Wednesday, April 8, 2009

The Joy Formidable announce UK tour

And you could see them for FREE for the rest of your life....


The Welsh trio have announced their first full-length UK headlining tour kicking off May 31st in Liverpool.

Having just completed a stint with Howling Bells and Chew Lips, their up-coming tour sees them playing 10 nights across the country over 12 days.

For a chance to see The Joy Formidable LIVE for FREE for the rest of your life, pre-order new single Whirring. Not only will you receive a signed copy and an exclusive whirring 35mm badge but you will also be entered into a competition to win one of 10 pairs of Willy-Whirring golden tickets, giving you lifetime free entry into any headlining TJF gig.

Watch the Whirring Video

MAY 31st Liverpool Barfly
JUNE 1st Newcastle Academy 2
2nd York Fibbers
3rd The Royal Derby
5th Manchester Ruby Lounge
7th Birmingham Bar Academy
8th London Borderline
9th Cambridge Portland
10th Southampton Joiners Arms
11th Brighton Audio

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Little Comets in Sheffield: Public Transport and the Boardwalk

Like Piped Pipers of the North, Little Comets, lured a collection of indie miscreants – camera-phones at the ready - onto a Sheffield tram for a pre-gig sing-along ahead of their headlining slot at Sheffield’s Boardwalk on Friday.

Riding the four short stops down to the Boardwalk, Little Comets, surrounded by a horde of excitable fans and a few disgruntled-looking commuters, launched into an almost perfect rendition of Friday Don't Need It followed by Who's My Fiancé? and Dancing Song.

Five minutes later, the tram pulled into Castle Square and the procession of camera-phones continued down the street, much to the bewilderment of regular Sheffield folk.

Freshly back on UK soil after a stint in France recording their debut album (the boys got back in the wee hours of Thursday), Matt, Mark, Micky and Rob resumed a tour that was interrupted to record some songs proper-like.

Excited to be in Sheffield with their recently acquired merchandise, the boys storm through a brief but very energetic set including recent single One Night In October and favourites Joanna and Adultery.

They might not be the first band to decide to gig on public transport (remember The Others?) nor have they developed any sort of distinguishing iconic branding (ala The Horrors), but Little Comets have nurtured an invigorating blend of chirpy hyper-active tunes that will seep into the stagnant mainstream and slap generic indie round the face. Provided of course their songs don't all end up sounding like variants of the same basic formula.

Whoever said the music industry booms in a recession was obviously expecting gems like Little Comets.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Little Comets: One Night in OCT-TOW-BER

My deepest apologies for the severe delay in posting recently. It is not that I have nothing to write about. Quite the opposite in fact - I have too much I need to write about. So, finally, here's a little about Little Comets.

Over excited Geordies, Little Comets, are about to resume their mini tour, hitting Stoke, Sheffield and Newcastle, after being forced to take a break to record their album in France. A rather amusing post appeared on their myspace blog concerning zoos and elephants in relation to the events that led up to their tour cancellation.

Rammed full of enthusiasm, recent single, One Night In October, set them up for a promising 2009, defining an unmistakeable sound that combines woops, whurrs, cowbells, guitars and beautifully forceful vocals. Imagine the Black Kids' performing I'm Not Gunna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You after binging on E numbers and you begin to get an idea for the mash up these little northerners have produced.

Little Comets are making music that punches you in the face and asks you to sit up and take notice. Even the more chilled out Joanna makes you want to nod your head in a joyful fashion as you long for warm summer days.

Keep your ears peeled for more of their catchy northern soundclash coming your way soon. And hopefully a review here of their upcoming Sheffield gig at the Boardwalk.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

So many things - so little time!

The title says it all really. There are many ideas, bands, concepts, artists I want to talk about/review/discuss and I just haven't had time to get on this blog and write anything in the last week or so.

So in just a quick little post, before I disappear to try and crack some shorthand, to point you in the direction of a few little bands I've been noticing recently (or watching carefully for some months). I hope to get some time to review/write about in general soon so this will provide my prompting list. In the mean time feel free to have a nose about on your own...

Sargasso Trio - From Norfolk, featured on Hot City Sounds album last summer along with other Norwich/Norfolk lovelies such as The Kabeedies, Bearsuit, The Neutrinos and Violet Violet. Baby, I'm Depraved has got me hooked and wanting more.

La Roux - catchy and getting some mainstream attention at the moment. NME and OMM and others have been tipping little Elly Jackson for big things in 2009. Single, In For The Kill has probably been chirping out of a radio near you recently.

