Cass Mccombs, Veronica Falls, Manchester Zap!

On Monday March 5th Cass Mccombs, returns to Manchester for the first time in over two years to perform two sets at Band On The Wall. We will be playing some records betwixt the sets.

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Golden Lab present MANCHESTER ZAP! at Night And Day, WAITERS and FORMER BULLIES play the Tuesday with FREEDOM SCREECH.

And then on Friday VERONICA FALLS, NOVELLA and PINS all play at The Deaf Institute. Above is a poster made by Lucy Jones

We have much more news to disclose soon, including a BIG announcement tomorrow. Check back here or here

NEW POSTERS

winebox09 - Tom Settle 'Dried Plumes' C38

 The winebox press have been making limited editions of no-limits music on cassette tape for a while now. The run of each tape is dictated by the object its 'packaging' is comprised of. Winebox09 is made from a door and each of the 26 copies are hand-painted by Lucy Jones. Tom Settle has played/plays in some of our very favourite bands: Serfs, Former Bullies, Dinner Party, Beach Fuzz and every last drop of his  musical sensitivity and sensibilities is captured on this tape. We seriously cannot recommend this enough.

NISENNENMONDAI

PLAY SOUP KITCHEN ON MONDAY 25th OCTOBER 2010.
LUCY JONES MADE THE AMAZING POSTER ABOVE.

TICKETS HERE

CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO OF THEM PLAYING IN JAPAN AT THE END OF 2009

LUCY JONES has made GRASS WIDOW / TRASH KIT posters

in a variety of colours. Check out the new Grass Widow video: 

Buy tickets HERE

GOOD GRIEF!

is the name of the best shop in Manchester and it's C.E.O has just curated the first good grief! group art show. Your first chance to see it comes on Wednesday 16th June at the opening party at which we will be playing records with some of our friends. In the show are some of our favourite art/book/print makers and illustrators on planet earth and we are so glad to be in the same city as them.
The work of
DAVID BAILEY , LUCY JONES , JESS HIGGINS , JOHN BUTCHER , DYLAN HUGHES , REBECCA BROMPTON & FAYE JOHNSON
will all be on display at THE ART CORNER until the 24th JUNE.

EXCITED!

Adios 'GREETINGS', Hello 'SEASONED

Okaaaaay so 'GREETINGS' the 13-song debut long-playing cassette by FORMER BULLIES is now completely sold out! Fear not though as the excellent SUFFERING JUKEBOX have cherry-picked 3 of its ill-est jams for their second 7" (hot on the heels of one by MAZES). AND but furthermore FORMER BULLIES are back with the perfectly-titled 'SEASONED' comprising the 10 best songs written* and recorded in an Edgeley cellar probably ever*. I don't imagine this one will hang around for long either so you'd better order it here. The cover is again  beautifully  screen-printed by Lucy Jones. 

Also before summer's out there Former Bullies will have another slab of vinyl out in the form of a split 7" 45 rpm with WAITERS. And on top of full time jobs and being in other gnarly bands. Who said slackers? 

*1- We cannot fully guarantee that they were written in the cellar.

*2- If there're better we wanna here them.

AMAZING POSTERS FOR AMAZING THINGS

COMING VERY SOON

'YOU HAVE REACHED... OUTER SPACE' by Neil Burrell. A Re-issue of a 9 song set recorded in Cambridge and Hove over the last couple of years. Occupying the same kind of (outer) space as the classic Jakob Olausson lp 'moonlight farm' but even more damaged. This is the wooziest, trip we've been on in a long time. Listening to it is like being in the Casa Batllo at night on some vintage C.1960's acid. The cover art is by David Bailey who, along with Lucy Jones , is prepping their first exhibition for a long time at Islington Mill in Salford. The exhibition opens Friday 30th April with a party at which we will be playing records. It runs through Sounds From The Other City.

The following Friday 7th May sees another exhibition opening in the same space of the Higgins family zine collection entitled 'STOMACH PUMP' as part of the launch of the excellent SALFORD ZINE LIBRARY

which will, for one day only, be installed in the Angel Centre in Salford between the two floors we're curating for Sounds From The Other City on May 2nd. Our line-up is 100% complete and totally gnarly. Upstairs we have a screening room which as well as hosting an exclusive show-reel of animations from CARTUNE XPREZ  will also feature performances from MARIA & the GAY, GIRL MOUNTAIN and NO WOMB.

Downstairs TALK NORMAL, PHEROMOANS, WAY THROUGH, HOTPANTS ROMANCE, DINNER PARTY, SEX HANDS , WAITERS & LEVERET all play live. If you don't have tickets yet we strongly recommend you get them soon because if you email or call us on the day we will not be able to help you out no matter how much we love you. Get them HERE.

