Getting better at keeping the site updated but still a long way to go.Will have sound clips soon just as soon as I can nail Col down,whose busy with the Sounds of the Monkey label launching.Should be exciting.
the new tenure at the Waterside got off to a grand start with Tootinskamoon and Dapper Cadavers last week.300 people getting down for the funk of it-great.With a Spring equinox,full moon and Easter weekend the night couldn't fail.

Listening to the Burial album has made me all nostalgic- for the fields, early morning mists , speaker stacks, dancers and the collection of crazies that made up raving in the 90’s.The Burial album has evoked a longing. The sense of freedom of it all. For me the rave descended from the travelling community where that freedom was already sacrosanct and the spirit of sweet anarchie was integral. But it was the fact that the rave scene opened up those experiences to a much broader cross section of people and you could be in that place with almost anybody. Sharing the magic. Embracing the moment.
The Burial album is a wonderful thing-unique, nostalgic but also so much of the now.
Listen to it , absorb it, love it…….

Went to see Jeffrey Lewis on Monday night in the Welsh Club, Cardiff. He’s just released a CD of ‘12 Crass Songs’. As Crass were responsible for turning my world upside down in the early 80’s, I’ve found this release very interesting. Hearing those familiar songs delivered in a completely different manner really shows how acute and ‘beautiful’ Crass lyrics were and allows you to appreciate them in a new light.
Anyone familiar with the original ‘Securicor’ will know how bloody scary that song was with Pete Wright (I think) barking the vocal at the listener ‘I walk around with a big Alsatian, he’ll rearrange you with no provocation’. Jeffrey turns it into quite a bouncy pop song .
That’s not to say that the lyrics lose any of their potency-quite the opposite. ‘Punk is Dead’ is the best example. When first released,punk actually still had some life, largely injected by the anarcho punk scene Crass helped nurture. Though naïve, it still led to people radically changing their lives. Now that punk is just consumer product you know that its a limp, flaccid,spent force. In fact all this retro/reform bollocks reminds me of the bloated prog corpse punk was supposed to destroy.The people who believed in the late 70’s that music stopped with Pink Floyd are mirrored by those stuck in a punk time capsule. Anyway before I start ranting (again!), suffice to say Jeffreys ‘Punk is Dead’ is the real deal nail in the coffin.
Good on him for giving his audience the opportunity to discover Crass and open them up to a whole new audience.
Apart from doing a number of Crass songs the show also contained many of Jeffreys great songs often enhanced by his comic strips projected onto a screen behind. Did a great ‘History of Communism Part 3’ delivered with a sense of humour and honesty.
I recommend you check out his albums (especially the Crass new one)available from all good record stores including Tangled Parrot and go see him live if you get the chance.
Current listening
jeffrey Lewis '12 Crass songs'-of course.
MF Grimm 'The Hunt for the Gingerbread Man'

Still wondering why anyone would be interested in this humble blog?
So the Parrot is still flying, future terrain remains shrouded in mystery but we’ve survived Febuary! Indie record shops are still closing all around. Carmarthen has also been witness to 2 High street music chains closing, firstly MVC, then Music Zone. The Parrot outlived both. A planned celebration in the doorway of the closed Music Zone involving much waving of Tangled Parrot banners and perhaps gathering around a small blaze was put off by the news that Fopp was taking over on the impersonal selling front. And now Cardiffs' beloved Spillers is threatened with closure. Everyone should sign their petition aimed at the developers who are trying to push up rents to force the small businesses out to let the corporates in(http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/spillersrecords/)
While theres’ no point moaning on about the problems for little shops, it is important to stress the contribution they can make as a focal point for a music scene, even if its just as an information point. Most indie shops are run by people with a genuine passion for music and who are involved in their local scene .High street retailers will not tolerate posters/flyers advertising local gigs let alone allow people the space/time to 'hang out' and forge friendships and alliances.. The Parrot is proud of its sofa space! Obviously the internet can now provide a space for sharing information but for a lot of people that access is still a luxury and remains relatively impersonal.
A few years into the internet retail revolution, Im left wondering who has benefited from internet sales apart from financial institutions, for handling charges and people who are too lazy or socially inept to go out into the big wide world. Although in truth I guess people just find it less time consuming and bloody convenient………
For me to sell a record on the net I have to put up an ad, pack it and post it. A lot more hassle than handing over a bagged item face to face.
For the customer they often end up paying more because the item has postage on top. For example if I sell a 12” on E-bay,a £5 record will pick up £2.50 postage, thereby costing £7.50,a staggering increase of 50%.Also theres the added risk and hassle of items being lost or damged in transit. But hell, its convenient!
So do us indies a favour and come on in. Share the music.

I PROMISE NOT TO MOAN ANYMORE. I PROMISE NOT TO MOAN ANYMORE. I PROMISE NOT TO MOAN ANYMORE. I PROMISE NOT TO MOAN ANYMORE. I PROMISE NOT TO MOAN ANYMORE.

On a lighter note were looking forward to giving Skream a warm welcome in the hillsides when Stepforward Promotions (myself and Colin) bring him to the banks of the Towy on March 16th.Support comes from Powersteppers, Condition, Spooks and Risq and its taking place at the Waterside, Carmarthen from 9-3am.Admission £8.
Going to be a rib-shaker!
Also, looking forward to the Carmarthen May Fest in the park on May 6/7th.Theres going to be a stage, dance tent, kids area, stalls, bars and fun fair. Its going to be a good representation of the Carmarthenshire music scene.
Bands confirmed so far
Zabrinski , Supergene, Tootinskamoon, Love Rocket, Johnny Action Finger, Sniper, Hip Headquarters, Sessionhead, Potboilers and the Monophonics.
Plus a Battle of theBands on Sunday.
DJ’s
Powersteppers feat. Molara, Destructive Audio(David Jay),Showcases from Fat Lace, Roach Me, Fat Soul with more t.b.c.
Also lots of workshops for kids, circus, drumming, a grafitti zone, skate park.
Plenty of things to warm the bones in these winter months. Can smell spring from here.
Current listening-
Current 93-Judas As Black Moth(Sanctuary)
Bonnie Prince Billy- The Letting Go (Domino)
V/a-Killed By Death Vol 2(Redrum)