Not Goodbye

Pigtails and Army Boots has been going for several years now and been on a whole bunch of stations, it's been live, it's been pre-recorded, it's been 1 hour, it's been 2 hours and of course it's been a lot of fun to do. However, recently I haven't had the same passion for it, I'm still very passionate about music, especially female music and of course the amazing unsigned and independent bands I've discovered thanks to doing the show, but my passion isn't really where it should be in regards to expressing this through radio. My real passion is for writing and I want to put more energy into that- especially as I'm hoping to become a paid music journalist as my job!

So this is to tell you, I will not be 'on air' any more- instead the show will be much more blog/writing based, still telling you about female fronted music news, awesome independent bands and all the other things you love about the show. 'Artist of the Month' will still carry on, but with a much longer, detailed blog post about the band I've chosen. I'll still post a 'weekly event guide' as well as reviews etc.

That's not to say I won't be doing any radio ever again, the Mixcloud page is still up and I may occasionally put up podcasts for you to listen to, so stay following it if you are!
This wasn't an easy decision to make, but I really feel, at least for the time being this is the best thing for me. I promise you will still get quality content from me!

I'm keeping this blog open, but I may be starting a new blog so I can put all my interests on one blog, instead of having to start a new one for each different subject I want to write about! I currently have this one, and a writing one, but I'm finding there's more I want to write about that doesn't really fit into either! I will post a link if this happens, and this will remain open so I have an archive of what I have written.

If you want to email me, about this post, or if you're in a band, that I could write about in the near future (gigs, albums, singles for review, band of the month posts etc) you can contact me on pigtailsandarmyboots@gmail.com

Spirituality and Music

As well as being passionate about music, I'm a very deeply connected a spiritual person too, I follow a pagan path and have interests in most mind, body and spirit type activities such as crystals, meditation etc etc but how do I make the connection between my spirituality and music? One thing that I do, is I have a pre programmed playlist on my mp3 player that I listen to every morning while having my breakfast, full of music that makes me happy or has a positive message. This isn't meditation music or even necessarily calm music, but music I listen to in general like rock, indie and so forth- here are some of the songs I've got on there:

Bonafide- Fill Your Head with Rock
really great rock n roll song but with great positive lyrics
" when you feel like you're sinking like a stone, fill your head with rock, when you feel like you're sinking to the ground, fill your head with your rock, the only medication I ever need is fill your head with rock"
makes me smile every time I hear it!


The Amorettes- Bed Rock
this song not so much for the lyrics but for the great riff and it's so incredibly catchy and happy sounding!



Alanis Morissette- You Learn
a reminder that life isn't always perfect, but you always learn from it- "You bleed, you learn, you breathe, you learn"


patti Smith- Spell
a basic stripped down song reminding that everything is holy-" The world is holy...The soul is holy..The skin is holy..
The nose is holy..The tongue and cock and hand 
and asshole holy
Everything is holy...everybody's holy..everywhere is 
holy..everyday is in eternity..Everyman's an 
angel"

I've got more on there but that's just some examples. Music creates feelings, maybe memories. It doesn't matter if it's marketed as spiritual music or not, music is a spiritual experience in itself- the feeling I have being at a gig makes me feel connected just as much as sitting quietly in a park does. I try to connect my passion for music and my faith a lot. What music has this effect on you and what connections do you have with your spirituality/religion and the music you listen to?

2012- pretty darn good year for music, and well life!

Well only 2 days left of 2012 left, so the inevitable 'end of the year' blog is here!
Music wise, I think 2012 has been a pretty decent year for music, Patti Smith released a new album 'Banga', Gaggle released their debut album 'From the Mouth of the Cave', other favourites of mine were Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra- Theatre is Evil, The Corin Tucker Band- Kill my Blues and Garbage- Not Your Kind of People.
here my choices of 2012 on my end of the year special here

Gigs of 2012
Wild Flag
Robots in Disguise (and this year I got to interview them too)!
Ladyfest East London
Pigtails and Army Boots the live event! (organised by me- obviously)!
Garbage
Black Belles
We Rock Like Girls Don't
Bleech
Gaggle album launch party
Patti Smith
Amanda Palmer
Trash Monroe
Lovely Eggs
Hard Rock Hell

I wrote lots more reviews, and did my first interview in person (the RID one as previously mentioned)
feminism wise, I went to Million Women Rise for the third time and London Slutwalk for the first time and finally Southend Feminist Group is running, it's only small but hopefully 2013 it will get bigger! I also tok part in a Free Pussy Riot protest near the Russian embassy and have been supporting the campaign.