Also May 7th WAITERS and DINNER PARTY will be playing at the DEAF INSTITUTE with these guys:

So the Box Elders tour is in full swing,

 if you've not managed to see them yet you may still have a chance and, of course, we URGE you to take it. If you live in Manchester and you couldn't make it for the Box Elders, Former Bullies and Mazes throwdown we've given you another chance to catch them at our last show of 2009 at the DEAF INSTITUTE. 

ARIEL PINK's HAUNTED GRAFFITI are also playing, as are RENT BOYS and EGYPTIAN HIPHOP. It's going to be quite a night- get there early! still tickets available HERE 

And so a chance to repost the B.P.E* from Lucy Jones *

Here are some of the posters for the Box Elders tour:

The one for Leeds  (above) was made by Dave Bailey, one of our good friends (and heroes) who has just opened the best shop in Manchester (It's on the 3rd Floor of Afflecks Palace). An expertly, lovingly and enthusiastically curated glass-cave full of Zines, Artist Books, Comics, Screen-Prints, Tapes and records from around the world. Did he just save Christmas? Is it open 7 days a week? Is it long overdue and necessary?  Yes and Yes and YES- we are so proud to have our tapes and zines in there.

A list of whose wares they stock and some photographs can be found HERE

*Best Poster Ever and available at GOOD GRIEF 

Lucy Jones just made the best poster ever

for the return of Ariel Pink's HAUNTED GRAFFITI. That's It. 

NEW ZINES, NEW POSTERS

On the left of this photograph is a new one-page zine about songwriting by Nick Ainsworth, it is hilarious. On the right is a new 12-page zine from Dave Bailey which is even funnier than 'come dine with me', not as depressing and infinitely deeper. It's all punch-line so even if you have absolutely nothing by way of attention span and only the most basic understanding of the english language it will still make you laugh. guaranteed. Don't know where you an buy these from yet but it's a safe bet there'll be copies of each circulating at the following events:

TUNE-YARDS at Trof NQ on Tuesday 15th September 2005.

This is the only TUNE-YARDS headline show outside of London in the middle of tours with Dirty Projectors and Max Tundra. This is her first trip to the UK since her appearance at the Breeders-curated All Tomorrows Parties and since 4AD re-released her amazing 'BIRD-BRAINS' lp, about which rough trade said "[it] comes across like a self-contained Sublime Frequencies compilation. Jumping between blues, african chants, reggae-esque sprawls and lo-fi folk...infused with worldly sonic buzz of M.I.A and the spirit of post-punk pioneers the Raincoats". Seriously, this will be amazing and the last chance you'll have to see her in such an intimate space. Tickets strongly advised.

TEEN SHEIKHS, Former Bullies and Waiters at ISLINGTON MILL Friday 18th December Islington Mill. This poster was made by Jess Higgins, number one independent woman who is also about to drop the mother of all zines 'MUSEUMS' which as mentioned will contain a free compilation tape which we've been working really hard to ensure will be worthy of accompanying such a beautiful publication. 

Vice called TEEN SHEIKHS  " The Raddest dudes around right now" and likened them to  "Shop Assistants covered by Times New Viking" which is both funny and kind of true.

The photograph of this poster for the show of the century can hardly do it justice. It ought be light-box-mounted and hung in a museum. You should really hit the streets and try to see one in real life. Printed on two sides of tracing paper from collage and hand-made letter stamps it might be our favourite poster ever. Thanks Lucy.

 And what a show it will be: SIC ALPS seem to finally be getting their dues after releasing about a million records on all the coolest record labels (awesome vistas, siltbreeze, slumberland etc etc) they've just had a compilation on Drag City and are currently on tour  with Sonic Youth. Click HERE to find out more and buy a ticket (you will need one). Ty Segall will be performing for one of the first times ever on this continent. WOW! 

NEW MIX DROPPING SOON! check ya later

A NEW POSTER and an amazing deal

Lucy Jones made this poster* for BEAT UNHAPPENING which returns, in earnest, in September.'Twill be heaps better than before, no let-downs, original event-specific artist projections, zine and record distros, live performances and Beat Unhappening DJ's. Round one takes place September 15th and, so far, is set to feature an exclusive (outside of London) performance from Tune-Yards of Portland, Oregon whose beautiful record 'bird-brains', which first dropped on marriage is about to get a more full-on worldwide type release courtesy of 4AD and a set from Irma Vep. Oh yeah and for one week from today you can book your place for just £1 (ONE  GBP). This is because WE really want YOU to come. 

