The Pastry Club #3-Marybell Katastrophy, My Tiger My Timing and Murder

I know I'm crap (don't remind me) but promise solemnly to start blogging again post-SPOT. Promise, promise, promise. In the meantime, it's Pastry #3!



Tuesday 10th June 2008 ~ 93 Feet East, London

Time: 7.30pm
Tickets: £6 on the door / £5 in advance from www.wegottickets.com
Venue: 93 Feet East, 150 Brick Lane, London, E1 6RU 020 7247 3293
Public Transport: Nearest Tube: Liverpool Street / Aldgate East. Bus Routes: N8, N25, N11, N26, N35, N149, N214, N253, 8, 35 and 149


The Pastry Club is proud to present the first UK shows from two of Denmark's brightest and boldest critically acclaimed bands.

First band on, Murder are one of Denmark's brightest new hopes. The name might promise hardcore heavy metal, but the reality is somewhat different. The music that the critically-acclaimed duo produce is as surprising as their name- simultaneously sombre, uplifting, atmospheric and intense, Murder always produce something different. Similar in outlook to Tindersticks (who are apparently big fans) and Arab Strap, Jacob Bellens' characteristic voice is the focal point of a largely acoustic, 70s-inspired sound that invokes parallels with Nick Drake and late Johnny Cash. The music is sincere and straightforward, with equal parts Nordic melancholy and heart-warming Americana. Their astonishing live shows are regularly "Were you there?" moments that will be discussed for many years to come- with recommendations like that, it's worth your while checking them out…

My Tiger My Timing are Xperimental pop music from New Cross, whose influences include Fun Boy Three, Arthur Russell, TV on the Radio, Talking Heads & Blur. Always catchy, never predicatable, their members have played together in previous projects The Total Drop & Roaring Twenties, and also run Snakes & Ladders records. The music is simultaneously hypnotic and spellbinding, avant-guarde and exciting, naive and poppy - yet it retains the distinct, exciting identity of the burgeoning New Cross scene. They're bouncy, exciting and very, very dancable. The Pastry Club is their first gig, and we're very…very excited. Don't miss them, as they're bound to follow in the footsteps of their forefathers...

Just as we are about the next band. Marybell Katastrophy know no limitations when it comes to producing non-conformist avant garde playful pop. In the world of "Best new Band in Denmark" (various publications) Marybell Katastrophy, everything is allowed and possible. Releasing an astonishing series of EPs only on 10" and via www.marybell.dk, Marybell Katastrophy have shunned the traditional labels to produce something that's fresh, exciting, and quite unlike anything you've ever heard… Like singer Marie Højlund's former band, Tiger Tunes, Marybell Katastrophy are difficult to describe, though critics have compared their sound to everything from The Bangles on acid, to Kate Bush turned upside down… We think they're somewhere in the landscape between Johannes Brahms, Pixies and David Bowie, with a hint of Bjørk put in for good measure…

You'd be a fool to miss them.

In association with ROSA (the Danish Rock Council) - www.rosa.org


www.myspace.com/thepastryclub

So...

So. I got sick. Again. I'm writing again!

But I finally had time to write a press release...:)

Come!

The Pastry Club #2!

Marvin’s Revolt, Wet Dog and I Am Bones
Tuesday 15th April 2008 ~ 93 Feet East, London

Following a successful launch night in February, The Pastry Club are proud to present a night of something completely different…

Date: Tuesday 15th April
Time: 7.30pm
Tickets: £6 on the door / £5 in advance from www.wegottickets.com
Venue: 93 Feet East, 150 Brick Lane, London, E1 6RU 020 7247 3293

Copenhagen’s very own Marvin’s Revolt are loud, proud and endowed with the kind of killer tunes that will make you jump about with glee. Following several successful tours in the UK and Ireland, Marvin’s Revolt are back to blow your mind with a mixture of math-pop and angular catchy rock.

Touched by sounds from the present and the past, but forging their own path, regardless of scenes or trends, the songs appear as intense, challenging and melodic structures, with disregard for songwriting rules. Formed in 2002, Marvin’s Revolt were initially noisy and aggressive, honing their skills and developing a more complex sound by taking the time honoured roiute of contsant touring.. Musicwise, the band have since mellowed into a less noisy, more complex but yet more melodic kickass band. New album Killec is fresh and exciting sound of a new-born collective. Marvins Revolt mutate into a four-piece monster not to be missed when playing live! Want to know more? Visit www.marvinsrevolt.com or www.myspace.com/marvinsrevolt.

