The Vinyl Frontier
A plucky independent record store straight out of High Fidelity, darkly funny Christmas cards and, er, a lady who paints with her own vomit. They’re all on the menu in your forthnightly guide to all that’s interesting and/or balls-out deranged on the web.
Stuart Clark, 18 Nov 2011
Caught In The Net is very much liking the look of Sound It Out, a microbudget documentary about the last surviving vinyl emporium in Middlesbrough and environs.
The titular shop is staffed and frequented by a cast of characters infinitely stranger than those in High Fidelity or any other work of fiction – which, in case you’re wondering, is meant as a compliment.
“Over the last five years an independent record shop has closed in the UK every three days,” is the frightening statistic that greets you at sounditoutdoc.com. The site also explains how its young director, producer, camera/soundwoman and tea lady Jeanie Finlay found the film’s 427 backers on the ‘net, and operates a scheme whereby anybody able to guarantee a modest audience can request a screening. She’s particularly keen on it being shown in other independent record stores sandwiched between live bands.
There’s a limited-edition 7” gatefold DVD version coming out in the New Year, so one way or t’other you’ll get to see it.
Sticking with music, and strummerville.com has details of all the events taking place next month to commemorate the ninth anniversary of Joe Strummer’s death. The keepers of his flame have also produced a Forever Strummer: 10th Anniversary Calendar 2012, which features a score of previously unseen images and such classic Joe-isms as “Punk rock means exemplary manners to your fellow human beings”; “Be mythic and prolific”; “Ignore alien orders”; and “The way you get a better world is, you don’t put up with sub-standard anything.” Visit bit.ly/s34gmf for the video preview.
On the homefront, Dublin funnyman Jarlath Regan has produced a range of rather different Christmas cards – “Santa’s recruitment policies were tough… But racist” is a particular CIN fave – which are available from jigser.com.
Which just leaves time for quick visits to youtube.com/watch?v=gmPta19GSFU (transvestite metallers update ‘Together In Electric Dreams’); tabloidmovie.com/pb1 (‘Mormon sex in chains’ documentary); bit.ly/uXpdBI (meet Lillie The Vomit Painter); and liveleak.com/view?i=540_1320623134 (seven year-old Ghanaian gives Beardyman a serious run for his beatbox).
Stuart Clark
Latest Articles by Stuart Clark
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2012-08-23 - Interview
“They’re my songs, so I’ll fucking sing ‘em if I want to!”
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2012-06-26 - Interview
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2012-06-06 - Frontlines
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2012-06-01 - News
My Bloody Valentine finally re-deliver the goods
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2012-05-28 - News
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2012-05-25 - Interview
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2012-05-25 - Interview
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2012-05-23 - News
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2012-05-22 - Interview
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2012-05-18 - Interview
Paul Weller may be approaching his 54th birthday, but his new album proves that the former Jam man is in the form of his life. Fresh from hobnobbing with Roger Daltrey and his other rock royalty mates, he talks fatherhood, sobriety, politics, influences and Amy Winehouse with a suitably star-struck Stuart Clark.
2012-05-17 - Interview
Look out Boardwalk Empire and Game of Thrones – a hot new US cable show from the people who brought you The Social Network may be about to steal your thunder.
2012-05-15 - News
Stuart Clark selflessly volunteered to meet Fanfair, a girl group with impeccable rock ‘n’ roll credentials and a member who’s the youngest of 12 kids from Terenure.
2012-04-16 - Interview
Clash legend Mick Jones discusses his imminent visits to Dublin and Belfast for a gig with a difference...
2012-04-02 - Interview
Bruce and the gang have just unleashed what is their angriest and most politicised record yet, a scathing attack on the railroading of the American Dream by political and corporate fat cats. Stuart Clark journeys to Paris to meet The Boss who also waxes lyrical about Obama, Catholicism, Joe Strummer, Dylan, being a hopeless music fan and why it’ll take four people to replace Clarence Clemons
2012-03-20 - Interview
Ex-Blizzards mainman and Voice of Ireland mentor Bressie has extremely forthright views on the way musicians are taken for granted – and on subject of free music downloading.