Just paypal £1 to comfortableonatightrope@yahoo.co.uk before saturday 7th august with your name and that's it. From 7th- 14th it will be £2. From 14th- 21st £3 etc. etc.

PPPPPEEEEEEAAAAACCCCCEEEEE

*The lettering is pressed from hand-made stamps! 

NEW POSTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Rebecca Manley has made a poster for June 1st's Beat Unhappening at which Cryptacize'll play. This is it. Check out her blog HERE

Cryptacize also have a blog with some free downloadable mixes

They also have a new record entitled 'Mythomania' on Asthmatic Kitty and a monster of a tour skedge which includes shows with  Ariel Pink's HAUNTED GRAFFITTI, Jamie 'Xiu Xiu' Stewart, Mirah, Casiotone etc & No Kids. We are excited to have them here. 

Lucy Jones has made some beautiful posters for June 8th's BEAT UNHAPPENING with Diane Cluck, Mary Hampton and Serfs using the collagraph method. WOW! This is a photograph of one of them.

 

This is the poster Now Wave made for their Deerhoof show which, thanks to their hard work and kind understanding now houses our Finally Punk beat unhappening. YEAH! They are hosting a sweet show tomorrow night with Black Lips and comfortable on a tightrope alumni MIKA MIKO. YEAH!

LuCY JONES has made a poster for the opening night of 'BEAT UNHAPPENING'

Our new monthly night at the Deaf Institute. This means we play records and invite people to do things once a month on the last Thursday of the month. This is a really bad scan of a really nice poster. Sorry Lucy.

THE REALEST is now on sale

at two actual shops. Oklahoma (74-76 High Street, Manchester) and FROM SPACE (142 Chapel Street, Salford). While each of these places is worth visiting and spending money in- you still get the best deal by paypal-ing us. Each issue is £5 postage paid in the uk. Currently available: THE REALEST VOLUME II ISSUE I BLACK MOUNTAIN COLLEGE by LUCY JONES (from us, from From Space and Oklahoma), VOLUME II ISSUE II ISLINGTON MILL ART ACADEMY(from FROM SPACE or from us) and VOLUME I ISSUE I OR 15 MINUTES available from us on demand.

To order any of these paypal £5 to comfortableonatightrope@yahoo.co.uk (say which one you want).

If you click on the labels 'Lucy Jones' or THE REALEST' below you can find out more about that particular issue.
The Islington Mill Art Academy issue is the one we (Lucy, Laetitia, Perry & Julia) made in a week in Glasgow as an experimental documentary of the IMAA residency at the Transmission Gallery.

THE REALEST Volume I Issue I features essays, fiction, art and poetry all restricted to one A4 page and 15 minutes in which to fill it. Contributors included James Mansfield, Melanie Laurent, Jeffrey Lewis, James Arnold, Lucy Jones, David Bailey, Nick Ainsworth, Leah Bell, William Hesketh, J. Collin, DIane Cluck, Neil Burrell, Elizabeth Hysen and Lewis Green.

THE REALEST Volume II Issues III, IV and V are in varying stages of completion. Neil Robbins 4 x 4 is just waiting to be printed. This will be launched with a 'Book Launch Party' some time very soon.

YES! This is really happening.

To be alive and to see this happen makes us humble and proud and filled with HOPE.


We scoured the internet for about two hours looking for the perfect photo and then Lucy Jones showed up with this good old fashioned screen grab.

Tomorrow, we will work hard and with new resolve on THE REALEST volume II issue II with the Islington Mill Art Academy and John Powles from The Centre for Political Song at the Transmission Gallery in Glasgow. In the evening there is a concert featuring some very special people, including Jockey Venkataraman, performing their own takes on 'political song'. It is free to attend as are all the 'MOOT POINTS' events.

LOOK HERE SUNDAY 5th October 2008

"Great design is simple...to be simple today is a social obligation"

is something said by Anni Albers at Black Mountain College c.1941.



Here are some photographs of the assembled (and assemblage therein) of the first forty (of one hundred) copies THE REALEST vol II issue I. It is officially launched with an exhibition at our second annual HEAR HERE festival, but you can order one now if you can't wait. Just Paypal comfortableonatightrope@yahoo.co.uk for £5 (post paid anywhere in UK; ask if further afield).
The magazine comes in the style of a 1960's French government-issue folio- with a wrap-around cover (all cut and folded by hand on thursday 18th and Friday 19th September) concealing and containing 13 portraits of Black Mountain College faculty members and alumni. In our humble opinion, 'tis a beautiful thing.