Left Outsides newsletter - December 2008

Hello folks, welcome to the December 2008 edition of The Left Outsides newsletter, bringing you news of.... err.... The Left Outsides!

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*The Gower Wassail*

First up, the good folks at Where It's At Is Where You Are records asked us to contribute a song to their online Christmas themed compilation. We obliged with our interpretation of the seasonal traditional song 'The Gower Wassail'. Visit their website to stream or download the song for free.

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*New London show announced - Track and Field Winter Sprinter - Thursday 15 January 2009*

We are pleased to announce our first show of 2009, the Track and Field Organisation's 'Winter Sprinter', supporting the excellent Damon and Naomi (ex Galaxie 500). This show will also feature 'The Outside Lefts' whose current incarnation includes Ben Phillipson (electric guitar) Karl Sabino (drums) and Matt Ashton (bass guitar).

We'd love to see you there, here are the finer details...

Thursday 15 January - 7.30pm

TRACK & FIELD WINTER SPRINTER VOLUME 10.4

DAMON & NAOMI (Ex Galaxie 500) plus THE LEFT OUTSIDES

The Luminaire

311 Kilburn High Road

London NW6

Nearest tube: Kilburn / overground: Brondesbury

Tickets: £7 advance, available from:

We Got Tickets

Ticketweb

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*Planting Seeds Records - “Blue Skies Daisy Days” compilation*

We have an exclusive track included on Planting Seeds Records latest compilation release – “Blue Skies Daisy Days” (PSRCD-058). It is released on CD and digital format through Darla distribution. The featured track is the full studio version of our song 'Out of Time; Out of Place'.
Some of our friends are also included on this compilation - The See See, The Tamborines and The Fischers. They all provide great tracks - well worth your attention.

The collection also includes the International Jetsetters (members of The Jesus & Mary Chain + Ride) The Ocean Blue, Linda Draper, A.M. Vibe, The Voyces, Pinkie (Sarah Records), The Loose Salute (members of Mojave 3), Loz Colbert (Ride), The Primary 5 (members of Teenage Fanclub), Nic Dalton (Lemonheads), John Moore (Black Box Recorder, JAMC).

A Portion of the proceeds from this benefit record go to San Diego based The Keep-A-Breast Foundation. The Keep A Breast Foundation is a non-profit organization. Their mission is to help eradicate breast cancer by exposing young people to methods of prevention, early detection and support.

Order your CD copy by visiting the Darla Website .

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*New album set for release in Spring 2009*

More news on this next time......

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Finally, we would like to thank everyone who has helped and supported us over the past 12 months.

Thank you, its been a blast. Here's to more next year!

The Left Outsides
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New London show announced - Track and Field Winter Sprinter 15 Jan 09

We have just confirmed a new London show, the first for 2009. Further details below.

Thursday 15 January - 7.30pm
TRACK & FIELD WINTER SPRINTER VOLUME 10.4
DAMON & NAOMI (Ex Galaxie 500) plus THE LEFT OUTSIDES
The Luminaire
311 Kilburn High Road
London NW6
Nearest tube: Kilburn / overground: Brondesbury
Tickets: £7 advance, available from:

http://www.wegottickets.com/event/40302

http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=300234

Visit the Track and Field website for more details about their excellent record label here.

Planting Seeds Records - “Blue Skies Daisy Days” compilation

The Left Outsides have an exclusive track included on Planting Seeds Records latest compilation release – “Blue Skies Daisy Days” (PSRCD-058). It is released on 2 December 2008 in CD and digital format through Darla distribution. The featured track is the full studio version of 'Out of Time; Out of Place'.

The collection features both Planting Seeds Artists’ and friends from around the globecontributing exclusive tracks along with remastered favorites.

International Jetsetters (members of The Jesus & Mary Chain + Ride) The Tamborines, The Ocean Blue, Linda Draper, A.M. Vibe, The Voyces, Pinkie (Sarah Records), The Left Outsides (Eighteenth Day of May), The See See (also featuring members from the UK’s Eighteenth Day Of May), The Loose Salute (members of Mojave 3), Loz Colbert (Ride), The Primary 5 (members of Teenage Fanclub), Nic Dalton (Lemonheads), John Moore (Black Box Recorder, JAMC), are just some of the excellent artists featured on Planting Seeds’ latest collection of timeless pop music.

A Portion of the proceeds from this benefit record go to San Diego based The Keep-A-Breast Foundation. The Keep A Breast Foundation is a non-profit organization. Their mission is to help eradicate breast cancer by exposing young people to methods of prevention, early detection and support.