Aarhusians I Am Bones are one of the seminal bands of their generation. Many of Denmark’s new favourite bands cite I Am Bones’ unique brand of quirky lo-fi rock as a major influence. Musically drawing on the slacker rock of Pavement, the screaming of Frank Black, the aggression of Nirvana and the lazy funkiness of Beck (and yet more than a sum of their influences), they’ve received critical acclaim in Scandinavia and Germany alike.

Combining aggression and screaming with hooks and catchy melodies, I Am Bones have a talent for combining the humourous with the serious in a way that allows you to both feel it and laugh at it. Think of every single band you’ve ever loved and you’ve played to death, and then times that by ten. I Am Bones aren’t just special. They’re more than that. They’re one of the reasons we started this whole thing. Don’t miss them, or you’re likely to miss something very, very special… Visit www.iambones.dk or www.myspace.com/iambonestheband for 11 slaps in the face to 1 pat on the back.

I *heart* Sterling

So…what have we been up to lately?

A lot’s been going on lately has been around The Pastry Club- we’ve been inundated with requests and madness, so it’s been slightly insane…the first show went amazingly well

Sterling. Ho hum. Sterling have been on my to-do list, and, for some reason, I haven’t managed to cover them yet.

Ok, so I can’t really understand what the hell they’re singing about (any of you who’ve ever emailed me or tried to speak to me in Danish should realise that my Danish leaves a lot to be desired…) Again, Sterling are another one of those bands I fell in love with when I started this whole thing… and another one of those bands I fell in love to a few Summers ago. As you all know, that relationship didn’t last, but my love of Sterling did…

Kom Nu Hjem still remains at the top of the playlist of songs he gave me, and, though I couldn’t listen to it for a long time, I rediscovered it recently on my iPod… I’m starting to wonder why I was stupid enough not to listen to it for so long when, actually, the guy in question really wasn’t worth my time (*ahem*).

Rumour has it that Sterling’s new songs in English are fantastic-let’s hope that they sound as great as they promise (I’d kill to listen to those demos), and the rest of us can actually hear what the fuck’s going on…

In the meantime, though, I’ll leave you with one of the best tracks from their last album…

Kom Nu Hjem

Website

Myspace

Hohum…did I ever tell you?

I’m not sure whether I ever managed to explain exactly what we’re doing with this whole Pastry Club thing…in fact, I’m pretty sure I haven’t. So I'd better.

In the Summer of 2006 (for we shall call this year zero…) Tibnkerbell, a bored music blogger caught upon the idea of blogging exclusively about Danish music, and, somewhat randomly, called it Pastries, Pepper and Canals (as you all know). Within days, the blog had been featured on the website of DR's Liga, and attracted a loyal following both in Denmark and all over the world, with emails from many of Denmark's leading independent musicians, asking whether they'd be able to get gigs in London. Though the seeds of an idea were planted at this stage, the blog remained an exclusively online project, though, occasionally, she would ask the lads behind London’s successful Swedish club Tack! Tack! Tack! to consider a Danish offshoot.

At the same time, a frustrated Mette had been thinking for some time about how to expose the bands she loved- Jomi Massage, Speaker Bite Me, Spleen United and I Am Bones- amongst them, to her adopted homeland. Having written her dissertation on the Danish music scene, and occasionally writing for Geiger magazine about all things leftfield, she couldn't help but think that there was an opportunity out there somewhere- something that was confirmed when she realised that gigs by Figurines and Oh No Ono attracted sold out crowds in London by word of mouth alone.

In May 2007, the two joined forces when Mette sent Tinkerbell an email via this very blog, saying simply:

"…I'm (another??) bona fide Dane with an unhealthy obsession when it comes to making the wondrous music of my stamp size country known... Fancy running a Danish-themed event?..."

And so a partnership was born.

After several hours brainstorming ideas for names in London's RoTa club (while many of the initial suggestions were dire, we can tell you that Beer N' Bacon, the literary themed 'Something Rotten' and some godawful puns about herrings, rye bread and salmiak were real contenders at one point), a drunken texting session finally hit upon The Pastry Club.

