Recent activity

1. Aliksandr is going to Arctic Monkeys with Eagles Of Death Metal at Liverpool Echo Arena (13 Nov 09). 23 days ago
2. Aliksandr reviewed Pink at Liverpool Echo Arena (27 Oct 09) and gave it . 23 days ago

   "Pink @ the Liverpool Echo arena 27/10/2009

   In a time of manufactured pop bands, faux indie rockers and a seemingly never ending stream of hip hop acts; Pink at the Echo arena was to surely going to be a breath of fresh air. Wasn't she?
   Well, yes and no really. As a spectacle the show was breathtaking; dancers, circus sets and high wire acrobatics were all feasts for the eye and the mind. The music was pretty perfect too, vocally Pink was - as ever - flawless, as were her backing singers and band. So where was the problem? Well, it was all a little too much; call me a bore but I would have much preferred to see Pink on her own, with just a band, a microphone and a simple backdrop, free from all the clutter and choreography.

   Traditionally, big elaborate sets are usually reserved for artists who have something to hide, i.e., a lack of talent or live ability. See Britney spears, Ashlee Simpson and ‘the twins’, John and Edward off the Xfactor. All of these artists have used visual aids to distract their audience from the fact they can’t hit the notes they should, or in one or two inexcusable cases, miming.
   Pink is not an artist who needs this sort of distraction at her shows, she has one of the most powerful voices of any artist recording today and her stage presence is second to none. In my opinion she is selling herself short of being a truly powerful live act, with a show that puts her in a group with teeny boppers and blonde bombshell divas, the same group she ridicules and opposes in her music.

   I hope that next time I see Pink she has re evaluated her position in the music industry and puts on a slightly more subtle show that will more resemble the rock act she wishes to be rather than the cirque du Soleil. Until then, I’ll look elsewhere for my breath of fresh air.

   AW"

3. Aliksandr reviewed Glastonbury Festival 2008 and gave it . about 1 month ago

   "Jay-Z Headline set @ Glastonbury 2008

   “Those who remained saw a moment that changed music forever, the festival was born. Jimmy Hendrix’s rendition of Star Spangled Banner rang out over the small remaining audience on the last night of the Woodstock festival, 1969. Seemingly endless delays and torrid weather conditions had shrunk the crowd numbers from around 300,00 to little over 15,000 but Hendrix wasn’t fazed, because he knew what was coming, would change everything.” – Martin Boscoe, Billboard 1969.

   Each year the Glastonbury festival grows, both in size and in diversity, it’s what the festival is all about, “Peace and Love” they cry from the tepees and hippy huts. But do they really mean it? Of course they do, as long as it has a nice riff, a colourful outfit and a pussyfooted political agenda, they love it.
   But what happens when the organizers try something different? What happens when a black hip hop artist wants to headline the festival? Do they embrace the change and relish the idea of a new genre of entertainment? Seemingly not.

   Jay-Z is arguably hip hop’s greatest living icon. He has won sacks full of awards not only for his outstanding contributions to music but also for his input into other arts such as film and fashion. He really is somewhat of a big deal, and he’s not afraid to tell you.

   Some blamed Michael Eavis for the slow ticket sales for 2008’s Glastonbury festival as a result of choosing an ‘untraditional’ headline act, the most vocal of these was Noel Gallagher of Oasis, when asked what he thought of the slow ticket sale situation he replied: "I'm sorry, but Jay-Z? No chance. Glastonbury has a tradition of guitar music and even when they throw the odd curve ball in on a Sunday night you go 'Kylie Minogue?' I don't know about it. But I'm not having hip hop at Glastonbury. It's wrong.” Peace and Love indeed.
   100,000 tickets of a possible 137,000 were sold in the run up to the festival, quite the opposite to the previous year in which all 137,000 tickets sold out within the first 2hours of going on sale. But was this Jay-Z’s fault? Could it not have been the fact that the previous year had been a near disaster due to traitorous weather conditions and this year looked to be the same? In my, and I’m sure many others opinions this I by far the more likely.