Pre-order your CD copy by visiting the Darla website .

Left Outsides - Newsletter Autumn 2008

Hello dear friends, here is the Autumn 2008 edition of the Left Outsides newsletter.

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Left Outsides on the radio

We will be performing live on Tom Robinson's BBC 6 music show next week – Friday 3 October to be precise. You can listen live from 19h00 to 21h00 on the BBC 6 Music website or via digital radio, freeview or satellite TV. You can listen again after the event by visiting the website and clicking on the 'listen again' button.

We have assembled a brand new version of our band ‘The Outside Lefts’ for this special occasion, adding the wonderful Ben Phillipson on guitar who joins Outside Left stalwarts Karl Sabino (drums) and Matt Ashton (bass guitar) for this line up. We will be performing new songs from our soon to be released second album ‘The Shape of Things to Come’.

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Luminaire show with Bevis Frond and nick nicely

We are getting extremely excited about our show at The Luminaire in London on Saturday 11 October with The Bevis Frond and nick nicely. I kid you not, its being billed as a 'psychedelic summit' by the people at Terrascope online. Further details below. Get your tickets soon because this sucker is sure to sell out!

Saturday 11 October, The Luminaire, 311 High Road, Kilburn, London NW6 7JR.

Terrascope Tea Party 6 featuring a rare performance by psychedelic acid-rock guitar gurus The Bevis Frond, a one-off show by the legendary nick nicely (of ‘Hilly Fields’ fame), and local psychedelic folk heroes The Left Outsides. Buy tickets from WeGotTickets. Left Outsides stage time 8pm.

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DJ set - Sunday 19 October – Salmon and Compass, London

If you are in or around London town on the afternoon of Sunday 19 October, may I recommend that you pop in to the Salmon and Compass boozer at 58 Penton Street, London, N1 9PZ. Why? because The Left Outsides are playing their favourite records at 'The Hangover Lounge' from 1pm to 7pm. FREE entry!

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Brixton show, London - Monday 20 October

We're at The Basket Club at The Windmill, 22 Blenheim Gardens, Brixton, London, SW2 5BZ on Monday 20 October. Stage time 9.30pm. Hope to see you there.

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The Third Light 7” single

A quick reminder that there are copies available of our debut single, 'The Third Light' on the Hi-Beat Records imprint. The first 100 copies of the 7" format are individually numbered and packaged in unique fabric sleeves with card insert. It is also available as an MP3 download.

The single is available directly from our webshop at http://www.theleftoutsides.com/Shop.htm

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That’s all for now folks, we hope to see you soon!

The Left Outsides x

New single 'The Third Light' - released Monday 21 July

We are pleased to announce the release of our debut single 'The Third Light' on Monday 21 July 2008 on the Hi-Beat Records imprint. The first 100 copies of the 7" format is individually numbered and packaged in unique fabric sleeves with card insert. It is also available as an MP3 download.

The single features a new recording of 'The Third Light', backed with the track 'Deep Rivers Move in Silence; Shallow Brooks are Noisy' remixed of by critically acclaimed Scottish band Found, part of the Fence Collective.

The following is from the Hi-Beat records press release:-

'Lead track 'The Third Light' is a minor key treasure, driven by haunting gypsy viola. The mysteriously enigmatic lyrics mask the song's true nature. 'Deep Rivers Move In Silence; Shallow Brooks are Noisy' tells of the feelings of guilt and remorse after reading the diary of someone now departed. The title pays homage to the author of this diary, a character who spent his life waiting in the wings with the frustrations of being overshadowed by the more brazen people of this world. Critically acclaimed Scottish band Found remix the song, shadowing their own experimental electronic folk sound'

The 7" single is available directly from our webshop at http://www.theleftoutsides.com/Shop.htm

Read a review of the single on the Sounds XP website.

Germany Tour - Day 7 - Monday 31st March, Cafe Vinyl, Wetzlar

Outside of Cafe Vinyl, Wetzlar

Well, I could say that I've played at some pretty good venues before but never have I ever been greeted at a venue with champagne on arrival. As we arrive at Cafe Vinyl in Wetzlar, Siegmar Roscher, the promoter of the night enters the room holding a bottle of champagne and opens it to celebrate the arrival of The Left Outsides to Wetzlar. We all drink to Siegmar and Cafe Vinyl. We love the guy and this place already. 

It was a spectacular journey on the train to Wetzlar, a historic city in the south west. I lost count of the amount of times I wanted to disembark the train and run away into another world to explore the enchanting castles that we passed by. But entering Wetzlar was almost like a fairytale in itself. Full of narrow, winding cobble-stoned streets with half-timbered houses it was so picturesque and striking. 

