Outbreak at the Movies

30th April 2009

GUTTED!  I missed The Apprentice!!  The first time I’ve ever missed The Apprentice and look what happens…the best episode of all time!  Well, so I’m told.  I’m going to have to catch up and debiref on this but how annoying that as soon as I went online today it told me who got fired; destroys the element of surprise there, ah well… will still give it a watch!

DJ Talent reckon’s he can give Susan Boyle a run for her money…gosh how much do I love Britain’s Got Talent.  You get the good, the bad, and the awful!  If you haven’t been following it I suggest you get on it this weekend, Saturday 8.20pm ITV1, you are guaranteed hysterics!

We can’t talk about the news without mentioning the swine flu situation of course. If you do have any concerns about swine flu, or just want general information and guidance then you can call 0800 1513 513.  Furthermore, here’s the adver to show how we can all keep germs at bay to help prevent the spread of flu:

Following on from this we were thinking of the sheer volume of films and TV shows on this very subject.  Outbreak, I Am Legend, and near enough every series of 24 has Jack Bauer trying to save the world from an imminent pandemic!  What else can you think of?

Catch you tomorrow for more fun and games, have a great rest of day!!

E Plus Talks to Keri Hilson

Have you seen that gorgeous model-looking chick that’s got Usher sprung in the video for Love In This Club? Turns out, she’s a recording artist in her own right. Keri Hilson is about to be huge. And she’s one of those rare people who deserve to be.

For Keri, music was a childhood friend she kept throughout adulthood. “In school, I would get in trouble for singing all the time. I unknowingly hummed every chance I got. It got so bad my friend’s nicknamed me ‘Keri-okey’”. She wears that name proudly on her sleeve, and in credits for every major hit she writes.

Having written tracks such as Young Love for Chris Brown, Cut Off Time for Omarion, & PCD’s Wait A Minute, Keri Hilson is no new comer to the music industry.

“In A Perfect World…” represents a world where music is music and you can’t put it in a box. It’s a catalyst for Keri to defy categorization, “I want to be a point of reference” states Hilson. “Hip-hop has become pop; pop is hip-hop. Music is definitely changing. I want to be the crux of that. I want to be a reason, not a result.

Catch Keri Hilson in conversation with E Plus on Thursday 30th April between 1 & 4pm, only here on BANG Radio

LEAP needs YOU

29th Apr

Is the media trying to scare us with swine flu?  Are you worried about it?  Let us know, studio@bangradio.fm.

Today marks the 100th Day of Barack Obama’s presidency.  The media and political analysts have been all over him, deciphering his every decision and assessing how well he has served and what he has achieved thus far.  The first 100 have been the most critical and harshly judged, but I suppose that history will prove the best judge of things.

MSN took an online poll to see who the public thought was the funniest male television character in history.  The poll included the likes of Del Boy, The Fresh Prince and Homer Simpson.  Have a listen to the ideas we threw around, but we have to ask the question, why is this poll only about men???!  Hmm…..!  And I wanna know, where was Carlton Banks from Fresh Prince in the poll?!  He was hilarious, those dance moves to Tom Jones always cracked me up.  I think we should do our BANG Radio poll!

LEAP needs you help.  LEAP is an organisation that has been running for 16 years, helping thousands of unemployed and disadvantaged people get into the world of work.  The organisation has run out of funding, and we implore YOU to sign their petition to be presented to Mayor Boris Johnson to get the funding LEAP needs to continue its work through this very difficult economic climate.  Sign the petition at www.leap.org.uk

We got our news reporter Sophia Eribo on the phone to talk about the new Real Talk show she’ll be hosting with Alex Wellman and Lorraine King.  Their show will be on Thursdays from 12pm - 1pm, so make sure you listen in and get involved in the debate.  Real life, real talk.

Till tomorrow!

Real Talk with Lee Jasper

On Monday 27^th April BANG Radio 103.6 FM broadcasted the first of our new weekly talk show; Real Talk .

Hosted by one of the most controversial black men in  London politics, Lee Jasper will be discussing real life issues about young people, with young people.

