'Stagnant' - by Cold Hands & Quarter Moon - A New Remix & Video

‘STAGNANT’ – BY COLD HANDS & QUARTER MOON – A NEW REMIX & VIDEO

“Psychology is a modern politician”

“Maximum levels of boredom
Disguised as maximum fun”

The new remix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkP_Mi5ideo

Live at the Belle View pub, Bangor, north Wales: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLjxeHvvhJQ

MySpace recording of ‘Stagnant’: http://www.myspace.com/coldhandsmusic

'Cheerful Sin' – a song by Victor Rikowski: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIbX5aKUjO8

‘The Lamb’ by William Blake – set to music by Victor Rikowski: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw3VloKBvZc

Posted here by Glenn Rikowski
The Flow of Ideas: http://www.flowideas.co.uk
MySpace Profile: http://www.myspace.com/glennrikowski
The Ockress: http://www.theockress.com
Volumizer: http://glennrikowski.blogspot.com

'Human Herbs' - by Cold Hands & Quarter Moon: A New Remix and Video

‘HUMAN HERBS’ – BY COLD HANDS & QUARTER MOON – A NEW REMIX & VIDEO

I believe in the afterlife
It starts tomorrow
When I go to work

The new remix was produced on 29th January 2011, in east London.

The new remix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au-vyMtfDAs

Live, original version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h7tUq0HjIk

MySpace recording of ‘Human Herbs’: http://www.myspace.com/coldhandsmusic

'Cheerful Sin' – a song by Victor Rikowski: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIbX5aKUjO8

‘The Lamb’ by William Blake – set to music by Victor Rikowski: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw3VloKBvZc

Posted here by Glenn Rikowski
The Flow of Ideas: http://www.flowideas.co.uk
The Ockress: http://www.theockress.com
All that is Solid for Glenn Rikowski: http://rikowski.wordpress.com

'Rage! How Writers Change the World' - by Victor Rikowski

RAGE! WRITERS CHANGE THE WORLD

This is an essay written by Victor Rikowski when he was a final year student in Music, Creative Writing and English Literature at Bangor University, Wales.

It was written as an assignment for the QXE3089 module, ‘Rage! How Writers Can Change the World’.

Victor’s essay can now be found at The Flow of Ideas website:

Rikowski, V. (2011) Rage! Writers Change the World, An essay written for the QXE3089 module, ‘Rage! How Writers Can Change the World’, Bangor University, Wales, April, online at:
http://www.flowideas.co.uk/index.php?page=articles&sub=Rage%20-%20Victor%20Rikowski


Whilst at Bangor, Victor was in Cold Hands & Quarter Moon, a post-punk folk band. For more on this, see: http://www.myspace.com/coldhandsmusic

Posted here by Glenn Rikowski
All that is Solid for Glenn Rikowski: http://rikowski.wordpress.com
The Flow of Ideas: http://www.flowideas.co.uk

Victor Rikowski Playing at Forest Roots

VICTOR RIKOWSKI PLAYING AT FOREST ROOTS

Victor Rikowski will be playing at the Forest Roots on Friday 23rd July. He will be performing some country music and one of his own compositions.

Victor plays in Cold Hands & Quarter Moon at Bangor University, north Wales. You can find out more about this band and listen to their music by going to: http://rikowski.wordpress.com/cold-hands-quarter-moon/ and the Cold Hands & Quarter Moon profile on MySpace: http://rikowski.wordpress.com/cold-hands-quarter-moon/

Victor’s PowerPoint story (in 6 parts), The Ockress, can be found at: http://www.theockress.com

Acoustica are the headline band at Forest Roots. They play a varied selection of Irish folk and modern acoustic music. There will also be The Flats Family band, and guest and surprise musicians.

So come along to Forest Roots on Friday, 23rd July!

It starts 8.30pm at the usual venue: The Forest Gate Hotel function room, Godwin Road, Forest Gate.

