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Tuesday

Single launch gig @ The Public, West Bromwich



The glorious sonic shotgun marriage of blues, psychedelia and stoned punk rock that is Guile finally breaks cover with a headline gig at the Midlands most remarkable venue, The Public in West Bromwich on Saturday 27th November.

It feels like Guile have been the best kept secret in the Midlands (or possibly the country, having played everywhere from Aberdeen to Brighton...) for far too long now.  Fusing dark country, white noise psychedelia and a passionate almost soulful reverence for a lineage that draws from Hank Williams, to the Doors, to the Sex Pistols, to Primal Scream and all points in between.

Yes, Guile really are that good.

In fact, think the Jesus & Mary Chain meet Spiritualized on steroids playing Johnny Cash and The Gun Club, throw in The Saints, with Chris Bailey's alcohol soaked delivery... and you’re halfway to Guile.

As if that wasn’t enough of an incentive, Saturday’s gig marks the release of the first fruits of Guile’s debut album in the shape of a limited edition single of title track ‘Alone On The West’.  A coruscating howl of isolation and alienation that has already become a signature part of the band’s live set, the single will only be available at Saturday’s gig, each copy coming with unique artwork as well.

On top of all that there’s the venue.  Twelve minutes out of Brum on the metro and probably the most controversial building in the Midlands, whatever you think of it, to have an opinion, it has to be seen! 

Packed with technology The Public is an ideal gig setting and is geared up for filming, so Saturday could well be recorded for posterity as well. But don’t wait for that... this Saturday West Bromwich really is the only place to be.


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Monday

Screamadelica v XTRMNTR



Noticing that Primal Scream are going to be playing Screamadelica in it's entirety live next year, got me thinking about that extraordinary 3 album burst - Screamadelica, Vanishing Point & XTRMNTR between 1991 and 2000.  (I refuse to count the aberration that was 1994's Give Out But Don't Give Up - what were they thinking, or more to the point, what were they taking, that made that seem like a good idea?)

Anyway, chronological inaccuracy aside, I've always considered these 3 albums belong together and while Screamadelica rightly gets praised as the astonishing reinvention of a band  - it's their London Calling, their Exile On Mail Street in that respect - I'm not sure Vanishing Point & XTRMNTR get the recognition they deserve.

OK the whole dance / rock crossover, that Screamadelica helped to bring in, was old news by the time of the later albums, but they still stand up as a remarkable combination of the MC5, 90's dance music and Krautrock over a decade later.  Not bad in my book.

Personally I think I'd take XTRMNTR over Screamadelica - but that's just me.  I'm off to dig out Vanishing Point now and see how it sounds 13 years down the line...