   Noel Gallagher, arguably the more controlled of the Gallagher brothers; I wonder what he thought? how he felt? where he was? When he saw Jay-Z take to the stage, guitar in hand, singing an ironic rendition of ‘Wonderwall?’. I wonder if he laughed and thought he would fall flat on his face? I wonder if his heart sunk as the crowd sung along and played into the Rap mogul’s hands moments before he unleashed his arsenal of hit singles and beautifully sampled tracks? Whatever he felt, he was certainly proved wrong.

   “They said you didn’t like hip hop, they said you don’t want me here tonight?” The crowd roared. The critics were silent.
   20 songs in, and the crowd have heard tracks chopped and screwed to include Glastonbury favourites from AC/DC, Amy Winehouse, The Prodigy and even U2. How many acts do you know who would put this type of research into a set? Not many. Most festival goers are satisfied with just having a good old singalong in a field over a few beers and the occasional recreational drug. If this were the bar for live acts many would be booed from the stage.

   Crowd favourite Numb/Encore was the set finisher. The lyrics ‘I Came, I saw, I conquered’ sounding extra sweet in front of a crowd who clearly do like hip hop.

   As I watched on at the gig again and again weeks later at my computer I wonder to myself what would have happened if Jay-Z had been delayed just as Jimmy Hendrix had almost 40 years prior?, would the crowd have waited out in the cold rain all night to see a moment of music history? I like to think so.

   This was Hendrix at Woodstock, this was Queen at Wembley and Oasis at Knebworth. This was a moment that changed music forever.

   A.W"

4. Aliksandr reviewed Bloc Party with Balcony and Grammatics at Liverpool University (19 Oct 09) and gave it . about 1 month ago

   "Bloc Party, Liverpool University, 19/10/09

   When one speaks of music in Liverpool, the mind is automatically drawn to The Beatles, both their music and style has passed the test of time unlike any other band. Their sound was like no other, it changed with each record, from Rock n Roll to Psychedelic sway, they were the masters of reinvention.

   Almost three decades later and it is Bloc Party who are being hailed as the kings of change, their three studio albums comprise genres ranging from Indie Rock to Rave. Their combinations of swirling synths and thunderous guitar solos make for great records and great live shows. Of course, this cold Liverpool night in October or ‘Bloctober’ as the month was dubbed was no exception.

   Liverpool born frontman Kele Okereke takes to the stage with band in tow, after a few choice words (the usual; “Liverpool is our favourite city to play”) and a brief introduction to Kele’s mother who sat on the balcony, it’s down to business. ‘Ares’ ‘Like eating glass’ and ‘Trojan horse’ are all thrashed out with the kind of energy Bloc Party are renowned for. ‘Song for Clay’ turns to ‘Banquet’ seamlessly which makes for some rowdy scenes in the crowd.
   After a few near crushes the once named ‘Silent Alarms’ slow things down slightly with ‘Blue Light’ which got the crowd singing together in a mass karaoke.

   New single ‘One more chance’ is followed by ‘Flux’ and ‘Helicopter’ for a truly spectacular encore. Lead guitarist Russell Lissack was on form from start to finish and his solo during ‘Helicopter’ was nothing short of sensational. In fact the whole band look to be in the form of their lives at present, and their energy and effort during the show was almost heroic given they have been touring solidly for nearly 12 months.

   Change is a wonderful thing. When an artist can be versatile with their talent and use it to explore new genres and ideas it shows real brilliance. The Beatles did it, and now Bloc Party are doing it. Let’s just hope that the standard of their performances is one thing that doesn’t change.

   AW"

5. Aliksandr is going to Coldplay with Jay-Z and White Lies at Lancashire County Cricket Ground (12 Sep 09). 3 months ago
6. Aliksandr added a poster for I-DAY MILANO URBAN FESTIVAL 2009. 4 months ago
   • 
7. Aliksandr is going to I-DAY MILANO URBAN FESTIVAL 2009. 4 months ago
8. Aliksandr is going to Maximo Park with Hot Club De Paris and DUTCH UNCLES at Manchester Apollo (08 Oct 09). 4 months ago