Screaming Citizens - at the Wardrobe, very cool.

Despite a random drunk gentleman from Crete and the world slowest bar (seriously, I nearly left without my Flaming something or other) I took the misuss out for her birthday to the Wardrobe, a small bar close to the Leeds Playhouse and the BBC, excellent spot and 4 member funky rock group were playing - The Screaming Citizens, I have to be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect from the name ...

The started with an all time favourite of mine, though this is usually a bad move - (nothing worse than a good song done badly) but in this instance it was awesome - "Play that funky music", seriously my foot didn't stop tapping for the evening, there is one pre-requisite for that track, getting the bass line right, and it was spot on.

The 4 members are made up of the usual drums, bass guitar, another guitar and then the lead singer - who is also an awesome flautist (yeah, plays the flute) - which oddly enough mixes in really well. It is unfair to single out any of the four for special mention - but Kev Mooney on the bass was pretty damn brilliant (not the same bass guitarist from Adam and the Ants though, not sure if he is any relation) ...

Honestly though the evening was made all the more better by some drunk Salsa dancers, think they were Crete, but wasn't quite 100% about that...

Anyhow a few links -
Screaming Citizens on MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/screamingcitizens
the Wardrobe - http://www.thewardrobe.co.uk/
and the Wardrobe on Twitter - http://twitter.com/wardrobeleeds

If you can - definently try and see them ...

Eurovision 2009 - Conclusion

Another Eurovision song contest came and went, of course it was as glitzy as ever, but were the songs any good... Well our own song frankly was a bit naff - like a Disney song from a 'straight to video' sequel... Despite this, Jade did a damn good job and so the UK came a respetable 5th.

Norway stormed into the lead, but I am unimpressed ... it was an impressive performance, visually but I am not struck on the singing or the song! Greece, despite looking more like a dodgy George Michael video, was pretty good - but I felt that the German, Swedish and the Azerbaijan entries all had more merit...

Still it is over for a year, and hopefully Andrew Lloyd Webber will be off our screens for a while (nothing against the TV shows, I just find him, and crap reality tv a bit annoying!)

Last FM feeling Festive ?

Oddly we noticed a few new Christmas tracks sneeking into the Reccomended by Last FM player, the way Last FM works is mainly on comparing what you listen to, to what everyone else listens to.

So are the people at Last FM feeling festive? - Well, they are but they aren't the ones doing this (so they said in an email) - it is the listening public, who are scrobbling the odd festive song ... - so if the people you are similar to in your music tastes are feeling festive - then it is potentially contagious! your going to have the odd festive, but hopefully in line with your taste, track in the mix!

Thanks to the guys at Last FM for clearing this up and to the listeners of Last FM for spreading hte Christmas cheer!

Videos not working ?

If you find a video or two isn't working - don't panic - its good! It turns out that we need to upgrade our servers a little - unfortunately some of the videos are going to be offline for a day while we catch up with the new locations ...

Don't worry, we are still here and of course all videos will be back up!

Loving my new iphone

It has to be said, I am convert - oddly I was arguing about how bad iPhones were and how they were truly overpriced and dated in certain directions (web connection is slower (3mb/s compared to other modern phones 7mb/s, cameras a bit rubbish, no video) but what a package! This moved was fuelled as much by a need to get away from Three and their appalling customer service and a breakdown in trust as it was for an iPhone ... But now I have one I am singing the praises at every opportunity - why ?

Well, I am sitting here listening to the Last FM radio streamed music based on my personal music taste, derived by scrobbling from places such as Winamp etc...

The iPhone is an awesome multimedia player, the screen is excellent - significantly it is usable in a way that other devices aren't ... It is no secret that we are talking about developing a mobile web version of Mixit.TV but now the question is should we make it a iPhone web app or something that will work with everything ??? we will probably end up doing a mixture of both, but thats still down the line ....


Seriously, take my word for it - if your a multimedia lover, and a camera isn't vital to you give it a try - the device ticks more boxes than you can imagine.... if only I could still touch'text!

N95 for sale ... anyone?

