Hello again on this very Tuesday of Tuesdays. Thanks to everyone who made their considered responses to yesterdays post both here on the blog and on the facebook page. I wasn’t looking to start name calling in the sense of ‘he knows best, she knows nothing’ but more like test the water about Gorillaz but also the bigger picture of where we stand with regards to antics both in terms of recordings and other gestures by the former members of The Clash. What I’ve learned is that there are a multitude of different opinions but more importantly some very visible passion and conviction. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m more concerned with enjoying what Mick and Paul are versus focusing on what they are not.

As you probably know the blog was on holiday in the Caribbean for about six weeks from mid-April until June 1st so I missed a number of small and moderate events. In the interests of keeping up to date on as many fronts as possible I realised that there were a few Carbon Silicon events worth catching up on. Due to Mick working with ‘that other band’ (trademarked so as not to offend) things may be on hold until August I would guess but expect UK tour dates for the late Summer early Autumn. Following the unique show in Zagreb that I mentioned the other day, Carbon Silicon are also confirmed for a support slot to Fatboy Slim at the Neapolis Festival on July 15 in Italy. Also on the bill that day are Gang of Four so it should be a good day out in the sun. Full details via the official Festival Site or their facebook page. The two day event has a history that stretches back to 1997 and is well attended, if you didn’t guess its right outside Naples. I’ve noticed we get a lot of visits to the blog from Italy (grazie e dia il benvenuto a) so hopefully some of you will get to the festival and take a few pictures and write a quick summary? Let me know…we’d all appreciate it!

As I’ve mentioned before Carbon Silicon seem to have no shortage of new material being written and bashed into shape so expect some new songs to be aired in Italy. There is also a new EP expected soon, I imagine the delay is due to the ‘other band’  Mick’s been sailing around with! More news as I get it, in the meantime a video of Mick’s other other other band…just to complete the set…*rumors remain we may see them in 2011.

*apologies for earlier error ~ Carbon Silicon did not play in Dublin earlier this year, thanks Gail!

Hello again…thanks for dropping by and as promised a new post to go hand in hand with a new day. I was working today and quietly having a very normal quiet morning with a cup of coffee when I turned on the BBC (online of course – I don’t have the world service aerial rigged up these days) when the news from Cumbria started being broadcast. So much for a peaceful morning and I’ll not even try and understand that sort of carnage which thankfully is a very rare event in the UK, but with Dunblane and Hungerford still in the memory that’s often enough for me. I hope that the communities impacted pull together after such a dark dark day – not much more to add. The Cumbrian coast and Lakes are amongst the nicest parts of England, which only adds to this surreal event shrouding those towns.

Fortunately a bit further South in Manchester, Manchester Rugby Club hosted a much happier event this past weekend. Strummercamp was apparently a huge success and under normal circumstances (the blog being up and running!) I’d have been able to be part of the build up to this years event. The two day non-profit festival celebrates the life and influence of Joe and was well attended again this year. The lineup was sadly lacking The Godfathers (what a great live band…I saw a few of their St. Valentine’s Day shows back in the day) but still offered a great festival where you didn’t have to travel into the wilds of the West country to get a fix of good music and entertainment. A good summary appears on this post from e-festivals.co.uk. If you happened to attend last weekend please write in and share your report!

Off topic (back to the old flow, you’re probably used to this) a great friend of the blog tells me that the new Iron Man film (imaginatively titled Iron Man 2…or IM2 she regaled me) features two songs by The Clash during the comic book turned Robert Downey career resurrection vehicle. Should I Stay popped up early on but of course that’s been used by Hollywood (and Levis) on prior shifts, more encouragingly Magnificent Seven also makes an appearance. Can you imagine….little Billy marveling (pun intended) at the antic of Iron Man and you’re mumbling ‘Cold Water in The Face’.

