ISSUE 8
GLASVEGAS . DOES IT OFFEND YOU YEAH . EXAMPLE . REEL BIG FISH . GALLOWS . KING CHARLES . JAPANESE VOYEURS . BLANCMANGE . NEVER SHOUT NEVER . SMILE WEEK
www.audio-addict.co.uk
Friday 1st July - 3rd July 2011
TRICKY - FRANK TURNER FENECH-SOLER - GOLD PANDA
DELAYS - ANDY BURROWS - SUMMER CAMP CRAZY P SOUNDSYSTEM - ALEX CLARE - CHAD VALLEY SUBGIANT - DUB PISTOLS - MAN LIKE ME - SOUND OF RUM
KING CHARLES - JAMES YUILL-DAVID E SUGAR - IMPERIAL LEISURE CHRIS T-T - SIXNATIONSTATE - SEAN BROSNAN - DOM CHUNG VARIOUS CRUELTIES - EMILY AND THE WOODS - BEANS ON TOAST
COLIN MACINTYRE LEAH MASON - TOM BUDDEN - GARY BENNETTON FEAR OF THEYDON - RIDNEY - TREETOP FLYERS - MAXXI SOUNDSYSTEM THE RIFF RAFF - SOMBRERO SOUND SYSTEM - OLLY SALTER AND BENZO I DREAM IN COLOUR - POLLY & THE BILLETS DOUX - D-WARRIOR SOUNDTRACKS - HANDSOME DAVE ROCKER - LITTLE CHIEF - STEVE O’CONNOR ZOO LOOK - STU CLARK / WOLF MUSIC - ALLY WOLF - SWEET DREAMS - REMNANT PSYCHE
THE WIDOWMAKER - ACHILLES - BOB FLETCHER - BURNING IDOLS - CHARLIE AYLIFFE - FLY FRANKIE FLY HEATHWARD JOHNNY P. TAYLOR- JOHNNY P. TAYLOR - THE MOHO - KOZMIK KEN - KINGMAN COUNTY DEAD RED SUN
Blissfields 2011 Weekend Ticket Prices:
Adult: £65.00 + Booking Fee £4.95 - Youth: £42.00 + Booking Fee £4.95
Under 6: Free No Booking Fee (Please note a nominal fee of 1p is charged to register the purchase)
The Park, Vicarage Farm, Woodmancott, Winchester, SO21 3BL www.blissfields.co.uk
Picture Credit: Tara Perera
SMILE 2011 IDENTITY THIEF JOINERS SOUTHAMPTON 01.03.11 www.audio-addict.co.uk
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NEWS
CONTENTS DOES IT OFFEND YOU YEAH?
8
14 16 6 20 30 26
24
25
26 10
10 Nate Dog
12 24
smile
Reel Big Fish Gallows Never Shout Never King Charles BlancMange TessaracT 32 The Great Escape
4
28
30
Audio Addict
Picture Credit: Rich Cook, Mr Exploding, Darcie Tanner, Michael Radley
EXAMPLE LIVE
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22
12
GLASVEGAS
6 Front Section
22
8
18 32
Welcome  to  another  addition  of  your  favorite  student  music  magazine,  Audio  Addict. :LWK 6SULQJ ¿QDOO\ KHUH ZH FDQ DOO ORRN forward  to  lighter  nights,  the  smell  of  bbq  in  the  air  and,  most  importantly,  festival  season.  (Check  out  our  preview  of  this  years  Great  Escape  Festival) In  this  issue  we  have  for  you  an  exclusive  interview  with  Indie  giants  Glasvegas,  stop  off  for  a  quick  chat  ZLWK HOHFWURQLF QRLVH RXW¿W 'RHV ,W Offend  You,  Yeah?  And  have  a  catch  up  with  legendary  ska  band  Reel  Big  Fish.  On  top  of  that  we  have  all  the  latest  news  and  reviews,  including  this  year’s  Smile  Festival. With  summer  just  around  the  corner,  why  not  take  a  load  off,  dust  off  the  deck  chair  and  enjoy  this  months  Audio  Addict. Enjoy  x
Georgia  Weaving Sophia  Roberts Michael  Radley Keeley  Bullis Sub  Editor Design  Editor Features  Editor F/S  Editor
Hello  all  :)
Liam  Martin Reviews  Editor
THE Â TEAM
Richard  Cook Editor
Tara  Perera. Tom  Quickfall. Rachael  Pottle. Carl  Gwynne. Katy  Ladyman. Ben  Radcliffe. Rachael  Anderson. Nick  Pollard.
www.audio-Âaddict.co.uk
5
6
Audio Addict
Picture Credit: Ben Mizraya
forty characters
THE WORLD in one hundred and
Hype Williams Tom Quickfall
Braids and Star Slinger Rob Ferguson
James Vincent McMarrow Rachael Anderson
Yaaks Elliot Muharrem
TesseracT and Periphery Ben Radcliffe
WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO
FRONT SECTION GOBSTOPPER IS NOT ENOUGH
WE’RE DESPERATE FOR CLUES WHAT’S MORE INTERESTING? FOUR WINDOW FAMILY PUB AS TO WHY THIS BAND IS LOOKING AT A ONE THOUSAND RELEASING ANOTHER ALBUM YEAR OLD TREE OR LOOKING AT THE BACK OF THIS WIRE- LESS?
GUESS THE BANDS
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www.audio-addict.co.uk
Japanese  disaster  sparks  celebrity  fundraising Japanese  death  toll  reaches  10,000  with  thousands  of  bodies  still  missing Almost  3  weeks  since  Japan  was  struck  by  reliefâ€?  in  just  48  hours.  Bowling  For  Soup  two  catastrophic  natural  disasters  and  the  and  Linkin  Park  designed  t-Âshirts  with  all  GHDWK WROO FRQÂżUPDWLRQ H[FHHGV ZLWK the  proceeds  going  to  the  relief  effort  and  thousands  of  bodies  yet  to  be  found.
Blink  182  set  up  a  charity  auction  on  eBay  selling  their  old  lyric  sheets,  backstage Â
On  the  11th  May  a  9.0-Âmagnitude  earthquake  passes  and  clothing  from  a  music  video.  Liam  struck  the  north-Âeast  coast  of  Japan  and  Gallagher  and  his  new  band  Beady  Eye  were  triggered  a  giant  tsunami  which  left  the  ¿UVW WR DQQRXQFH D FKDULW\ JLJ ZKLFK ZLOO entire  country  in  turmoil.  Collectively,  the  take  place  on  the  3rd  April  at  Brixton  O2  two  natural  disasters  have  killed  over  10,000  Academy.  The  gig  features  performances  from  people  with  over  12,000  still  missing  and  Beady  Eye,  Richard  Ashcroft,  The  Coral,  thousands  left  homeless  after  approximately  Primal  Scream,  Graham  Coxon  and  Paul  Weller.  14,000  homes  were  destroyed.  BBC  reports  Tickets  are  sold  out  but  further  information  VWDWH WKDW ÂłWKH TXDNH ZDV WKH ÂżIWK ODUJHVW can  be  found  on  Beady  Eye’s  website. in  the  world  since  1900â€?.  Further  tremors  from  the  earthquake  caused  a  nuclear  power  A  further  fundraising  event  will  be  held  plant  in  Fukishima  to  explode  situated  140  at  The  Hoxton  Pony  in  Shoreditch,  London  on  miles  north-Âeast  of  Tokyo.  A  radiation  leak  the  31st  March.  The  Help  Japan  gig  sees  a  seeped  into  the  water  and  air  but  after  variety  of  performances  from  acts  such  as  initial  concern  over  nuclear  crisis  the  Kyle  Falconer  (The  View),  The  Subways  and  Ed  incident  didn’t  prove  to  be  as  disastrous  as  Sheeran.  There  will  be  DJ  sets  from  Calvin  WKH -DSDQHVH JRYHUQPHQW ÂżUVW WKRXJKW 0DQ\ Harris,  Mark  Ronson,  Olubenga  (Metronomy)  music  artists  have  shown  their  support  by  and  Huw  Stephens  (Radio  1)  plus  many  more.  at  charity  concerts  and  selling  specialised  can  be  found  on  The  Hoxton  Pony  website. merchandise  in  an  attempt  to  raise  money  for  those  effected  in  Japan.
