[Fauxhemian] There Is Nothing To Not Be Amazed At

I Was Dressed For Success, But Success It Never Comes:

I�ve been a little busy lately, so I haven�t gotten around to talking about the Supergrass show I went to last week. It wasn�t as good as the first time I saw them, but the last half hour of the show was pretty great. If you haven�t seen Supergrass live they basically consist of Dr. Zaius, Paul McCartney's younger brother and that chubby kid you were best friends with in the 3rd grade. And yet somehow they�ve managed to put together some really cool songs for their four albums. Unfortunately, they played way too many songs from their latest album, so it wasn�t until towards the end, when they pulled out all the stompers the show really took off.
During one of the better songs early on in the set some preppy 18-year-old twat in a black turtleneck decided to stagedive. For my money nothing is more rewarding than watching some guy stagedive only to have the crowd part before him like the Red Sea. But unfortunately that didn�t prevent him for jumping out from the stage three more times. Diving is sooo ten years ago, Dude! I mean the 70s had moshing, the 80s had moonwalking and the Safety Dance, and the 90s had diving. Now, how about we try something new like not acting like muppets in public and actually listen to the damn music? How does that sound?
But even so it was an entertaining night out except for the opening act, The 22-20s, who looked like The Strokes, but sounded like an inept Jon Spencer cover band and played excruciatingly loud. They are definitely to be avoided in the future.

I�ve been listening to Ben Folds Live and Slanted & Enchanted this weekend and they�re pretty great. Obviously, they�re very different albums, but both cool in their own way. The Ben Folds album has some really interesting versions of old favourites and there are a couple of songs, where the audience participation really lifts the songs up to another level.
Slanted is one of those albums, where during the first listen you wonder how the hell this record ever got released, but after a few spins you start getting it. I�ve only been listening to the first CD, because those 24 songs are a lot to digest in themselves, so it�ll be a while before I want to listen to the live stuff.

The weirdest thing I�ve seen today is an article claiming that the FBI has been investigating Bobby Fischer, because they thought his Mum was a commie spy. And to make the story even weirder the famous recluse has apparently been giving radio interviews lately praising the 9/11 attacks and made anti-Semitic comments. I guess Ben Kingsley won�t spend any more time Searching for Bobby Fischer.

Posted by John Fogde at November 18, 2002 06:53 PM | TrackBack

I saw supergrass in Paris and thought their support, the 22-20s, were wicked, and one to look out for; maybe a bit loud, yes, but they are still finding their feet so give them a break.

Posted by: rachel price on December 1, 2002 04:01 PM

Turtlenecks and stagediving definitively doesnt mix. :-)

Posted by: Lasse on December 1, 2002 04:02 PM

I'm thinking of going along to see the 22-20s, and am wondering whether they're any good. Any advice??

Posted by: Tim on December 5, 2002 10:04 AM

Well, I didn't like them at all, but according to Rachel's comment they were wicked in Paris, so they might have had an off night, when I saw them. They play loud New Garage sounding music, so if that's your thing you might want to give them a chance.

Posted by: John Fogde on December 5, 2002 11:07 AM

Loud new garage??? Not quite the words I would have used to describe them, but each to their own opinion I suppose...Tim, where are you thinking of going to see them?

Posted by: rachel price on December 6, 2002 09:16 AM

the 22-20s were awsome in paris. i thought they blew a lack lustre supergrass off the stage at times. they are the most wanted signing over here, the NME are going for them big time,,, an off nite??? new garage... i think not

Posted by: mark barrett on December 6, 2002 01:30 PM

Okay, so there seems to be a disagreement about what 22-20s sounded like. I thought they sounded like Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, but since they looked like The Strokes the New Garage-thing stuck in my head. What/who do you guys think they sound like?

Posted by: John Fogde on December 7, 2002 01:54 AM

Kind of Dylan 66/R.L Burnside. Bit new blues i guess but certainly not jon spencer. Spencer just sounds like a demented Elvis over grooves. Errrr.......how many bands have short back and sides anyway? thats kind of saying that you shouldnt listen to jim morrison because he looked like the band.And since they dont sound like the strokes whats the point in the comparison? In fact your comment seems like a rather blase loud sounding nothing.

Posted by: Mark Barrett on December 7, 2002 09:10 PM

I didn't say I didn't like them, because they looked like The Strokes. I said I didn't like them because "they sounded like an inept Jon Spencer cover band and played excruciatingly loud". Which I thought they did.
If you think they sound like "new blues" then that's fine by me. If you think they were great, when you saw them then that's fine as well. But I thought they sucked, when I saw them and that's why I wrote what I wrote.

