The Bonus Track: Off-the-cuff covers; topless electro-pop and a new single from Kings of Leon
A sideways look at the world of music
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Your support makes all the difference.Out of the darkness
When the electricity went off at New York’s the Knitting Factory on 13 February 1997, the show by former Big Star frontman Alex Chilton, who died in 2010, was cancelled. But any audience members left behind were treated to an off-the-cuff performance of acoustic covers that is about to, ahem, see the light of day. And very nice it is too. Electricity by Candlelight is out on Bar None Records next month.
Jolly good Fela
It’s not easy to cover Fela Kuti, but Tune-Yards, Angelique Kidjo and Questlove have nailed “Lady” for the Red Hot and Fela album (all profits to Aids charities in the US and Africa) due next month. Watch the track beng recorded here:
Bike to the future
This year’s Searching for Sugarman, anyone? Johnny Moped were a proto punk band whose members included Chrissie Hynde and Captain Sensible. Now, Sensible’s son, Fred Burns, has made a documentary, Basically, Johnny Moped, that should give the band’s notorious frontman the credit that has thus far eluded him. Catch the film (and the band) at London’s Koko on Thursday. Or, the safer option, watch the trailer here:
Knock it out the park
With so many electro-pop acta around it’s tough to grab attention these days, so let’s overlook brother and sister Abi and Chris Sinclair’s decision to pose topless for an early publicity photo, especially as their band, Bat and Ball, appear to be something rather special. They’ve put some clothes on now. Listen to the startlingly good “We Prefer it in the Dark” here:
Next week's biggie
The Independent on Sunday reviews Kings of Leon’s sixth album, Mechanical Bull. In the meantime, you can listen to “Wait for Me”, the new single, here:
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