Feature Attraction

In retrospect, last week's £5 Diesel Afterparty was well worth it. Obviously CSS were insanely awesome and Good Shoes were solid, and U-Music Award winners The Features also provided a pleasant surprise.

The lucky champs' live set was engaging, and I remember commenting at one point that their sound was like The Format, Pearl Jam and Tokyo Police Club mixed together. Stange combo, I know. Give a listen to the tracks below and check out the good stuff on their myspace page.

The Features - That's The Way It's Meant To Be
The Features - D-Con
The Features - Temporary Blues (Live On WOXY.com)
The Features - Gates Of Hell (Live On WOXY.com)

Grab the whole WOXY live session here.

- a.m.p.m.

CSS, Good Shoes, Wiley crash Diesel U Music Awards Afterparty

The Diesel U Music Awards Afterparty takes place this coming Wednesday (October 3rd) at KOKO as the culmination of Diesel's annual international music contest open to unsigned rock, urban/hip-hop and electronic artists. The contest is touted as "a response to the major labels' A&R policies that endorse short-lived pop careers whilst ignoring creativity & long-term artist development." Sounds good to me.

UK finalists include electro duo Get Shakes and indie rockers The Steers; the US of A will be represented by Cool Kids and The Features, and acts from France, Japan and Belgium will also vie for top spot. These cream-of-the-crop contenders will all perform alongside established acts including CSS, Wiley and Good Shoes at the official afterparty. Tickets are just £5 (that's $10 to you North American scum) and although technically sold out, a few are still available at Diesel's flagship stores in Covent Garden and Carnaby Street to those deemed adequately hip and good-looking.

I'm particularly looking forward to seeing CSS in a smaller venue (their Reading set was amazing, but huge) and experiencing Cool Kids' live hi-jinks. Just one question remains: where's the After-Afterparty?

- a.m.p.m.

CSS - Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above

CSS - Alala

Good Shoes - Ice Age
Good Shoes - We Are Not The Same

Wiley - Letter 2 Dizzee

Cool Kids - Gold and a Pager