Hiya Nestor

Things I have seen on my days off in Seattle that I would never see anywhere else no. 1:

1st March 2010, Seattle

I don't even know what this is about - nor do I care really - I only know that it and it's owner by proxy, are awesome. Not pictured is the DIY afterburner attached to the boot.

LMAOnaise.

Things I have seen on my days off in Seattle that I would never see anywhere else no. 2:

2nd March 2010, Seattle

Just wow. He looks like you're recently deceased, closet-alcoholic serial-bigamist uncle telling you about those 'saucy parties' he went to back in 'the day'. Sure, his strangely animated eyes follow you around the room, but that's totally OK, just take it as a sign that he's watching over you from the spirit world, and occasionally watching you in the shower too.

Ha. I just wrote that without really reading it. Is it funny or just really dark?

7th March 2010, Seattle

Perfect weekend weather, perfect weekend.

x N

And furthermore, catch a moving picture glimpse of what Nestor, Dug and the lovely Harkin have been up to whilst in Seattle:

Say Hiya to Nestor

photograph of Nestor by Danny North

We all know I have this *ahem* indefinable thing for HEALTH's drummer BJ; but before there was BJ, there was (drumroll please - HA!)...Nestor.

Nestor is currently of Sky Larkin drummer fame, and right now is back in Seattle with bandmates Harkin and Dug at John Goodmanson's (Death Cab for Cutie, Los Campesinos!, Sleater-Kinney) studio, who also produced the band's debut album.

Nestaaargh, the oddly gentle, ranga beast that he is, is writing a little Seattle guide/diary for us. Here's his first week for you...

21 Feb 2010, Seattle

Yo yo,

Seattle is good, although we're pretty badly lagged!

Beautiful weather, a freak heat wave or something. Meant to be hailstorms next week!

Just been for a walk. I forgot how scene Seattle is, we looked like foreign exchange kids look when they visit your school. Ha.

23rd Feb 2010, Seattle

I've been having trouble getting to sleep before 3am lately, partly through nerves about recording and partly through getting up later and later! I thought it would help with the timezone shift, but so far it's just made it even harder to adjust.

Our food today consisted of take away pizza for lunch and burgers from an old school burger joint called Dick's for dinner... Mmm, healthy. I already feel like crap, might be time to get healthy already, which basically means don't eat around here!

We get weekends off so we can have a rest (and so John [Goodmanson] can hang out with his new baby) so I reckon we're going to the cinema a few times while we're here and I think 'Precious' is probably on the agenda, it looks pretty awesome. Did you know Oprah Winfrey produced it?

I always forget how hard recording is, especially when we're just starting. Only did a few hours today and I'm already totally wiped... It's a good job we've got the wizard to help us out when we're in trouble!

25th Feb 2010, Seattle

Home sweet home. I wake up feeling like I'm stowing away on a galleon or something, it's kind of cool but not the most comfy place I've ever slept!

I found out today that the last band to stay at John's studio named this little space The Butt Hut, not sure that I want to know why...

X Nestor

You can check Nestor's epic drum work here, as a little bonus, in 'Smarts', the result of the last time the trio and John Goodmanson crossed paths for 24 hours, late last year in Wales.

NYPC

In the anticipation of New Young Pony Club's forthcoming album, Optimist, the kids over at Topman CTRL have roped in the band to take the reins for February's CTRL program!

This time, it's being held in Sheffield round at Bungalows & Bears on the 25^th February.

Y'all know the drill by now...CTRLers NYPC are pulling in Mercury Music Prize nominated (we still think they shoulda won...check this interview I did with them back in '08) trio The Invisible, art-rockers and responsible for invite only festival In The Woods, The Laurel Collective as well as sets from DJ duos Run Hide Survive and Children For Breakfast - as usual, a pretty impeccable line-up...!

...And YEAH the band designed a tee and YEAH we've got one of them to giveaway to our super ace readers. So YEAH. Here it is, the special limited edition tee specially made for Topman CTRL by New Young Pony Club:

THE TEEEEEEE

To be in the draw to win one of the tee that we got, what you gotta do is get your twitting gloves on and retweet the following:

IM//the Optimist and I'm going to win this New Young Pony Club designed Topman CTRL T that @imyouare is giving away http://bit.ly/9joQta

Now kids, you can re-tweet as much as you want, the more you twit, the more chance you have at winning, innit. Comp closes on the 12th of February where we'll gather up all the retweets and pick one at random.