Money  raised  from  the  two  events  will  be  given  to  the  British  Red  Cross  Tsunami Â
Lady  Gaga  designed  a  Prayer  for  Japan  bracelet  Appeal.  If  you  wish  to  donate  please  visit  which,  according  to  her  twitter,  had  raised  their  website. “a  quarter  of  a  million  dollars  for  Japan  www.redcross.org.uk
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Audio  Addict
Michael  Radley
Picture  Credit:  Red  Cross
launching  fundraising  campaigns,  performing  Tickets  are  on  sale  now  and  the  full  line  up Â
NEWS
Reading  and  Leeds  line  up  announced The  summer  bash  will  be  providing  top  name  acts,  the  almighty  MUSE,  new  jersey  pop- PHWDOLVWV 0< &+(0,&$/ 520$1&( DQG RQH RI LQGLH URFNÂśV ÂżQHVW 7+( 6752.(6 $ORQJ with  the  three  headliners   we  have  been  offered  the  likes  of  PULP,  30  SECONDS  TO  MARS,  THE  VACCINES,  NEW  FOUND  GLORY  and  FRIENDLY  FIRES  to  name  a  few.  There  have  been  mixed  feelings  towards  this  years  line  up,  fans  of  the  festival  disputed  this  years  line  up  on  the  Reading  &  Leeds  Twitter  page  with  the  following  tweets..   Emilytheloser  said:  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Is  it  just  me  that  thinks  the  Reading  and  Leeds  line  up  is  a  bit  crap?â&#x20AC;&#x2122;   Jacobstweet10  said:  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Omg  what  is  with  the  Reading  &  Leeds  line  up  ,  every  year  it  gets  worseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;   Either  way  READING  &  LEEDS  covers  a  spectrum  of  musical  tastes  and  genres,  something  to  please  every  music  lover  out  there.  It  is  sure  to  be  one  of  the  biggest  music  festivals  this  summer.  Â
Floods  new  video  and  Redbull  Bedroom  Jam :KHQ ZH ÂżUVW PHW )ORRGV WKH\ ZHUH MXVW D KDSS\ JR OXFN\ EDQG IURP 6W $OEDQV EXW WRGD\ they  are  much  more.  With  the  release  of  their  new  track,  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;You  Convinced  Me  I  Needed  Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;,  with  an  hilarious  video,  the  lads  are  on  a  mission;Íž  to  conquer  the  Redbull  Bedroom  Jam. Â
Picture  Credit:  Tara  Perera,  Darcie  Tanner
The  video  has  been  shoved  up  on  the  website  for  all  to  glare  in  awe  at,  and  compared  to  the  rest  of  the  acts  on  there,  if  Floods  donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  get  to  the  top  of  the  chart  pronto,  there  is  some  real  internet  voting  manipulation  going  on.  The  rest  of  the  bands  on  the  roster  show  no  imagination,  or  talent,  and  in  comparison  to  these  lads,  they  havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  got  a  chance! The  new  track  boasts  guitarists  Joe  Page  and  Colin  Cooperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  incredible  ability  to  harmonize,  a  quality  they  should  not  have  hidden  for  so  long!  This  band  are  continuously  developing  further  and  further,  getting  more  in  tune  with  each  other  and  manipulating  their  sound  to  levels  way  beyond  their  capability.  Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re  incredible,  and  we  think  you  should  think  so  too,  so  go  to  http://redbullbedroomjam.com/band/videos/you-Âconvinced-Âme-Âi-Âneeded-Âit  and  vote  5  stars,  because  this  is  a  band  you  are  going  to  want  to  see!
Sophia  Roberts,  Tara  Perera www.audio-Âaddict.co.uk
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NEWS
endofa
G-Funk Era
A rib rattling beat pounds from the speakers, One of those to be its bass line removing a large amount of left by the wayside plaster from the ceiling of the room below. was in-house crooner Before too long, a high frequency synth Nate Dogg (known to line enters, exuding swagger over a sample his hoes as Nathaniel from any one of George Clinton’s various Dwayne Hale), whose ‘70s projects. You’re listening to Dr untimely death at the Dre’s seminal 1992 album The Chronic. Or age of 41 may just be perhaps it’s Snoop Dogg’s (nee Snoop Doggy * )XQN¶V ¿QDO QDLO Dogg) explosive debut Doggystyle from the LQ WKH FRI¿Q +DOH following year. Either way, the music bares was responsible for the hallmarks of a sonic approach and general one of the genre’s aesthetic that became known as G-Funk, one most enduring hits, of the most iconic sub-genres in rap music the
1994
karaoke
history;; one that dominated commercially favourite ‘Regulate’ - predominantly from its LA birthplace - (with cousin Warren throughout the ‘90s.
G), a song so good it even managed to make
Its G stood for ‘gangster’, and its name blue-eyed yacht rock refers to Clinton’s self-styled P-Funk (often star Michael McDonald etymologised as ‘pure’ funk). Its rhymes were sound ‘street’ (the tough and its beats were tougher. However, song was built on as you may have noticed, it is now being a discussed in the past tense.
sample
of
his
MOR classic ‘I Keep Forgetting’).
This is because, to many, the G-Funk era has been on the skids since its last great volume Hale’s passing - along – Dr Dre’s blockbuster 2001, confusingly with Dre’s catastrophic released in 1999. Here, Dre, the eponymous latest
Detox
and
producer and MC at the head of the G-Funk Snoop’s forays into family tree, dispenses with the upbeat-yet-
reality TV and Katy
mean strut of those early classics in favour of Perry collaborations - a brutal, murderous sound that also served to ZLOO ¿QDOO\ FORVH WKH VLJQL¿FDQWO\ (PLQHP 7KH FRPPHUFLDO DSSHDO RI it happened too late to the young Detroiter distracted Dre, pulling leave it with the legacy him down a path of nihilistic gangster pop-
it once deserved?
rap;; 50 Cent and The Game gleefully in tow.
