I’m around 5 years older than him and when he was much younger he looked up to me and followed my tastes in several things, although you’d be hard-pressed to find him admitting to that nowadays. Music was a prime example, but as he made friends at high school he started liking bands and artists that I’d never shown interest in and are unlikely ever to do so. The example I’m going to list below would appear to be a major black mark against my credibility as a major music fan but we all have our blind spots and this is mine.

Case study: the songs of Bob Dylan. On the advice of a school friend back in the 1990s my brother started listening to Bob Dylan (from now on referred to as BD for my sake) and before long he was buying up a variety of his albums. These ranged from studio albums old and new, such as ‘Highway 61 Revisited’ and ‘Time Out of Mind’, to official live discs as well as bootleg albums like ‘The Bootleg Series Vol. 4: BD Live 1966, The “Royal Albert Hall” Concert”’. Now I don’t deny BD is a great songwriter and radio DJ but I’ve never took a liking to his voice. My brother somehow grew accustomed to it quickly, although he argues ferociously that there is nothing at all wrong with it. Let’s just say we agree to disagree on the subject.

If I want to hear hear BD’s songs I go for other interpreters, my favourite is the 1960s band ‘The Byrds’. I have all their albums and what I love is the way they skip from one musical genre to another, taking a BD track with them on most occasion. Their most famous track is ‘Mr Tambourine Man’, written by one BD or should it be Robert Allen Zimmerman? In my humble opinion it’s a quantum leap in quality over the original recording. It was located on their similarly titled first album, which was typified as being part of the folk-rock movement, whereas on their psychedelic infused album ‘Younger than Yesterday’ ‘My Back Pages’ could be found. Dylan apparently was happy with their interpretations, as highlighted by his appearance onstage at one of their 1965 gigs in Los Angeles, although the royalty cheques might have eased his fear’s somewhat.

Back to the subject of the wedding playlist; if my brother makes sure Smokey Robinson and the Miracles ‘Tracks of my Tears’ is played then harmony between both of us will be restored, that is until the next BD track is played.

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The documentary began in the suburbs of Birmingham where a young Ozzy claims the emergence of the Beatles changed his life. He realised there was more to life than working in a factory and vowed never to end up like his ancestors. So, applying for a singer in a local band, he started on the road to international stardom.

Sex, drugs and more drugs were the order to the day for Ozzy and Black Sabbath. The documentary sees the rise of Ozzy with Black Sabbath in the 1970s and the fall when his first wife left him due to his addiction problems. Then in the 1980s he rose again (he was one of the biggest selling stars of that time) and then descended back into his spiral of drugs and alcohol.

Included in the interviews were Ozzy himself, his current wife Sharon, all five of his children, his brothers and sisters and former band mates. Sir Paul McCartney, Tommy Lee and Henry Rollins are among the celebrity guest interviewees. The documentary also features previously unseen footage from Ozzy’s early days.

It makes for interesting viewing as we see the aging rock star reminisice about the good times, the bad times, and more excitingly, the wild times. Ozzy’s life took a turn for the worst when Randy Rhoads, his musical collaborator, was killed in a car crash. We see the turbulent life Ozzy led and we are offered a glimpse into his sobriety and how he has achieved it. Even for those who are not Ozzy fans, the documentary is well worth watching just for the dramatic nature of Ozzy’s life.

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It may not be as mainstream as rock and roll or Hip Hop, but Red Dirt music and Red Dirt Bands are not new on the air because they’ve been rocking the music world over the last twenty five years. These bands have produced music that has and continue to touch the heart of people who are not in their forties yet. It is the melody that this genre’s structures that make their music ever popular to such age group.

Jackson Taylor has been a favorite Red Dirt Music artist in Texas and whose video “Country Song” is thought of as an anthem for all Red Dirt bands. The gentler side of Taylor and his crew was shown in his “Let the Bad Times Roll” and “Better Life.” He also made songs that talk a bit of politics in their lyrics but it was his “Old Henry Rifle” that showed his opposition to too much government control and taxation. He is a singer who touches almost all aspects of life aspects and who has the ability to speak what he wants to.

Red Dirt music is unique and this kind of music is not for everyone and it is not the kind of music you will hear ringing on FM radio every day and night. Not many will go buy an album of this music or even pay attention to new music displayed on pop up stands. Many would give it a try but it requires a convinced heart to make the attempt fulfilling.

Music means a lot for those who have deep thoughts within them. They truly find music as an escape from ordinary life, a means to express oneself, and a way to show the world what they believe in. The music of the band, with Taylor’s power, defines reality in life and combines all that’s funny and loud.

