15 Fame Filled Minutes

billyvincent:

Billy Vincent - St. Catherine’s Oratory

From our forthcoming ‘Once On The Grand Union’ EP.

Billy Vincent - Once On The Grand Union

1) St. Catherine’s Oratory

2) Through Stations For Trains

3) Young Hearts

4) Truly

Launch gig this Thursday at Camden’s Wheelbarrow, scene of the live shots here.

billyvincent:

It’s been a while since this place has seen some action eh? Not that we haven’t had plenty on the go, just we have so many dwellings these days, it’s hard to know what belongs where…

If Myspace is our childhood home, sporadically frequented in fits of nostalgia, and Facebook our family home where everyone’s abreast of developments, and the neighbours can peak in; while Twitter’s obviously our mobile home, then Tumblr must be our holiday home.

We call in every month or two, a long weekend here and there, then things get busy and it remains neglected, though not forgotten. When we return, we do so in earnest, bringing new pictures from the family album, and topping up the video collection.

So, without further ado:

We recorded our new EP, ‘Once On The Grand Union’.

With the legendary BJ Cole on pedal steel, noteworthy contributions were also received courtesy of Martin Rossiter, Wojtek Godzisz & Dominic Von Trapp (Sweet Sweet Lies; pictured, left of shot).

We made a video!

‘St. Catherine’s Oratory’ will be the lead track on the EP, and Brendan Cleaves set about directing a video for us. Due imminently, we’ll leave the spoilers, but in the meantime here’s one of a number of stills courtesy of Tim Parker. More to follow in due course but keep checking the video cabinet…

Keep pushing our love over the Borderline!

Not once, but twice in the month of June we took to the stage of one of London’s most iconic venues…after a lifetime’s wait! First up, supporting the stunning Danny and The Champions Of The World (below), and next up as part of Something Nothing’s First Birthday Party (main picture, top. Courtesy of Julia Grant, Loose Music).

 

And Finally…

Work is underway on our debut album, and will continue throughout August with our return to the stage currently scheduled for 29th September, as we launch ‘Once On The Grand Union’. More news on that as the time approaches, but keep it in the diary - it’s sure to be a corker!

All the while, the head of the family sits proudly, achievements on display. He may even have a few left in the garage if you ask nicely ;)

As for this place, the milk’s in the fridge…we’re due back soon. X

Dawes - With A Little Help From My Friends

This bunch are one of my latest obsessions. With healthy shades of The Band and a hint of Jackson Browne (who in fact guests on the new album), ‘North Hills’ is already a certified favourite in my home, and ‘Nothing Is Wrong’ I’m sure will provide welcome company.

Then, just as I thought I’d seen it all, this cover showcases their talent further, tearing through Joe Cocker’s take on The Beatles’ classic.

What’s Your All Time Favourite Album?

The million dollar question…

I could write a thousand words, but I still won’t decide. I’m sure there’s a great number I’ve missed but for now, knocked together in a swift quarter hour, some of my favourite tracks from my favourite albums.

Click pic or here for Spotify Playlist.

UK folks, get your tickets for this one while you can!

Anyone else, you can do your bit by following us (Billy Vincent), and dedicating equal time (if not more) to Danny & his back catalogue (start here)…it’s as good as any over the last 10 / 11 years!

billyvincent:

Billy Vincent Support Danny & The Champions Of The World.

This one’s gonna be a belter! One of our favourite bands, one of our favourite venues (the home, in fact, to David Vincent’s favourite ever gig!), and a cracking poster to boot (see above)….screen printed copies available at the gig! Bring a biro ;)

Tickets going fast! Click here to grab em…

Werewolph (Ryan Adams) - Sylvia Plath

“She’d get me pretty loaded on gin…”

Just stumbled across this, maybe the best version? Breathtaking!

It’s been a while, almost forgot this place existed. Back in force now…don’t forget to keep an eye on the Billy Vincent Tumblr…

Meanwhile…

The Felice Brothers - Ponzi

Everything about this song, this video, this band, is just brilliant!

Absolutely brilliant.

(via thisistheidiotslantern-deactiva)

What makes a music lover a music lover? Where do you draw the line between those who genuinely love music, and those who quite like it? Is it defined by knowledge? By the number of records you own? By format? By taste?

It’s a tough subject to tackle without coming across as a snob. Music snobbery is something I’ve touched on in the past and something I can be inadvertently prone to, as well as something I have been a ‘victim’ of, as it operates on a number of levels.

The Music Diary Project was the brainchild of Nick Southall and indirectly tackled the subject without reference to it, and essentially clear of any snobbery. It may not have been Nick’s reason behind initiating the project, but when asking myself why the project appealed to so many, the common denominator seemed to be a love for music and embracing it’s importance in society.

Nick’s final analysis meets pretty much with my own thoughts:

“All of this adds up to a picture of very utilitarian listening; listening on the go, on the job, listening as distraction, as an aid to other activities, rather than listening as an activity in itself. In 2011, of course, this is hardly revelatory stuff, but it does make me, as an individual, want to try and savour music more, appreciate it more, show it more respect.”

Despite being ‘music lovers’, we still don’t always give it the attention it deserves. This could be as much a sign of the times as anything else – when all I had access to was my pocket money and Our Price / Virgin / HMV, music was a lot harder to come by. The much-missed Musicbank came along just as I started working at B&Q, conveniently synchronising access to increased funds with access to rarer releases.

Still, it doesn’t matter how many nails or how much cement needed shifting, I was still at school so there was still a limit to my resources. Since the advent of the internet, everything’s become so much easier – ebay meant I could catch up on all those rarities once I found myself on an annual salary, and downloading the records you couldn’t quite afford (find me one internet user who hasn’t!) of course leaves you with more to listen to. Then there’s the distractions that go with the internet…watch the latest video on youtube and you find yourself following a succession of related videos or ‘suggestions’ and while this is dedicating time to music, it isn’t dedicating time to the album you came to download in the first place.

With Record Store Day around the corner, I’m heading dangerously in that direction when the intention of this post was merely to reflect on the Music Diary Project. Perhaps it was planned to be so close, so as to encourage people to head out on Record Store Day? I don’t know, and unfortunately I’m unable to embrace the day as I’d like to (I still have my order in!), so I’ll return to the case in point.

Some observations (and inherent resolutions) as a result of my part in the Music Diary Project:

• It seems I have a ‘core’ selection of artists - I guess I knew this already but didn’t realise how reliant I am on them.
• I am useless at following up on recommendations or ‘incidental’ pieces.
• I don’t make enough playlists.
• I really miss my iPhone and having to get by on a Shuffle really isn’t enough.
• I should listen to more of my physical record / CD collection.
• I should have a cull. My iTunes is full of stuff I don’t even need, let alone listen to.

billyvincent:

Grab yours now!

       

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