Helen Of Troy... Makes A Stand

We’ve been busy bees of late, what with our new monthly residency at the Underachievers Wednesday Sessions, as well as talking about the possibility of taking HOTDCD further afield later on this year – we’ll let you know more when we do!

In addition to this, we're pleased to announce that we'll be involved in Reclaim The Night North this Saturday - taking to the streets to reclaim them from gender-based violence, and hosting a special Helen Of Troy... event at Club Academy.

All info for the march and for the club event is listed below, courtesy of The Riveters- The UMSU Women's Rights Group.

On Saturday the 21st of February we will take to the streets to reclaim them from gender-based violence.

Start at the University of Manchester Students' Union at 7.30pm and march to reclaim our spaces.

Rally and performers will follow in the Academy, speakers include: English Collective of Prostitutes, Women Asylum Seekers Together, NUS LGBT Campaign and Feminist Fightback.

Performers include: Aileen Quinn, Vanessa Fay - Friendly Feminist Poet, Steph Pike - Feminist Performance Poet, The Spokes - Female Bicycle Dance Troupe, and Helen of Troy will put on a club night to celebrate RECLAIMING.

The event is open to all genders.

Together we can reclaim our spaces and say no to Violence Against Women.

See you there!

What Helen Of Troy... Has Learnt This Week

1. We've really missed the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

While the last few years have been filled with myriad musical treats, few artists have come along who combine style and substance as effortlessly as Karen O and co. It was with great pleasure and excitement, then, that we learnt the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs album, It's Blitz!, is scheduled for release on April 13th, with the album's first single, Zero, available for download/purchase on April 6th. It's been three years since the trio released the magnificent Show Your Bones, so we're chomping at the bit to hear their latest long player. Woot.

2. A woman performing at The Grammys on her due date should be treated as more than just a glorified backing singer.

When Helen Of Troy... heard that M.I.A. was still going to perform at the Grammys, despite being ready to drop-sprog that very day, we fell even more in love with our favourite innovative agitator. Unfortunately, while we were hoping to see Ms Arulpragasam perform Paper Planes in all it's world-beating glory, what we actually got was M.I.A. performing for seconds before she was joined onstage by Kanye West, Jay-Z, T.I. and Lil Wayne. While Maya was her usual awesome self, and more than held her own amongst these hip-hop heavyweights, we couldn't help but feel a little short-changed. Have a little look at the video below and let us know what y'all think.

M.I.A. Grammy Performance

3. Some collaborations are just too weird.

Christina Aguilera's 2008 come-back Keeps Gettin' Better was vastly overshadowed by Britney's Womanizer, while her new look was criticized for being a bit too similar to Lady GaGa. It seems XTina is taking no chances with her next project, as she's enlisted the help of Goldfrapp, Sia Furler and Ladytron. Yep that's right, Ladytron! An inspired choice or a desperate grab at underground cool? Only time will tell.

4. That which we call a rose. By any other name would smell as sweet. Santogold has changed her name to Santigold. Fact.

Helen Of Troy... Please Try Harder

Well dear readers, the time has come for Helen Of Troy... to shapeshift yet again as we start our new residency at Underachievers Wednesday Sessions tomorrow night. We've got a cracking line-up for our inaugural event.

First up is the lovely Clare Helen, who combines intricate fretwork and honeyed vocals to tell tear-stained tales of 21st-century life.
www.myspace.com/clarehelen1

After a dose of beautiful acoustica, we'll jump to the other side of the musical spectrum with space-age pop trio Suki And The Science. This three-piece produce ethereal digi-pop guaranteed to get you dancing.
www.myspace.com/sukiandthescience

Before, between and after these live gems, the Helen Of Troy... DJs will be playing their usual selection of lovely lady music, with Grace Jones, Le Tigre, Brazilian Girls, thecocknbullkid and Carly Simon all scheduled for a spin.

We may have our first event ready to rock, but we're still on the look out for bands/musicians/filmmakers and artists to appear at future events. Drop us an email at clubhelenoftroy@googlemail.com if you have any ideas.

