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Franz Nicolay - Do The Struggle

By Simon, on August 18th, 2012

My introduction to Franz Nicolay came via his tenure with The Hold Steady in fact one of my favourite gigs at Wolves Civic was enjoyed propped up against the stage barrier directly infront of Franz’s keyboard, he’s one of those guys that has the ability to carry a style with panache, a style that quite frankly on moi would look rather ridiculous, that style conveys into his music too – off-kilter, quirky, unique, trying to describe his latest album in a few words brings to mind the oft mentioned quote (mis-quote) “writing about music is like dancing to architecture“, suffice to say this Kickstarter funded album is wonderfully eclectic and well worth the Kickstarter investment made.

Franz is on tour in the UK now – go see a show, details here

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Buy at Bandcamp

Do The Struggle by Franz Nicolay

. . . → Read More: Franz Nicolay – Do The Struggle

Leave a comment   Americana, Rock   ,  

Vinyl Love - Craig Finn - Honolulu Blues

By Simon, on November 12th, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hold Steady frontman Craig Finn is releasing a limited edition 7″ single, “Honolulu Blues” plus “Rented Room” via Vagrant on November 25 for Record Store Day’s Black Friday – the digital version arrives a few days later, the single is a taster of Finn’s solo album due early 2012 which features support from members of White Denim, The Heartless Bastards, Phosphorescent, and Centro-matic, read the Pitchfork interview about the album here.

Pre-order @ Rough Trade

. . . → Read More: Vinyl Love – Craig Finn – Honolulu Blues

One comment   Rock, Singer-Songwriter, Vinyl   ,  

Odds N Ends

By Simon, on May 6th, 2011

Bloodshot have a tempting offer for on a Jon Langford CD & Book, cut and paste job on the marketing bumf .

The starting point was his long unobtainable album Skull Orchard. For the CD available exclusively with this book, Langford returned to those lost recordings and radically revised them, enlisting as his accomplices theBurlington Welsh Male Chorus, who contribute a unique warmth to the material. Three new tracks have been added, making 18 in all.

Jon illustrated his lyrics for Skull Orchard, at once autobiographical and fanciful, in a set of “song paintings” created especially for this book, which also includes much more artwork, an A to Z of South Walian culture and history (both personal and general) by Jon’s brother, and acclaimed SF writer David Langford, photographs by their father, Denis Langford, and Jon’s first published story, a witty, dystopian tale about a whale and a dolphin.

Jon Langford  - . . . → Read More: Odds N Ends

Leave a comment   Odds N Ends   , ,  

Franz Nicolay “Luck & Courage” (Decor 2010)

By Simon, on April 19th, 2011

Rather late to the party I know but it’s overdue I post a little something about Franz Nicolay’s album Luck & Courage released last November on Decor Records (who look after Richmond Fontaine, Mark Eitzel and AMC amongst others), it’s probably tiresome for the fella but in case your trying to place the name Franz was the keyboard maestro with Brooklyn’s finest The Hold Steady, I’ve not seen the band live since Nicolay’s departure but they’ve got to miss him he has that natural performers stage presence to go with his musical skills and was an excellent foil to Craig Finn.

Wildly eclectic and without a dull moment this his second solo release following on from 2009’s Major General and it’s a quality piece of work, built around his excellent lyrics the song structures appear tilted on their axes giving the album a loose feel regardless of whether it’s the sparsely . . . → Read More: Franz Nicolay “Luck & Courage” (Decor 2010)

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Leave a comment   Americana, Singer-Songwriter   , ,  
 
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