Tuesday's Zen - Winston's Take on the Best of the UK Scene

CRYING OUT FOR ATTENTION

TWISTED WHEEL

Having spent much of 2008 playing the biggest stages with the biggest names in the UK, it would be fair to say that Odlham three-piece Twisted Wheel have the world at their scruffy trainers. Formed in 2007 when front-man Johnny Brown and bassist Rick Lees left former outfit The Children it wasn’t long before they were snapped up by Columbia and supporting the likes of The Courteeners, Ian Brown, Kasabian and the mighty Oasis.

Gaining plenty of airplay across the UK, lead single We Are Us is physically released on April 6th, with their self titled debut album, produced by Oasis and Marilyn Manson supremo Dave Sardy following a week later. Loud, proud and punkier than Pink and Peaches Geldof doing the nasty at a Sex Pistols party, Twisted Wheel are coming. Get ready.Check out the Zen’s full write up on We Are Us here. If that doesn’t convince you, debut single She’s A Weapon, released in January 2008 really ought to;

Twisted Wheel Links:
Homepage | MySpace | Facebook |Last.fm
Buy CDs | Buy MP3s

CAUSING A COMMOTION

YOUTUBE BLOCKS MUSIC IN THE UK

Once again nobody wins in the UK’s latest e-licensing debacle. In a move destined to create shockwaves much bigger than the Pandora withdrawal, online video giants YouTube this week began the unenviable task of blocking all industry-uploaded music videos to UK users. The move restricts choice for British consumers even further after popular net-radio service Pandora withdrew from the market in January of last year claiming royalties rates demanded by UK agents rendered their business plan unviable.

YouTube bosses are singing pretty much the same tune, accusing the Performers Rights Society of trying to renegotiate payment terms many times higher whilst refusing to disclose the actual artists any potential deal would cover. The PRS naturally tells a different story, claiming that it is only trying to secure it’s members an increase in fees reflective of YouTube’s recent climb in viewership.

Whatever the truth, the question that arises is; If Google can’t make streaming music profitable in the UK, who can? UK music fans seeking alternatives to high priced CDs pray that Spotify have done their numbers properly.

COMING TO AMERICA

LIAM FRAY TAKES HIS COURTEENERS STATE-SIDE

2008’s Mancastrian love-to-hates The Courteeners are all set to take their roof raising live act to American soil. It’s almost twelve months after the release of St Jude, one of the most accomplished debut albums of last year (one which is almost as good as its creator thinks it is) and U.S. fans will finally be able to experience the Liam Fray whirlwind this very month, when the band take their rock ‘n’ roll riot across the county with the inimitable Morrissey.

The Courteeners will play;

  • 17 Mar 2009 - Mercury Lounge New York, New York
  • 19 Mar 2009 - Univ of Buffalo Center for the Arts (with Morrissey) Buffalo, New York
  • 21 Mar 2009 - Bowery Ballroom (with Morrissey) - New York, New York
  • 22 Mar 2009 - Academy of Music (with Morrissey) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • 24 Mar 2009 - North Star Bar - www.ticketweb.com Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • 25 Mar 2009 -Webster Hall (with Morrissey) New York, New York
  • 26 Mar 2009 - Carnegie Hall (with Morrissey) New York, New York
  • 29 Mar 2009 - House Of Blues (with Morrissey) Boston, Massachusetts
  • 31 Mar 2009 - Michigan Theater (with Morrissey) Ann Arbor, Michigan
  • 1 Apr 2009 - Palace Theater (with Morrissey) Columbus, Ohio
  • 3 Apr 2009 - Eagles Ballroom (with Morrissey) Millwaukee, Wisconsin
  • 4 Apr 2009 - Aragon Ballroom (with Morrissey) Chicago, Illinois
  • 6 Apr 2009 - State Theater (with Morrissey) Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • 7 Apr 2009 - Midland Theater (with Morrissey) Kansas City, Missouri
  • 8 Apr 2009 - Pageant Theatre (with Morrissey) St. Louis, Missouri
  • 10 Apr 2009 - Dallas Palladium (with Morrissey) Dallas, Texas
  • 11 Apr 2009 - Jesse Jones Hall (with Morrissey) Houston, Texas
  • 12 Apr 2009 - Bass Concert Hall (with Morrissey) Austin, Texas
  • 14 Apr 2009 - Chavez Theater (with Morrissey) El Paso, Texas
  • 15 Apr 2009 - Sunshine Theater (with Morrissey) Albuquerque, New Mexico
  • 17 Apr 2009 - Coachella Indio, Californiaachella Indio, California
Grab your tickets from Ticketmaster.com

The Courteeners Links:
Homepage | MySpace | Facebook | Last.fm
Buy CDs | Buy MP3s


That’s it from the Zen for now. We’ll be riding the ripple again in a couple of weeks with more of the best UK music you’re not listening to.

Back soon,
Winston

Winston’s Zen
Good music brings inner peace...
Twitter | Flickr| YouTube | Last.fm



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