Free entry (with a whip-round)

Posted here by Glenn Rikowski
All that is Solid for Glenn Rikowski: http://rikowski.wordpress.com
The Flow of Ideas: http://www.flowideas.co.uk
MySpace Profile: http://www.myspace.com/glennrikowski

Cold Hands & Quarter Moon - Two New Tracks

COLD HANDS & QUARTER MOON – TWO NEW TRACKS

Cold Hands & Quarter Moon entered two new tracks on their MySpace site today.

These are ‘Stagnant’ and ‘Slaves & Masters’

You can listed to these new tracks at: http://www.myspace.com/coldhandsmusic

There are various versions of ‘Stagnant’ now available:

Live at the Belle View, Bangor, north Wales: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLjxeHvvhJQ

Session in the basement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StqTevvSQ_k

The Cold Hands & Quarter Moon Profile is at: http://rikowski.wordpress.com/cold-hands-quarter-moon/

In addition, you can see ‘Daystar’, (an excellent video and song) by Will Roberts, who also plays in Cold Hands & Quarter Moon, at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6f_pA5XUPk

Posted here by Glenn Rikowski
The Flow of Ideas: http://www.flowideas.co.uk
The Ockress: http://www.theockress.com
Wavering on Ether: http://blog.myspace.com/glennrikowski
MySpace Profile: http://www.myspace.com/glennrikowski

Socialism 2010

SOCIALISM 2010

Ideas for Changing the World
Revolutionary politics, debate and entertainment
June 17-20, ChicagoJuly 1-4, Oakland
http://www.socialismconference.org

With the economy in shambles and with wars and occupations continuing, the challenge to change these conditions confronts us all. More than a year ago, millions placed their hopes in Barack Obama and the Democrats to solve these problems. But after months of broken promises and concessions to conservatives, jobs are scarce, the banks are unregulated, and full equality for LGBT people remains elusive.

Socialism 2010—to be held in both Chicago and Oakland—will provide an unparalleled opportunity for new and veteran activists and scholars to explore questions about how we got into this mess and how we can get out of it.

Last year, more than 1,800 people turned out to explore the history of struggles of ordinary people, to learn about radical figures who led social movements and to debate theoretical questions that can help us change the world.

Join us for more than 100 talks on issues such as: What is the Real Marxist Tradition?, Race in the Obama Era, Capitalism, Climate Change, and the Future of Humanity, Abortion and Women’s Liberation, and Building a New Left in the Obama Era.Don’t miss the chance to meet, talk and socialize with hundreds of others like you who want to build an alternative to a system of greed, racism, war and oppression.

Featured Speakers:

GILBERT ACHCAR, author, The Arabs and the Holocaust; TARIQ ALI, writer, filmmaker and an editor of New Left Review; ANTHONY ARNOVE, co-producer with the late Howard Zinn of “The People Speak”; PAUL D’AMATO, author, The Meaning of Marxism; MIKE DAVIS, historian and socialist activist whose books include In Praise of Barbarians; SAM FARBER, author, The Origins of the Cuban Revolution Reconsidered; JOEL GEIER, associate editor, International Socialist Review; ANAND GOPAL, Kabul correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor; JAMES GREEN, author, Death in the Haymarket; BRIAN JONES, actor and activist in New York City, and a frequent guest on GRITtv; SONALI KOLHATKAR, host, "Uprising", KPFK-FM, Los Angeles; PAUL LEBLANC, activist and author, whose books include Lenin and the Revolutionary Party; ALAN MAASS, editor, Socialist Worker; MARLENE MARTIN, Campaign to End the Death Penalty; JOHN RIDDELL, co-editor, Socialist Voice (Canada); HEATHER ROGERS, journalist and filmmaker and author of Green Gone Wrong; JEREMY SCAHILL, contributor to The Nation and author,Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army; LILIANA SEGURA, AlterNet staff writer on civil rights and liberties; JEFFREY ST. CLAIR and JOSHUA FRANK, authors, Greenscare: The New War on Environmentalism; LANCE SELFA, author, The Democrats: A Critical History; AHMED SHAWKI, editor, International Socialist Review; SHARON SMITH, author of Subterranean Fire and Women and Socialism; LEE SUSTAR, labor editor, Socialist Worker; SHERRY WOLF, interim governing board, Equality Across America, and author of Sexuality and Socialism; KEEANGA YAMAHTTA TAYLOR, editorial board of International Socialist Review and frequent contributor on race and class; DAVE ZIRIN, sportswriter and author, A People’s History of Sports in the United States; SOCIALISTS from France, Greece, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Britain and many more!

