HOLGER at BLOGWARS

photograph by Paula Rúpolo

The first ever edition of BLOGWARS was ssick! Thanks to everyone who came down and especially to Holger who played an awesome gig!! There are pics from Paula Rúpolo and also Mariana Lima over HERE, but check some of our pics of the party below, and some backstage pics from Paula Rúpolo below those. 

Rolla // HOLGER

Tché // HOLGER

Ana // Bonde do Rolê invades the stage (by invitation)

Pata // HOLGER

And some of our favourite backstage pics by Paula Rúpolo! More pics in the gallery below.

A smiling Boss In Drama

Man in the Mirror - Pata from Holger

Still partying on...

BIG LOVE TO ALL Y'ALL BLOGWARRIORS!

GALLERY

Nestor Leaves Seattle

So Sky Larkin have arrived safely back home in the UK...but not before throwing together another little video of the noise, the drama and dream of recording an album with John Goodmanson. Check Nestor, Dug and Harkin out in the video below, looking all cute and musician-like in Seattle and stuffs:

This was from a few days ago, maybe even last weekend, but it was such perfect weather that we walked all the way downtown and then happened upon everyone's favourite carwash on the way back.

Just three days to go until we head back to reality now. Feeling kind of down because I don't want to leave, though I have been listening to deftones a LOT so that might have something to with it.

Nah, I'm sure well be back soon.

20th March 2010, Seattle

Last day today, boo...

I'm totally ready for home, but also really genuinely sad to be leaving Seattle.

I think we've spent just enough time here to start settling in, so without trying to be too clichéd an weepy, it kind of feels like we're leaving home.

Nah, I'm sure we'll be back soon, if only to see the Fremont Troll (seriously, look it up) which we still haven't managed to do in the two months we must have collectively spent here.

Anyway, here is a flattering snap of us taken by the man Johnny G on the hallowed steps of Bogroll Studio. Good times.

22nd March 2010, Seattle

I hope y'all enjoyed the pictures of stuff I thought was kind of interesting.

See you next time!

x Nestor

Hiya Nest, are those finger guns?

Photograph of Nestor above by Matt Maude

Ahoy!

Healthy eating is an important part of making a record, particularly during the recording process (and afterwards when I get to sit around whilst the guitars and singings are being laid down).

But along with eating all my fruit and vegetables I also go out of the way to sample the most synthetic, chemically enhanced and headache inducing soft drinks known to mankind.

So, without further ado...

Exhibit A: Dr. Pepper Diet Cherry and/or Vanilla

6th March 2010, Seattle

Verdict:

Well, this tastes neither like cherry or vanilla which I think is the fault of it being diet, but it was such a tempting mix of flavour I simply couldn't resist. I'll make sure to keep an eye out for it's full sugar brother.

Here is a picture of the space needle and a section of the world famous Seattle monorail! (plus some satellite dishes in the middle for good measure).

9th March 2010, Seattle

Seattle fact of the day:

the two tracks of the monorail were designed so that two trains could go in opposite directions for the convenience of everyone. However, the tracks are just slightly too close together, so that when the two trains passed round a corner they would actually crash into each other. This renders one half of the tracks useless to this day.

Good job Seattle!

On the plus side however, the space needle is one hundred percent awesome.

DrinkZ update:

10th March 2010, Seattle

The winner. By a thousand miles.

You can actually smell this stuff in the air hours after opening it.

It has that glutenous texture of regular Dew, however it tastes like the slimy offspring of engine oil from the Terminator's ballsack and a cherry from the year 3000.

Basically, mankind just isn't ready for this stuff yet.

I've also just read that there is an even more cherried version available at some place called Wienerschnitzel. I'm intrigued, but also quite afraid... How much cherry is too much?

Just been saying goodbye to my chicks, they live next door and have been reliably waking me up more or less around sunrise every day until now. We've moved up in the world, home is now a swanky apartment with real beds for the remainder of our stay.

Pretty stoked.

13th March 2010, Seattle

But seriously, have you ever seen a finer chicken specimen? I thought not, that guy is a champ.

Just did a quick sweep up.

I must say I'm a bit disappointed in myself. I had expected the drumstick mortality rate to be much higher (and therefore more photogenic)...

Oh well, there's always the next record!

15th March 2010, Seattle

Just one week left in Seattle now. The thought would bring a tear to my eye if my face wasn't already covered in precipitation of every form.

x N

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.