Ch-Ch-Changes!!!

A change is a coming, and I feel that the time is almost here to make those changes.

Basically I am going to stop doing New Music New Talent, I am aware that many people enjoyed this show and I enjoyed doing too, but I feel like I have achieved what I wanted to do with that particular show now and it's now the time to dedicate all my energy into the show I truly feel passionate about and that is of course Pigtails and Army Boots. It's the first show I started doing and my passion has never waned, if anything my passion for female fronted music has increased ten fold since I started doing the show.

I will still be doing New Music New Talent and Pigtails the way they are for the next 4 weeks, but afterwards Pigtails and Army Boots will have some slight changes, still of course playing the best in female fronted music but I will be adding 3 unsigned/indie label bands a week with one of them being "unsigned artist of the month" and also a weekly event guide which will include gigs by both signed and unsigned artists, as well as feminist and female friendly events.
I also hope to do more interviews not just with musicians but with females in other areas of the music industry and media, anything that may be inspiring to women!

I hope you will enjoy the changes!

Amanda Palmer

another blog, another awesome female artist
who else but Amanda Palmer!
I'd known sort of about her for quite some time, as my best friend was a big fan of the Dresden Dolls and done me copies of their albums over the years but it wasn't until about two years ago that I really started to appreciate her sheer awesomeness.
She had not long released her superb solo album "Who Killed Amanda Palmer?" which I had heard a few songs from and liked, another of my best friends convinced me to come to the KOKO in Camden to see her live.
Well that night I fell in love..
it was an amazing show, she had a theatre company called "The Danger Assemble" with her who performed alongside her songs, she even had the fantastic writer Neil Gaiman (who she is now engaged to) play tambourine on the brilliant song "Oasis" and she also did a few Dresden Dolls songs and generally it was a fab night, we went to a good club night afterwards too.
I was so happy and positive about the gig that I actually went out and bought the album the following day and now when I go out djing, it's a permanent fixture :)
I was lucky enough to see her again last year and the gig was totally different, still amazing but a much more stripped down show, just Amanda and a piano for most of it.
But AFP is about more than her live shows, I've never known someone like her to have such a bond with her fans too. She updates her Twitter regularly and talks to fans personally through it as well as on her blog she's even been known to find places to crash at via her Twitter :)
She had some problems with her record label, specifically to do with the video for "Leeds United" apparently they thought in some shots, she looked too fat, so to show their support, fans took photos of their bellies and wrote messages on them and I believe a book was even published!
Miss Palmer has since been dropped by Roadrunner Records and she celebrated by releasing a pay what you like song "Do You Swear to Tell the Truth..." and a couple of days ago she has just released via her website her first independent EP "Amanda Palmer performs the popular hits of Radiohead on her Magical Ukulele" which the minimum you need to pay for it is 84cents which is a percentage going to Radiohead for the use of their songs and some to cover paypal fees. I highly suggest you go download it! <3
Oh,and one last fairly important thing, it was also partly down to her that I decided to learn to play the uke!

Robots in Disguise

well on this blog I've wrote about two of my favourite bands- Joan Jett and The Blackhearts and Kasabian. Another band that has rapidly been becoming one of my favourites is Robots in Disguise
I don't think they are very mainstream well known but they do seem to have a bit of a cult following, mainly because of their connection with the also fabulous Mighty Boosh The two front women are Sue Denim and Dee Plume (who I believe is still the girlfriend of Noel Fielding)with their female drummer Gemma Hill. Their music is a blend of electro, rock and pop and they have an unique sense of style with their latest passion being blue lipstick! (you can even buy Robot Blue lipstick by Barry M and get this necklace)
I've been lucky enough to see them live three times now, including once right here in Southend and everytime has been like one big party. They more often than not, let the fans come up on stage at the end, I'm yet to join in but certainly hope to sometime!
They seem to mainly appeal to young girls, there are certainly some feminist messages in their songs.
They had problems with money when it came to recording their fourth album so used the great site PledgeMusic to get their fans to help them make enough money to record it in return depending on how much you donated you could get a gift in return- I look forward to receiving my signed copy of the new album when it's out!
I guess the best way to show you how great they are is via YouTube videos (and their videos are excellent) so here are some:


My favourite song is GIRL (listen to the lyrics)!


The Sex has Made Me Stupid


Turn It Up


Wake Up


The DJ's Got a Gun

Returning

Hey
have you missed me?
The shows will be back on air as from this Thursday, I've just planned an awesome Pigtails and Army Boots featuring the likes of Florence and the Machine, Portishead, Robots in Disguise and Tori Amos so make sure you tune in!

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!

Radio Break

Hey,

Just a brief blog to let you know I will be taking a short radio "holiday" for a couple of weeks, but don't worry the shows will be back bigger and better than before! and I'm sure I'll still find some good music related topics to waffle on about on here! :)

This weeks playlists- what you can hear this week

Pigtails

Santigold - I'm a Lady

Guano Apes - Pretty In Scarlet

Kate Nash - Pumpkin Soup

Ladyfuzz - Kerfuffle

Lettes to Cleo - Let's Get High

Labelle - Lady Marmalade

PJ Harvey - Sheela Na Gig

femmepop - good

Candy Panic Attack - What's He Got That I Haven't?

The Distillers - Beat Your Heart Out

Lush - Ladykillers

Patti Smith Group - High on Rebellion

Ladyhawke - Back Of The Van

Little Boots - Earthquake

Ladytron - Black Cat

Kenickie - I Would Fix You

Scarlet - Independent Love Song

The Ladybirds - (I'm Gonna) Spin Those Reels

Belinda Carlisle - Heaven Is A Place On Earth

Hole - Celebrity Skin

The Cardigans - Higher

Scarling - Band Aid Covers The Bullet Hole

Miss The Occupier - Short Sight

Bjork - Earth Intruders

Heart - Alone

Georgie James - Cake Parade

The Honeydrips - (Lack Of) Love Will Tear Us Apart

A Brokeheart Pro - Bleed On

Karen O - Highway 61 Revisited

New Music New Talent

El Dog - A Princess, A Monkey, The Stars and The Sea

Greg Kiss & The Feral Cats - 25 hours/day

Spoonfeedas - Cant Let Go

Sabbata - Princess

Andy J Gallagher - 02_On Your Way Rejoicing

Lallakiss - Slick

Barnicle - I Kissed A Girl

The Kissaway Trail - Smother + Evil = Hurt

Sophe Lux - God Doesn't Take American Express

Hovercraft Pirates - Always Free

Tom Burgess - December Morning Motorway

The Longshots - My Getaway Girl

We Are Wolves - Fight & Kiss

Mother Mother - Body Of Years (Album Version)

The Kut - Doesn't Matter Anyway

Muck and the Mires - Don't Let Her Get Away

Voodoo Johnson - Blow me Away

A Sunny Day In Glasgow - Hugs & Kisses

A Brokeheart Pro - Hard WAY TO FALL*written By Ryan Adams

The Subway Strippers - Jimmy Blacksheep

Fire Bug - Paradise

Fahrenheit 451 - Bass and Bombs

Sykamore - So Far Away

Jessica Allyn - Mother Goddamn [B-Side Single Version]

The Violets - Hush Away

Experimental Aircraft - walk away

The Ropes - Water and Headphones

Bunty - Getting Away