Rough Trade Instore/6 Music Session/C4 Profile
Monday 31st January 2011

A gorgeous sunny winter's day in London and an equally sparkling Go! Team in-store at Rough Trade East tonight, to celebrate the release of Rolling Blackouts. The band played a killer mini-set of T.O.R.N.A.D.O., Voice Yr Choice, Secretary Song, Flashlight Fight, Apollo Throwdown and Keys To The City to a packed-out store - a tantalising taster for the forthcoming tour. Huge thanks to the band for a great evening - and hats off to their sound crew for the top notch audio and to Rough Trade for hosting it all. Earlier in the day the band recorded a live session for BBC 6 Music playing T.O.R.N.A.D.O. and Apollo Throwdown on the Huey Morgan show. Check out the session here. And if that isn't enough, Channel 4 in the UK will be airing a brand new short documentary/profile on the band at around 20 past midnight  (UK time) on Thursday morning (3rd February), the day the band kick off their 20 date UK tour.

Here we go! again. Can't wait...

Buy Something Different Day
Tuesday 1st February 2011

Between August Krater and myself we've discovered there are two different pressings of the Buy Nothing Day 7" - the UK solid orange vinyl version shown on the left and the US translucent version. The details on the reverse of the sleeves are also different - check out the 7" section of the discography here for the full details. Perhaps even more bizarrely is the Buy Nothing Day promo CD single which has two different sleeves (hats off entirely to August on this one) - check out the presence of the little fluffy cloud (TM) in the lower left hand corner of the first one. Possibly just a printing error but intriguing nonetheless.



Are You Ready For 'Mor'?
Thursday 3rd February 2011

Yes we are. See you down the front Glasgow!
 
Oran Mor, Glasgow - 3rd February 2011
Thursday 3rd February 2011

Opening night of the UK tour and what a night! A rammed Oran Mor and a brilliant Glasgow crowd were treated to a blistering 17 track set. Check out the setlist here. Some great surprises too - a stunning Yosemite Theme; Buy Nothing Day featuring Ian on drums and (shock) backing vocals!... and an amazing version of The Power Is On with Ninja rapping the original Thunder, Lightning, Strike version vocals. One of the most incendiary Go! Team performances I've seen. There's a small handful of photos  here. Lovely to catch up with some of the band again - cheers for a great night. Next stop: Edinburgh.

Ooh - and before I forget - the band's brand new ten minute Rolling Blackouts profile, aired on Channel 4 in the UK last night, is now up online here as is their new video for Ready To Go Steady here.

Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh - 4th February 2011
Saturday 5th February 2011

(Note to self: Try to smile when you next meet one of your heroes!) Thanks to Ninja for the spur of the moment photo opportunity and to the whole band for two truly great nights in Scotland. Cheers also to Elle on the merchandise stall  for the RB poster -  much appreciated.  8 hour/465 mile trip home = bed. More news later...

Liquid Rooms Set
Saturday 5th February 2011

Edinburgh was treated to the same stellar set as Glasgow, save for a slight change of order in the encore. Check It out here. Set highlights, The Running Range, Yosemite Theme, Voice Yr Choice - just phenomenal. Damn - why am I not in Aberdeen. Diary ramblings here. Next stop: London

Scott Pilgrim vs. The Go! Team
Saturday 5th February 2011

In an attempt to try and cheer me up  about not being able to go to the  Aberdeen gig tonight, some friends kindly came over with a DVD of 'Scott Pilgrim vs The World' this evening. Great, I thought - that'll help me take my mind off things. Five minutes into the movie and what do I spy on Scott's bedroom wall? A bloody Go! Team poster! There is, apparently, no escape. Anyway - hope the gig went well and Happy Birthday Sam!

New Go! Team Remix
Sunday 6th February 2011

Thanks once again to skip128 for information regarding a great new Go! Team remix of a track called Do The Hand Jive by The Voluntary Butler Scheme, due out on the 18th of March as part of the Chevreul EP. Not sure what formats it's to be released in but you can check out the track here.

London Coronet - 30th September 2011
Monday 7th February 2011

Although not officially confirmed it appears that The Go! Team will be playing The Coronet in London on the 30th of September. Tickets are on sale through Ents24 here and check out the Coronet's own site here. As always, keep an eye on the band's official sources for confirmation.

The Magnificent Heaven
Tuesday 8th February 2011

Blimey - I thought Glasgow was going to be my highlight this month. Wrong! Heaven was (ahem) a hell of a gig.  I already know I'm gonna look back on February 2011 with great fondness. Truly amazing gigs and crowds and  their best album to date to soundtrack the whole thing - phenomenal.