Trying to pull all the loose ends together, but as you might recall Carbon Silicon (Mick’s proper band) played a unlikely gig in Zagreb, Yugoslavia (fuck it I’m going old school) in early May and a very enjoyable video surfaced of the event. Thus you’ll find it beneath for your viewing pleasure.

We’ve got plenty of videos to get through including so many of Mick and Paul it may have been a good thing I wasn’t bombarding you with those the last 6 weeks. Back soon – and thanks for your messages condoning my return.

Tim

Good Evening. Hope you had a good day and are reading this somewhere interesting in the world (even Milton Keynes or Milwaukee can be interesting, it depends on your point of view). Its been a bit of an action packed day it would seem as I scanned the wires tonight and sadly not all of the news is good, but we’ll get to that in a moment. I’d rather start with good news, move on to some strange news and then perhaps tackle the sad. The good news first, by all accounts the first Strummerville showcase on Monday evening in Austin went very well and the second takes place this evening (Wednesday). Below is the official blurb:

We’re flying the flag here in Texas at SXSW where we joined with Jail Guitar Doors on Monday night for our first showcase presenting The Supernovas, Nat Jenkins, Smokey Angle Shades, Beans on Toast with The Good The Bad, Chris Shiflett, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly and the inimitable Billy Bragg.

We are so honoured to have such powerful support from people like Chris, Sam and Billy and it so inspiring for our young bands to have figureheads who really are doing something positive and powerful through their music and ultimately making a difference, welcoming new talent to the stage and spreading the love.

Thanks to the guys at the British Music Embassy for inviting us to take over on Monday 15th.

Tonight (Weds 17th) we have our second showcase with the same line up and also the awesome Wayne Kramer.  Don Letts flies in today for the world premier of his film called Strummerville on Friday.

It all sounds a good time and should spike added interest in Strummerville (at last!!) here in the States. Needless to day I hope to add some video, audio and blogging updates from the main protagonists later in the week. Next I’ll move on to Mick Jones who as you know has been turning his attention back to Carbon Silicon in recent months. The band who haven’t toured in quite some time have been leaving hints here and there for a few months now that we could expect to see them on the road again soon. Well today they’ve announced their first ‘proper’ live gig of 2010 and in a move that would be typical of The Clash it’s not where you might expect to see them. London or New York? Toronto or Dublin? All too obvious it would seem, the first live date posted is set for Zagreb on May 7th. So if you are in Yugoslavia Croatia you know what you’ll be doing that evening. I got all 1980′s with my Yugoslavia typo there, its been a while since I got to type that word. I’m guessing that we’ll see more shows announced in the coming weeks so stay in touch.

Bad news, I could write a whole post about the band Big Star but that’s not really the ethos of the blog. It should be noted and hopefully known that Big Star filled up a pretty empty void – being a useful American band from 1970-1974. While never achieving the success their music merited the band have influenced so many excellent groups in the decades since it almost borders on theft. I can’t find the right words to describe the quality and innovation of the three albums they released. I’d recommend ‘#1 Record’ and then go back to your own collection and connect the dots to see which bands were inspired by that great album. I ramble on as I learned this afternoon about the sad death of Alex Chilton from an apparent heart attack at the age of just 59. Chilton formed the band in 1969 I believe, and also continued to perform long after they disbanded. I was lucky enough to see Chilton back around 1993, and although the concert was short it was very memorable. I never was even exposed to Big Star until the mid 80′s but that didn’t dull my interest. By all accounts he was back to his best working with members of The Posies and Big Star within the last decade and still making ground breaking music. The New York Times wrote a fitting piece this evening.

Finally, if you grew up with access to BBC radio or the world service chances are overnight at some time you listened to famed DJ Charlie Gillett. The broadcaster would play the most interesting music which complimented John Peel with its diversity. Playing ‘world music’ before even such a term existed, he just knew no bounds in championing new music. Sadly he passed today at the age of 68, who better than the BBC to pay tribute?

I had a bunch of other things but bed is calling – so there will be more tomorrow. Cheers ~ Tim