Gerry
(the resident geek)

Reeperbahn Festival - any good ?

Its has to be said - the best way to see a music festival isn't always as out of our face as we were (the others on the stag weekend and I), that said the Reeperbahn Festival was absolutely awesome. I am not saying British festivals are over priced, but this was damn cheap - I have a feeling I will return with a Mixit.TV crew next year, maybe less alchohol fuelled! We saw only about 6 or 7 bands in total, but two British bands stoof out - the first was most definently The Corteeners - the room was small but packed, moshing up the front when they performed some top tracks, the sound was perfect: Found this on YouTube - not taken by us though, I tried taking some video but it didn't come out - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hQXqDXjS-k course, this is a band we would to interview ....

Next came a more 'accoustic set' from The Subways, or more a Subway, as William Lunn said on his blog

"...(Mr. Steve Gurney - sound engineer/tour manager extraordinaire) and I were off to rock Hamburg armed with...my acoustic guitar...watch out, Hamburg! We arrived and made our way to the venue to commence soundcheck."So it's just you?" said the stage manager."Yes! Little old me. I'll still blow your socks off. Just
without a distortion pedal. Don't worry..."

He did, seriously - this was a complete different room, the from a room barely able to fit a hundred this room was massive probably a thousand+ crammed in - and a solo accoustic set by William Lunn blew us away - if your not familiar with The Subways, they were recently featured in the film RocknRolla ... If any of these guys wants to come in for an interview we would love to hear from you, seriously top performance in Hamburgs redlight districts international music festival.... Looking forward to a more sober visit next year ...!

Social animals (online) that we are ...

We now have a Myspace and a Facebook page, the most important question is which logo do you prefer? we have a different one on each! We have been trying to figure out a decent logo and discussions have heated up - so if you do find us on MySpace or Facebook please let us know which logo you prefer.

Course we release some secretive information on each, so its worth finding us on both simply to keep upto date.

http://www.myspace.com/mixittv
http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/MixitTV/

And as a special prize, the 5,000 friend we get on MySpace will get an ipod nano

Feedback needed!! - Music in your home

We're in the middle of writing a few articles on freeing the music, so please drop in the comments any experience you have had getting your digital music to where ever you are, either in the home (via wifi?) using different storage devices, and of course out of the home... The articles are going to be divided up into various areas including listening to music in the home, on the move and in the car.

If you have the perfect setup, or been surprised at how bad something can be then please post a comment!

Salsa in the Mix

Salsa Revolution have been lucky enough to have Carmelo Dance Company, one of London's hottest up and coming Latin dance groups perform for them this Thursday.

Performing and debuting their brand new salsa show, before it travels around the world. So this is my chance to be amongst the first in the world to see it and best of all its right on my doorstep.

"I've been lucky enough to see them in rehearsal and they work really hard, I was out of breath and my muscles started aching just watching them rehears. I forget how many times I said WOW and I hadn't even seen the finished version."

Chunky
www.salsarevolution.co.uk

Salsa & Latin lifestyle

I have had a lot of request for Latin lifestyle, I have been ask to feature salsa dancing, music & fashion, as a keen salsa dancer myself I have not got a problem with that, you can expect to hear about the hotest dance clubs in the UK & about bands, Congreses, dance shows, I have some videos from the Salsasplash down in Hayling Island last week & some great review, so watch this space.

Don One

Aint No Sunshine Now He's Gone.... Ike

Isaac Hayes died yesterday(10 August 2008) aged 65 and so passes another legend in the pantheon of music(dom). His name will be remembered and his works live on and on. I had the good fortune to meet the great man and sit down and rap with him on several occasions. He was indeed an imensely humble character and a gentleman of the first order. He was an inspiration to me and a giant in the industry. He told me many stories about his exploits which I would love to share with you all at some more appropriate time in the future. The nature of these are such that this would be an inappropriate time to recount them here and now. Let us all give a big sigh, wipe that tear from the eye and celebrate the works of this great man now sadly deceased.

