THE SOUNDCARRIERS
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LITA / Rodriguez
The Soundcarriers HQ plays host to Light In The Attic’s Transatlantic jaunt
That’s right! When we get the call that LITA’s head honcho, Matt Sullivan needs a place to call his home for four nights in London, the ever-accommodating people at The Soundcarriers HQ are truly honored to unfold the sofa bed.
The purpose of his visit to the capital – legend and Light In The Attic artist Rodriguez is playing the Barbican on his final leg of a European tour.
And what a show it was! Almost a sell-out, standing ovation, faultless set and emotions running riot on stage and in the crowd. More of that later...
To find out more about how our Seattlelite buddy copes with UK pizza, warm beer and taking a number two on board a narrow boat, please visit his blog: here
We had a wonderful few days with Matt staying with us in London - the sun was kind to us for a while, the music on the turntable never stopped, the warm beer flowed and the pizza was crap! We'd like to thank Matt for his kindness and generosity, and especially for carting that whole box of vinyl all the way from Seattle - which arrived pristine until it slipped off his luggage and down the steps of Bethnal Green tube station! Well, those bent-cornered records tell even more of a story now! And what records they are - Matt bought over a copy for us all of LITA's latest and finest: Serge Gainsbourg - Histoire De Melody Nelson, Karen Dalton - It's So Hard To Tell Who's Going To Love You The Best, Monks - Black Monk Time and Rodriguez - Coming From Reality. Thanks matey!
Cultural exchanges were rife - we showed Matt how to operate a wooden chip fork and the science of the body's need for at least three cups of tea before it's safe to venture outside. In return, he explained the meaning of a 'Douche Bag', and showed us that great Seattle tradition of a cheap night out.
The Soundcarriers and Rodriguez want you back over here for the Green Man Festival - we miss you
Rodriguez at the Barbican was truly an immense show. Nowadays, 9 out of 10 friends are able to reply with the words 'Sugar Man' when the name Rodriguez is mentioned. But this isn't an artist with such a shallow catalogue. In fact, Sugar Man is possibly not even his highlight - dig deeper, listen for yourself, not just what a DJ tells you is right. The two albums of his career are nothing but sublime.
So it must be correct that a man who can almost sell out the Barbican, aged 66 and not played the UK for many a year, will have more up his sleeve than one track. From the moment the crowd erupted to his entrance onstage - guided by his daughter/manager due to his failing eyesight - we knew this was a special evening. I was not on my own when I admit to holding back a tear or two before a word had been sung.
An ample set proceeded - dipping into both albums, the odd cover, rarity and obscurity. The voice is all there! As warm, as heart felt and as youthful as the day Cold Fact was originally cut to vinyl. A solo set would be interesting, as his guitar strumming again sounded so true - an electric strung with nylon. The weakest link has to go to the band, but this'll get sorted. Drummer was great, Hammond B3 and Wurlitzer subtle but there, but not a lot positive can be said about the zealous guitarist. Something often witnessed with shows of this ilk. Get your own band if you crave the limelight so much!
A deserved, and again emotional standing ovation left us knowing we'd sleep well tonight, just knowing Rodriguez is alive, well and doing best what he's long been ignored at...
Back To Reality
NEW ALBUM
'Harmonium'
The Soundcarriers debut is available now, on CD, Double LP and Download
For further information and to purchase, please click here
Further information is available here: www.melodic.co.uk
