Features

Detox Cute and the Beauty Junkies, Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring, The Bridport Dagger, Dexy - Christmas Questions Pt 2

Bill Cummings 30/12/2009

As the twelve days of Christmas draw to a close Bill Cummings searches out a few acts to put the cherry on the cake of the season, in the second part of our festive questioning sessions. Read Q+As with Their Hearts Were Full of Spring, The Bridport Dagger, Detox Cute & The Beauty Junkies and singer songwriter Dexy K.

Paisley Pattenden singer in Brighton pop act Detox Cute & The Beauty Junkies.

Hi, how are things?

Things are wonderful at the end of the universe thanks! We have been having some fun in the snow, yes, it even snows here!
How has 2009 treated you?

2009 has been pretty amazing - short of winning the coveted Christmas number one we have been recording even more songs and videos to delight ourselves.

What song will always remind you of 2009?

The song that will always remind us of 2009 has got to be 'I just haven't met you yet' by Michael Buble, because we couldn't turn on any radio station without hearing it within thirty seconds, sometimes even sooner!

What were your albums of the year, including your ultimate favourite?

Our album of the year is 'My Blue Heart' by This Final Frame. Other notable highlights include those in Pat Sharp's hair on a video we saw on VH1.

Who was your favourite band/act of the year?


Our favourite band of the year is the beautiful Husky Rescue - dreamy stuff.

What were your gig highlights - to play and to go and watch by other bands, and why?

Our own gig highlight was playing at The Cavern! Wow. Watching other bands - well, we have played alongside some greats, and this year was no exception. Brit Chix were also on the bill (their drummer is called Paisley!) but they ended up on Britains Got Talent so we hate them now.

What are you looking forward to next year in terms of music and specific bands/acts?

Next year we can't wait to hear the full Husky Rescue album. Also we hear Goldfrapp has a new one coming out, as does Isobel Campbell - lovely lady pop.

Favourite TV show/film of the year?

Our favourite TV show of the year was Harry Hill's TV Burps - apart from all that shameless X Factor promotion. We prefer to watch old films, so this years fave was 'All the right Noises' starring Tom Bell and Olivia Hussey.

Markus Barnard frontman of Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring.

Hi how are things?

Alreet ta.

How has 2009 treated you?

Sometimes very good, sometimes very bad ... it's been a moody one.

What song will always remind you of 2009?

We Built This City by Starship.

What were your albums of the year, including your ultimate favourite?

2009 was the year I stopped caring about all this nonsense. It's all a bit ridiculous when you stop and think about it, isn't it? I hardly bought any records this year and I'm totally out of touch, which suits me fine thank you very much.
All I know about what's been going on is what's been waking me up in the mornings when my alarm clock goes off, courtesy of Shaun Keaveney. And from that I can tell you that I was bored of the 80s in the 80s and I don't want it back again, if it's all the same to you. Except for Starship, of course.

I can only remember once being properly astounded by something I heard for the first time in 2009, and even that was a cover: Sufjan Stevens' version of You Are The Blood. So I'm making Dark Was The Night my album of the year. And yes I know that's cheating because it's a compilation, and I know there are a few duffers on there as well, but I don't care. It's for charidee, innit?

Who was your favourite band/act of the year?

Ooh, I forgot about Animal Collective, they did good. My Girls was a tune. Can I take back my best album vote and give it to them instead?

What were your gig highlights - to play and to go and watch by other bands, and why?

To play: definitely Foxfest at The Fox in Lewisham, back in May. It's not that well known but ask any band who's ever played at The Fox, and especially at Foxfest, and they'll tell you Carl 2Bob is the best promoter in London. Fact.
To see: unquestionably, The Pixies at Brixton Academy. I bought my tickets way in advance and chose to collect them from the venue. Then I totally forgot about it until someone at work asked me if I was going on the very morning of the gig! Best surprise present I've ever given myself. They were amazing. Monkey Gone to Heaven ... "If man is five, etc." ... what a moment. I had a small breakdown.
Animal Collective were good at Brixton too. Wild Beasts did the best set of the weekend at Truck Festival. And Ash, also at Truck, was a highlight for me. Not a brilliant set to be honest, but they played the hits (A Life Less Ordinary, Wild Surf ... forgot how good those tunes were) and I got 70p back off Tim Wheeler that he's owed me since 1995, which was very satisfying.

What are you looking forward to next year in terms of music and specific bands/acts?

Right now only two things:
1) Midlake - new album, and they're coming to London in February (got my tickets already)
2) Hindley's album

Favourite TV show/film of the year?

TV: The Thick Of It. More like this please, BBC. And Nick Griffin on Question Time. Bit of a kangaroo court, but great TV.
Film: Colin

How are you spending Xmas?

I'm staying in London again this year (sorry mum). In all likelihood I will have a bit of a hangover, and then a bit of a drink. And a lot of food.

What presents/records are you hoping to receive on Christmas Day?

Socks, slippers, underpants, a big Toblerone. And a Joe Meek channel strip would be a nice surprise.

Do you have any releases in the pipeline?

Yes, but mostly not by me. My label Marketstall Records is currently in the middle of a big Xmas Download Bonanza Thing. Loads of tracks from artists we've been working with in 2009, all free to download. So far there's been a proper Xmas single from Dexy, a couple of outstanding tracks from Hindley, and as soon as I've finished this email I'm gonna post two brilliant tracks from The New Happiness. And a whole load of stuff from Their Hearts Were Full of Spring's going up on Sunday.

