Astronick

Some photos of the UTG event today

A few photies from the gig down at Union Terrace Gardens this afternoon. Good turnout considering how baltic it was!

Really enjoying the latest Cherbourg EP (I hope they have the 10" for sale tonight as I refuse to give Rough Trade yet more money for P&P!) thanks to rawrip. Definitely coming along and have persuaded a few work folk to join me. Should be cracking.

Hey Jan. I need a bit more info to be able to help:-

What Operating System are you using?

Are you connecting through a router?

Who is your Internet Service Provider?

Cheers for your input so far guys.

Are you using the M-Audio Fast Track Sam or are you just a fan in general? I was looking at getting an M-Audio keyboard at some point in the future...

Ok, this might be too specific but if you have any similar experience I would appreciate your input. I have a Macbook (with USB and Firewire ports) with Garageband '08 and want to invest in a modest home recording setup. I'm currently just playing around using the built in mic! I was looking at the following USB interfaces:

Tascam US-122L or US-144

E-mu 0202 or 0404

Edirol UA-25EX

Does anyone have any experience with running these on a Mac just with Garageband? I've read plenty of reviews but they all seem pretty close. I'm really just noodling around with guitar and vocals but would probably like to get a MIDI controller in the future as well as a condenser mic (hence Phantom Power).

Any thoughts or options that I have completely missed? It seems M-Audio stuff (the Fast Track USB I think?) is designed for Garageband but not sure how good the quality is?

Will attempt to slip 'n' slide down the hill to this one. It sounds like it should make a very pleasant Sunday even.

Lovely gig, thank you IMP people! The music was sublime and there was a great vibe about the whole thing. The Tom Waits cover was spine tingling and Roddy's voice had much more of a presence than I was expecting. It was a shame though that Boo didn't get to lead Harvest Gypsies which is one of my favourite Boo-solo songs.

I got a few nice pics - the joys of sitting down

Great stuff.

Thank you IMP! I had tickets for McCusker et al at the Music Hall but missed it due to getting called offshore. I've just ordered my ticket for this one. Also looking forward to seeing Boo again. Great stuff.

Excellent review Richie; you really captured the atmosphere of what sounds like a pretty unique gig. I sadly missed it due to being offshore but hopefully I can catch the Lemon Tree gig that Graeme mentions above.

Fallout 3 is seriously epic. The first time you see the game world in all its desolate glory is a moment to behold - I almost found myself blinking in the sunshine.

And yes, it is pretty tense. The first time I ventured into the wasteland at night I I was holding my breath in an attempt not to alert any nearby enemies! That's immersion.

I'm with you on that plan of yours Andy. Something must be done - it was pretty bad when it was Moshulu but now that it is spreading to decent venues like the Tunnels...

I think people need to be shown there are places where you can go, have a drink, chat with your mates, and not piss off people who are there to see someone who has a PA yet is struggling to compete against your collective loudmouthedness. It's called a pub.

Midnight Organ Fight is definitely in the running for album of 2008. Incredible songs and their effortless ability to sound Scottish without descending into trite/twee metaphor is very much welcome. I challenge anyone to resist dancing around your flat/house/under-stairs-cupboard singing the chorus to Head Rolls Off.

There is some stuff available on Daytrotter and you can try and import a copy of the live album which, for bizarre reasons, is out in America now, but doesn't appear here until next year.

I saw them at Moshulu in September, will be seeing them at Death Cab this Friday and will be catching them again in December...just to be sure...

Anyone else think she looked miserable?

Agreed. It was slightly confusing that Laura was miserable and Malcolm was pretty cheerful. I guess that is what Aberdeen can or can't do for you! See my photo of Laura for further proof:

I enjoyed both sets but it vastly improved once the crowd thinned a bit before Malcolm. There definitely was no magical moment of hush for Laura; I was away near the fire exit about 7 rows back from the front and definitely heard plenty of bar chat as well as some from folks around the bottom of the stairs.

Some more photos: Malcolm Middleton & Laura Marling - a set on Flickr

Apologies for the double post, but coverage of The National's set at Glastonbury can currently be seen on the BBC website:

BBC - Glastonbury 2008 - The National

Well worth a watch.

The Virginia EP is seriously good stuff. Check out the acoustic version of Slow Show.

As far as I know the Black and White sessions were recorded on French radio and have never been officially released in any form other than electronic. Definitely worth tracking down though.

I'd definitely contribute to any sort of "Get the National to play the Tunnels" endeavour.

Absolutely breathtaking stuff. Just on my second listen through now and agree that Ara Batur and the English-song are both beautiful. Definitely feels like a progression rather than any sort of radical shift but then with Sigur Ros I think that's what you want. A natural, organic change suits them and their music best.

Coffee is the awesomeness. Definitely recommend the cafetiere approach if you are used to instant speeds. I have it at my side whilst eating cereal at breakfast and then you are ready for the push when your bowl is empty.

Thanks for the tip about Macbeans earlier in the thread - just run out of ground so will be checking it out tomorrow.

Good to see some National appreciation going on. Boxer was far and away my favourite album of 2007. There seems to be a song for every occasion in there. The Berlin gig Shaki attended sounds like it was awesome - I would like to see them in a Tunnels-esque venue for sure. Have people heard the Black and White sessions that made the rounds of the blogs last summer? Great stuff.

Since Phil Jupitus, Gid and Vic McGlynn have gone, day time 6music is just pants. Its such a shame.

Completely agree. The daytime 6Music line-up a few years back was exceptional. A really good mix of music presented by DJs who knew what they were talking about. I used to enjoy Andrew Collins show at the end of the afternoon too although the Lamacq slot is a worthy successor. Nowadays I stick with Stephen Merchant and Guy Garvey on a Sunday and the excellent Adam & Joe show on Saturday morning. Breakfast radio is so worthless at the moment...

Finally got a hold of the second LP by The Envy Corps having seen them at the awesomeness that is Middlesbrough Music Live (!) last year... If Doves came from Iowa this is the sound you would get. Awesomely expansive indie-pop. Check them out: The Envy Corps – Listen free at Last.fm

Also picked up The Midnight Organ Fight by Frightened Rabbit but yet to play it.

Thanks for posting that - excellent sound quality. Really shows off the beauty of her voice which worked well even without her band. I've added it to my blog about the gig.

That was a lovely gig - haven't been to a sit down one for a while! They both made it but had stories to tell of pretty shaky flights to and from Northern Ireland over the past couple of days!

I'm going to brave the weather but I hope Laura hasn't had any problem getting through!

Thanks for posting support band info, they sound pretty neat

If this is true then it sure is a sad loss. I'm fairly new to Aberdeen and only saw my first gig at the Lemon Tree last week but it was a nice little venue and seemed to get some pretty interesting, left-field acts.

Hello, hello! First post. It has been a pretty awesome year for music, looking back I think I'm going with the following:

1. The National - Boxer

2. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank

3. The Field - From Here We Go Sublime

4. Stars - In Our Bedroom After The War

5. Bright Eyes - Cassadaga

6. Band Of Horses - Cease To Begin

7. GoodBooks - Control

8. The Kissaway Trail - The Kissaway Trail

9. Menomena - Friend And Foe

10. Laura Veirs - Saltbreakers

Also Beirut, Arcade Fire, Jens Lakeman, Caribou, Bloc Party, Kings of Leon, Explosions In The Sky, Feist, Fields, Deerhoof, Architecture in Helsinki, Idlewild and Malcolm Middleton...

Good work there, British bands...