What a "Segsational night" ... (this blog is brought to you by Terry's ... the chocolate orange people) ...
Tim Minchin is really rather quite funny isn't he ... quite the Christmas treat, and making me think of my brother sipping white wine on the beach in Australia this Christmas was quite bittersweet, as I type at you from London approaching a Christmas in Derbyshire via Nottingham, Tamworth, Birmingham, Derby and Leicester I wish I could throw another shrimp on the barbie this Christmas. Nevermind, I'll make do with an Iceland prawn party ring.
Paul Weller was great obviously, and great to hear a good set comprised of songs only two of which were over 5 years old. I think some of the older contingent would've left unhappy if he hadn't closed with a seemingly reluctant encore of 'Town Called Malice' ...
Anyhoo, I think I'm gonna be on an FM radio Christmas extra special on Friday night ... I'll let you know more as soon as I know.
Peace & Love, scroll down for a picture of me trying to stare into your soul,
Matt H. x
Spongebob Squarepants body?? Such an angular shoulder !!!
Went to see some comedy last night, and tickled I was indeed. The Beta Males hosted a night of sketch comedy up in North London, the headline act was the highly humorous Max & Ivan ... no doubt all involved will be making huge amounts of money for making us laugh on the BBC and Channel 4 very soon.
Tonight I'll be seeing an interesting selection of acts at the Hammersmith Apollo charity event for Crisis, Stand-Up & Rock. Paul Weller, Graham Coxon, Jo Brand, Tim Minchin and Ross Noble ... I hope to laugh, yet again, and boogie in equal measure ...
Here's a couple of images of me laughing this morning ...
I'll probably let you know if it's any good or not ...
So, relaxing with Jimmy B-Boy in the glorious city of Derby before our show at the Victoria Inn - Derby, seemingly glorious enjoying its Indian Summer ... he's persuaded me into a full-blown MTV Unplugged style set this evening. The country-rock'n'folk stylings of Can't Hold Back in Derbyshire tonight ... I'll report back on how that goes tomorrow no doubt ...
... also, happening in the city beforehand, with all the Rams returning from Nottingham (if they're not still over there smashing it up celebrating victory!) there's Paul Weller's pal Devlin plus Alex Blood & The Diggers on the Market Square ... Derby sunshine urban capital ... who'da thunk it !
So see you later alligators ... in the meantime ... learn the words to Can't Hold Back ... I like a good sing-a-long me ...
With Love and a billion blessings,
Matt Henshaw.
Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay!
Can’t Hold Back is the brand new EP by singer-songwriter Matt Henshaw, whose lyrical mod-indie credentials are being coupled with the unlikely combination of UK hip hop artist Reggimental, to produce this perfect EP, released on Rusty Juke Box Records on the 10th October 2010.
Henshaw, originally from Nottingham, has been in previous musical incarnations such as the band Censored, when at the tender age of 17, played Leeds, Reading and Isle Of Wight festivals, receiving substantial amount of radio airplay and supporting the likes of Snow Patrol, We Are Scientists, Supergrass, Ocean Colour Scene, Arctic Monkeys, The Bluetones and The Holloways.
In true rock'n'roll style, exasperated by years of alcohol dependency, band in-fighting, struggles against the confines of unimaginative industry labelling, and the bitter dissolution of several personal relationships, he decided to go away. He spent a whole year where he didn't touch a guitar or sing a note, instead he wrote a novel and a series of short stories, started gardening, quit alcohol and decided to study film at university with no aspirations to sing again.
The Music Freak asked Matt to do his own video interview. Matt ended up doing quite a lovely job indeed.
The first thing that strikes you about Matt Henshaw is his dress sense, in a grey suit jacket his quirky sense of fashion makes him stand out from the crowd. However, the minute he opens his mouth all you can focus on is his magnificent voice, it wouldn’t matter if he was wearing a brown paper bag.
His voice is so different from what we are hearing in abundance at the moment, it is deeply soulful beyond his years. The Gaff club in Holloway road is the perfect place to stage the ‘Prove It’ show case which Matt is headlining along with Reggiimental who he is collaborating with. With is dark and gloomy but totally trendy décor and uber cool atmosphere it sets the perfect scene for his performance.
With his modest demeanour and this hugely powerful voice watching Matt is memorizing. The sound is unique, mixed with Reggiimental’s MCing it fuses two very different genres in a surprisingly successful way. ‘The Deepest Cellar’ is a track that has the funkiest bass line this side of the 70’s with an urban edge thanks to Reggiimental’s superb MC skills. The best song of the night is undoubtedly ‘Can’t hold back’ the title track from Matt’s forthcoming EP.
As with all of his songs there is a really strong soul influence but with relevantly modern lyrics thanks to Reggiimental. Matt sings ‘see my friends you have to live your life,’ and there is something that really resonates there. Uplifting lyrics and melody make this a real feel good song that can’t help but leave you smiling, and wanting to hear more.
It’s clear why Matt Henshaw is this year’s NME Breakthrough artist, and why the duo was voted by NME readers to open the Lovebox festival earlier this year. Matt, who the BBC described as ‘just perfect’ releases his debut EP ‘Can’t Hold Back’ on the 10th of October..