Wetzlar

Cafe Vinyl is run by the lovely Jens and the charming Anita. Something that I just love about the places we visit on this tour is how venues are created as almost an extension to the owners personalities and this again is evident here. Jens is an avid vinyl collector, hence the name of the bar (as well as the record sleeves which adorn the place, everything played in this bar is on vinyl and there is also a stall of records for sale - Mike stocks up on his collection here!). There is also a shrine to his favourite football club in the corner. 

After soundcheck, and a fantastic spread of food provided by Anita, Siegmar leads us up the steep, winding cobble-stoned streets to his house. On the way, he gives us a guided tour of Wetzlar, pointing out Goethe's house and the cathedral. So beautiful, I feel as if I am on holiday rather than on tour! His house is very much in keeping with the rest of the old town, a half timbered building, I feel almost giddy walking the stairs as it feels slightly uneven, with it's wood structure. We drink campari in Siegmar's beautiful house and then receive a frantic call from Jens at Cafe Vinyl. The venue is full of people awaiting our arrival and we should have taken to the stage half an hour ago. 

With haste, we make our way back to the venue and are greeted by a packed out Cafe Vinyl. People enjoy the set and we speak to some lovely people after the show. Jens plays some great music after we play - It's a Beautiful Day, Syd Barrett and Kaleidoscope amongst others......fantastic! 

On the main square 

Mike and I talk about how it always inspires us to want to own a bar of our own when we visit some places. I think he was particularly inspired by this place and understandably so. Siegmar tells us that he has cooked a meal back at his house. Like I said, Siegmar is so instantly likeable. Our friend Andre Herman Dune (Stanley Brinks) noticed that we were playing at one of Siegmar's nights and had already told us what a lovely guy he was. Back at Siegmar's place we look at photos of previous gigs that he has put on and see that we are in good company, not only with Andre but also other bands like The Wave Pictures. 

Anita and Siegmar 

We sit down to a fabulous meal cooked by Siegmar, with his lovely partner Michaela and their friends who were great company. As we eat, we listen to Of Montreal and talk to Siegmar about music and discover to our astonishment that Jamie Oliver is very famous in Germany.

A great day and night was had by all.

Until next time, 

Alison x 

Germany Tour - Day 6 - Sunday 30th March, Noch Besser Leben, Leipzig, Hamburg

And so to Leipzig by train, direct from Hamburg,  a 3 hour journey made all the more easier by the comfortable Deutchbahn trains, and the Neu! and Can soundtrack in my headphones. Well, when in Germany..... 

Hold on tight, its gonna be a long trip...

Leipzig is the largest city in the Saxony region, and is famous for its music and culture (it was once dubbed 'the Paris of the East'). The city was once home to the composers Bach and Mendelssohn and is the birthplace of Wagner. Its an extremely grand city, which is immediately apparent by the opulence of its train station, once the largest in Europe. It has two main entrances and exits, and it is extremely easy to get lost inside of it, which we did as soon as we disembarked the train.

After maintaining our composure and finding our way out of the station, we managed to hail a taxi to the venue for tonight's show at Noch Besser Leben. The stage was the upstairs room of a cool bar, frequented by a mixture of hipsters and locals playing chess. The walls were full of old photos from East German days. The room was probably one of the smallest we played on this tour, but it made for a cosy atmosphere.

As we set up our gear for the soundcheck, a strange man suddenly appeared. I didn't hear him enter the room, he was just there. He spoke no English, and beckoned us over to a table where he laid out three photos of Alison and I, including the Left Outsides logo (copyright Karl Sabino) which looked like they'd been hastily put together on photoshop. He had a pen and wanted us to sign them. I bet they'll make him a fortune on Leipzig Market next week. I assumed this was a set up by Mike and Matt, but apparently not.  He left the room as mysteriously as he entered. I never actually saw him leave either, which worried me a bit. One minute he was there, the next he was gone, a bit like the the shopkeeper in the kids cartoon programme 'Mr Ben' except with a beard, a beer belly and a German accent.

The soundcheck was one of the best we've ever had, made all the more easier by the fact that there was no soundman - he was running late. Personally, I've never really seen the point in having over elaborate soundchecks. Just check that the equipment is working and that's all there is to it really. So thats exactly what we do, and that leaves us plenty of time to taste the local beer. We quickly find a cinema bar across the road and we get stuck into the erdinger weissbier. This beats weak Fosters lager any day of the week. There is also the interestingly named Duckstein, and Lagerbier Hell.....

