'All shootin some b-ball outside of school' - Slam Dunk Fest, 30/5/2010

Ahhh iv'e fallen behind on doing this dang blog (too many fests and moving etc etc) so i'm gunna have to be brief-ish.

Slam Dunk is a wonderful thing. One day, alternative music takes over the streets of Leeds (and this year Hatfield). Last time i went it was in 2006 with bands like Fall Out Boy, Academy Is.. and Thursday. Since then the venue moved from Millenium Square to the University and the line-up got less and less big. This changed in 2010 when pop-punk legends New Found Glory were announced as headliners. The festival was also back with 8 stages (apposed to the one in 06).

There was quite a few people i knew going so i just went and met up with people there (saved going back to Goole to go to Leeds etc etc). Doors opened at 2 so i met up with Adam and Gary about half one. Enough time to go get wristbands and grab a sub of the day.. natrually. I had the lovely suprise of bumping into an old friend in the quewe and had a good catch up. Various topics arose in the wait for wristbands including asking a young fellow to bring us CM Punk in exchange for a place next to us in the line. Didn't work, we are still to meet him.

Im gunna skip a couple of hours and get to the bands... So we grabbed a pint (at an extorcianate £3.80!) and headed to the first band of the day. Save Your Breath set things off with a bang. Kicking off the Atticus stage with their own brand of 'popcore' the Newport noiseniks got things going, the throng of music fans in the pit put their bodies through their paces with circle pits and vocalist Kristian Richards enticing a wall of death. Perhaps the best reception the band received however was during their new track “Stay Young” in which The Blackout's Sean Smith joined them on stage to perform vocal duties. The man annoys me... i really don't like him at all. Blonde cunt. Apart from that, i enjoyed it sehr much.

After Save Your Breath finished it was over to the main stage to see more patriots of powerpop in the form of Every Avenue. Hailing from Michigan, this American quintet put on another energetic performance to a closely packed crowd. The performance was hindered however by sound problems. Vocalist David Strauchman's singing could hardly be heard at for the majority of the set, coupled with the short sharp bursts of feedback it left the crowd wanting more but for the wrong reasons. I've never seen them before and i still feel i've not experienced them properly.

Next we rushed back to the Atticus stage for Moneen. Now this was the first true shock of the day. They were fantastic. Sorely under-rated band who deserve all the recognition they get. The crowd there seemed to lap them up and respect them. They jumped around the stage at one point the singer even falling over. Check them out!

The Relentless stage was a joke. Stupidly packed for This Time Next Year we couldn't get any futher in than the bar. Even then the sound system packed in so we couldnt hear anything. It was ok though, get to see them 2 days after supporting Hit The Lights.

From there the main stage was the place to be. Hit The Lights (ironically after TTNY)

Oooh Sparkly! - Marina & The Diamonds, Sheffield Leadmill, 22/05/2010

She has a pretty distinct voice this Marina. I last saw her live on the NME radar tour below The Golden Silvers in early '09. Since then she's had an album out and burst into the scene. With a headline slot on the Festival Republic stage at Leeds and Reading Festival and a sell out headline tour, shes going somewhere indeed. To fair in personal opinion the album was average. I liked her demos. A lot. The album seems a bit dull. Not all the great demos are on it and they seemed to be replaced with pointless and boring songs that talk about frogs and various other strange subjects.

Onto the gig. Nice Sheffield gig. We like Sheffield gigs. So to the pub for a quick drink we went then onto Leadmill. We got into Leadmill, not much of a queue and sat... for a while. Didn't bother with the support this time, sounded pants.

For Miss Marina Lambrini Diamandis herself we got a decent enough place in the middle quite far back but still a pretty clear view. She came onstage in a most eloquent way with a video of her doing various strange things on in the background. Wearing over sized shades and a large amount of UV makeup she stood out like a sore thumb. But in the words of The Maccabees 'The most beautiful sore thumb I'd ever seen...' this girl coulda been a Bond girl. Strange fashion sense, musically talented, just stunning.... wow. My only complaint is that it feels the publicity may of gone to her head a little bit. Calling her crowd 'Her diamonds' felt like she thought she was better than the hundreds of people that paid good money to see her perform. Anyway as the stage was darkened with only UV lighting, her lips glowed as she started to sing 'Seventeen'. Possibly my favorite MATD song. The crowd didn't seem to really agree.

