Screaming Maldini vs Stars and Sons Feb mini tour

With fresh sparkling eyes, and a myriad of melodic loveliness in all of their hearts, it’s rather nice that Screaming Maldini and Stars & Sons met – and have decided to bring their differing brands of balls-out, joy fuelled power pop to the UK this February, taking in a handful of shows and a whole heap of miles in a mission to start the summer early.

Catch them at the following venues

Feb 21^st Sheffield – The Grapes

Feb 22^nd – London – Old Blue Last (w/ Stagecoach &  Ross MFT Telecaster sessions)

Feb 23^rd – Brighton – The Albert

Feb 24^th – Northampton – The Labour Club

Feb 25^th – Oxford – The Cellar

To download tracks from both bands to try before you buy, visit http://drop.io/listenwithmother – and do feel free to distribute/ post… If you fancy popping alone than absolutely do. It should be a really, rather lovely tour!

How to make an Alcopop

Ah Alcopop, the sugary beverage that launched a million teenagers down the route of a love for the affects of alcohol, and in turn – inspired our label moniker… Of course, the Midget mini-album (and undeniably one of the finest records of a power pop generation) of the same name prompted the whole affair, but as I look back now to that hazy evening… Kev smashing back a bottle of Big Beastie while no doubt some cheap cocktail with out of date ingredients flowed… it strikes me that I’ve always wondered how exactly the drinks companies crafted those perfect, sticky beverages.

Of course, in truth, it was probably all down to the cynical marketing of alcohol to kids – but by god we embraced it. Time immomorium will probably come to call us the Alcopop generation – and good for them! But for now, please delight in this magnificent drawing I found online recently that shows exactly how a delicious Alcopop is crafted. Add a touch of magnificently coloured pony, some alcohol of dubious origin and bang!

An Alcopop is born… Winner….

PS – Screaming Maldini tour announcement tomorrow, and would you believe it – they’re off out with an old Alcopop favourite… Awesome!

Jack PoP out of office:

This weekend will mostly be spent in the Isle of Wight (artists impression). Happily, the good folks at at the rather awesome Ventnor Blog (seriously, if you’re off to the IOW, check em out) have let me know all about this rather marvellous event. Rock and/or pickled onion roll! See you there yeah?

Stagecoach & Elephants rampage out on tour….

Where are my manners! Just realised that somehow some rather important information has completely missed the blog over the last week or two – the rather ace matter of the forthcoming Stagecoach UK tour… F&*K yes!

Now you know what we think of the good ship Stagecoach… She’s a magnificent vessel with perfectly knotted rigging, billowing crisp white sails and cannons so loud that the crisp smack of cannonball to bow could raise the cowboy dead…. Yeah, you know we love them.

But even better news is that they’re going out on tour with the lovely Elephants, who’s raucous brand of indie rock is second only to their handsome faces.

It’s an awesome line up for true – and one that you would be ill-advised to miss, whatever perilous weather February bestows upon us. Look for the ace poster below, and be sure to follow @stagecoachuk on Twitter – for during tour giveaways and a whole lot of delicious banter besides.

See you there yeah?

Helsinki Films bring you Tellison, Stagecoach, My First Tooth and Aspen Sails live!

You saw it on The Line of Best Fit first but here it is, in all its glory a month on from the big day of the 14^th December…! Yup, it’s the video of the Alcopop Xmas party – and my gosh doesn’t it look lovely. No grainy, roaring mobile phone footage from us. This is the real deal, caught so exquisitely on film by the marvellous Andy from Helsinki films, who together with his crew circumnavigated the mass of sweaty bodies on the night to capture some super shots.

Containing one song each from Aspen Sails, My First Tooth, Stagecoach and Tellison – if you weren’t there see what you missed, and if you were – wow! Even better. Hold it to your heart like a locket containing a photo of a loved one that will never go away….

