Was the Betty & the Id gig really 12 days ago! That’s really flown by, at least I didn’t promise you a live review on this blog “soon”, over a week ago. That would have been embarrassing.

A few interesting things about this gig – mainly it was the first time I’ve put on a band from a different country, and it was Liechtenstein’s first trip to Birmingham, and they took the opportunity to spend a few days here.

Actually, I was a bit worried when they first said they were spending a few days here – what do you advise an out of town band to do in Birmingham? The nature centre is closed during the week in the winter (see the otters - it was my first thought) but most other things cost money. Most of the tourist sights seem good for evening events, sports, and shopping - or tell you to go to Cadbury World, which isn’t much good if you have no idea who Cadburys are (in Sweden, they have the worryingly tasty Plop bars).

As it was they had a potter round some canals and went to Ikon Gallery – but if you have suggestions for things that I can recommend to visiting bands on a budget, then let me know.

Betty & The Id sound checked first with relatively few problems (equipment spotting – one copicat, which made the geek in me very happy), though we did have some problems with Liechtenstein and feedback – which sadly lingered a bit into the set too.

Horowitz were on first, and to sum it up in a word they were ace. They’re a band at their best when the guitars are fuzzy and constant, so that the short songs merge. They have a style of innocent melody that’s influnced by C86 music (maybe the bumper book of Razorcuts) but the tunes are also matched by the melody of the guitar work – Sister is a perfect mix of the two.

Liechtenstein provided more influences from that era of guitar music, and it’s easy to see why they’ve been picking up so many fans – and I hope that they made a fair few friends in Birmingham with this visit. I’d compare them to The Shop Assistants, with four vocals adding depth to the songs.

Betty on the Id took us further back in time with 60’s Garage influnces and I have to admit, I’m a bit stumped about how to review them because my references are a bit shaky when you get pre-post-punk so I can’t just throw band names at you in the hope that you get the idea which is what I increasingly do when describing bands.

What I can tell you that without following it up with… “like band X do” is that they use music imaginatively. They accentuate extra beats because they don’t just 4/4 at you all of the time, they break up verses with beautiful little complimentary scales on different instruments – it’s intensely listenable. And danceable, as proved by the happy dancing people down the front.

One interesting thing was the number of good Birmingham bands which members of Betty & the Id have played in – bands that I like too! The list includes L’Augmentation (ace free downloads, follow the link), The Bee Men (they still have some 7” singles left – it’s well worth asking how to get hold of one) and best of all, a pre Pristine Christine iteration of The Sea Urchins, which brings us nicely back round to that C86 in a good old circle.

And thank you to Betty & The Id for bringing a drumkit and backline too.

Just had to send this round on Facebook and Myspace, you may have seen it already -

Sadly Strange Idols have had to cancel their set tomorrow due to illness. We’ll hopefully be able to offer them a gig later in the year because they are ace and I’d love to see them in Birmingham.

There’ll be a reduced entry fee and we’ll still be playing some of your favourite records in between the bands and into the night (as always send me any requests) – so hopefully see you there!

It is a mighty shame, especially as I don’t think Strange Idols have played round here yet.

I did have a bit of a flap this morning trying to arrange a replacement, but sadly I was at work so wasn’t able to get one organised. As all the rest of Falling and Laughing are in warmer climes I can’t sub myself on from the bench either.

I do like the idea of a subs bench to substitute on bands to play, that would be quite funny. If you see a load of people in tracksuits at the bar next gig doing warm ups, you now know why!

Oh well, as I said in the message above - I’ll hopefully be able to get them up here later in the year, because they do write great pop songs.

There’s going to be a blog up soon about Thursdays gig, but whilst I’m quickly online thought I’d tell you that there’s a free Horowitz single called “I Need A Blanket” which can be downloaded from Thee SPC. So if you enjoyed them on Thursday (or are feeling curious and are enticed by the offer of free music) then you can click all 3 tracks onto your hard drive.

Enjoy!

Righty ho, just a quick reminder of this then. It’s on Thursday at The Sunflower Lounge.

Featuring Horowitz who are coming down from Stoke with some warm fuzzy guitar shapes, Liechtenstein from Sweden who are on Fraction Dics which is shaping up to be a really good little label at the moment, and Betty and the Id who are a Birmingham band who do a garage/pop thing.

I’ve enthused to you about The Voluntary Butler Scheme before - which is why he’s playing The Autumn Store on the 16th Feb - but he wrote a short EP last Wednesday during his lunch break, recorded it the evening after, and popped it out on myspace for free download.

Apparently it’s that easy.

It’s called The Volauvent EP and it has it’s own myspace.

Ooh, I’ve just seen an excited bulletin from Bearsuit saying that they’re number 3 in the Dandelion Festive 50 (the list is published in Feb because you need to pay loads of money to publish your playlists at the same time that the program goes out apparently).

Dandelion Radio is an excellent internet station although I don’t get chance to dip into it as often as I would like. It’s well worth a look if you find yourself twiddling your thumbs over your music without inspiration what to listen to next.

More News! That’s two news’s in the space of a day - must be some kind of record.

I love talking about indiepop, and I love talking about local bands - and occasionally there’s cross over on the big old Venn diagram of music. It’s happened today, I hear from the organiser that KateGoes are the latest band to be confirmed for Indietracks - which is officially the best festival ever if you’ve not encountered it. It’s a subtle blend of indiepop and steam trains, you’ll never know how much fun it is dancing to Camera Obscura on a moving steam train until you’ve tried it.

Having said that, I don’t know if there is a disco train at the festival, but the flickr group will give you some idea of the sights you’ll see there.