No ducks were harmed in the making of this beer

Whilst necking our German beer we get talking to one of the locals, a very small man called Klaus, who worked at the local art gallery. He was tremendous company and regaled us with tales of old Leipzig from times gone by. He was charming, and we enjoyed Klaus's company very much indeed.

Leipzig by night, outside the venue

And so to the show. Quite a crowd had gathered, some had seen our feature in the local Leipzig paper and came to check us out. The cosy atmosphere made for a intense show, and the sound was awesome (well, it would be wouldn't it?). We debut a new tune for the encore, the traditional North East English mining disaster balled, 'The Trimdon Grange Explosion', taught to Alison and I by our dear friend Ben Phillipson back home. It goes down well. 

After much merryment and more weissbier we are shown to our accommodation for the night, next door to the venue. I won't dwell on this too much, besides to say that it'll be a lovely room when it gets finished next year.....

More soon, stay tuned...

Mark

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Germany Tour - Day 5 - Friday 28th March, Hasenschaukel, Hamburg

l-r: Alison Cotton, Mark Nicholas, Matt Ashton, Mike Smoughton

We were all really excited about playing and spending time in Hamburg and we certainly weren't disappointed. 

We had a day off here, so we had booked ourselves into an upmarket hostel (so my brother informs me, he's almost a connoisseur of such things) for two nights. St Pauli is an area crammed full of cool bars, cafes, and vintage clothes shops. Matt had disappeared off to explore the wonders of these streets before we had even checked in. 

Mr. Matt Aston - outside of the hostel, shopping

Hailing down a taxi to take us to the venue proved a difficult task but we arrived at the venue and I immediately had such a good feeling about the place. Everywhere we had played so far on the tour were places that I would be a regular at if I lived in the city in which they were located. This one, well, I'd be sat at the bar, or rather, reclining in one of the antique armchairs in the back room every night if I lived in Hamburg!   

Two very cool guys named Tanju and Julian welcomed us to Hasenschaukel and I was just in awe looking around at a place that had obviously been designed with such individuality and such personal touches. Full of baroque furniture but with quirky details such as dolls hanging above chandeliers and wallpaper in the toilets as if from taken from illustrations in a children's book. 

When we arrived, this was written on the blackboard in the venue. They must have seen us two Camberwellians coming

And then there was the music. As we set up to soundcheck I recalled how often I'd been deafened by soundmen inflicting their bad taste in music upon me, blasting awful heavy metal from the speakers. It hardly puts me in the mood to play a good gig. Here, Tanju played 'Scott' by Scott Walker (I'll never forget tuning up my viola, staring out onto the streets of Hamburg, looking at Mark and my friends and hearing 'Montague Terrace in Blue') and then, after soundcheck, Bevis Frond started playing on the stereo! So, at this point we were completely sure that this was a perfect place for us and we were playing at a venue most certainly run by like-minded people.

The stage - photo (like most you see on this blog) is taken by Matt Ashton

After a delicious meal that the lovely Anja from the venue had made us, we took to the stage. The stage was situated by the window of the venue so anyone walking by could look in and see us play. But we had a wonderful crowd and we met some truly lovely fans in Hamburg that once we started playing I didn't notice the passers-by at all. Again, we played a long set, a couple of encores, and I dedicated 'Ring Out the Bells' to Chris as it was his last day with us. 

It was a Friday night, and after the show we were certainly in the party mood. This mood was driven even more by the music that the djs this night began to play. We all sang along to Martha & the Muffins, Duran Duran, Steely Dan, Human League and Squeeze. One of the djs came over for a chat and we were highly amused that he thought Mike resembled a young Michael Caine. 

The night was still young (well, for Hamburg anyway) and Mark had just received a text message. It was from our good friends Dead Meadow who had been playing just round the corner in a club on the infamous Reeperbahn. They had invited us to join them for a beer so Mark and I braved the scary crowds of 'stag do's' and euro-drunks who all seemed to congregate on the pavement, hanging out, drinking and we walked briskly to Molotov, the club where they had just played. Jason from the band met us at the door and we went backstage with them. It was great to see them and we watched videos of a gig they'd played the previous week - in a castle in Italy - it looked amazing! So, after a few beers and a good chat we said our goodbyes and made our way back to Hasenshaukel.

Mark and I try to fathom out a route to Molotov avoiding The Reeperbahn. Good wine it was too.....