I dunno whether its where i was but the crowd was a bit timid. Not really moving. Apart from one middle aged guy who was camper than a pink row of tents, clapping and dancing about. Much to the amusement of the teens stood close by. Like a young, eloquent Kate Bush with only a piano and a stunning range of vocals, she transformed an exuberant crowd to hushed silence during 'Numb' followed by an equally moving 'Obsessions'. After another video and a quick change of eyewear, she returned after a teasing electro instrumental for the ego-sating 'Hollywood' which was only outdone by a dazzling rendition of 'Shampain'. For behaving on such a heady evening, her adoring Diamonds were treated to a stripped down cover of 3OH!3's 'Starstruck' before Saturday night was in full swing with the concluding 'Mowgli's Road'.

She was great, beautiful. Can't fault her. As for the crowd... well maybe I'm just getting used to this rock and roll style of gigs but it was quiet. Unnecessarily.

Peace

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Ben Burtt would be a proud man - A Wilhelm Scream, MOHO Manchester, 18/05/2010

Change of style of music with this one. Bit heavier than recent gigs, a warm up for Slam Dunk/Download perhaps? Can't complain.

New venue too, never been to Moho before but i plan on going again. The stage is pretty much floor level with only a barrier separating the crowd from the band. The roof is low and the entire venue is painted black with various drink logo's and clothing makes painted on the walls in white paint. It's like someone took Fibbers in York, squashed it so it was more of a square shape then threw Corp's interior designer in there. I loved it.

Failsafe and Thought Explode supported AWS. Thought Explode were only young lads. Bit rusty in their own words. Did enjoy it though, very melodic hardcore punk esc. Not much to say really. Failsafe are fairly known anyway, 2 albums under their belt and a 3rd on the way, plenty of material to play with. Another pretty melodic hardcore band, Failsafe knew how to play to a crowd. They got the crowd going and energy generally in the room flowing.

A Wilhelm Scream time (after approx 72.5% of the Jay-Z and Linkin Park cross over album on the sound system to which Adam seemed surprise i knew all the lyrics to the raps and singing :D ). The reason i love this band is because they are fast... very very fast and loud... very very loud and heavy... pretty damn heavy. Yet no real shouting. No heavy deep rough voices that over power the lyrics and music as a whole. If anything this band represent talent at its best. Ironically opening with 'Me Vs. Morrissey In The Pretentiousness Contest' in a Manchester venue the band quickly get the crowd jumping and crashing about. The set went on to have people crowd surfing directly onto the stage, almost knocking the lights off the roof. The band were pretty damn funny too with many an anecdote to tell we all seemed to be laughing when not violently moving our heads and feet to the musings of the 1000mph drums and bass. A big shout out has to go to the bassist.. ridiculously talented man. Possibly the best ive ever seen live. The crappy picture shows how manic and small that venue was.

Only complaint is that they didn't play my favourite song :( 'God Loves A Liar'. Otherwise.. Amazing night. Very warmed up for the next few weeks.

Peace

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Stables of fun....- New Young Pony Club, Lets Go Disco @ Sheffield Union, 7/5/2010

Yey i love free gigs. Especially ones of bands from my past. New Young Pony Club (or NYPC as they will now be called to save time while typing) was from my late school/early 6Th form years. Their indie electro pop sound is one that reminds me of years of indie club nights and festival playlists. This was a club night gig again so was late. Great fun though.

The support was in 2 forms. One band and one DJ. The music was supplied by Nicola Bear (Ibiza Rocks / Reclaim The Dance floor) a great indie mix for the night including underground and popular indie hits. The band was Maps Of Columbus... possibly the most insane band I've ever witnessed. Drugged up? Drunk? I dunno but it was very funny. As far as the music goes... meh. Was very stereotypical 2007/2008 indie sound. Nothing to shout about. However the performance its self was! With such achievements as getting the entire crowd to chant 'BADGER, BADGER, BADGER!' they instantly clicked and well and truly warmed up the small but eager crowd.

NYPC time and i totally forgot the majority of the band was female. Singer, keys and drummer all female.. all pretty hot. Through the set I'm gunna admit.. i fell in love with the keyboard player a little. Stunning. The band opened with my favorite NYPS (which i was a little gutted about) 'Get Lucky'. Was great to be fair and got the crowd bopping about. They played all their big songs and 4 or 5 off their new album. First gig Ive been to in a while where 1) the crowd was all guaranteed over 18 and 2)PEOPLE DANCED! The lead singer had a good set of lungs on her and lots of energy. As a whole the set was a lot of fun.. the drunken times afterwards also was a good laugh.. well what i remember.

