Monday 28 January 2008

all change...

It's all change for Jordan -

I've just started my last week at BBC Manchester - where I have had a fantastic experience, a real insight into how the BBC operates.

On Saturday (at the crack of dawn) I head back to London to move in my new place with my lovely girlfriend, which I am absolutely looking forward to!

And a new job prospect is in the offing, along with constantly scanning for jobs to go into after uni...

Hectic!

Thursday 24 January 2008

two gigs last night...


OK, so I managed to obtain two tickets to see the Spice Girls at the MEN arena last night. I also got entry to the press conference beforehand...

Did I go?

No, I didn't!

But why?!

I had another gig lined up. Mine!!! I played at Jabez Clegg in Manchester last night, and was glad I did that rather than go to the Spice Girls.

Backing me on the bass was Rory Holland of headline band Destroy The Evidence.

The setlist ran as so...

Zihuatanejo, Ode To The Hudd, Autumn, The Artful Bastard, 一期一会, Olympia WA, シャロン, Donkeys, Losing Touch, Wave Of Mutilation. (first five are mine, second five are covers)

Loved it!

Monday 21 January 2008

impending gig...

Yup, my next gig is on Wednesday, and I'm looking forward.

My nerves have been settled after a rehearsal yesterday.

Joining me on bass for the night is the multi-talented Rory Holland of Destroy The Evidence - he'll be helping out on all of my own songs and a couple of covers.

So far the set will comprise of ...

Autumn
Zihuatanejo
theARTFULbastard (first play live!)
ichi-go ichi-e (first play live!)
Ode To The Hudd

Olympia WA (Rancid)
Sharon (ROSSO) (sung in Japanese!)
Something by Manic Street Preachers,
and some more...

So come and have a listen! Jabez Clegg, Manchester, Weds 23rd Jan - 7pm
Also, my songs are available at www.myspace.com/jordanallenmusic

Saturday 19 January 2008

affleck's palace

You may or may not know, but Affleck's Palace in Manchester is in danger of closure.

As a centre for anyone who wants something a little different or alternative, it would be missed by a great number of people.

There are few other places in Manchester where there are a range of alternative, individual shops in one place, and the closure of Affleck's Palace will certainly go someway to making Manchester another 'clone', with high street chains everywhere.

So if you want to see this historical, culturally important place stay open, sign the petition - http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/Afflecks

mental blocks and musicians...

On Wednesday I have a gig - the first I've played in some time. In fact, only my second proper solo gig. My first was in Huddersfield. I did do an open mic night in Marylebone in October, but that was only two songs...

So my difficulty comes in choosing what songs to play. I fell out with a number of my songs some time ago, so I'm struggling to pick which to play. Autumn, Zihuatanejo, Ichi-go-Ichi-e (一期一会), theARTFULbastard and Ode To The Hudd will probably make appearances, along with a number of covers.

As luck would have it, I have recruited a bassist for the night. Rory Holland will be joining me on stage to provide a bit of backing... might try to get him on backin vocals too...!


Have you ever suffered writer's block, though? It's a true curse... I have had writers block for months now. I have managed to compose one entire song in the last 6 months, along with partially finished lyrics and melodies. It's incredibly frustrating!

Where to get inspiration?!

To be perfectly honest, I miss playing in a band. I think it is much more fun and satisfying to have people backing you. I used to front a punk band back in Huddersfield called The Disaffected. We wrote our own songs, and even recorded a three track CD in a local studio. Despite the fact that the songs were fairly basic, and we lacked talent, the buzz of playing a gig backed by three mates gave me such a buzz. A feeling of taking on the world.

My bassist (and good friend), Stonnie found a video last month of the band, which dated back to about 2003, showing us recording our CD and practicing in the garage of the guitarist, and it got me all nostalgic.

In my time I have played in a number of bands, and it's always great. So that might have to be my next step... Goodbye solo act, hello band! We'll see..

Songs of the week (well, second half of the week)

Manic Street Preachers - Prologue To History = fantastic opening, and wonderful political song. Really strong lyrics in this one. 'Remember ethnic cleansing in the highlands - no-one says a thing in the middle of En-ger-land'

The Clash - Safe European Home = Joe Strummer at his best. Debating doing an acoustic verse of this. I love the outro, Joe and Mick singing completely different things together... Rudi Rudi Rudi!

そして、今週の日本のソング!

ムラマサ ー 雨が止んだなら = 美しいボーカルメロディー
ミッシェル・ガン・エレファント ー ピンク = すごい! アベのギターはとても上手だよ!

Thursday 17 January 2008

subterranean secrets

Have you ever thought how interesting it is that most cities have something to hide?

I'm talking about secret underground tunnels, trains, cities and bunkers. Things hidden from the public that are never confirmed as being fact or fiction.

It's something I find fascniating, so I'll share a little with you...