We asked Tanju when we arrived back what time Hasenshaukel closed. He told us that it stayed open all night. I'm not sure what time it was by now. I had a few fascinating conversations with people who were so passionate about music I could have talked so much longer - with Julian from the venue about Syd Barrett and with a guy named Norbert who ran another venue in Hamburg about the early recordings of Townes Van Zandt that he owns that were recorded at his venue. I could have talked for hours, but it was time to go.

We were asked to sign a guest book at Hasenshauckel. Art work by Matt Ashton.

So, one of the best nights of the tour and I hope to return to Hamburg very soon.

The next morning I had a slightly bad head but I couldn't let this get in the way of a day off in Hamburg. 

 

Stay tuned for our tales of Leipzig very, very soon.

Alison

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Germany Tour - Day 4 - Thursday 27th March, Feinkost Lampe, Hannover

Alison is having a night off from the blog, so I thought I'd tell you about our show in Hannover, at a venue called Feinkost Lampe. 

But first, our day started with a trip to Berlin's central rail station, Hauptbahnhof, currently the biggest station in Europe. We are taking the train on this tour, traveling light and borrowing equipment at each venue. The German railways are typically err, German. Extremely efficient, cheap and clean. Sehr Gut! There's a certain amount of discipline when taking the train. You have to be at the station on time - a tour bus will wait but the train won't. Trains don't get lost on the autobahn either.

It's just over an hour and a half west from Berlin to Hannover, capital of the Lower Saxony region. We arrive on time and take taxis to the venue. There's time to sample the local beer, and we opt for the 'Wolf' bar across the road from the venue. It's a rock bar, blasting out superb AC/DC and Motorhead tunes. It goes down well with the local weisbier and puts us in a good mood for the soundcheck.

The venue is in an old school classroom, run by Arne and Pauli, the local cool kids who set up this venue over the last year. It is decked out in fine retro Scandinavian furniture, low lighting, coffee tables and kitsch 60's bric a brac.

the venue - retro furniture

I am most impressed with the toilets however - a spoken word Agatha Christie novel is played through speakers - in German, of course.  Very odd. I manage to get a recording later on, much to some of the local punters bemusement/amusement. There is an old Bontempi organ in there too. That's my kind of toilet. 

Bontempi organ in the ablutions

Before the show, we are treated to some home cooking - spinach and goats cheese gnocci with salad, and a plum pie for afters. We all agree that its gonna be a good show tonight.

The venue is only open once a week, so it soon starts to fill up with all the local hipsters in town, and before long, it's standing room only. Chris places our merchandise in amongst the 60's kitsch in the display cabinet. Its like a tripped out sweet shop in here. 

probably the most creative display of merchandise on the tour

The DJ is most impressive, starting out with some eerie soundscapes and downbeat electronica. He soon builds things up with Midlake and Gravenhurst before we take the stage. He was Matt's favourite dj of the tour.

The show is a good one. Mike is on great form tonight. He somehow manages to make a snare drum and marraca sound like a full drum kit... no mean feat, that. God knows how he manages it. Half way through the show I see a face I recognise. It's the guy from the 'Wolf' rock bar who's come to check us out, and he's down the front grooving away. Awwwlriiight!

We encore with our version of the Thirteenth Floor Elevators song, 'Splash 1' and before we know it, its all over. Chris does a fine impression of del-boy Trotter, selling our wares with a certain charm. The evening goes on late, drinking the fine German beer and chatting to the locals who are charming and polite. We like Hannover a lot. If we lived here, we'd come to this night for sure.

We are given directions to our accommodation for the night. Its 5 a five minute walk away at 'Ralph's place'. His is the pad to crash for most rock and rollers who visit town. Comfortable futons make for a good nights sleep. We don't see Ralph until the next morning. He's a lovely guy, and he's put on a lavish German breakfast for us - Frushtuck. Its bread, ham, salami, and fine cheese, yoghurt, boiled eggs and lots and lots of coffee. There's just enough time to sign Ralph's guestbook, and look through his extensive collection of C90 tapes, before its time to go. 

We have another train to catch, this time to Hamburg......

Ralph's fine collection of tapes

Stay tuned for day 5 very, very soon,

Mark

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Germany Tour - Day 3 - Wednesday 26th March, Shokoladen, Berlin

As my brother Chris and I sat in a cinema cafe in Mitte hours before the Shokoladen show we discussed a gallery that we'd both visited, on completely separate occasions on this visit to Berlin. Hamburger Bahnhof is a tremendous, old railway station (as the name suggests), now art gallery. Five exhibitions were taking place there on this visit and we talked briefly about what we'd seen but both of us were determined to get onto our favourite piece in the gallery. Almost in unison, we both revealed that this was a black and white Stan Douglas photograph of an old theatre in Detroit, the Michigan Theatre which was now a parking lot. All that is left of the theatre is it's highly decorative vaulted canopy but to see that hang over a car park is just surreal and extremely sad but very captivating. I suppose I was very aware of this idea, being in Berlin. I mean, we played in an old tool manufacturing factory, we visited a hospital that was now an art gallery, the gallery itself was an old train station, tonight we were to play in an old chocolate factory......the list is endless. But I don't believe this is the reason that we both chose the same piece of art. Coincidence, maybe, but then the photo was right at the end of the gallery and was so small many would have missed it.