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Audio Addict
Tom Quickfall
Picture Credit: GenKaku
introduce his new generation of protégés, most G-Funk chapter. But has
30 VENUES 300+ NEW ARTISTS
BRIGHTON 12TH - 14TH MAY 2011 DOME SHOWS
DJ SHADOW
FRIENDLY FIRES
SUFJAN STEVENS
YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACCESS THESE SHOWS WITHOUT EITHER A TOP UP OR SINGLE ENTRY TICKET. DJ SHADOW AND SUFJAN STEVENS CO-PROMOTED BY THE BRIGHTON FESTIVAL
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
EXAMPLE FRANK TURNER WARPAINT THE JOY FORMIDABLE GANG GANG DANCE COUD CONTROL TWIN SHADOW HOLY GHOST! JOHN COOPER CLARKE VILLAGERS
KATY B THE VIEW LITTLE DRAGON THE RADIO DEPT. ANNA CALVI BROTHER DEVLIN DINOSAUR PILE-UP MONA TBC
THE VACCINES THE NAKED AND FAMOUS GUILLEMOTS OKKERVIL RIVER YUCK WHITE DENIM ART BRUT FRANKIE & THE HEARTSTRINGS ACTRESS BLACK DEVIL DISCO CLUB
02:54 22 ADMIRALL FALLOW AIAS ALELA DIANE ALEX CLARE ALEX WINSTON ALEXANDER TUCKER ALICE GOLD ALPINES AND SO I WATCH YOU FROM AFAR ANORAAK ANR APPLES AND EVE BAG RIDERS BASKERVILLE BASTILLE BEARDYMAN BEAR’S DEN BECOMING REAL BEN HOWARD BIG DEAL BLACK DRAWING CHALKS BLACK LUNGS BLOOD COMMAND BONES BONJAY BRAIDS BRASSICA BRASSTRONAUT BRETON BUENO BROS BUCK 65 CASCADEUR CEREBRAL BALLZY CHAD VALLEY CHAPELIER FOU CHARLI XCX CHLLNGR CHRISTIAN AIDS COCKNBULLKID COMANECHI CREEP CULTS D/R/U/G/S DAN PARSONS DARK DARK DARK DARK HORSES DAUGHTER DAVID’S LYRE DEAN MCPHEE DEEP SEA ARCADE DELS DELTA MAID DENT MAY DIE! DIE! DIE! DM STITH DOG IS DEAD DRY THE RIVER DUSTIN O’HALLORAN DUTCH UNCLES DUZHEKNEW DZ DEATHRAYS ECHO LAKE ED SHEERAN EMA FEAR OF MEN FICTION FIGHT LIKE APES FIXERS FLATS FLORRIE FOSTER THE PEOPLE FREDERIKA STAHL FUNERAL SUITS GHOSTPOET GRIMES GROUPLOVE GUARDS GWILYM GOLD HANDSOME FURS HAUSCHKA HEATHERS HEY ROSETTA! HIND EAR HOUSSE DE RACKET IDIOT GLEE IN FLIGHT SAFETY JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW JESS MILLS JOSH T. PEARSON K.FLAY KING CHARLES KITTEN KYLA LA GRANDE LANTERNS ON THE LAKE LARA RUNARS LAURA JANSEN LCMDF LES AUS LET’S BUY HAPPINESS LEWIS FLOYD HENRY LIAM BAILEY LITTLE RED LONE LUCY SWANN LUKE ABBOTT LULUC MALPAS MARCUS FOSTER MARINA GASOLINA MARQUES TOLIVER MATTHEW AND THE ATLAS MAX RICHTER MAZES MECHANICAL BRIDE MELODICA, MELODY AND ME MILK MAID MISHIMA MONUMENT VALLEY MOSS MUNICH MZ BRATT NEDRY NIKI & THE DOVE NLF3 OH LAND OLOF ARNALDS OUT LIKE A LION PAPER CROWS PARIS SUIT YOURSELF PLANNINGTOROCK PLASTER OF PARIS POLARSETS PRIZE PETS PS I LOVE YOU PVT RACHEL SERMANNI RADIO RADIO RHOB CUNNINGHAM ROMANCE SAID THE WHALE SAINT SAVIOUR SBTRKT SEAMS SEEKAE SISSY & THE BLISTERS SMOKE FAIRIES SOUND OF RUM SPARK SPARROW AND THE WORKSHOP STAR SLINGER STARSMITH DJ STATELESS STEALING SHEEP STILL CORNERS STOP MAKING ME DJ SUUNS TALKING PICTURES TEAM GHOST TEAM ME TEETH THE ANTLERS THE BONFIRES THE HEARTBREAKS THE HOLIDAYS THE JEZABELS THE MOUNTAINS & THE TREES THE PHANTOM BAND THE PHOENIX FOUNDATION THE SECRET SISTERS THE SMOKIN’BARRELS THE SOFT MOON THE STAVES THE WAVE PICTURES THUS:OWLS TIM AND JEAN TO THE BONES TREEFIGHT FOR SUNLIGHT TRES B TRIBES TRIPWIRES TROPHY WIFE US BABY BEAR BONES VISIONS OF TREES WINTER GLOVES WOODHANDS WORRIEDABOUTSATAN WORSHIP YAAKS YOU CAN’T WIN CHARLIE BROW YOUNG BRITISH ARTIST YOUNG EMPIRES YOUNG THE GIANT + MANY MORE ACTS TO BE ANNOUNCED
3-DAY EARLY BIRD TICKET £45
EARLY BIRD PASSES TO EXPIRE ON THE 12TH APRIL
SINGLE DAY TICKETS NOW ON SALE £22.50 - £30 FRIDAY & SATURDAY COMBINED TICKETS NOW ON SALE £38 EACH TICKET IS EXCHANGED FOR A FESTIVAL WRISTBAND, ALLOWING ACCESS TO ALL VENUES SUBJECT TO CAPACITY.
WWW.ESCAPEGREAT.COM
TICKETS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM SEE, HMV, ROUNDER RECORDS & RESIDENT IN BRIGHTON.
MONDAY The  week  begins  at  Hamptons  bar,  if  Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m  honest Â
solo  behind  his  head,  the  results  were  less Â
LW ZDV VRPHWKLQJ RI D VORZ VWDUW ÂżYH DFWV
than  electrifying.  The  day  wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  a  complete Â
in  and  all  the  acoustic  balladry  tends  to Â
loss,  our  saviours  appeared  in  the  form  of Â
blur  into  one  big  foray  of  heartfelt  lyrics Â
Red  Skye  a  shockingly  young  cover  band  that Â
DQG VRIW VWUXPPLQJ &XH WKH ÂżUVW FRYHUV
displayed  talent  well  beyond  their  years, Â
act,  a  brother  sister  duo  specialising  in Â
the  guitarist  was  only  sixteen  but  displayed Â
naivety  and  lack  of  talent,  summed  up  when Â
LPSUHVVLYH ÂżQHVVH DQG WLPHNHHSLQJ ZLWK WKH
the  guitarist  daringly  attempted  to  play  a Â
rest  of  the  band  following  suite.
Day  two  saw  a  band  showcase  comprising  of  weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve  already  heard  â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everlongâ&#x20AC;?  (Foo  Fighters  Solentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  very  own  music  performance  students,  GHÂżQLQJ WUDFN DW OHDVW WKUHH WLPHV 7KH YRFDO yet  again  almost  every  song  was  a  cover,  talent  was  top  notch  with  one  female  vocalist  they  pulled  them  off  impressively  well  but  in  particular  matching  Beth  Dittoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  voice  in Â
TUESDAY
Day  three  was  an  opportunity  for  Solentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  music  promotion  students  to  organise  two  events  in  tandem  with  each  other,  one  taking  place  in  Pop  in  aid  of  Teenage  cancer  trust  and  the  other  over  at  Soul  Cellar.  Unfortunately  the  event  at  Pop  was  riddled  with  misfortune,  for  a  start  The  Beatitudes  had  already  pulled  out,  then  to  shake  things  up  even  more  opening  act  Sincerity  arrived,  played  two  songs  then  promptly  vacated.  Over  at  Soul  Cellar  supporting  headliners  Arp  Attack  delivered  a  scorching  performance  perfectly  setting  the  stage  for  signed  artists  Laurel  Collective,  with  their  blend  of  vocal  harmonies  and  folk  stylings  they  stole  the  show  and  for  that  matter  raised  the  bar  on  previous  performances.  SMILE  had  really  started  gaining  momentum  by  this  point.
12
Audio  Addict
Picture  Credit:  Tara  Perera,  Smile
two  days  in  and  itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  got  to  the  point  where  terms  of  sheer  falsetto.
Thursday  played  host  to  potentially  the  most  obscure  event,  a  series  of  live  events  in  unusual  locations.  The  penultimate  venue  was  Oxfam  music,  although  it  KDG UHODWLYHO\ VPDOO Ă&#x20AC;RRU VSDFH LW VWLOO PDQDJHG WR DFFRPPRGDWH D YDULHW\ RI DFRXVWLF DFWV WKH ÂżQDO VWDJH was  set  up  inside  Quilters  Vault,  a  landmark  of  local  KLVWRULFDO VLJQLÂżFDQFH ERDVWLQJ LQWHQVH DWPRVSKHULFV the  music  that  followed  help  accentuate  the  mood  providing  a  truly  unique  experience.
SMILE
FRIDAY 7KH ÂżQDO QLJKW ZDV VXSSRVHG WR EH FXOPLQDWLQJ Frankie  Fly  performed  a  set  consisting  of  nu  in  a  very  special  appearance  from  ex  Oasis  UDYH VHQWLPHQW D PRYHPHQW WKDW Âż]]OHG RXW manager  Alan  McGee  on  the  decks,  however  due  years  ago,  sorry  boys  you  missed  the  boat.  to  â&#x20AC;&#x153;medical  conditionsâ&#x20AC;?  he  was  â&#x20AC;&#x153;forcedâ&#x20AC;?  to  cancel,  not  that  it  mattered  much,  the  calibre  The  week  took  a  while  to  build  momentum  but  when  of  the  remaining  acts  was  more  than  enough  it  did  it  became  thoroughly  enjoyable,  with  to  see  the  night  through,  The  Widowmaker  in  the  prospect  of  next  year  being  even  bigger  I  particular  delivering  to  an  expectant  crowd,  can  honestly  say  that  Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m  looking  forward  to  disappointingly  the  act  that  followed  Fly  the  surprises  in  store  from  SMILE  week  2012.