Brings a tear to the eye… *sniff*

Watch below:

The Alcopop Christmas Spectacular from Helsinki Films on Vimeo.

Alter the Press Jan compilation featuring Screaming Maldini…

Alter The Press are generous souls alright. Pure of heart some may call them, others benevolent of spirit. So when they announce ‘oh you know, we’ve just released a carefully put together 16 track compilation featuring the likes of Tiger Please, Flood of Red and The Wonder Years’ one may not be surprised, but sure as hell grateful to download it forthwith. What’s even better is that PoP new boys (and girls) Screaming Maldini are bloody on it too. Which is awesome.

So to hear The Extraordinary by the magnificent Maldini, and 15 other super songs… Pop on over by clicking here – and revel in an evening of something for nothing. Kaboom!

Oh – and just in case anyone’s interested, I noticed on twitter today that Wichita Records are looking for a London-based intern… This would be an awesome thing to do. Drop em’ an email if you want in!

Ya’ll enjoy the Candle Thieves now buddy – U.S.Hooray!

It’s always nice to see the handsome stallions of Alcopop taking a frisky gallop into other countries to spread their love around, so hearty congratulations must go to The Candle Thieves, whose summery brand of sunshine pop has led them to be snapped up by Downtown Records in the U.S of A. Sharing the roster with the likes of Mos Def, Eagles of Death Metal and Gnarls Barkley (I can’t wait to see that label showcase) this is heap good news for our charming duo.

With new single We’re all Gonna Die, Have Fun described by Music Week as having all “the hallmarks of early Eels; simple, quirky and with a strong pop sensibility, this one calls for repeat”. True that, so expect to see the Thieves poppin out Hollywood bowl well, any time soon really. Good news is though poppers, that the single’s not out till early February – so you can still get the Sunshine EP from us to prove you were the very hippest thing since sliced hot dog.

Oh hell yes.

The fucking’ poetry library!

Totally unrelated to anything Alcopop, but sometimes needs must…! Super work from the editors of The Poetry Library who, whilst chatting about Aidan Andrew Dunn’s upcoming theatrical staging of recent poetry, have managed to go with an interesting location… Check out the venue details….  The link is here, but in case they change it to something rather less fun, I’ve put the frankly hilarious release below!

Still – it’s inspired me to write some fucking poetry right! See you up the front on the 23rd!

courtesy of @bagelmouse @emmahogan

Ian knocks a snowman’s block off!

The bleak midwinter is a dangerous place to be… Especially if you’re a Luton Town supporting snowman!

Screaming Maldini are red hot!

Here at Alcopop we’ve always been about putting together chart-friendly, image-conscious mainstream acts designed solely to break the top 40… (megalolz) So it was nice to confirm what a thoroughly good looking bunch we’ve signed in Screaming Maldini after Drowned in Sound recently got a-snapping at their recent show in Sheffield with BLK JKS. Go take a look for yourself (preferably between shots 6-9), read the review below (from a newly incepted Sheffield monthly) and start getting moist for the February EP.

I promise you’ll love it, or your money back.*

“Screaming Maldini break from the instant indie mould, but retain the fun and the energy. Obvious comparisons to the automatic prove unfounded after the first couple of songs; as they illustrate their depth and severe musical talent. Their sound is well rehearsed, like a jazzy/emo/indie/folk; Shades of Mew, The Earlies and Flaming Lips. Strangely I’m reminded of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. They play happily in the minor scales, as downbeat as their excitement will allow. To this band, time signatures appear to exist solely to be ignored.”

So to sum it up, what would you go for?? Well these guys have come up with perhaps my favourite musically related description of all time… “Imagine the Duracell bunny; on speed; with a guitar and a bow in his hair, and you’ve got Screaming Maldini.”

Awesome!

Oh – and I’ll be running a very brief interview with the lovely Nick of Screaming Maldini in the next few days… Is there anything you’d like to ask him (Alcopop or chips for instance) – just let us know? xxx

* Or something like that