Now, if that wasn't weird, this is weird. Last night I turned the television on late at night, just before going to bed and that very same theatre / parking lot was there, right in front of me. Only, this time it was in that Eminem film and violent things were going on in there that I didn't care to watch so I turned it off before my memory of that beautiful photograph had been tainted.

So, on to Shokoladen. We played here last time we were in Berlin and I just love this venue. A former chocolate factory in Mitte, built in 1881 it certainly looks like, and I imagine was, an old cabaret theatre. The stage is one of the most beautiful I have played on, with red velvet curtains, a piano and even a standup lamp. 

A lovely Australian girl name Sarah who has been living in Berlin for some time promoted the night. We all really like Sarah and her night 'Acoustic Moon' has a regular crowd and a nice, friendly vibe about it. Sarah once sung backing vocals with Nick Cave in the film Wings of Desire when he was living in Berlin which impressed us a great deal.

The support act that night was an American girl named Cera Impala with a beautiful folk voice, accompanied by her partner on fiddle. I enjoyed them a lot.

Those of the audience who choose to sit down (the majority, at this night) sat on raised benches, like a terrace. It's quite strange looking out from the stage to that, and in this old venue it feels as if we are in another time.  

Ursula comes down tonight and films us, from the very top bench. The audience are quiet and attentive and concentrate on every note we play. Something that we find at most gigs on the tour and surely that's how it should be. In general, people come to gigs to watch bands over here rather than just chat with their mates which has got to be a good thing. both for bands and audiences.

We play a long set - over an hour tonight and we play two encores. They were a demanding audience!

Some of the lovely audience, sat on the raised benches..... 

Sarah is most generous with drinks and we are all in extremely high spirits after the show. Everyone seems to want to talk to Chris over at the merch desk so I wander over there but miss them all and someone is talking to him about.....Falmouth. I never actually asked what that was all about and didn't wait around long enough to find out. I joined Matt and Mike who were talking to a somewhat drunken Dutchman. Not for long though, I wouldn't think..... And then over in the other corner, Mark was there, talking to a Norwegian guy who had brought his whole family along to see us.

Again, we thoroughly enjoyed the dj at Shokoladen. A fine choice of records.

l-r: spots, checks, stripes

This is our last night in Berlin and I feel very sad to be leaving, although at the same time, excited about the tour. I have this feeling about Berlin that there is something there for me. I feel so happy when I'm there. I can honestly say that it is my favourite city of those I've ever visited and I just want to keep returning, as often as I can. So, Berlin was amazing and the Deutsch Bahn awaits.

 

Chris stays in a room above Shokoladen for the night. Here he is about to retire to bed......

Stay tuned to this station for day 4..... Hannover, home of the Scorpions.

Alison x

Germany Tour - Day 2 - Tuesday 25th March Antje Oklesund

Mark & I entering an art installation in a converted hospital - art gallery near where we stayed in Kreuzberg

Mike Smoughton - Berlin (Matt's behind the camera)

After an enjoyable day off in Berlin the next show was at Antje Oklesund.  My brother Chris had just arrived so we were happy to see him.

Our friend Ursula had organised this show and her act 'Skirt' was also to play. Going by what Ursula had told us about the place we were really excited about this one. 

Antje Oklesund is an old tool manufacturing factory which now serves as an artspace. It opens just one night a week and when it does open it certainly is a real event. They have their own, regular crowd, it's non-profit making and it's run by a group of people who work very hard to put together these nights.

We arrive at the space and are invited to do something that we've never been asked to do before and, sadly, probably never will again - to build our own stage. A huge pile of white boxes lie in the corner of the room and we set to work to create our own individual stage, placing the white boxes on different levels to create platforms for ourselves. Such a simple concept but the character of the room could change each week depending on where the performer wished to  place these boxes. A wonderful idea.....

some of the boxes, as we found them....

And then Ursula ('Skirt') sets up on a newly-designed stage.....

As we are soundchecking, we see a lot of excitement by the door to the room. We are told that it has began to snow outside. We finish soundcheck and walk out onto a blanket of snow. 

