We thought we were mad but then we met... Paloma

"I don't really consider myself to be part of a 'thing'. It's not new that women can sing. It's a trend designed by record companies and the only similarity is that we all have the same genitals..." - Paloma Faith

Jaz came across the ultra glamorous Paloma in the least glamorous of locations... the basement below the stage of Glasgow's O2 Academy. We sat at what appeared to be an old school desk scrawled upon with indecipherable messages as Miss Faith considered her pet hates, success to date and slightly Fatal Attraction-esque obsession with one Paolo Nutini. This together with her style consciousness, awkward chuckling and self-criticism rendered her rather normal in the eyes of Jaz.

The thing is Paloma Faith is not as mental as we were hoping. Just a bit clumsy - which was clear as she made no less than three false starts on one song during that evening's set and struggled to balance an enormous feather carnival headdress atop her crown. All in all, however, the soulful songstress delivers a showstopping theatrical extravaganza, which includes a believable cover of Etta James' At Last, an attempt at The Beatles' You Never Give Me Your Money and a version of Paolo Nutini's No Other Way which suggests that a duet between these two Jools Holland favourites would probably be a good idea. The full Q interview is at: http://news.qthemusic.com/2010/05/interview_a_mad_half_hour_with.html

If you don't catch Paloma's critically acclaimed set at a festival in the next few months she'll be hitting the road again in the UK this winter so get booking now. For more of Jaz's photos of the gig head to our Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/boomerangkid/sets/72157623545257353/

Jaz

xxx

14th February: A Fine Day For Spooning

"Our career's about small milestones. Little bursts of elation as opposed to, We've finally made it! I'm still thinking about my mortgage..." - Jim Eno, Spoon

As I escape the central Valentines afternoon bustle of Glasgow and hike up St Vincent Street to enter the legendary King Tut's Wah Wah Hut it dawns on me that I haven't been to this basement joint since my first ever live review of an unsigned act two years ago. A haunt that's currently celebrating its 20th year, it is renowned as a much adored launchpad for new acts in the industry, most famously housing Oasis the night they were discovered and signed. I climb the steps inscribed with all the names of now successful artists who once began here, and wonder why, seven albums in, the band Spoon (whom I'm meeting to interview) are dragging their equipment amid the chemical stench of the bar's industrial cleaner like some sort of pre-mania Beatles in a Hamburg nightclub.

Forget maximising profits, pushing "product" and building an electric fence between the fans and the act, Spoon work for pure satisfaction and they adore these venues. They want to see the faces in the crowd who are just as much a part of their show as the musicians themselves. No surprise then that as Britt Daniel adorns his guitar his first utterances to the audience are: "Is this barrier always here? It's ridiculous!"

What follows is a mature accomplished performance to reflect the 15 years he and Eno have been on the road together. Their consistency and simple sophistication as an in-tune cohort of instrumentalists, whether performing coveted favourites such as The Way We Get By or the new album's lead single Written In Reverse, is the direct result of a dogged approach to the art of rock'n'roll. They appreciate the wider commercial use of their material but they've seen the ugly side of a major label. Ultimately it really is the music that matters. Tonight in a venue where others dreamed of global domination, Spoon are just looking for that elusive moment to play for each and every one of you. Forget your individually cut roses and your Hallmark sentiments, that's real love on Valentines Day.

Read the full interview at: http://news.qthemusic.com/2010/02/interview_a_fine_day_for_spoon.html

Jaz x

P.S. Remember to tune into the 30th Anniversary of the BRIT Awards tonight...