Other achievements/interesting stuff from 2012:  did the Moonlight Colourthon again, started going to Pagan Moots, organised another charity gig, went to the Doctor Who Experience, helped with a beach clean up, and most importantly moved house!

I think I achieved a lot this year but in 2013, I would like to actually get paid for music journalism, to do some sort of volunteer work, to do more creative writing and finally finish editing my novel, to pass my dispensing course at work and go to even more pagan/spiritual events. I also think I should admit to my mistakes more!
How was your 2012?

Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012

Well I don't often write personal-ish blogs on here, but to be honest now my life is so integrated with both music and feminism, that it would be impossible not to have some personal angle on some of my blogs.

2011 was an okay year for me for the most part, I felt like I didn't have too much of a social life like I used to, and my best friend moved to another country, BUT I did have much more involvement with music and feminist politics and not just through my radio show.

I started doing lots of writing for music blogs including Wears The Trousers, thegirlsare, JoyZine, The F Word and also for the Le Monnier Fan Blog which resulted in lots of good writing practice as well as quite a bit of free music and a couple of free gigs!

I tried to set up my own feminist group but didn't have much luck

I saw MEN at the Lexington in Feburary

I released the first two issues of my zine 'Dancing Barefoot'

In March, I went to my second Million Women Rise March this time as a steward, also the first protest I went to alone.
I also went to see The Australian Pink Floyd and on the same day I met Dee Plume, of one of my favourite bands Robots in Disguise!

I went to my first Roller Derby bout, and I loved it!

I went to see Robots in Disguise (for the third time) in May and possibly one of my favourite gigs ever, as I was right at the front, I headbanged with Dee and managed to nab their set list :D

I organised and put on Ladyfest Essex, which was really exhausting and had lots of problems, but was a fun and satisfying thing to do. Sadly it clashed with the London SlutWalk although I did help them get a band to play at the event and then booked one of their books for their fundraiser in November.

For my 27th Birthday in June, I went to the British Music Experience and went to my first zine fest

In August I went to the Ladygarden fundraiser in Cambridge and discovered lots of awesome bands including We Rock Like Girls Don't

September was an active month, I saw Amanda Palmer for the third time, this time at Heaven (see the Joyzine link earlier in this post) I did the Adidas 5k Women's Challenge, (walking) and raised a further £100 for Refuge in addition to the £130 raised from Ladyfest Essex
I also saw Saint Jude and UT in this month

November was a very feminist month, as I went to FEM11 my first feminist conference and also to the Fawcett Society Don't Turn Back Time March, and then met Josie Long afterwards!

The final gig of the year was Gaggle, review to come soon on The F Word!

Lots of other things happened too-like finally having a tooth taken out, and having my xbox hacked...
but now it's gone and it's time to look forward to 2012, here is my resolutions for 2012:
To Start or Join a Feminist Group
To Volunteer at a women's shelter
to do more interviews on my show
to jog in the adidias 5k
organise another ladyfest/other charity events
-this is just a few, I have others but these are probably the most relevant to put here.
Happy New Year!

Part 6: The 30 Day Song Challenge

Song 16: A Song you Used to Love but now hate- was a big fan as a young teen, but wore off...

Song 17: A Song you always hear on the radio- the one Adele song I don't mind

Song 18: A Song you wish you heard on the radio- pretty much everything I listen to, that's why I started my radio show in the first place, but I don't think I've ever heard this on mainstream radio

Part 5: the 30 day song challenge

Song 13: A Guilty Pleasure


Song 14: A Song That No One Would Expect Me To Like


Song 15: A Song That Describes Me

30 Day Song Challenge Part 4

Song 10: A Song I Fall Asleep to
Air are not boring, but very relaxing and good to chill out to


Song 11: A Song from my favourite band
well I have more than one favourite band, both I've already included videos by, but here they are again:


Song 12: A Song from a band I hate
well my most hated bands aren't normally female (Oasis, Cradle of Filth, stuff like that) but for this one I choose someone that everyone seems to love, but I just don't "get it"

30 Day Song Challenge: Part 3

Song 7: A Song That Reminds of an Event- reminds of the Robots gig I went to earlier this year, 4th time I've seen them and by far the best. This was an amazing encore!


