jamietayler.com

Something’s in the Air – but it’s not me!

07. April 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Music, Radio · Tags: , , , , ,

Recharged Radio is taking a well deserved rest this bank holiday weekend, but I have to admit I'm really missing producing shows….!

There was no The Forum yesterday but that didn't stop my brain ticking over!

Received a fantastic article from the fantabulous Minki's Magic Moments on Recharged Radio - has the disposable nature of media consumption ruined both the engagement of the listener but also the quality of the end product?

From article on Hypebot:

Founding member of Drowned in Sound,Sean Adams, puts it: 
"Firsties is Killing Music"
"I think one of the biggest problems with music right now is people devouring things for short periods of time and constantly ‘upgrading’ to the next, newest, shiniest, hottest, jammiest thing."


Over to you!

Also, if you missed Crawling Home this week:

"On Crawling Home this week: We're planning on digging our way out of the bunker for The Great Escape (May 10th – see the events page!). Jamie's got his spoon and is practicing his best puzzled/concerned Steve McQueen face – although admittedly he looks more like an expectant toddler waiting for his pudding. Also on the show, is it time to end Battle of the Bands (unless they involve actual gladiatorial pursuits where bands send their rhythm sections to the slaughter in the coliseum)? Social Networking, is it time to leave party? Any weird and unusual bank holiday rituals? Oh, and did Jamie mention he's excited about The Great Escape on May 10th?! He's already packed his bag with banana-hammocks, buckets & spades, inflatables and windbreakers – we're pained to tell him he probably won't see the beach, but let's humour him nonetheless! P.S. don't forget that Crawling Home takes a break next week, but will return on April 16th for more madcap mayhem! :)

Anison – Pedestrian Thespian

B-Sydes – Wrecked Vessels

Zac Campbell – Little Ditty

Ben Drake – It don't Come Free

The Dash – Alone No More

Tom Copson – Afraid to FAll

50ft Woman – You're in Love with Love

Model Society – Tomorrow She Loves Me

Pepper & Shepherd – Isobelle

Limozine – Shoot Ya Rock n Roll

The Scratch – The Great Adventure

Fake Teak – Solid State

Model Staggs – Turning

Edward Rogers – Porcelain

The October Game – The Rise & Fall

Aliceband – Maria

Canvas Wall – Close to the Edge

Cinemawave – Monsoon Love

Apple Rabbits – I Could Not Care Less

Dan Mariska – Okay

Jay Fraser – Devil's Play

Tasha Fights Tigers – Notes on Early Aviation

Stillman – Eton Mess"

Social Networking: Is It Time To Leave The Party?

01. April 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Events, Radio, Rants · Tags: , , , , , , , ,
jt in my pants

Happy April Fools an' all that – yes, it's after midday, so the below tirade of words isn't a humourous, intentionally false account, although it is pretty absurd if you think about it….

My dilemma is as above: Is it time to leave the social networking party?

Two important points before I get started:

  1. I love my friends very much 
  2. I understand that I have to "get with the programme"!

It's just I'm finding it difficult to actually comprehend what "social networking" actually means these days.  It doesn't feel an incredibly social pursuit, and actual, meaningful "networking" is invariably very sporadic and rather pointless.

Now, I know that there will be a sizable portion of my "friends" and "followers" who will be snorting away at the very notion that I, Jamie Vicious Indigo Monroe Tayler, would even consider stepping away from the table when I so regularly add my thoughts and graffiti every wall and thread in sight with unnecessary humourisms. 

You see, the real reason I'm thinking about it is how I'm interacting with people.  I do have a couple of great stories of meeting really, really cool people I'd lost touch with, but generally updates are feeling increasingly false. Following virtual lives, far from a natural adaptation, is starting to feel incredibly foreign. 

I remember a time before all of this – and I'm not naive enough to think I'm alone – let's face it, our regular daily routine of logging on and sharing is a mere five years old.  

I think that I'm starting to reflect more on these changes now through parental eyes. My children see this type of social networking as an integral part of being "part of something", but I'm wondering if this constant interaction with their friends on Facebook and Twitter means they're just not that troubled about expanding their friendship groups.

