Belated William Onyeabor Musical Delight (Feat. Floating-Heads)

OK so it's a pretty late review, but we've been busy leading a cosmopolitan lifestyle (visiting grandma's house, spring cleaning, discussing the best filler for homemade draught excluders, etc - standard). But better late than never, so here's a cheeky write up of the glorious musical escapades of "Atomic Bomb - Who Is William Onyeabor".

In what seems to be Bristol Whipped's season of Colston Hall adventures we found ourselves lucky enough to be attending this celebration of Nigerian "synth pioneer" enigma of a man - William Onyeabor.
Even the event itself asked the question on everybody's lips - Who Is William Onyeabor?
After self-releasing 8 (pretty exclusive) synthesiser-led Afrobeat music albums in the late 70's & early 80's in south-eastern Nigeria, Onyeabor became a born-again Christian and dissolved from the music scene, leaving behind a legacy of great music and great mystery. To this day his post-music life remains a hazy riddle.

In 2013 the compilation album "Who Is William Onyeabor" was released by David Byrne’s Luaka Bop label, as a finale to the 5 year journey of trying to track this man of mystery down. And the evening we were lucky enough to attend was a celebration of this album, the journey, and of Onyeabor's influence to the world of music, performed by a whole host of fans and familiar names.

Now I'm no music critic, so if you want actual words of wisdom on that then I would have to point you in the direction of actual IRL music aficionado Sammy Jones and her review on the same event.

But what I can provide you with myself is irrelevant commentary and bizarre pictures (can anyone figure out what's going on in those floating-head magic-eye visuals??) - that's what you're here for right? No? Well sucks to be you, because that's what you're going to get:

- Ghostpoet: Such dancing, much shoe shine, so dapper!
- Lijadu Sisters: My favourite part was their amaze sparkly red outfits - they looked like glorious dragons!
- Alexis Taylor: Oh if only we could all carry off such a strong look! And a great voice to add on to many of the songs.
- Kele Okereke: Great to see him there and I appreciated his brightly coloured shirt, but there was a slight look in his eye that reminded me of a rabbit being petted slightly too hard by an excited child...

Plus so many more lovely guests and highlights! Personal high point for me has to be Money Mark (Beastie Boys) bossing it on keys. Ooh, so much funk for a Wednesday evening!

Needless to say the crowd had a jolly old time and even though we may be no closer to figuring out who William Onyeabor is, we can at least come away being a little more acquainted with his music!
If you haven't checked him out then give this a listen and let me know what you think (plus the video is pretty mesmerising):

Psychos & Strings

A couple of weeks ago we at Bristol Whipped were lucky enough to take a trip to Colston Hall to catch the performance of Psycho Live! - a screening of Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller with a live accompaniment from the British Sinfonietta performing the iconic Bernard Herrmann score.

From the first swirling notes of the opening credits to the spine-tingling shower scene the band performed to a tee! It was hard to believe that they would be able to stay so perfectly in sync with the drama, but the timing was impeccable (despite quite a distracting skirmish from the balcony at one point) & by the end not a soul could find fault!

In fact, the music was so much part of the performance that it was easy to momentarily forget that the band were even there as you got further and further wrapped up in the spectacle of the show. Although of course this was not only down to the excellent display of the musicians but also the masterpiece storytelling of Alfred Hitchcock.

These days it's easy to look over older pieces of cinema, especially black & white film - but Psycho is just one example of how much of a travesty this would be! The suspense and intrigue created in the story of Psycho are something often missed in many films of today, let alone the brilliant score that facilitated an evening such as this - appreciated more than 50 years after it's initial release.

So bravo to Hitchcock and his iconic tale of suspense and family issues that even Freud would balk at, and congratulations to the British Sinfonietta for bringing this piece to life with such sophistication!

Highlight - how wonderfully the action of the violin bow reflected the action of the knife on screen!

If you missed out on this then make sure you give Psycho a watch - ok so there won't be any live band (unless you can badger your more musical housemates into performing along), but it's definitely worth seeing! And if you're interested in more examples of b&w cinema then you might like to check out some of these:

- Some Like It Hot - Marilyn Monroe & cross dressing, what more could you want?!
- Dr. Strangelove - not the same era as most b&w but still a really interesting example
- It's A Wonderful Life - *sob*
- The Third Man - if any film was made for the mystery of b&w then this is it!
- Casablanca 

Let me know your favourite classics!

