Friday 31 August 2007

Billy Ruffian are now 'influential'

We found a review of a band called 'Cop On The Edge' on these Internets. The line that caught us attention was, "I like this Sarf Landahn quintet. I hate describing things but it's DIY Electro-Indie, and reminds me of anything from Billy Ruffian to The Young Knives...."

Blimey. So we're an influence now, are we?

Last night's gig at Bar Amp in Sale was rather good fun. The sound was good, the audience was far from our usual, and I even attempted some acrobatics. We went down well, but I forgot to hand out any flyers. Dearie me.

'Leaving Soon' was back in the set last night for those who watch these things ('Youth Club' was on leave).

Tuesday 21 August 2007

Time-Filling Schemes

I'm off to Paris for a week from today, so I thought I'd leave you with some space-filling Top 5 lists. Feel free to agree or disagree in the comments section.

Top 5 Gigs I'm Looking Forward To in 2007

  • Old Crow Medicine Show, Manchester Academy 3
  • Marilyn Manson & Turbonegro, MEN Arena
  • Alice Cooper, Motorhead & Joan Jet, MEN Arena
  • Gogol Bordello, touring
  • A Weekend of Filth, Manchester, September 22-23

Top 5 Favourite Guitars

  • Gretsch White Falcon
  • Gibson 335 (cherry red)
  • Gibson Melody Maker (sunburst)
  • Danelectro 56-U3
  • Fender Jaguar

Top 5 Films About Upper Class England/English People

  • If...
  • Wah Wah
  • Gosford Park
  • Bright Young Things
  • Another Country

Top 5 Cheeses

  • Halloumi
  • Cheddar
  • Feta
  • Roule
  • Mozzarella

Top 5 Drum n Bass Tracks:

  • DJ Krust & Saul Williams – Coded Language
  • Bad Company & Ray Keith – Nitrous
  • Dillinja & Lemon D – Grimey
  • Roni Size Reprazent – Dirty Beats
  • Technical Itch & Ice Minus – Altered Beast

Top 5 Revolutionary Movements:

  • Sandanistas, Nicaragua, 1979-
  • Paris Commune 1871
  • EZLN, Mexico, 1983-
  • Angry Brigade, UK, 1970-72
  • International Brigade, Spain, 1936-39

Top 5 Rom Coms

  • A Life Less Ordinary
  • Four Weddings and a Funeral
  • Music and Lyrics
  • Keeping the Faith
  • Wimbledon

Top 5 Books By Modern British Authors:

  • Magnus Mills: Explorers of the New Century
  • Will Self: The Book of Dave
  • Ian McEwan: Saturday
  • Julian Barnes: Arthur and George
  • Irvine Welsh: Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs

Friday 10 August 2007

So Very Tired

As something of a connoisseur of rock n roll euphemisms, I was delighted that Amy Winehouse's 'people' tried to pass off her drug-induced hospitalisation as 'exhaustion' the other day. It's such a plausible excuse - after all, who among us hasn't been so worn down from work that only an adrenaline shot to the heart could get us though the day?

Other favourites of mine include:
'mystery virus' - drug overdose
'emotional' - arseholed
'creative differences' - singer shagging the bassist's wife
(of a new album) 'a raw vibe' - we ran out of money to pay for studio time, so we had to release the demos
'archive tracks from the vaults' - too rubbish to fit on the original double lp
'eclectic' - equally rubbish, whatever the genre
'crossover appeal' - we really hope Pepsi decide to license this
'this tour takes us back to our roots' - we couldn't sell enough tickets to fill a single decker bus, let alone an arena

Feel free to add your own suggestions

Wednesday 8 August 2007

Raging against the Light

Hello people, this is Ben Paul Ruffian here.  I noticed that we've not written anything on this page for an age so I thought I'd change that.  Tonight Billy Ruffian play Sheffield at DnR (formerly Under the Boardwalk (formerly The Point)).  You should come.  It'll be immense.  It's the first Ruffian visit to the other side of the Pennines since I've been a member so I'm looking forward to the different air and the different people.

Since history is the tale of the victors I can now say that we played triumphantly to some people bowling at Bloomsbury lanes in London.  One of whom was a cutely tressed Kate Nash, so we whored a promo cd to her and added her myspace.  We're looking forward to being invited as her tour support but for some reason the email hasn't arrived yet.  It must be some problem with the mailserver being on strike or something.

Then we played Manchester at the Castle Hotel and what a glorious night it was.  I had found the batteries to my Big Muff and so the sound that the bass was making can only be described as unholy.  (My Girlfriend is Like a) Trojan Horse ended with Ste pounding a snare drum that he found with a microphone and me seeing what my bass would sound like with my pedals turned up to full.  I'm sure Thom was doing something exciting too but I was enjoying myself too much to notice.

I still haven't finished updating Billy Ruffian Web, but when it's done it will be great and I'll announce that too.  Now it's time for Thom to write something irreverent or irrelevant.  One of the two.

Take care, Ben Paul