Alcopop show rocked the flake out of G&Ds

It’s always fun trying gigs somewhere that little bit different… So last Thursday Alcopop took to G&D’s Ice Cream Parlour on the Cowley Road in Oxford (so a bit of a homecoming show in essence). How lovely it was, and amidst copious amounts on magnificent flavoursome ice cream (with gummy bears the only choice) a vaguely confused crow gathered, wondering what to expect. I too wondered. Slightly worried.

On first, and supplying the PA were the charming Boog who impressed a strong local following, before The Family Machine swept up the gig in a folk-tinged fist of glory. Reminiscent of a bunch of old country yokels (without the straw hats) they sat on a bench and regailed delighted revellers with new songs, old songs and all sorts really. They were ace; consummately delicious some might say. In terms of ice cream, imagine a big nutty caramel swirl served on a wafer – with added smartie topping.

Then came the Candle Thieves, clearly delighted with the scene, to deliver what has to go down as one of the top ice cream shows ever seen in Oxfordshire….  Sparklers, glockenspiels, ceremonial reveries of some starry-eyed kids and more, they left the stage to a standing ovation. Hot chocolates and sugar topped waffles flying about in abject happiness. A super night!

Ah it was ace… Thanks to G&Ds for putting it on, and look out for the next one. It will be ace I promise thee.

Alcopop @Pure Groove this Wednesday w/ Stagecoach, Stars & Sons and Paul Steel

*Excitement*

It’s the first Alcopop Pure Groove instore (I was so excited to see us on the listings ), and coincides with the stocking of Alcopopular 3 ‘map and bottle compilation’ by said emporium… Great times, free entry and 7pm (ish) start to see:

Stars and Sons (full band) play “Big brash intelligent indie pop” – Huw Stephens
New Alcopop signings Stagecoach (acoustic) rock out “a sumptuous slice of Wilco-esque alt.country” (The Fly)
- with Paul Steel provideing a melodic piano ballad interlude with his “veritable masterwork of pop brilliance” – Under the Radar

And we can all get boozed too in London’s finest record shop – winner? Winner! See you there…

Saturday night’s alright for gigging… (in Laaandon)

Just one last quick shout to remind you about the Alcopop show coming up this Saturday at RoTa@Notting Hill Arts Club – with The October Game, Stagecoach, Cat Matador and My First Tooth all playing, with free entry. Oh yes!  Incidentally, MFT will be on pretty close to doors as they have to rush off for a soundcheck in Worcester afterwards – so do get down on time. See what the venue says… and know it’ll be ace.

The magical land of the Alcopop! label is populated by wondrous indie-pop, passionate post-hardcore riffers and dreamy folk kids with their hearts on their sleeves. you’ll never want to leave! With live music from The October Game, Stagecoach, Cat Matador and My First Tooth

It’s happening between 4 and 8pm, it’s free entry and all the booze is at happy hour prices so we hear, which means a reet old shindig for all and no lies.  Nathan T. Pyle will be marshalling decks with his fingers of steel, so if you have any requests drop them in the comments box below or @ilovealcopop on Twitter.

Then, post show – and no doubt flush with the joys of 4 exceptional bands – I’m going to be popping off to see Andrew WK at The Old Blue Last playing I Get Wet all the way through… I’m pretty excited! Anyone else coming down?

See you Saturday yeah… Oh hell yeah! And watch this to get in the mood…

Live in Hitchin or the surrounding area…? Whatcha doing 10th May?

‘Cos Alcopop is coming to town, once again in lieu of our new compilation (which features The Octiber Game and the charismatic Mr David Gibb)… OK so you may be full of Sunday roast by 7.30pm, but there’s no way that you should be missing this one. I must admit I haven’t had the pleasure of witnessing Mr Will Tucker, but I can certainly vouch that the other 3 will veritably blow your minds. Super stuff…

Alcopop Records show at RoTa, Notting Hill on 9th May – FREE ENTRY!

As you may know good poppers, Alcopop Records are releasing a lovely new compilation –in the next couple of weeks all detailed on an ancient looking scroll crafted by Captain Kev and charred in Alcopop Ovens – containing a URL and password shipped out in a hearty bottle. But more of that in the next few days…

Therefore – we decided to have a party to celebrate, and after speaking to the fine chaps at RoTa in London Town, Notting Hill Arts Club, Saturday May 9^th (put it in your diary) – we decided to hold it there, not just because we can let everyone in for free, but also because they have their gigs between 4 and 8pm – and Alcopop is ALL about afternoon boozing… Two of the bands are on the compilation, one you’ll know all about and the other may hint at animal cruelty – but are in fact a darkly joyous bunch from Oxford you really should see.

The poster is below, come join the facebook event here – and well – we’ll see you there… Band details b’yere…

The October Game: “Magnificent – A Joy From Start To Finish” – Cool Noise Fanzine

Stagecoach: “Smart songwriting and memorable hooks. Like the lighter, classic side of emo meets Teenage Fanclub” – Rocksound

Cat Matador: – “weave together mightily fine, intricate guitar-work draped in a Joy-Divisionesque kind of darkness” – BBC Oxford

My First Tooth: – “EP makes you wish for a front porch, a sunset and a song of your own to sing, that could match Honesty Honestly for it’s beauty.” – Artrocker

Alcopop DJs and wheels of steel troubador – Nath T Pyle

Alcopop Christmas Party – 15th December in London w/ Sam Isaac, Stars & Sons, Pavilion & Nima (Arrows of Love)

Just a quick reminder for all of you kids in the city, or nearby of course… Next Monday, the 15th December will see the Alcopop cohorts descend onto the big smoke for fun, frolics and all sorts of super music. There will be lovely presents for the first 15 people through the door, excellent DJs, Christmas covers and cake is a relative certainty. What’s more – it’s only a fiver in! Get your tickets over here, and lets sing in the festive season….

