skinnywhiteboy

...ozzie punk rock. It's rad.

Don't come the raw prawn, at least get these three:
- X, I don't wanna go out, from Aspirations (Clash vs Ramones vs Pistols vs Sydney 1979)
- The Hard-Ons, Poorest kid on the block, from Most people are a waste of time (Motorhead playing the Beach Boys)
- You am I, Thank god I've hit the bottom, from Convict (Motorhead playing Eddie Cochran)

Woodland Recordings are going from strength to strength. Last night's show, their 10th, was full of talent and confidence.

Coal Man Has Black Hands are led by the Diamond Family Archive - that looming bloke Lawrence with the knitted hat stapled to his barnet, 70s denim and facial hair that a family of dormice could comfortably nest in. A bunch of others - high kicking clarinet-iste, shadow-hiding oboe, drums, guitar, mountain man of bass - contributed to a friendly racket. At times a pound shop Ennio Morricone, at times a full on sonic wig-out. Not very engaging, but worth watching.

-a+m were the highlight. Two average guys with above average timing and dexterity, attacking acoustic guitars and creating an urgent syncopated driving...thing. Closest reference point I found was the quiet bits in Metallica...but with more intelligence and less hair.

Mary Hampton topped it off - a class act, combining variously successful covers with strong material from her new album. Strong, high pitched vocals, four string guitar/keyboards/detuned acoustic, folk songs with heart.

Next night is April 11.

A new website has just been launched for people interested in green architecture and sustainable living. Building Green (www.building-green.org.uk) is about green roofs and green walls, and has information about how to do them yourself and various buildings that use the technology in Brighton & Hove.