In the summer of 1998, my friend Tom and I went to see the Lo-Fidelity Allstars at the Astoria in London, and it was all kinds of fantastic. Their singer came out holding a firecracker, Tom got clotheslined out of his shoes by a crowdsurfer, and things were blissful. A few months later, we went to see them at the Shepherds Bush Empire on the day that their singer had quit the band, a fact that we didn't know til after the gig. It remains one of the most disappointing gig nights I've had.
The follow up album wasn't bad, wasn't great, and then there's been a whole lot of nothing for more than five years. According to their myspace, they no longer have their hallowed Brain Farm studio, which is a pity, but on the same page you can hear this new track with Twilight's very own Greg Dulli which is a fuckin' JAM. Having done sweet, sweet soul on 'Somebody Needs You' back in '02, this time they're turning up the funk and 'Southside Lowdown' should come with a capital P for Party-slayer.
Seriously, this song is glorious.
[download Lo-Fidelity Allstars - Southside Lowdown (ft. Greg Dulli)]
[buy 'Don't Be Afraid of Love']
Turnin' on your heels
Nothing's right if you ain't here
There's a strong chance that everything Mark Lanegan touches turns to evil. In addition to his solo and Screaming Trees stuff, his collabs with Queens of the Stone Age and more recently, Isobel Campbell, are dark as aw'hell. Lately he's been working with The Twilight Singers who just announced a new tour. Their newest record, Powder Burns, is one of my faves of the year (and Denis Leary's), so I'm hoping to make that Orlando show. They're supported by Stars of Track and Field who sound like the kind of band I'd have liked maybe three years ago. There are a few songs you can get of theirs from Good Weather for Airstrikes. Check 'em.
But damn, on the Singers' Myspace they've just put up their cover of Live With Me by Massive Attack, and I can honestly say, it's pretty immense. The original, from the recent 'Collected' best-of, wasn't nearly this brooding or dark. Lanegan and Dulli singing together give it such an evil, sinister edge. Check it out now.
And here's a live video of them doing it. Heh, I said doing it.
