Razorshite.

music: Anberlin - Feel Good Drag | location: LN1

SO, Razorlight cancelled a date on their current UK tour the other night. Actually, they’ve cancelled two. 

I’m willing to bet this wouldn’t even have popped up on my radar if it weren’t for the fact I was meant to be working in the venue on the night. After all, generic indie just isn’t what it used to be, and I can quite happily live my life without seeing Johnny Borrells obnoxious face anywhere within ten feet of my being.

Did they announce it on their website? No. Well, not exactly. They waited until the day after while announcing the postponed Wolverhampton show instead.

Wolverhampton show postponed
Razorlight have been forced to pull out of their show at Wolverhampton tonight (Monday Nov 24th) due to Johnny Borrell suffering from voice problems.
Sunday night’s show at Lincoln Engine Shed was also postponed. Despite being close to losing his voice Johnny had battled through a lengthy set for the previous date, Cambridge Corn exchange, however by Sunday afternoon it became apparent that he wouldn’t be able to sing at the Lincoln show and a doctor was called in.
Johnny, Andy, Bjorn and Carl were hugely looking forward to the gigs and would like to apologise to all those who bought tickets. The band hope to announce replacement dates for both Lincoln and Wolverhampton during the course of this week.

I find it impossible to believe that anyone could be ‘hugely looking forward’ to doing anything in Lincoln, but you have to appreciate their PR department for trying. 

As ever with gig cancellations, Sunday evening produced some fantastic stories of hard-done-by fans. So far my personal favourites were the group of four Geordies who set off from Newcastle, made it to Lincoln for early afternoon only to realise they’d left their tickets on the mantlepiece.

Did they resort to touting a ticket or begging the box-office for a replacement? Oh no. They drove all the way back. According to AA-Route finder, that’s approximately a 258 mile trip each way, and would’ve looked a lot like this:

Then, they drove all the way back - another 258 miles - just in time for doors…. only to be told Johnny wasn’t up to it. Shocking.

Rumour has it there were a rather pissed off couple from Jersey as well.

Insiders tell me there’s not a hope in hell of rescheduling before Christmas, but that’s hardly a shocker is it. Never mind. Console yourselves with this instead, care of JohnnyBorrell.com

March 2008 - Black Kids

Wikipedia will have you believe that this Floridian five-piece are of the Indie Rock persuasion. That description would be selling them short.

Truth is, it’s hard to define Black Kids. Hailing from Jacksonville in American’s sunshine state, they’re a brother/sister combo with a twist - vocalists Reggie and Ali Youngblood are joined by bassist Owen Holmes, drummer Kevin Snow and keyboardist Dawn Watley.

Cranking out their unbelievably upbeat and unique brand of pop – a crazy mishmash of the Go! Team, The Cure and Motion City Soundtrack – they’ve caught the attention from media and pop royalty on both sides of the Atlantic.

We caught up with Black Kids before their show with Kate Nash at Lincoln’s Engine Shed to find out what it’s like being the ‘new girls in school…’

Being on the road with Kate Nash must be pretty hectic; how’s your day been so far?
Reggie: “It’s been a pretty mundane day, to be honest. We’ve just been travelling; we only got into Lincoln about three o’clock this afternoon. We stayed in Carlisle after [the show in] Glasgow last night. So yeah, we’ve just been travelling.”
Owen: “Last night’s show was really good, though. A lot of fun.”

How do you think you’ve been received over here?
Reggie: “Because of our, erm… unusual circumstances [Laughs] we’ve had pretty good shows. I guess at the few headliners we’ve had they’ve been at smaller venues, but they’ve been really packed out.”
Owen: “We’ve pretty much just fallen on this tour with Kate [Nash] which is amazing. We’re getting to play some pretty big venues to some new audiences, which is… amazing.”

How did the opportunity to support on the Kate Nash tour come about?
Reggie: “She covered one of our songs on French radio, and she contacted us and said ‘Hey, I covered your song on the radio, hope you don’t mind!’  So I dunno, I guess we’ve been on her radar for quite a while now, so when her tour came along she called us up and asked us along. And we said yes, obviously.”

Find the full interview over at Bandidge.