Pigtails Weekly Update

News Round Up

Fleetwood Mac have released new music after ten years. They have released a four track EP called 'Extended Play' on ITunes.

The songs are 'It Takes Time', 'Miss Fantasy', 'Sad Angel' and 'Without You.' The band will be touring the UK later in the year.
Dublin 02 (September 20)
London O2 Arena (24, 25, 27)
Birmingham LG Arena (29)
Manchester Arena (October 1)
Glasgow The Hydro (3)

Nineties girl band TLC have announced a live show and a new album. They will be playing The Mixtape Festival at Hersheypark Stadium, in Hershey, Pennsylvania, from July 26-27, alongside other old skool favourites New Kids On The Block, Hanson and Boyz II Men. This will be their first performance since 2009. They did speak in the past about using a hologram image for late band member Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopez, who died in a car crash in 2002, but it's not known whether they will be using this for the performance yet. A full tour is also expected to be announced for later in the year.

TLC will also be releasing a new album, their first since 2002's '3D'.

Little Boots has released a video to new song 'Broken Record'

Event guide Monday 6th May- Sunday 12th May

10 May - Third Annual Postgraduate Gender and Sexuality Conference, Birmingham University

Roles: A Gender and Sexuality Forum are pleased to announce our Third Annual Postgraduate Gender and Sexuality Conference (http://groles.wordpress.com/roles-gender-and-sexuality-conference/), at the University of Birmingham on the 10th of May 2013.

Our Key Note Speaker is Dr. Nadine Muller (twitter: @Nadine_Muller)

This one-day interdisciplinary conference offers postgraduates the opportunity to present their research in a friendly and supportive environment for people of all genders. Registration is free. (http://groles.wordpress.com/register-for-roles-colloquium/)

We invite applications for twenty-minute papers. Suggestions for presentations may address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• social policy, government legislation, and matters of the law
• cultural products: film / music / art / TV / literature
• media, representation, and social images
• sexuality, otherness, erotic practice
• the body: subject, object, identity
• theory, methodology, practice
• feminism and postfeminism: representation and invisibility
• queer and trans*: changing images of femininity and masculinity

Please send an abstract, including a short bio, of no more than 300 words to g.roles@hotmail.com by 10th March 2013.

Roles is an interdisciplinary research forum hosted by researchers at the University of Birmingham for the purpose of fostering discussion and debate

Artist of Month

It's now May so that means time for a brand new artist of the month! This month I've picked Brighton based Wolf Like Child who I've recently discovered and think others should hear too! They like Patti Smith and drinking rum, so they're welcome to my home anytime ;) In the following weeks I'll be chatting to them and sharing their music with you so keep reading!

Cover of the week

as I've been working with the element of Air this week, it's Ann Wilson's version of Goodbye Blue Sky

Interview with Sue Denim

I recently had a little chat with Sue Denim, who was one half of electro punk noise makers Robots in Disguise who has now become a nature loving, offline- weekending, acoustic songstress (and mother to be)! with the recent release of her solo debut album 'And the Unicorn'. Check out what she had to say:

Hayley: You recently released your solo album 'And the Unicorn' on your own record label, it's quite a departure from the music you make with Robots in Disguise- what made you decide to change direction for your solo work? Is it something you've always wanted to do?

 

Sue: I didn't really have a big plan, maybe I should've! I just wrote some songs, bought myself a really nice guitar for the first time in my life (other than my gorgeous Fender Precision bass which I bought second hand right at the start of being in a band!) and decided to just record them very simply. I had met David Wrench and really liked his way of recording like this, plus wanted it to be easy to replicate live without either a band or backing track.

 

 

Hayley: What inspired the lyrics on the album?

Sue: I find everything inspires lyrics. Life, love, books, bikes...and yeah, North Wales, lately.

 

 

 

Hayley: What has the reception been like to the album?

 

Sue: Really lovely! I'm so pleased about it, and it's really gratifying that it's brought enjoyment to people other than just moi. Would be nice to reach some more folks but that's a challenge on a lo-budget self-release. 

 

Hayley: What's the newest single and why have you selected that particular song? 

 

Sue: 'Hollow'  I love the simplicity of this song, and I knew a simple video would work with it. Plus my publisher told me it sounded like a single!

 

Hayley: How did the tour go last year? What tour plans have you got for this year?

 

Sue: Great ..well except for me having gastro-enteritis...! Oh and the small matter of promoters threatening cancellation which was a bit stressful..but in the end, all good. By the final few gigs I was no longer vomiting backstage before the gigs! The audiences were really lovely.

 

 

Hayley: Do you plan to record another solo album?

 

Sue: Yep! Soon...ish!

 

Hayley: Any plans with Robots in Disguise this year?

 

Sue: No. I guess we're on indefinite hiatus or whatever it's called. 

 

Hayley: You recently moved to Wales, what's that been like?

 

Sue: Hard at first, I missed the big city. But I love it now, finally. Fresh air, nice tastin' tap water, a room of my own to write songs in, and love - what more could I possibly want?

 

Hayley: On Twitter, you often promote things like 'Offline weekends' and only spending time online between 9 and 9. What made you start doing this?

 

Sue: I was just spending WAY too much time looking at screens and I couldn't afford new glasses. I operate quite well with rules too, as long as it's me who makes em! (And therefore gets to break em when I feel like it!)

 

Hayley: Are you an active feminist? What sort of things do you do? (protests, groups etc?)

