Sound of the (Chemikal) Underground

Here is the latest mailout from Chemikal Underground. I've taken the liberty to correct the spelling mistakes ("Sterling", indeed!) and taken out any superfluous information.

"It's Friday evening, we're all freezing and wishing we were in the pub (...aren't we?) so let's make this snappy.

Play 'How To Get To Heaven From Scotland' and win the MP3 of 'Big Blonde'...!

Yes, our website gurus at Small Oranges have done it again, transforming Aidan's concept into a (certainly all singing if a little light on the dancing) online board game. With a voice over from Aidan himself you can navigate the board avoiding the attendant pratfalls in a quest for celestial redemption.

Those departing the game with a fevered longing to own Aidan's new album (i.e. all of you) need not haul their ass down to their local record shop but simply click on one of the game's shop links (paying particular attention to the one that says shop.chemikal.co.uk). We'll be advising you of any live dates as and when we have them but in the mean time, here are some early reviews for the record...

The Phantom Band Live! Free Gig Ticket Draw! Oh, the excitement...

For those of you who missed the last mail out or may be reading their first missive as a newbie then run your eyes over the following live dates, taking care to get advance tickets wherever possible as these shows may get busy very quickly. Pay particular attention to the added date at Hull's Adelphi on Tuesday 17th and we should stress that anyone intending to saunter along to King Tut's on 26th to buy a ticket on the night should think again as this one's well on the way to being a sell-out...

Mon 16th Feb Newcastle The End www.getinvolvednewcastle.co.uk
Tue 17th Feb Hull Adelphi
Wed 18th Feb Bristol Louisiana http://www.thelouisiana.net/
Thu 19th Feb Derby The Royal www.theroyalderby.co.uk
Fri 20th Feb Guildford Boileroom www.theboileroom.net
Sat 21st Feb London Macbeth - Twisted Licks night (£6) www.leylinepromotions.com
Sun 22nd Feb Exeter Cavern www.cavernclub.co.uk/
Mon 23rd Feb Brighton Freebutt www.joinerslive.co.uk
Tue 24th Feb Winchester Railway www.railwaylive.co.uk
Thu 26th Feb Glasgow King Tuts http://www.kingtuts.co.uk/
Fri 27th Feb Inverness Madhatters
Sat 28th Feb Stirling Tolbooth www.stirling.gov.uk/tolbooth
Sun 1st Mar Aberdeen Tunnels
Thu 12th Mar London Hoxton Bar & Kitchin
Fri 13th Mar Manchester The Deaf Institute http://www.wegottickets.com/event/42318

Tickets for Bristol, Derby, Brighton, Inverness, Aberdeen and London Hoxton Bar can all be purchased HERE.

You can also win yourself some tickets because we're going to give two pairs away for each gig on the tour. What do you need to do? Reply to this email with

"Phantom Band - Town Of Choice - I Win!"

as the subject and two winners will be picked at random for each venue. It should also be pointed out that Chemikal Underground never has and never will pander to idiots so anyone who actually replies with the words 'Town Of Choice' in the subject will not only be ignored, they will be hunted down and killed. We draw the winners on Wednesday (11th Feb)...

If you've not got your copy of Checkmate Savage already, quietly pick it up from our SHOP before someone finds out.

Oh, while we remember, some of you may be interested in hopping on this Phantom Band-inspired bandwagon (culled from The Phantom Band's recent mailout)...

BRONZE BON DOT COM

Bedpan Hat Month are soon to launch their Bronze Bon Dot Com campaign. This is a campaign to raise money for a bronze statue of Acca Dacca's (that's AC/DC to those of you who think "In It To Win It" is a taxing test of mental agility - The Cat) is Bon Scott, to be erected in his birthtown of Kirriemuir, in north east Scotland. We are inviting supporters of the cause to pay one pound, dollar or euro to cover the cost of the commission - we will let you know when the site goes live. Angus Council have not yet agreed to it (well, we haven't asked them -- if we don't get their support, then we know of one or two Kirrie residents who would be prepared to house the statue in their front garden) so in the meantime, while we are putting together the legal side of things, we ask that you sign our petition by sending an email to list@phantomband.co.uk with "Bon Scott Petition" in the subject line and your name in the email body. To heck with Peter Pan...

De Rosa: New Website, Live Dates, Radio Sessions etc. etc.

In anticipation of Prevention's release on March 2nd, the band have re-designed their website and on it you can find plenty of updates on the band's upcoming activities. You can also do what I did and spend five minutes trying to compose a tune with the rollovers on the site map - I don't know what your tune will end up like but mine was effing amazing... www.wearederosa.com

We'll chin you about this again nearer the time but the band will be having an album playback (aka booze up) at Glasgow's Griffin Bar on March 1st and you're all invited. The band will be DJing along with some special guests so make an entry in your diary. Their scheduled Live Session for Marc Riley on 6 Music was postponed due to the horrific dusting of snow the nation was subjected to this week and has been rescheduled for March 10th. They'll be radio pros by then of course, because they're doing a session the night before for the inestimable Vic Galloway so keep your ears...peeled?

For a full listing of the band's tour dates in March, you should check the website but in the meantime we'd like to give you some warning of a rather special event lined up for London...

Chemikal Underground Night @ The Luminaire : April 1st

It's been a long, long time in coming but we're delighted to announce that Chemikal Underground will breach the M25, en masse, for an evening of sonic tremendousness and all round alcoholic excess. Descending on the Kilburn's brilliant Luminaire, Chemikal Underground will host a night featuring De Rosa and our French brethren Angil + the Hiddentracks. It promises to be a fantastic night as De Rosa air material from their new album and Angil play their first ever London show - hot on the heels of their critically acclaimed masterwork 'Oulipo Saliva'. There will be additional Special Guests, DJs and a Chemikal Underground Merch Emporium so for God's sake don't hang about and get your briefs bought by going HERE or HERE.

Bye for now - and have a good weekend (unless you read this on Monday in which case we hope you're not feeling too down in the mouth)..."

So there you go, that's all the news from Chemikal Underground who we love like the mothers we had committed against their wills.