Meet Joe Vampire

Joe Vampire by Steven Luna: A Review

What a deliciously scrumptious tasty treat this book is! Buy it NOW! If you need reasons then please read on although the author’s charming way with the words is magic enough to pull you in once you start reading.

Having finished my previous book I started this one while waiting for a train out of Brighton after a few days away. There I was sitting at the train station, eyes transfixed on my Kindle. I even resisted what is usually a strong urge to people watch while waiting for a connection out of London Euston; I just couldn't tear myself away from the story unfolding before me. For the final leg of the journey home you guessed it, I was glued to Joe Vampire thanks to the masterful skills of author Steven Luna in constructing such a gripping yarn. It became, quite literally, un-putdownable (why is this not yet a word? Come on dictionary peeps, get on it!). It’s a wonder I managed to get myself on to the correct trains although I honestly wouldn’t have minded ending up in the Scottish Highlands if it meant I got to carry on reading this book as I made my way back again.

A refreshing take on the vampire tale, Joe is an ordinary dude who just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and for which his reward, or punishment if you prefer, is being turned into a vampire. This, as the ‘event’ becomes known, follows what turns out to be a monumental yet comical misunderstanding while out on a group date. Lesson learned – don’t go on group dates, folks!

The combination of humour and suspense Steven builds up around what actually happened that night as well as maintaining an eventful and observant pace throughout is pure joy. Various plot developments keep you thinking and guessing right up to their respective revelations. So, even when you are forced to stop reading - to ensure you feed and water yourself, shower and change underwear, that sort of thing - the wonderfully constructed style of Joe’s blog keeps you well and truly hooked in. There’s entertainment and plot twists aplenty.  

Steven has managed to write a truly original and thought provoking story in a genre that has become largely lacklustre and monotonous over the past decade. Vampires may well not need the air themselves but this author has breathed some much needed new life into the field. While the set up and story are radically different to, say that of The Sookie Stackhouse novels, it nevertheless delivers something as beautifully unique as did the earlier books in that series which no doubt led to it being picked up for television (And yes I do think Joe Vampire should be adapted thus, or a movie perhaps). Writing it in the form of a blog may not be a completely original idea itself but employing the method the way Steven does makes all the difference here.

He also pokes fun at the glamorous yet trashier Hollywood types of vampire franchises, mentioning no specific names. However, this never comes across as insulting or derogatory, instead it fits incredibly comfortably with the style of comedy utilised. Joe has a very dry sense of humour and a sarcastic wit so sharp you will end up checking your neck for vampire bites when you do manage to pull yourself away. ‘The girl behind the counter was a shade past Oompa Loompa,’ is just one observational line that had me startle those in my vicinity as I read and yelped out with laughter. (What? There is too such a thing as yelping with laughter.)

Joe isn’t the only well rounded character in the mix either as the lonesome newbie vampire details his relationships and interactions with best friend Hube, who is the kind of selfless, even overly helpful at times (he offers to be Joe’s food source but not in a sucker fucker way), buddy you’d need if you were to ever be subjected to this. When he shifts to the nightshift at work Joe is also befriended by a vampire he describes as, ‘a female Yoda with knee socks and knitting needles’. Then there’s the ‘overweight, socially-networked media-marketed vampire hunter from the south, Bo, who likes mud bogs and domestic beer’ oh and doing quite a bit of DIY.

There are even more though so get buying and reading to find out how becoming a vampire can have some really quite serious, if laughable consequences when it comes to the dating game. Dispel all those myths about the Nightwalkers and learn what it’s like from the real deal itself. From the sheer ferociousness of vampire toenails to the best way to round off your fangs several times a day and how to keep your skin from looking too sickly pale. This is very much a vampire book that breaks the mould, treating the subject in a way that instantly connects the reader so much more closely to the main character.

With Joe Vampire, Steven Luna has managed to stamp originality all over a heavily saturated market. If you haven’t already done so then get buying it because at such a fantastic price it’s an awesome not-to-be-missed bargain! Plus, you’ll want to get this first story done and dusted before the follow up is released in the coming months. I’m really excited to find out what may be in store for Joe, Hube and Co and if you read this first volume I’ve little doubt you will be too! 

Check out Steven's Joe Vampire blog for much more about Joe and the author himself with regular updates on what's going on. Steven works tirelessly via Twitter helping to promote fellow indie authors and I'm always happy to retweet these as and when I see them in my feed. Kindle and online publishing is one way forward in this digital age so if you do read Joe Vampire or any other book published this way please take time to share it with your friends. Whether this is by word of mouth (there are still book clubs, right? Oooh, idea sparked for a Kindle based book club maybe?), writing a review for Amazon (or wherever you purchased it from) or via social networks such as Facebook, Twitter & Co, it would be very much appreciated by the authors.