Posted by: John Fogde on December 7, 2002 09:28 PM

Fair enough, but why try and turn other people against them before they've even heard them? I'm sure you have enough confidence in us mere mortals to make our own musical decisions? Especially those 1500 surrounding me in Paris that thought it sounded great. Can you recommend any good Danish music to listen to? Because surely your musical awareness is steeped in a rich Danish heritage of great music!

Posted by: Mark Barrett on December 8, 2002 01:39 AM

I wasn't trying to turn anyone against them. I was stating an opinion and when Rachel mentioned that she liked them I think I gave them the benefit of the doubt by saying that maybe they had an off night here in Denmark.
As for Danish music the two hottest bands right now are The Raveonettes (who play New Garage inspired by 50s pop) and Mew, who play noisy indie-pop. Both have recently signed huge international record deals, so as soon as they finish their respective albums, they should have records available everywhere.
Both bands were originally signed by Crunchy Frog, which also has a couple of other interesting bands on their roster.
Depending on you taste bands like Moon Gringo, Swan Lee, Carpark North, Superheroes, Junior Senior, Puddo Varano, and Saybia could be worth checking out.
And finally I thought Kashmir were ready to conquer the world, but apparently they're releasing another EP before they're releasing another album, so world domination has apparently been postponed.

Posted by: John Fogde on December 8, 2002 02:08 AM

Well said Mark...they have had interest from all the big labels and there have been NME whispers about wanting to do a big article on them, though i think their manager must want to keep them under wraps for a bit-good plan to build up the excitement! Mark, which gig did you see them at in paris- the elysee montmartre?

Posted by: rachel price on December 17, 2002 12:19 PM

The 22-20s will be the next big thing to come out of the UK. i have seen them a number of times over the last year and they are an exceptional band. Very raw with a Hendix, Dylan, Gallagher (Rory not the pox twins from Manchester) style good luck to em

Posted by: Tony Wood on January 4, 2003 12:49 PM

I've just heard a live session on Radio1 by the 22/20s and they're just sumthin else - totally awesome!

Posted by: Miss C on January 7, 2003 01:11 AM

I heard that seesion as well and thought they sounded pretty good, does anyone know if they have a website, and if so what its address is?

Posted by: Steve L. on January 10, 2003 09:39 PM

Just saw the 22-20s in Bristol tonight and they were superb. Bit of the older stuff as mentioned, maybe a clue to what the White Stripes would be like with a bassist. But very good, sure to go bigger.

Posted by: Richard Boxhall on January 18, 2003 12:56 AM

We're supporting The 22-20s at Northampton Soundhaus this Monday. Looking forward to it!

Posted by: Goldigger on January 18, 2003 03:11 PM

stumbled across this site rather randomly...22/20s are immense and will rock your world in 2003!! Pay particular attention to james (one time schoolmate of mine)on the drums...

Posted by: ted on January 24, 2003 02:40 AM

any news on where to get a copy of their demo or a website address?

Posted by: mike on January 24, 2003 12:09 PM

Can't help with a website nor with where to get their demo but I have heard it. I thought it was good although I understand they had only been together for a few weeks when they recorded it. At the Dublin Castle last Tuesday they were red hot. See them live and wait for the album. The demo doesn't do them justice.

Posted by: Jeff Sanders on January 26, 2003 01:45 PM

Saw 22-20s at Middlebrough Empire last night. Fantastic just get better and better. See you about somewhere in future lads good luck.

Posted by: Tony Wood on February 2, 2003 11:20 AM

22-20s website www.22-20s.com only tour dates for now but more to come

Posted by: Tony on February 4, 2003 06:12 PM

Heard about 22 20s about a week ago in NME. They were unsigned so I didnt bother looking for an album, but I discovered today that they played in Liverpool on feb 3rd. Missed it. No adverts. Tickets only �5. Fuck!

Posted by: Nick Neill on February 7, 2003 04:58 PM

Just seen that the 22-20s have announced more tour dates around the UK on their official website... www.22-20s.com

Posted by: James B on February 17, 2003 01:42 PM

Thanks James B I can now see them in liverpool on March 26th!!!

Posted by: Nick Neill on February 20, 2003 02:43 PM

I've got four tickets for the 22-20s in Manchester on Sunday 30th March. I don't need them now cos I've got tickets for Newcastle instead. Contact me on bernard1973@tiscali.co.uk

Cheers

Posted by: Gary Ferguson on March 1, 2003 03:56 PM

Just found that the 22-20s are playing the coachella festival in america on sunday 29th june.

Posted by: James B on March 18, 2003 11:01 PM

Ok, so the 22-20s came on without saying anything, played for half an hour, and left without saying anything. Very strange! Is this normal, or were they pissed about something?

And their warm up band, the Blueskins, were better (in my mind).

Posted by: Nick Neill on March 28, 2003 11:41 AM