Firstly, Manchester (as that's where I am right now...). In the centre of Manchester is a 1954, Cold War telephone exchange with tunnels stretching out to Salford and Ardwick (named 'Guardian'). Now this one has been confirmed, but it's still interesting... Read more about that here

Next up - London. London's tube network is both fantastic and mysterious. It's littered with disused stations and tunnels that people don't know about. Next time you're on the Metropolitan Line between Baker Street and Finchley Road, keep an eye out for 3 disused stations. Also on the Picadilly Line between King's Cross and Caledonian Road, is another. They're everywhere! I had access to the disused Jubilee Line platform at Charing Cross some time ago... quite interesting. More is here

And it's not just the UK... Moscow supposedly has a secret government underground train line, below the existing network, and some people claim that there is even an underground city, with swimming pools, generators and food... see this article

Lastly, it is claimed that Tokyo has a wealth of tunnels and secret spaces under the city, kept under wraps by the government. One man has investigated - read Shun Akida's account here

Should governments make these places open to the public? Or is it part of our heritage to have such secrets, rumours and myths? Does it add to the appeal of a place?

Wednesday 16 January 2008

500% Kitano - Nothing to Add!

What a great tagline for a film... '500% Kitano - Nothing to Add!' - Taken from Takeshi Kitano's 'Takeshis'

It gets me wondering when the next Kitano film will be released. I recently bought his latest, 'Kantoku Banzai!' (Glory To The Filmmaker) and absolutely loved it. I first saw it as part of the BFI's Film Festival in London in October. The film really pokes fun at Kitano's varied career, to comic effect.

This of course, followed his superb 'Takeshis' (blog title from this) in which he played two versions of himself, also to superb effect.

So from the man who pioneered the Japanese ganster/yakuza film, what do we expect next? We've had the violence, the bloodshed and the guns. And we've had a sensitive, touching story from 'Dolls'. Obvious humour from 'Getting Any', and subtle humour in most of his other films. 'Zatoichi' gave us a periodical film... so what else is there left for Kitano to try?

This is from the man who is also a comedian, author, presenter and general personality (us Brits know Takeshi's Castle... that was his). In addition to film-writer, director and actor.

All that seems to be left for Kitano is a musical career and a horror film... Or news-reading. Now that might be interesting...

If you haven't seen a Kitano film, check out the following...
Violent Cop - His first director role. Lead actor also. Superb cop/yakuza film.
Getting Any? - Great comedy. Often slapstick, but still above base level humour.
Battle Royale - Purely an acting role, but played superbly.
Kantoku Banzai - The golden touch to his career... this is fantastic. But you might need to watch the others first...

Then check out all the others! Dolls, Zatoichi, Takeshis, Sonatine, Kikujiro, Kids Return, Boiling Point, A Scene At The Sea... there's not a bad one among!

Tuesday 15 January 2008

沢山日本の音楽を聞いています。。。

僕は沢山日本の音楽を聞いています。
2007に沢山いいアルバムを発売しました。
The Birthday - Teardrop
Go!Go!7188 - 569
ムラマサ - Lifull
ムラマサの音楽はとても楽しいだよ。 スカ・パンク。 バンドのアルバム(Twinkle)は私の一番好きです。

でも2008に何アルバムは発売しますか?

ごめん、私の日本語は上手じゃない。。。!

A musical blog

I've been lamenting my lack of gig attendence since I hit London. I fully intended to go to as many as possible, and play as many a possible, and so far all I've managed is Brett Anderson at the Southbank Centre and Manic Street Preachers at Brixton Academy. Granted both were amazing - Brett Anderson with a string Octet was beautiful, and Manics were godlike as always! But I feel I'm letting my side down...

So 2008 is a gig year for me, I have decided! 16th Feb will see me heading back to Brixton for the Dropkick Murphys - for those who don't know them, they are an excellent American Punk band with Celtic influence, hailing from Boston. I last saw them at Manchester Academy in 2003/04 (I forget!). Any band that can integrate bagpipes and a mandolin in to great punk anthems gets my vote! So join me at Brixton on the 16th Feb!

Quite what else is coming up, I have yet to discover, so should be able to let you know by this Friday.

Next week sees me performing in Manchester at Jabez Clegg. I'm supporting a friend's band - the excellent Destroy The Evidence - who you can listen to at www.myspace.com/destroytheevidenceveinforest (check out The Apparitions - excellent song). I'm playing an acoustic solo set, sometime after 7 on the 23rd (Weds). Problem is, I feel I'm lacking my own songs - I fell out with one or two of them some time ago, so could do with writing a few more.

Songs of the week for Jordan:
* Erika - Destination Nowhere: Great tune from this Japanese singer. Used as the theme tune to the recent J-Drama 'Mop Girl'. Really lifting song.
* Northern Uproar - From A Window: Excellent Britpop anthem, great guitars, great northern band.
* Regina Spektor - Us: Possibly the most beautiful song ever written. Captured me the moment I first heard it, sung by a performer in London.
* My Vitriol - Taprobane/Losing Touch: Gorgeous - amazing use of guitars and effects. But where's the second album?!