Trashcanman's new favourite solo act

[The Curmudgeon]

I know, I know. Brave words. And not something I would normally do, but I am SO sure that Trashy will dig this guy that I'm putting my integrity on the line here. Anyway, meet Frank Turner.



A guy I'd heard of but never really got into, but seriously enjoyed at this years T in the Park festival. Described by Wikipedia as a "folk/punk" artist, here's some food for thought on why you'll love him before you even hear him.

He has a song that has the entire crowd chanting "There is no God."

He released a rarities/covers album that covers Black Flag, Bad Brains and, uh, Abba. Other songs are called "I Don't Care What You Did on Your Gap Year" and "Thatcher Fucked the Kids."

A key lyric; "Because there's no such thing as rock stars There's just people who play music And some of them are just like us And some of them are dicks"

He got into a huge online row because of what he had to say about Niki Minaj turning up late at the previous years festival; Running a festival is a logistical nightmare; it takes a lot of people an awful lot of time to make sure everything runs even vaguely smoothly. If there's one person in the midst of this who has a pretty easy, highly paid job (show up, mime, go home) who refuses to do this, and thereby fucks up the day of all the hard-working, sleep-deprived, exhausted, under-appreciated festival crew, well, that pisses me off. It means everyone has to do a ton more work just to make sure that the people at the festival and all the other bands don't have their day ruined.

For some reason, doing this when you're holding a microphone makes you "artistic", "difficult" or maybe a "Diva". In any other walk of life it's called being rude, selfish and inconsiderate

Now, he's not some angry young man thrashing a guitar. He's actually eloquent, funny and intelligent, with some seriously well crafted songs covering politics, popular culture, love and everything else.

Like I said, I don't know much of his stuff myself, so here's a sample of what I DO know, an ode to the power of rock n roll.



If you're still interested, here's a more poppy love song. Still great.



Hell, he may be my new favourite solo act as well.

What do you think, Trash? Yay or nay?

[trashcanman]

Very yay. Musically, he's not super-original, but he is good and his lyrics and common-sense approach to his career are all sorts of awesome. Wishlisting.

[trashcanman]

I'm digging this topic back up because I just watched a special Guitar Center Sessions interview/performance that this guy did and Jesus Christ. It's like he was pulling shit out of my head during the interview. Amazing performances too. He pretty much gave the story of my life in terms of musical influences in that he started out all hardcore and than mellowed with age. Most of my life I wanted to be in a hardcore band, but the last few years I've thought it would be really cool to just get up there with an acoustic and Turner is pretty much what I wish I'd sound like. I already wishlisted two of his albums, but now I'm pretty sure they're the next ones I'm going to buy.

Also, he said something really interesting pertaining to the "sell out" topic we were discussing. He said something along the lines of you are only a sellout if you are making music for other people instead of for yourself. Pretty much boils it down.

[The Curmudgeon]

I'd read he was in punk bands before his solo work but have never heard any of it. Quite embarrassing to admit after bigging him up to you so much, but I've still not actually bought a Frank Turner record yet. I've bought a few digital EP's of him recently, all good as it goes. Let me know what you think of his album if you get it, Trash.

So I didn't know you played, Trash. I have below zero musical ability, but it's always interesting to talk to people who do. How far did it go?

[trashcanman]

Not very. I just dicked around for a few years by myself trying to teach myself, but after my son was born I had zero time for it. I own a few guitars and a bass (which I'm better at), but if your musical abilities are 0, I'm probably a 0.5. I can play punk rock and rhythm metal guitar as well as basic rock riffs, but I'm as talentless as they come and never have had the time to practice or anyone to teach me or start a band with. Plus the last two fingers on my fretting hand aren't quite right, which limits my ability to change chords properly. It's nothing I'd ever have noticed if I didn't play, but it's definitely a hindrance. I never really had the opportunity to play any until I was living in my own place and musical abilities are best absorbed at an early age so I don't think I ever had a chance of being any good. It was still fun, though.

[The Curmudgeon]

I honestly think, and here's a cliche, it's something you're born with. Sure, you can teach yourself to play Stairway to Heaven, but guys like Prince and Hendrix and Page don't just LEARN that stuff, it's like it's built into them. I never had the patience or co-ordination to play anything. How fucking hard is drumming?? Maybe it's because I'm left handed and backward. William Shatner always said his greatest regret in life is that he had no musical ability. I think I know what he means.

[trashcanman]

I know exactly what he means. I wanted to be an artist but I have zero ability there, my athletic skills are negligible, I'm too clumsy to play music, too stupid for computers, just damn. It sucks to be terrible at all of the things I'd love to be doing. And the things I am good at have no practical value. Extolling examination of transhumanism theories and moral philosophical discrepancies while analyzing the portrayal of mainstream political beliefs in terms of classical conditioning and cyclical sociology to find repeating patterns? Yeah, that I can do. And all it does is depress me and make people think I'm stupid because I don't repeat the same stuff they hear celebrities tell them on the television.

[The Curmudgeon]

Small update on this guy; he's appearing on a celebrity version of popular UK quiz show "Mastermind", where you have to answer questions on a particular subject. It's a high-brow, intelligent quiz show, and topics are usually politics, paintings, philosophy.. that sort of thing. Frank Turner's expert subject of choice?



Looks like I'll be watching Mastermind.