A "social butterfly" (or more aptly a slightly dysfunctional oddball), I was never really part of any particular group when I was growing up.  This wasn't necessarily a bad thing and didn't make my relationships any less important or meaningful.  It just meant that I was never  really involved in that pack mentality. That outsider status has continued in my adult years and doesn't seem to be settling down as the throttle hurtles me towards middle age.

Social Networking might feel important when you're part of it, but I'm starting to think I need to reengage my "inner-outsider".  At Christmas, I took a break for two weeks and I'm pretty sure nobody missed me.  Perhaps, more worryingly, someone close to my family had a real rough time recently, disappeared for a month or two from every "network" and nobody noticed.  

Are we so heavily bombarded by a barrage of information, comments and unimportant updates, that we're becoming blind to the things that really matter?

Maybe it's time to reflect and start sharing the important bits, ignore the snow blizzard on the screen and the white-noise in our ears and leave the four walls. 

What do you think?

Now….

I'm not going to stop ranting on air, or using the social network avenues to continue to advertise the things I'm part of and enjoy.  I just don't want to be a sad old fool who feels comfortable to share a bit of me from my living room and doesn't actually get out of the house to meet up and enjoy the people who are important to me.

Right, uni countdown has started – just three weeks until my degree is finally over.  Admittedly there's still quite a bit to do, but I'm getting there!

Oh, and getting incredibly excited about this:

CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO FIND OUT MORE OR LISTEN INTO RECHARGED RADIO FOR MORE INFO! :)

Don't forget I'll be on air tomorrow night for Crawling Home – we're having a break over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, so this'll be your/my fix for the next fortnight.

Virtual hugs and kisses

JT

x

Pasties, Pumps and Panic: Now I’ve Thought Of Something Else to Worry About….

29. March 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Events, Music, Radio · Tags: , , , , ,
When You Know You're Alive

Friday's question for "the knights of the octagon" on The Forum on Recharged Radio will be: What can the UK do to change its broken, outdated gig-culture?

We started talking about this last week after a really useful comment from Daxy in the chatroom.

It's easy to blame poor promoters and "pay to play" for the disappointing attendance at some venues – eg. sticking 8 mismatched bands on a Monday night in early January and charging £8 on the door – but the opposing argument is that they need to make money and we all know of venues that are no more as a result of poor attendance.

Equally, creating a "music scene" at a venue can be fraught with petty band politics, especially on the local scenes outside London.

I was part of a collective a number of years ago called "The Family" that did successfully, albeit for a short period of time, work together for the greater good of a local scene – many of those people who were part of it are now still involved in music in some way shape or form, but I know even the local venues round these parts are struggling.

Somebody sent me a new website that looks to try and fit bands and artists with spaces on promoter's shows – now it doesn't really sit comfortably with me that an indie band should pay a premium to know of any paid gigs, but am I just an old romantic? Is it the case of speculate to accumulate?
All feedback gratefully received :)

In Too Deep, Is This Rock-Bottom….?

28. March 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Rants · Tags: , , ,
tired JT

 

I'm pretty sure life isn't supposed to be this complicated.   In my twenties, the phrase "It's others that make my life complicated" was my constant refrain.

I am, however, starting to realise that maybe I've been the difficult, ultra-complex, excessively challenging one all along.

You see, after nearly three years of juggling umpteen different hats, all in the name of creating a better future, I find myself facing a bit of a conundrum; why has all this hard work and good intentions led to an uncertain future and being in really bad financial shape?

The worst thing is, as I sign off on my degree and  apply for an inordinate amount of jobs, the majority of online recruiters are now bombarding my mailbox with ridiculous amounts of spam-related emails asking me if I've considered "returning to study"….!

Yep, that's the reason I returned to study; so I could leave three years later with the prospect of an inbox of offers to gain further skills.

Okay, so the jury in my head is still out on whether uni was a good idea, but I wouldn't mind a little break.  As it stands at the moment, I'll be happy to just earn some regular money – think the "career" will have to stay on hold for  a little longer.

But on a night like tonight, all I can really toast is: "Here's to £30,000 worth of education-related debt." 

I Have a Suspicion That I’m Already a Zombie

22. March 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Journalism, Rants · Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
jamie zombie

Regular listeners to my radio mumblings and grumblings might already be aware of my slightly unhealthy obsession with "walkers" – those mindless, gormless, tired looking folk who meander aimlessly through towns and cities, crawling around for their next fix.  

