If the credit crunch is doing you some favours and you’re actually feeling particuarly plush at the moment, maybe you’ll be interested in bidding on some amazing money-can’t-buy items thanks to childrens charity Rays of Sunshine. Normally they hold a gala dinner at London’s Roundhouse, however in the current climate they’ve moved online, auctioning their amazing lots online and giving everyone a chance to win the auction, not just the rich..

Website founder Mia Woodford commented “The Rays of Sunshine Virtually Brilliant Auction contains some of the best lots we have ever seen. Bids have already started to come in for such money-can’t-usually-buy opportunities as meeting the Kaiser Chiefs or Coldplay, with VIP concert tickets, or the chance to go on set with Emma Thompson as she films Nanny Mc Phee II”

So, if you want a chance to win some of the amazing auction items below, just go on over to Rays of Sunshine’s online auction. At the time of writing, you can get 6 VIP Madness tickets for just £80 – so get bidding before the price goes astronomical.

Auctioned items include:

• 2 VIP tickets to see Coldplay in concert followed by a meet and greet
• 2 VIP tickets to see Kaiser Chiefs at Wembley Arena followed by a meet and greet
• A Fender guitar signed by Sting
• The chance to have lunch or dinner with Craig David at his home in Hampstead
• 4 VIP tickets, flights and accommodation to the 2009 Europe Music Awards in Berlin
• 6 VIP tickets to see Madness and meet the band backstage

“We’re better than Oasis” boasted Kaiser Chiefs‘ Ricky Wilson earlier this year, words he may have to eat. As critics warm to “Dig Out Your Soul,” some have already shown disappointment with “Off With Their Heads.”

With a solid two albums behind them, and new production from Mark Ronson, it would be fair to assume that we would hear something different and better from the Leeds rockers. Instead, to the listeners disdain, it’s much of the same, and worse still at a much lower standard.

Lyrics were never the bands strong point, but the rambling on lead single “Never Miss A Beat” hits an all time low as front man Wilson sings; “Why don’t you run away?/Are you kidding?/What is the golden rule?/I don’t know.”

Being green is great, but this recycling of already sub-par guitars and dreary vocals is going a bit too far…The band can be excused for their lack of innovation on “Yours Truly, Angry Mob,” but a third album of the same is unforgivable. The musical progression from “Employment” is still at zero, and tracks like the appalling “Addicted to Drugs” do little to help their cause.

Despite this, the album, like its predecessors, will no doubt go down a treat at Elland Road and festivals next summer. That however is the only plus point on this frankly dismal effort, if Ricky Wilson wants to come close to the Gallaghers, Albarn or any other Britpop legends, he needs to pull off something miles better than this.

4.5/10

The Kaiser Chiefs have announced a massive string of UK tour dates for next Spring as they gear up to release their third album.

Their new album, “Off With Their Heads” is out on Monday 20th October and is probably going to go massive, so I’d reccomend getting your tickets when they go on sale!

Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday (3rd October).

Catch Ricky and co at:

Sunday 22nd February 2009 – Nottingham Trent FM Arena
Monday 23rd February 2009 – Sheffield Arena
Tuesday 24th February 2009 – Birmingham NIA
Thursday 26th February 2009 – Edinburgh Corn Exchange
Friday 27th February 2009 – Aberdeen AECC
Saturday 28th February 2009 – Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
Monday 2nd March 2009 – Manchester MEN Arena
Tuesday 3rd March 2009 – Liverpool Echo Arena
Wednesday 4th March 2009 – Cardiff CIA
Friday 6th March 2009 – London Wembley Arena

MTV’s Gonzo has announced it’s annual round of birthday shows for October as they stop off at a series of Barfly venues over two weekends.

Tickets for the below dates go on sale on Friday (12th September) at 9am.

Friday 10th October – The Automatic and Iglu And Hartly at Liverpool Barfly
Saturday 11th October – Mystery Jets, Noah And The Whale at Birmingham Barfly
Sunday 12th October – Kaiser Chiefs and Late Of The Pier at London ULU
Friday 17th October – Foals, Esser at York Fibbers
Saturday 18th October – Glasvegas, Friendly Fires at Aberdeen Moshulu
Sunday 19th October – Bloc Party, Magistrates at Glasgow Barfly

Leeds’ biggest band of recent years, The Kaiser Chiefs have announced a quick UK tour for October

Tickets go on sale this Thursday, 21st August at 9am.

Wednesday 8th October – Leeds Academy
Monday 13th October – Manchester Academy
Wednesday 15th October – Southampton Guildhall
Thursday 16th October – Reading Rivermead
Friday 17th October – Glasgow Barrowlands
Sunday 19th October – Leicester De Montford Hall
Monday 20th October – London Kentish Town Forum
Tuesday 21st October – London Kentish Town Forum

What is it with bands cancelling US tours at the moment?

The Kaiser Chiefs, White Stripes, Justin Timberlake and now The Noisettes have all cancelled and or postponed dates in the USA in the last 24 hours – all a bit strange.

Kaisers “want to work on new album“, White Stripes’ Meg has anxiety issues, Justin needs to rest his voice and has postponed two shows, and now the Noisettes plain and simply need a break.

One does wonder if it’s just ‘cos they’re wimps – a big tour scare them too much instead of the usual one night on three nights off of a British arena tour? (joke)

Photo taken from hi-tekznologik’s flickr stream under the Creative Commons License.

Pop / indie cross-over extrodinaires Kaiser Chiefs have announced that they’ll be playing an exclusive show for Vodafone’s TBA.

The show will take place somewhere in Blackpool, with the venue being announced on the day. To win tickets you’ll have to enter one of two draws on the 30th or 31st August (this Thursday and Friday) on the Vodafone Music website.

However even if you don’t win tickets it’ll be shown on channel 4, so don’t worry.

Photo taken from rocktographer’s flickr stream.

Kaiser Chiefs have extended yet again their seemingly never-ending winter tour to include Glasgow, Aberdeen and Brighton Dates. The tour covers the entire length and breadth of the country it seems

The new dates are italicised below, along with the rest of their tour dates. New tour dates are on presale here, and the other dates are available from the usual sources.

Wednesday 21st November – Exeter Westpoint Arena
Thursday 22nd November – Bournemouth BIC
Saturday 24th November – Cardiff CIA
Tuesday 27th November – Birmingham NIA
Wednesday 28th November – Nottingham Arena
Friday 30th November – Manchester MEN Arena
Saturday 1st December – Manchester MEN Arena
Monday 3rd December – Sheffield Hallam FM Arena
Tuesday 4th December- Hull Arena
Thursday 6th December 2007 – Glasgow SECC
Saturday 8th December 2007 – Aberdeen AECC
Monday 10th December – Newcastle Metro Arena
Friday 14th December – London Earls Court
Saturday 15th December – London Earls Court
Sunday 16th December 2007 – Brighton Centre

Photo taken from Hi tekznologik’s flickr stream.