After much discussion, the girls pitched the idea to every contact that they had in the Danish music scene, including members of Denmark’s most popular bands, management companies, labels and others from outside Denmark who work closely with the Danish music industry. Despite the mysterious Tinkerbell's total inability to master the Danish language, the reaction was incredibly positive, with offers of help and support (plus much excitement) from all corners.

The addition of Helen completed the team in September 2007. An obsessive independent music guru who formerly worked at the Spitz, and is currently working at 93 Feet East, Helen has the knowledge and contacts to get things done, and took little persuasion to get her hands dirty, and help look into the possibility of helping Danish bands expand their schedule to take in other parts of the UK.

With an eclectic music policy to take in all areas of Danish music, the first Pastry Club, which took place at 93 Feet East on 19th February 2008, was a massive success. Support from ROSA has helped us take it that little bit further...

The Pastry Club

In association with ROSA (the Danish Rock Council...
www.rosa.org/v4/home

Tremelo Beer Gut

Death Drome, live at VEGA


Legends! Need I say more?

Nosy Parker

Just download the song and go and buy it, ok?

Ta-ra.

Website

Myspace

A Messsage From The Pastru Club...

Just thought we'd write a quick note to thank all of you who came last night- it was a truly amazing night, with Jong Pang who were astounding, EPO-555 who left me speechless (and breathless) and the fabulous Brian Jacket Letdown, who delivered a phenomenal set.

On a related note, EPO-555 and Jong Pang are playing Industry in Curtain Road, E London tonight, and would love it if you could all pop along to watch them play a full, fabulous set.

We'll be back in April with the fabulous Marvin's Revolt, I Am Bones (one of our favourite bands ever...adn one of the bands we dreamed of when we were setting this up..) and another band TBC. Watch this space for more information on tickets and the mystery band....

Thanks to the fabulous lads at TigerSpring, Jong Pang and EPO-555 for all their help!

A Messsage From The Pastru Club...

Just thought we'd write a quick note to thank all of you who came last night- it was a truly amazing night, with Jong Pang who were astounding, EPO-555 who left me speechless (and breathless) and the fabulous Brian Jacket Letdown, who delivered a phenomenal set.

On a related note, EPO-555 and Jong Pang are playing Industry in Curtain Road, E London tonight, and would love it if you could all pop along to watch them play a full, fabulous set.

We'll be back in April with the fabulous Marvin's Revolt, I Am Bones (one of our favourite bands ever...adn one of the bands we dreamed of when we were setting this up..) and another band TBC. Watch this space for more information on tickets and the mystery band....

Total Recall...

...and we're back!

So....

So...after a long hiatus(spent drinking too much,eating too much and generally living in a laptopless (not topless...), internetless world...), we're finally back...We did, however,do something useful with our time...


Come!!

Cartridge

It’s funny when you’ve been meaning to cover someone for a while (believe it or not, I have a huge backlog of half-written nonsense in the back office of this thing, most of which will never see the light of day…) and then someone suddenly contacts you and says that they’ve been thinking of you too… All a bit of a love in, I guess, but the story goes like this...


Once upon a time there was a band called Cartridge who lived in Århus. They were in the process of recording a dazzling new album to set the world on fire (but you’ll have to wait til January to hear it) and wanted the fairy across the sea to hear it. The good fairy Tinkerbell had been hiding for a bit too long and was pretty uncontactable (though she now has this newfound invention called a

contact form

) so the lovely lads asked the good fairy at the bottom of the garden and she had nary an answer. So they trawled the net and found a way to tell her about this astounding thing they were doing.

“Thank God for Myspace!” they shrieked “Dear Tinkerbell, tell us, can we enchant you?”
“Sure you can!” she replied, chomping on a chocolate biscuit “Try your worst!”

And so they went to the woods, and Tinkerbell fell under their spell. Do you want to go to The Woods too?

The Woods

www.cartridge.dk

www.myspace.com/Ilovecartridge

A small updatey type thing as I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere...

I don;t have much time today- called away to the middle nowhere as I have been. With that in mind, I'll leave you with 2 gems that have been in my inbox for AGES and speak for themselves.