I've got so much to add to the site this week  in terms of posters, discography and promo stuff, my tour diary, set lists etc  - and so little time (Cambridge tomorrow/Bristol Friday) - but hope to have it all up by the weekend, so please check back then. Next stop: up the Junction. Px  


Back Like 8 Track Debuted at Cambridge
Wednesday 9th February 2011

Following last night's Heavenly carnival of carnage, The Go! Team just played a stunning, ruthlessly cool and razor-sharp set at The Junction in Cambridge tonight - an astonishing and compelling contrast to the London show - and the best sound I've ever heard them play with. And to top it all we got the first ever live play of Back Like 8 Track which needless to say was absolutely ace.

Next stop: Bristol - but check back here tomorrow night for some rather lovely site updates and a bit of new news!  Until then - a little present for ya!


Are You Ready For More?
Thursday 10th February 2011

Good! Here we go!

First off - The Go! Team have announced a nine date  Australian tour as follows:
Apr 30 - Groovin' The Moo, Bendigo
May 01 - Groovin' The Moo, Townsville
May 03 - The Zoo, Brisbane
May 04 - Metro Theatre, Sydney
May 07 - Groovin' The Moo, Maitland
May 08 - Groovin' The Moo, Canberra
May 10 - The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
May 13 - The Bakery, Perth
May 14 - Groovin' The Moo, Bunbury

The band's gig at the Brooklyn Bowl in New York has sold out and they've therefore added an extra NY date at the Bowery Ballroom on the 12th April.
And following on from the band's sold-out London show at Heaven earlier this week the forthcoming Coronet gig on 30th September looks pretty much confirmed. Check out the poster for it along with a few lovely new additions from the current tour here. And on the subject of the tour there's a few photos I've taken at some of the dates here which I will add to over the next couple of weeks, plus a live video I recorded of Voice Yr Choice from last night's excellent gig in Cambridge here. 

If you want to find out what the band have been playing at the shows so far this month check out the Gigography section here.

On the record collecting front, check out both the US and UK orange vinyl pressings of Buy Nothing Day here and here. I've also got hold of a couple of unusual promo CDs of Rolling Blackouts - a five track sampler and a different pressing of the regular full album version - check them out here and here.

But let's not forget about The Go! Team of yore! I recently tracked down a couple of old press releases for Doing It Right and The Wrath of Marcie which can be accessed from the press release page here.

Hope the band had a great night in Birmingham tonight. Bristol - here we come...

Anson Rooms, Bristol - 11 February 2011
Saturday 11th February 2011

An amazing, exhilarating five Go! Team gigs in eight days and absolutely some of the best shows I've seen them play over the last five years - topped off with a really lovely gig at Bristol last night and a nice chance  to catch up with some of the band, crew and their friends after the show.  Many thanks to Chi in particular for sorting out getting my copy of the Buy Nothing Day 7" signed for me by the band - so chuffed - thanks so much for that. Here's the set list, poster, diary entry and a few photos from the show.

I also videoed The Running Range last night. For me this song has become my favourite track in the set - so accomplished and powerful - and really adds an extra dimension to an already amazingly diverse set. Anyway - here it is.

And on the subject of gigs there's been some great reviews for the recent live shows:
The Guardian (London)
The List (Glasgow)
Gig Wise (London)
The Londonist (London)

Next Go! stop: Oxford


Updates
Sunday 13th February 2011

My fellow Go! Team fans and TF contributors continue to do me and this site proud. Firstly  Mike Courteau has sorted out the video for the band's recent live streaming of their Vienna show. You can watch a bunch of tracks from the gig here plus thanks to Mike for pointing me in the direction of some footage from the bnad's Heaven gig last week here. Secondly August Krater has provided yet more top notch images -  this time for the US pressing of the Buy Nothing Day 7" (sleeve, disc and labels) and also the US promo version of Rolling Blackouts (cover inserts and discs). They're all added to the discography but, for ease of reference, check out the page dedicated to AK's work here. And lastly Andrew Sowden has kindly contributed a few photos from the Cambridge Junction gig last week here. Many thanks all!


Oxford Academy - 15 February 2011
Wednesday 16th February 2011

What a great evening. Firstly, at the risk of sounding  somewhat repetitive, The Go! Team pulled off another absolutely stunning performance. Remarkable stuff - pretty damn perfect in every respect. Secondly, it was great  to meet up with a chap named Nick West from Hampshire - a long-time and big  Go! Team fan who made contact with me through this site  and we subsequently arranged to meet up at the gig. It was a pleasure to meet you Nick and thank you for your excellent company. Lastly thanks to the Academy box office staff for putting aside a gig poster for me - really appreciated.  Poster, set list, and ticket in their usual homes. And guess who was spotted behind the merchandise stall tonight!

