The Daily Growl

You may not noticed, but I’ve been away for a while. I’m not the only one though. The Early Years were one of my favourite bands a few years back, but after seeing them at a few memorable gigs (notably their support slot at this amazing Electrelane Scala show), they seemed to disappear completely. But [...]

When I was unexpectedly asked to contribute to the BBC’s Sound of 2010 poll, I was a little taken aback and with a short deadline to get tips back to the man at the Beeb, I stuck to the artists I was particularly obsessed with that week. One of these was Liz Green - an [...]

Here’s one I missed at the tail end of last year. Phosphorescent sneaked out a digital-only live EP, with a few tunes from their touring of last year’s awesome Here’s To Taking it Easy album, as well as this Leonard Cohen cover. It’s worth posting not just becasue it’s great and Matthew Houck makes it [...]

About a year ago, I interviewed Kev Jones, one of the men behind Communion music. One of the things he enthused about that day was the week-long run of gigs that he was going to be putting on at the now-defunct Flowerpot venue in Kentish Town. It wasn’t meant to be just a few nights [...]

OK, I’m not going to go on any more about my 2011 blogging absence. There have been good reasons, mainly to do with various illnesses and real life taking over, but let’s move on. Let’s talk about comebacks. Not this paltry one of mine, but long-time Daily Growl fave Beth Jeans Houghton. She’s been AWOL [...]

The first three months of 2011 have been a bit of a washout. At least as far as this blog is concerned. Real life overtook me, and I’ve spent weeks suffering from illness or dealing with it in the family. The rest of the time has been just too busy. But I’m back. With an [...]

February seems too far away. There’s a lot of chilly weather between now and then. So we’re just going to have to wrap up warm in our thermals and coats and wait for Hotel Shampoo, the new solo album from Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys. But before then, TONIGHT in fact, I can look [...]

Today is the day six years ago when John Peel, one of the most influential DJs in the history of broadcasted music, passed away. There will be many better, more eloquent tributes today, but mine is simple. I spent the morning listening to the last thing I ever heard on his show - a live [...]

I wonder how many MGMT fans were curious enough to check out the bloke referred to in Song for Dan Treacy, off the Brooklyn duo’s latest album. Probably not many, but those who did may have been introduced to the weird, wonderful and often troubled world of The Television Personalities. That world is probably better [...]

Cloud Control from Black Cab Sessions on Vimeo.
Have you been on the Black Cab Sessions website lately? I drop by regularly and there’s always something brilliant going on. The latest session comes from Cloud Control - an Australian band I’d never heard of before - who bring handclaps and some lovely harmonies to a trip [...]