SMILE Liam  Martin
2011
www.audio-Âaddict.co.uk
13
New  blood  splatters  onto  the  music  scene  in  the  form  of  the  raw  and  gritty  London  ¿YH SLHFH -DSDQHVH 9R\HXUV
14
Audio  Addict
Picture  Credit:  The  Jaymo Â
oyeurs apanese
J
FEATURES Having  been  compared  and  associated  with Â
progressed  a  lot  musically  since  releasing Â
grunge  bands  in  the  past,  theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve  been Â
the  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Smother  Meâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  and  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Milk  Teethâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  singles. Â
publicised  as  having  a  suggestive  motive  to Â
However,  the  thing  thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  puzzling  fans Â
resurrect  the  genre.  However,  bassist  Johnny Â
the  most  is  when  itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  actually  going  to Â
Seymour  emphasises,  â&#x20AC;&#x153;we  like  those  bands, Â
be  released.  The  band  initially  planned  to Â
but  I  wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  say  we  are  particularly  grunge Â
release  the  album  late  February  to  coincide Â
as  a  style  of  music.â&#x20AC;?  If  you  listen  to  their Â
with  the  RockSound  Exposure  tour,  but  fans Â
sound  youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll  be  able  to  hear  that  Japanese Â
DUH VWLOO ZDLWLQJ 7KH YRFDOLVW FODULÂżHV
Voyeurs  craft  more  rhythm  and  complexity, Â
ZK\ WKH\ÂśUH KROGLQJ RQWR WKHLU ÂżQLVKHG
compared  to  your  usual  grunge  conventions. Â
album  just  that  bit  longer.  â&#x20AC;&#x153;Obviously  weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re  happy  with  it  and  want  to  put  it  out  but Â
But  itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  not  surprising  to  see  why  these Â
with  downloading  and  stuff  now,  it  makes Â
connections  have  been  made.  Vocalist  Romily Â
sense  to  hold  off  as  long  as  possible  and Â
Alice  oozes  similarities  to  Holeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  Courtney Â
hopefully  build  up  enough  fans  who  actually Â
Love.  Her  voice  echoes  eccentric  shrieking, Â
really  love  it  so  that  we  can  make  the Â
which  may  sound  slightly  annoying  to  some Â
most  of  it.â&#x20AC;?  But  to  feed  the  fans  music Â
EXW LWÂśV GHÂżQLWHO\ GLVWLQFWLYH DQG NH\ WR
addiction  theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re  releasing  their  latest Â
capturing  your  attention.  Her  feisty  screams Â
single  â&#x20AC;&#x153;Get  Holeâ&#x20AC;?  as  a  7â&#x20AC;?  vinyl  on  April Â
combined  with  an  almost  child-Âlike  whine, Â
18th  via  Fiction  Records. Â
creates  an  intriguing  character. Though  despite  the  album  still  having  no  In  a  dingy,  dark  room  upstairs  at  Southamptonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â
Âż[HG UHOHDVH GDWH WKH EDQG DUH DOUHDG\
most  famous  intimate  gig  venue,  The  Joiners, Â
eager  to  start  writing  new  material.  â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Â
Romily,  Johnny  and  guitarist  Thomas  Lamb  sit Â
always  working  on  the  lyric  side  of  things, Â
casually,  looking  a  little  tired,  as  they Â
I  donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  think  any  of  us  are  anxious  about Â
prepare  for  the  last  day  of  the  RockSound Â
it,  weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve  got  ideas  going  on,  it  will  just Â
Exposure  tour,  featuring  rotational  headline Â
come  together,â&#x20AC;?  explains  the  vocalist.  Â
spots  with  Dinosaur  Pile-ÂUp  and  The  Xcerts.  Having  already  played  shows  with  both  bands Â
With  festival  season  fast  approaching  the Â
prior  to  the  tour,  as  well  as  Japanese Â
EDQG KDYH DOUHDG\ FRQÂżUPHG DSSHDUDQFHV DW
Voyeurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  drummer  Steve  Wilson  being  an  ex-Â
The  Camden  Crawl  and  2000  trees  festival, Â
member  for  Dinosaur  Pile-ÂUp,  Thomas  explains Â
but  Seymour  hopes  theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll  â&#x20AC;&#x153;get  a  good  amount Â
how  itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  been  an  enjoyable  tour  on  the  road Â
of  festivals  in  the  summer.â&#x20AC;?
with  friends.  Romily  adds,  â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  way  more  fun  with  it  not  being  one  bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  tour.  Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â
With  more  touring  planned  for  the  rest  of Â
weird  in  different  places,  no  matter  what Â
the  year,  2011  is  the  year  Japanese  Voyeurs Â
order  you  play  it  can  be  someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  crowd.â&#x20AC;?
will  slaughter  the  underground  music  scene  and  inject  it  with  their  feisty  and  abrasive Â
Their  debut  album  Yolk  is  certainly  something Â
noise  attack.  And  who  knows,  they  might Â
to  look  forward  to  as  they  feel  theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve Â
just  get  their  album  out  too! Â
Rachel  Pottle
www.audio-Âaddict.co.uk
15
The  name  of  the  young  alternative  electronica  Recently  the  band  have  felt  theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve  gone  RXWÂżW LUUHVSHFWLYH RI ZKDW PDQ\ EHOLHYH back  to  basics  but  itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  a  challenge  front  means  absolutely  nothing,  merely  a  line  man  James  Rushent  told  me  he  thrived  on,  â&#x20AC;&#x153;I  IURP %ULWLVK FRPHG\ PRFNXPHQWDU\ 7KH 2IÂżFH fucking  love  a  challenge,  Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m  more  excited  It  does  however,  coincidental  or  not,  about  the  band  now  then  I  think  iv  ever  UHĂ&#x20AC;HFW WKH EDQGV DWWLWXGH WRZDUGV WKH PXVLF been,  because  its  up  to  us,  thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  no  one  industry.  After  splitting  with  Virgin  over  their  pushing  us.â&#x20AC;? disputes  about  their  second  album,  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  Say  We  Didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  Warn  You,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;  the  band  told  me  The  band  started  out  as  a  Myspace  band  that  (Major  Labels)  more  designed  for  singers  They  soon  got  signed  by  Virgin  and  released  like  Katy  Perry  so  when  a  band  turns  round  debut  album.  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;You  Have  No  Idea  What  Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re  and  says  they  want  to  do  a  four  and  a  half  Getting  Yourself  Into,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;  which  was  an  instant  minute  weird  instrumental  there  like,  no.â&#x20AC;?  hit.  Rolling  Stone  magazine  named  them Â
16
Audio  Addict
Picture  Credit:  Richard  Cook
â&#x20AC;&#x153;there  were  a  lot  of  arguments.â&#x20AC;?   â&#x20AC;&#x153;There  found  stardom  through  their  Myspace  fan  base. Â
as
breakthrough
act of 2008, an band told me was
all “smoke and mirrors.” “People who
won
Brit
awards they’re not actually winning anything, it’s all back scratching.”
After the album release they went on tour along with playing countless festivals, where they have been for
the
most
part of the last three
years.
It’s the touring festival
lifestyle gather
is
ONd
FFe
YoU
YE
and
De it
I one
of the reasons they
formed
a
EDQG LQ WKH ¿UVW place. They told me
their favourites as Exit in Serbia and Optimus in Portugal
s
honour which the
o
FEATURES
stories
of
JXLWDULVW 0DWW\ 'HUKDP¶V ¿UVW VWDJH GLYH “he just completely missed it and went straight down into the pit.” They admit the best thing about being in a band is “having a laugh.”
ah
exclaiming there were “no
restrictions.”
