Great Escape, G5 madness and Power On update.

300 of the best new bands in the world all in 30 venues over the weekend in Brighton? Yes please! Armed with my G5 guitar I got the train from the big smoke to the seaside. Did some research and caught up with the best new bands to show them the revolutionary new guitar.

Spector liked it show much, they begged us to let them use it in their headline gig at the Corn Exchange. Video coming soon of the excellent ‘Chevy Thunder’ with axe man Chris showing us why everyone wants one.

Grimes must have had the biggest cue of the day, playing at Digital, which hordes of punters begging the bouncer to let them in as the Canadian elfish electro queen showed why Jools Holland was so keen to have her on the show. Using her new Gaia SH-01 and SP-404SX sampler, she wowed the audience with ethereal beats and reverb laced vocals that will get even the steel boots moving. Here is a snap from the gig for your pleasure:

Alabama Shakes closed the festival with another packed at the seams room at Komedia. It was probably the last chance you will get to see the band in such a small room, as most of the industry watched a seminal performance from the hottest soul band on the planet. It was like watching one of the greatest soul and R & B singers of all time, but in 2012. Praise be for Brittany Howard!

Bands that also blew my mind were:

Pond, Django Django, Spector, Dry The River, Citizens!, Mystery Jets, Willy Mason, Grimes, Alabama Shakes, Howler and Splashh.

Lets hope we will be hearing more of them very soon.

Be sure to download the free Power On app for the latest Roland magazine coming very soon. My last two interview I feel are my best yet. I would mention who they are, but what would the fun in that be? You’ll simply have to download and see for yourself.

 

Over and out.

 

Jamie x

G5 Jupiter 80

Hey ho people!!

Been quite the spring. This G5 guitar is going down like a curry to someone who has had more than one beer. The only problem we have now is how are we going to make enough in time for festival season? Phil Mazanera from Roxy Music, Rob from Florence +The Machine, MC from Guillemots, Felix and Hugo from The Maccabees, Jessie J’s guitarist Lewis, all have one thing in common. They want the G5 in their life. If you need to ask why, get yourself to your nearest Roland planet store and you’ll soon see that the future of guitar modelling and tuning is here to stay.

We also paid David Arnold, legendary composer, a visit at London’s prestigious Air studios. We showed him the Jupiter 80 and R-Mix. He loved both and can see them being a perfect addition to his studio set up. We are following this up in a few months with demos of Sonar to see if he will be joining the evergrowing list of converted DAW users.

Be sure to check out the next issue of Power On, our IPad ready magazine for all the latest content and artist news…it’s gonna be a goodun!!

It’s here!!

It’s arrived folks. Shiny, three tone sunburst and plays like a dream. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the G-5

New V Guitars? New TD-30KV? New GT-100? What? You want more?

OK then.

As the post NAMM show haze fills the air, lets look back on what went down. Lady Gaga’s band ripped the Roland stage to bits, performing each day to a packed crowd of gear heads. Rihanna’s main man on the keys, Mr Charlie Wilson joined us to check out the Jupiter 80 and do an interview, (he loves it of course) and plans to add to his ever growing arsenal of a Roland Rig for the shows this year including the Brits. Nice.

The SPD-SX is causing quite a stir as well. We simply can’t make them fast enough! Radiohead (AKA the best band, like, ever) have just ordered their 5, yes FIVE, ready for the world tour complete with new second drummer Clive Deamer (Roni Size, Portishead). Lana Del Ray’s drummer Pudge just got his, The Maccabees used theirs for the first time last night at a sold out Brixton Academy show, and by all accounts, they blew the roof off. Not surprising really, with the new record ‘Given To The Wild’ pushing the boundaries yet again. Album of the year already? Skylar Grey and Eminem’s drummer got his, Metronomy got theirs, James Blake got his…ok ok, you get the hint. Safe to say we raised the bar again.

Lets check out what Radiohead plan to use theirs for. Here is a clip of Clive using the old SPD-S for the amazing ‘Staircase’ in the recent basement sessions.

Happy New Year peeps!!

 

What a year it’s shaping up to be…

At the Drive-In back, Refused back, Radiohead tour, Pulp doing more shows, Jeff Mangum touring and to start things off The Maccabees release their third record ‘Given To The Wild’, and it is already one of the best I have ever heard. Stunning! They have just taken delivery of their shiny new SPD-SX to beef up their drums…sterling choice lads.

NAMM show in LA next week, keep checking the site for details of some UNBELIEVABLE new products

Stay tuned folks!

 

Jamie

 

High Highs

Ho ho ho…!

Seeing as you’ve all been good little boys and girts all year, I bring you the latest Roland Session at London’s Red Bull studio. Using the A-500 Pro keyboard controller along with the new UA-55 Quad Capture interface, I think you’ll see why Sir Elton John wanted to manage these guys…

Merry Chrimbo!

Jamie x

Roland Sessions at Red Bull Studios 2 and 3.

Hola!

 

So Friday saw the next two instalments in the Roland Sessions hosted at Red Bull Studios in London. First up were The Pierces from New York. Sisters with sun drenched harmonies and catchy hooks that are sure to leave the most hardened of you melting. Singing an acoustic version of ‘You’ll Be Mine’ using their trusty Street Cube amp, even the camera man was humming the tune for the rest of the day.

Next up were High Highs, based in New York also, but from Australia. This dreamy pop three piece sang ‘Flowers Bloom’, and even with heavy colds and jetlag, the guys did a sterling perfomance using the A-500 Pro controller keyboard along with Oli’s best new friend the UA-55 Quad Capture interface.

Keep checking the site for the videos coming soon!