I Stand Accused Isaac Hayes

url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GWWNxBNlyQ

King King

WE'RE ON THE MOVE

My peoples! Construction of the site is going great... i LIE! It's going absolutely fntastic! We have developed a number of really cool features that you are just going to love. I have been sworn to secrecy; but I can tell you that over the coming weeks you are going to see a dramatic increase in the content material that we will be featuring on this site. We have some exciting new bands and individual artists who will be plying their beautiful musical wares and regaling us with excellent original and cover material, that I know you are all going to love. (Well most of you at least) In all we have some 350 new videos/acts sitting in the archives being written up as we speak and this will mark an important landmark in the progression of the best of unsigned and new material available to you in any one place on the net. I kid you not my "peops" they represent the very best of what is out there on two of the five continents. The other three landmasses are being scoured for material as I write this and we will be presenting them to you as and when they come in.

I would like to take this oportunity to say a big Hello to our viewers/readers/listeners/lookers and friends in Mexico. We value your patronage and intend to feature loads and loads of artists, bands and material from your neck of the woods in the not too distant future.

I am in the process of compiling some really interesting material that is not specifically music related but still excellent entertainment and I hope you will tune into the king@mixit.tv section which will be coming onstream shortly. This will represent my personal view of things available on the net including: dance, theatre, poetry, politics, philosophical and cultural debate, humour, scandal, outrage, film, video and essentially those things that I enjoy that will give you a little insight into what makes me tick. I don’t expect you all to understand or even subscribe to the things that I enjoy but for those of you who do... We are going to have a blast. And Hey... Lawyers at Mixit... Chill... This ones all down to me. Tell the fuddy duddy’s NaySayers and the inheritors of the MaryWhitehouse brigade to address their writs to King@cyberspace.cum... Dig it. HaHaHa Lets get this show on the road.

KingKing

MOZES AND MOUNTAINS

The enigmatic Mozes of Mozes and the Cameras is an intriguing, charismatic character who is a thoroughly down to earth and humble man. He is the complete antithesis of what his name evokes or implies. Mozes is full of passion and laughter with the most disarming, self effacing charm. Although he is deadly serious about his music he is really relaxed about himself. He says that what you see is what you get and winks cheekily.

When it comes to talking about his music he does so passionately. He knows exactly what he is about and has a whole philosophy about what it is he is doing. He calls his music "Black Folk music " and adds that that description is both "of" and "by" pausing for me to fill in the blanks. He is inspired by diverse influences from whom he drawa energy and vibrations: the likes of Fela Kuti, Mahler, Curtis Mayfield, Van Morrison, Gill Scott-Heron, Beethoven, Richie Havens, Bjork, Maria Callas, and Tracy Chapman.

Mozes is fiercely independent and knows exactly what he wants. He wants the lot and wants it on his terms. A nice thing about my meeting with him was that he remained constantly alert to ensure that I was following the thread of his argument and comfortable with what he was saying. Mozes is such a nice chap it was a pleasure being in his company and I look forward to watching what happens with the new acoustic album he is about to record. Good Luck Mozes. You are the salt and pepper of the earth my man. Music is your medium, The stage is your pulpit You're half way up the mountain. and I hope you get to share your vision of life with a greater audience out there. I think you have important things to say and will win lots of friends in saying them.

As Mozes left he turned and said "I'm gonna "Moze" over to catch the number 1 bus now to get to Covent Garden to do some busking. See you on the Main stage at Glastonbury in June next year bro. You can give me the Paxman interview next time"

Checkout Mozes on Mixit.TV


Additional Information about Mozes by Mozes:

Mozes and the Cameras sound like Mozes & the Cameras however if you must compare... the sound is an inspirational gumbo of Richie Havens, Van Morrison, Tracy Chapman, Jon Lucien, Hootie & the Blowfish to name a few... and yes it is folk music but with a punchy left hook!

"A folky melodically organic international rhythm.."