You'll find certain areas over saturated with a perpetually reinvented brand of mindless clone drone hipsters – and I'm pretty sure I'm in danger of being lured into the same trap.

You see, it's tough out there.  The odds of getting paid work, let alone within the creative sphere, are increasingly difficult.  We have a government so incredibly out of touch with the general populous. They seem to be far more content with pleasing a minority of (admittedly vocal) voters who worry more about whether little Tarquil Pilkington-Upperbottom will be able to purchase a third pair of platinum woven, ruby encrusted, gardening galochas, than how the deserving silver-fox brigade will survive.  

I have no volume switch when it comes to shouting at the Daily Mail when I happen upon it in my local newsagent – not a great idea when my neighbours already think I'm mental for not tying my shoelaces, wearing woolen hats in summer, and generally screaming at clouds.  

"Oh, to have the money and the privilege to grumble as to whether you might not be able to afford a third holiday a year" you might hear me spit at the likes of Littlejohn, Moir et al.  

A fifteen pence increase on a hot sausage roll alone will have enough of a dramatic effect in my household – especially when faced by the peculiar eating habits of a palatably-challenged pre-teen (I suspect I was equally fussy when I was 12!). 

But I digress….

I guess what my real message is that we all have to compromise.  I just find it so sad that, after actively taking the time to re-educate, gain further skills and knowledge, I'm finding that I am having to alter and dumb-down a plethora of my CVs (yes, I now have six different CVs – wouldn't it be lovely to have just one?!) to even get work to pay my way – yes, I know I'm ranting and I'm not alone with my "First World Problems", but it's worrying how much of a gormless clone I may have to morph into to stay alive/undead.

Yup, guess there was always going to be a chance I'd use this blog to bemoan my so called life – it isn't called jamietayler.com for nothing…….

RIGHT, if you missed Crawling Home this week on Recharged Radio:

 

"Crawling Home

On Monday's Crawling Home, it inadvertently became a bit of zombie-special – it had to be with such musical delights as The Men Who Will Not Be Blamed for Nothing screaming "Zombie Albert" and Apple Rabbits stunning "The Return of the Screaming Terror from the Planet of the Soul Eating Undead".  So, if you missed it, expect dead bands, dead scenes, dead friendships, deadbeats, dead-ends and the undead. 

We're pretty sure Jamie shouldn't worry about the brain-munchers; after many years of abuse and overuse, his brain is now the consistency of unset blancmange.  It's not even a budget Aldi-standard brain – in fact, we don't think even a zombie-maggot would be inclined to try a bit..!"

Somebody That We All Should Know?

18. March 2012 · 6 comments · Categories: Journalism, Music · Tags: , , , , , , , ,
jt and the lion

I suspect that, unless you've locked yourself in a cave on the Isle of Skye (and thus will not be reading this) you would not have escaped the rather melodic xylophone twiddlings of Belgian/Australian singer/songwriter Gotye.  

 

If you haven't, I'd love to hear the reason you have managed to avoid it.  I have never, and I'm pretty proud of this fact, watched an episode of Emmerdale Farm, so I know that such things are possible if you're dedicated enough….!

I was given an early heads-up about Gotye by the usually musically-challenged (yet far more talented at most other things than I will ever be!  Oh, and it's her birfday tomorrow, so I mustn't be rude!) Tor-lington Tor-gletorry.  

That was back in October when Gotye was relatively unknown – I instantly liked the track – it's infectious chorus, question and answer style verses with Kimbra, was reminiscent of a modern-day take on Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush.

My question: this song has captured the imagination of millions (116.5 million views on YouTube as I type this) – why, however, has this particular independent song received so much recognition over that of other artists?

Through my work on Recharged Radio, I could run off a number of artists and songs which I feel are equally as good as "Somebody That I Used to Know" – if you want me to reel them off, I'd be happy to bore you!

My feeling, and perhaps I'm rather cynical when I say this, is that many people are just lazy and rather easily led.  Now I'm not detracting from the musicality, enjoyment and universal appeal of Gotye's song, but you do have to question the reason why so many people would listen to this song and yet not seek out other artists.