And the others:
Lykke Li
Little Comets - Newcastle band. Make noises with a variety of things. Look out for One Night In October available to dl or buy from a shop now I do believe.
The Joy Formidable - flipping marvellous welsh lovelies who are a treat live.
Sam Issac - about to go on tour again.
Ladyhawke - has just/is just about to re-release Paris Is Burning
Polly Scattergood
Inner Party System
The Gentlemen
Emmy The Great

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Bambi Get Over It

A lone guitar entices you into Jeanie, the first track on Bambi Get Over It's self titled 2008 EP. The bass gently oozes into your subconscious and before you know it your sucked through the CD to the hyperactive Bad Man and a punchy rendition of Boi. Finally you're deposited at the end of the EP by the eerie wail of closing track Severed.

The distinctive sound of Bambi is a carefully sculpted melting pot of funked-up bass, jangling guitars, mandolin with a dollop of 'ooompa's, and 'boi's. Formed in October 2007, the five piece have been performing their special brand of catchy indie tunes across the cobbled paths of Norwich, England for some time now.

Outright experimentation means Bambi have created wonderously individual songs that seep into your soul and rampage through your veins - somehow managing to be energising and relaxing all at once.

Listening to Bambi Get Over It is like reclining in the shade on a hot summer's day sipping ginger iced tea at a barn dance. Eccentric, peculiar but actually damn cool.


Listen to the tracks, get the latest gig information or ask Bambi to play in your city at Bambi Get Over It

Monday, February 16, 2009

Put your hands up for Zane - We love this DJ: LCR, UEA Norwich November 2006

NB: THIS REVIEW WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED IN December 2006 ON MY PREVIOUS BLOG. I have decided to pull all my music reviews/comments etc into one dedicated music blog. A select few old articles will be posted here alongside new posts. Enjoy!


The Master of new music returned to UEA last night (November 30, 2006) and delivered a musical lecture not to be forgotten. From the Beastie Boys to Justice vs Simian to the running man to Pendulum via The Killers, House of Pain and Faithless, Zane Lowe held his apprentices captive from the first beat.

Hot from his Radio 1 show, Zane took command the second he stepped up to the decks. And the crowd dutifully responded to his orders to get themselves on the dancefloor. Packed tighter than ten elephants in a mini, the LCR marinated in a delicate combination of sweat and fat juicy tracks. Littered with truly bizarre moments; a butt naked man getting on stage to do the running man and the sheer madness of everyone moshing to Last Night fighting for the last square inch, the LCR was at the beck and call of Mr Zane Lowe, DJ extrordinaire.

Unbelievably Zane Lowe’s performances at UEA are yet to be a sell out night. His eclectic mix and sheer skill as a DJ make this one of the best nights the student union holds and well worth the fiver for the ticket. Refreshingly, Zane seems to LOVE UEA unconditionally. Like a loving father, he comes back to his illegitimate children and teaches them how to dance their socks off to the most gorgeous, thumping musical concoctions. If you haven’t yet witnessed Zane’s mastery in the LCR make it your new years resolution to go before the end of 2007.

Yellowcard at the LCR, UEA Norwich March 2006

NB: REVIEW WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED IN March 2006 ON MY OLD BLOG.
I have decided to pull all my music reviews/comments etc into one dedicated music blog. A select few old articles will be posted here alongside new posts. Enjoy!


On the last night of their UK tour Yellowcard inflict their rock and violin combination on an unsuspecting UEA.

Support act, Engerica, received mixed reactions from the crowd. An impressive set, but at a time when the rock genre is at saturation we need something new and different. And on tonight's performance, that's not going to be Energica.

Yellowcard on the other hand, were in control of the UEA crowd directing the mosh pit into chaos and scaling the imposing speakers.

Violinist, Sean Mackin, demonstrated that it is possible to play and jump simultaneously. After an astounding drum solo, drummer, Longineu "LP" Parsons III, briefly clambered from behind his kit to shake his dreadlocks at the crowd.

As the LCR sang along to breakthrough single, Way Away, only second in the setlist, there were fears the band may have peaked too soon. But it was trumped by a selection of stonking tunes throughout the night, proving Yellowcard deserve more recognition.

Standing outside on the cold March night, chatting to the band afterwards, it became apparent how genuine they are. Out to have a good time doing what they love, braving the cold signing the variety of objects proffered at them; including shoes! Yellowcard seemed estatic to have played UEA and more than willing to hang around afterwards.

There aren't many bands who would do this, but then Yellowcard aren't your average band.