Peace

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TUNE IT IN JOHN!! CORRIE'S ON!! - 65DaysOfStatic, Sheffield Octagon, 6/5/2010

The most wonderful thing about this gig is the fact i got to meet and interview the band before hand.. well, no i lied. The most spectacular wonderful thing about this gig is that it was amazing and FREE! I'm not a tight ass but a free gig that i enjoy... the perfect gift.

The interview went really well (with help from Mike on camera.. kinda). It was Joe, the 'lead' of the band, i had the satisfaction of meeting and questioning. Friendly chap with lots to say about how he's been truly inspired by decent music and good times. An edited video of the interview will be online soon enough (ill link it when its done).

Anyway on with the gig! This is 65days biggest ever home town gig. After all they are born and bread Steel City goodness. It felt homely and proud, like a decent mug of Yorkshire Tea. The Octagon hasn't been used much of recent months. I think the music scene blames the Academy for this. Big corporate venue booking all the bands and all... bastards.. but not for 65days!! From interviewing Joe i learnt that this venue had some meaning for him anyway and that they wanted to stick to a proper Sheffield venue for this gig. And I'm very very happy they did.

I'll mention the support... but that's about it. Firstly, Nerdy. A Bjork esc lead singer mixed with a brick left on a synth on full blast. I say Bjork, if Bjork was being forced to push a Land rover up her fanny, that's about the right sound of her voice. This was followed by Loops Haunt.. a man with a skill... a skill to push buttons in time with a 4/4 beat. That's all he did. One long 30 min song where he pushed buttons and spun something now and again to change the sound or make a squeeky effect... actually suicidal. I have no idea why these two supported 65DOS but all i was thinking at this point was 'If they don't blow my mind.. im gunna be pissed off i had to sit through this bollocks'.

They made up for it.

The new album is a lot dancier than the older stuff but it mixed perfectly within the set list. Opening with 'Go Complex' off the new album, straight off the mark everybody was moving one way or another. As the set went on, people got heavier and livelier with their dancing. The band themselves had an aura about them that can only be explained as a mix of the atmospheric feel of Radiohead and energy of someone like Fall Out Boy (early, good FOB) yet the music sounds like neither. 65 have no lyrics in their songs. 65 have no set time signature. 65 have no typical song layout. Live, they are pure energy and atmosphere through music. Heavy guitars, beating drums, thriving synth. Its just pure sex. They went on to play songs of both old and new including 'Tiger Girl', '65 Doesn't Understand You', 'A Failsafe', 'Await Rescue', 'Dance, Dance, Dance' and the fantastic 'Retreat! Retreat!' to which, the very little, amount of lyrics/words were screamed back at the band before people were jumping, spinning, moshing, raving about the venue like a room full of epileptic fits.

All the way through the set i couldn't help but feel a faint sense of horror in the bassist eyes. He looked angry, murderous you might say. Yet there was a distance in his eyes of reality. So into the music he was. He seemed to lose concept of normal human facial expressions. It was fun.

They ended the set (after going off and coming back on for the encore) with a true bang. 'Radio Protector' with the slow piano start is simply spine tingling live. Every person in that venue knew what was coming and as the piano got louder and higher in pitch, we all including the band went stiff for a second before those wonderful drums kick in with toms and crashes that make muscles you didn't even knew you had move in ways you never thought possible... that was only the first couple of minutes of the song. Never mind the 'breakdown' before the massive explosion of the song that turns into the pure rhythmic spiral orgy of dance, classical and rock that is the final 3 mins of the song. I know Ive gone on about one song for an entire paragraph... but it really is that good.

SEE THIS BAND! That's my only advise. They are playing Tramlines Festival in Sheffield on the 25Th July for FREE! Take some time out and just see them.

Peace

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Late Night Reading - The Book Club, Flux Club @ The Leadmill, 2/5/2010

Well the award for first band with 2 reviews goes to *drum roll*... THE BOOK CLUB!! Well, technically not... i saw Frankie T 2 days in a row but i did both gigs in one review. So that don't count.