Also there's a Hindley album in the works (which I may have mentioned before ...) Should be ready by the mid-point of 2010 if all goes to plan. It's sounding pretty awesome already.

What are your plans for the 2010?

In 2009 I finally came to understand the folly of making plans. Instead, next year I will be working hard on whatever happens to be in front of me, and grabbing whatever opportunities come my way.


Download various FREE Xmas gifts from Marketstall Records here http://marketstallrecords.wordpress.com/xmas-gifts-so-far/

Jason Powdrill frontman of The Bridport Dagger.

Hi how are things?

Just eaten turkish followed by 2 pints of dark budvar. things are fuzzy.

How has 2009 treated you?

To a few more grey hairs & at least 2 bottles of sailor jerry.

What song will always remind you of 2009?

None that i'd like to recall.....

What were your albums of the year, including your ultimate favourite?

I liked the horrors new one very much. it's probably easiest to say that at this moment in time when i can't move from the sofa.

What were your gig highlights - to play and to go and watch by other bands, and why?

Playing to a near empty room at goldsmiths, getting chucked out for 'removing' a few posters from the walls & still recieving £250. some drink may have been involved. possibly.

What are you looking forward to next year in terms of music and specific bands/acts?

That most of them will realise that they're crap & split up.

Favourite TV show/film of the year?

Film: 'white lightnin' the story of a gas-huffing appalacian mountain tap-dancer. tv: probably eastenders or heroes.

How are you spending Xmas?

With my wife, 3 horses, a donkey, a shetland pony, 2 dogs & the corpse of a turky that in life was free to roam beneath a cherry orchard.

What presents/records are you hoping to receive on Christmas Day?

Already recieved a brand new gretsch guitar. i'm over the fucking moon (honestly).

Do you have any releases in the pipeline?

Yes. as shaw taylor would have said, 'keep 'em peeled'.

What are your plans for the 2010?

To open a bakery.

Dexy K frontman of Dexy and The Hand Me Downs.

Hi how are things?

Things are well. Cold but well.

How has 2009 treated you?

Pretty good. Got my backing band The Hand Me Downs together in the summer and things have fallen into place nicely since then.

What song will always remind you of 2009?


'Ice Age' by Stagecoach and 'Paparazzi' by Lady GaGa. Both contain choruses better than most artists could dream of.

What were your albums of the year, including your ultimate favourite?

My favourite has gotta be '1372 Overton Park' by Lucero (www.lucero.com) . They're incredible, like Springsteen and The Replacements getting together, getting drunk and covering George Jones songs. Other than that I've loved 'Journal For Plague Lovers' by Manic Street Preachers, 'The Hazards Of Love' by The Decemberists, 'Two Suns' by Bat For Lashes, 'At The Still Point' by Ten City Nation and 'The Fame' by Lady GaGa.

Who was your favourite band/act of the year?

Stagecoach. I've shared bills with them and gone out of my way to see them loads this year and they've never been anything but amazing. No matter whether the gig is packed out or there's 5 people there they always give you a show and put a smile on your face. A very rare thing. Plus they know how to hold their whiskey, which is always a good thing...

What were your gig highlights - to play and to go and watch by other bands, and why?

Well I had a pretty good week in Hyde Park in the summer - in the space of seven days I got to see Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Gaslight Anthem, Big Star and Blur - all of whom played real inspirational life affirming sets. I also got to meet Alex Chilton from Big Star, who is one of my all time heroes.
Other than that I was blown away by The Decemberists @ The Coronet, Bonnie Prince Billy @ RFH, Stagecoach @ The Social, Magazine @ The Forum and the Manics @ The Roundhouse.

Of my own gigs I've gotta say that me and the boys getting to support Franz Nicolay was pretty special. I'm a massive Hold Steady fan and had just gotten into his other stuff as well when we got the show. He was a true gentleman and it was a pleasure to support him.

What are you looking forward to next year in terms of music and specific bands/acts?

Not sure there's any specific record I'm looking forward to right now, just keen to hear some new artists that're a little more fearless with their writing. I think there's more than enough songs about dancing in indie clubs. It's not that fascinating a subject.

Favourite TV show/film of the year?

I thought the new series of Peep Show had some of the best episodes they've ever done. Although it's not new I've finally got into The IT Crowd and feel a little ashamed that I haven't before. Film wise I can't go too far past The Wrestler. I've been a wrestling fan since I was a little kid so for them to make such a beautiful movie that didn't glamorize that life was really rewarding. Plus having a Springsteen song to close the movie is never a bad thing...

How are you spending Xmas?

I will be in France eating cheese, drinking wine and playing with animals. Seeing it written down makes it look like I'm spending Christmas inside an advert.

What presents/records are you hoping to receive on Christmas Day?

There's not a great deal really, a couple of Cormac McCarthy books I've not picked up yet but other than that I'm looking forward to putting my feet up and seeing my family.

Do you have any releases in the pipeline?

Yeah there's a single, All My Best Friends, out in the Spring.

What are your plans for the 2010?

Well the first few months are already looking pretty busy. Doing a Balcony TV session on Jan 12th (www.balconytv.com), we'll be putting the single out, there's a German tour around March time too. I guess you can't predict too much, just get out there and make the music you need to make and then see what happens.....

Download Dexy's FREE Christmas single 'Santa Clause left for the City' feat Bree from the Understudies here http://marketstallrecords.wordpress.com/xmas-gifts-dexy