Velvet Owl Single of the Week

Perfume Genius - Hood

There is no doubt that the song and accompanying video are going to polarise people, but we f%@king love em both here at VO towers. If we have one gripe, it is that the song is far too short.

Velvet Owl Single of the Week

Radiohead - Staircase

During the past 10 years or so, on hearing new Radiohead material, I have usually responded by shouting at the radio 'That's just a noise!' or 'It's no Fake Plastic Trees!' However, I have to admit, that their new single, Staircase, has completely floored me. This is goose-pimply good. Time to dig out Pablo Honey. Oh, hang on, that was shit as well, wasn't it?

Have you got any Suede?

Velvet Owl blog contributer, Phil Hope, has been a busy little bunny over the Christmas period. Check out his i.cloud mix Beaten Soul Volume 2 a heady blend of garage and fuzz 45's.

However, If northern soul and R&B (not the Beyonce kind) is your thing, then check out Beaten Soul Volume 1.

Both mixes will have you fruggin round the kitchen like a speed-addled Wigan Casino veteran. 

Velvet Owl Single of the Week

Alabama Shakes - Hold On

Any band endorsed by the mighty Drive by Truckers are always going to make us sit up and listen, and this slice of  Janis Joplin tinged southern soul taken from Alabama Shakes' debut EP does not disappoint.

Velvet Owl Single of the Week

Azealia Banks FT. Lazy Jay - 212

So we're four months behind on this one. What yer gonna do?

Azealia Banks, the bastard offspring of Eazy E and Missy Elliot released this filthy bit of RnB last year, which led to her being crowned the coolest person on the planet by the NME.

Make sure the kids are in bed before you crank this one up.

The Wedding Present, Leeds Academy

So that was 2011. A year that started with I am Kloot in York and ended with The Wedding Present in Leeds. Two gigs that feature in the Velvet Owl Gig Collective New Years Honours List.

Best Gig - I am Kloot, The Duchess, York: A cold and bitter January night, an expensive misunderstanding at the parking meter, and a venue full of chattering idiots wasn't enough to stop this being named the VO collective's favourite gig of the year.

Strangest Venue - Holmbridge Village Hall: Folk supergroup, Drever, Woomble and McKusker rocked up to play a venue more used to hosting local am dram productions as part of the Holmfirth Arts Festival. Warm beer served from a trestle table and a raffle for a meat tray added to the Twin Peaks style weirdness.

Worst Backdrop - Yuck, Sheffield Leadmill: A semen encrusted bedsheet with the words Yuck splattered across it. It doesn't get any more indie than that.

Best Venue - The Brudenell Social Club, Leeds: A fabulous, intimate venue, a great sound system and an excellent choice of alcoholic beverages. Nuff said.

The night that took the Velvet Owls out of their comfort zone - NME Awards Tour, Leeds Academy: An evening where the music of Magnetic Man and 800 youths going  absolutely batshit felt like it was the end of days to some of the collective.

The night that made us go, meh - The Wedding Present, Leeds Academy: Despite the end of year party atmosphere and a venue full of loyal fans awaiting the return of their prodigal son, The Wedding Present felt a little lacklustre and somewhat half-hearted.

So that was the year that was. The Velvet Owl Gig Collective sang, danced and laughed at Tim Burgess' hair. Roll on 2012. Who knows what adventures it may bring.