What you’ll find at Socialism 2010: More than 100 meetings, a bookfair, films, entertainment, and parties.

Check out http://www.socialismconference.org to register and for more information about schedule, housing, and childcare.

Sponsored by:
The Center for Economic Research and Social Change
Publisher of the International Socialist Review and Haymarket Books.

Co-sponsored by:
The International Socialist Organization
Publisher of Socialist Worker

Posted here by Glenn Rikowski
All that is Solid for Glenn Rikowski: http://rikowski.wordpress.com
The Flow of Ideas: http://www.flowideas.co.uk
MySpace Profile: http://www.myspace.com/glennrikowski
Cold Hands & Quarter Moon at MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/coldhandsmusic
Cold Hands & Quarter Moon at: http://rikowski.wordpress.com/cold-hands-quarter-moon/
The Ockress: http://www.theockress.com

Cold Hands & Quarter Moon - Now at MySpace

Cold Hands & Quarter Moon - Now at MySpace

Cold Hands & Quarter Moon are now at MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/coldhandsmusic

You can hear the band play, 'Human Herbs', and the quality of the recording is much better than on YouTube. The band had access to some proper recording facilities for this version of 'Human Herbs'.

For a detailed profile on Cold Hands & Quarter Moon, see: http://rikowski.wordpress.com/cold-hands-quarter-moon/

Posted here by Glenn Rikowski
The Flow of Ideas: http://www.flowideas.co.uk
All that is Solid for Glenn Rikowski: http://rikowski.wordpress.com

Cold Hands & Quarter Moon - Update 28th February 2010

Cold Hands & Quarter Moon – Update 28th February 2010

Some recent live performances by Cold Hands & Quarter Moon

Cold Hands & Quarter Moon play ‘Stagnant’ (composed by Victor Rikowski), live at the Belle View, Bangor, Wales: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLjxeHvvhJQ

Cold Hands & Quarter Moon play ‘Simon Says Get Out’ (compsed by Victor Rikowski), live at the Belle View, Bangor, Wales: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRtuqV_WpGY

Cold Hands & Quarter Moon play ‘Human Herbs’ (composed by Victor Rikowski), live at the Bangor University Cabaret: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlCPRekckVw

For more info on the band, see: http://rikowski.wordpress.com/cold-hands-quarter-moon/

Posted here by Glenn Rikowski
The Flow of Ideas: http://www.flowideas.co.uk
All that is Solid for Glenn Rikowski: http://rikowski.wordpress.com

Cold Hands and Quarter Moon

COLD HANDS AND QUARTER MOON

Introduced by Victor Rikowski

The band members:

Victor Rikowski – Guitar & Vocals
Alex Lowther-Harris – Guitar, Banjo, Accordion & Vocals
Louie Ashton-Butler – Vocals
Nicholas Frost – Violin
Jack Rennie – Bass Guitar
William J Roberts – Hand Percussion


In the autumn of 2008, Aaron Ledbury suggested to me that some kind of jam should take place between two musicians; namely, him and me. I knew he played the ukulele and he knew that I played the guitar and bass. A month or two later, Alex Lowther-Harris, who was a banjo, guitar & synthesiser extraordinaire, joined us. We began to do some general jamming, with me on the bass, Alex on banjo and Aaron on ukulele. It was around winter 2008/spring 2009 that we began to make it a regular thing. Sunday was our compulsory weekly jam. For the rest of the year we were trying to figure out what our band/music was about and what we wanted to get out of the whole thing. We recorded quite a few of our jam sessions on Dictaphone. We were working on a big repertoire of songs; songs without lyrics in a band without a singer. Most of the songs were a bunch of chords which Aaron would jam/improvise over occasionally, with Alex and me occasionally having our own time in the spotlight. In one song I played flute and Aaron played harmonica and Alex played guitar. We often swapped, switched and sometimes even modified our instruments. Our style was a kind-of bluegrass, jamming and, predominantly, blues style. But without any singer, lyrics or main melody for all of our songs we were stuck for where to go next. But we didn’t really care. We enjoyed playing music and having fun with it. Alex and Aaron wrote the songs/chords together and I wrote the baselines along with their ideas.