We're well excited about our Underachievers collaboration and hope y'all can make it down. The fun starts tomorrow (Weds 11th Feb) at 9pm and goes on til 1.30am, Saki Bar, Rusholme. It's free in, so there's no excuse.

Wednesdays are the new Fridays don't you know!

New Music: Spinnerette

Hole were, for us, the quintessential female-fronted punk-rock band (we’re aware this makes us a tad uncool in certain circles), and whilst the Distillers produced some exceptional material, they never quite reached the heady heights of Courtney and co.

Fast forward to 2009, and sadly neither bands are in existence. Ms Love, aka Cherry Kookoo, is busy blogging about paranormal happenings in her studio providing the perfect excuse for still not having released her sophomore solo album, Nobody’s Daughter. Whilst the more balanced Mrs Dalle has been busy nesting with husband and QOTSA frontman Josh Homme and their two-year-old daughter.

Thankfully it seems rusks and mobiles have lost their appeal - momentarily at least - and Brody has finally embarked upon a new musical endeavour. The band is called Spinnerette, and they’re rather fucking good! Recently released début EP, Ghetto Love, showcases a different direction for the princess of punk, featuring four funky electro-infused punk-rock songs all sated with attitude and ardour. This is gritty stuff, but with a dash of some much needed glitz!

www.myspace.com/spinnerettemusic

Music Round-Up 2nd to the 15th February

Friday 6th February – Florence And The Machine
There’s really nothing left to be said about the flipping fabulous Florence And The Machine, except that they’re playing two gigs this Friday and we urge you to catch at least one of them. The first gig comes under the guise of the Shockwaves NME Awards Tour, and features sets from Glasvegas, Friendly Fires and White Lies. The second gig is a recent development and takes place at Lost & Found over at The Ruby Lounge. We think the latter sounds infinitely more enjoyable!
www.myspace.com/florenceandthemachinemusic
Details: Academy 1, Oxford Road, Manchester
7pm, £15.59 adv
The Ruby Lounge, High Street, Central Manchester
Midnight, £5 adv

Saturday 7th February – Contort Yourself
This month’s Contort Yourself looks set to be hermazing. With live music courtesy of current hot-popper La Roux, and DJ sets from Rachel Burton (Radio 1), Emma Chibuku and Natalie Esquire, this all-out ladies’ affair is sure to impress.
www.myspace.com/larouxuk
Details: The Roadhouse, Newton Street, Central Manchester
11pm to 3am, £6

Tuesday 10th February – Asobi Seksu
Super stylish New York duo Asobi Seksu (Japanese for casual sex) are bringing their swirling shoegaze soundscapes to The Roadhouse this month, to promote their third studio album, Hush, scheduled for release on February 17th. The two-piece, helped out at live performances by a further two musicians, have been creating waves for a while now with their delightful dream pop.
www.myspace.com/asobiseksu
Details: The Roadhouse, Newton Street, Central Manchester
7.30pm, £7 adv

Madonna Extends Sticky And Sweet Tour!

*WARNING - To avoid disappoinment, check your credit card balance before reading further.**

It was announced a few days ago that Madonna would be taking her hugely successful Sticky And Sweet Tour back on the road this summer - maybe she needs a few extra pennies following her recent divorce to Guy! Who cares? We're going!

Now, Helen Of Troy... is the first to admit that Hard Candy is probably one of Madge's worst albums, but it's worth bearing in mind that this latest tour is the highest-grossing tour in history for a solo artist, and has received critical acclaim across the board.

An evening with her Madjesty costs however, and we'd guestimate that it'll cost around £160 to get a good look at those guns of hers. If you're not quite as sad as us, then tickets will cost in the region of £60 to £120 - we did warn you!

Here's the tour schedule as it currently stands...