Bristol Beau: Alternative Valentine's Day

Tis the season to be jolly! Jolly in love.. love for Valentine's Day... ah forget it! I could've started with a cheesy "Roses are red, snowdrops are white..." etc but decided against it (only to then go on and mention it anyway - sorry).
So, whether you love it or hate it tomorrow will see Bristol literally (yes, literally) bombarded with paired humanoids, eating food together, clasping one clammy hand to another clammy hand, staring into each others eyes (oh how they look like stars, I could get lost in those eyes *sigh*), and generally making everyone else feel a little bit uncomfortable - so gosh darn how should we celebrate this joyous occasion?

Here's Bristol Whipped's guide to the less vomit inducing best alternative Valentine's Day offerings the city has to offer:

Big Lebowski Fest
The Lanes: 8pm - 3am, Free
If you're not into The Big Lebowski then you should probably get out now... Just kidding! Although we would suggest you give it another watch, again and again, until you love it as much as us!
Without the awesome sounding entertainment (The Dukes Of Bordello live performance, Cb Sessions performance, screening of the film itself) it would be worth coming along just for the costume competition - perhaps you and your loved one could do some cosplay as The Dude and his rug? And of course, what's more romantic than getting tipsy on White Russians and pounding those balls into the gutter... Something about a strike...

Opera Gala - Bristol Choral Society
Colston Hall: 7:30pm, £5.38 - £26.88
If your sweetheart is a lover of getting it in the ear, music of course, then you'll want to be part of this! With over 180 members of Bristol Choral Society cooing some of the most passionate operatic choruses since R. Kelly's Trapped In The Closet this event is sure to leave even the most discerning music lover weak at the knees, or ears... *swoon*

After Hours: LOVE
@Bristol: 6:30pm - 10pm, £7
Little Sister from the Bristol Whipped team was once told by her beau of the time that "the thought of going in to a shop and buying you a Valentine's Day card makes me feel physically ill"... needless to say the relationship did not last, but the good news for all the rest of you who come out in hives even at the thought of going soppy can relax - this year you can keep it strictly scientific! Forget pouring your heart out to the one you love - why not try dissecting a heart instead?

Haunted & Hidden Bristol Walking Tour
College Green (start): 8pm, £5
Always wanted to recreate the pottery scene from Ghost? Well this could be your best chance this Valentine's Day (clay not supplied) as you get treated to a history of ghoulish apparitions and spooky sights around the centre of Bristol.
Forget chocolates and roses it's all about supernatural shenanigans!

The Birds And The Bees
M Shed: 6pm-7:30pm, £8
It's an important lesson for everyone - what does it take to attract a mate in the animal kingdom? With entry into Wildlife Photographer of the Year, the chance to get voyeuristic with slugs and their slimy secret parts, and the ambiguously named "Specimen Handling Table", you're sure to find the answer here.
Note: Taking tips from the mating habits of baboons or rabbits is strictly prohibited whilst in the exhibition space.

Cheep Romance
Bristol Zoo: All day, £20 for 2 adults
If you haven't quite had enough of animals then why not spend the day hand in hand with your honey-bun watching monkeys fling faeces lovingly at each other. Who said romance was dead?

If this list isn't enough to set your heart aflutter then gosh darn it you're either dead inside or you're far too sensible to be taking advice from us!

Happy Valentine's Day!
XOoxX (Big hug, big kiss, little kiss, little hug, big hug)

Best Of February '14 - Gig Guide

So for February we’ve broken with tradition and actually managed to get round to doing the gig guide at the beginning of the month. Huzzah – a whole month’s worth of musical delights!

Ok so it’s actually the 2^nd, but you get the picture. Plus, how much can we have missed in just 2 days? Well actually tonight sees two of Bristol Whipped’s old favourites playing in the city - taking us back to our youthful college days are Less Than Jake playing at the O2 academy & The Blackout at The Fleece.

Fun Fact – Less Than Jake were the first band that Little Sister ever saw in Bristol, after travelling up specially from ye olde Yeovil! Woo – personal life nostalgia!

London Grammar

Feb 17^th: O2 Academy, 7pm

Listen out for their dreamy & melodious “Wasting My Young Years” – no it’s not an ode to spending too much time playing Flappy Bird or trawling through Ebay looking at vintage accordions (no, just us? OK then…), but rather a personal look at vocalist Hannah Reid’s time spent with an ex-boyfriend – definitely worth a listen!