Any who... This gig was a club night gig so was a late one. Book Club went on stage about half 11ish. No support. Therefore this will be short un'. This was however in the main room of The Leadmill. It'd been a while since a gig in this room, first one of 2010 if my memory is correct. SO the band came on stage to a medium sized crowd and a pretty small cheer. 'Hi's and 'thank's straight away then into 'Justice for the 96' followed straight into 'Anarchist'. To be honest the entire set list was pretty standard Book Club.. mainly due to the fact there is only 1 demo and 1 EP to go off. Half way through the set they did spring a new one onto the crowd that seemed to go well. Before playing their most famous song 'Somewhere Near Oxford'. Which to my surprise i turned round to see the crowd had grew and quite a few people sang along. Throughout the night Joe winked, nodded and smiled at various people in the crowd (presuming he knew them) which gave the gig a more homely, unsigned feel. Ending the set with the newest released single 'Wheelbarrows for Wallets' they went off stage with a big thanks to the crowd. Another fine set from Joe and the gang. A true decent home grown band. God Bless Sheffield.

Peace

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Jock Takeover - Biffy Clyro, Sheffield Academy, 30/04/2010

The level of Biffy Clyro's success is a varying one. Two years ago i saw them on the main stage at Leeds Fest. Back then they were a big'ish' rock band with one or two realised songs that truly got a lot of air time. Since then at least 4 songs have been realised and another album which has truly propelled Biffy and especially lead singer Simon Neil into the lime light. With the new album they've gone for a more main stream sound than previous tracks. Withs songs such as 'Mountains' and 'The Captain' played constantly where ever you go. The day before the gig they announced a UK arena tour and main support for Muse at Wemberly Stadium... ultimately reflecting the success they really are. So this potentially is the last ever Biffy Clyro Academy tour. This was certainly not a gig to be missed.

I went to the gig alone.. sad i know but i didn't wanna miss out. I had no idea who the support were when i went in either. I went straight from work and again seen as i was alone... i had nothing to do but go straight in. I'm so glad i did.

Opening was the local but arising synth driven mathcore band Rolo Tomassi. With a new album on its way (Cosmology) I'm guessing this opener slot was to get their name out there. Not to mention the fact they seem to be playing every festival going this summer. Their performance was short lived but impressive. Lead singer Eva is what a female front woman should be. Good looking and a little mental. The crowd didn't seem to impressed... I feel it may of been a bit heavy for them. Problem is my money was on that 75% of the crowd know Biffy through Radio 1 and have no idea how heavy they are live. As an opener goes, Rolo Tomassi were great on paper. Loud, fast and energetic. I thought Biffy was on next, i had no idea there was to by another little surprise.

The Twilight Sad... If you haven't heard of them. Listen to them. Think a cross between Editors and Biffy and you have the general idea. Now these were the perfect support. The 30-40 min set was perfect in its atmospheric heartfelt sound. The crowd was pretty quiet and watched in a sense or awe. The lighting helped, who ever they take on tour with them did a great job. They didn't say much while playing but didn't need to. Ending the set with 'Cold Days From The Birdhouse' The Twilight Sad made me feel happy i turned up early. Happy i was at work till 6 not leaving enough time to go home. Happy i bought the ticket 6 months previous on a whim that i would have anyone to go with.

The sold out crowd started to grow and grow and get more and more cramped. Biffy took to the stage half naked (top half) which only led me to think 'Well i suppose you save on washing'. Opening with a heavier than recorded version on 'Golden Rule' the crowd cheered with excitement. The hard hitting songs like 'Shock Shock' and 'Saturday Superhouse' seemed to split the crowd. Half instantly loved it and went mental, the other half looked confused for the first few seconds to almost say 'This isn't biffy... its too heavy'. What that latter half seem to be blissfully unaware of is that Biffy Clyro are a rock band.. not an indie band as they have naively seen as of recent months.

They can also chill the crowd with softer tracks including 'Many Of Horror', 'God and Satan', 'Machines' and 'Justboy' before inspiring them into chorus with the more rock orientated hits like 'Who's Got a Match', 'Mountains', and 'The Captain'. Biffy cover all grounds with their live performances. The bare-chested and bearded Simon Neil is as wild a front man as you'd ever want to see and hear while flame haired bassist James and his drummer brother Ben also engage themselves to the crowd, who can't help but lap up the unique atmosphere. For the mainstream songs such as 'There's No Such Thing As A Jaggy Snake' the crowd responded well with hardcore fans singing along and going mental. Its apparent at this gig that its the recent album that's truly captured the nations heart. The encore consisted of 4 songs 'Cloud Of Stink', 'Machines' which had the crowd singing passionately along, 'Convex, Concave' and 'The Captain' which was the perfect way to end the night with a massive amount of movement and singalong waving of arms.

I advise people to see this band one way or another. They do not fail to impress.

Peace

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