A simple question, a difficult answer...

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

Your favourite British band making music today...who are they?

Let's not include bands who no longer function (sorry New Order lovers), solo artists, duos (but trios and above are OK) or boybands/girlbands who 'only' sing and dance. I'm being deliberately rockist in this respect as I'm curious as to how much people here go for the traditional band dynamic. I can think of only about 5 or 6 active acts from the UK I like and listen to and I'm not sure I really love any of them. I still think it matters!

My answer: Hot Chip. I don't think they're very good live (altho some do) but I like their ideas generally and I suppose I can relate to them as people pretty well which is often a plus for reasons that should be obvious ('that could be me without massive lifestyle change' etc.). Something is definitely missing from their 'sound' that would make it truly awesome but 'My Piano' is ace.

Comments

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

Johnny Panic, for fairly similar reasons as you like Hot Chip; I don't often think 'oh man, I could totally be in that band' but with Johnny Panic I not only feel I *could* be one of them but have a sincere desire to be so. Unfortunately the last time they switched bassists I was washing my hair or something.

They are absolutely lovely in person, too althought the time I met two of them, just before I went to university, all I did was squeak a bit because I am veh veh lame like that.

I know everyone else thinks they're a bit sad and they are quite geeky but they are simultaneously an immense comfort and catalyst for me. That and they sound a bit like Manic Jimmy Eating Busteds which if I am honest is all I really want in a band.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I have never heard of Johnny Panic (no reason why I would have I guess) - idiot's guide?

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

http://www.myspace.com/johnnypanic I think and they have an immensely endearing sort of photoblog here: http://johnnypanicdiary.blogspot.com/

They're a (pop)punk band of a sort of teenage vitriolic variety and terribly politically earnest. I heart them lots. I also quite fancy the singer but this is mostly because he obviously has his heart in the right place, judging from the lyrics.

One of them (the singer, in fact) used to live with Matt Willis, who took him in when he got kicked out of his flat. This is the leading reason I refuse to believe Matt is anything other than a Jolly Decent Fellow.

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

i must admit i thought they were in someway related to early 90s non-hit wonders "Johnny Panic and the Bible of Dreams".

i have only just realised it is a PLATH ref...

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Weren't JP and the B of D meant to be Tears For Fears in disguise?

Whatever happened to "secret" side projects?

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

um, dunno, i think there may have been a chelt band with the same name, there certainly seems to be a TfF track called JP&tBoD...

[piratemoggy.livejournal.com]

I've spent the last however long until now thinking JP & BoD were an obscure Smiths concept album. :/ It worries me how little I actually know about anything.

To be fair, I can persuade myself that most bands are Smiths concept albums if I try hard enough.