Champion! It would be lovely to see you there…

Oxford tonight – You! Me! This City! Dancing!

I sometimes feel a touch bad that when it gets all down and regional on this lovely Alcopop blog, that despite the spread of our bands up and down the country – we tend to focus on Oxford and London when it comes to gigs, dancing and that DJing sort o’ thing.

Well – this morning is no different (sorry), as I felt it pretty much my solemn duty to let you know that tonight at The Regal (you know Oxford residents, that super-club on the Cowley Road that failed but is beginning the process of reinventing itself with a refreshingly indie facelift) will see not only Jack PoP once again taking his rightful place behind a couple of sweaty decks with a bottle of spirits in hand, but also Alcopop favourites This City take the stage!

They’ll be on at 10ish, so make sure you’re in in plenty of time… Oh, and tell em your on Jack from Alcopop’s guest list for a quid or two off. There’s rumours of shots for 50p (as yet unconfirmed), but if they are – I expect to see you on the floor

Here’s a flyer… Capiche

 

Win 2 tickets to go see This City @ London Barfly on Tuesday 23rd!

Recorded music is all very well (I mean, let’s be fair – indie record labels like ourselves bloody love it) but there’s nothing quite like witnessing people rock out live. And we’re dealing with a whole heap of incredible live acts at the moment – and we really want you to see them…

Therefore, in association with our pals in the band (who are both handsome and witty) we have managed to procure two pairs of VIP guestlist passes for the This City gig at London Barfly on Tuesday (take a hot girl/boy – imagine how impressed they’ll be on the door)– pour vous with the gracious love of Alcopop Records….

All you need to do to win them is correctly email us (at ilovealcopop@googlemail.com) the title of the B-Side from the band’s latest single (coming out on Alcopop on Monday) – for clues you can either check the shop, or the bands MySpace… We’ll be announcing the two winners on Monday evening (maybe Tuesday morning depending on how lazy we are) – and 2 runners up will get a pint bought for them by Jack Alcopop if they happen to be at the gig anyway.

So enter immediately if you fancy a bit of a rock out in London on Tuesday, and we’ll see you at the front… We Move is out on Monday too on very limited edition 7” vinyl…  Fuckin’ buy it!

Andrew WK live in London THIS SATURDAY!!!

Remember that day when Andrew WK said “Also, will you tell me more about Alcopop? I really like that name a lot.” – No? What… It was less than a year ago… Well while you’re refreshing your memory of one of the best days of my life by following this link b’yere… May I also point your attention to the fact that the aforementioned Party King of rock is back in the UK, and playing his first gig in 4 F**KING YEARS, this Saturday at Push Club in London Town!

Quite how excited I am, I can’t quite express, only to say that anyone who has even half a soul, ever lifted a glass in party celebration or would like to wrestle a rabid wolf in moonlight just for kicks – should DEFINITELY be there… Tickets can be purchased for the quite frankly unbelievable price of just 8 quid, and there will DJs (including Pull Tiger Tail and the Semifinalists) before and after, presumably playing party Hard, The Wolf and Close Calls with Brick Walls back-to-back (although I may have made this up).

For more info, pop over to those charming folk at Push Club over on MySpace, and I’ll see you at the front!

Hush the Many (Heed the Few) pen a new chapter…

Some bands die, others evolve – and that’s exactly what is currently happening to Alcopop favourites Hush the Many (Heed the Few), who released single ‘Revolve’ with us a few months back.  “Blend[ing] aggression and beauty in unique fashion, hitting like a bolt of lightning across a barren landscape” said the Daily Mirror – and by gum they were right…
 
But now, a sensational tour, unbelievable amounts of cracking press and much general adulation later – it seems that the next chapter is upon Nima – and like a book you can’t put down, I’m pretty much salivating at what it may contain… For Hush the Many (Heed the Few), now sans Alex sadly, has nonetheless happily morphed, evolved, and become Arrows of Love.
 
Apparently, “some songs you will recognise, some half-recognise, and some will be new – and in a bold move that will no doubt intensify this bands cult status, they aim to “remain outside the realms of myspace, facebook, keeping a creative focus, and our music only live for the moment.”
 
The lineup is pretty exceptional too, featuring…
 
Nima (Hush the Many’s lynchpin, creative force and all round hero) – vocals & guitar
Luis (from Eraserheads & Jamie T) – electric guitar
Clayton (from Kid Harpoon) – bass
Wim (from Loverman & Eraserheads) – drums
Sarah – synths, piano & vocals
Kate – cello
 
We’ll keep you updated with what’s happening – and can only heartily recommend going to see them at The Scala on the 14th October. We’ll be there… Meanwhile, if you want to snap up a piece of where it all started, get yourself to the shop and you can pick up revolve for just £3. It’s limited to only 500 copies, and there aren’t many left – and it’s one of the most gorgeous songs of the year… Check it out here. Oh, and look at this nice ‘arrow of love’ photo too – courtesy of drp on Flickr…