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Since viewing their website last summer (a single page saying 'SP IN STUDIO - TOUR COMING SOON!') I had been keeping my eye out for a Smashing Pumpkins show in the UK.

This would be a special gig for 3 reasons. Firstly, it would be my first ever Pumpkins gig, having been a fan since Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness (I expect this is most Pumpkins' fans' first album). Secondly, it would be SP's comeback tour - the first activity from the band since they gave away an entire double album's worth of tracks for free in 2000. And thirdly, Jimmy Chamberlain was back in the lineup - he was the drummer on Mellon Collie whose awesome beats I would imitate (badly) as a 17 year old. (Sadly, James Iha and Darcy were no longer in the band, but then you can't have it all...)

When the show came around, which would be to promote their new Zeitgeist album, I went along with my gig buddy and fellow last.fm user Thommmmmm to the O2 Arena, which holds 20,000 people. I had never been to an indoor show of this scale and to be honest was a bit unsure whether I'd enjoy myself, fearing we'd be miles away from our heroes and surrounded by people who weren't really into it, but I was to be pleasantly surprised...

If you ever go to the O2 Arena, don't be alarmed (as I was) if you see families with kids walking in the same direction. No, your rock god(esse)s are not reaching out to a wider audience. The arena is actually surrounded by an entertainment complex with restaurants, bars, cinemas and the like, meaning you can have a civilised beer - in a real glass - before the show.

A band called Ocean Size began the show. The drummer had a perfectly symmetrical drumkit (and similar playing style) and the band's dreamy songs made for a great opening band for SP.

Continuing with the civilised theme, we chose to get a bite to eat in the interlude, though we felt the cheese board was not a very practical menu choice for the show.

And what a great show it was for an SP virgin - starting off with one of my faves from Mellon Collie, the epic Porcelina Of The Vast Oceans, and going on to play hits from throughout the band's history, as far back as Siamese Dream, all the way through Adore and MACHINA/The Machines of God, as well as fresh stuff from the new album. Darcy's replacement was called Ginger and she was pretty damn hot. We were close up front the whole way through and everyone else there was loving it too.

I'd probably go back to the O2 Arena again. All in all a rather pleasant experience.

Well, old CDs really, but some of them are new to me. Some of them are just old albums that I've either lost, or decided it was time to buy myself a CD copy. Amazon Marketplace is my friend :)

First up is Yield from Pearl Jam. I remember when this came out, I thought it was on a par with their debut Ten - the young grungie's must-have album that was still doing the rounds among my friends at the time. Pearl Jam have never repeated the style of Ten, every album since has been of a quite different nature, exploring gentle folky stuff as well as good old rock 'n' roll, and it is this later work that remains on my playlist. Though, to be fair, that might just be because I don't have a copy of Ten at the moment :) My faves from Yield are the sweet Faithful, Do the Evolution (do the twist to this one) and the anthemic Given to Fly.

Next up is Nirvana's Incesticide. Gotta love this album just for the cheerier, cheekier side of the band that comes through in some of the B-sides and rarities present, including Sliver and Molly's Lips. That's not to say this album doesn't have some pretty full on tracks, (New Wave) Polly being the prime example, and some totally awesome explorations into grunge music like Aero Zeppelin that were probably too far out to have ever have made it onto Nevermind.

Moving far, far away from the grunge, I also received St Etienne's Good Humor today, which I bought off the back of two gorgeous tracks I have on their recent best-of album Travel Edition 1990-2005 - those tracks being Goodnight Jack, and Lose That Girl (which I've mentioned in a previous post). My best friend teases me for liking St Etienne - he can't see what it is I like about them. And I kind of understand. Why would you listen to twee, formulaic, sometimes sickeningly positive music? Is it a breath of fresh air in a cynical world? Is it because Sarah Cracknell is such a fox? Perhaps it's because Saint Etienne know exactly what they're doing. Sure it's formulaic at times - that's because they often write in pastiche and emulate different musical styles from past and present. Sure it's twee, but it's always been St Etienne's mission to write pop music, not cool music. Of course, while doing this, they have become one of the coolest bands around. Whatever it is than fans love so much about the band, we'll put up with the teasing, cos we know St Etienne are magic!