He will also be joined on a weekly basis by very special guests and experts, and together, they will be challenging the current perceptions, ideas and behaviour of young people, as well as those of organisations and institutions directly working with and affecting YOUR generation.

Lee will be addressing dilemmas you face on a daily basis; both serious and light-hearted. Whether it be personal, relationship based, as well as bigger, community effecting issues.

As you probably heard on the first show, Lee will be exploring these dilemmas with a very honest approach, and will not be afraid to discuss facts and talk about issues as they are!

Already, after only hosting one show, response has been phenomenal, and we are glad to hear that you enjoy this new addition to our daytime schedule.  Thanks to all those that phoned in yesterday, and made the first Real Talk, so interesting to listen to… keeping it REAL!

Real Talk is an honest, dynamic and hard-hitting talk show, produced specifically for and delivered to young people aged 16 - 24.

We would like to hear from you, if you have a dilemma, would like advice, or you have advice to give, contact Lee Jasper by email at leejasper@bangradio.fm or call the studio every Monday and Wednesday 12 - 1pm on 020 8963 9566

Bull in a China Shop!

Monday 27th April 2009

Well… a supermarket really.  Check out this CCTV footage of a bull roaming the Cummins’ SuperValu market in Ballinrobe, Ireland over the weekend!

Considering it was a bull in the store it didn’t actually cause that much damage!  I thought this was a freak incident until Tee spoke of this hungry bear’s visit to a sandwich shop.

Insane!

Anyways, did you catch Britain’s Got Talent over the weekend?  I really have to ask, what did you think of DJ Talent?!  The judges put him through, and I know a few people that think he should have gone through, but what do YOU think?! You can watch DJ Talent on Britain’s Got Talent again just to reacquaint yourself

Today isn’t going to be a particular nice day… heavy rain and temp of just 11 degrees.  Boo hiss…  nontheless, come rain or shine, Tee will be here tomorrow to bring you the latest in enetertainment and mainstream news, as well as the best in UK music… unfortunately I can’t be with him tomorrow so do keep him company!

High Contrast ‘Confidential’

High Contrast ‘Confidential’ album launch party, East Village, 16^th April

Amongst all the partying, celebrating BANG Radio’s 2^nd birthday last Thursday, I still found time to bop down to East London and go to High Contrast’s ‘Confidential’ album launch party…all in the name of D&B and I’m always up for a mid-week raving sesh!

As reported on this week’s show ‘Reinforced’ with DJ Virus (each and every Wednesday night 12am - 2am), the night was very, very cool!

I got down to East Village just after 10, ready for a raving report, with my eyes open, taking in the Shoreditch massive and my ears on the beats - I promised I’d give you the details! Syncopix had just got on the decks and was warming up a crowd that kept coming, filling up the small basement venue.  Also signed to Hospital, he kept teasing the crowd with High Contrast tunes, and although everyone was loving his set, every time a tribute to Mr. Contrast was dropped, levels of excitement blatantly rose.

This was until an hour or so later, when a man dressed very dapper in a white tailored suit and trademark big hair sneaked through the crowd and into the DJ box - High Contrast had entered the building and that’s when the party really began!   Knowing I was there for ‘work’, I made sure I was at the front, ready to make note and get a proper view of the man in action.

High Contrast got involved straight away, dropping flavours off his upcoming ‘greatest hits’ album ‘Confidential’, which comprises of one mix CD of twelve of his biggest and favourite tracks  and a second mix cd of the best remixes he has produced; from The Streets ‘Too Late’ to one of his biggest remixes to date, Adele’s ‘Hometown Glory’.   He played tune after tune from his 7 year long career at Hospital and the 300 strong High Contrast fans didn’t hold back in terms of appreciation and support.  At moments such as when ‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’ and ‘Basement Track’ were dropped, everyone roared with approval.