 

Warpaint

Feb 21^st: O2 Academy, 6:30pm

Could this be the first time Bristol Whipped gets to see the Los Angeles based experimental art rock group? After managing to miss them at Glastonbury Festival in 2011 (damn you British weather, you fiend!) we will most definitely be braving the jostling crowds and mega drinks prices of the O2 to wrap our ears around their hypnotic vocals and atmospheric rhythms.

Catfish And The Bottlemen

Feb 25^th: The Louisiana, 7:30pm

Turns out it’s not the story of false identities & deceptive online romances, but in fact a great group of stand up lads and their explosive guitar sound all up in your face! Yes! Bristol Whipped are still n00bs when it comes to Catfish and the Bottlemen, but we’ve heard they’ve been touring relentlessly which suggests a good chance of a cracking live performance!

Midlake

Feb 25^th: Anson Rooms, 7:30pm

Only this afternoon we were listening to Eric Pulido guiding listeners through some of his favourite tracks on the 6 Music Playlist. His eclectic tastes leave us intrigued to hear more - just so we can try and spot influences from the Bee Gees in Midlake’s music! (Although it may take some time to forgive him for willingly choosing to play Genesis on national radio…)

And because we’re kind here’s a couple more gems to looks out for:

Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip - Feb 7^th: Anson Rooms, 7:30pm

Toy - Feb 19^th: Thekla, 6:30pm

Sonic Boom Six - Feb 26^th: Exchange, 7:30pm

And for all those fans of Ex Machina you might want to see history in the making at NASCAR’s first ever gig at The Mothers' Ruin on Feb 27^th. As an unknown entity it’s the “Schrödinger's cat” of live music this month.

Let us know if you make it along to any of the listed gigs of if there are any other highlights we’ve missed out!

And don’t forget to check out Bristol Ticket Shop for all your gig needs!

Swap Shop Style - Labour Behind The Label

This Wednesday (Jan 29th) sees a clothes swapping frenzy descend on Roll For The Soul, giving you a chance to update your wardrobe by donating your old, unworn, forgotten clothing and then maybe getting your hands on some new (to you) gems!

The event is all in aid of Labour Behind The Label Trust which does lots of hard work to "support garment workers' efforts worldwide to improve their working conditions", and any money raised at this event will go straight to them!

The suggested donation for entry is £2 - £6, and don't worry if you don't have any clothes to bring along yourself - it's open to everyone!

If you would like to get involved by handing over some of your 'pre-loved' clothes, then all you need to do is drop them off (cleaned, ironed & folded) to the Labour Behind The Label's office at 10-12 Picton Street, Bristol, BS6 5QA before the event (but make sure you drop them a bell first to arrange - 0117 944 1700), or if you'd prefer you can hand them in on the day at Roll for the Soul cafe between 9am - 6pm.

The event itself will be running from 6.30pm - 8.30pm and there'll even be scrumptious treats for you to nosh on available to buy from the cafe - nom!

So it's the perfect opportunity to for you clear some space at home and to let someone else start enjoying all the clothes you've grown out of! Plus who can resist the chance to snag a few 'new' pieces for the wardrobe! Hey, the seasons are changing - perfect timing to update your look, plus it's all for a good cause so there's no excuse not to come along!

Hope to see you there!

Labour Behind The Label

Roll for the Soul 

Unit 2, St Lawrence House

Quay Street, Bristol

BS1 2JL

Best Of January '14 - Gig Guide

Ok, ok, so it's half way through January already... But hey it's the new year - it's been hard enough to keep functioning like a real human being throughout the day, let alone getting to an acceptable level of energised and music happy (that's a thing, right?) to go galavanting out to gigs! So, now that we can take the first half of January, sweep it under the rug, hide it under the duvet, or do whatever you need to do to move on, and lets focus on cramming our ears full of beautiful sounds for the rest of the month! Yes!

Here's our guide to Bristol Whipped's picks from this month's music scene:

- Ultimate Power Club Night
Jan 17th: The Fleece, 11pm
Ok, so not officially a gig, but as far as we're concerned it's the most fun looking club night this month! Lets just admit it - you don't always want to listen to cool new music, sometimes you just need to get a little emotional and to sing about heartache whilst gesticulating wildly! (Plus it's only £4adv - bargainous for this very long January!)