Really looking forward to Brighton tomorrow (Wednesday) not least as Jo, my good lady wife (or 'The Go! Team Widow' as she has become known lately) will be joining me. 

Templates From Home: Brighton Concorde - 16 February 2011
Wednesday 16th February 2011

A hometown gig for the band and kind of for myself  and my wife - plus friends Adam, Cheryl, Kevin, Natasha, Mel and Mike who all live in and around Brighton and who all had an amazing night - thank you Go! Team. I'm sorry for the lack of photos, videos etc. - but a great night had by all.  A sold-out Concorde was treated to  a solid set that  climaxed in  a monumental Back Like 8 Track and encores of Junior Kickstart, Apollo Throwdown and Keys To The City -  that, for the first time in three years got me jumping around down the front resulting in some serious ear damage - but all in a good cause :0) Anyway... - the set list's here and here's a clip of Buy Nothing  Day recorded at Oxford last night.
Next stop :Leeds
Night all.


Rolling Blackouts Formats
Thursday 17th February 2011

You can never have too many copies of Rolling Blackouts. No, really. For the collecting fraternity out there, here's a quick round-up of all known formats to date:
-UK White Vinyl LP (limited edition of 1000 with poster and download)
-US Black Vinyl LP (according to Midheaven - check first before buying)
-UK CD
-US CD
-Hong Kong/Asia CD (with extra track 'Headache in my Heart')
-Japanese CD on Avex (with 3 extra tracks and lyric booklet)
-Australian CD on Shock Records
-Korean CD (potential forthcoming release to be confirmed)
-UK Promo CD in card sleeve
-US Promo CD in jewel case with inserts
-Second UK Promo issue with paper inserts
-5 Track UK Promo Sampler in paper sleeve
Check out the discography section for a number of these items. The rest I'm slowly tracking down and will add them in, as they arrive. If anyone hears of any other version please do drop us a line. Sadly no old-school cassette release although August Krater has once again imagined one up for us here. Cheers August.

Many thanks also to Nick West for the set list scan from Tuesday night's gig in Oxford here.

Leeds Cockpit: 18 February 2011 - Are You Ready...
Friday 18th February 2011

...to go steady? Super cool version.
plus
Set list - diary stuff... bed
Oh yeah - have you noticed the mistake on the poster (well spotted Eddie! see you again in...erm,  May!)


Academy 2, Manchester - 19 February 2011
Saturday 19th February 2011

In 32 years of some very serious amounts of gigging, and without any exaggeration, I have never seen such a stunning live performance as that of The Go! Team tonight at Manchester. Even as a massive fan of the band I am utterly astounded. The best gig I've ever seen by quite some distance. Completely lost for words at the moment so will try again tomorrow..  

Edit: Sunday 20th February - Yep, really was that good. I can't put it down to being drunk, tired or emotional because I was none of those things. I'd love to know what the band thought of it because it's got to rate as one of their finest hours (although they have obviously had many) . It was certainly mine. The moment T.O.R.N.A.D.O. kicked off my friend Eddie and I looked at each other in disbelief - it was like a freight train hitting you at 100 mph and the set never let up. And the crowd (I'm guessing around a 1000?) just went berserk. I've never heard any band heavier, more intense and at the absolute top of their game.  There isn't another band in the world like them or could come close to that performance. As somebody (and it wasn't me) has already written on their Facebook page. 'BEST. SHOW. EVER.' Yep - really was that good. 

EVR Session/Secretary Song @ Manchester
Sunday 20th February 2011

The band recorded a session for the Mike Joyce Show yesterday (yep - him out of The Smiths) on East Village Radio in Manchester. Not sure when it will be broadcast but keep an eye on the station's website here.

There's also a clip of Secretary Song recorded at last night's Manchester gig here plus a lovely collection of some of the  posters from the recent gigs here. I'm unable to get to any more of the dates this tour other than Leicester, so if anyone wants to get in touch with reviews or set lists etc your contributions would be very welcome. Cheers! 

'Here Comes The Summer...'
Tuesday 22nd February 2011

Ah - what a wordsmith Mr Sharkey was. It's February - which must mean Festival Season is nearly upon us. So far, two unconfirmed but looking-likely outdoor shebangs  are rumoured: The B-Sides Festival in Sonnenberg, Switzerland (17th/18th June) and the Guernsey Festival of Performing Arts - (2nd/3rd July) see above ad and link here.  Remember, please don't go out and buy tickets, tents or a large flag that's going to get in everyone's way, until dates are officially confirmed.