Late at night one day the three of us went down to the beach on the Menai Straight between Bangor and Anglesey. It was a stone beach with huge boulders and calm water. It was very dark and very cold but it was also very beautiful. We played for about half an hour before complaining about how cold our hands were. We carried on playing nonetheless. We then noticed that the moon was quarter full. It was in memory of that magical night that the band then became Cold Hands & Quarter Moon.

The academic year came to a close. Over the summer holidays I began writing songs again. I hadn’t written a song in years and it was nice to start again. I wrote them purely for my own enjoyment but when I came back to university and played a couple of them to Aaron he said he really liked them and that he wanted to work on them for the band. From then on the band had developed a whole new perspective. We were a band that did songs. The style of the songs maintained the original blues ethic, but also added in folk and even a few punk and country influences. The band line up began to change rapidly from then on. At the beginning of the year it was just me and Aaron in the band; me on guitar and vocals and Aaron on bass. Alex didn’t seem to like the new direction of the band, so then it was just me and Aaron.

However, Aaron and I both knew that we needed more musicians/singers in order to get the band to be how we wanted it to be. The next person to join the band was Nicholas Frost, who is a really good violinist and plays for the Bangor University Orchestra. He did a great job with the songs that we had. When Nick came to his first practice he brought along with him a guy known as Louie, who is a very good singer and recently (December 2009) performed a vocal solo in the Bangor University Winter Concert. I had been thinking for a week or two about finding myself another female singer but then suddenly it struck the band as obvious; why didn’t Louie join the band? We had a second singer.

Eventually Alex came back into the band playing banjo, guitar and, very brilliantly, the accordion. It was done: the band line-up was complete. Alex began to write songs too, and writing them very quickly. We began to practice regularly and for long hours of the day, much to our housemates’ annoyance. Just when we were getting pretty tight and ready to tour the pubs and open-mike’s of Bangor, disaster struck. Aaron was being thrown out of university because of his financial difficulties concerning last year’s rent. We had lost our bassist, the bassist who had learnt and written all the bass lines for the new songs by me and Alex along with the couple of cover songs we did.

We had to find a new bassist. Jack Rennie was the next person to join the band in autumn 2009 as the bassist. We began practicing again and re-learning the songs we had already done. Before too long we were performing songs in the pubs and Open-Mike’s in Bangor. First we performed in the ‘Bell Vue’ (which was my personal favourite), and the next one we did was at ‘The Underground’ or ‘The Venue’ on Bangor High Street. The next was Open-Mike at ‘The Greek’. We did a session in the recording studio soon after that, which I was using as coursework for my music degree.

For quite some time I was thinking about having a drummer and Jack Rennie had an electric drum kit. I knew how rare/difficult it is for a band to get a drummer and so this was likely to be the only opportunity of having one but, having realized that it wouldn’t suit the aesthetics of the band, I stuck with what we had. But I still wanted some percussion in the band. I went down to the shop and bought some bongos, a tambourine and an egg shaker. Soon after this William Roberts wanted to join the band as our percussionist. So now we’ve settled for the six of us and look forward to recording more songs in the studio and performing more folk/blues/country songs in pubs and open-mike sessions.

Victor Rikowski

Cold Hands & Quarter Moon

You can hear some of the band’s session on YouTube:

'Brown Shoes' composed by Alex Lowther-Harris: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5ijUrtSOzQ

'Traitor' composed by Victor Rikowski: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRIP6SyI1X4

'Human Herbs' composed by Victor Rikowski: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h7tUq0HjIk

'Reverence' composed by Alex Lowther-Harris: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVLjpWJfHgo

'Stagnant' composed by Victor Rikowski: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StqTevvSQ_k

Posted here Glenn Rikowski
The Flow of Ideas: http://www.flowideas.co.uk
All that is Solid for Glenn Rikowski: http://rikowski.wordpress.com