 

Sue: Yeah! Lately a bit less active though, I'm slowing down a bit just recently, but will rev up again after the summer. I don't wanna stress out my foetus with too much political rage!

But, yeah, I love a good protest! There's not very much feminist protesting in the streets that goes on in Bangor but I did organise a couple of protests to raise awareness about Pussy Riot. I'm also in a feminist group here in Bangor. 

 

Hayley: Which women inspire you and why?

 

Sue: Vocal feminists. Non-comformistes.

My mum. Peaches. Emily Jones. Ah... there's masses of inspiring women! Can't name em all!

 

 

Hayley: what advice would you give to other women who want to try self- releasing their music like you have done?

 

Sue: Go for it! But don't expect to get rich ! And do expect to have somewhat less time to spend on music! 

Thanks again to Sue for taking the time out to answer my questions. If you haven't already, go buy the album (click this link)!

Obsessive Compulsive: Seculo Seculorum album review

The last in the series for the April artist of the month.
Seculo Seculorum is the second full length album from Manchester based four piece independent band Obsessive Compulsive. This album was fan funded using the PledgeMusic platform, it’s not available to those who have been pledged but will be out on full official release on June 24th.
The title ‘Seculo Seculorum’ immediately grabbed my attention, for me I imagined it representing the album as a large mystical book filled with power and potency, but I have since learned it actually means ‘Forever’ as music does indeed live forever, no matter how long ago someone passes away, their music can be still enjoyed for eternity.
I felt that this album is about strength, independence and self- empowerment. For instance the song ‘Stamp Your Own Path’  with it’s lyrics “You don’t need anyone, you never did, you never will, so come on stamp your own path.”
My personal favourite is the shouty ‘No Logo’ about being against corporations and remaining true to who you are “I won’t sell my soul to the corporations” “We won’t tell you what to buy or how to live your life” sung with such conviction, you know this is something the band feel strongly about.
Musically I can’t put this album into one particular category, “No Logo” has elements of punk, there’s a definite metal influence across the album as well as hard rock and on the final song ‘Swallow the Sound” I feel like lead singer Kelli is channeling Alanis Morissette vocally and to some extent lyrically too.
The album has anger and passion in spades, but overall it personally makes me feel empowered and strong, this is a band that have worked hard and it shows. We need more bands like Obsessive Compulsive. So please support them and other independent bands by buying their music and going to their gigs. You can find all Obsessive Compulsive tour dates by clicking here 
The first single will be ‘Regurgitate’ released on May 13th.

Pigtails and Army Boots Weekly Update

news round up
One of my favourite new bands 'Deap Vally' have finally announced the release date for their debut album, which will be called 'Sistrionix' and it's released on the 24th June- a day before my birthday. This band are amazing.



As if Yoko Ono couldn't be any cooler, she's doing another cool project. The 'John Lennon Bus' which will be touring giving young people the chance to get involved with music, video, photography, game and broadcast projects.
It kicks off at The Museum of Liverpool on May 8th,  before touring around schools, colleges and festivals. For info visit www.lennonbus.org
Weekly Event Guide
Tues 23rd April- Sun 28th April
Wed 24th- What the Frock Quiz Night upstairs at The Big Chill, Bristol 7.30 for 8pm start £3 to enter, up to four people on a team.
Fri 26th- Peaches at Indig02, Greenwich
What the Frock! All female comedy night at The Square, Bristol get tickets here
ARTIST OF THE MONTH- Obsessive Compulsive- I interviewed their lead singer Kelli about their fan funded album check it out by clicking here

Artist of the Month: Obsessive Compulsive

My band of the month for April are Manchester based Obsessive Compulsive. 
They recently had a PledgeMusic campaign for fans to fund their second album, which was a successful campaign and for those fortunate people like me that pledged, can now enjoy the fantastic album 'Seculo Seculorum'.  They are a very hard-working band with a strong DIY ethic, booking their own shows and releasing music on their own label.
There are four members in the band- Keli on vocals, Giz on guitars, Pete on bass and Dani on drums. It's hard to pinpoint an exact genre to put their music into, as they certainly have their own sound, but there are elements of metal, punk and grunge all mixed in.
here's a couple of their songs for you to check out:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCfdu5SAhiE&w=560&h=315]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg7QpmwmXDw&w=560&h=315]

Pigtails and Army Boots weekly update

Latest News:

Yeah Yeah Yeahs have released the disturbing video to go with epic new single 'Sacrilege' check it out:

Obsessive Compulsive's new fan pledged album 'Seculo Seculoram' was released to pledgers about half hour ago, I pledged, so am listening as I type and it's sounding AMAZING. Review to come soon!

La Roux revealed a new reggae tinged song at a gig recently

Weekly Event Guide

Monday 1st April- Sun 7th April

Tues 2nd April- La Roux at The Fleece, Bristol

Wed 4th April- 'What's the Most Important Issue Facing Feminists today?' at The Conway Hall, London. 6.30pm £5. Feminist bloggers from The New Statesman including the wonderful Laurie Penny discuss the issues.

Fri 5th April- Paramore at The Garage, London

Sat 6th April- Kate Nash at Rescue Rooms, Nottingham

With the new album released today, I'm making OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE my artist of the month for April- expect an album review, videos and more over the course of the month.

My new Home!

My new blog is now here

this blog will still be open for archive, and also cross posts of any relevant music/feminism posts but if you want to see ALL my various topics go over to the new one!