A great YouTube discovery via Dangerous Minds, here’s a 1982 performance on German TV’s Rockpalast by XTC, a band that almost never plays live. It’s a shame that Andy Partridge hated touring so much — he’s really a good performer (and never got enough credit for his guitar playing).

This is a full concert, and the video quality is remarkably good considering how old it is. I took the liberty of setting the start time at one of my favorite songs:

“No Thugs In Our House”

The insect-headed worker-wife will hang her waspies on the line;

Her husband burns his paper, sucks his pipe while studying their
cushion-floor;
His viscous poly-paste breath comes out,
Their wall-paper world shattered by his shout,
A boy in blue is busy banging out a headache on the kitchen
door.

And all the while Graham slept on,
Dreaming of a world where he could do just what he wanted to.

No thugs in our house, are there dear?
We made that clear,
We made little Graham promise us he’d be a good boy.

No thugs in our house, are there dear?
We made that clear,
We made little Graham promise us he’d be a good boy.

The young policeman who just can’t grow a moustache will open up
his book,
And spoil their breakfast with reports of Asians who have been
so badly kicked,
Is this your son’s wallet I’ve got here?
He must have dropped it after too much beer.
Oh, officer, we can’t believe our little angel is the one you’ve
picked.

And all the while Graham slept on,
Dreaming of a world where he could do just what he wanted to.

No thugs in our house, are there dear?
We made that clear,
We made little Graham promise us he’d be a good boy.

No thugs in our house, are there dear?
We made that clear,
We made little Graham promise us he’d be a good boy.

They never read those pamphlets in his bottom drawer,
They never read those tattoos on his arm.
They thought that it was just a boy’s club badge he wore,
They never dreamt he’d cause folks any harm.

The insect-headed worker wife will hang her waspies on the line;

She’s singing something stale and simple now this business has
fizzled right out;
Her little tune is such a happy song
Her son is innocent,
He can’t do wrong,
‘Cos dad’s a judge and knows exactly what the job of judging’s
all about.

And all the while Graham slept on,
Dreaming of a world where he could do just what he wanted to.

No thugs in our house, are there dear?
We made that clear,
We made little Graham promise us he’d be a good boy.

No thugs in our house, are there dear?
We made that clear,
We made little Graham promise us he’d be a good boy.

Damn

I ordered something
it took a while
This morning something
was on my doorstep
What’s this I’m holding?
Time capsule order
cause I’m a brand new man
And I don’t think I want it, I don’t think I want it
A row of flags
Hanging behind me
A garden of mics and questions
And photo flashes blind me
And I’m so high I can’t recall my statements
I only know I made ‘em
Because my face vibrated

Is it all in my mind?
I could have sworn I saw it
I thought I was fine
So fine is what I called it

Oh-oh if you’re feeling small, and you can’t draw a crowd
Draw dicks on a wall
Oh-oh if you’re feeling small, and you can’t draw a crowd
Draw dicks on a wall

I was gruntled when It was just feet on gravel
To have come apart
I must have once been raveled
Now when pretty phrases
Don’t mean nothin
And I want to sell em
I sing the line again

So smooth you can hear the beard
So smooth you can hear the beard
(hear the beard)
Three times it’s poetry
So smooth you can hear the beard

Oh-oh if you’re feeling small, and you can’t draw a crowd
Draw dicks on a wall
Oh-oh if you’re feeling small, and you can’t draw a crowd
Draw dicks on a wall
If you can’t draw a crowd
Draw dicks on a wall

And if you can’t draw a crowd, settle for what you can draw

I’m just sayin’
I-I-I-I’m just sayin’
What a saying: that I’m just sayin’
But many wait, to what I’m saying
Always come back again, I can’t ignore it
I’m a brand new man, but I’m still payin’ for it

Oh-oh if you’re feeling small, and you can’t draw a crowd
Draw dicks on a wall
Oh-oh if you’re feeling small, and you can’t draw a crowd
Draw dicks on a wall
If you can’t draw a crowd, draw dicks on a wall
If you can’t draw a crowd, draw dicks on a wall

And if you can’t draw a crowd, settle for what you can draw

I only wanted to be Stevie Wonder
But I got to settle for this vanilla thunder
(If you can’t draw a crowd)
Oh-this vanilla thunder
(If you can’t draw a crowd)
Oh-this vanilla thunder
(If you can’t draw a crowd)
Taste my vanilla thunder
If you’re feeling small

CD & Guitar Tabs available at candyrat.com

Visit Gareth Pearson at garethpearson.com

Guitar - Gareth Pearson
Drums - Luke Marc Hughes
Sound Engineer - Liam Ross
Mixed & Mastered - Gethin Pearson

The first video from David Byrne & St. Vincent’s collaborative album “Love This Giant”.

Video credits:
Director : Martin de Thurah
Producer : Epoch Films
Executive Producer : Mindy Goldberg
Line Producer : Brielle Murray
Director of Photography : Natasha Braier
Post Production : BaconX
Editor: Jacob Schulsinger
Colorist : Sofie Friis Borup

I can’t believe I’m just finding out about St. Vincent.

From the album: Actor.

Official music video for the song “Joy” by Iron and Wine from the album Ghost on Ghost. The video was made by projecting hand-painted water color animations into stop-motion landscapes.

ironandwine.com

Behind the Scenes

NPR Write up
npr.org

Credits
Artist: Iron and Wine
Director/Animator: Hayley Morris
Fabricators: Hayley Morris, Denise Hauser and Randy Bretzin
Color Correction: Evan Kultangwatana
Model for watercolor animation: Louise Sheldon
Record Label: Nonesuch Records

CD - ‘What Just Happened?’ is the long awaited debut album from English guitarist Mike Dawes available at candyrat.com and most other digital music stores. Guitar Tabs also available at the Candyrat store.

Catch Mike Dawes on tour throughout the world in 2013. Check out the dates at mikedawes.com and facebook.com

Mike is teaching guitar, along with his music, over Skype. Contact him via Facebook or email for more information. Spaces limited!

‘In June 2012 I invited Helsinki-based guitarist Petteri Sariola to the UK for a short tour. I was totally blown away by his playing and this song sort of happened after I tried to emulate some of the techniques and ideas he was demonstrating at the shows. I’m really happy to present this as the first new video from my debut album ‘What Just Happened?’. I hope you enjoy it! - Mike’