Some of it must be down to the way people engage with technology these days – my assumption is probably similar to the influence of the Kony2012 video by Invisible Children.  I'm certainly not likening the two subject matters, but establishing the way these things can explode into the popular conscious.

When people of influence give something a "nod", then their followers (that really does sound cult-ish out of context, doesn't it)  dutifully click the link.  

Again, I'm certainly not complaining, I'm just fascinated at why Gotye's song has had such widespread appeal and will this manifest itself with future releases or will he fall by the wayside like James Blunt?

Either way, this culture of "millions of views" is still a bit of an unknown entity as far as success is viewed.  

I went to an event recently where they seemed too keen to inform the audience that many of the artists on their bill had been seen by "billions". BILLIONS? Like we were supposed to be impressed – I assure you that the artists weren't that well known and banding such figures around just makes them look like idiots in my opinion.  I mean, most figures can be stretched – just look closely enough at RAJAR results – I'm sure you'll be as confused as the people in the industry who have to write the reports after they're released.

Does, however, the more traditional No.1 still hold weight?

Refreshed to see an indie at the top – the same could be said of Adele – especially when Cowell's back with his 150million record sales generated from his shenanigans.  

Either way, interested to know your thoughts – I'll be talking this through tomorrow, along with getting distracted by zombies – if you want to join my elite team to fend off the brain-munchers, tune into Crawling Home from 8pm!

Over to you………! ;)

Thinking Outside the Box – Memories Are Better Kept In Your Head!

16. March 2012 · 2 comments · Categories: Events, Journalism, Movies · Tags: , , , , , ,
IMG572

This is how we get ready for school, Tayler-style!

It's Friday, we've nearly made it – one last push an' all that.

I shall be back in the bunker this evening for The Forum on Recharged Radio  where we will be discussing this particular question:

"Should we ban technology from gigs/events? No cameras, no phones, no updating Facebook – just going to an event for it's own sake, leaving you to remember how it made you feel  rather than relying on your film and photographs"

I know I brushed the surface of this topic on my last blog, but I had a long old chinwag with the mighty 50ft Woman last night about remembering past adventures in a slightly hazy, rosy-tinted way.  But that's the way memories should really be, surely?

I have gone to some incredible gigs over the years where my recollection may not be 100% correct or coherent – largely due, usually, to a combination of adrenalin, alcohol, excitement and lack of food.  If, however, I'd stood there, camera in hand, filming the whole event, what would I be left with?  Probably a numb arm, a shaky, blurry video with awful sound and no true memory of how it felt to be there.

Some artists, however, have fully embraced the way people are increasingly "engaging" with live performance.  I would suggest that Amon Tobin is a real pioneer of this new crossover.  ISAM is mind-blowing – so much so, I almost felt bad for the chemically-enhanced members of the audience – their tiny little heads must have exploded in an extra-sensory mind-spasm of nightmarish proportions.  I would go as far to say that, visually, the show (and it really was a show, Budge!) opened up the discussion on how visuals can redefine the way we experience sound.

This might all sound a bit pompous, but my comments are borne more from enthusiasm and irrational, child-like excitement than anything else.  ISAM, however, did clearly appear to pander towards this digital generation.  Visually they could take something away – indeed, the whole nature of the spectacle encouraged people to share.  I guess, in essence, it became a very, very successful form of viral marketing.

I didn't need, nor want, to record what I saw though; being there was it's own gift.  

Equally, having learned the hard way, sometimes our slightly selective memory of something is far more special than a document of the event.  I, rather foolishly, conducted a radio interview a couple of years back after drinking a little too much wine.  I had a wonderful evening but listening back to the interview the next day was rather shocking/surprising – DrunkenJT thought he was hugely superior to his guests, sharing his obnoxious, opinionated incoherent ramblings that rarely had a point and appeared to go on forever.  

Thankfully, I had the opportunity to delete what I heard the next day but those indelible prints that many a video or image leaves once it's on social networking never disappears – rough-looking shots of me hanging around a gig are something that nobody should ever see!

So, let's leave the phones to be phones (safety an' all) and keep the memories in our head and not on the screen!

I could be unbelievably wrong on all of this – it's been known to happen – so, it's over to you – what do you think?

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