Mozes' Influences:

Beethoven, Nat King Cole,The Killers, Studio One, Vernom Bush,Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Seal, Tom Wait, Geoff Buckley, Hendrix, Bjork, Maria Callas, Michael Jackson, James Brown, Amy Winehouse, Thin Lizzy, Muse, Radio Head, imagination, Lee Scratch Perry, Jah Shaka, Snoop Dog, Public Enemy, frank Sinatra, Van Morrison,The Wailers, Mahler, Arethe Franklin, Beatles, to name but a few


KING KING

don't RIP Don Bingo & Yoda...

Where have they all gone ? Yoda & Don Bingo ? I spent my formative university years in Sheffield Hallam Uni - occasionally attending the odd lecture and of course frequenting what was the best live music venue around - an old swimming pool called the deep end.

I saw some truly awesome. and some truly awful bands not only there but in the students union ... disapointingly not only has the deep end sunk, but so have these top bands! Don't get me wrong, Sheffield has produced some of the better bands - it is just that too much quality has sunk without a trace (so has the Deep End, with a bit of scandal).

This morning on my mobile, a song by a group formerly known as Don Bingo brought a smile to my face, they imagine Crash Test Dummies but a English Northern version (think US 'the Office' vs the Gervais original)

"Living in the open sky.."

If anyone knows what happened to "Yoda" or "Don Bingo" or that band where the white guitarist had dreadlocks and the lead female perpetually bounced (definently she needed de-caff)
I am just a tad disapointed that so much talent in the worlds gone today... Mixit is all about helping raw talent - shame we can't revive the dead.

LONG LIVE NELSON MANDELA

Probably Nelson Mandela's last public appearance in this country. He is to be the guest of honour on Friday (27 June 08) at a huge party in Hyde Park to celebrate his 90th birthday.

The worlds most respected and beloved president who turns 90 on July 18, will be feted by world dignitaries and celebs including former US president Bill Clinton and Hil, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, princes William and Harry and actors Robert De Niro and Forest Whitaker. Amy (Wil she Won't she) Winehouse. The event will be hosted by Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett. Oprah's going to be there. The roster will include a truly star studded line-up led by Queen, Leona Lewis, Annie Lennox Dame Shirley Bassey, Simple Minds and Razorlight are also booked to perform alongside Sugababes, Andrea and Sharon Corr, Eddy Grant, Italian star Zucchero and Spanish group Amaral. And an ex child soldier who is now a big thing on the rap scen: Emanuelle Jai (who Mr Mandela persoanaly requested appear at his birthday bash.... What an honour for the young man) The now internationally famous Soweto Gospel Choir will be doing a special set for their former president.

Nelson Madeba Mandela will be joined by an audience of some 46,664 (his old prison number which has been adopted as the name of the Aids charity that he is the patron of.

There is a rumour that there are a number of artists who are being kept as secret participants as a birthday surprise for the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and the audience. speculators recon that among these are: Miriam Makeba Hugh Masekela the spice girls, Eminem, and U2. Mr Mandela has said that he is looking forward to the event and that although he is retired he cannot resist the opportunity to use the event of his 90th birthday to raise funds for the charitable organisations that bear his name. He said "We have a bargain - I am going to London and they will host a concert in Hyde Park, which will raise awareness of our continuing work and much needed funds."

If you are going along then take as many pictures as you can share them with us here at Mixit.TV; have a really great time and remember it is all in a great cause.

Alexzanda Gordon-King
There now follows a personal statement from myself to uncle Nelson:

PS: Thank you Madeba! Thank you for at long last breaking your self enforced silence on the criminally repugnant activities of your next door neighbour: Mugabe and his detestable cabal. I salute you my President for having said that you have retired and will no more comment on international affairs ; you stand up. You stand up and say STOP! You are standing up and making it clear that Mugabe's behaviour is not acceptable to us, whether it be Africa or anywhere on the planet. You say loud and clear that it should not be tolerated. I hope and trust that your brother leaders within the continent will now band together and follow your example and say: STOP MUGABE Enough is enough! How could a man I/we had admired so long have sunk so low and made/ make us all look so bad/feel so bad? Long Live Mandela I say! Long live Mandela.