The first is Efterklang who's latest offering was out last week, and who are playing all over the place at the moment- inclusing a lovely London show (come and say hiiiiiiiii if you can work out who I am... I should say a special thanks to the lovely Ben at the Leaf Label for this one)

Cutting Ice to Snow

The other one is from our friends Oliver North Boy Choir (I know I've talKed about them millions of times...but...well.... I LOVE them!) Actually, it's the precursor of ONBC doing one of my fave songs ever... But maybe Ivan from the band can put it better than I can!

"...There's a small gift attached :-). It's a cover of OMD's "Enola Gay" we made in 2001, when we were still called Pierre. We wanted to include it on one of our future singles, but our old harddisk broke down, so we couldn't master it. So now we're giving it away to blogs which have written about us + our mailing list exclusively..."

So it may not be new, but it's something special....

Enola Gay

KISSES KISSES KISSES!

Oh, it's a digression but I'll plug it anyway.... If you fancy popping over to Oslo for a while in 2 weeks, then take a look at ElektroStat. Not Danish, but fab all the same, and I'll be there :)

Our Random Danish Youtube favourites

It's amazing what you get by typing "Danish music" into Youtube...


Snake And Jets Amazing Bullit Band: "10 cities beyond" (unfinished, apparently)



Rathmanns Onde DanseOrkester!


Dúné- john wayne vs. mary chain at Danish Music Night (I can only assume that this is referring to the sold-out night at this year's Popkomm in Berlin?)


Back in the day- Figurines

Jacob Faurholt

We may not have had a Summer this year (Festival season- including Roskilde- was a total washout, as you all know...)


Jacob Faurholt and Sweetie Pie Wilbur- We Like Snow

...but maybe Summer's about to arrive in the middle of November. Jacob Faurholt is releasing his new album in the next few weeks, and it looks like it's going to be a good one. Maybe it'll even get rid of the cold weather that seems to have descended (on this wee corner of South East England, anyway).

We have to admit that we love Jacob Faurholt. There's something very charming and Scandinavian about the lalalalalas in "Back Home", and something very naïve and endearing about the whole thing. Of course, though, you need to make up your own minds...

Back Home

"...I'll always love you, there's no other way to say.." . Amen to that.

Myspace

Website

Charlie Don’t Surf- riding high on a wave anyway?

Whilst we’ve (hm…I mean “I’ve”) been busy (oops, I almost wrote busty, though I’m that as well) running around the festivals gawping at the boys, it turns out that Aalborg’s finest boys have been in the studio recording songs with Sir Ebbe of Frej (all round decent bloke and beer monster, judging from Roskilde…though I was dressed like a Bulgarian hooker at the time…don’t ask)for our delectations. They’ve created a veritable smorgasbord (I know, enough already on the clichés) to feast upon.

Minor Changes- live in Aalborg

Starting Low, Aiming High, I’m Surprised by You, Shake off a Weight and 619 are pieces of wonky pop perfection as you’d expect from Charlie. Don’t believe me? Download two of them here, and get the rest from their Myspace for a limited time…

Starting Low, Aiming High

I'm Surprised by you

And with that, I'm off on holiday for a few days....

And on that note, I'm away on holiday for a few days. Will be back early next week!

It's so beautiful, we have to...

The Floor is made of Lava (pt 2)

Related to yesterday's post, Lava lead singer and writer THOBAY K gives us the lowdown on what's what...


THE FLOOR IS MADE OF LAVA:
Our national anthem, our holy bible and the song of which the band took its name from. It’s the first song we wrote and the last song we mixed in the studio. It’s about being better than the average Joe, have more fun than everybody else and speaking whatever’s on our minds. If the album goes gold, I gotta have Sonic The Hedgehog tattooed on my arm. But it wouldn’t surprise me if I had it done anyway.

PICK UP A SHOVEL:
I met this really dumb girl who were so pathetic, that I just had to write a song about people who needs to get it together, and get it fuckin’ going. Later, when I bumped into this goofball, which I’m sure was her boyfriend, I had it all. I was totally stoked when I got the chorus together, so I spend my night, pissed out of my mind, running all over town, screaming the chorus at people. I think it was Christmas 2006.