The snow was thick, the night was dark, and I feared I would slip over. I struggled to keep up with the rest of them as they walked to the nearest cafe. As I reached the bottom of the hill I could not even work out in which direction they had walked. 

Me outside of the venue - trying to keep up in the snow.....

But then I witnessed a frenzied snowball fight. Snowballs were being thrown from every direction. Matt had waited for me (thanks Matt!) and we walked up to the cafe to hear a man apologise to Mark for the snowballs - he had just lost a darts tournament in a bar down the road and was in fact from Bristol. Oh well.

So, we arrive back at the venue to play a great set - it really felt like we were in some 60s film with the stage and the lighting and the whole atmosphere - I loved it. 'Skirt' was brilliant - Ursula's music is really beautiful and heartfelt. Everyone at the venue seemed to be having a good time and I loved the atmosphere of this place.

Most of the gigs we played on this tour had excellent djs. This one was amazing. The dj booth was set up high into the ceiling and, as we danced to the psych, prog and krautrock that he played, we waved to him in his castle. There was a little window that he looked out of from such a height. I really hope we get to hear him play again as he had such a skill to play some of the biggest sounding, yet obscure tunes. Brilliant!

As we left Antje Oklesund very late that night the snow had melted.

Stay tuned for day 3 soon!

Alison

x

   

Germany Tour - Day 1, The Bang Bang Club, Berlin - Sunday 23 March 2008

The Left Outsides plus our friend Mark Cremins, a little worse for wear at The Bateau Bar, Kreuzberg, Berlin. L-R Matt Ashton, Mark Cremins, Mike Smoughton, Alison Cotton, Mark Nicholas.

Eight shows and thirteen days in Germany and here I am, on a snowy Sunday afternoon in Camberwell with Amon Duul II on the stereo, recalling what I expect willone day account for some of the happiest moments on the road for me. So I've decided to write about it on this blog.

Mike Smoughton and Matt Ashton - this blog cannot start without giving them a mention - Mark and I could not have been in better company throughout the whole tour and their playing at the shows every night was just brilliant.

My brother Chris Cotton - thanks to him too for all his help in selling our merch, and being such a great and happy companion.

Thanks to Ursula Maurer for her generosity and help in Berlin, and to the promoters in Germany who all went out of their way to organise such great and enjoyable shows for us, and for their kind hospitality - Siegmar Roscher, Arne Paulson & Pauli, Sarah Asling, Tanju, Jacques Tiergarten and Stefan Prange. 

Berlin - The Bang Bang Club - Sunday 23rd March

On our walk to the first show of the tour, a mouse runs past me. I scream. I take a few more nervous steps forward only to see a dead bird on the ground. This makes me panic even more. I doubt the two were linked, and I am not usually superstitious, but at the back of my mind I couldn't help but wonder. I was left with this horrible image in my head for some time after but I am pleased to say that this event had no impact on the tour at all. 

We played at The Bang Bang Club last time we visited Berlin and we're pleased to return. Situated under a railway arch in Mitte, The Bang Bang Club is run by a team of very cool, friendly young people who are passionate about music. It is very clear that that is why they are there and that is always comforting to arrive at a venue and to see that. It just somehow creates a good vibe from the start. It was good to be back.

Outside the Bang Bang Club, Berlin. Matt is behind the camera

Grimm & The Brothers who are from Berlin supported us at this show. They play beautiful, fairytale folk with echoes of Jefferson Airplane - lovely vocals and an inventive, unorthodox drummer. They were a perfect band to share a bill with. 

We played our first set of the tour, introducing a few songs we were to play live for the first time - 'Out of Time; Out of Place' and 'Always the Last to Know'. Thanks to Jacques Tiergarten at The Bang Bang Club for organising this show and I hope we can come back soon..... 

Matt and Mike disappeared off into the night with Mark Cremins to play ping pong at a ping pong bar in Prenzlauerberg and Mark and I returned to The Bateau Bar, Kreuzberg.

Late night/early morning Ping Pong action

Stay tuned for day 2 of the tour....

Alison

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'And Colours in Between' to be re-released

We are pleased to announce that our album 'And Colours in Between' will be re-released on the Transistor label on Monday 7 April in Europe and on Monday 12 May in the UK. It will also be available on itunes from 12 May.

The album is distributed by Rough Trade in Europe and by Pinnacle in the UK. Look out for it in all good record stores near you very soon.

The re-release will feature three new tracks not available on our own self released version of the album and some awesome artwork too.

