meet and greet the band and hear the first play in full , the band are due in at 5.30pm and 'Justin' is the last to arrive,before they come out of the green room and they all sit down at the promotional table , and a line of people wait anxiously there are lots of people of all ages mainly 14-20+ but still a mixture of ages all here to meet the band.

 

I have only a limited amount of time to interview them as I go along so on the photos at times I forgot to turn and pose but I had a good chat with 'Freddie' who actually gave me advice about a venue he told me not to bring my phone because last time they got smashed, so I shall remember that if I get there at some point ;0), I told 'Justin' I liked the new material and that I'd seen them at the 'Ritz' and they are really excited to be touring for this album later in the year so go and see them as they will surely sell out again once the word gets around, below are a collection of photos from the Event.