“It was so loud and everyone was doing FDPS¿UHV could
DQG
smell
\RX weed
everywhere, we were looking other
at and
each saying
this is like Reading festival in the 90s” So Does it Offend You, Yeah? have returned, EXW WKH\ PLJKW ¿QG it hard getting back to where they once were, a bit more of a struggle this time around. Not that the band are bothered, they’re just happy to be doing what they love. Departing the mainstream and re-entering
the
alternative
is
something the band couldn’t be happier about. Where do you want to be in ten years? “A klaxons
With the festival season coming up the band
cover band” guitarist
were unsure of where they might actually be
Matty jokes, somehow I
playing however it’s a sure bet they won’t
doubt it, the Reading
be playing this years Glastonbury. “We got
based
banned from Glastonbury, but they offered it
continue
us back and we were like ‘nah your alright,’
the industry. It’s
because it’s going to be shit.” The band
what they do best.
prefers
festivals
Richard Cook
abroad
band
will
offending
highlighting
www.audio-addict.co.uk
17
V
GLAS VI
A
EGAS
Picture Credit: Big Mouth Publicity
Glasgows second biggest export after Irn Bru is heading to our shores once more
18
Audio Addict
FEATURES After being absent from touring for just over a year following the success of a phenomenally acclaimed debut album, most bands would follow up the release with a big comeback gig, maybe in London, New York or L.A.? Not Glasvegas. The Glaswegian band chose Kirkwall, a small town on the Orkney Islands, just off the north east coast of Scotland. In fact the band chose to do a whole tour of the most obscure Scottish towns at the start of the year, giving their most patriotic IDQV WKH ¿UVW JOLPSVH RI WKHLU KLJKO\ anticipated second album. Towards the end of last month, the band embarked on England and began a tour around the UK. I caught up with bassist Paul Donoghue RQ WKH ¿UVW GDWH RI WKHLU WRXU DW
‘
‘
Portsmouth’s Wedgewood Rooms.
In America they always say ‘are you guys Irish?’ So we say yeah it’s lovely being here in Canada. Their debut self titled album reached number two in the UK charts, got the band a comparison with the Arctic Monkeys and The Libertines from NME and jammed the radio airwaves of Britain back in 2008. Not even the band themselves expected it to be as big as it was, “we knew that people would like the record but we certainly didn’t expect the praise we got from it.” Since then the band have visited every crevice of the globe after touring for two years and Paul assures me that “thing’s got a little crazy.” He went on to tell me how “some security
Richard Cook
www.audio-addict.co.uk
19
guys had to physically carry me into the taxi and then carry me into the hotel room,” on a quiet night out in Amsterdam and how he was found “sleeping with my trousers round my ankles in the toilet” after an all day drinking session at Euro Disney. Their antics on tour are becoming a standard part of the band and being Scottish is part of the reason they always manage to get away with it. “Being Scottish you can get away with so much all over the world and you can play on the people think your Irish thing.” With a sense of content, he explained how “In America they always say ‘are you guys Irish?’ So we say yeah it’s lovely being here in Canada. Americans hate it
‘
‘
if you say it’s nice to be in Canada.”
we’re going to bed at night knowing we’ve done everything to make that record special
Now after a three-year wait, their second album, ‘Euphoric Heartbreak’ is released next week. The band spent most of 2010 on the golden kissed beaches of Santa Monica recording their latest LP, “It was such a great journey and we had a lot of fun doing it, and there was a lot of Euphoria and a lot of heartbreak.” The album took 14 months to complete and now they’re just hoping that everyone will like it as much as they do, “we’re going to bed at night knowing we’ve done everything to make that record special.” The albums already been getting rave reviews all round, so I doubt the indie rockers have too much to worry about.
they’ve headed back on the road, a new album on the way and of course were coming up to every music lovers favourite time of the year, festival season. ³:H¶UH GH¿QLWHO\ GRLQJ 5RFNQHVV DQG 9 IHVWLYDO DQG then there are a few other things happening, I think /DWWLWXGH EXW ,¶P QRW VXUH LI WKDW¶V EHHQ FRQ¿UPHG yet.” No go ahead for the bands favourite festival, T in the Park, this year then, although I was assured ³WKHUH¶V RQH RWKHU EXW ZHUH MXVW JHWWLQJ WKH ¿QDO details now, so I better be careful.”
18
Audio Addict
Picture Credit: Georgia Weaving, Mr Exploding
2011 looks set to be a good year for Glasvegas,
FEATURES
‘
‘
It was such a great journey, there was a lot of euphoria and a lot of heartbreak
This could well be the year that Glasvegas go from the middle to the top. The year we see Glasvegas name across the broadsheets and on our TV screens. For Paul and the band, “I hope to survive it, I hope were still as energetic at the end of this year as we have been for the last three or four years and I think we just want to have fun. We do our job which is our passion and if you can’t have fun doing that then your fucked man.” Amen.
Richard Cook
www.audio-addict.co.uk
21
R g I
B EEL
¿VK
It’s been a long journey for the funny, during their last UK gig at The Stag’s Head energetic, six piece, ska punk band. Starting at Southampton University in early March.
off in California as small timers, news of Within the Hacky Sack playground of a dressing
them quickly spread through word of mouth. room, Chris Lucca of Suburban Legends and Headed by the band’s main songwriter and front Jamie Kyriakides of The Skints invited me man Aaron Barrett they’ve released tracks to play, having never played beforehand.
that could be deemed as party classics of the Ryland popped out with his tour manager and
latter day generation, always serving us as a lead us to a small room at the back, I
‘
constant reminder of
‘
embarrassingly had
badass times and
we don’t have to answer to anybody but ourselves so the reddest face the album making process is really for us from frantically
the times when you
kicking a small bean
the good times, the
needed to tell someone ‘Fuck You’ and you bag around the room not two minutes before. just didn’t quite know how. They’ve not had
it easy, they’ve had a rough time with record We did get down to the brass tacs though, Reel
labels throughout their career and since Big Fish have recently released ‘The Best Of being released from Jive Records in 2006 have Us...For The Rest Of Us’ after recording their
discovered the daunting responsibility of ¿UVW LQGHSHQGHQW DOEXP µ0RQNH\V )RU 1RWKLQ¶ becoming independent. However, these dudes and the Chimps For Free’ through independent
with remarkable and fashionable hairstyles label Rock Ridge Records. Given recent issues
KDYH LW FUDFNHG DQG KDYH FRQ¿UPHG WKDW WKH\ between the band and Jive Records, Reel Big are releasing a new album, though they’re not Fish re-recorded all their old hits. too convinced it’ll be all that great. Ryland
Picture Credit: Robbie Gresty
Steen and Aaron Barrett told us us about it ³:KHQ ZH ZHUH ¿QDOO\ RII -LYH 5HFRUGV ZH
20
Audio Addict
FEATURES
were able to go independent”, says Ryland. were only half joking” says Aaron. “We have our own studio and our own engineer tours with us and slowly over the past few “Yeah, it’s a necessary evil, you’re always years we’ve been re-recording all our old gonna have those fans that want the new hits. It was easier for us to record all the stuff and you’re always gonna have those old hits and release them ourselves because fans that thought the old stuff was always what happens when you record all your records better, “ explains Ryland, “Reel Big Fish is with the old labels they end up owning all at a point where we have our own studio, we the masters, we wanted to skip the process don’t have to really answer to anybody but of having to deal with calling up labels and get ourselves so the album making process is... permission to use material for release. we also it’s really for us!” wanted to give our fans something new to listen to and not listen to the same old recordings.”
“We could always write another F U song, people like that one” adds Aaron. “People love that
“Without writing new songs” adds Aaron, one, write ten more of those!” says Ryland. “See we’re smart and we know that our fans don’t want new songs, you wanna hear “It just goes to show the more ridiculous it a new album but knowing it won’t give you seems, the better, you know? Write a song that the same feeling that the old songs did”.
you think is absolutely stupid and ridiculous and it can probably be a hit song”
“The old stuff is always the best stuff” Ryland concludes. Would that mean that Reel They’re looking forward to their release of a Big Fish are not going to keep up the game? new album.‘The Best Of Us...For The Rest Of Us’ “Oh, we’re going to make a new album, we is available in 2012.
