Monday 30 August 2010

If You Wanna - The Vaccines

On the 18th August Zane Lowe had this track as his "Hottest Record".

"Tonight's HR is an instant vintage classic. And also, the first recording we've ever heard from this band. Talk about setting the bar high! The Vaccines 'If You Wanna' is like some long lost pop gem but instead heralds something new & exciting..."

Forward to 27th August and it drops in my inbox, sometimes it's great writing a blog. Sadly there was little other information than that but it's all about the music, right?

MP3: If You Wanna - The Vaccines

Friday 27 August 2010

Some Great News

Remember the good old days when you used to get something exciting in the post, well those days are gone but they have been replaced by the wonders of email. Just the other day I got an email through from the gentlemen above. The Jones, who we've covered a few times before, have ditched Atomic and have signed to CaraL Management. They've not been doing this totally in the quiet, they announced in March that they were still together and working underground but now it seems they're ready to face the world. I've no news on new material but here is a box.net link to The Girl Is Like A Gun, my favourite track that I still listen to on a regular basis. Think early Muse with a Leeds influence.

MP3: The Girl Is Like A Gun - The Jones

Saturday 21 August 2010

Two awesome bands in one song




So if you wanted to get me really excited you'd tell me that the band who recorded my most played album of the year had covered a song of my favourite album of last year, oh and that they'd done a decent job. You can tell where I'm going with this can't you, I'm no mystery writer that's for sure. So all I need to do is hand over the weapon that is Mumford and Sons singing White Lies brilliant song Unfinished Business and let the track do the rest.

MP3: Unfinished Business (White Lies Cover) - Mumford and Sons

Thursday 19 August 2010

Bristol v Sheffield - Two Bands Of Tomorrow?


Just over a year ago I got a couple of golden ticket "pass-outs" from my then pregnant wife to see two bands I really wanted to see, Kalenko and Call The Doctor. They were playing in their local city of residence music festival in Sheffield (Tramlines) and Bristol (Harbour Festival) respectively. In fact on the bottom photo of Kalenko you can me and Schonberg if you look closely. Anyway a year has passed, my wife gave birth to a beautiful girl, the bands have both been working hard and as they have just played the festivals I thought it was time to catch up with them and see how it's going. You'll have to excuse Rob's (CTD) sense of humour it's obviously a defence mechanism against Elliott's good looks.

Hit play and listen to these tracks as you read the interview below:

MP3: Lights Out - Kalenko
MP3: For Your Leisure - Call The Doctor

You’ve just played Tramlines / Harbour one year on since I last saw you, how’s the last year been for you?

Kal:
The last year has been steadily progressive. We've worked hard at our sound and set list. We consciously aimed for a more instantaneous live show; the key to converting an audience into a fan base is the first few songs. Last year, our first few songs would set the atmosphere, which is great if you have 45 minutes. But with the standard 30 minute sets we get asked to play, it is paramount that we capture peoples attention early on and hold it throughout.


CTD:
ITS BEEN GREAT, SINCE WE LAST PLAYED WE RECORDED A MINI-ALBUM, DID A COUPLE OF TOURS, PLAYED WITH BAND OF SKULLS, FOXY SHAZAM AT THE BARFLY, AND SHONEN KNIFE AT THE THEKLA, SORTED A DISTRIBUTION DEAL FOR THE RECORD WITH GLASSTONE, RELEASED IT, PLAYED MORE GIGS AND THEN LAST FEW MONTHS WE'VE BEEN STARTING THE SONGWRITING PROCESS AGAIN. WE JUST GOT BOOKED AS MAIN SUPPORT FOR OASIS' REFORMATION TOUR IN 2012



How was the festival compared to last year? Do you think the festival as a whole has improved?

Kal:
I think Tramlines is the best thing Sheffield has to offer. The buzz on the city streets in incredible, and it's important for the local venues to keep supporting the local talent. We see it as the one chance of a&r coming to us, instead of us travelling down to them.


CTD:
THERES MORE GOING ON THIS YEAR, ITS EXPANDED TO CASTLE PARK. WE PLAYED THE SAME VENUE BUT MUCH HIGHER UP THE BILL AND HAD A REALLY GOOD AUDIENCE, THERE WERE ROUGHLY 13,024 PEOPLE WATCHING US IN THE LOUISIANA - 1 IN, 1 OUT. GOOD TIMES.