Joe has a page on Facebook > here too.

Music of the Moment:

Each and every time I mention this bit I say how much more of it there is that I'm listening to. I didn't think it possible but this time round there is even more still, so my reviews and specific music-related posts aside I will have to remain very brief.

Of particular note has to be the astounding Sam Beeton. Words really aren't required if you'll just go and check out his website. A 23 year old singer-songwriter from Nottingham, the talent I believe he's already shown is nothing less than phenomenal. 

He's set up something called The Record Club which you can read about on his website. It's a unique idea that puts this artist in direct contact with you in a way that makes you truly feel like these songs are written and recorded for you as fans. I've subscribed to season 2 which has only just begun so it's not too late for you to join and if you do Sam will send you all the the songs already released in that season so you won't miss out if you join later on.

I received my signed, personalised Volume 1 CD this morning with two gorgeous sounding tracks, Call Me the Loner and Something Out of Nothing. 

Needless to say I'll be purchasing the deluxe double CD of Season 1 pretty sharpish. Featuring 22 tracks I cannot wait to hear all the tunes Sam has to offer. I'm already loving the likes of Storyteller, Lie Low Lie while Good Natured Child and Rain Down On You just blew me clean away. Like I said this guy has a talent that belies his young age but this is certainly no bad thing. Something I'm finding so refreshing about Sam is the versatility he demonstrates in the songs I've heard so far.

Check out some of these below along with Sam talking about his Record Club.

 

Also - don't forget to check out Band of Badgers Presents. Episodes 1 & 2 are available via the sidebar or go the relevant posts to download or for the links. Sam will be featuring in the next episode.

Books:

I'm still to start Leiyatel's Embrace by Clive S. Johnson but this should finally be remedied this weekend. It's going to be a book that requires complete and full attention so I want to give it the respect it deserves as opposed to only grabbing an odd 15 or 20 minutes snippets. I do so require more time in which I can do all these things. I believe the recently released sequel Of Weft and Weave is going well. This also has a Facebook page you can check out and like > here!

A very good Twitter friend of mine, Dionne Lister also recently released her book, Shadows of the Realm (The Circle of Talia). Although I read quite widely when it comes to genre, fantasy is probably the one that features more than the rest so having read the blurb I'm really excited about reading this. You can check it out via the link above which takes you to Amazon or it's also available at Smashwords and there's a paperback edition you can get at Amazon via this link > here!

I bought my Kindle copy but will certainly invest in a hard copy too. Just look at that book cover and tell me you wouldn't want that showing off on your book case? I won't be getting it just for that of course but I do still have a fondness for traditional hard copy books.

There are just so many I need to be reading right now. I desperately want to start Game of Thrones by George R R Martin. Not just because I love the TV series which is back for its second season, as much as I really love it.

Films:

If you haven't been to see The Avengers movie yet then I apologise in advance for having to hunt you down and slap your face repeatedly with gigantic stinky wet kippers. Following all the tweetviews I was reading in my Twitter feed after it had been released I was expecting something special and I was not disappointed one bit. It is an amazing film. So beautifully shot and put together. No specific character (nor even the bigger named actors in their roles) hogged more screen time than the other and although there was so much going on and so many of them to keep track of, it didn't once feel too rushed or jumbled up. Mr Buffy, Joss Whedon did everyone proud with this masterpiece. 

And I know this probably means I'm a total geek but there were a number of moments where I actually got goosebumps. I kid you not. 

I highly recommend you get out and see this film, like NOW! Remember if you don't you're going to get a very red face and smell of bad fish!

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Tales from the Barrel House to the Ballroom

Seth Lakeman at The Assembly – Leamington Spa 24/03: A Review

What an awesome way to top off what had been more like a summer’s day than early spring. The venue for this gig was an old ballroom complete with intricately designed motifs on the surrounding walls and a large space in the centre of the ceiling where a huge glittering disco ball would have hung. Cue a cavalcade of colourfully vivid time travel flashbacks to the 70’s featuring images of funky divas in full swing demonstrating their dazzlingly daring disco skills. Unlike some excuses for musical performance however, Seth’s entrance was not about to be marked by him being lowered down on a gigantic disco ball.