DO YOUR SISTER:
Simon was bitchin’ about a friend of his, who had a thing going on with his sister. I’ve always thought that all these rules where you’re “not allowed” to make out with friends of friends, or friends’ sisters, were totally bullshit. So me and Simon spend all night discussing the whole issue, and I kinda wrote the lyrics out of the discussion. Later, I heard the expression: “Why fuck a stranger, when you can fuck a friend”, and it just fitted right in there. It also gives the song a whole new meaning, I think. Besides that, it’s just a really cool thing to say. Thank God for lousy redneck movies on late night telly.

HO:
This song is dedicated to the girl at the disco, the club and the prom who everybody wants’s to make it with. She so fine that everybody want’s to get in her pants. That’s what her life is all about – teasing all the young boys, like everybody else would have done in her place. Then one day she meets this dude, who is so cool and so cold, that she’s interested in more than just a one-night stand. Oh by the way, that’s “the dude” singing this song. It took us about 3 months before we got the song and the arrangement right, and Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stefani really played a huge part in writing it..

HAPPY MONDAY:
I really wanted to make a happy song, because the two we wrote before this one were kind of surly and grumpy. I decided that the song was to be called Happy Monday, inspired by the band Happy Mondays. It was the last song we wrote for the album, and it was actually written while we were mixing the other songs. The pace of the song is considerably slower than the rest on the album, and we’ve already talked about going in that direction regarding the next record.
The interlude, which ends this song, is called Who the Fuck Are Arctic Monkeys?! A song which was never completed due to the fact that it sounds like…well Arctic Monkeys! We also thought that it was kinda funny to name a song after their own song and their EP. Alex Turner was busy being a rascal or something, so Mr. Liam O’ Connor were kind enough to lend us his voice.

SUCKER LOVE:
Now if I might take a little liberty here, this is a masterpiece. The chorus is about a fool, a relationship and a blowjob. All happening at the same time! I think most people find it irritating when friends or girlfriends are too sensitive and sticky-icky. But the funny thing is that you actually kinda like it. Yeah, I know. Nobody likes a wordsmith so I’ll get to the point. This song is about instability which is, when you think about it, the cornerstone in any relationship. The blowjob analogy wasn’t really my intention, people listening to it have come up with it themselves.

TANGO IN MY TUMMY:
This is the ultimate drinking tune! I would really like to make a video for this one. It should be about a low-life cop who get’s coffee for his donuts, a beer for his lunch, and a scotch for his dinner. Then he goes to this joint where he screws his regular girl at the toilet. Man…I really like those kind of people. The thing about this song is that there are some parts in this song, which all of us (in the band) can relate to, one way or another. I know that Simon really likes the lyrics and the story of the song. Ace digs heavy on the Ac/Dc-like trucker backing vocals. And me? I think I just like the whole damn thing really! It’s more or less an ode to The Boss.

5-VICE:
For a long time I didn’t know what this thing was about. It was written by request of Ace, who wanted to write a song where one camouflaged drugs with candy. Strange right? But somewhere in the writing process I found out that I wanted it to be about just not giving a rat’s ass. The interpretation of that is for anyone to decide. It’s without a doubt this song that I want a 4th grader to analyze. It contains so much mumbo jumbo that only a kid would understand it. But like most of our songs there is a subliminal message. I’ve just forgotten what it is.

TOLD HER I’M FROM COMPTON:
You know, the best punch lines in life are those you just can’t explain - you just know what they mean. There was this guy who wrote to us on our Myspace, that he had told this girl that he was from Compton. Apparently he made it with her. So there you have it. Oh and by the way, this song has nothing, and I repeat nothing to do with any damn sparrows. “Suck on this barrel, you can ride my Camaro”


YOU AIN’T A BITCH (BITCH):
I understand why people would think this is a chauvinistic hate-song to some punk-ass bitch. It really isn’t. What it really is about is how big an asshole you can be to one another in a relationship. I’m a dogg and she’s a bitch. We are equally good/bad to one another. But of course I’ll blame it on her when we’re having a fight, just like she would blame it on me, if it was her who’d written the song. In other words, I’m just saying it like it is. Nobody calls each other honey or sweetie pie in the middle of a fight, right?