Carl Gwynne
www.audio-addict.co.uk
23
L os a g w L in the
To some, Gallows are thought of as that punk portrayed in the media. “He’s like an artist band from Watford, fronted by the ginger topped in his truest form, he loves painting and hard nut, Frank Carter, that spit, kick and tattooing.” Steph adds, “The only word you
‘
bleed their way through live performances. can use to describe my brother is passionate.” To others, their music sounds just like a EHKLQG WKHLU ¿HUFH ULIIV DQG WDWWRRHG ÀHVK
Their last album Grey Britain allowed them
to escape this image and present themselves as a unit. Guitarist Laurent “lags” Barnard explains how “people were so focused on our image as a band, there’d be photographers asking Frank to take his shirt off so they could see his tattoos. The Grey Britain suits were a way of stepping away from that, rather than being one of those scene bands.” 5XPRXUV ÀRRGHG PHVVDJH ERDUGV DQG PDJD]LQHV at the end of last year stating how Frank was starting to lose interest with the band. Guitarist Steph Carter jokes how his brother tends to turn up explaining how he’s had enough of Gallows, but “give him a week and he’ll come back.” They continue to discuss how Frank is nothing like the way he is
24
’
there’d be photographers asking Frank to take his shirt off so they could see his tattoos.
They ended 2010 by performing two hugely
memorable shows in London (17th December),
SOD\LQJ HDFK DOEXP IURP VWDUW WR ¿QLVK 7KH evening show was an unforgettable moment, as WKH\ ¿QDOO\ JDYH *UH\ %ULWDLQ WKH SHUIRUPDQFH it deserved by having an orchestra live on stage. “It was so rewarding, mainly because of the strings, it’s been something we’ve always wanted to do,” says Barnard. The band will spend the next few months working on new material in time for festival season. After causing the biggest circle pit that saw the crowd running in and around the tent, it was a sure thing they’d be asked
back to Sonisphere this year. With a few European festivals planned too, it’s safe to say Gallows are planning on hanging around.
Audio Addict
Rachel Pottle
Picture Credit: Smile
brutal, chaotic mess. But there’s far more
Example
16.03.11: Guildhall SOUTHAMPTON
Prior to the gig I had an idea about Example and thinking him a complete tool was perhaps a bit unfair. His so called ‘talent’ has been widely acknowledged and to his credit Mr Mainstream has built up a solid fan base over the past year. Fans love him;; critics applaud him, so why do I dislike him? Maybe it is his monotonous voice or his over-use of hair gel? I think the most frustrating thing about Example is his arrogance. Videos and interviews show that his rapid rise to stardom has gone to his head and his aim to be a ‘global, worldwide sensation’ just reinforces the fact that he is a delusional donut. Nonetheless I approached the Guildhall with and an open mind. To be fair, he really does know how to work a crowd. What he lacks in voice and musicality he makes up for in performance. His arrogance aids his swagger and he makes a cracking KRVW WR ZKDW LV D SDUW\ UDWKHU WKDQ D SHUIRUPDQFH )URP VWDUW WR ¿QLVK KH KDG WKH FURZG singing along and bouncing. Crowd favourites ‘Won’t Go Quietly’ and ‘Kickstarts’ were stand out songs but the best of The Foot Again’. New song ‘Changed the way you kissed me’ seemed to be a potential chart topper and Example showed a bit of versatility. He rapped with grime artist Wretch 32 to his new song ‘Unorthodox’ and he even made me laugh when joking at the bras being thrown XS RQ VWDJH DW KLP ([DPSOH LV D ORW EHWWHU OLYH WKDQ UHFRUGHG +LV FRQ¿GHQFH RQ VWDJH MXVWL¿HV KLV VHOO RXW WRXU DQG , FDQ¶W IDXOW KLV DELOLW\ WR FUHDWH DQ LQWHQVH IHVWLYDO atmosphere in a venue like the Guildhall. I just wish he was less smug about it.
26
Audio Addict
Michael Radley
Picture Credit: The Jaymo
the night had to be Example’s most recent, collaboration with Skream – ‘Shot Yourself In
LIVE Â REVIEWS
Never  Shout  Never
16.03.11:Concord  2  BRIGHTON
:H ÂżUVW KHDUG RI &KULVWRSKHU 'UHZ ZKHQ KLV 0\6SDFH WUDFN %LJFLW\GUHDPV KDG RYHU D PLOOLRQ plays.  The  American  boy  stole  our  hearts  with  tracks  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;smelyalata,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;dare4distanceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  and  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;What  is  love?â&#x20AC;&#x2122;  He  toured  with  HelloGoodbye  and  Forever  the  Sickest  Kids.  His  most  recent  album  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Harmonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  reached  #14  on  the  Billboard  album  charts.  Now  heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  touring  the  UK  for  the  ¿UVW WLPH ZLWK &DOLIRUQLDQ ER\V 7KH 0DLQH $V &KULVWRSKHU ZDONV RQWR WKH VWDJH WKH URRP LV ÂżOOHG ZLWK VFUHDPV +H EUHDNV VWUDLJKW LQWR Âľ:KDW LV /RYH"Âś DQG FKDWV ZLWK WKH FURZG ÂłQR I  canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  take  my  clothes  off,  Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m  trying  to  do  a  gig!â&#x20AC;?  The  band  went  onto  play  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  stand  itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;,  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;First  Danceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  and  drug  driven  hit  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;This  shit  getz  oldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.  Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  something  different  DERXW WKH WDWWRR FRYHUHG VLQJHU KLV VW\OH KDV PDWXUHG ZLWK DJH &KULVWRSKHU LV FRQÂżGHQW as  he  leans  into  the  crowd  singing  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;On  the  bright  sideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.  Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  something  almost  British  about  the  performance,  he  sings  with  attitude  and  independence.  Never  Shout  Never  the  crowds  favourites  before  ending  with  their  hit  song  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bigcitydreamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;,  leaving  the  audience  craving  more  of  the  20  year  old.