Music from the Mountains

I usually make an effort to research support acts and check out what kind of music they have to offer but being as busy as I have lately the first thing I learned about folk harmony duo Winter Mountain, was the name of their act when I caught a glimpse at a promo poster earlier that afternoon. Although this was a short set (being a support act) their phenomenal performance is worthy of a full review because the pleasant surprise their delicate acoustic sound offered completely blew me away. It was so sublime I opened my eyes to find my feet were no longer on the ground.

I will admit when I saw the beards I thought the pair were from Seattle a la Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses or Death Cab For Cutie. However, while Martin is from Donegal in Ireland and Joe from St Austell in Cornwall their sound certainly demonstrates the Seattle type influence of the aforementioned bands. The overall package offers even more, reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel but with considerably more gusto. 

Memphis Bound

The duo met while backpacking their way across the US, Martin from west coast to east and Joe from east coast to west. Fate lent its guiding hand as they stepped on to the same train while both in Chicago heading down to Memphis. The rest as they say is history and judging by this performance an incredibly bright future lies ahead for them too.

  

Their sound is perhaps experimental but nowhere does it lack even a little in quality as a result of this. If anything it provides an impetus for real heartfelt performance and such incredibly tranquil sounding melodies I wasn’t surprised when the rest of the audience joined me for a float fest in the air as the pair sang out a song called Sarah. It wasn’t all the same style throughout either as they mixed it up a bit with each tune. Sometimes singing almost an entire song together in flawless harmony, others where each had their own parts but came in interlacing the other like their vocals were emulating the perfection of a proper love-struck relationship. As testament to their talent they have recently signed a record deal with Cara Dillon’s Charcoal Records so I look forward to what comes from this magical pairing. 

Leamington Laps Up Lakeman

I first heard about Seth Lakeman through fellow Levellers fans but having foolishly missed his set at the Beautiful Days festival in 2010 (I have since learned one must obtain a programme as soon as one arrives at these events) I felt it was imperative I get to one of his gigs as soon as possible. Thus as soon as tickets were released for his early 2011 dates I made sure I snapped one up immediately as part of my mission to get to at least one live gig every month. I desperately wanted but was unable to get to a date on his second 2011 tour promoting the limited release of his latest album last December but lucky for me he soon announced a string of dates for this year.

With success that has been building gradually since he went solo in 2002 it is easy to see why Seth has become somewhat the poster boy for contemporary folk music. The former Mercury award nominee (2005) helps introduce the diversity this genre can, at times, offer to music fans. While traditional folk elements are never far from evident in his music, he manages to marry these with sounds somewhat more palatable for a mainstream audience. The crowd at this particular show demonstrated his appeal to this wider range of music fan covering many different sub-genres in addition to those who belong to his almost cult-like loyal following.

The versatility he demonstrates together with an ability to captivate and hold on to this widening fan base only serves to promote folk music to people who would otherwise have run a mile in the opposite direction if they so much as heard even the slightest dinkle dankle of a banjo. Whenever I mention a folk artist to most people their facial expression moulds into something that quite clearly asks why haven’t I been institutionalised yet?  If artists like Seth can help persuade others that we who appreciate a little bit of folk amongst our tunes are quite safe to be out amongst the public, then this is no bad thing.

I’ve read some articles reporting how when he first started out some from various corners of the traditional folk scene often derided Seth attempting to downplay his music and style which I can only imagine was down to jealousy. Perhaps he does sometimes break off into less folk heavy and towards a more alternative sound but as an evolving artist this only showcases his many talents.

Tales from the Barrel House to the Ballroom

This was the final date on the second leg promoting sixth album, Tales From The Barrel House, whose initial limited edition release sold out almost as fast as Seth can fiddle to Kitty Jay (i.e. very). A general release has since been recorded with a couple of extra tracks and a DVD. It really does show this is his first independent album following the departure from his previous record label because it sounds so individual and fresh compared to the previous two (as much as I enjoy them in their own right). Solidifying his folk roots he recorded first track More Than Money down a copper mine and the rest of the album in the cooperage (The Barrel House of its title) playing every instrument featured, producing and mixing it all to boot.

From the lament of Blacksmith’s Prayer to the seafaring story of Salt From Our Veins and the timeless tale of The Watchmaker’s Rhyme, the subject matter he focussed on also relies heavily on these traditional folk roots covering mostly the forgotten trades of yesteryear. Closing with the gentler Apple of His Eye and the beautifully perceptive The Artisan Seth most clearly demonstrates his exceptional skills as a songwriter.