What’s been your best moment from the last twelve months?


Kal:
Our best moment was being picked up by Tom Robinson on BBC 6Music. We got played as unsigned band of the week, which really boosted us to push things forward. We had some interest following that, and plan to chase that up in the coming months, with our first single release.


CTD:
I THINK GAINING A FEW GENUINE FANS FROM PLACES AS FAR FLUNG AS MEXICO, SWEDEN AND AUSTRIA. PEOPLE THAT WE DONT KNOW CHOOSING TO BUY OUR MUSIC IS THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU CAN HAVE. WE HAD ONE GUY


You’ve written a few tunes in the last twelve months, how has your music progressed?


Kal:
Generally, i think we have refined our sound. It is satisfying to know that our earlier songs still stand up to the new material. We feel that our early songs seem more like the album tracks - a little more experimental. The latest material seems much more upbeat, without losing that sinister nature for which we have become known.


CTD:
WELL ITS GOING TWO WAYS AT PRESENT, WITH SOME POPPIER SONGS (THAT STILL ROCK) AS WELL AS SOME TRACKS THAT DONT FOLLOW THE TRADITIONAL VERSE-CHORUS-VERSE-CHORUS-BRIDGE-DOUBLE CHROUS SONG STRUCTURE. GOT SOME DRUM AND BASS AND DUBSTEP REMIXES IN THE BAG TOO. OUR DRUMMER IS REALLY INTO DISNEY SO WE ARE GONNA BE INCORPORATING SOME FAIRY TALE MAGIC INTO THE NEXT ALBUM IF HE GETS HIS WAY


If you were signed by a major label tomorrow would the whole band be up for it, would you quit your jobs?

Kal:
That's what we're in it for. Unfortunately, the way the industry is heading, it looks more and more like bands have to fund themselves while writing, recording & touring. If someone offered us something that enabled us to quit our jobs, then I would envisage a big leap forward in the calibre of product we create.


CTD:
HELL YES.

Talking of jobs, what are you doing to pay the large costs of being in a band?

Kal:
All of us have office jobs. Our Jonny (drums) used to work in a bar, but we convinced to get rid of that to make time for the band.


CTD:
WE'RE ALL DOCTORS OF SORTS. WASN'T THAT OBVIOUS ALREADY? (A vet's not a proper Doctor is it now Rob, I don't want you to come running if they shout "Is There a doctor on board?" - Jal)

You’ve built up a good following, what now, what will get you that break through?


Kal:
It was unnerving when our uni friends slowly migrated elsewhere. Conversely, it feels good when we win over new fans now - we've progressed past the 'friends and family' fanbase...although not exclusively. Our following is still growing, and we look to really push things over the next few months, to gather a bit of steam. It is important not to forget the brand away from the music - 'Sheffield's best Russian band' is something we hope people will remember.


CTD:
THIS INTERVIEW I HOPE


For bands who are trying to make it, what have you learnt along the way?


Kal:
Do something different; Unfortunately, it isn't all about the music.


CTD:
BUY ONE GET ONE FREE JAEGER-BOMBS ARE NEVER A GOOD IDEA BEFORE YOU PLAY.


Finally, what do you predict for your band in the next twelve months?


Kal:
Continued record label interest would be nice, and a few more high profile shows. We intend to move things down to the capital for a few weekends, as we've yet to explore the sights and sounds of London. All in all, continued support from people like yourself, (flattery always helps - Jal) and eventually people in high places will come around to Kalenko's way of doing things.


CTD:
MORE TUNES, MORE GIGS, MORE FESTIVALS, MORE DISNEY AND MORE BUY ONE GET ONE FREE J-BOMBS OF COURSE




So there you have it. Kalenko plan to release a single in October so we'll be getting behind that nearer the time. Call The Doctor's mini album is available from HMV.com

Tuesday 17 August 2010

Something a bit different


boyChild is lucky, I left his tunes on Soundcloud playing again and again. Normally I would have killed this track after one play but I didn't. I'm not sure boyChild will actually feel that lucky just because I like his track and am sharing it with you guys but here goes anyway. It's an instrumental piece, a dark piano track with, wait for it, more programmed drums. This isn't the way I intend to head with this blog it's just what's popping up in my inbox at the moment. Adding the strings and it's something you find yourself depressed with and enjoying at the same time.

