IF YOU HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTION THEN YOU KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS

Can Manchester music move on from its past? - BBC

Manchester has produced some of Britain's best and most influential bands, and most of them are back this summer. As the oldies lumber back into action, are they threatening to cast a shadow over the next generation of rock 'n' roll stars?

On Saturday night, music fans in Manchester will party like it's 1989, when two of the biggest bands from the "Madchester" music scene, the Happy Mondays and Inspiral Carpets, play a comeback concert at the city's arena.

Next month, 225,000 people will watch the hotly anticipated return of The Stone Roses at three gigs in the city.

Over time we've come to realise what a false dichotomy it is. On one side you have the OLD FARTS OF MANCHESTER MUSIC. You know their names because you own their music. On the other side you have THE I-WISH-I-COULD-BE-AN-OLD-FART-OF-MANCHESTER-MUSIC. 'They're keeping us down', wails band desperate for radio play and slot on late night local radio. Quite literally bald men fighting over a figurative comb.

LEST WE FORGET

Over in Salford, the glittering media palace of C21, Sounds From The Other City is taking place. 100+ bands who could not give a cock about Peter Hook's ham hock head. You don't even have to travel very far to do some basic research any more. No one cares about being as big as The Stone Roses or The Happy Mondays because those people are clowns, they are ur-people, they are grotesque rock charade.

Manchester music moved on from its past when Graham Nash packed his suitcase, Ian Curtis died, Mark Day told Shaun Ryder to fuck off. Some people find their thing and listen to A Guy Called Gerald for a lifetime and watch endless talking head interviews of Clint Boon and that's cool. 99% of people don't.

For further reading on this subject: FUC 51

ALANS RECORDS REVIVAL

From the excellent Laura Barton in the Guardian

Alan's Records was a small shop with a tatty front that faced the new market building in Wigan. The records were upstairs, above the skate department. To reach it, you had to navigate the sweat and clutter of a dozen teenage boys ogling skateboards and trying on Vans. I was preposterously shy. I would hold my breath and keep my eyes on the floor as I walked through. Nor would I look at my fellow music-buyers, but I did eavesdrop on their conversations: tantalising mentions of Shellac, Hüsker Dü, DJ Shadow, Felt, Orange Juice, Super Furry Animals.

Later, when my boyfriend and his best friend worked there, I remember the feeling of homecoming that would rise in my chest as I climbed those stairs. This was where I bought Pixies records, Bis, Slint, Sonic Youth and Yo la Tengo. I remember resting against the counter listening to Elliott Smith, Tortoise, the For Carnation.

I never went to a youth club. I never hung out with the popular crowd. I was never invited to those raucous parties everyone gossiped about on Mondays at school. But in this small store I found a place to fit in, put down roots and grow.

My story is similar. Alans is where I first learned about Slint, Rachel's, Rodan, Appleseed Cast, Teenbeat Records, and many more. All I would dispute in this article is whether it is Alans or Alan's, and as evidence, I offer this:

Alans has since upscaled to a larger premises across town that focuses almost exclusively on BMX and skate apparatus and apparel. It's a thriving independent business, and I suppose one of the reasons it is thriving is that it chopped off the arms of the business that were potentially dragging it down: namely, records.

TV and its members have varying opinions on the death of the independent record store (and indeed its bigger conglomerate brother) and it is a debate for a whole other type of blog. Nil desperadum though: Alans is back! For about nine days only, but it is back!

On top of that there will be some musical performances. Tonight (4th May) there will be some live hip-hop from Krispy 3. Tomorrow (5th May) will see Dave McMahon blast some noise into the ears of terrified locals. Saturday 12th will see the Gunpowder Plot reformation continue apace. And on the 11th, we will be playing with Buzz Or Howl. All gigs are early evening affairs, 6pm until 8pm.

ALSO: they have records! The agglomerated contents of Static and Alans are together under one roof, so there's everything from Integrity 7"s to Hammond organ wig-outs. Also: old copies of Melody Maker, Sounds, and NME from the classic era.

The store dies on the 13th anew. 53 Mesnes St., Wigan. Say hello.

OUTDATED PRESS SNIPPETS

Some old press snippets after the jump

LP2 OVERDUB STAGE

Perhaps you can try a song using these chords, see how it comes out?

GENERAL OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE MAY 2012

TOTAL VICTORY
Problems? Solutions!
Cloudy future? Vision!
Red-tape holding you back? We have the blue-sky scissors!

BESPOKE MUSICAL SOLUTIONS FOR THE SMALL-TO-MID SIZE VENUE IN YOUR TOWN

TOTAL VICTORY to all music fans - and you!

photo by Darren Riley

What does a TOTAL VICTORY guarantee you?
- Punctuality!
- Clean CRB-check!
- Minimal fuss!
- Book five performances, get the sixth free!

CREDENTIALS? YOU GOT IT!
- Wonderful debut LP THE PYRAMID OF PRIVILEGE (2011) on Evening Economies Records
- 4.5 out of 5 from Manchester Music
- LP2 in 2012 entitled NATIONAL SERVICE
- Clean driving licences AND solvent!

WORLDLY JOY REPLACED BY BODILY AND MENTAL ABJECTION? US TOO! JOIN US IN HITS SUCH AS 'WHAT THE BODY WANTS THE BODY GETS'!

AS HEARD ON STEVE LAMACQ @ BBC RADIO 6 (ONCE!) AND FRENCH STATION KFUEL
ONCE TWEETED ABOUT BY A SEMI-FAMOUS JOURNALIST
"NOT MY THING" - THE QUIETUS (personal email)

Personal crisis? Public absolution!
Feel the need to witness a physical public spectacle? Call!
Quote "BOLTON 1974" for low cost deals on our concrete-screening business.
EMAIL: totalvictory@theeveningeconomies.com

GIGS SO FAR

FULL LIST OF GIGS AFTER THE JUMP

FIAT LUX (live in Bolton, 2012)

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This is a blog for the band TOTAL VICTORY. The photo in the header is by Darren Riley.