The Music Note

Last Tuesday, Josh Rouse played an intimate solo acoustic gig at The Lock Tavern in Camden, London.  The free admission show, which had only been announced two days earlier, was an unexpected treat for fans like myself, who are eagerly awaiting Josh's UK tour at the end of May.  On arrival at The Lock Tavern, I was surprised but thrilled at how small the setting was - this wasn't like the venues I was used to seeing Rouse in, instead it was a cosy upstairs room in a pub, packed full of people enjoying their drinks and looking forward to an evening of live music. The performance coincided nicely with last week's release of his tenth studio album The Happiness Waltz , with Josh explaining he was in the UK for the week doing promo for the album which led to this last minute gig.  He then proceeded with the hour long set, which included a healthy balance of material from the new release, along with much loved classics from previous albums. Josh opened the set with th...

Josh Rouse's delicate cover of 'The Perfect Girl' couldn't be in further contrast to The Cure's original version of the song.  With soft piano and a relaxed tempo that finely compliment Rouse's signature smooth vocals, the overall result is a beautifully unique, yet classic cover of a great track.  This version appears on Rouse's Singles, Covers And Demos Collection Vol. 1 , that is available to download from the Bedroom Classics Closet Archives page on his website.

"I'm running away with you / That's all I ever do" sings Peter Doherty on 'For Lovers', a song that is lyrically uncomplicated, yet beautifully sentimental.  The instrumentation is also simple but effective, with a piano arrangement that adds depth and a further poignancy to the track's lyrics.  Doherty's lingering vocals effortlessly deliver lines of "Meet me at the railroad bar / About 7 o'clock / We joke while the sun goes down / Watch the lovers / Leaving town", that progress into a soulful chorus backed by drums and guitar.

Unsigned You is a website that draws recognition to independent music by allowing unsigned artists and bands to come together in one place to post music, videos and other music related media.  The networking site is a highly useful tool, as it gives members the opportunity to promote their music and get connected to other like-minded musicians.  In addition to users being able to upload music, videos and photos, Unsigned You also features a live newsfeed, forum, blog, and an events page. This week saw the launch of the site's newest feature, Unsigned You PRO, which provides unsigned musicians with a platform to promote and sell their music, gig tickets and merchandise online. Unsigned You PRO supports unsigned artists and bands through powerful social media campaigns and showcase gigs, while also providing them with an artist and band development programme, specialising in everything from original songwriting to bespoke album art design, CD production and distribution. ...