And whilst you're all going forth and re-twitting that shit, here's the vid for their latest single, the wicked 'Chaos' for you to tweet along to:

The xx & These New Puritans on tour

For all those outside - as well as inside - of Europe crying blood tears about not being able to catch this most heartbreakingly amazing double header of both The xx and These New Puritans TOGETHER on their absolutely gruelling tour schedule around Europe, the best consolation we can offer you right now is that Domino are giving away 'Orion' as a tissue to dab your eyes with.

And from The xx, here's their cover (somewhat ironically) of Womack and Womack's 'Teardrops' that I dug up.

If it will make you feel any better, just think: everytime a fan has a *CRY* (all together now y'all), DAWSON CRIES TOO.

Full tour schedule after the jump

MATTERRRR

photograph by Paul Zedman

Heavy weight London clubs Fabric and matter are playing host to some super amazing nights coming up, including tomorrow's insanity at Fabric of which I am *gutted* I'm not in town for. I mean, seriously, peep this:

FABRICLIVE – FRIDAY 22 JANUARY
ROOM ONE // KILL 'EM ALL...
Erol Alkan, Filthy Dukes, Riton, Fools Gold (LIVE), Stopmakingme

ROOM TWO // EAT YOUR OWN EARS...
Gold Panda (LIVE), Kieran Hebden (Four Tet) (DJ Set), James Holden, Floating Points, Casper C, Eat Your Own Ears DJs

ROOM THREE:
Mystery Jets (DJ Set), Wild Geese, Villa, Jac The Disco

RARRRGH SOOOO GOOOOOOD!!

And next Saturday (30th Jan) boasts another hot line-up, and we figured that if we can't be there, one of you lot might as well go, check it:

DISCOTECA - 10pm-7am £15 advance
 
ROOM 1: Jamie Lidell (live), Francois K, Metro Area, Italians Do It Better showcase [Glass Candy (live), Desire (live), Mike Simonetti], Disco&Mercy

ROOM 2 - DISCO BLOODBATH: Optimo, Dan Beaumont, Ben Pistor, Damon Martin

If you want to be in the running to score two tickets to DISCOTECA, all you gotta do is shoot an email to holler@imyouare.com with "I MATTER!" in the subject line with your name in the body.

Winner will be chosen at rrrrrandom, innit. And if you're the lucky randomer chosen, it really will mean that you matter.

Well.

It'll mean that you'll be getting down to matter next week courtesy of yours truly at least.

COMP CLOSES MIDNIGHT, THURSDAY the 28th, so holler.

Yo Sydney, what y'all doing tonight/tomorrow? YOU SHOULD COME CHECK THIS:

Drop in at the Finders Keepers SS // 09 Independent Art and Design Markets over at Carriageworks, bringing together all kinds of cool people doing cool shit in art, design, fashion and publishing.

I'll be there tomorrow looking after the stall for one of the magazines I write for (which also happens to be one of the most beautiful and inspirational independent publications EVER. No seriously, it actually restores my faith in publishing AND in humanity. I know right!); Dumbofeather, Pass It On so come and say HIYAAAA.

OPEN FROM:

Friday 4th December from 6pm - 10pm

Saturday 5th December from 10am – 8pm

WHERE and HOW TO GET THERE:
The inside foyer at CarriageWorks - 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh NSW 2015.

The pedestrian entrance is at the corner of Codrington Street and Wilson Street. Wheelchair ramp and level access at all entrances. Fully accessible toilets.

Nearest train:
Redfern or Macdonaldtown and its only a short walk from King Street in Newtown.

SEE Y'ALL THERE!

No this isn't an MJ post - but it does involve similar sentiments to that song.

Do you believe in climate change? CAUSE IT DOES EXIST, Y'ALL.

Them peops at Oxfam have sorted out a masssssssive line-up to raise the awareness. YES THE GODDAMN POLAR ICE CAPS ARE MELTING, and it might seem as remote to you as that, but it DOES AFFECT US. And even more so in some of the poorest parts of the world. Damn, poverty and the apocalypse at your doorstep - not so cool, huh? So how's about getting informed through song and dance and other handy learning tools?

