Just a load of Crypto-fascist-bourgeois crap!

Its been officially twelve hours since England has banned smoking in pubs, bars, nightclubs, cafes and restaurants, lunch rooms, membership clubs and shopping centres. In fact the UK is now the largest whole nation to ban smoking in such a way and seems to lead the race in banning smoking full stop. There is a mixed opinion of who is right and who is wrong in the no smoking ranks, yes it does mean that our health will benefit by not being in a smoke-ridden environment in pubs but at the same time does that encourage us to spend more time in pubs? Take today for example, almost as a tribute to the fact that there was no smoking in pubs we saw more children spending time with their parents in pubs, is this a good thing?

Anyway on to the music, as today is carnival day and everyone is a bit celebratory, for more reasons more than just the lack of smoke in public areas, we are going to have a covers evening. Our first act is Jonna Lee, doing a rather amazing version of The Postal Service's DC Sleeps Alone Tonight. Next we have the Yeah Yeah Yeah's doing a cover of Bjork's Hyperballard, which I/We are told was sent to Bjork herself and never listened too (or was it?). For a pinch of something out there we have Lovedrug from Ohio, who have always been unfortunate, and thankfully after splitting from their label (through the bands request oddly!) they have been doing some banging tunes, especially this cover of Heart Shaped Box. Finally we have Slowbear the Great and their amazing cover of Bloc Party's Banquet, this song was submitted to the Blag Party mix, which was a bunch of independant music folk doing tributes to the great Bloc Party (I seriously suggest checking them out, they are all free!)

Jonna Lee - DC Sleeps Alone Tonight
Yeah Yeah Yeah's - Hyperballard
Lovedrug - Heart Shaped Box
Slowbear the Great - Banque