Gabby Young

Gabby Young and other animals
We're all in this together
The ones that got away

It's always nice to look back on how you discovered a band and think that you're doing something right. I assumed that I found Gabby Young through the guardian's "next big things" but can't find the article so I have no idea how I did, but i'm glad that I did. It does seem however that had I not, I would have eventually for gabby and her animals are getting the recognition that the music, her innovation and commitment to the cause deserves.

There are a million reasons why you should be listening to gabby young and the reasons not to like, "i really should get something to eat" or "a homeless man licked my earbuds earlier and then handed me a doctor's note outlining the symptoms of syphallis" isn't going to fly. You'll fall for the music eventually and whether it be by her huge voice, described as "having the power to make you feel like you're swimming in velvet", her style, her unique approach to selling records which i shall go into in a moment or the fact that her last tour was of vintage shops-



So you may have watched sky news this morning and seen Gaby on a feature regarding indepedant artists and their survival in a world dominated by commercialism and lady gaga. On her website there is the option to "become an animal" and, as i'm sure you're aware- animals have pretty sweet lives. My cat's upstairs lounging on the bed as we speak, which I guess is fine as it's saturday but let me tell you- he does the same thing ALL week. Yeah- that's right...

As I was saying, you can become an animal, not by living well in this life and being rewarded with good owners in the next but by donating to the the fulfillment of their musical dreams. This can either be in the form of a mole, a bear or a tiger and to be honest with you it's the greatest, most unusual but spectacularly amazing move i've ever seen. Like for three scores and a godiva you get all this-

“We’re All In This Together” signed Album + 4 tickets to invite only shows + merchandise including limited edition back catalogue CDs + special prize draw every month + free videos + bonus tracks + video blog updates + exclusive access to the band + personalised Gabby Young video message + high quality signed photos. PLUS Tigers will be invited into many aspects of Gabby Young and Other Animals’ world… a rehearsal, a music video, our website, join in on a writing session, to hang out post gig backstage and many other surprise honours."

All bands should do this. I can barely formulate superlatives to describe how great an idea this was, seriously all other bands in the entire world are missing a trick. I have a feeling in the future that this will become the norm and to do so will be a verb, "to gabby young".

I've posted a couple of tracks up there that she was kind enough to send me but I urge you to check out the website and consider supporting them through buying their wares or becoming a big rawrlysnarly animal for there isn't a day that goes by where I don't think about how hard it is to be a musician but when someone says they like your stuff or actually buys your music it makes you feel like the struggles worth it.

Web Blog Last.fm Twitter

We're all in this together is going to be featured on next month's indie rock playlist too, here's the video-



Tour dates-

05/12/09 Bristol at MOTEL
12/12/09 Newcastle Upon Tyne at BETWEEN THE BUTTONS
13/12/09 Sheffield at BANG BANG VINTAGE
16/12/09 London at THE BORDERLINE

Another way to find music

One way I like to find new music is clicking on people's profiles who seem cool on last.fm or the indie rock playlist forum and checking out bands I don't know. I can see this being a regular feature on here :D

Bluejuice- Broken Leg (download) (last.fm) (Twitter)

I actually checked this band out last of the three and from the description "punk hop disco" I expected them to blowballs. They don't. They're awesome! They're like all the fun parts of Ok Go!, Cat empire and 3oh!3, loads of fun but obviously not to be taken at all seriously, this track and vitriol are great additions to your ipod.

Say anything- Alive with the glory of love (mediafire) (Twitter) (last.fm) wow I can get sexual too, woe

Say anything are from Cali and fit that scene pretty well... yes, they are emo. Keeping with that trend they were originally named "sayanything". The track i've posted here is, funnily enough, about love during the holocaust but if you don't really pay attention to the theme it's like the most fun track musically and vocally. I think i might check out more from these guys but then i am secretly emo i guess lol three tracks up there for you to check out.

Boy and bear- Mexican Mavis (last.fm) (Twitter)

Boy and bear seem a little bit tiny but the person selected this song for our second community playlist so I was a little intrigued about them. They're from australia, quite bluegrass and are like a happy version of mumford and sons. Where M&S were dark and depressing B&B are light and uplifting. At the same time they do manage to dip into the depths of despair, mexican mavis being a great example of this.

Couple of pop albums

Truth is i've felt alright this weekend and unfortunately that tends to mean i'm not as inspired to be creative, go figure. So there you go, sorry for n0t updating yesterday, t'was the first time in a hell of a long time though eh. It's cold, i'm still having to get up early and I have no money so i'm sure I won't stay content for long ha :D

One thing that has frustrated me of late is that all the artists I like are really popular, not cos i'm leet or anything but because their gigs sell out sooooo quickly. Modest mouse, frank turner and well... paul mccartney. I guess the latter one I should have expected. But none the less scarlet mist isn't the tool I thought it once was.

I'm not going to do a proper post i'm just going to post a couple of albums that leaked last night-

Rated R
Fame monster