It is always nice to have your finger on the pulse and Dorset based ‘Moontown‘ seem to have placed theirs on the jugular.
The video for their latest release ‘Step Aside‘ gives a humorous, yet poignant vision of the night life experience in virtually every UK city and town.
“according to Inspector Phil Bates said: “I have been a police officer for 28 years and the number of women being out in public getting drunk has increased.
“The problem has grown. It’s not what I would consider epidemic or something that causes me huge alarm, but the fact it is increasing is something we need to address.”
The woman in this instance is singer Emma Friendship-Kilburn who’s drunken escapades are interupted by the straight faced Lyrical Agent who plays the sober side of everyone’s night out.
If this video stops people getting plastered any night of the week I’ll be surprised but, as a observation of a modern ‘good night out’ Moontown are spot on.
A long time ago, in a city far, far away, I was in a band.
We were named after a pub, that was named after a famous drinking song, and that should be a clue as to how seriously we took ourselves.
But we were good live and, at our home venue, the crowd broke the bar record every time we played.
At one point were even bold enough to get about 2000 12” EPs pressed (pictured).
It might not sound much but try loading and unloading that much vinyl into a transit van.
We sold around 1600 through gigging but it was just at the time when CDs players were becoming a household item so no doubt most were thrown away.
In fact I once had the ignominy of a rival band’s roadie joyfully reporting that he’d seen our EP in a second hand shop for 10p.
Well, this week the turntables were turned after I logged into our Tunecore account: in the past four months we’ve made $22 through digital downloads – here’s the widget…
by Eamon Nancarrow
Admittedly its on the back of the singer’s autobiography (Holywood Star by Eamon Nancarrow) but our music is now available around the world and, thanks to this service, we’re selling again.
Tunecore charge a small fee for uploading each song, and there is yearly a charge for storage, but you don’t sign your songs away and we’ve made our money back.
It’s an ideal way of getting your songs downloaded but you still have to let people know you exist. Find out more at www.tunecore.com
This article was published in the Daily Echo on Friday 18th June 2010
“Don’t do it!” That’s the advice some ‘experts’ will be giving Eastleigh guitarist Nick Tann as he embarks on his latest creative project.
Their words, however, will fall on deaf ears as Nick has set his sights on recording a live solo studio album and releasing it on vinyl. No downloads, no CD, just two sides with one groove.
Of course 50 years ago this was normal practice but in these times it can seem striking and bold. I love it.
“The digital world is fine in its place and I will return to it,” Nick told me. “This is a special project for me and I want the best quality.”
He currently has 33 great songs at his disposal and will whittle down to the collection to the strongest twelve.
The cost will be borne by 250 of his followers who are being asked to pay £10 up front for an exclusive copy of the album and their name on the cover.
It’s a great idea, especially if you have that many loyal fans, and it worked for Dlugokecki in 2008.
As Nick has cultivated a strong following online he should find this process relatively easy.
But for many bands their constant demands for voting requests, event notices and even gig attendance is straining the relationship with their supporters.
In fact ‘fan fatigue’ could soon be classed as a medical condition: only to be cured by switching the computer off, walking to the record player and spinning some quality vinyl.