04 July - London, United Kingdom - The 02 London - On sale Feb 06
07 July - Manchester, United Kingdom - MEN Arena - On sale Feb 06
11 July - Werchter, Belgium - Festivalpark - On sale Feb 07
14 July - Milan, Italy - San Siro - On sale Feb 06
21 July - Barcelona, Spain - Olympic Stadium
23 July - Madrid, Spain - Vicente Calderon
28 July - Hamburg, Germany - Trab-Arena Hamburg Bahrenfeld
30 July - Oslo, Norwary - Vallehovin - On sale Feb 09
04 Aug - Tallinn, Estonia - Tallinn Song Festival Ground
06 Aug - Helsinki, Finland - West Harbour - On sale Feb 09
09 Aug - Gothenburg, Sweden - Ullevi - On sale Feb 09
11 Aug - Copenhagen, Denmark - Parken - On sale Feb 09
13 Aug - Prague, Czech Republic - Chodov Natural Amphitheatre
15 Aug - Warsaw, Poland - Bemowo Airport
18 Aug - Munich, Germany - Olympic Stadium
20 Aug - Ljubljana, Slovenia - Hippodrome

In 2009, Madonna's 'Sticky & Sweet Tour' will also visit Marseille in addition to performances in Bulgaria, Hungary, Russia, Romania, and Serbia. Tickets will be available for purchase through Live Nation.

Helen Of Troy Asks For Help

As you may or may not know, Helen Of Troy Does Countertop Dancing is hosting Underachievers Please Try Harder's fabulous Wednesday Sessions, once a month at Saki Bar, starting on the 11th of February.

Alongside your usual dose of Helen's high-quality lady tunes, we want to feature a selection of local female talent; be it/she a band, solo artist, filmmaker, writer or other. The point of the night is to get as many like-minded people as possible in a room together and give them a chance to do what they do best, so we need your suggestions to make it work.

If you are, or know of, an awesome female artist who you think would be perfect for this all-inclusive night, please leave a comment, Facebook us, or email us at clubhelenoftroy@googlemail.com. We want the night to be as varied as possible, so don't let issues of genre or medium dissuade you from wading in. All comers are welcome - we can't wait to hear your suggestions.

Helen's Alternative Tips For 2009

We've all heard that the likes of La Roux, Little Boots and the fantastic Florence And The Machine are going to be big news over the next year. Helen Of Troy..., as you well know, likes to offer our lovely readers an appealing alternative. We're always on the lookout for new talent, and we think we might have found some exciting new acts for your aural pleasure.

First off, we have the fantabulous Janelle Monae, who has been described as a female version Prince. She's worked with the likes of Outkast, and proffers a fierce funky brand of 21st century R&B. To experience Janelle at her soulful, sci-fi best, we reccommend you check out the awesome Many Moons. www.myspace.com/janellemonae

Secondly, there's 21-year-old folk-pop experimentalist Micachu, who's currently recording her début album with Matthew Herbert. This madcap multi-instrumentalist creates weird and wonderful soundscapes that combine drum'n'bass, Estury English vocals and Hoover noises. Check out début single Golden Phone. www.myspace.com/micayomusic

Finally, and this one's been on our radar for a while now, we have London-based hip-popper thecocknbullkid (no spaces, no capital letters, no apostrophes!). This 23-year-old, Ghana-born songstress has been tipped for a while now and has worked closely with the uber-cool Metronomy boys. Six months ago, we'd have reccomended There's A Mother In Our Bed, but miss C&BK has improved immesurably with the excellent I'm Not Sorry.
www.myspace.com/thecocknbullkid

New M.I.A. And Santogold!

Get It Up! - M.I.A. and Santogold's first collaboration - blew us away last year, and we've been hoping ever since that another work was in the post. Fortunately, it was. The pair's second offering comes via N.A.S.A., which is a kind of ongoing creative project formed by Sam Spiegel and Ze Gonzales. The track is called Whachadoin and can be downloaded via the link below. Let us know your thoughts.

N.A.S.A - Whachadoin (featuring M.I.A. & Santogold)