IKEA DID A JOB ON YOU:
This song is about being powerless and unable to cater for peoples needs. It’s about MTV culture, Feng Shui and Extreme Makeover Home Edition. It’s about reviewers, the crowd and girlfriends/boyfriends who are total assholes. I really think that the line “Fuck with me on this one and I’ll fuck you right up” is one of our best. It’s so wonderfully hysteric in a drama queen-like way – which is my way of saying that you can’t and mustn’t take anything I write seriously. The title of the song is the kinda thing you wanna say to somebody who’s really disappointed you – right before you slam the door.
Just like Happy Monday, this song contains an interlude which is actually an outro in this case. The outro , and the interlude for that matter, is referring to album title. It is “Fruit” or filler or whatever you wanna call it. Come to think of it, it might be my favourite track on the album.

We've also got another MP3 for you...

Told Her I'm for Compton

Sucker Love

The Floor is made of lava (pt1)

In a bit of a name dropping exercise, we’re going to tell you that the adorable SuperTroels (aka Troels from Veto) told us to watch these guys a while back, and, as a result, we sent our spies to see them at a very early gig in London last year, where we were mightily impressed.


The Floor is made of Lava on Tabu TV...

Sadly there wasn’t anything much around to share with you at the time, so we kept our eyes peeled and hoped for rain (as it were). And lo and behold, I opened my email on a wet and windy October evening last week, and what did I find?

That’s right. A lovely, shiny MP3 version of their brand spanking new album. Stytzer’s got there before me with a load of the MP3s, but it’s well worth repeating them, as they’re so fabulous. I can only repeat Hits in The Car’s order that you need to BUY BUY BUY! In the manner of all great things, this is something that you’ll buy and wonder how you ever survived without it. Not convinced? Then try a taster…

Do your sister

Ikea did a job on you

You ain't bitch (bitch)

Lovely.

Oh, and the album's out on Monday in Denmark, and I'm sure it's probably due out soon elsewhere...

Snake and Jet's Amazing Bullit Band

...and another band we've been adoring during out self-enforced hiatus.

Sounding like a particularly dirty wrestling match between a stoned 1970s garage-rock turned synth band and any number of your favourite bands in a trash can (excuse my Americanism) with early Bis cheering along, they're as hard to describe as anything we've ever heard. Infamous in Copenhagen for their riotous party spirit, Snake and Jet finally released their first alum (X-Ray Spirit) on insanely beautiful coloured vinyl recently. In case you haven't guessed, we love it

Beautiful in a way that only Danish boys can be, (*ahem*… I'm sure you know what I mean…), the band consists (surprise surprise) of Snake and Jet aka two skinny boys named Thor and Thomas. Together they make up a fabulously beaten up combo playing drums, samples, hammond organ, vintage synths and eclectic/electric guitar. They look cool. They sound cooler. Can your feet afford to dodge the Bullit (yes, I know, it's a bad pun!)?

X-Ray

I think not.

Take a listen, and then go and bag yourself a copy...

We’re sorry. We’ve been in the Supermarket for far too long.

So. We’ve been away for a while. It’s not like we haven’t been going to gigs, listening to music, or even listening to music. We’ve just been…*ahem* busy, and lazy sods who haven’t done musch but work all Summer. So apologies for that, slap our wrists, and hope you decide to come back to us. We’re back with a bumper package of intrigue, mystery and excitement over the next few days- also known as gorgeous new songs from Charlie Don’t Surf (produced by EPO-555’s fab Ebbe Frej), a long-overdue Roskilde review, some bits and bobs from our favourite spurting volcanoes The Floor Is Made of Lava, something special from Efterklang, and enough hyperbole to make your heart explode with joy. So stick with us…we love you, so put on those dancing shoes, and dance to the beat of our drum!

In the meantime, I bring the grand news that Factory45 have been signed by the lovely guys at TigerSpring, who, apart from being one of the nicest management/booking etc etc companies on Earth, are also one of the nicest labels!

Factory45- "Peggy Sue" live at Pumpehuset

They’ve been kind enough to release the tides of the dancathon that is Supermarkets onto the web once more. Of course, I’d suppose they'd also love it if you went to see them at one of their various shows...

Supermarkets

P.S. We have a brand spanking new contact us form here!

Things that make us giggle like mad people...

...sometime just have to be posted


Haha