2012-03-05 - Interview
She’s conquered Ireland with her latest album – now Lisa Hannigan is contemplating a temporary move to New York in order to raise her American profile. She talks about her love of touring, collaborating with The Chieftains and her one-woman campaign to make the ukelele fashionable.
2012-03-02 - Interview
Or what happened when a hard rock legend brought some mates ‘round to mourn the passing of one of the world’s most storied studios
2012-02-27 - News
The elder Gallagher brother makes a triumphant return to Irish soil...
2012-02-20 - REVIEW
This fortnight; Thin Lizzy as you’ve never heard them before, The Chemical Brothers go widescreen and American right-wingers predict the coming of Caliphate.
2012-02-10 - News
Two years ago this politically unstable, poverty-wracked Caribbean island was devastated by one of the worst earthquakes of recent decades. Thousands perished, many more were left clinging on without sanitation or basic medical care. But now Haiti is fighting back, with the invaluable help of aid groups such as Ireland’s Concern Worldwide. In a frontline report, Hot Press talks to ordinary Haitians as they try to rebuild their lives and reflects on the crazy energy of one of the most dangerous countries on earth.
2012-02-08 - Reports
America is producing most of the world’s best telly – sorry Mrs Brown’s Boys – and with a raft of great new shows chugging down the tracks, it looks like US dominance is set to continue.
2012-01-16 - News
He's nearing the end of his week-long trip there with Concern Worldwide.
2012-01-13 - News
It’s unlikely that the O2 has ever witnessed a more rapturously received double-whammy than ‘Come Together’ and ‘Loaded’.
2012-01-12 - REVIEW
The second report from Stuart's week-long visit to Haiti on the second anniversary of the country's devastating earthquake...
2012-01-12 - News
On this, the second anniversary of the country's devastating earthquake, Stuart is on a week-long trip there with Concern Worldwide.
2012-01-11 - News
Not content with winning the Airtricity League for the second year in a row, Shamrock Rovers made history in 2011 by becoming the first Irish team to qualify for the group stages of a European competition. Star man Rohan Ricketts talks to Stuart Clark about their moments of magic.
2012-01-05 - Interview
James Dean Bradfield says it in relation to the Sex Pistols, but that phrase applies equally to the way the Manic Street Preachers have operated throughout all of their 21 years on Planet Rock. Following the release of their National Treasures singles collection, he talks Richey, The Clash, Diana Ross and Johnny Rotten with Stuart Clark.
2012-01-04 - Interview
A number one album, Manchester City steamrollering Manchester United 6-1 and a Hot Press Gig of the Year Award for his show in the Olympia. It’s been a great 2011 for Noel Gallagher who talks to Stuart Clark about life after Liam, the Roses reunion, Gary Speed and running in to Tom Cruise’s missus.
2012-01-04 - Interview
Whether meeting the Obamas or hanging with rock royalty, 2011 has been a year to savour for Imelda May. Stuart Clark hears about the outrageous highs and one tendon-snapping low.
2011-12-16 - Interview
To cap another highly eventful rock‘n’roll year, a slew of Ireland’s most hip and happening musician types and gatecrasher Phill Jupitus converge on Dublin for the 10th Anniversary Hot Press Summit. President Higgins, The Stone Roses, Amy Winehouse, the Boys In Green & marauding North Korean submarines are all on the agenda as 2011 is subjected to CSI-style forensic examination.
2011-12-07 - Interview
Generally a haven for all sorts of debauchery, this fortnight finds Rihanna using the internet to get across a more wholesome message via video.
2011-12-02 - News
He’d become synonymous with eccentric behaviour, but now Adam Ant has his depression under control and feels more creative than ever. The 80s pop vagabond talks to Stuart Clark about his relationship with punk svengali Malcolm McLaren, his struggles with bi-polar disorder and being "raped" by Steve Jobs.
2011-11-21 - Interview
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