BlancMange
15.03.11:KOKO Â CAMDEN
Picture  Credit:  WheelzWheeler,  Candice  Linkie
Nearly  thirty  years  ago,  British  synth-Âpop  band,  Blancmange  stormed  the  charts  with  the  classic  anthem  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Living  on  the  Ceilingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.  They  have  made  a  triumphant  return  with  a  UK  tour,  playing  to  jam-Âpacked  venues  to  celebrate  the  release  of  their  new  album  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Blanc  Burn.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;  The  experimental  trio  pops  by  the  KoKo  venue  in  Camden  tonight  to  bring  back  memories  of  the  forty-  somethingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  glory  days.  Blancmange  are  a  man  down  tonight  as  the  original  keyboardist  Stephen  Luscombe  has  severe  medical  problems,  but  he  has  joined  the  audience  tonight  instead.  With  their  replacement,  they  still  sound  as  great  as  they  did  back  in  the  eighties.  They  hold  their  ethnic  image,  featuring  the  highly  talented  Pandit  Dinesh  with  Indian  drums  as  their  main  source  of  percussion.  Front  man,  Neil  Arthur  performs  favourites  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Blind  Visionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  and  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  Kitchenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  to  a  cheering  loyal  crowd.  He  may  have  gone  slightly  grey  and  lost  the  eighties  do,  but  he  still  knows  what  he  is  doing.  It  has  been  an  enjoyable  walk  down  memory  lane  tonight,  especially  for  the  front  man  himself  as  he  tells  me  â&#x20AC;&#x153;I  have  been  having  a  fantastic  time  and  savouring  every  minute  of  this  tour.â&#x20AC;?  Sophia  Roberts,  Katy  Ladyman
www.audio-Âaddict.co.uk
27
LIVE Â REVIEWS
King  Charles
09.03.11:Soul  Cellar  SOUTHAMPTON
Google  images  of  King  Charles,  you  get  dogs  and  a  king.  This  sums  up  the  man  that  played  in  Soul  Cellars  top  bar. He  had  a  band  behind  him,  but  he  seems  to  consider  himself  a  solo  artist.  Or  maybe  a  double  act.  Him  and  his  hair.  Very  long  and  wild.  It  looked  as  if  it  smelled.The  start  wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  bad.  The  sound  was  acoustic  and  gentle.  Almost  reminiscent  of  Mumford  and  sons  minus  the  magic.  Soon,  the  music  lapsed  into  the  realms  of  metal.  The  beat  got  heavier  and  his  hair  came  down.  Guitar  solos  got  more  frequent  and  it  seemes  he  had  simply  run  out  of  material.  Every  song  was  different,  D TXDOLW\ , LPDJLQH KH ÂżQGV SULGH LQ ,W GRHV PHDQ WKDW WKH JHQUH LV GLIÂżFXOW WR SLQ GRZQ QRW EHFDXVH WKH PXVLF LV VR Ă&#x20AC;XLG DQG GLIIHUHQW EXW EHFDXVH LW LV FRQIXVLQJ DQG DV DUURJDQW DV WKH man  playing  it.  There  was  one  song  I  would  happily  add  to  my  ipod,  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Love  Lustâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  which  is  his  biggest  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.  Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  nice  and  upbeat  with  layers  of  sounds.  A  song  which  you  enjoy  on  hearing  but  ZLOO IRUJHW LW XQWLO VKXIĂ&#x20AC;H KDSSHQV WR EULQJ LW DURXQG DJDLQ ,I , KDG KHDUG WKH PXVLF ZLWKRXW VHHLQJ LW , ZRXOG KDYH OLNHG LW D ORW PRUH :H OHIW DV VRRQ DV KH ÂżQLVKHG IRU IHDU RI DQ HQFRUH
26.03.11:The  George  ANDOVER
7KH EDQGÂśV ÂżUVW JLJ EDFN IRU PRQWKV ,Q 3HUIHFW 6LOHQFH UHFODLP WKH VWDJH For  such  a  small  venue,  The  George  radiates  energy.  The  crowd  donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  know  what  to  expect,  DV WKLV LV WKH ÂżUVW WLPH ,Q 3HUIHFW 6LOHQFH KDYH SOD\HG LQ $QGRYHUÂŤDQG WKLV TXLHW WRZQ wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  be  disappointed.  From  the  second  they  hit  the  stage,  the  band  throws  themselves  into  â&#x20AC;&#x153;Salvationâ&#x20AC;?,  and  from  that  moment,  you  know  they  are  committed  to  giving  a  blinding  SHUIRUPDQFH $W ÂżUVW WKH FURZG GRQÂśW NQRZ KRZ WR UHDFW WR ,Q 3HUIHFW 6LOHQFHÂśV EUDQG RI melodic  metal,  but  they  soon  fall  into  rhythm.  Despite  battling  a  chest  infection,  Barry  delivers  some  truly  devastating  vocals,  combined  with  guttural  screams  -  a  perfect  match  when  combined  with  the  bullet-Âlike  rhythm  section  rib-Âshaking  drums.  With  the  exception  of  some  minor  technical  hitches,  which  saw  Barry  running  to  the  other  side  of  the  stage  WR VQDWFK D VSDUH PLF 7KH *HRUJH ZDV WUHDWHG WR D Ă&#x20AC;DZOHVV SHUIRUPDQFH ZKLFK ZLOO KROG them  in  good  stead  for  a  triumphant  return  some  time  in  the  near  future.
28
Audio  Addict
Georgia  Weaving,  Keeley  Bullis
Picture  Credit:  Georgia  Weaving,  Keeley  Bulis,  album  art
In  Perfect  Silence
ALBUM Â REVIEWS
)UHVK RII WKH EDFN RI 6;6: IHVWLYDO WKH 1HZ <RUN ¿YH SLHFH JUDFH XV ZLWK WKHLU ODWHVW VKRZFDVH $QJOHV The  ten-Âtrack  album  is  a  highly  anticipated  rock  replenishment  after  5  years  of  deprivation.  We  have  all  waited  long  enough  for  what  should  be  an  album  rife  full  of  the  brilliance  we  grew  to  love  in  the  late  90s  and  early  2000s.  Luckily,  the  album  isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  a  complete  let  down  and  we  are  gifted  with  a  few  crackers  equal  to  those  heard  on  their  debut  album  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Is  This  Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  back  in  2001.  Two  Kinds  Of  Happiness  optimises  The  Strokesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  sound.  The  raw,  gravelly  and  distorted  vocals  from  front  man  Julian  Casablanca  carries  what  is  an  electrifying  rock  number  likely  to  cause  crowd  chaos  at  Reading  and  Leeds  festival  this  summer.  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Life  Is  Simple  In  The  Moonlightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  is  a  soft  and  more  subtle  rock  song  but  none-Âthe-Âless  it  packs  a  punch.  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Take  Me  For  A  Foolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  toe-Âtapping  rhythm  is  the  highlight  of  what  is  essentially  an  electric  blues  track  and  you  canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  help  but  admire  the  skills  behind  the  guitar  riff  and  solo  in  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Call  Me  Back.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;  Despite  being  blessed  with  moments  of  genius,  there  are  a  few  disheartening  hiccups.  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re  So  Rightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  depicts  a  psychedelic  ghost  train  that  you  hope  will  end  abruptly.   The  tempo  is  brought  up  a  notch  in  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Metabolismâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  and  like  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Call  Me  Backâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  they  both  sound  like  something  from  The  Killers  album  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Samâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  Town.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Machu  Picchuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  is  cool  but  this  track  sounds  too  similar  to  the  works  of  Vampire  Weekend.  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  is  an  electro-Â80s  record  with  New  Order  type  synths  lacking  lyrical  ingenuity.  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Gratisfactionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  make  the  grade  and  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Under  Cover  Of  Darknessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  is  merely  a  rescue  attempt  to  re-Âdiscover  the  lost  Strokesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  style. 7KLV ¿YH \HDU IROORZ XS WR DOEXP µ)LUVW ,PSUHVVLRQ 2I 7KH (DUWK¶ LV UHPDUNDEO\ EHWWHU EXW , FDQ¶W KHOS EXW IHHO OHW GRZQ µ$QJOHV¶ LV D VROLG DOEXP EXW IRU PH LW LV OLNH EX\LQJ D NLQGHU HJJ DQG ¿QGLQJ no  toy.  The  variance  in  styles  complicates  the  sound  and  I  canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t  help  but  wonder  if  we  will  ever  hear  DQ\WKLQJ OLNH WKH WUDFNV ZH ¿UVW IHOO LQ ORYH ZLWK VRPH WHQ \HDUV DJR
Michael  Radley
www.audio-Âaddict.co.uk
29
3UROLÂżFDF\ FDQ EH D FXUVH DPRQJVW PXVLFLDQV track  with  elegance  and  grace.  Single  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Jesus  ,W RIWHQ Ă&#x20AC;RRGV WKHLU EDFN FDWDORJXHV ZLWK Feverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  is  a  glorious  slice  of  Americana,  its  unnecessary  EPs  and  hastily  compiled  harmonic  progression  and  sentiment  similar  to  albums,  and  obscures  anything  that  might  Childish  Prodigy-Âera  track  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  Alrightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;:  a  EH RI YDOXH WR WKH ÂżUVW WLPH OLVWHQHU perfect  example  of  Vileâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  progression  from  Sometimes,  however,  it  can  serve  as  a  ULYHWLQJ SRWHQWLDO WR SURÂżFLHQW VRQJZULWHU perfect  barometer  of  an  artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  musical  in  full-Âbloom.  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Puppet  to  the  Manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  is  a  development,  as  in  the  case  of  the  much-Â
quick-Âwitted  piece  disguised  as  an  anarchic Â
lauded  Kurt  Vile.  During  his  short  recording  mid-Âpaced  rocker,  while  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;On  Tourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  begins  a  career,  Vile  has  produced  four  albums  string  of  tracks  that  deal  with  nostalgia,  and  two  EPs  of  glorious  and  effortlessly  introspect  and  autobiography.  The  attractive  OHIWÂżHOG $PHULFDQD HDFK RQH EXLOGLQJ RQ ÂżQJHU SLFNLQJ ZRUN RI SUHYLRXV UHOHDVHV PDNHV the  merits  of  the  last.  While  artists  like  sporadic  but  effective  appearances  here,  most  Animal  Collective  and  Deerhunter  look  to  notably  on  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Peeping  Tomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  and  highlight  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Runner  construct  the  enjoyable  idiosyncrasy  that  Upsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;,  while  the  insistent  acoustic  plod  of  the  comes  so  naturally  to  Vile,  Smoke  Ring  for  title  track  nails  down  wistful  slide  guitar  my  Halo  sees  the  Philadelphian  heading  in  embellishments  and  piano.  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ghost  Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  serves  the  opposite  direction,  resulting  in  his  DV DQ DSSURSULDWH FOLPD[ WR 9LOHÂśV ÂżQHVW ZRUN most  accessible  work  to  date  while  still  WR GDWH LWV WZR FKRUG YHUVHV ÂżOOHG ZLWK VXFK remaining  utterly  distinctive. Â
non-Âcommittal  admissions  as  â&#x20AC;&#x153;Christ  was  born,  I  was  there/you  know  me;Íž  Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m  aroundâ&#x20AC;?.  Â
Opener  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Babyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  Armsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  is  as  close  to  a  love  via  his  own  understated  inimitability.  The  Ring...  would  have  cemented  Vileâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  place  on  production  is  pitched  perfectly;Íž  Vileâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  the  list  of  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Great  American  Songwritersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  familiar  shimmering  and  distant  acoustic  alongside  those  the  album  brings  to  mind:  work  restrained  by  soft  percussion  and  gentle  Petty,  Seger,  Springsteen.  As  is,  the  singer  harmonies,  coated  in  a  mandatory  helping  will  have  to  be  content  sharing  the  mantle  as  RI UHYHUE 6PRNH 5LQJ Ă&#x20AC;RZV IURP WUDFN WR the  missing  link  between  past  and  present.