This year, Oxjam's aim is to help create awareness and raise funds for the fight against the devastating effects climate change is already having in other parts of the planet.

Here's the line-up so far for you with some wicked people to check out, including our friends over at 88 Days, Afrikan Boy, David E. Sugar, Isa GT, Joy Orbison, O. Children and Toddla T amongst many...

88 DAYS | AFRIKAN BOY | ALEX SHERIDAN | THE AWE KIDS | BESS CAVENDISH | BLABBERMOUTH | BLAISE BELLVILLE | DJ BLAKEY | BRACKLES | THE BROOKES BROTHERS | CHRIS AIDY | DAVID E. SUGAR (KITSUNE) | DEAD KIDS |DEADLY RHYTHM DJS | THE ELECTRIC FLOWERS | EXAMPLE (+ DJ WIRE) | MC GAFF E | GUY PRESTON | HERVÉ (THE COUNT) | ISA GT (LIVE PA) | IS TROPICAL | JACK BEATS | JESSE MONROE | JIMMY SCREECH | JONNY LAND | JOSH BRAY | JOY ORBISON | KAL LAVELLE | KAVS RAVE | KAY ELIZABETH LAZARUS CLAMP | MARLON ROUDETTE OF MATTAFIX | MARTELO | O. CHILDREN | ONEMAN | THE ORIGINAL AFRICAN INDIANZ | PASTE | RADIANT DRAGON | RAVE WITH NO NAME DJs | RUM SHEBEEN |SCRATCH PERVERTS | SCREAMING TEA PARTY | SEB GENOVESE | TAYO | TEK ONE | TODDLA T + LADY CHANN | TROJAN SOUNDSYSTEM | VIVIAN VOLTA | YINKA (SABATTA)

+Many more yet to be announced and extra special guests

Oxjam Brixton (Sunday October 25th 2009, midday – 4am)

Oxjam Brixton tickets, £12.50 (£10 concessions): http://www.wegottickets.com/event/59784

More information: www.oxfam.org.uk/oxjam | www.oxjamsouthlondon.org.uk

DO's:

Photography by yours truly

The Village Underground had all manner of hipster kids fiercely posturing and loitering about outside, perhaps some hoping to be snapped by Mark the Cobrasnake who I bumped into at the door. He was exiting as I was entering (an hour later, spotted: Mark the Cobrasnake and friend nestled at a diner a few blocks down in Hoxton) to the throb of Crystal Fighters onstage.

Crystal Fighters

Not realising it was them, I was decidely unimpressed with the song that was playing as I walked into the cavernous exposed brick warehouse space. The song was AWFUL. Thankfully though, it turned out very much to be a blip and I was totally won over by the rest of their set. They reminded me a lot of CSS for some reason; but a more ravey, pounding version of the Brazilian band - perhaps the reason why Lovefoxxxx was DJing later on in the night.

In case you missed it last week, here's the Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs mix of Crystal Fighters 'Xtatic Truth':

I had actually intended to catch Leeds based band Pulled Apart By Horses, as I heard at the last gig they played at The Old Blue Last that front man and guitarist Tommy Hudson (incidentally big bro to Jack Hudson - apparently mad skillz run in the family) had vommed onto the trendy shoes of the Shoreditch crowd. I missed their Vice set unfortunately, but I did manage to nab Tom in between gig-goers congratulating him on the band's set to question him about the incident.

Tommy Hudson from Pulled Apart By Horses

"I'd been stealing people's drinks all night, and I just felt ill onstage. I was looking for somewhere to puke and it just happened to be onto the crowd. They were not impressed."

Oh dear.

"Later on we were walking past the park and a bunch of girls called out to me. I thought 'Oooo! I'm going to get chatted up!'. Then they said 'Come here and lick the vomit off our shoes, you idiot!' "

We then came to the conclusion that perhaps next gig he might up the ante and do a camp little poop onto the audience's shoes. Fashionably speaking though, Tom was sporting what I thought was a mythical t-shirt depicting Tommy DM from Dinosaur Pile-Up that I had been hoping was real and now need to have even more than before.

Anyway, Pulled Apart By Horses have just finished recording their album, so that will be released into the wilds soon enough. Cop 'The Crapsons', the AA side from the PABH single 'I Punched a Lion in the Throat' below and go download the rest of the release for free here.