He is the Music Man

Beginning the set with More Than Money for which he played the banjo, Seth quickly picked up the mandolin while the band played straight into Blacksmith’s Prayer. He went on to exhibit his expert and flawless musicianship by following up with songs where he played his trademark fiddle, tenor guitar and even playing the violin pizzicato (plucking it like a guitar for those unsure). Added to his distinct emotional vocals and the support from the band, a truly electric atmosphere was the result.

Getting Jiggy With It

Seth’s music carries with it the same infectious quality epitomised by folk punk legends The Levellers. It encourages, slowly at first (think snake charmer), one’s legs to spontaneously start jigging about like they’ve been directly fed an electric current (think slightly tamer version of River Dance). Before I knew it while he began pouring out words via his pulsating heart to accompany his gradual build up to fiddling for England, a third or more of the crowd, myself included, were all jumping about like loons. Happy loons appreciating great live music though and hey no one was looking at us oddly here so it was all okay. No doctors in white coats watching from the bar, thankfully.

You could really feel the raw beauty of the elements within the hall. I’d even go as far as to say we were somehow transported to the ghostly Morwellham mining port on the bank of the River Tamar where stands the Barrel House the album was recorded at (there’s magic in folk, right?), such was the atmosphere they created as a collective up on stage.

Fiddler Freedom 

A newfound freedom was clearly audible with the return to older material seeing the jigging loons double in size now making us a sizeable majority as The Colliers, Setting of the Sun and John Lomas were played out in all their magnificent glory. The very haunting sounds of Preacher’s Ghost also featured as did a sensational rendition of Lady of the Sea which I’m sure was sped up so fast by invisible futuristic machines to get moving those few stragglers who hadn’t yet started looning (yes I made up that word).

The band took a break leaving Seth and his bass player to perform The Artisan, the bass requiring more of a melody than the typical bass chords. This song tells the story of a woodworker who, as he plies his carpentry trade, relives his life with each chip of the chisel and every stroke of the saw. I once passed out after chiselling a finger during a woodwork class at school (true story). The way this song really gets up close and personal I fully believe Seth could do as much justice to my chiselled finger turning it into a beautiful yet sad tale like he does here with The Artisan.

Fiddle Off Championship 2012

There was also the highly popular fan pleaser Kitty Jay, a song that builds up to such intensity before erupting in a near orgasmic explosion. With nothing more than his vocals, fiddle and a stomping right foot it is compelling and blockbusting rolled into one. You cannot help but remain transfixed as Seth fiddles like the continued existence of the universe depends on it.

The hard work and effort it takes to be this faultless while playing at such speed shows but through expressions demonstrating how much he thoroughly enjoys what this classic song has evolved into. I’m pretty sure with each tour and indeed each night’s performance he cranks it up a notch further in an attempt to out-fiddle himself. With this being the final night of the current run he didn’t disappoint although I am surprised he didn’t pass out immediately after or that there wasn’t a mass of smoke billowing from the fiddle or his hands. It gives me goose bumps just recalling it.

Life on the Road

Seth belongs to that subset of artists who seem to tour constantly and I’d have to agree with some who’d say his live performances far outstrip what the studio albums are able to offer given their limitations. They do have their own important place but with him touring so often as well as being a mainstay on the annual summer festival circuit fans can have the best of both worlds. This gig was my second Seth experience in less than twelve months and it most certainly won’t be the last with an October tour already announced. I do have just one question I’d like to ask. Where’s the full live album, please Seth?

Music of the Moment:


There's actually far too much for me to be able to squeeze it all in here like I did before. I used to listen to a lot of music as it was just going about more or less anything. This has increased loads since I've started putting together the podcast as I check out new music, new material from old bands and artists and lots else besides.

I know they're a band who have featured a lot previously as well as both opening and closing my first podcast but they truly deserve to be mentioned as often as possible. One Cure For Man have just released another new EP entitled The Lost contains three beautiful acoustic tracks and also features the sounds of a violin. It is a real treat.

Gathered is the latest album from Nick Burbridge of the McDermott's 2 Hours versus The Levellers fame, this time teamed up with Tim Cotterell.

T J Courtney has debut EP Into the Sky out now which sounds fantastic.

Finally for the moment, The Dreaming Spires are soon to release a new album (June) and have kindly sent me the radio edit for their new single Not Every Song From The Sixties Is A Classic.

Books:

I finished reading Joe Vampire by Steven Luna and it was superb all the way to the end leaving me wanting so much more from this newly turned vampire dude. It's just so fresh for a vampire tale considering it is a genre that has been (pardon the pun) done to death.

My next read is going to be Leiyatel's Embrace by Clive S. Johnson who also has sequel Of Weft and Weave due out very soon. I'm really looking forward to this first one.


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