Here are De La Soul performing one of their biggest hits ‘Me Myself and I’ back in 1989.

Watch the video for the latest single Ain’t Going to Nike Town here:

The very talented Son of Dave recently apeared on Later with Jools Holland and is on tour all over the UK now. To get a reduced rate ticket of just £6 add yourself to the guestlist here

See you there!

In this time of economic crisis it seems fitting that The Beat are touring again. Their songs were the soundtrack to the recession of the early 80’s and haven’t lost their appeal. Their diverse mix of fans were not disappointed as the band belted out hits like ‘Mirror in the Bathroom’, ‘Hands off…She’s Mine’ and ‘Nice To Talk to’. They even managed to bring things right up to-date with Ranking Jr’s rhymes and a new energy that was infectious. If you missed the gig on Friday The Beat are playing around the UK between March and July.

Mama Matrix at The O2 Academy, Sheffield

Smileymic ‘Intro Galactic’ from CID Music 1 on Vimeo.]

Mama Matrix ‘Pulp Klezma’ from CiD Music on Vimeo.

Mama Matrix ‘Panic Attack’ from CiD Music on Vimeo.

Mama Matrix ‘Apache Maypole’ from CiD Music on Vimeo.

Mama Matrix are looking forward to a whole host of gigs in Spring and Summer 2009.

Who are Mama Matrix? Mama Matrix are a five piece psychedelic gypsy punk band. In their own words, “Guitarist and front man Daz Dolczech bellows out poetry with dark, melodic intent- fierce as a preacher, irreverent as a storm. Dark Mavis’ tuba lub dubs at the core of the music- a massive, tarnished heart pumping out a soil filled rumble, channelled from the very belly of the Earth .

At times it seems Mike Hurley’s drums and the violectra cradled by the lovely Anka J have minds of their own. Anka hurtles through feverish scales like wind whipping through the Dinaric Alps, and all the while- sinister and pervasive- Guantanamo Bay Ray, whose face you will never know, plucks life from his electric guitar strings- an Irishman of the Apocalypse who has seen the dark side of the world, and cries out for you to share in it.

At first, as this impossibly harmonious muddle of sounds begins to issue forth from Mama Matrix, you may be transfixed, rooted to your spot. You may feel the urge to flee, but if you listen to your body, you’ll see it won’t let you. Hasn’t your heart synchronised with that rumbling lub dub? Haven’t your limbs began to spasm and jerk in time with the thunder of the drums? Aren’t you moved by Dolczech’s powerful voice, and haven’t you begun to jig about the dancefloor?

Go with it, dance with Mama Matrix- this musical devil who’s wormed its way into your muscles and bones. Embrace it, enjoy it, make love to it if you will- and as you whirr around the room on tip toe and heel, and the sweating, ecstatic faces of your fellow revellers blur into the night, know that you are privileged, for this is an experience you will never forget.

To experience Mama Matrix is to stare into the mouth of a devastatingly beautiful, dangerous chasm, and those who survive cannot help but be drawn back for more.”

Mama Matrix in The Sunday Times Food and Drink Section!!!!
We haven’t included any reviews as you can watch them for yourselves above although we were tickled by one review they received when they played Michaelmas Fair in Shropshire which appeared in The Sunday Times Food and Drink section (of all places!) Read it here.

The people at Gigbeth liked it so much, he won! Smileymic got to meet the US Hip Hop stars, watch them soundcheck and even have a cuppa. Read what Smileymic thought about it here.

Smileymic meets the Sugarhill Gang

For those of you who weren’t around to hear them when they first kicked off, here’s what they sounded like back in 1979:

Friday evening we partnered with Mr Elephant Presents for a top night at The Rainbow as part of the Gigbeth Fringe - our idea. Laura Louise guested, Mama Matrix played a blinding set and Smileymic played a fine first Birmingham gig for him.
The evening finished to much dancing inspired by Marc Reck on the decks. Nicky Getgood blogged about it here.

We filmed the whole thing in glorious HD so films up soon once the editing chaps have done their stuff.

Thanks to all who came by and made it such a top night.

Mama Matrix