22.10.09 @Royal Albert Hall, London

Hush is a series of events hosted by the Royal Albert Hall, to give independent records labels or unsigned artists a platform. This first gig of the new "hush" series, was supported by Music Week's UNEARTHED. And they made a good choice, you should watch out for the following three artists in 2010.

Jose Vanders
This 19 year old girl is sweet as sugar and so is her music. Lovely and light piano tunes with a surprisingly strong voice. Where she takes her mature and imaginative lyrics from, will probably remain her secret. Hopefully she will keep her fervour as it was beautiful to behold.

http://josevanders.com/




Jonathan Jeremiah
Get in you Hippie van, drive down an endless desert highway whilst the sun sets down and you'll know what his music feels like. Or least try to imagine all that sunset-driving-stuff. It smells like summer, it sounds like freedom, it looks like Woodstock. I like!

http://www.jonathanjeremiah.com/




Alan Pownall
I used to listen to his myspace stuff before I went to the gig. Versatile folk, very nice, but I presume he will be doomed to be known as the British Jack Johnson. Hopefully not, because I'm not sure what he was thinking, when he went on stage to perform. I can't remember the last time I was just breathless and paralyzed by a performance (probably Art Brut, but because of other reasons). It was only him playing the guitar and it was stunning. Absolutely stunning. And one thing is sure: don't try to compare him with anybody.

http://www.myspace.com/alanpownall

27.10.09 @Hoxton Bar&Kitchen, London

It has to be a natural advantage when you form a band in Alaska. It looks like there is nothing more to do than practicing and writing unbelievable good songs. And watch them perform was definitely the positive proof. I expected them to be good, but I didn't expect them to be THAT good. First of all they played none of their songs like it's on the record. Sometimes it took me minutes to find out, which one it was. It was more like being in their rehearsal room, watching them playing a jam session. Secondly every single band member is just ridiculous talented. You could feel and hear that it's more than just play an instrument. They made love, hell ya. And thirdly there are no words to describe their style. From rock to folk to blues to soul to punk, one thing unified every song: the groove. And this is the difference between love and sex. The right groove.

Portugal The Man Live from Chicago from Portugal The Man on Vimeo.

19.10.09 @Sheperd's Bush Empire, London

Remember the movie "The Fly"? Jeff Goldblum steps into the Teleporter and merges with a fly that had slipped into it, before the door closed.
What would happen if Gladys Knight, Al Green and the Four Tops would step into this Teleporter? They will merge and become Raphael Saadiq, no doubt.
He is a hell of an entertainer and combines Motown soul with tough and funky beats. In total it leaves a pleasurable warm feeling in your stomach, goosebumps all over your skin and cotton candy clouds in your head. The girls went crazy, the guys were jealous, but at the end they all left knowing, that this was pure love in its best suit.

Raphael Saadiq - Let's Take A Walk from Vitalini on Vimeo.

He was born in 1938 and grew up in West Virginia, his father was a cole miner. He was a stutterer, he was bullied by boys and ignored by girls. He left his hometown to join the Navy and worked as a technician. He decided to make music and between 1971 and 1985 he recorded eight studio albums. He married his wife Marcia in 1976, they had two children and they recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary.

Who would presume that this is the story of one of the most talented and influential soul musicians ever?
Most people know little about him, but they all know his music. Bill Withers created hits like "Ain't no sunshine", "Lean on me" or "Lovely day".

The fact that he never was the perfect cast for a star makes the documentary "Still Bill" unique. It's not about a fucked up guy who took drugs, beat up his girlfriend or committed suicide. No pointless comments from random celebrities just to pretend significance (except a really stupid Sting comment).

It's about a wise and gifted man and his experiences in life and views. And it is so unbelievable how eloquent and moving he is, everything he says is like a lesson from life. Almost everything he says could be a line from a song. And it slowly dawns on you, why his music is so authentic: it is his experience of life, his thoughts, his feelings. He never cared what was popular, it was and is all about the music.

What started as a four hour interview and became a personal journey through Bill Wither's life, filmed over two years. And without a doubt this documentary is maybe the best music documentary I've ever seen, an absolute must-see.

Look out for screenings near you or buy the DVD:

http://stillbillthemovie.com/

Still Bill Trailer from B-Side Entertainment on Vimeo.