I'm not dead…

…I just don’t really have time for my blog any more. Nor anything much that is post-worthy!

I’m still writing for the Art of Punk series on Colin’s Punk Rock World (a post about logo designs was published today). I also write reviews sometimes, such as the lengthy gig review for Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls at Alexandra Palace that was posted last week.

In more visually creative news, I linoprint-ed some Christmas cards the other weekend. You may or may not remember my designs from last year – check them out here too. I think I like this year’s little reindeer more than last year’s design.

12 x FT

I was super lucky to attend the release day party of Frank Turner’s sixth album, Positive Songs for Negative People, last night at the Garage in Highbury, London. It was definitely one of the best Frank Turner shows I’ve been to, which is no mean feat – I’ve been to 12 of his gigs over the past five years!

Those 12 gigs have really ranged in size and location – one was even in another country! This has got me thinking that it would be interesting to gather together a photo from each show and share them all together. I, of course, take photos at every gig I go to – I even used to use an actual camera, before the iPhone/Instagram…

24/03/10 @ Camden Roundhouse, London

The first and probably one of the closest I’ve been. Will always be special to me.

16/07/10 @ 2000 Trees Festival, Upcote Farm, Cheltenham

Frank’s first festival headline. My first festival. Our favourite festival.

BONUS PHOTO!

12/12/10 @ Brixton Academy, London

Venue size increasing rapidly. Dad was my gig buddy for this one – his first (of six) FT gig(s).

04/04/11 @ White Trash Fast Food, Berlin (Germany!)

Conveniently he was playing in Berlin when I was there. This was a solo show.

25/08/11 @ Roadmender, Northampton

A Reading warm-up show. Too close to home to even consider missing.

27/11/11 @ Hammersmith Apollo, London

Travelled up from Cornwall for this one. Only time I’ve ever been seated for a FT show too.

13/04/12 @ Wembley Arena, London

A real special show – both for me and Frank!

01/07/12 @ 
Eden Sessions, Eden Project, St Austell

Frank Turner? In Cornwall? A few days before I left Falmouth for good? Sure thing!

26/11/12 @ O2 Academy, Oxford

I won guest list spots for the venue of my choice. This was a tour without a London date.

[2013 was unintentionally a Frank-free year]

12/02/14 @ O2 Arena, London

Massive, but massively awesome.

17/12/14 @ XFM Winter Wonderland, Brixton Academy, London

Frank and the boys were awesome as always but wouldn’t go to an XFM thing again.

07/08/14 @ The Garage, London

Last night. Closer to the stage standing at the back of the venue than several of the above!

Clearly almost all of these are pretty bad from a photographic point of view… but it’s interesting to see how Frank – and the band (note how they don’t become known as The Sleeping Souls for a while) – have evolved. And the logo/stage backdrop too!

It actually feels like I’ve seen Frank more times than this: he’s made guest appearances when I’ve been watching Beans on Toast and Billy Bragg, plus another Billy – Billy the Kid – on multiple occasions. Not to mention the times I’ve stood next to or near him at other artist’s shows!

I’ve got at least one more gig lined up in November but I don’t doubt that I will continue to go to even more Frank Turner shows after that. He’s just that good.

Frank’s back!

…and sounding better than ever. No, seriously. This is classic Frank Turner and I’ve only listened to the song once so far! Because the video is pretty neat – writing the lyrics as he sings them (or, the recording of him sings them!) – I thought it was worth a share here.

I’m looking forward to reading Mr Turner’s new book when it’s released in April – dad’s got a copy on pre-order for me birthday. I imagine, as the master lyricist that he is, that it will be a good read. I’ll need a break from fantasy books anyway…

FML666

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing my favourite skinny half-arsed English country singer Frank Turner for the tenth time at the O2 Arena in London. Tenth and probably the best yet! But this blog post is not about Frank – there’s a good review by someone else and some photos here – excellent as it was. This is a post about a music video.

In between acts (the great Beans on Toast and awesome Flogging Molly supported) there was a showreel of sorts for Xtra Mile playing on two large screens – but without sound. Xtra Mile being the record label that Frank Turner is signed to as well as other favourites of mine; Crazy Arm, Jim Lockey & the Solemn Sun, Dave Hause and Against Me!

It was the Against Me! video for FML666 that caught my eye and hooked me almost instantly. Even without being able to hear the actual song! Why? Because the lyrics were spelt out throughout the song – and I not in a conventional way – interacting with the story being told. Anyway it meant I could play the song in my head instead, by reading the lyrics.

www.againstme.net // vimeo.com/joshuamikel

While I’m talking about Against Me! I should point you in the direction of this review of Transgender Dysphoria Blues, their latest album. The reviewer, a punk rock pal of mine, listened to this album after my persistent recommendation. Plus, they summed up all my thoughts and feeling far better than I ever could – the album is f•••ing great. I can’t wait to see the band live later this year. Incidentally, the only time I’ve seen AM! is when they supported Frank Turner at Hammersmith Apollo a couple of years ago…

Recovery

I’d forgotten that Frank Turner has a new album out soon (less than two months), probably because the man never stops touring so it’s like he’s never been away. So anyway, he’s premiered this new video today. The song is great, and I’ve only listened once but what I really love is the creativity of the video, particularly the illustrations.

The video has been put together by Tom Lacey, who I hadn’t heard of before now but it seems like he’s done a fair bit of Frank’s design work (including the cross-bone logo) in the past as well as work for other musicians and bands. I shall go and have a thorough nose of his blog now.

WIN!

I have barely won anything in my life but today Xtra Mile tweeted me to say that I am the winner of tickets to see Frank Turner, Jim Lockey and Tim Barry in a couple of weeks. I’ve moaned on several occasions over the last couple of months about not being able to go to this tour – s’all sold out now – purely because the line-up is so good.

I have no complaints now. Thank you Xtra Mile!!!

Folkday: Frank Turner & co. at the Eden Sessions

I was unbelievably excited when this show was announced earlier in the year. I wanted to go to an Eden Sessions show before leaving Cornwall anyway, but when Frank Turner was announced it was hard to say no (this makes the 8th time I have seen him play live, 7th time with The Sleeping Souls – I'm not bored yet). Add Seth Lakeman, Bellowhead and Stornoway to the bill and I'm sold.

The Staves

Pretty flags.

Mediterranean Biome.

Follow the wiggly yellow brick road?

Um, what?

I think this is a llama?

Dan made me sit on it.

Pictograms.

Clementines.

Dan's looking at something.

Piggy.

Tree!

Mull Historical Society.

Seth Lakeman – third time seeing him, best yet.

Bellowhead  – I knew they were a big band but I didn't realise how big.

Cornishness.

Stornoway – to be honest, they were a bit boring.

Shiny, shiny Mr Frank Turner.

Nigel played a recorder solo.

Fairly decent photo!

Another fairly decent photo.

All-in-all it was a great day of great live music. Of course FT and The Sleeping Souls were brilliant, with highlights including Frank's a'cappella solo, English Curse, and new song "I Want to Dance". But I think Bellowhead were equally excellent – need to a) get some more of their music and b) see them live again! Also, it's always nice to be in a beautiful location.