UK Tour in April?

[Moon Pix]

There was some mention on teletext yesterday about a Cat Power tour in April. Theyve mentioned Cat Power UK tours before and nothing happened so Im taking it with a pinch of salt but if there is a tour planned could somebody please tell Chan's booking agent that if she's planning on coming to Birmingham to avoid the Carling Academy and the Medicine Bar live room at the Custard Factory.

Both venues have all the soul of a bomb shelter and some of the worst, muddiest live sound you will ever hear.

[olives]

is there anything good in birmingham? (UK not Alabama)

[Moon Pix]

As far as venues is concerned? Aparently the Symphony Hall is a good one and its a similar capacity to the places she's been playing London recently. Ive never been there myself but Ive been told its got good clear sound. The Academy and the Custard Factory is so muddy and indistinct its as if the bands in another room.

One thing I must add is that the Barbican in London is by far the best venue Im ever been to. The sound is as clear as a bell.:)

[olives]

well i meant in general.

I've never been to the barbican but the roundhouse was awful for sound quality i thought, stone floors etc.

[olives]

even on that televised James Brown concert you could hero it echoing

[Moon Pix]

well i meant in general.

I've never been to the barbican but the roundhouse was awful for sound quality i thought, stone floors etc.

It was, she said so herself. The Barbican is incredible though, I dn't know what makes the difference but its definitely a lot better. What I thought was funny was that the BBC broadcast a Who concert from the Roundhouse and Roger Daltrey said that it was a wonderful place. When Chan played there in November she said, onstage no less, how bad the sound was and apologised for it.

I guess Daltrey was just trying to be nice about it but I love Chan for her honesty on these things. She'll call a spade a spade even if it means upsetting the soundguy.

[thomarse]

I saw the Pipettes at the Roundhouse before Christmas and I thought it was great, I didn't think it was echoey, it was full and I think the people helped the acoustics.

but Chan is much better suited to the Barbican, I agree. That gig was great.

[Moon Pix]

but Chan is much better suited to the Barbican, I agree. That gig was great.

Its the best show Ive ever seen.:)

[Ruairi]

Details on April shows are still being discussed - she'll be in the country for ATP, so we'll see. Not sure what the teletext story is about, nothings absolutely definite at the moment, but as soon as it is, we'll let you guys know...

[thomarse]

Its the best show Ive ever seen.:)

OOH that's a bold statement!! Certainly it was great but there are many contenders.. Broadcast at Koko in September 2005, Butthole Surfers at Reading 1989.... the list goes on!!

Barbican show was fab though. Only the 2nd time I've seen her. First time was when she supported Dirty 3 at Shepherd's Bush. Not such a great show but I got to meet her beforehand, in the bar! I was sooooo chuffed.

[Moon Pix]

well i meant in general.

I don't really go there that often because its nearly an hour on the bus and theres nothing there really. If I want a drink I buy something from a supermarke or off license and stay in and if I want to go shopping theres a mall just up the road. Theres nothing spectacular as regards record stores. Theres Swordfish and Tempest but you can order a lot of the same stuff from HMV and get it at a similar price. Theres a couple of musical instrument stores there but thats pretty much it.

I only go there for shows but as Ive said most of the bands I go to see play at the shitty venues like the Academy. Thats why Ill always stand by the Dirty Three as a live band. They played there in 2005 and blew me away completely.

[jackofficer]

..Butthole Surfers at Reading 1989.... the list goes on!!

Excellent!! I have that Reading set on VHS, glory days for the Buttholes! ;)

[soot]

I saw Belle & Sebastian in Birmingham back in 2001 in a nice theatre there...I forget the name.... & had a nice Indian meal just down the road from the venue....I was told Birmingham was known for good curry places.... otherwise the town seemed like it was shut down...but maybe that was just the area I was in