30
Audio  Addict
Tom  Quickfall
Picture  Credit:  album  art
song  as  Vileâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  ever  going  to  deliver,  albeit  Had  it  been  released  35  years  ago,  Smoke Â
ALBUM REVIEWS This year saw the release of One, the eponymous album of Milton Keynes djent metallers, TesseracT;; in the minds of many as one of the best British bands of the moment. Another 5 track EP of new material, with the re-djenerative Concealing Fate sextet placed ever so gently in the middle. The best material on the album, and although already given to us when the EP was released last year, now along with these new tracks like chilling ‘Nascent’ and the cataclysmic ender ‘Eden’, the songs have been given a new lease of life. Wrapped up nicely in a shroud of complex arrangements, endless tone and stratospheric vocals;; this can only be the start of our musical relationship with TesseracT. With the best to come in the not too distant future, it’s not there just yet. We’ll have to leave it to Periphery for the time being.
Smile Festival enjoyed its third year last month and it was the best yet. The event attracted big names to venues across the city. The organizers released a compilation album with tracks by a few of the artists. The album offers a bit of something for everyone, featuring up and coming artists in the Southampton area. It opens with hip-hop act DIO UK Productions before moving on to pop-punk band Fly, Frankie, Fly, who are set to appear at this year’s %OLVV¿HOGV DQG %HVWLYDO IHVWLYDOV 7KH album has Solent student artists such as The Widowmaker, who has appeared at Camp Bestival and Glastonbury. With intricate indie melodies through Cardinals’ ‘Numbers,’ and high-speed electronica in Jenerate’s ‘Symphonic Cymatics’ this album is a must for music lovers wanting to get the best out of Southampton.
Ben Radcliffe, Richard Cook
www.audio-addict.co.uk
31
FESTIVAL Â PREVIEW
The  sea  is  sparkling  in  impromptu  street  gigs,  unique  collaborations  the  sumptuous  sunshine  as  well  as  club  nights,  label  parties  and  UHĂ&#x20AC;HFWLQJ D &LW\ WKDWÂśV industry  showcases.  The  festival  plays  host  bars  and  venues  are  to  a  huge  diversity  of  acts,  many  of  whom  go  bustling Â
with Â
music  on  to  be  successful  the  following  year  or  so Â
lovers  on  the  lookout  after.  Artists  from  previous  years  include  for  the  next  big  thing  .
Mumford  &  Sons,  Kasabian,  Ellie  Goulding  and  Tinie  Tempah  to  name  just  a  few. Â
This  could  only  be  a  summerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â
weekend Â
in  TGE  is  not  just  a  music  festival;Íž  it  is  also Â
Brighton  and  this  is  The  a  music  convention,  attracting  3000  from  Great  Escape  Festival.
across  the  globe.  It  features  master  classes,  networking  opportunities  and  guest  speakers Â
Starting  the  season,  such  as  Glastonbury  organiser  Michael  Eavis. this Â
internationally Â
recognised Â
festival  2011â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  highlights  are  set  to  be  acclaimed Â
showcases  the  best  in  Frank  Turner  and  Brit  Award  winning  producer  new  music  with  over  Paul  Epworth  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;in  conversationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. 300  bands  playing  at  30  venues  over  the  3  days.
This  yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  festival  is  set  to  be  the  most Â
Every  May  15,000  audio  exciting  yet  with  over  100  acts  already  addicts  descend  to  the  FRQÂżUPHG LQFOXGLQJ .DW\ % 7KH 9DFFLQHV (G seaside  City  to  watch  Sheeran  and  Mona  and  Example.  Friendly  Fires  the Â
latest Â
emerging  DQG '- 6KDGRZ DUH DOVR FRQ¿UPHG WR SOD\ WKH
talent  storm  the  music  infamous  â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bigâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;  Dome  shows. world  and  your  IPodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s! 3  days,  30  venues,  300+  bands  â&#x20AC;&#x201C;  this  yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  The  Great  Escape  is  a  Great  Escape  Festival  is  un  missable  and  the  UK  festival  scene  and  your  festival  experience.
Tickets  are  just  £45.  For  more  info,  line  up  and  to  buy  tickets, Â
As  well  as  your  pre- arranged  gigs  there  are  head  to  www.escapegreat.com     Â
1
Audio  Addict
Rachel  Anderson
Picture  Credit:   The  Great  Escape  Festival
breathe  of  fresh  air  to  youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d  be  a  fool  not  to  attend. Â
Q&A
LEVELLERS $XGLR $GGLFW PHHWV XS ZLWK 7KH /HYHOOHUV to friends of ours who bass player Jeremy ‘Jez’ Cunningham come from Brighton, Audio Addict: So, you’ve been going for the last 23 years, when you started did you see yourself carrying on this long? Jez: Not really. We didn’t really think about anything other than getting from day to day but, we didn’t not think we would be here. It’s just something that wouldn’t have occurred to us back in the day.
AA: When can we expect your new album? Jez: We’ll have it ¿QLVKHG E\ WKH HQG of the summer and hopefully get it out by this time next year. Making a record that’s
AA: Was it not a long term plan to start with? Jez: We wanted to make a living out of music. If we could sign off the dole that would be great. We’ve always had a plan but we never really thought about it that seriously until it started to happen.
better than Letters from the Underground is all I care about. If we’ve made the best we could, I’d be happy. AA: Does it bother you that people label you
AA: Do you have plans or a target today? Jez: We’re half way through writing a new song but we haven’t got any aims we set ourselves. The last aim we had was to get Beautiful Days, our festival, up and running, then we sorted out this Levelling the Land tour. Next, I suppose, it’s our 25th anniversary! We’ll probably have a box set or something!
to your song ‘What a Beautiful Day’? Jez:
We’ve
Beautiful
played
Day
for
years and we do often rest it. It doesn’t bother me that much as a label. You can’t stop people labelling. What
AA: What keeps bringing you back to Southampton?
Picture Credit: Carolien C
which is where we live.
people say about us, that’s their business.
Jez: It’s a really nice venue. It’s close enough
Nick Pollard
www.audio-addict.co.uk
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