Gary Levemore of Red Sand PR gives us his musical highlights of 2012 plus an update on West Ham...
How has Big Sam done so far with West Ham now back in the Premiership?
Very well. We certainly look defensively solid, while there is a combination of flair and steel in midfield. Our strikers haven’t been dangerous enough, but both Andy Carroll and Ricardo Vaz Te have thus far missed a lot more matches than they have played due to injury. However, with two or three astute signings in January to increase our admittedly thin squad, I see no reason why we can’t be one of the 8 or so clubs battling it out for 6th spot….and I would have settled for that before the season started!
What have you got planned music/promotion wise for next year?
The scope of Red Sand PR has recently broadened out following a 3-4 year period working more or less with a couple of large indies that are not really in the rock/metal sphere. We have recently taken on the majority of UK promo for Frontiers, while we are also involved with the folk-rock label Reveal (Lau, Roddy Woomble, etc). There are other clients that we are currently formalising agreements with, details of which will emerge early in 2013.
Top five albums of 2012
Like nearly everyone else, I got bombarded with so much music this year in both a professional and personal capacity that I had little time to really LISTEN and fully absorb the treasures that are undoubtedly on offer with so many records in a number of genres. It isn’t as easy as it used to be! I could probably name you my favourite 5 (non-retrospective) albums in any year from about 1977 for the next 25 years….but
then it becomes almost impossible, despite (or because of?) improving technology and the possibility of listening to music anywhere/everywhere. However, scanning through my iTunes library, I have really enjoyed a number of songs from each of the following 2012 releases, and I’m sure I will continue to listen to them in 2013:
BILL FAY – Life Is People
SHARON VAN ETTEN – Tramp
REPTILE YOUTH – Reptile Youth
SCOTT WALKER – Bish Bosch
GRIZZLY BEAR – Shields
Top DVD
Didn’t buy any….but ‘The Tin Drum’ and ‘Despair’ on Blu-Ray were welcome reissues
Any recent books you have read that you would recommend?
RICHARD KING – How Soon Is Now?
Top gigs of 2012
DEVIN TOWNSEND – London, The Roundhouse (October)
LAU – London, Kings Place (October)
ORBITAL – London, Royal Albert Hall (April)
NICK LOWE – Canterbury, Marlowe Theatre (February)
TREACHEROUS ORCHESTRA – Glasgow, ABC1 (February)
Best re-issue of 2012
CAN – The Lost Tapes
Highs and lows of 2012
Highs
Meeting my son Conrad for the first time
Re-establishing Red Sand PR
Homeland / The Hour / Peep Show
West Ham’s 2nd half performance against Chelsea!
Bradley Wiggins / Chris Froome in the Tour De France
London Olympics/Paralympics
Ryder Cup – final afternoon
Lows
Yes – England in the Euros!
Any tips for bands/musicians to keep an eye on in 2013?
“Always try and maintain a healthy anus” A. Partridge
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Power Plays w/c 13 May (Mon-Fri)
WARM RAIN Here Comes The Rain Again (Rain Recordings)
DARWIN Cosmic Rays (indie)
MICHAEL THOMPSON BAND Love & Beyond (Frontiers)
MARQUIS DRIVE Shine On (indie)
YOUR LIFE & MINE Remind To Remember (indie)
EMERALD SUN What becomes Of You (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 13 May (Mon-Fri)
09:00-12:00 JIM PETERIK WORLD STAGE Winds Of Change (Frontiers)
12:00-13:00 WHITESNAKE Flesh & Blood (Frontiers)
14:00-16:00 BUFORD POPE The Waiting Game (Unchained Records)
Albums That Time Forgot (Mon-Fri)
NEVER THE BRIDE Surprise (2005)
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