We will be selling the first 50 copies of the album from our website from 12 May along with an exclusive cdr of new and unreleased material. Email us now to reserve your copy.

Video of live performance of 'Ring Out The Bells'

We are pleased to present this video of a live performance of our song 'Ring Out The Bells' taken from our CDr album 'Live at the Drop Out'. The video was filmed by our friendGus Alvares. Many thanks to him!

We are performing the song with 'The Outside Lefts' who are Matt Ashton on Electric Bass, Mike Smoughton on Drums and Karl Sabino on Electric Guitar. It was recorded by Tim Cedar at The Drop Out Studio in Camberwell, London.



Copies of 'Live at the Drop Out' are still available to buy from The Left Outsides website and Myspace page.

The Left Outsides, along with The Outside Lefts are touring Germany at the end of March. Check the website for tour dates.

BBC 6 Music Radio session and gigs

Dear friends,

Some news from The Left Outsides......

We are very pleased to announce that The Left Outsides will play live on the BBC 6 Music Tom Robinson radio show on Monday 25 February. The show starts at 7pm, and we will be playing three songs live in the studio sometime between 8pm and 9pm.

You can listen to the show live from the BBC 6 Music website - click on the ‘listen live’ button from 7pm on Monday. If you miss the show, you can listen again by visiting the link above and clicking on the ‘listen again’ button from Tuesday next week. The show will be available for 7 days.

This is in advance of our gig on Tuesday 26 February at The Metro, London with the Cave Singers. Doors at 7.30pm - send us a message to be put on the reduced-price, £4 guest list.

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We have two more shows in London to tell you about....

Sunday 2 March, The Luminaire, 311 High Road, Kilburn, London with The Clientele

Wednesday 5 March at Bar Monsta,18 Kentish Town Road, Camden, London. A Sounds XP night.

-0-

And, for our friends in Germany, here are the dates for our German tour in March….

Sunday 23 March ,The Bang Bang Club, Berlin, Germany
Tuesday 25 March , Antje Oklesund, Berlin, Germany
Wednesday 26 March , Acoustic Moon at Shokoladen, Berlin, Germany
Thursday 27 March , Feinkost Lampe, Hanover, Germany
Friday 28 March , Hasenschaukel, Hamburg, Germany
Sunday 30 March , Noch Besser Leben, Leipzig, Germany
Monday 31 March , Café Vinyl, Wetzlar, Germany
Tuesday 1 April , E Werk, Erlangen, Germany

That's all for now...

The Left Outsides
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Friday 1 February - Herne Hill, London

The Left Outsides will play on FRIDAY 1 FEBRUARY at:-

Folk at the Moon
The Half Moon
10 Half Moon Lane
Herne Hill London
SE24 9HU
Cost : £5

With Petra Jean Phillipson
Indigo Moss
Bob Meyer

More information at http://www.myspace.com/harrisburgsongs


The Left Outsides
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'Live at the Drop Out' sleeve artwork

Here is the artwork for our new self released live album 'Live at the Drop Out'.

Visit our website or myspace page to buy a copy of the album.

Left Outsides News January 2008

Greeting friends,

And a Happy New Year. Here is what The Left Outsides are up to in January…

Tuesday 8 January
The Luminaire
311 High Road
Kilburn
London
NW6 7JR

Track and Field ‘Winter Sprinter’
Supporting The Clientele & Darren Hayman
Doors 7.30pm, on stage 8.15pm£5 via Ticketweb

We are very excited about being part of this show, the 9th Track and Field Winter Sprinter event. And we love The Clientele too. Get your tickets soon.

**and**

Saturday 19 January
The Windmill
22 Blenheim Gardens
Brixton
SW2 5BZ

A night organised by Danny & The Champions of the World.
With Danny and the Champions of the World, Pete Greenwood, The Epstein and Health and Happiness DJs
Doors 7pm
£5

**also**

We are pleased to announce the second in our series of self released CDRs. ‘Live at Drop Out’ was recorded in June of last year in our rehearsal studios in Camberwell, London. We recorded seven tracks of old and new material, live and direct to tape featuring Matt Ashton on electric bass, Mike Smoughton on drums and Karl Sabino on electric guitar. Following on from the first CDr ‘And Colours in Between’, the sleeve is hand stamped and individually numbered. 200 copies are available to buy from our myspace page or at live shows.

**Finally**

Thanks to Sounds XP for including us in their end of year Writers Poll.
‘And Colours In Between’ charted at number 13 and we also came 16th in best live acts.
They’ve even chosen our favourite album of the year by Okkervil River as their number 1 album.

That’s it,


The Left Outsides
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