Song 8: A Song that I know all the words to
there's many, but here's one


Song 9: A Song I can Dance to
I'll dance to most things if I like it but I love love love this song

30 day song challenge- part 1

I did this a while ago on Facebook, but as I'm not longer really using it, and not everyone that reads this blog would have seen it, and I'll pick different things this time (and all female fronted this time) so here's part 1

Day 1: My Favourite Song


Day 2: My Least Favourite Song - words can;t describe how angry this song makes me


Day 3: A Song that Makes Me Happy

Le Monnier release new single

You may remember some time agao me writing about Le Monnier and you probably know as well that they are headlining Ladyfest Essex

well they are releasing a new single 'Con Amor Siempre' which in my opinion, is amazing, it has the same awesome epic feel of songs on 'Cynic Sister' and mulitplies the power by at least ten. It's songs like this which make me wonder why this band isn't more known yet! If you like rock with great grrrl vocals, good basslines and frankly fantastic metal tinged guitars, you will love this track.

The song is officially released on June 13th, but if you're attending Ladyfest Essex on June 11th, you will be able to get a limited edition of the single for a mere £2 with 25% of the money going to the charity Ladyfest Essex is supporting 'Refuge'

you can hear the track right here and on my show in the next few weeks- what do you think?

Con Amor
Siempre by Le Monnier

you can check out more info on the Hertfordshire based band on their website, their new album is released in September.

Blogging

Apologies if this blog has been a bit boring lately with just my playlists, I am currently taking part in national novel writing month so I have been dedicating my time to that this month. I did go to a very awesome gig recently that I'm dying to tell you about, but I have reviewed it for the amazing The F Word so I'm hoping they will use it, so will let you know if they do!

In the mean time, to whet your appetite for a non playlist related blog, I've nicked this music meme from my friend Rachel :)

This is the premise: They’re about to make a film of your life and want you to provide the soundtrack. Using the random play function on your music player, find 20 songs to fit the following categories:

Opening Credits, Birth, Waking Up, First Day At School, Falling In Love, Losing Virginity, Fight Song, Prom, Last Day of School, First Day at Work, Beginning of Adult Life, Mental Breakdown, Obligatory Flashback, Getting Back Together, Wedding, Birth of Child, Final Battle, Death Scene, Funeral Song, End Credits.

I won't use the same artist twice and I'm also changing it slightly to using my last fm player, as that is what I mainly use to listen to music!

Opening Credits: Barracuda- Heart (pretty epic start)!



Birth: Sex Bomb by Spinnerette


Waking Up: Through the Dark by KT Tunstall



First Day At School: Neon Angels on the Way to Ruin- The Runaways



Falling In Love: Come Out Swinging- The Offspring




Losing Virginity: What's Up- 4 Non Blondes


Fight Song: Girl Anachronism- Dresden Dolls (my weapon is clearly a piano!)



Prom: Sunset Strip- Courtney Love (I didn't have a prom but if I did this would be an awesome song to dance to!)




Last Day of School: City Noise by Scarling


First Day at Work: Personal Jesus- Depeche Mode



Beginning of Adult Life: Inner Smile- Texas



Mental Breakdown: Cold as Ice- Foreigner



Obligatory Flashback: Stop Talking- Helen's Evil Twin



Getting Back Together: Impressed- Natalie Imbruglia
(no video for this one :( )

Wedding Ceremony: Big Wheel- Tori Amos (would be a bit worried if we had chose this song what with the MILF lyrics bit)!



Birth of Child: Can the Can- Suzi Quatro (I'll give birth to a new Joan Jett)!



Final Battle: A Love Song by Amanda Blank




Death Scene: That's Not me- The Beach Boys (oo er)



Funeral Song: Little Sister- Queens of the Stone Age (very odd choice)!


End Credits: We Belong- Pat Benetar



It'd be worth buying the soundtrack for this film I think!

Writing blog

I've decided I do want a writing blog again after all, so all my poems and other writing will be now here- http://neveredit.blogspot.com/
this blog will be just for music related posts!