MP3: Salad Days - boyChild

Sunday 15 August 2010

Coming At You Tonight - Quick Tip



The Ultimate Battle of the Bands

Well that's what Legion of Many are calling Sky 1's new show Must Be The Music. Then again they would, they're on it tonight. Not only that but playing bass for them is none other than Pete "Mighty Rufus" Atkinson. To prove the point, the American based band are playing Pete's abode, Bristol next Friday 20th. Hope it goes well tonight Pete.

Wednesday 11 August 2010

Something Special from Sheffield

I spent a lot of time on Wednesday searching for a Sheffield band that I could get behind. I got frustrated by a lot of mediocre bands that hadn't found their sound yet. A lot of the demo quality music I listened to offered nothing new, in fact they didn't even offer a good version of old stuff. Eventually I came across a band I liked but then I couldn't get you a track cleared for posting, on I searched. Some time later and much later than I planned to be still looking I came across Driftrun. This four piece from South Yorkshire add a touch of drum and bass (yep, the description nearly put me off too) to the traditional guitar sound and show how mixing genres can work. If you've been reading this blog for a while I would describe their sound a bit like Humaniser, a Manc band with an electronic influence. I got in touch with the band and thankfully Chris Goodyear, the guy behind some of the vocals, guitar and in charge of programming, got back in touch with this track, my favourite off their MySpace. Addiction moves on at a fair lick, the vocals from lead singer Rich Gill are Richard Ashcroft esq at time and it has a real fast driving song feel to it. Comments are always appreciated.

Driftrun's coming up adventures:


"30th August - weston party - an outdoor music event being put on by us featuring seven Sheffield acts including us.
2nd October - headlining mainstage at corperation
6th November - O2 academy - charity gig"

MP3: Addiction - Driftrun

Wednesday 4 August 2010

Friends to the rescue!

A few weeks ago I was feeling pretty bored with some of the music around at the moment, so sent out an appeal to some friends (including JAL) to recommend me some albums. Following a mini-shopping spree on Amazon, I thought I'd share three of the best with you:

XX- The XX

What's that about not judging a book by the cover? When I heard the band's name and saw the black cover, I presumed some kind of My Chemical Romance spawn, but couldn't have been more wrong. The Mercury Prize nominated three-piece from London have produced a stunning début album, with the easy 'Intro' being followed up by 'VCR' and 'Crystalised', the stand-out tracks. If I had to compare them to another group, they're soft vocals and steady beats would edge me towards Massive Attack...


Hombre Lobo - Eels

From the first few beats of this 'concept' album, you know you're back listening to Eels. The rough voice of E echoes throughout 'Prizefighter', transporting you to a car with the roof down, road-tripping across America. 'In My Dreams' follows shortly after, (with a familiar nod to to 'Mr E's Beautiful Blues), before the drum-led 'Tremendous Dynamite' claims it's crown as the lead album track.

MP3: Tremendous Dynamite - Hombre Lobo

Brothers - The Black Keys

Several albums in, and The Black Keys have broken away from being the band that makes songs for TV and Film. This is an album that gets your toes moving, as 'Everlasting Light' kicks in and instantly engages. The Bluesy two-piece are often compared to the White Stripes, but if you want a hint of The Jimi Hendrix Experience thrown in for good measure, 'She's Long Gone' will be the track for you.

Monday 2 August 2010

Music To Wake Up To

OK, so I've taken the plunge and bought myself an iPhone. Then I discovered I can't easily create ringtones AND even more importantly, I can't have Mr Burns exclaim it's 'Excellent' when I get a new text. However I have finally managed to change my Alarm so it wakes my up with The Boo Radleys and the album version of Wake Up Boo! For those of you unaware of this version it's a softly, softly approach. So if you need a megaphone to get you out of bed this probably isn't the ringtone / alarm for you.

M4R: Wake Up Boo! - The Boo Radleys