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Recently I heard the new album from Stephen Marley and I must say I was very impressed with not only the music but also the versatility of the tracks. For anyone who doesn’t know, Stephen Marley is the son of reggae legend Bob Marley, and he is fast becoming a legend in his own right. He has five Grammys, and is a talented musician who produces, sings and writes music.

His newest album, “Revelation Part 1:The Root of Life”, released on May 24 reflects Marley’s musical heritage, and is a stunning return to roots reggae.

“Jah Army” is the first single off the album, and it is a collaboration with his brother Damian Marley. Immediately embraced as a Rastafarian anthem extolling love and unity, the single is pure pulsing roots reggae and as such is reminiscent of those days back in the late seventies when this kind of music ruled the airwave in Jamaica.

“No Cigarette Smoking (In My Room)” is another great track, showcasing singer Melanie Fiona’s amazing vocals. Sizzling with the exciting chemistry between the two artists, along with its infectious beats, this song debuted at #1 on the iTunes Reggae Chart. Not bad for a song that was not the first track released.

This 14-track album pays homage to reggae and its roots by featuring interpretations of three original Wailers songs from his father’s catalogue: “Freedom Time”, “Pale Moonlight” and “The Chapel”. The rendition of these three tracks is more than worth a listen and I am sure fans of the artiste and the Marley music can surely tear themselves away from their mediocre secondary teaching jobs, and give it a listen and enjoy.

Masterfully produced by Marley, who takes advantage of the rich, pure sounds of live instruments (including drum, bass, guitar, keyboard, sax, harmonica and flute) to the fullest, the album boasts guest appearances from not only brother Damian and Fiona, but also brother Ziggy Marley and Spragga Benz.

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I like to think I have pretty eclectic taste when it comes to music; after all, I am probably one of the few people in the world whose record collection contains both a PJ and Duncan album and Metallica. However, I have always drawn the line at classical music. Never been able to get into it at all. No matter how many people try to persuade me that it can be uplifting/moving/funny/dramatic or any of the other adjectives friends have used to describe individual pieces over the years, I just find the stuff about as interesting as a two-hour lecture on human resources software.

So I was very surprised when someone bought me a compilation album of some of the most popular pieces of classical music. And this was someone who knows me and my opinions on the matter very well. Her argument was that people mellow with age, and perhaps if I gave it a chance I might find something that I liked.

In the spirit of keeping an open mind, I decided to give it a try and guess what? I still hated most of it. However, there were a few pieces that I’m almost ashamed to admit I enjoyed. And there were several pieces that I actually knew and didn’t realise they were considered “classical”. Like the famous theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey, for example. I always thought that had been written for the movie, but it turns out it was written decades ago by some guy called Richard Strauss. I sort of knew at the back of my mind that the tune from the old Old Spice ads was a classical piece as well, but I had forgotten what a classic (if you’ll pardon the pun!) piece of music it was. Perhaps I should give this album a few more listens, and try not to be so closed-minded next time!

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So I am kicking off the tour with Dublin’s Oxygen Festival starting in July 7^th, hoping to catch some of the biggest bands like Foo Fighters, The Strokes and Coldplay three nights camping there will get me in the mood for my next stop, Benicassim Festival in Spain. Benicassim Festival in is happening along the Mediterranean beaches and lasts four days from July 14^th to 17th. Old and new bands will be playing here like, Babyshambles, The Streets and My Bloody Valentine, and you can get free spirit camping here for nine days in fields under the Spanish Sun. Then after a couple of weeks rest with a few sangrias I will be jetting off to Budapest for the Sziget Festival starting on August 10^th. This one looks like madness a week’s camping is included in the ticket price and there are tons of stages were bands like Dizzee Rascal and The Chemical Brothers will be living it large! If that isn’t enough I will be finishing my tour with Pukklepop Festival in Belgium where equally big names are being anticipated to play. After all that I will probably need a holiday!

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OK, well maybe not my absolute dream job of “lottery winner” but I have managed to secure a few hours a week doing my second favorite job in the world; working in a record store. The store belongs to a pal of mine and his Saturday girl (yes, he actually calls her that) is going on holiday for a few weeks, so he asked me if I could step in and help out. I warned him I had no retail experience, but he said he was hiring me for my encyclopedic knowledge of music. Once I’d finished hugging him and dried my eyes, I graciously accepted his offer of five CDs or three vinyls of my choice as payment for each Saturday afternoon worked. Keeps me off the books, he says, and I get to add some of those juicy vinyls, that I’ve been eyeing up for months, to my ever-expanding collection.
I’ve warned him that I already have some suggestions as to how the store can be improved. Though I don’t think he’s really taking me seriously, as when I started talking about retail display units he laughed so hard beer shot out of his nose. Well, I’ll just have to change it all around bit by bit when he’s on his break. Tiny little movements and additions so he (hopefully) won’t even notice what I’m doing…
I’ll keep you posted, dear readers, on the progress/success of my secret mission. Either that, or my nexy blog will be about the trauma of being sacked from your second favourite dream job by someone who you had thought was a good friend.

