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

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.

Pigtails and Army Boots returns!

Just an update to let you know Pigtails and Army Boots will be back on the air from Monday 10th December over on Firebrand Rock Radio! The show will be going out every Monday night live from 8pm UK time.
So I'm now open again for you to send your new music for airplay, and/or reviews for the blog.
I always play two independent/unsigned bands in the show, as well as an unsigned/indie band for artist of the month- if you want to be considered for the coveted artist of the month slot, you will need to send at least 4 mp3's.
I also play a cover version at the end of each show, so if you have recorded any great covers, then also please send those over!
To be considered for airplay please send your track/s to pigtailsandarmyboots@gmail.com- in MP3 format please. If you're interested in having your album/ep/gig reviewed on this blog you can contact me on the same address.
Looking forward to bringing you more exciting female fronted music!

Album review: Dana Jade

Dana Jade is a former member of alternative female choir Gaggle, who has decided to break away from the pack and become a lone wolf with the release of her own self titled rocking debut album which was released at the end of May and has already been gaining many positive reviews.

I'm only going to add to the positive reviews- as I'm also really enjoying the album. If you're looking for a solo version of Gaggle, this isn't it. (let's face it, would that really be possible)?! Dana's style is much more rock based with soaring guitar, and vocals virtually dripping with attitude.

This is proper grrrl rock n' roll which isn't shy- this is full on- an album that should be played at full blast. From the catchy singles 'Little Sister' and 'Eyes of Cinder'  to my personal favourite song, the musical equivalent of an arguement (in a good way)! 'She or I Go'

You can buy the album from Dana's Bandcamp found right here

These are the videos to the singles in case you need any more convincing:

Artist of the Month of September- Catherine Elms

The first featured artist of the month on "New Music New Talent" was the rather fantastic Catherine Elms.
The first time I heard her music I immediately thought of Tori Amos and that she wa sone of the best unsigned artists I've heard this year.
She has a great voice and plays piano as a "punk rock" instrument, and is a feminist too!
Catherine recenlty made her first EP "Not Sorry" which I am very proud to own. You can hear Amanda Palmer influences as well as Tori Amos on there.
The EP is only £3 and is worth every penny, so I highly recommend that you go and buy it on her website http://www.catherineelms.co.uk