I’ll be honest, it wasn’t a mad, crazy jump-up, dirty session, as that’s not what High Contrast is about.  The crowd was very mixed, from kids that had managed to sneak in (it was still Easter Holidays) to folks that had come straight after work, but they all shared the same appreciation for the genius Drum & Bass producer, representing the respect High Contrast deserves.

Mc Wrec, was by his side, and his professionalism and appreciation also shone, as he perfectly hosted the night, complimenting the DJ in the mix.  Wrec held back from covering the tunes with bars, but allowing the melodic samples followed by heavy drops which High Contrast is loved for, to have full effect.  Two big tunes which are perfect examples of this High contrast flavour ‘If We Ever’ and his latest release ‘7 Notes In Black’ were both pulled up…if you haven’t heard ‘7 Notes In Black’ yet (it was released 13^th April), you need to check it - although Virus did play it on last week’s Reinforced show in full and uninterrupted, so you could proper appreciate the quality!  It’s another example of just how heavy a producer High Contrast is - his creativity in music production is next level, something to be appreciated beyond the musical realm of Drum & Bass but pure skills in music FULL STOP!

Back to the launch party…I was having so much fun, jumping around and ’singing along’ showing my geeky-side of knowing High Contrast’s back catalogue inside out.  But oh my gosh, it was HOT! The air con was obviously not on and I started to feel the heat.  Turning behind me to see how the crowd were doing - people were drenched with sweat, and the fact that it was RAMMO with sweaty  people in sweaty garms was not a good look! But what was even worse, when I turned back, who had come to say hello - an obviously freshly-entered-in-the-room Bailey!

Keeping it cool, and trying not to show I was bothered about being caught in not my most attractive moment, we had a little natter, but excused myself as High Contrast’s set was drawing to a close, to sort the ‘look’ out.  This is where the ‘pirate’ outfit transformation took place.

Yes, a few listeners phoned into the show to say they’d caught sight of my unusual raving attire - but what was a girl to do?? It wasn’t the kind of rave suitable to drop bikini-wear, but I was hot! Actually, I think the whole ‘wrapping your dress round your head’ is actually a very good look, don’t you agree?

When I came out after my ‘Pirate-girl’ transformation, it was back to the front of the rave, by the decks.  At this point, High Contrast was about to drop the last tune and OH MY!!!!  It was his Jungle twist on La Roux’s ‘In For The Kill’.

One of his freshest tunes, I had only heard it on Youtube a few days before, and the crowd went nuts.  It’s sicker than Scream’s Dubstep version… have a listen and blare this tune out!

With that, High Contrast stepped back and Brookes Brothers jumped on the decks.  The boys signed to Breakbeat Kaos, threw themselves straight in - I’ve never seen them DJ live, but have they got serious head-banging moves!  I must admit, the first five minutes of their set made me giggle a lot, as their enthusiasm and involvement was brilliant!  This definitely hyped the crowd even more, and that’s when the rave got a bit dirtier, the Shoreditch crew let their hair down a little; more arms started moving through the air a lot faster (which sort of made up for the missing air con) and even a few of the guy’s tops came off!

I’ve heard quite a few of Brookes Brothers sets/mixes and love what they’ve delivered over the past, but live, they were great!  Of course they dropped ‘Tear You Down’, one of my favourite tunes of 2008 and still played consistently on my i-pod.  They also broke it down after about 45minutes of mixing and gave a Dubstep 10 minute set - it worked really well!

But at this point, it was drawing to 2am, and it was time for Pirate Girl to leave the building (I had work the morning after!) The crowd was thinning out, but those remaining ravers were still representing hard!  As I was walking out, the Hospital crew were gathered at the back and I bumped into High Contrast…that’s where he had been hiding!  Not being able to just walk by and miss an opportunity to talk to one of my favourite producers, I told him it was a great night and thought he was amazing.  What was his response?  Well he was gracious, but to be honest he also looked like he was going to cry!  I don’t know if it was the pirate attire or that it was a case of ‘it’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to!’ -that was my cue to walk off!  But all the same, it was a very cool night, after all, it’s all about the music isn’t it? And Mr. High Contrast delivers every time!

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