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Dancing is definitely the most fun way I know to keep fit. And to keep warm. Many’s the time I’ve been to student house parties in the depth of winter when a cracking set of rock tunes were more effective than heating oil at keeping the draughty, old rooms bursting with warmth!

These days I much prefer standing at the back of gigs looking cool, nodding my head and glaring at the uncouth idiots who believe it is acceptable to talk loudly to their mates during even the quiet songs in a set. I could probably write a whole blog about why people who talk during gigs will be the first against the wall, come my personal revolution, but I’m in a happy mood today, which is why I want to tell you about my top five most danceable tunes ever.

Weirdly, only one of them would be considered a “dance” tune and that’s Ride on Time by Black Box, the first record that turned me onto the amazing and innovative things that DJs were, and still are at times, doing. The rest of my favourites are firmly in the rock/indie/80s classics category. In fact, two of them are the very epitome of the latter; Temptation by Heaven 17 and Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham! Utter cheese, I know, but I challenge you not to at least tap your feet when either of them come on the stereo.

I’ll rescue my street-cred with the last two choices, hopefully; Common People by Pulp and The Boy With the Arab Strap by the sublime Belle and Sebastian. Both bring back happy memories of my student days and dancing like an idiot in my favourite club. The opening bars of either tune are enough to get me jumping to my feet even today…

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This Friday, Chad Nug and the Paisley Princess will be joined at Brighton Light Dome by some of England’s most famous and talented psychedelic mindbending neoska jazz dubtech riddims. Support acts include Phil and Ted’s Vibe, the Dead Poets and heavy metal three piece Gravy, who’ll be performing a number of anthems from their recent album. Sadly, it is difficult for venues or musicians to write about bands without crossing the boundaries between “useful précis” and “hyperbolic drivel”.

Tickets have sold out but they will be available on the door at around fifty or sixty quid per person. Concessions are available for pensioners and the terminally impressionable.

As previous posts have alluded to, gigs are far too expensive. People can’t afford to see live music as much as they’d like, which leads to decreased interest in bands, fewer fans and probably even contributes to piracy. Critics of the industry hail the price of concert tickets as an example of our inherent greed and disregard for our fans.

That’s not true. We need to charge so much on the door to pay for our overheads – namely, venue and equipment hire. Our vans cost lots of money to run and insure, and we’ve got to eat and pay the bills. Everything costs a lot, and if anything goes wrong we need enough in the kitty to put it right again. Perhaps if we were a bit bigger, playing at bigger venues, then we’d be able to charge less per ticket. Alas, that doesn’t look like it’ll happen any time soon.

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I am quite certain that you must have encountered the dance called Salsa, at least once in your lifetime. If so, then you must be aware of the vibe and excitement surrounding the dance of Salsa. Salsa is a form of Latin Dance, which mainly originated during the 1920s in Cuban Son. Latin American culture has been reflected in its different types of dances; such as, Salsa, Mambo, Merengue, Rumba, Cha Cha Cha, Bachata and Samba.

Undoubtedly, Salsa is the most prominent and widely performed of them all. Nowadays, Salsa is a widely practiced and recognised form of dance in the United States, Japan, Spain, Portugal, Israel, Italy, France, and Eastern Europe.

Salsa mainly involves a dancing couple; however there are a lot of variations as well. You will also find people performing Salsa in groups or sometimes individually according to the specific event. Some of its renowned variations are the New York style, Los Angeles style, and the Cuban style. Certain distinct characteristics of Salsa make it the best in its field. For instance, it is not only sensual it is also an alluring dance.

Salsa dance is extremely good for a workout. Dancing Salsa, not just effectively helps you reduce your extra calories, but it also helps you tone up your body well.

Secondly, research has shown that Salsa also helps your mind! It helps you concentrate more effectively, thus it makes you somewhat smarter almost like painting for Debra Stroud.

Thirdly, Salsa has also been found to reduce stress and thus help a person in maintaining hormonal balance.

Fourthly, the vibe and excitement surrounding Salsa helps boost the confidence level of an individual.

Finally, Salsa provides a person with the platform to learn something new and thus increase their knowledge of a particular culture.

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