Finally, another old favourite - Hello Nasty by the Beastie Boys. What can I say about these guys. They rock. I've seen them twice now. Admittedly the first time was in a cinema, and it was the debut showing of their live concert film "Awesome! I F**kin' Shot That!", which is now available on DVD and definitely worth getting. The second time was for real - see my previous post. Did you know the Beastie Boys are Jewish? Apparently they are huge in Israel!

A DVD also arrived - it's The Dub Room Special by Frank Zappa - a full length feature cut by the man himself, including footage from two live shows. One of these is a legendary TV performance from 1974, with an incredible band including the amazing keyboard player George Duke. Well, it certainly gained legendary status in my mind, the first time I saw it on a crappy old VHS recording of a TV documentary about the man, and it has eluded me ever since... until now! I was so happy when this arrived that I went straight up to my room to watch it. Brilliant stuff.

Beastie Boys - awesome gig. They played all the hits - perfect for someone like me who had never seen them live before. I rapped my heart out.

There was even a moshpit, crowdsurfing and everything! I swear I could actually smell the testosterone. Is that possible?

I went along with my gig buddy and fellow LastFM user Thommmmmm, who I managed to coax into a bit of moshing. Wow, we had a great time!

As for other listening this week, the new Adam and Joe podcasts are absolutely hilarious. And despite being sponsored by Coca-Cola, fans will be pleased to hear that the content has not been watered down a smidgen. In fact, this is the funniest I have ever heard them. But to be fair, I've never really heard them since the Adam and Joe Show on TV.

Also been watching the FoneJacker podcast, although you are better off going straight to YouTube where there are TONS of clips. Here's a favourite of mine. Some people don't like Fonejacker, and I even read in the paper today that, with the current rise in antisocial youth, he is even somewhat inappropriate. But, if you've ever received one of those scam emails from Africa, you too will understand where he's coming from.



Kids, do us a favour. Don't try this at home. You won't be anywhere near as funny.

St Etienne are my number one artist this week.

I first came across the band thanks to Sub Pop records free download feed - a resource that has been highly influential in my musical taste for the last year and a half. You can get hold of the goodness yourself at http://www.subpop.com/podcast - though you'll have to know a bit about subscribing to RSS. Try my favourite, www.bloglines.com.

Anyway, I was out and about on the streets of London one morning, back when I was a bicycle messenger, and listening to my iPod, when on came this St Etienne track - Lose That Girl. And it was special. While the band might be better known for their dance tracks, this song is a rocky pop tune. The lyrics are quite sad, but hopeful I suppose. I was very moved, listening to it on that cold winter's morning.

The track makes great use of keyboards - both piano and organ. Very nice. Have a listen.

I should also mention that St Etienne are great at eye candy as well as ear candy. Anyone familiar with Sarah Cracknell, the singer, will know what I mean. There are lots of their videos availale at YouTube, go search!

Hot on their heels, at number 2 this week, are R.E.M.. I recently got hold of their 5th album, Document, from their early years on the IRS label. Highlights include Finest Worksong, It's the End of the World as We Know It and the massive hit The One I Love (of which Rosie Thomas also does a great rendition).

All three tracks have great videos which you can see on their DVD - When The Light Is Mine. Definitely worth a buy. It's on my wishlist anyway.

...Well, last weeks charts would definitely suggest so. Only one track got played more than once - 'Nightlite', a gorgeous track by Bonobo, who I believe comprise of a producer, several session musicians, and one very good singer. How to do describe their music?? Last FM says 'chillout', 'downbeat', 'downtempo'... I would add to that a lot of jazz and a touch of class. Also try the track, 'Transmission 94'.

Still, not sure if my iPod tracks are all getting scrobbled. After almost a lifetime of living on the darkside, I've finally crossed over to the world of Mac. As a result, I'm having a few teething troubles with certain things, one of them being the Last FM player. Anyone know of a good alternative for Mac?

Beck got played the most last week. Still loving that crazy dirty wacky bluesy sound. Mutations and One Foot in the Grave getting the modest rotation of 2 tracks each.

Most played album last week was Getting Out by Quant - first got into this guy (?) through a track on Nude Dimensions 3 (a Naked Music mix) and finally got around to getting hold of a full album off eMusic.

But right now, I'm shattered. I just finished my degree today (yeah!) and I've been out boozing since 2pm, so it's time for some chillout and then off to bed...

Everything You Do Is a Balloon... mmmmm...