Ex Machina Play It Loud In Bristol

Bristol Whipped were lucky enough to attend the exclusive EP Launch of Bristol-based hardcore/metal/punk band Ex Machina at The Exchange last weekend.

The band had organised the gig for the celebration of their EP 'No One Gets Remembered For The Things They Didn't Do'.
The music was loud enough to shake you to the core, the vocals growled with intensity, the atmosphere was great fun, and they had a special guest and everything!

So if you're into your music coming at you like an angry bear attack (in a good way!) then make sure you check them out, and check out their EP!

Christmas At The Spiegeltent

Like tents? Like mirrors? Like quirky, lavish entertainment? Of course you do!

Well then get yourself down to the Spiegeltent at the Waterfront Square in Bristol this Christmas.

Hosting a whole range of music, comedy, theatre and general Christmas Party fun, the Spiegeltent is most definitely the number one venue for celebrating Christmas in style!

Bristol Whipped's highlights of the performances include:

- Dec 5th: Masquerade Ball featuring Molotov Jukebox & The Urban Voodoo Machine

- Dec 6th: The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain

- Dec 9th: Swing Dance Bristol Xmas Party, with International Jazz Disaster

Advent Carols at St Mary Redcliffe

Looking to embrace the Christmas Spirit? Why not pop down to St Mary Redcliffe on Sunday December 2nd for their Advent Carols event. 

There will be an Advent Procession and carols by candlelight - just the thing to warm the soul on a cold December evening and get you in the mood for Christmas - all in the spectacular surroundings of the Gothic architecture of St Mary Redcliffe.

The Advent Carols run from 6:30pm - 7:30pm. 

And if you're interested in this you may want to check out some of St Mary Redcliffe's other December events, including a Musical Evening for Sue Ryder and plenty more!

http://stmaryredcliffe.co.uk/

The Best Of November - Gig Guide

There's plenty going on in Bristol this November, so here's Bristol Whipped's guide to our favourite picks from this month's gigs:

- Beach House + Holy Other

Nov 3rd: Anson Rooms, 7:30pm

Hope you were more organised and managed to get to see this one last week. The Bristol Whipped team managed to leave it until the last moment again and ended up missing out. Now we're bitter & disappointed especially after all the praise people were giving Beach House on Twitter the next day. Is it too extravagent for us to organise a mini-break to Paris or Amsterdam to catch their shows there?... Ah heck, lets just go all out and fly out to their Tokyo gig! (...)

- Easy Star All-Stars + Laid Blak

Nov 13th: The Fleece, 7:30pm

Easy Star All-Stars present their adaption of Michael Jackson's Thriller, and if you've heard any of their other reggae based tributes to Pink Floyd (Dub Side Of The Moon), Radiohead (Radiodread) or The Beatles (Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band) then you know you're in for a treat with "Thrillah". Easy Star All-Stars hold a special place in the hearts of the Bristol Whipped team, so hope to see you there!

The Happiness Machine

The latest offering from The Invisible Circus, and the last show at Creative Common for a while, is The Happiness Machine, and it has landed in Bristol this October!

Described as "A visual ballad of domestic rituals, sacred truths and the battle for our own humanity when we are all reduced to our marketing potential" the event is set to amaze, bemuse and generally fill you with wonderment, as any previous visitor to any Invisible Circus show will be able to tell you.

The Happiness Machine will be taking place at The Big Top at Creative Common (next to Temple Meads) Thursday to Sunday on 4th-7th, 11th-14th, 18th-21st October 2012  

Doors open for pre show drinks from 7:30pm and the Happiness kicks off at 8pm.

Tickets: £15/£13 concs - available here or from Bristol Ticket Shop.

If you've been lucky enough to bag yourself a place to witness the delights of this spectacluar then let us know your thoughts and reviews of the show!

Pop-Up Cine Sauna

On Tuesday the 18th of September until Sunday the 23rd Encounters Short Film Festival will be hosting a Pop-Up Cine Sauna at The Small Room in the Parlour Showrooms on College Green.

In a Finnish themed celebration the Cine Sauna will be screening the documentary Stream of Life as well as some selected short films & animations (including the infamous Moomins!).

It's free entry and all films will be screened on a rotating basis.

Here at Bristol Whipped we're intrigued to see how watching films and getting very hot & sweaty go together...