New Remixes on Korean Rolling Blackouts
Tuesday 22nd February 2011

The Korean release of Rolling Blackouts on the Beatball label has been released today with four extra tracks - Headache in My Heart, Voice Yr Choice (Tobacco Remix) and two (at present) exclusive remixes - Buy Nothing Day (Chad Valley Remix) and Apollo Throwdown (Star Slinger Remix).


Man & Monkey vs. Owl vs. Zebra
Wednesday 23rd February 2011

What the hell am I on about? Well the amazing sleeve artwork for Rolling Blackouts by James Taylor & The Go! Team is somewhat intriguing insomuch as there are three different versions of it. This has been picked up by August Krater who does many of the sleeve scans throughout this site and it all relates to one hexagon. The regular album version features a hexagon of a flying owl which can be seen above towards the top of the sleeve - just left of centre. On the promo sleeve this hexagon has been replaced by a photo of a man and a monkey and on a (so far) unused sleeve design this is replaced by zebra stripes. Click here to see a comparison of all three sleeves together plus the full design collage. Weird huh?

Live @ Liverpool Photos + Festival/Session News
Wednesday 23rd February 2011

Many thanks to Gary Caldwell from Warrington for getting in touch and contributing a whole bunch of excellent photos from the band's gig at Liverpool Academy last Sunday (20th February). The photos can be accessed in the future from  the Gallery page but click here to check them out now. Many thanks to Gary for sharing them here - much appreciated.

On the news front three festival dates have been confirmed for June and July - check the listings on the right-hand side of this page for details.  Plus the band's session for the Mike Joyce Show on East Village Radio is to be broadcast on 3 March - check the the station's website here for further info. Finally The Go! Team's Kaori Tsuchida has been keeping a fantastic blog-site tour diary - well worth checking out here.

Record Store Day - 16 April 2011
Thursday 24th February 2011

There's something very reassuring about vinyl still being around - and a day to celebrate the virtues of the of the enduring and invincible spiral scratch, and the stores that continue to sell them, is a very worthwhile thing indeed. The initial list of what's going to be causing some serious queuing-action around the globe  is now available and we're chuffed to bits to see a potential Go! Team 12" on the cards, featuring various remixes of Voice Yr Choice and Apollo Throwdown. Check out the Record Store Day site here for the latest news on what's going to be up for grabs.

Academy 2 Leicester - 26 February 2011
Sunday 27th February 2011

Although the band have one more date of their main UK tour to go, sadly tonight was my last. The eleven gigs I've been lucky enough to get to over the last month have been without doubt the very best Go! Team shows I've seen in my five years following the band. Stunning performances, great sets, fantastic crowds and top-notch sound at every show. And it was great to read some of the reactions and reviews of folks who attended the shows that I couldn't get to. It's been very obvious that the band have had a massive impact on people everywhere they've played over this tour - me included. Once again!

A huge thanks to The Go! Team and  Matt & Ollie at Memphis for everything Hats off also to the members of the band's sound crew that I've met briefly - Tommy, Al and Zoë - the audio every night has been amazing. It also been lovely to meet up with many old friends again as well as some new fellow Go! Team fans. And cheers to Ninja for taking the above photo (and an actually smiley one here ).

Last but not least, I must say a very big thank you to Chi from the band. As a Go! Team fan I collect and treasure Go! Team records, posters and other memorabilia, all of which is included within this site. Tonight Chi very kindly presented  me with  (in return for a small gift I had passed on to her earlier in the tour) a quite astonishing array of posters from her travels with the band over the last eight years - many of which I have never seen before and none of which I own. To say that I am overwhelmed is an understatement. Chi - thank you for your incredible generosity. I am indeed the luckiest Go! Team fan alive.

Now if you'll excuse me I need to go and have a little cry.  While I'm doing so, here's the lovely Yosemite Theme from tonight's gig in Leicester. More stuff over the next few days. Until then...

Thank you Go! Team....and goodnight.

Brighton Photos
Sunday 27th February 2011

Many thanks to The Go! Team's Sam Dook for pointing me in the direction of some excellent photo-pit shots from the band's gig in Brighton a couple of weeks back taken by Rob Orchard. I've added a page for Rob's photos to the Gallery section but check them out in full here.  More info on the Leicester gig and Chi's amazing poster contribution soon.